Celebrating Jesus’ Enthronement

Drawing attention to the second half of Hebrews 1:3 this Resurrection morning:

…after making purification for sins, [God's Son, Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…

Two acts performed by God’s Son come together in this text to communicate one magnificent truth for our redemption. First, the Son made purification for sins. This act not only distinguishes him from all other beings, but also—and especially—appeals to his unique work as High Priest on behalf of his own. It was fitting that he bring many sons to glory by tasting death and making propitiation for them (2:9-18). For Jesus Christ entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing their eternal redemption (9:12). It was him who offered himself once for all to bear and put away the sins of many by the sacrifice of himself (9:26-28).

Yet this act of purification, glorious as it is, is not left standing alone. The writer explains that it was performed before yet another great act, one that in God’s redemptive purpose accompanies the purification. Hence, second, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. The Son first made purification for sins—observed in his enduring the cross and confirmed in God’s raising him from the dead—and once this was completed, then He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty. He did this to enable sinners, who once could not approach God without being consumed in his wrath, to come before the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that that they will receive mercy and grace in time of need (4:16). He did this so that all his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet so that sinners would receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken (10:13; 12:28). He did this to bring all his children to dwell with him on Zion’s hill in the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, so that they might worship God with reverence and awe (12:18-24).

Such glorious participation by the saints in these things is and has been accomplished by the supreme Son’s role as both High Priest of heaven and High King of heaven. How breathtaking it is that the High Priest is also High King, and the High King is also High Priest. Jesus is our High Priest and High King, and his enthronement is itself for the salvation of the people for whom he died.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, today, fix your eyes upon the Son, who is the pioneer and perfector of our faith. For the joy that was sat before him, he endured the cross, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who has endured such great hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. May God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever; Amen (13:20-21).

Come Thou Long Expected Seed 18

I am aware that the season of Advent celebration (at least on the calendar) came to a close yesterday, Christmas day, as I am sure many in Christ’s church rejoiced in God’s sending of the Savior as one of us, so that all his Father gave to him would be redeemed. My ambitious goal to post twenty-five Advent devotions was not accomplished; however, I am not discouraged by this. Enjoyng Christ with Rachel and Luke is a thousand times more important than neglecting them (and thus disobey Christ) to reach my goal in typing these out. I still intend to finish the twenty-five, but this may mean our celebration of Advent may be lasting a bit longer here at Irruption. May we continue rejoicing in the Savior together.

Eighteenth Day of Advent: Galatians 4:1-7

By observing the Matthew and Luke’s birth narratives and the prologue to John, we find that God sent his only Son into the world through his virgin servant, Mary, and did so in a way that he fulfilled the promises God had given to David to raise up for him an offspring whose kingdom would last forever; to Abraham to grant him a seed in whom all the nations would be blessed; and to Israel to send them an anointed one who would deliver them from their enemies and save them from their sins.

Grounded in these same Gospel-truths concerning the Lord’s first Advent, Paul exhorts the churches in Galatia to welcome Gentiles who trust in Christ as fellow recipients of the promises given to Abraham because the true Gospel teaches that God justifies sinners by faith in Christ, the curse bearer, apart from works of the Law (2:15-3:14). In order to buttress his strong exhortation to the church and rebuke to those teaching differently, Paul explains that redemptive history has reached a unique climax in the coming of Christ (3:15-4:7). God ordained that the Law under the Mosaic covenant was to be in effect only until the promised seed, who he identifies as Jesus Christ, arrived (Gal 3:15-18; cf. Gen 12:1-3; 22:18). Until that day—a day anticipated by God’s chosen remnant—those under the Law remained enslaved to sin, for the Law only exposed sin and increased bondage (3:21-22). However, that unique day had in fact come with the arrival of the seed in the person of Jesus.

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Gal 4:1-7).

God sent his own Son into the world in a unique and purposeful way. He was born of a woman and born under the Law. That he was born of a woman means he took on the very nature of those for whom he came to bear the curse of the Law. Human sinners needed a human substitute. And because their sin is an infinite offense against God, they also needed an infinitely worthy sacrifice. For this reason, the Son of God took on flesh, and for this reason, only the God-man, Jesus Christ, can bear the curse. That he was born under the Law means that he had to live under the Law, fulfilling all of its demands perfectly, in order to deliver those who lived under the Law. Liberation from bondage to sin could not come for the people from the Law, for it only exposed sin and empowered nobody to obey God. This had to come with the work of the promised Seed, the only Son of God, Jesus Christ. He came in this way on purpose; for God ordained to redeem those under the Law in this way, and determined to adopt us as children unto himself in this way.

Apart from this unique birth of the seed promised to Abraham, there would be no deliverance from sin, no freedom from salvery to the Law, no justification before God, and no Spirit-empowered life following redemption. BUT, Jesus Christ did come in this manner, and did accomplish the redeeming work his Father purposed him to accomplish in association with his first Advent, namely, the work completed in the cross. For those who believe in him and trust in his finished work, God promises that they will be justified before him and united to the community of faith and made heirs of all the promises God lavished upon his children. For this reason, justified sinners like ourselves can not only cry “Abba, Father!”, but can also glory in Thou long expected seed.

Shai Linne on the Atonement

A couple of brothers (one being Q-dog with Christcentric) at Redeemer, who know I enjoy Gospel-centered hip-hop directed me a while back to a fella named Shai Linne (see his MySpace account here). Most recently they pointed out that Shai cut a new album entitled “The Atonement” that he devoted to soberly articulating (or in his words “unpacking”) a reflection on and celebration of the glories of Christ, his cross, and what his atoning death did, in fact, accomplish for God’s elect.

Shai cut the album because he continues to observe that Christians often just assume the cross and do not proclaim it or even seek to understand it. Good observation (and convicting). Watch and listen to more of his comments below in Part 1 of his Atonement Interview. Part 2 is just as good.

Read the lyrics to this album on his blog. I look forward to being able to purchase it soon.

Death by Love

I may be more excited about this book than any that have come my way in a while.

Augustine on Christ’s Atonement…

I find these (translated) quotations from Augustine concerning the effectual death of Christ amazing encouragement for missions and the perseverance of the saints. Be blessed by them.

By him the Mediator, the Lord declareth himself to make those whom he redeemed with his blood, of evil, good to eternity. …Christ will possess what he bought; he bought it with such a price that he might possess it (De correptione et gratia, chapter 11).

He that bought us with such a price will have none perish whom he hath bought (Sermon 44, de Verbis Apostoli).

Atonement in John

I wanted to wait until it was graded to put it up on the blog, but now I’ve gotten it back with helpful and encouraging remarks from Dr. Schreiner. Of course, nothing I write is going to float the boat of anyone in the realm of technical Biblical scholarship. I don’t consider myself headed in that direction. But it is my hope that this paper will help to defend the doctrine of substitutionary atonement as it is found in the Gospel of John, as well as help believers rejoice in said truth. What this paper discusses has everything to do with the glory of God in Christ, and the treasure of all who believe. I enjoyed writing this paper more than I have any other. It’s available on the “papers and articles” page.

The Nature of the Atonement

Beilby, James and Paul R. E ddy, eds. The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. 208 pp. $20.00.

Many churches are embracing the postmodern agenda of the ‘Emerging Church’ leaders, who slanderously consider the historic-evangelical doctrine of the atoning work of Christ to be teaching nothing more than divine child abuse. In order to protect the church from such cross-diminishing literature and erroneous exegesis, pastors and teachers should be well prepared to handle various views on the nature of the atonement. Editors James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy provide a helpful discussion concerning the nature of Christ’s atonement in their book entitled, The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views.