As August comes to a close, I'm squeezing in another hymn in my top 20, which you can see on this page. Coming in at number 14 is...

I tend to dislike songs that are overly repetitive. This one certainly fits that bill, so why did it make the cut? Because if there was ever a statement worth repeating, "nothing but the blood of Jesus" is it! By the end of the hymn, you start to get the idea that Jesus' blood is not only important, but absolutely necessary for everything.

The very first question posed in this song is "what can wash away my sin?" and the answer is right in line with Hebrews 9:12. When speaking of Christ's sacrifice, it says "he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." Indeed, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" [Hebrews 9:22] showing why "nothing can for sin atone" but Jesus' blood.

And what of "naught of good that I have done?" We know that "all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" [Isaiah 64:6] compared to Christ's spotlessness. Not only that, but we are "by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9] It is nothing in ourselves that saves us; only the blood of Christ, spilled out on our behalf.

This is also why Jesus' blood is "all my hope and peace," reminding us that "in [Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." [Colossians 1:19-20] In one of the great ironies of all time, God uses the cross, an instrument of torture and death, to become a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

And what of the phrase "this is all my righteousness"? Perhaps Paul sums it up best in his second letter to Corinth when he says, "for our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin -- who knew no sin -- so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." [2 Corinthians 5:21]

In other words, Jesus knew no sin of his own, yet he took on our sin and paid its penalty. Because of this, we can now receive his perfect obedience as credited to us. As Paul says elsewhere "if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." [Galatians 2:21] It is only the blood of Christ that accomplishes this.

Even the chorus, which says that Jesus' blood "makes me white as snow" is an allusion to the very righteousness he gives His people. We can stand before God and be seen as clean -- even though we are not clean people -- because Jesus is our representative. We get credit for everything he did as if we had done it ourselves! It's the fulfillment of what God told the people in Isaiah 1:18, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

Blood is a messy business. But it is also a very necessary one. It is through the blood of Jesus -- and only through the blood of Jesus -- that sin can be forgiven, righteousness granted, and eternal life in heaven promised to those whom it saves. "In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace..." [Ephesians 1:7]

TOP 20 HYMNS

TOP

From womb to tomb to throne, the Spirit was the constant companion to the Son. As a result, when he comes to Christians to indwell them, he comes as the Spirit of Christ in such a way that to possess him is to possess Christ himself, just as to lack him is to lack Christ. [37]

The purpose for which the Spirit is given is, therefore, nothing less than the reproduction of the image of God, that is transformation into the likeness of Christ who is himself the image of God. To receive the Spirit is to be inaugurated into the effects of this ongoing ministry. [92]

To be ‘in Adam’ is to be united to him in such a way that all that Adam did in his representative capacity becomes mine, and determines my existence, whether through sin leading to death, or righteousness leading to life. In an analogous way, to be ‘in Christ’ means that all he has done for me representatively becomes mine actually. [109]

We can no more bring ourselves into the kingdom unaided than we can be conceived and born unaided. [121]

Regeneration is, consequently, as all-pervasive as depravity. Theologians have spoken of total depravity, meaning not that man is as bad as he could be, but that no part of his being remains untainted by the influence of sin. Regeneration reverses that depravity, and is universal in the sense that, while the regenerate individual is not yet as holy as he or she might be, there is no part of life which remains uninfluenced by this renewing and cleansing work. [122]

It is of the nature of faith that by it we actively receive Christ and justification in him without contributing to it. After all, faith is trust in another. It is the antithesis of all self-contribution and self-reliance. [128]

Repentance is evoked by the Spirit through a sense of who God is, and therefore by an awareness of the true character of sin. It is a God-centered response; indeed, it is the beginning of true God-centeredness. It is a turning away from sin in the turning round to God. [134]

True repentance inevitably involves a broken spirit. That is not a highly emotional spirit. It is a spirit in which self-sufficiency and self-defense have been penetrated and broken down. [137]

The logical implication of the sufficiency of Scripture is that no additional revelation is needed by the church or the individual. What is needed is illumination. [231]

The conviction that certain gifts exercised by individuals in the New Testament were not meant to continue in the church permanently should not be taken to imply that God no longer works in glorious supernatural ways on behalf of his people. [236]

TOP

Something I read in a book recently, coupled with a conversation from last week's Sunday School class, has had me thinking a great deal about two well-known Old Testament characters and their lives. Here are some brief thoughts...

Saul was chosen by God. "Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel?" [1 Samuel 10:1] So was David. "And the Lord said, 'Arise, anoint him, for this is he." [1 Samuel 16:12]

Both men where chosen by God to serve as King of Israel. And, in time, both sinned. First, Saul impatiently offered a sacrifice in an improper manner. Then, he was commanded to destroy the Amalekites and all they possessed. After the battle, however, Saul kept some of the best  livestock and left the king of Amalek alive in direct disobedience to God.

Likewise, David sinned. Instead of leading his troops into battle, he stayed in the palace. One night on the rooftop he saw a woman bathing and lusted after her. He slept with her, she became pregnant, and David arranged for her husband to be killed and took her as his own wife.

So although both men where chosen, both men sinned. And then both of these men were called out for their sin. In Saul's case, it was the prophet Samuel who exposed the sin, and for David it was the prophet Nathan. In turn, each man was confronted with their own sin. 

