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The Power Behind Christian Living – Essential Beliefs, # 34, Holy Spirit, Part B

Every morning the sun rises. Every evening it sets. The energy from that burning star keeps everything on earth alive, warm, and growing. Imagine the multiplication of that energy through the multiplied stars and galaxies. Where did it come from?

The Holy Spirit was “hovering over the waters” (Gen. 1:2) at creation joining with the Father and the Son, to craft our astounding universe. Power? One glimpse of God’s creative energy would blow us away. That’s why when we think too highly of ourselves, we should go out on a dark night and gaze at the stars. We don’t dare gaze at the sun.

The all-powerful Holy Spirit generates life and takes it away. “When you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:29,30)

He qualifies men and women with gifts and abilities. “The LORD has chosen Bezalel…and has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze [along with others] he filled them with skill to do all kinds of work—all of them master craftsmen and designers” (Ex 35:30-35). And about NT believers we read; “There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit…All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Cor. 12:4, 11).

He inspired the writers of Scripture. “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man; but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

But the toughest nut to crack is the human heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it” (Jer. 17:9)? Ever since our fall in Eden we have been , “dead in your transgressions and sins…disobedient…gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and followings its desires and thought…objects of [God’s] wrath” (Eph. 2:1-3). Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil” (Jer. 13;23).  

How then can a sinner be changed? Jesus promised the Spirt who, “when he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).

Once convicted of sin, the Spirit puts a new heart within us as promised by Ezekiel. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). Jesus explained this to Nicodemus. “No one can enter the kingdom of God [have a forgiven heart over which Jesus rules] unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5,6).

At our spiritual heart transplant, he comes to dwell within us and join us with other believers into the Church, the new temple of God. “You, yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you” (1 Cor. 3:16). “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). He then continues to teach and guide the Church.

Individually, He sanctifies new heart recipients, conforming them to the image of Christ. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…being rooted and established in love” (Eph. 3:16, 17). “And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with every increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

John Flavel writes, “The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.” Fortunately, we have the Spirit to make the impossible, possible. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can live gentle, compassionate, and constructive live even though the culture around us may be perverted. There is much more we could say about this wonderful guest.

Are you feeling tempted, discouraged, tired out? Appeal to the Holy Spirit within you to make real the things of Christ, to make the Scriptures alive, to give you a new song, to deliver you from temptation and put within you a new motivation to become more Christlike. He will do it!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Beneath the Waking Maples the Wildflowers Bloom

To most of us in this media-saturated day, up and down our asphalt streets, and in our suburban houses can relate to this doggerel:

The cricket’s gone, we only hear machines;

In erg and atom they exact their pay.

And life is largely lived on silver screens.

Marsh Marigolds

But out in the countryside spring has sprung!

For winter’s rains and ruins are over,

And all the season of snows and sins;

The days dividing lover and lover,

The light that loses, the night that wins;

And time remembered is grief forgotten,

And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,

And in green underwood and cover

Blossom by blossom the spring begins.[1]

It’s wildflower time! The earliest begin to appear: the bloodroot, the dog-toothed violets, and the hepaticas appear.

Bloodroot

Dog-toothed violets

Hepaticas

With spring racing to embrace summer before they have had time to fade, the trilliums, red and white, and a strange new variety with a green stripe. Then bellwort, Solomon’s seal, toothwort and Jack-in-the-pulpit and of course the violets.

Red trillium, wake robin

White trillium

Toothwort

Rare trillium mutation

She comes with gusts of laughter, –

The music as of rills;

With tenderness and sweetness,

The wisdom of the hills.[1]

It is not growing like a tree

In bulk, doth make man better be;

Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,

To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sear:

A lily of a day

Is fairer far in May,

Although it fall and die that night–

It was the plant and flower of Light.

In small proportions we just beauties see,

And in short measures life may perfect be.[1]

It was the plant and flower of Light.

In small proportions we just beauties see,

And in short measures life may perfect be.[1]

Bellwort Starflower

Take time to wander down country roads, to hike through the awakening woods with eyes peeled to discover the little known gems scattered by the loving God of all creation. Maybe you’ll find some bellwort or starflowers.

