Book Review: Why Christ Came

Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation. Joel R. Beeke & William Boekestein. 2013. Reformation Heritage. 108 pages. [Source: Bought]

If someone asked YOU "Why did Christ come?" what would YOU say? Could you share the why of the gospel message?

Why Christ Came is a wonderful, little book that I would strongly encourage every believer to read and perhaps even read often. It is a gem of a book that from start to finish focuses on the WHY. It isn't the only Christian living book that focuses on the why, of course. But it is concise and so Christ-centered that it may just be the BEST book you'll ever read about the why. (I'll amend that to read the best book outside the Bible itself.)

Why Christ Came could easily be considered a devotional book. There are 31 readings on WHY Christ came. One could easily read one a day in any month with 31 days and benefit from it using it as a traditional devotional. But it isn't only a devotional book. One could easily read it over a period of a day or two and benefit just as much.

You might be tempted that this is a seasonal book. That it is a devotional book for the month of December, perhaps, or maybe March or April--whatever month Easter happens to be. But, in my personal opinion, that would be silly--foolish--to think that the incarnation was relevant only once or twice a year. Every single day is a day to CELEBRATE the fact that Jesus came to dwell among us.

I think that believers should preach the gospel to themselves daily. Believers need to dine daily--find refreshment--from the gospel. The gospel may seem basic and simple at first, but, there is depth, substance, a certain RICHNESS to it that leaves one speechless.

Each chapter states one reason why Christ came. That one reason may be drawn from one text of Scripture--or several verses. Each chapter directs readers back to the heart of the gospel.

I will not be sharing all thirty-one reasons. But I thought I would share a few reasons with you.

From chapter one: TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. (John 6:38)

Jesus met that challenge; He did the will of God in all things. He performed every duty of the law (Matt. 5:17) and resisted all temptation to transgress it. At the end of His earthly life He could say, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Not one of the Father’s expectations went unfulfilled in Christ. When Christ said, “It is finished,” He meant it (John 19:30). By His obedience to God’s will, even in the things that He suffered, He secured salvation for us. As our high priest, Christ teaches us that we have no other way of dealing with our moral failure and its penalty than to come to God and say, “Nothing in my hand I bring, / Simply to thy cross I cling.”

From chapter two: TO SAVE SINNERS (1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 9:26)

In Christ’s first coming, He implemented a rescue plan conceived in the mind of God before the foundation of the world. He did not come to promote holiday cheer, boost end-of-year sales, or serve as the central figure in a nativity scene. He came to save sinners. To save sinners, Christ had to put away what makes people sinners—namely, sin. Christ put away the sins of many first by carrying them to the cross, and then to the grave (Heb. 9:28). The sins of God’s people were crucified and buried in Christ (Rom. 6:4–5). So fully has Christ purged the believer’s sins that Hebrews 9:28 adds, “Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” How staggering is the thought that we can eagerly anticipate the return of the Savior who was wounded for our transgressions! Redeemed sinners can be so confident that Christ has put away their sin that they can look forward to His return as a day of salvation.

From chapter five: TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH (John 18:37)

In cultures and thought systems that reject the very idea of absolute truth rooted in Christ, speaking the truth is not necessarily a virtue, and lying is not necessarily a fault. When we think about Christ’s coming, we should consider the truth to which Jesus’ birth testifies. He came to testify that all men pervert the truth and justice of God. As Paul says in Romans 3:4, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” The truth of God in Christ shines light upon our hearts and exposes the lies we use to justify a life at odds with God. But He also came to address this problem. Christ bears witness to “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13). When we look to Christ by faith, we are overwhelmed by the radical truthfulness of God and the radical deception that is found in each one of us (Deut. 32:4; Jer. 17:9). But we also begin to hear Christ teach the way of God in truth (Matt. 22:16). As we walk in this way, we will find great freedom.

From chapter five: TO REVEAL GOD'S LOVE FOR SINNERS (John 3:16)

John 3:16 makes the surprising claim that God loves the world. God, the maker of heaven and earth, is self-sufficient and needs nothing outside of Himself. He is the Holy One whose pure eyes cannot look upon sin (Hab. 1:13). His desires are always upright, His love completely pure, and His affection never misplaced. How can such a God love the broken, sin-marred world?

Christ uses the word world to show the mystery and fullness of God’s love, which is not limited to people of one race or to those who lived at a particular time or place. Note that Jesus does not speak of universal atonement here. He says He died for those whom God chose to believe in Him (John 6:37) and in whom He works saving faith as a gift of grace (Eph. 2:8).