And that, I think, is the turning point. So far there are great similarities between these two, but now we will see a key difference -- perhaps the only major difference up to this point in their lives. When confronted with their sin, the response of these men set the course for the rest of their lives and their legacy.

Saul tried to excuse his sin and justify it. He refused the Lord's correction and trusted his own understanding. In the end, he lapsed into paranoia and arrogance and ultimately committed suicide rather than be captured alive by his enemies. His legacy is summed up in one verse: "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king." [1 Samuel 15:23]

David, on the other hand, repented of his sin and sought forgiveness from God. He prayed and fasted and then worshipped the Lord. His heart was not calloused to the conviction of God, and the Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart.

So, in one sense, the course and direction of my life rests on my response to conviction. Do I take sin seriously? When God brings sin to my attention, is my response one of repentance or one of excuses? Do I have worldly sorrow, troubled that I was found out and concerned about the consequences, or do I have a godly sorrow -- the kind mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7 -- a grief for my sins that zealously seeks justice and genuine repentance?

When I reach the end of my days, which man's legacy will mine most closely match? In many ways, that depends entirely on how obedient to God and submissive to His correction I am willing to be.

TOP

Once again proving that she is the best wife ever, Tricia threw me a surprise birthday party last Saturday! I had a great time, and it was very nice to have so many friends and family in one place. Part of what made it such a surprise is that my birthday isn't until this weekend, but I won't complain about celebrating early!

Tricia told me that she and I were going out to celebrate, so we took Ethan to my parent's house, who were going to babysit. Then Tricia blindfolded me and drove me around for a half-hour before leading me back home. When I took off my blindfold, I was in front of my house! (My parents and Ethan showed up a few minutes later, so the little man was at the party too!)

I was very genuinely surprised, and it just goes to show how sneaky thoughtful my wife can be! Seriously, she is the best, and I really appreciate all of her hard work in getting the party together! 

Switching gears, it's time for another hymn in my top 20 countdown, which you can keep track of on this page. Coming in at number 15 is...

From the onset, this hymn challenges us to "gratefully sing His power and His love." The Bible speaks of God's power, telling us that "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power..." [Psalm 147:5] and His love, reminding us that "God is love" [1 John 4:8] and that "because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." [Ephesians 2:4-5]

So, God's power and love are clear and indisputable. But what of our gratefulness? Do we truly sing these words with a thankful heart? Are we still moved by the thought of God's rich mercy toward rebellious sinners like us? Do we still marvel at a love that was willing to endure the cross and all the wrath against our sin? Perhaps this is why we must "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." [1 Thessalonians 5:18]

If we need further encouragement to be grateful, we need only look at the titles given to God in this hymn: Shield, Defender, Ancient of Days, Almighty, Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. To think that the God of this universe, so far above human ability or understanding, would choose to make himself known to us! God was under no obligation to reveal himself through His Word, and certainly no one could coerce Christ to leave heaven and enter humanity, yet it pleased God to do so. We can know God. Let that thought make us all thankful!

And what do we know of God? One thing is certain: He keeps His promises. This is why Scripture can attest that "the Lord is faithful" [2 Thessalonians 3:3] and "it is impossible for God to lie." [Hebrews 6:18]Every promise of God rings true, so we can confidently sing "In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail."

Another thing that we know of God is his hatred of sin. Since sin is anything that either willingly violates God's law or fails to live up to it in any way, we are all guilty of sin. And God, as the infinitely holy Judge, has the right to punish that sin. More than that, it is proper justice for him to do so, so "we know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things" [Romans 2:2]

The thought that "His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form" should remind us of the absolute judgment of the Almighty. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." [Hebrews 10:31]

What hope do we have then? How can "frail children of dust, and feeble as frail" ever stand before God in judgment and survive? The answer lies in Christ, whom God sent. Christ lived in perfect obedience to God, meaning that he had access to God through an unbroken fellowship that a sinner could never enjoy. Christ then gave this life as a payment for the debt that our sin incurred.

God, pleased with this sacrifice, declared His justice against sin satisfied for all who place faith in Christ alone. As a result, those who trust in Christ have their sin debt paid, and also receive the righteousness of Christ, meaning they will now and forever enjoy the same access to the Father that Christ has! "O measureless might! Ineffable love!" Surely, it is these things which need to preoccupy our thoughts and capture our hearts! Think of God, think of the Gospel, and be grateful!

TOP 20 HYMNS

TOP

Today is my brother John's birthday. Happy birthday, John!

I heard Ethan laugh out loud for the first time yesterday! He had done it a couple of times before for Tricia, but it was the first time I heard it. He actually did it twice within a few minutes, and I have to tell you, it was one of the best sounds I have ever heard!

Speaking of Ethan, yesterday was also his 12-week birthday! On the one hand, it's hard to imagine that it's already been 12 weeks since he was born, but on the other hand, it feels like we've always had him with us. Here's a montage of some of my favorite pictures of him (one from each of his 12 weeks):

Short post today, mainly to update you on more changes to the website:

> The links section is a new column that was added this month, and it is a lot closer conceptually to what I wanted. It will continue to grow as I add more links, but it will most likely be at a slow pace. If you have any suggestions on pages to link to, let me know!

> I've also made some updates to the portfolio page. It's still a work in progress, but it is much closer to what I am looking for in terms of style and function.

> Finally, I realized that it's already the 10th of the month and that  have no pictures of Ethan online! This will not do, so I've put up two in the photos column to get things started.

More coming soon...