Through the Bible - Deuteronomy 34, Luke 1:39-56
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll return to the book of Matthew. On Friday I mentioned the term "easy believism". Easy believism is the "popular slogan for the view that one simply has to believe in order to be saved and that there is no corresponding need for a committed life of Christian discipleship.
It is closely related to what Dietrich Bonhoeffer termed "cheap grace". Bonhoeffer was executed in Nazi Germany just prior to the end of World War II for standing up for his beliefs and against what was going on in the church in Germany under Hitler.
Today's verse comes from Matthew 10 where Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship.
Matt 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. NKJV
Bonhoeffer writes, "Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves..... grace without discipleship.... Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know..... It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life."
This verse was the first mention of the cross to the disciples. The thought of taking up a cross was not one of carrying ones own burdens. Someone carrying a cross, as Jesus would later, was a walking dead man. What Jesus was talking about was dying to the world. They had been called to be dead to the world in order to be alive, to find life in Christ.
As we head towards Good Friday and Easter let us remember that this grace, this salvation was anything but cheap, it was the most costly gift ever.
We sang the modernized hymn "O the Wonderful Cross" in church a few weeks ago. I thought it fitting to post the words in relation to this verse and what we've been considering this morning.
The Wonderful Cross - Chris Tomlin
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 10:27-11:1
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God(Luke 12:3-7)
27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men(Luke 12:8,9)
32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Christ Brings Division(Luke 12:51-53; 14:26,27)
34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
A Cup of Cold Water(Mark 9:41)
40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
NKJV
No comments:
Post a Comment