God’s love for His people can only be understood in relation to His love for His Son. The only begotten Son is the eternal object of the Father’s affection. Two times during Christ’s public ministry, the Father shattered heaven’s silence to affirm His love for His Son (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). It is impossible to imagine the depth of love that binds the Father and the Son. Our love for our children is diminished by both our sin and theirs. Even the love of Jesus’ earthly family and friends for Him was limited (Mark 3:21; John 7:5). But the love between God the Father and God the Son is perfect, personal, intimate, deep, and committed. It is love without limits, which is not subject to change or decay.

Christ came to earth to show us the riches of God’s love. This is the good news of Christ’s advent. In Jesus Christ, God loves His believing children with this same incomprehensible, infinite, and unchangeable love. The Father sent His Son to earth where He would die on the cross to deliver us from sin. Is it possible that He will now withhold from us any good thing (Rom. 8:32)? No, for Christ’s incarnation confirms that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

My Year With Spurgeon #13

The Love of Jesus--What It Is--None But His Loved Ones Know
Charles Spurgeon
1862
Ephesians 3:19

IT is the distinguishing mark of God's people that they know the love of Christ. Without exception all those who have passed from death unto life, whatever they may not know, have learned this. Without exception, all those who are not saved, whatever they may know besides, know nothing of this. An ungodly man may know something about Christ's love. He may believe in the fact of it. He may perceive something of the theory of it. He may even be able to follow Believers in certain' expressions of its enjoyments. But to know the love itself, to taste its sweets, to realize personally, experimentally, and vitally, the love of Christ as shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, is the privilege of the child of God, and of the child of God, alone.

We may begin the exercises of this evening with a question of self-examination, and we may continue them throughout the whole service, trying to press that question home to your consciences—Do I know the love of Christ? Have I felt it? Do I understand it? Do I feel it now? Is it now shed abroad in my heart? Do I know that Jesus now loves me? Is my heart quickened, and animated, and warmed, and attracted towards Him through the great Truth of God that it recognizes and rejoices in—that Christ really loves me, and has chosen me, and set His heart upon me?

If we have grown in Grace, it is absolutely certain that we shall have advanced in our knowledge and reciprocation of the love of Christ. Many here present have believed in Jesus and they know the love of Jesus. But oh, they know it not as some others here do who have gone into the inner chamber and have been made to drink of the spiced wine of Christ's pomegranate! Some of you have begun to climb the mountain, and the view which lies at your feet is lovely and passing fair. But the landscape is not such as would greet your eyes if you could but stand where advanced saints are standing now—and could look to the east and to the west, to the north and to the south—and see all the lengths and breadths and depths and heights of the love of Christ which passes knowledge.

One of the lowest ways of knowing the love of Christ may be described as the doctrinal method—very useful one—but nothing to be compared to those that we shall have to mention afterwards. If a man would know the love of Christ, he should endeavor to study the Word of God with care, attention, constancy, and with dependence upon the Spirit's illumination that he may be enabled to understand aright.

It is an ill day for a man when he ceases to hold fast to the form of sound words which was delivered to us by Christ Himself and His holy Apostles. Depend upon it, doctrinal ignorance will always make Churches weak. But where saints are fed upon the finest of the wheat, and are made to suck of the honey out of the rock, and to eat of the manna and fatness of Gospel doctrine, they will, all other things being equal, become the strongest and most valiant Believers on the face of the earth.

There are in the Word of God certain things really taught. Do not believe that the Bible is a lump of wax to be shaped just as you please. Do not imagine that, "Yes," is right, and that "No," which contradicts it, is right, too. The Lord has written this Book intending to teach us something, and a moderate understanding, sanctified by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, will enable you to know what the Lord does mean to teach you, especially upon such a vital point as this. Do not, I beseech you, say, "Oh, it does not much matter what doctrines I hold." You are as much responsible for using your judgment as you are for using your hands and your feet. God never did free a conscience from His jurisdiction. Conscience is free, but not before God. You have a right to your convictions as far as I am concerned. But if your convictions are wrong, you have no right to them before God. There are certain things that are Truths of God, and there are others that are contradictions—see that you get fast hold of Wisdom—and that you do not let her go.   

There is a tendency, however, on the other hand in certain quarters, to make doctrinal knowledge everything. Oh, what is doctrine, after all, but a throne whereon Christ sits? And when that throne is vacant, what is the throne to us? It is the Monarch and not the throne that we reverence and esteem. Doctrines are but as the shovel and the tongs of the altar, while Christ is the smoking sacrifice. Doctrines are Christ's garments—verily they all smell of myrrh and cassia and aloes out of ivory palaces, whereby they make us glad—but it is not the garments we care for so much as for the Person, the very Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verily it is a sweet thing to know Christ's love in the doctrine, and to understand that it is without beginning. That it existed when as yet this world had not been made. Equally precious is it to know the doctrine that this love is without end. When all we see around us shall have passed away, as the foam dissolves into the waves that bear it, the love of Christ to His people shall be the same. And on and on and on throughout eternity He shall never cast them from His heart. Sweet, too, is it, passing sweet, to know that He loves them without change and without limit. That He loves them because He will love them. That He loves them not for anything in them, but simply because He has so much love in His heart that He must let it out—and that He ordains to let it flow forth to them that they may rejoice in it.  All this is precious but, O Brothers and Sisters, if you only know these things as they stand in the creed book—if you only understand them as you find them in the catechism—I tell you that you know nothing yet as you ought to know. If this is all your knowledge, you have just begun to learn.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Know the Creeds and Councils

