Beauty

Food for Thought: Push-ups & Donuts


There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the
school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do ;you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it"

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room.

When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to
get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one! "

Dr. Christianson said, "Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there
were 34 students in the room. He st arted to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut" <>
Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no
sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.

When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for
us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Spiritual Growth
Living in the Light of Eternity
June 11 and 18, 2006

But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor 2:9


Views on death and eternity.

· Avoidance, too morbid to think about death and beyond.

· Believe the devil’s lies.

o Heaven doesn’t exist.
o Heaven will be dull and boring. There will be endless tedium.
o It’s unloving and uncivilized to talk about hell.
o Everyone will go to heaven.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

· Paul’s view.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19

· The importance of forming our thoughts of heaven and eternity based on scripture.

· The importance of right thoughts about eternity to our spiritual growth.


Hearts and minds set on earthly things.

· Materialism – the most widespread cause of wrong thinking about heaven.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

· Immediate gratification.

· The health and wealth gospel.

· Worldliness – love for earthly things, esteem for earthly values, and preoccupation with earthly cares.

o Those who conclude that the brevity of life is justification for hedonism.
o The tendency for us to hold tightly to the world because that is all we
know.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17



Hearts and minds set on things above.

· Everything we should love everlastingly, everything we should rightly value, everything of eternal worth is in heaven.

· The Father is there.

Pray, then, in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 6:9

· Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand and makes intercession for us.

For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Hebrews 9:24

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

· Many brothers and sisters will be there.

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect. Hebrews 12:22-23

· Our names are recorded there.

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:20-21


Living in the light of eternity.

· The Bible uses terms like aliens, strangers, foreigners, and pilgrims.

They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

· The eternal things of heaven can only be grasped by faith.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Cor 4:18 – 5:1

By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10

· Paul – an example of a proper biblical perspective.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18



· The value of pain and pleasure.

I still can hardly believe it. I, with shriveled, bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees, and no feeling from the shoulders down, will one day have a new body, light, bright, and clothed in righteousness – powerful and dazzling…
It’s easy for me to “be joyful in hope,” as it says in Romans 12:12, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past twenty-odd years. My assurance of heaven is so alive that I’ve been making dates with friends to do all sorts of fun things once we get our new bodies…I don’t take these appointments lightly. I’m convinced these things will really happen. Joni Eareckson Tada

I learned long ago that spiritual growth will always include an awakening of deep longings for heaven, for pleasure at its best. Such an awakening leads to the true contentment of asking less of this life because more is coming in the next. Joni Eareckson Tada

· Renewing our citizenship.

o Use this earthly life to grow in holiness.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Heaven is a holy place. Its inhabitants are holy. Its occupations are holy. To be happy in heaven, it stands to reason we must be prepared for it. Our hearts must be somewhat in tune, somewhat ready for it. J.C. Ryle

o Invest wisely, using this earthly life to lay up treasure in heaven.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Col 4:5

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

What are a heavenly citizen’s best investments? Praying for unsaved neighbors. Visiting nursing homes. Asking forgiveness when we’ve offended someone. Building the character of children (and grandchildren). Supporting our husbands. Honoring our wives. Telling the truth. Encouraging the weak. Sharing a Christian viewpoint when the women at the hair salon start gossiping. Trusting and obeying God in small and great ways.
Joni Eareckson Tada


What does the Bible teach about our eternal state?

· The Christian view of death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

· Intermediate heaven and the new heavens and earth.

o Intermediate heaven is where a Christian goes when he or she dies.
o This is temporary, where we dwell until prior to our bodily resurrection.
o The Bible does not teach purgatory or soul sleep.
o Our final destination is the new heaven on the new earth.

· The return of Christ.

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29

· The judgment seat of Christ.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

· We will receive our resurrection bodies.

This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we're raised, we're raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that's planted is no beauty, but when it's raised, it's glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality! 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (The Message)


A new heaven and a new earth (read Revelation 21:1 – 22:5)

· The physical creation will be renewed and we will continue to exist and act in it. (21:1)

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

· The Church (New Jerusalem) is presented as a bride to her husband. (21:2)

· The presence of God and unending fellowship with Him. (21:3)

God said I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16

· No tears, death, sorrow or pain. (21:4)

· Physical features described. (21:10 -22:2) Biblical writers attempt to describe another level of reality in earthly terms.

· The curse has been removed. (22:3)

· We will serve God. (22:3)

Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Revelation 7:15

· We will see God face to face. (22:4)

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

· No more night. The Lord will give us light. (22:5)

· We will reign forever. (22:5)

· Other descriptions.

o Christ will welcome us.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Mat 25:34

o It is a place prepared by Jesus.

