Shai Linne: Atonement Q&A lyrical theology

Awesome.  Simply awesome.  Listen (and learn).

[HT: Vitamin Z]

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How Can I See the Gospel Through the Law?

Recently, I came across this video interview and thought it would be helpful to share with regards to how we are to read God’s Word.

Darrin Patrick, pastor of The Journey Church in St. Louis asks Dr. Bryan Chappell, president of Covenant Theological Seminary, the question: “How can I see the Gospel through the Law?”  In other words, “How do I see Jesus being displayed in a commandment like ‘Do not steal’?  Is this commandment given to show me primarily what I must do – or to show me primarily what Jesus has done?”

Though this question is asked in regards to how preachers are to preach God’s Word, it is absolutely helpful in how we approach God’s Word on a daily basis in our devotionals.

How can I see the gospel through the law? from Journey-Creative on Vimeo.

Also, check out the video below, as well, to see exactly how grace, then, is to lead us to motivation.

Motivation: How grace leads to obedience. from Journey-Creative on Vimeo.

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Forget About God’s Will For Your Life

Tim Chester (quoting Francis Chan in his book, Forgotten God):

“I think a lot of us need to forget about God’s will for my life. God cares more about our response to his Spirit’s leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today’s decisions. It is easy to use the phrase ‘God’s will for my life’ as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience. It’s much less demanding to think about God’s will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes. It’s safer to commit to following him someday instead of this day. To be honest I believe part of the desire to ‘know God’s will for my life’ is birthed in fear and results in paralysis.” (120)

“God wants us to listen to his Spirit on a daily basis, and even throughout the day, as difficult and as stretching moments arise, and in the midst of the mundane. My hope is that instead of searching for ‘God’s will for my life,’ each of us would learn to seek hard after ‘the Spirit’s leading in my life today.’” (120)

“The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is not someone we can just call on when we want a little extra power in our lives. Jesus Christ did not die in order to follow us. He died and rose again so that we could forget everything else and follow him to the cross, to true Life.” (122)

In what areas of your life right now is it evident that you are not obeying His Spirit?  I would encourage us all to write them down and repent and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of those sins, and then asking God to supply you with the strength that only He can supply “in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11).

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Mark Driscoll: Men Die

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Repentance Doesn’t Lead to Neutral

Here’s an excerpt from Jonathan Dodson’s blog on biblical, gospel-centered repentance.

Love Doesn’t Lead us to Neutral

In repentance, God’s loving leads to our turning. Turning from sin is turning to Christ. It’s not a hollow confession in the neutral zone of a no man’s land, where we are left drifting, unguarded only to drift back into the same sinful fray all over again. Love doesn’t lead us into neutral. It doesn’t overlook sin and leave us stranded in no man’s land. It confronts, calling us to the better land. To not settle for slums when there is a paradise to be had. This is the love of Christ—reproof and discipline—pouring out upon us, the church.

Click here to read the rest of this very helpful article.

[HT: Creation Project]

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