The grace of God extends to and overcomes the worst forms of human depravity

James Edwards on Mark 2:17: … it is as senseless for Jesus to shun tax collectors and sinners as for a doctor to shun the sick. The grace of God extends to and overcomes the worst forms of human depravity. Ironically, in one sense great sinners stand closer to God than those who think themselves righteous, for sinners are more aware of their need of the transforming grace of God. “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom 5:20).

— Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark. The Pillar New Testament commentary (86). Grand Rapids, Mich; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

Scandalous grace

James Edwards: The scandal of this story [Mark 2:13-17] is that Jesus does not make moral repentance a precondition of his love and acceptance. Rather, Jesus loves and accepts tax collectors and sinners as they are. If they forsake their evil and amend their lives, they do so, as did Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10), not in order to gain Jesus’ favor but because Jesus has loved them as sinners. Jesus’ association with such people is not coincidental. He does not happen to be with them or wait for invitations. He initiates the fellowship, “‘I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5). We are not told how many sinners and tax collectors repented and reformed. We are only told that Jesus sowed love as profligately and uncalculatedly as the sower who threw seed in unpromising places (Mark 4:3–9). It is this that scandalized the religious leaders of his day, as it scandalizes those who define the gospel in terms of pure moral reformation and character formation of our day. Jesus communicates in word and deed that accepting and following him are more important than following Torah. When the unreformed and unregenerate do that, they will enter the kingdom of God before the scribes and Pharisees. In table fellowship with “sinners and tax collectors,” Jesus scandalously asserts his exousia, his own person over Torah, and the profligate love of God over merit. That is the scandal of grace. 

— Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark. The Pillar New Testament commentary (85–86). Grand Rapids, Mich; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

Gift-righteousness versus self-righteousness

"The righteousness of God escapes those who seek to establish their own righteousness; whereas those who are too far off to hope for the righteousness of God are graciously granted it." (Rom 9:30-31)  

— Edwards, J. R. (2002). The Gospel according to Mark. The Pillar New Testament commentary (85). Grand Rapids, Mich; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos.

An echo of eternity in our souls

From Edward Donnelly's book about "the solemn reality of hell and the matchless glory of heaven":

The prospect of living forever in a renewed universe answers the frustration we feel over the brevity of earthly existence. For human begins have always felt that, at its longest, life is too short. There is so much in this world to discover, such a variety of experiences to enjoy, yet so little time available. How many places there are which we will never visit, books we will never read, great paintings at which we will never look, how much music we will never hear! It is tantalizing to see such wealth slipping away from us with every tick of the clock.

How little we know about even our close friends! What untapped reservoirs they are of character and insight! But it would take so long to learn all that we could about them. And what of millions we have never met — their personalities and their stories? We would be enriched beyond measure by their acquaintance. But we will never be — not on this earth.

In ourselves we are conscious of undeveloped gifts and resources, talents and qualities of which we are only dimly aware. A friend of our family was once asked if he could play the violin. “I don’t know,” he answered, “I have never tried.” He was being facetious, but in a sense he was right. There is more in each of us than has yet appeared. No one has ever seen the real you. We do not even know ourselves properly. But we will not be here long enough for our potential to be discovered.

After a lifetime of studying the Bible, it is simple realism, not mock humility, to acknowledge that we are still paddling in the shallows of revealed truth. With regard to prayer and communion with God we are the merest beginners. As yet we are novices in Christian living. We want to be better people, kinder and more unselfish, but we wrestle with damaged personalities and are disfigured by the scars of the past. Circumstances have stunted our development. Opportunities afforded to others have never come our way. There is so little time for it all!

Do you feel these frustrations? Do you not hunger ravenously for more and more of life? Does not your heart ache at the too swift passage of the years? Is there not a nagging sense of unfulfilment, no matter how happy you may be? Such beings as we are — in such a world — with so little possible!