Know the Creeds and Councils. Justin S. Holcomb. 2014. Zondervan. 183 pages. [Source: Bought]

I would definitely recommend Justin Holcomb's Know the Creeds and Councils. This isn't the first book I've read on the subject of church history, though I wish it had been! The book I read was thick, scholarly, and in my opinion, poorly organized. This one, on the other hand, was reader-friendly, well-organized, and written primarily to be UNDERSTOOD. In the introduction, he defines the four key terms used throughout the book: creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils. He shares his purpose for writing the book: "to provide an accessible overview of the main creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils of Christian history. It is an introduction to some of the most important theological declarations in the Christian tradition." He shares his method: "For each creed, confession, catechism, or council, I present historical background, a short summary of the content, and thoughts on contemporary relevance. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions and recommended reading for further study." The chapters are arranged chronologically, of course.

The definitions he gives are straight forward. For example, this is how he defines the term catechism: "A catechism is a book or document giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in Q&A form. Catechisms represent the practical, “on-the-ground” application of the main teaching agreed upon at church councils and expressed through creeds and confessions."

Chapter 1: The Apostles' Creed ca. 140
Chapter 2: Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed 325
Chapter 3: Councils of Ephesus 431, 449, 475
Chapter 4: Council of Chalcedon 451
Chapter 5: Athanasian Creed Late 400s to Early 500s
Chapter 6: Councils of Constantinople 381, 553, 681
Chapter 7: Councils of Carthage and Orage 419 and 529
Chapter 8: Council of Trent 1545-63
Chapter 9: Heidelberg Catechism 1563
Chapter 10: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion 1563
Chapter 11: Westminster Confession of Faith 1646
Chapter 12: Second Vatican Council 1962-65
Chapter 13: Modern Confessions: Lausanne Covenant (1974) and Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978)

What I appreciate is Holcomb's assessment of each. He is fair, kind, respectful, of course, and the goal is never to persuade readers to believe exactly what he believes. But he provides a solid grounding for understanding Christian doctrines. One feels that he is a true (tour) guide: he knows the path and can point out the sights along the way. He can tell you where to watch your step, where to be careful. And along the way, he can share interesting facts.

Let's play Did You Know!

Did you know...."the Apostles’ Creed has expressed the essentials of Christianity in a way that Christians of all stripes can rally around."

Did you know...."the Nicene Creed was the first creed to obtain universal authority in the church, and it improved the language of the Apostles’ Creed by including more specific statements about the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit."

Did you know that...."Without the truths that were expressed in the Definition of Chalcedon, it is difficult to see how our salvation was accomplished. If Christ were not fully human, or if he were not fully divine, he would not be able to serve as our mediator — as the God-man. He would be either just another man or God himself."

Did you know that...."According to Martin Luther, the Athanasian Creed was “the most important and glorious composition since the days of the apostles.”

Did you know that...."The Council of Trent aimed to remedy the problems within the Catholic Church that had contributed to the Reformers’ cries of protest. The reforms included correcting abuses of power by the clergy, clarifying the balance of authority between Scripture and church tradition, and issuing official statements on justification, the sacraments, and purgatory. All in all, the Council of Trent did not repair the fractures between the Catholics and Protestants, but it did succeed in clarifying the Catholic Church’s position on significant areas of doctrine and bringing moderate reform to the abuses of power against which the Reformers had revolted."

Did you know that..."Even 450 years after it was written, the Heidelberg Catechism remains an official statement of theology for most of the branches of the Reformed church worldwide today."

Did you know that...."the Thirty-nine Articles created a fertile ground for theological exploration while simultaneously identifying the potential pitfalls of heresy."