[i] David McCord, Ballade of Time and Space, 1935 [839:3, Bartlett’s

The Real Change-maker – Essential Beliefs, #33

Who can cause a mountain to rise from the sea? Who can create something from nothing? Who can change an addicted, blaspheming murderer into a saint? A magician? A guru? A counselor? A scientist? A philosopher? No, only the Holy Spirit.

But before we consider the Spirit’s power and influence, let’s settle the fact that he is the third person of the Trinity with all the traits of personality. He is not an impersonal force or influence emanating from God. As Berkhof points out, “he searches, speaks, testifies, commands, reveals, strives, creates, makes intercessions, raises the dead” and makes an abuser into a flower of compassion.  

Jesus makes it clear. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans…The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:16-18, 26).

Not an orphan maker, the Holy Spirit is a comforter and family creator.

With the Father and the Son, this all-powerful, third person of the Trinity was “hovering over the waters” (Gen. 1:2), and joining with them in the creation of the universe. He is the one who generates life, imparts gifts and abilities, and who inspired the writers of the Bible. “I have chosen Bezalel…and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts” (Exodus 301:2). “For the prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). And, as Jesus explained in John 14 and Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, the Spirit helps us understand what the Spirit, himself inspired. “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us…words taught by the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:13,14).

We live in a beautiful world, but a world tarnished by greed and self-righteousness, ingratitude and distrust.

Is there any hope? Can dark, stony, selfish hearts be changed? Only through the Holy Spirit. (I’ll explore his heart-changing work in the next post.)

Where Have All The Fathers Gone – Essential Beliefs, #32, God, the Father

Where have all the fathers gone? Can the Heavenly Father make up for the missing?

Nearly a quarter of children in America grow up without a father. In Canada the statistics are slightly better. The fallout from this absenteeism is devastating. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “children from fatherless homes account for: 63 percent of youth suicides, 85 percent of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders, 71 percent of high school dropouts, 70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions” and the statistics go on and on.

Many class the absence of fathers as one of the greatest social problems of the day. Even in two-parent families, there are many children who grow up with emotionally distant fathers. In this climate of crisis, many find it difficult to relate to God as our Father. But he is a loving, forgiving, accepting Father!

While the full revelation of God, as Father, waited for the coming of the Son, nevertheless the intensity and constancy of God’s love and compassion is revealed throughout the Old Testament. “You, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name” (Isaiah 63:16 See also 64:8). “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him…he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13,14).

Jesus came and raised our understanding of God, as Father, to Olympian heights. He declared, “The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me…My Father…is greater than all; …I and the Father are one” (John 10:25,29,30). Thus, he asserted not only his Father’s greatness but his oneness with the Father in essence, and the Father-sanctioned task he came to fulfill. Of the seven words he spoke on the cross, two were addressed to the Father. He described his ascension to heaven, as “I am returning to my Father, and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17).

Jesus gave us a model way to think about and pray to our Heavenly Father. “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.…” We are to approach him as his children with a sense of reverence, the knowledge that we live in the context of his kingly rule over all things, and that our well being is linked to how we obey his revealed will of what is right and good. We approach him with a sense of dependence for all the things we need, “our daily bread,” a sense of our failures and need for his loving forgiveness, and with the appeal that he may help us live in harmony with others. (See Matthew 6:5-15)

Adoption into our Father’s spiritual family is one of the most astounding gifts of God. No matter had broken we are. No matter the anguish we bear. No matter how stained with sin. No matter how dysfunctional our family. Through faith in the redeeming blood of Christ, we become children of God. (John 1:12) Like the Father in the parable of the prodigal son, he welcomes us home into his loving arms. (Luke 15) He puts the Spirit within us which enables us to call God, abba, that is, daddy. (Gal. 4:6,7). Suddenly, we who were spiritual paupers become heirs of God! (John 8:17)

Our Father’s arms are open to welcome us into the security and love of his family.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Can One God Exist as Three Persons? – Essential Beliefs, #31, The Trinity

I take up again my posts on essential doctrines, of which belief in the Trinity is one. True believers are trinitarian. We’ve seen that many of God’s attributes—infinite, eternal, unchangeable—are beyond human comprehension. So, it should not surprise us when we come to the tri-unity of God to find mystery.

