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