Did you know that..."The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) is a Reformed confession produced by that Westminster Assembly in London. Intended to set the doctrinal standards for the Church of England, it became a powerful force in the Church of Scotland and has influenced Presbyterian churches all over the world. Centuries later, numerous churches and denominations worldwide look to the Westminster Confession as their standard of doctrine, subordinate, of course, to Scripture"

While I would not want to be quizzed on what I remember from the book several weeks later, I do feel it was a helpful read overall.
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Live Like You're Loved: God's Love

Do you believe that God cares for you? Do you believe that God loves you? Do you have an easy time saying "God loves you" to someone, yet, a hard time saying "God loves me"? I love this quote by Martin Luther:

What would it help me if Christ were born a thousand times, and the news of his birth was sung to me every day with wonderful music, if I didn’t understand that his death was for me and that I should make it my own? ~ Martin Luther

Today I'm sharing a handful of verses about God's love. Don't rush through the list. Take your time. Savor God's message for you.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:8-11

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12

Don't let your familiarity with some of these stop you from understanding and appreciating the depths of God's love for you.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week in Review: March 27 - April 2

NASB

• Joshua
• Psalm 1-22
• Acts
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Live Like You're Loved: What Is Meditation?

Throughout this Live Like You're Loved experience, I might occasionally ask you to meditate on Scripture. What is meditation? How does one meditate? Is it as intimidating as it sounds? Today, I thought I would talk a little bit about meditation.

Meditation is spiritually tasting the Scripture--delighting in it, sensing the sweetness of the teaching, feeling the conviction of what it tells us about ourselves, and thanking God and praising God for what it shows us about him. Meditation is also spiritually digesting the Scripture--applying it, thinking out how it affects you, describes you, guides you in the most practical way. It is drawing strength from the Scripture, letting it give you hope, using it to remember how loved you are. ~ Timothy Keller

Martin Luther's approach to meditation: After fixing the truth in the mind as instruction, he asks how it shows you something about the character of God for which you can praise him, something wrong about yourself for which you can repent, and something that is needed for which you can petition him.

Let's see if we can put this into practice. The passage I've selected is one of the first I ever memorized.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7

Let's start with Martin Luther's three questions:

1. What can I learn about God's character in this passage? What in this passage can inspire praise?
2. What can I learn about myself by reading this passage? Is there anything I need to repent of?
3. And what about petition--are any needs revealed while reading this passage?

For the first question, I can say that God IS trustworthy. Though this passage doesn't elaborate on why He is trustworthy, I know from reading other verses that:

• God is faithful; 
• God is good; 
• God is wise; 
• God is steadfast; 
• God is merciful; 
• God is slow to anger. 

For the second question, I can say a lot. Here are some of the questions you can ask yourself:

• Do I trust in the Lord?
• Do I trust in the Lord with all my heart?
• In what ways am I not trusting the Lord?
• Do I acknowledge the Lord? Do I acknowledge Him in ALL my ways?
• Am I guilty of leaning on my own understanding and being wise in my own eyes?
• Do I fear the Lord?
• Am I willing to turn away from evil?

For the third question, I can say just look to the answers to the above!

Meditation can lead to prayer, and perhaps should lead to prayer.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Welcome to Live Like You're Loved

Are you teachable?

• Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11
• Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4
• Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:5
• He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. Psalm 25:9
• Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51:6
• The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! Psalm 119:64
•  You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:68

How does the Lord teach us? 

• He teaches us through the Word of God and through the Holy Spirit. How blessed we are to have the Spirit of God dwelling in us. The Spirit opens our hearts and minds to understand and apply the Word of God. We have a divine teacher!
• He also teaches us through our experiences, circumstances, and situations. Some lessons are quickly learnt; others more uncomfortably learnt, perhaps!

What are some of the things the Lord teaches us?

• Who HE is!
• How HE works!
• Who we are IN Him!
• What we are without Him!
• How much the world needs to hear the good news! This good news is so GREAT it's not to be kept hidden!
• How we should live in response to his mercy and grace! Though we are saved by the grace of God by faith given by God, faith placed in the very Son of God, and not by any works or merits of our own, we are told to live for God, to do everything for the glory of God. The Bible teaches us how to live holy lives!

This is what Paul told Timothy:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 14-17

What are some of the things you notice about the text? I'll share just a few things I noticed. 

• Timothy was to continue in what he had learned; to continue in what he had already believed. 
• He was taught. He didn't suddenly know everything the moment he came to saving faith, or, the moment he was baptized. He needed to be taught. He needed to apply himself to learning. 
• We should always either be in the process of being taught or in teaching others. Sometimes both! I think we should be life-long learners. We will never know everything there is to know about God, after all. Just because you don't know everything, doesn't mean you shouldn't be willing to teach what you do know. 
• Paul was preparing Timothy for ministry, for teaching others. Whether you're a minister or not, there may be someone in your life that could benefit from learning from you. 
• Christianity is more than a feeling. There are definite things to be taught, to be learned. 
• The "sacred writings"--the Bible--is able to make us wise for salvation. They lead us to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. All Scripture speaks of Him, and, points towards Him. 
• All Scripture is God-breathed! The fact that the Bible is divine, has a divine author, is reason enough to treasure it. But there is more…
• Profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness….
• Do you want to be complete? Do you want to be equipped for every good work? The Bible is the book for you. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible