The Reason for Christ's Death

“…and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

Why did Christ die? What was God’s purpose in his bloody, awful crucifixion? For what reason was the Son of God crushed on the cross? Certainly the Christian may rejoice in that Christ died to secure the forgiveness of our sins and our reconciliation to the Godhead. No other fount we know to provide such cleansing and restoration. But here, Paul fixes our attention on something else that our Lord’s death accomplished. Namely, by virtue of his cross-work, Christ not only redirects the eternal destiny of every believer, but also radically transforms the believer’s daily focus. In what way? The essence is this: Christ’s death makes it possible that believers “might no longer live for themselves but for him.” That is, Christ’s death makes it possible for a saint to live for and be preoccupied with those things that concern Christ and his Kingdom. We may now be “done with lesser things,” as the old hymn teaches. Even further, not only does it make it possible for a Christian to live in this way, it makes it a certainty. For, we died with Christ and have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

What glorious liberation is this effect of the cross! How many pains are at root the results of a self-centered lifestyle? How many sins are in essence the bitter fruit of pursuing the kingdom of me rather than the Kingdom of I Am? But, thanks be to God, what a Savior we have who provides for us (and at so great a price it should be added) freedom from the vanity we are born to and toward which we tend!

So, may it be that today, Christian, you see clearly the connection between the death of your Lord and the death of your self, and may such awareness encourage you to live for him who for your sake died and was raised!

Finished!

Today I finished reading Richard Baxter's The Reformed Pastor. Never have I read as incisive and as helpful a book as this on ministry. A bit like facing the surgeon's scalpel, only Baxter cuts deeper.

Here are five takeaways for me relative to pastoral ministry, without any elaboration whatsoever:

1. The necessity of caring for the WHOLE flock of god.
2. The diligence required for such care.
3. The means available for such care (particularly, personal instruction of all those in the church).
4. The dangers of avoiding such care.
5. The blessing of attending to such care.

Also, just to give you a little taste of Baxter's vision of a pastor's duty, here is a longer excerpt. He bases it all on Paul's discourse to the Ephesian elders found in Acts 20.

"O brethren! write it on you study doors- set it in capital letters as your copy, that it may be ever before your eyes. Could we but well learn two or three lines of it, what preachers should we be!

[a] Our general business- SERVING THE LORD WITH ALL HUMILITY OF MIND, AND WITH MANY TEARS.

[b] Our special work- TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK.

[c] Our doctrine- REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

[d] The place and manner of teaching- I HAVE TAUGHT YOU PUBLICLY, AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.

[e] His diligence, earnestness, and affection- I CEASED NOT TO WARN EVERY ONE NIGHT AND DAY WITH TEARS. This is what must win souls, and preserve them.

[f] His faithfulness- I KEPT BACK NOTHING THAT WAS PROFITABLE UNTO YOU, AND HAVE NOT SHUNNED TO DECLARE UNTO YOU ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD.

[g] His disinterestedness and self-denial for the sake of the gospel- I HAVE COVETED NO MAN'S SILVER OR GOLD OR APPAREL: YEA, THESE HANDS HAVE MINISTERED UNTO MY NECESSITIES, AND TO THEM THAT WERE WITH ME, REMEMBERING THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS, HOW HE SAID, IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.

[h] His patience and perseverance- NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO ME, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS.

[i] His prayerfulness- I COMMEND YOU TO GOD AND TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, WHICH IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP, AND TO GIVE YOU AN INHERITANCE AMONG ALL THEM WHICH ARE SANCTIFIED.

[j] His purity of conscience- WHEREFORE I TAKE YOU TO RECORD THIS DAY, THAT I AM PURE FROM THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN."

Lord, give us such men as Baxter in our churches, and may I be such a one.

On my "to read list"

This looks like an excellent resource for pastors- indeed for all Christians. From two men I respect greatly...

http://www.crossway.org/books/1-and-2-timothy-and-titus-hcj-1/

Note to self...

1 Timothy 1:5 "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

What charge is Paul referring to here? Looking at verse 1:3, we see that it was the charge that "certain persons not teach any different doctrine" in the church, that is, doctrine that is outside of true Gospel orthodoxy. Thus, while some perceive the practice of guarding doctrine both divisive and pedantic, Paul saw it as the pathway to love and purity, to "a good conscience and a sincere faith."

Note to self then: doctrine and love are not incompatible.

The Pastor's Books

Some helpful words:

"The pastor’s work and the pastor’s books are inseparable. Since dialogue with scripture and tradition is so central to pastoral care, it is to be expected that the life of the pastor will be deeply enmeshed in the meditative reading, thoughtful study, and care of good books. Since the pastor’s time is limited, selection of excellent books is a consequential pastoral decision."

Oden, T. C. (1987). Becoming a Minister. Classic Pastoral Care (159). New York: Crossroad.

Interviewing the Apostle

One of the most helpful things for me in terms of studying a text in preparation for preaching is simply to ask questions of it. I liken it to "interviewing" the biblical author.

Thus, in preparation for preaching 1 Peter 2:9-10 in a couple months, here are some of the questions I'm asking Peter. The list is not exhaustive (and is in no particular order).

1.     Who is Peter addressing? Jewish Christians? Gentile Christians? Does it matter?

2.     What can I determine about the original recipients’ situation and how is it relevant to the meaning and exposition of the text?

3.     From what OT texts does Peter quote? Why does he use these quotes? How does he apply them? What were the original OT contexts and how does that influence the meaning of the quotes in 1 Peter?

4.     What is the meaning and purpose of 1 Peter as a whole?

5.     Why does Peter say the things he says at this particular point in the epistle? How does this section contribute to the meaning and purpose of 1 Peter as a whole?

6.     How does Peter’s identity and history influence his writing?

7.     What is the purpose of this particular text?

8.     Is there anything to learn from the Greek text that is not obvious in the English that I would have to explain?

9.     How is the Gospel present in this text?

10. How can I preach Christ clearly from this text?

11. How does the text “divide up” exegetically? Does it “divide up” differently homiletically?

12. How does this text apply to believers? To unbelievers? To UWSP students?

13. Are there other relevant biblical texts that shed light upon 1 Peter 2:9-10?

14. What is the tone of Peter’s epistle and of this section in particular? Encouraging? Rebuking? Instructing? Warning? Other?

15. How does the genre of 1 Peter (epistle) influence its meaning?

16. What are the main themes of 1 Peter as a whole?

17. Where does 1 Peter fit into the overarching biblical storyline?

18. What are some possible wrong interpretations and conclusions to be drawn from this text?

A Great Pastor's Greatest Weakness

I was profoundly helped this evening by a quote from R.C. Sproul. It's his answer to the question "What is your greatest weakness as a pastor?" Both encouraging and convicting...

"My biggest weakness is that I am profoundly shy. I am not quick to make friends, nor even to interact with the friends I have been blessed with. Though I am confident in the depth of the love I have for the sheep under my care, I likewise understand why that love may not seem so evident to the sheep. My shyness is, I suspect, a corollary to a deeper problem, that I want to be liked. My reputation matters far more to me than it should."

Read the whole thing at http://www.ligonier.org/blog/10-important-things-ask-potential-pastor/