Praise God for heaven! For every good longing within us is an intimation of immortality, an echo of eternity in our souls, a pointer to everlasting life. We were not created for seventy short years, ‘not born for death,’ in the poet’s words. Our Creator did not design beings of such complexity and capacity for a mere handful of decades. ‘He has put eternity in their hearts’ (Eccles. 3:11) and we have not been redeemed to be frustrated. ‘Life here is too short, too circumscribed, to be the end for man’s marvelous divinely given endowments and aspirations. He scarcely more than gets his preparations made for full and intelligent living until his time comes to leave.’

(HT: Tim Challies)

The Gospel: A savor of life to some but a savor of death to others

J.C. Ryle: We need reminding that the same Gospel which is the savor of life to some, is the savor of death to others, and that the same fire which softens the wax will also harden the clay. Nothing, in fact, seems to harden man's heart so much, as to hear the Gospel regularly, and yet deliberately prefer the service of sin and the world. Never was there a people so highly favored as the people of Capernaum, and never was there a people who appear to have become so hard. Let us beware of walking in their steps. We ought often to use the prayer of the Litany, "From hardness of heart, good Lord, deliver us."

– Hendryx, John (2010-11-01). Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by J. C. Ryle (Kindle Locations 5528-5532). Monergism Books. Kindle Edition.

'Wants are my best riches ...'

"Wants are my best riches, for I have these supplied by Christ." -- Rutherford, Samuel, and Ellen S. Lister. The Loveliness of Christ: Extracts from the Letters of Samuel Rutherford. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2007. 2.

The Spirit as Teacher

Here's a prayer titled "The Spirit as Teacher" from "Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions" edited by Arthur Bennett (pages 58-59):

O GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT,
That which I know not, teach thou me,
Keep me a humble disciple in the school
of Christ,
learning daily there what I am in myself,
a fallen sinful creature,
justly deserving everlasting destruction;
O let me never lose sight of my need of a Saviour,
or forget that apart from him I am nothing,
and can do nothing.

Open my understanding to know
the Holy Scriptures;
Reveal to my soul the counsels and works
of the blessed Trinity;
Instil into my dark mind the saving knowledge
of Jesus;
Make me acquainted with his covenant undertakings
and his perfect fulfilment of them,
that by resting on his finished work
I may find the Father's love in the Son,
his Father, my Father,
and may be brought through thy influence
to have fellowship with the Three in One.

O lead me into all truth, thou Spirit of wisdom
and revelation,
that I may know the things that belong unto
my peace,
and through thee be made anew.

Make practical upon my heart the Father's love
as thou hast revealed it in the Scriptures;
Apply to my soul the blood of Christ, effectually,
continually,
and help me to believe, with conscience
comforted, that it cleanseth from all sin;
Lead me from faith to faith,
that I may at all times have freedom to come
to a reconciled Father,
and may be able to maintain peace with him
against doubts, fears, corruptions, temptations.

Thy office is to teach me to draw near to Christ
with a pure heart,
steadfastly persuaded of his love,
in the full assurance of faith.
Let me never falter in this way.

How to articulate a Christian worldview in four easy steps

Kevin DeYoung said he finds the "four easy steps" below "a helpful way to get a handle on some of the most important distinctives of a Christian worldview" even though they don't "say everything that needs to be said about the Bible or Christianity."

One God. We worship one, personal, knowable, holy God. There are not two gods or ten gods or ten million gods, only one. He has always been and will always be. He is not a product of our mind or imagination. He really exists and we can know him because he has spoken to us in his word.

Two kinds of being. We are not gods. God is not found in the trees or the wind or in us. He created the universe and cares for all that he has made, but he is distinct from his creation. The story of the world is not about being released from the illusion of our existence or discovering the god within. The story is about God, the people he made, and how the creatures can learn to delight in, trust in, and obey their Creator.

Three persons. The one God exists eternally in three persons. The Father is God. The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is God. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, is also God. And yet these three—equal in glory, rank, and power—are three persons. The doctrine of the Trinity helps explain how there can be true unity and diversity in our world. It also shows that our God is a relational God.