Early in this series we stated, with proofs, the infallibility of the Scriptures. Without using the Scriptures as the foundation of all inquiry into ultimate questions, we will be at sea in a leaking boat without paddles. (Please excuse me for failing to shorten this enormous subject into a brief post. )

When we turn to the Old Testament Scriptures what do we find? Mystery. “Then God said, let us make man in our image” (Gen. 1:26). Plural language. We discover a visible being called the Angel of Jehovah (LORD) and later the Angel of God speaking to Hagar (Gen. 16:7ff; 21:17ff), the LORD appearing to Abraham who looks up and sees three men, and later two angels appearing to Lot to deliver him from Sodom. In Proverbs Wisdom is personified. (See Prov. 8:12-31). Multiple persons are mentioned in Psalm 45:6,7. Isaiah 61:1, a passage clearly prophetic of Jesus’ ministry states, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. The Spirit, the LORD, and the one anointed are distinct.

And yet the OT states clearly that God is one. To this day Jews repeat this phrase, the Shema, as a declaration of faith. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deut. 6:4). One might understand why Muslims and Jews stumble over our belief in the Tri-unity of God. If we brought mere reason to bear on this belief, and not revelation, we too might stumble.

However, we must believe what God through Scripture affirms. That the Father is God, which no one doubts. That Christ is God, the Son of God, is clear from the attributes attributed to him, the works he accomplishes, and the praise offered him. The Sanhedrin understood his claim to be equal with God and for this assumed blasphemy crucified him. But we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…through him all thing were made…the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only” (John 1:1,3,14). Multiplied verses could be cited, which I will not do at this time.

That the Spirit is God is also clear from the attributes, works and praise attributed to him. That His personality, as the Holy Spirit, is distinct from the Father and the Son is clear as Berkhof states, “He searches, speaks, testifies, commands, reveals, strives, creates, makes intercession raises the dead, etc.” (See Gen. 1:2, 6:3, Luke 12:2; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:8; Acts 8:29; 13:2 and Rom. 8:16) (Systematic Theology, L. Berkhof, p. 96)

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything” (John 14:26). “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ…And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,…give life…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God? (Romans 8:9,10,11,14).

The baptismal formula makes no sense without faith in the tri-unity of God. “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).

After the study of scholars and various church councils, the main confessions of faith define the Trinity, with small variations in wording as follows: “Three divine Persons constitute the Godhead—the Father, the Son (or the Word), and the Holy Spirit. They are one in substance, in power, and in eternity. Each is fully God, and yet the Godhead is one and indivisible. The Father owes His being to none. He is Father to the Son who is eternally begotten of Him. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. These Persons, one infinite and eternal God not to be divided in nature or in being, are distinguished in Scripture by their personal relations within the Godhead, and by the variety of works which they undertake. Their tri-unity, (that is, the doc trine of the Trinity) is the essential basis of all our fellowship with God, and of the comfort we derive from our dependence upon Him.” (The 1689 Confession)

One cannot be a Christian without faith in the Trinity. Nor can one find the comfort that flows from the glorious Three-in-One, the God of all comfort.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Why Attend Church? — The Wrong Question

In an article in the March issue of Christianity Today, p. 69, Kirsten Sanders tackles this question. With many asking why attendance at a local church matters she comments: “The instinct that God can be encountered in living rooms, in nature, and even on a TV is not wrong. The entire Christian tradition insists that God is not hindered by anything and can be near people through matter—even when conveyed by data packets to a screen. God indeed dwells with his people, gathered in homes across the world. Yet it would be incorrect also to call such a presence ‘church.’” “The concern of God in creating the church is not to form persons but to form a people.” A gathered people.

I would add to her article several other matters, including the fact that Jesus came preaching the kingdom. After his temptation, baptism by John, and then John’s imprisonment Jesus began “proclaiming good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:14,15). His early followers misinterpreted that to mean that he would set up an earthly kingdom in place of Rome.

The whole New Testament explains that this was not his purpose. The kingdom comes when a sinner is born again and God, as king, through the Spirit enters into a sovereign relationship with that person. The person is transported from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Think of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Luke explains; “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20,21).

The first Christians showed they were part of this kingdom, an earthly beachhead as it were, with specific gathered activities. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” They kept meeting together and praising God. Hebrews 10:25 explains how normative that is.

We need to realize how special we are as believers. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people; but now you are the people of God” (1 Peter 2:9,10).

Dear friends, we are kingdom people. We represent the kingdom of God on earth until that day when Christ will return and establish his overt authority over all. Every local church is an embassy of the kingdom. We do not have a choice to go to church or not. If we have been chosen and redeemed, we have become citizens of a new country. We may be Canadians or Americans, but first and foremost we are God’s Kingdom Citizens. Should we deny our citizenship by refusing to attend a local church?

If you have worked in Bongo Bongo for a decade and the Canadian Embassy there puts on a BBQ for all its citizens would you be embarrassed to go because you disagree with some of the politics? You’d probably look forward to rubbing shoulders with fellow Canadians.

At this point many will say; but the church hurt me, my church has real flaws, or I don’t agree with the leadership, or it didn’t help me when I had a need. Or, in extreme cases, my church has fallen away from grace and become heretical. If your church has become a synagogue of Satan instead of a flawed representative of heaven, then you may have some reason to avoid it, even fight against it. BUT, that is not the case for most who avoid attending. Brothers and sisters, it is time to put away the daggers, put the hurts under the blood of Christ, and join other flawed brothers and sisters in gently, lovingly, prayerfully working to make your church a genuine place where the God of the Word, the Spirit of God, and where the Head of the Church maintains authority. Your fellow struggling saints need you! And the needs to know God has establish a beachhead on earth.

Should we look for excuses not to attend? Or excuses to go?

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

Seeking Equilibrium – A Man’s Journey Through Grief, #33

Fourteen months have passed since God called Mary Helen home. Many of you have followed me in this journey. Many have prayed for me. Many have encouraged me. For your sake—and my own—let me take inventory of my progress. I would be exaggerating if I said that I’ve now got a handle on this grief; I’ve been able to build a new normal. By contrast, I’m tempted to say nothing can ever be normal again.

And yet, my life has settled into a fairly stable routine. I’m quite busy. I have several serious writing projects that occupy me three or more days a week. Twice a week I have encouraging Bible studies and prayer times with good friends from the church. I’m part of an online book club connected with my undergrad university and I have just joined one at our local library. As the spring and summer weather improves, I’ll be scheduling some day trips to explore interesting places. Being busy has helped with the loneliness. But being busy doesn’t take the place Mary Helen occupied.

I’ve been trying to adopt Mary Helen’s friendly way of getting to know neighbours here where I live and new people at the church. And I must say, that I’ve made real progress here. Just the other day I had several break-through conversations. Several have asked me to find a time to go out for coffee.

I miss my family. They have been part of my healing. It was wonderful to be with John and Shona over Easter. But since my kids live at some distance; Stephen in Atlanta, John west of Toronto, and Debbie in Florida through the winter, I can’t do much to solve that problem. Of course, there will be more summer gatherings to enjoy.

Strangely enough, Sundays have become one of my loneliest times. Oh, I enjoy going to the Bible class and joining the congregation for their Sunday worship. I love my church. But since Mary Helen and I spent our whole lives together in ministry, either in Pakistan or here in Canada, sitting without her beside me just feels so unnatural, so lonely. With family not available to join me in a pew, I often find myself looking around the congregation for someone to sit beside. And then to leave church without her—well you can imagine.

I still have unpredictable periods of intense grief. They occur much less often that six, ten months ago. Yes, tears still come without warning. But I must say that some of the tears appear because of  a greater sense of God’s love and grace. They are tears of wonder and gratitude. If you have followed these posts, which began more like laments, you will have noticed that God has been behind the scenes all the way. He has been comforting. He has been sustaining me and challenging me to move forward. He has been reminding me of Mary Helen’s current address. He has been teaching me about those things which are of eternal import. He has been lifting my eyes to the wonders to come in the new heavens and the new earth. I think he has been drawing me closer to himself in love.