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3

o No hunger or thirst.

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. Revelation 7:16

o There will be joy and happiness.

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Matthew 25:34

o We will rest from our labors on earth.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Revelation 14:13

o We will have improved minds and clear thinking.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

o Feasting together.

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11

o Heaven will be a melting pot of ethnic diversity united by a common worship of
the Lord Jesus.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-10


The Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have begun thinking less of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you get neither. W.R. Inge

Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity. Charles Spurgeon

Spiritual Growth
The Marks of Spiritual Growth – Worshiping God
June 4, 2006

Oh come let us worship the LORD; For we are His people, the flock that He shepherds.
Psalm 95

Why do we worship God?

• Everyone is a worshiper.

• Worship of God begins the Ten Commandments.

• Worship is the ultimate priority.

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

• Worship brings glory to God.

• We worship in order for God to reveal more of Himself to us.

• To become like the one we worship.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Corinthians 3:18

• We are redeemed to worship.

Salvation is God seeking worshipers.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23

o All who were redeemed by Jesus worshipped Him.

o All of heaven will be consumed with worship. (Revelation 4:8-11 and 5:11-14)

o Worship is not optional.

Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Matthew 4:10


What is worship?

• Worship defined.

o Rendering (ascribing) to God the honor that is due Him. Stephen Charnock
o Honor and adoration directed to God. John MacArthur
o God “wants to cultivate within us the adoration and admiration of which He is worthy. He wants us to be astonished at the inconceivable elevation and magnitude and splendor of Almighty God.” A.W. Tozer

• Worship as a way of life.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1



• Worship as a specific activity.

o Praising Him for who He is.
o Thanking Him for what He does.
o The Psalmist combines praise and thanksgiving:

Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever and His faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:4-5


How do we worship?

• God commands that we worship in a way that He approves and that pleases Him.

• We must worship in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23 above)

o Worshiping in spirit.

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. Matthew 15:8-9

o Worshiping in truth.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

o A marriage between the mind and the emotions.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

o Not associated with a place. (Private and corporate worship)

• We must always come to God through Christ.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15

• We must worship with hearts free from cherished sin.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18

o “To cherish a sin is to hold on to some sinful disposition or course of action we know is wrong.” Jerry Bridges

o The difference between struggling with sin and cherishing it.

• The act of worship.

o Falling down in humility and confession.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are [a] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17

o Casting our crowns before Him (anything that calls attention to ourselves).

o Come let us worship the Lord!

Spiritual Growth
The Marks of Spiritual Growth – Obedience and Holiness
May 28, 2006

If you love me, you will obey what I command. John 14:15
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. John 14:21
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. John 14:23


Loving God.

• The great commandment (Matthew 22:37) and Deuteronomy 6:1-8.

o Obedience to God’s commands, decrees, laws.
o Observe them, keep them, obey them.
o Use all manner of memory devices to obey.
o Obedience to God is equated with love for God.

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

• · Biblical obedience is a willingness to listen to the authority and will of God and to submit to it.

· Only obedience from the heart, motivated by love, is acceptable to God.

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed. Rom 6:17

We should obey God because he has won our hearts in love. If he has not, our focus should not be so much on obedience as on knowing His love. For once we get that solidly in place, obedience begins to take care of itself. David Benner

• Seeing God’s heart in giving us His law to obey.

• Realizing that God is indeed a God of love, but this does not in any way diminish His holiness or His command for our holiness. Obedience is the only pathway to holiness.

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16

• Cruise-control obedience versus race-car obedience.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

• How do we develop a whole-hearted obedience that is prompted by love?

o Take your failures to obey to the cross.

o Meditate on and respond to His love for us.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

o Overcome guilt and condemnation by turning to Christ.

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Heb 9:14

The obedience of Christ.

• Jesus was a model of loving submission and obedience to God.

I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. John 8:28-29

• He affirmed the law as having value forever.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18

• He told His disciples (includes us) that their obedience was the measure of their love for Him. (John 14 verses above)

• Learning from His example.


The relationship between law and grace.

• Grace is supreme and always precedes the law. (See preamble to the Ten Commandments, New Testament epistles).

• Legalism versus antinomianism.

“The law sends us to the Gospel, that we may be justified, and the Gospel sends us back to the law to inquire what is our duty in being justified.” Puritan writer.

• The Christian is not under the law...

o As way of justification.
o As a dynamic of sanctification.

• Shouldn’t we be led by love, not law?

Love is the driving force behind the law.
Law is a guide for our love.


The blessings of obedience in Psalm 119:

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. 2
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 9
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. 24
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 35
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. 52
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 71
Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 89
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 92
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 97
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 105
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 128
My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. 136
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 160
Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. 165

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25