For us. Something happened in history that changed the world. The Son of God came into the world as a man, perfectly obeyed his Father, fulfilled Israel’s purpose, succeeded where Adam failed, and began the process of reversing the curse. Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. He rose again from the dead on the third day. By faith in him our sins can be forgiven and we can be assured of living forever with God and one day being raised from the dead like Christ.

The only relief for spiritual deadness

"Do any of us find decays in grace prevailing in us;—deadness, coldness, lukewarmness, a kind of spiritual stupidity and senselessness coming upon us? Do we find an unreadiness unto the exercise of grace in its proper season, and the vigorous acting of it in duties of communion with God? and would we have our souls recovered from these dangerous diseases? Let us assure ourselves there is no better way for our healing and deliverance, yea, no other way but this alone,—namely, the obtaining a fresh view of the glory of Christ by faith, and a steady abiding therein. Constant contemplation of Christ and his glory, putting forth its transforming power unto the revival of all grace, is the only relief in this case ..." (Owen, J. Vol. 1: The works of John Owen. (W. H. Goold, Ed.) (395). Edinburg: T&T Clark.)

(HT: Of First Importance)

'We’re just crybabies in the West'

Michael Den Tandt:
"North America and Europe, geographic epicentres of the Occupy Wall Street movement, are the fattest of fat cats, globally speaking. For any North American, least of all a Canadian, to claim economic kinship with the globally disadvantaged is silly. Mention that to an Indian. Mention it to a Chinese. Cry me a river, will be the likely response. Followed by a wry chuckle, or perhaps an expletive. ... North Americans have little cause for complaint in a global context. Based on the UN data, bragging rights for the disenfranchised belong to the Chinese, Indians and Africans. Not to us. Not to anyone protesting on Bay Street, or in St. James Park, or anywhere in Western Europe, for that matter. ... The financial districts of Beijing, Mumbai and Nairobi, last time I checked, aren’t teeming with people yearning for the downfall of capitalism. Indeed, an attempt to launch Occupy Mumbai this week fizzled and died. That’s because, to most Indians, capitalism means investment and the possibility of a better job."

Read the entire article here.

(HT: Tim Challies)

A purpose in the pain: An Interview with Joni Eareckson Tada

The theme of the October 2011 issue of Tabletalk magazine is "Dealing With Death and Disease." One of the features in this edition of the magazine is an interview with Joni Eareckson Tada that's titled "A Purpose in the Pain." Her answers to the following questions are worth taking time to read:

• For our readers who are unfamiliar with your story, would you share how you became quadriplegic?


• When you first discovered that you would never use your arms and legs again, what went through your mind and how did you cope with this reality?


• Which passages of Scripture have given you encouragement during your struggles with disability and cancer?


• How important is it for a person with a disability to have the support of his or her family and church during such times?


• How would you encourage someone who has recently been diagnosed with a permanent illness or disability?


• What is the best way to help nondisabled people view disabled people as more than just the sum of their disabilities?


• Your most recent book is A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’ s Sovereignty. Can you tell us why you wrote this book?


• How doe's Joni and Friends International Disability Center impact the world today?

Here's her answer to the first question: For years, I was one of those who insisted, “Handicaps happen to other people, not me.” But all that changed on a hot July afternoon in 1967 when my sister Kathy and I went to a beach on the Chesapeake Bay for a swim. The water was murky, and I didn’t bother to check the depth when I hoisted myself onto a raft anchored offshore. I dove in and instantly felt my head hit something hard — my neck snapped and I felt a strange electric shock. Underwater and dazed, I felt myself floating and unable to surface for air. Thankfully, Kathy noticed my plight and quickly came to the rescue. When she pulled me out of the water, I saw my arm slung over her shoulder, and yet, I couldn’t feel it. I knew then that something awful had happened. Later, at the hospital, I learned I had severed my spinal cord and would be left a quadriplegic for the rest of my life. I was devastated."

