In Christ Alone - Exodus 20:25

“And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it.”

Whether it be in a church we attend, in a denomination, or in the exercise of our own religion or worship, there is a propensity to, and significant danger in, adding to the completed work of Christ.  For example, one might say where you were baptized is critical for your salvation, or maybe they say the day on which you worship is indicative of whether or not you have received the Holy Spirit.  There are more – maybe you can list a few in the blog post comments section below.

What is it about human nature that makes us want to add to what God has completed?  If God has completed a work, it is perfect.  How can we improve upon that?  Even in the Old Testament, we see the need for God to warn His followers to refrain from adding any human element to His design.  The answer in a word:  pride.  It is in our fallen nature to want to take control, to make things fit to our own desires, wants, and limited understanding.

“God's altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour's work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone.”  (Charles Spurgeon)

The desire to add to the completed work of Jesus Christ does not come from above.  While it may seem harsh to state that such actions are blasphemy against our Holy Creator, the Word of God reveals that such actions are profane to Him.  There are some passages in Scripture that are hard to take, but that does not mean we are at liberty to use any tool of modification upon them.

If we fail to resist our fallen nature’s tendency to control, modify, or otherwise adjust the Word of God and/or what God says is required for salvation and for obedience, then we are actually putting more stress upon ourselves.  It is more stressful because we live without the power of Christ, we live on our own strength trying to be holy and trying to serve God.  We are living with ‘another gospel.’  It is profane to God and it will be unfulfilling as well as unfruitful.  Trust in Jesus when He said “It is finished” (John 19:30).  Surrender to our Savior, the Coming King.  Jesus will take it from there.

“There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.”  (Charles Spurgeon)

“In Christ Alone” is a wonderful song in which the authors (Keith Getty – music; Stuart Townend – lyrics) describe the power in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  You can hear the song by clicking here.   Alternatively, the lyrics follow:

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Says Townend of his song: “The lyric [of this song] excites me because it places our hope, our assurance, our eternal destiny in the right place—on the solid foundation of Christ. I know in my own life I need reminding continually not to live by my feelings or my circumstances, but by the unchanging truth of the gospel.”[i] 

This song has been covered by many different artists.  It has even made it to hymnals.  One large denomination modified the copywriter’s preferred lyrics of “Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied” to instead read “Till on the cross as Jesus died the love of God was magnified.”  If you do not see the irony in the changing of the lyrics at the protest of the author, please read this post over from the beginning.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His pure and unpolluted Gospel.

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[i] “Song Story: In Christ Alone,” by Debra Akins, Crosswalk.com

Fear of Evil – Proverbs 1:33

“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Can you tell today that our opposition’s greatest desire is for you to fear?  Whatever that opposition may be in your life.  I am considering those opposed to God.  Those that oppose God want you to fear something.  For example, that the earth is warming, or lately, the climate is changing.  They want you to fear terrorists, wars, government dictatorship, or revolution.  Lately it even seems that they promote fear of someone not of our own skin color.  And they certainly want you to fear sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and speaking His Truth.  Fear is a handy tool of the evil one because fear crowds out faith.

Earlier in this first chapter of Proverbs, God tell us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a).  When we put God in His proper place and respect His Might Power, His Holiness, and His inability to be anything but Just, then we realize that to fear something else is to take our Almighty God out of His proper place. 

The following quote was pinned long ago.  Still, it crisply applies to us in today’s time of potential fear of evil:

“Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, He punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while He did this, He took care that His own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only so, the Lord had not simply one "Elijah," but He had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab's table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah. Let us from this draw the inference, that come what may, God's people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident, when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars. Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth, you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself upon His promise; rest in His faithfulness, and bid defiance to the blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you. Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of hearkening to the voice of wisdom.”

Hoist the evil one with his own petard!  Do not let fear take over, rather crowd out fear with your faith in an All Knowing Creator.  Our Savior has been a Sovereign God throughout thousands of years of man's government.  He has seen it all through to the end.  He knows the end.  And while He has told us it shall be as it never was before, we also know He keeps His promises:

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we may boldly say:  “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”  (Hebrews 13:5-6)

What a Mighty God we serve.  So mighty, we can be quiet from fear of evil.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Who May Dwell in the Tabernacle? – Psalm 15:1

“LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?”

David asked these questions and used the remainder of this psalm to list the qualifications of those who will dwell with the Lord.  

“He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;

He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.”

(Psalm 15:2-5a)

God is consistent in His scripture, whether it be Old or New Testament.  He repeatedly shares His desire to be with His people.  God is not secretive about how to dwell with Him.  This question of David’s is one that we should consider frequently, and help others consider.  In the New Testament, God shows us that He wants us with Him in His tabernacle.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor pain, for the former things have passed away.”  (Revelation 21:2-4)

‘And He will dwell with them!’  I cannot wait!  I want to be with our Righteous and Holy God.  Shortly after this passage, scripture then describes who will and who will not dwell in this tabernacle with God.

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”           (Revelation 21:7-8)

Do you want to dwell forever with our Holy God in His tabernacle?  Then you must be an ‘overcomer.’  Yet no person can overcome this world on his own power.  “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:7)  If you have not already surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, do not waste another minute.  Believe and receive Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Savior and you will be with Him for eternity.  You will be an ‘overcomer.’  

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge and overcoming victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.