Joni gave a message at the 2005 Desiring God National Conference titled "Suffering for the Sake Of." She also has a chapter in the book based on the conference (Suffering and the Sovereignty of God) titled "Hope . . . the Best of Things." The book is available free online at Desiring God.

What is the core of your identity?

In his post "How I Wish the Homosexuality Debate Would Go," Trevin Wax gives a good example of how Christians may discuss with other people the hot-button issue of homosexuality.

"If your Lord call you to suffering ...'

"If your Lord call you to suffering, be not dismayed; there shall be a new allowance of the King for you when ye come to it. One of the softest pillows Christ hath is laid under his witnesses' head, though often they must set down their bare feet among thorns." -- Rutherford, Samuel, and Ellen S. Lister. The Loveliness of Christ: Extracts from the Letters of Samuel Rutherford. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2007. 1-2.

The deity of Christ

The Belgic Confession of Faith

Article 10: The Deity of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only Son of God—eternally begotten, not made or created, for then he would be a creature.

Christ is one in essence with the Father; coeternal; the exact image of the person of the Father and the “reflection of God’s glory,” (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) being like God in all things.

Christ is the Son of God not only from the time Christ assumed our nature but from all eternity, as the following testimonies teach us when they are taken together.
Moses says that God created the world; (Gen. 1:1) and Saint John says that “all things came into being through the Word,” (John 1:3) which he calls God. The apostle says that God created the world through the Son (Heb. 1:2).

He also says that God created all things through Jesus Christ (Col. 1:17).

And so it must follow that the one who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ already existed before creating all things.

Therefore the prophet Micah says that Christ’s origin is “from ancient days (Mic. 5:2). And the apostle says that the Son has “neither beginning of days nor end of life” (Heb. 7:3).

So then, Christ is the true eternal God, the Almighty, whom we invoke, worship, and serve.

I Am Debtor

The words below are from a song by Robert Murray McCheyne titled “I Am Debtor.” The song is the fifth of fourteen “Songs of Zion to cheer and guide pilgrims on their way to the heavenly Jerusalem.”

“I Am Debtor”

When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When we stand with Christ in glory,
Looking o’er life’s finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

When I hear the wicked call
On the rocks and hills to fall,
When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge brink,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see thee as thou art,
Love thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

When the praise of heaven I hear,
Loud as thunders to the ear,
Loud as many waters’ noise,
Sweet as harp’s melodious voice,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then—how much I owe.

Even on earth, as through a glass
Darkly, let thy glory pass,
Make forgiveness feel so sweet,
Make thy Spirit’s help so meet,
Even on earth, Lord, make me know
Something of how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,
Wakened up from wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Saviour’s side,
By the Spirit sanctified,
Teach me, Lord,on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe.

Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark as midnight’s gloomy shroud;
But, when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
Blessed Jesus! bid me show
Doubting saints how much I owe.

When in flowery paths I tread,
Oft by sin I’m captive led;
Oft I fall—but still arise—
The Spirit comes—the tempter flies;
Blessed Spirit! bid me show
Weary sinners all I owe.

Oft the nights of sorrow reign—
Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain;
But a night thine anger burns—
Morning comes and joy returns;
God of comforts! bid me show
To thy poor, how much I owe.

May, 1837.

The words may be found in one of the following two sources:

1. McCheyne, R. M. (1848). The Works of the Late Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne, Vol. 1 (360–361). New York: Robert Carter.

2. McCheyne, R. M., & Bonar, A. A. (1894). Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne (579–580). Edinburgh; London: Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier.

For a short biographical introduction of R.M. McCheyne, read, watch or listen to John Piper's meditations on McCheyne's life titled "He Kissed the Rose and Felt the Thorn: Living and Dying in the Morning of Life." To get better acquainted with McCheyne, get Bonar's "Memoir and Remains" (Logos edition) or McCheyne's works.