I have made no progress in cultivating platonic relationships with women. I miss the female perspective. But that’s okay, God knows best. Some might say, why don’t you move to a seniors’ community where there will be more day-to-day fellowship with a variety of people, men and women. That would be wise for many. But I enjoy my condo-independence, my control over meals, and just being able to come and go as I please. I’m so thankful for this ideal living space which both of us shared before her home-going. With God’s help, I need a degree of independence to chart my way.

I think the hymn describes my condition fairly well. Maybe not “new heights every day”, but progress:

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

One other thing I would say in this which may be my last post in this series. (I make no promises.) I have been fairly transparent in these posts about my sorrows, my tears, my struggles, my pain, and my progress. Every church needs a small group where those who have lost loved ones may gather to share their grief and find encouragement to press on. We are all very reticent to open our hearts to others, even other believers. We maintain a persona that conforms to what our group deems normal for a Christian. But God calls us to be authentic.

A recent preacher from Uganda described the deep trauma experienced by many in his country due to wars. But he warned us in the west that all of us have hidden emotional wounds that need healing if we are to avoid a mental health crisis. What he said is true. We are already in the midst of a pandemic of depression and other mental health issues. The grieving, particularly, need a healing place. Let’s start with that.

To God be the glory for what he has done, continues to do, and will complete in the coming Day of Jesus Christ!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

The Seven Sayings of Christ from the Cross, concluded

FIVE:

Out in a desert village in Pakistan with the thermometer rising to 115 degrees, I remember thirst. Since the water offered was dipped from a canal, I had to drop a Halazone tablet into the glass and wait for it to take effect. The wait was excruciating. But it was nothing like the thirst Jesus felt on the cross.

Near the end of the three hours of darkness, agony and great loss of blood, “knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I AM THIRSTY’” (John 19:28-30). All he was offered was wine vinegar. This fifth word from the cross highlights the mystery of his humanity. Paul expresses it, “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). Jesus suffered as man, a real man with flesh and blood. 

The one who became our sacrifice had to be made like us. He came as a baby, grew as a child, knew weariness, fell asleep in a boat, was hungry and thirsty. [See Luke 2:7, 52, John 4:6, Matt. 4:2; Mark 4:38; John 4:3, etc.] Neither God nor angels thirst. He was not a deified man such as the Hercules of mythology nor a humanized god like the Zeus of mythology.

In Jesus we face the mystery of the God-Man. He is one with the Father as the Son of God (John 10:30) yet he was born of Mary as to his human nature. As hammered out in the great creeds, he was not two persons but one person with two natures. As God, he voluntarily surrendered the independent exercise of his divine attributes such as omnipotence and omniscience, submitting their exercise to the Father’s will. He emptied himself. He said, “I do always those things that please the Father.” (See Phil. 2:5-11.)

His cry of thirst expresses his identification with us in our humanity. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death….he is able to help those who are being tempted…We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin” (Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14,15).

Whatever we feel today, we should bring to Jesus. He understands and intercedes for us that our sufferings and temptations may not overwhelm us but contribute to our growth in grace.

SIX:

We all looked forward to the end of the pandemic and freedom from lockdowns, but the use of masks seems to continue in some venues. Will that ever end so we can see whole faces again?  Hopefully soon. After hours of agony on the cross, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “It is finished” (Matt. 27:5; John 19:30). HIS SIXTH WORD.

Three of his words from the cross expressed his love for others. Two expressed his own agony as he endured suffering for our sins. The last two echoed his triumph.

This sixth word, uttered with a loud cry, expressed the CONCLUSION of his sufferings, the end of the old dispensation and the declaration of our emancipation from the slavery of sin.

It is a cry of COMPLETION. All the prophecies of his first coming are fulfilled. The work of his incarnation is complete. Describing his coming he said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).  “I glorified Thee on earth, I have accomplished the work which you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

It is a cry of PERFECTION. The law of God is perfect, yet none of us have kept it. “But when the fulness of time came God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4,5). As Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). He fulfilled the law perfectly by his obedience and sacrifice.

It symbolizes a perfect salvation! Heb. 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected forever those that are sanctified (Set apart by salvation)” (Heb. 10:14). Through his suffering he has secured for those who repent; forgiveness, justification, redemption, adoption, reconciliation, sanctification and glorification. A perfect salvation!

It is a cry of TRIUMPH. Note that he gave up his spirit. It was not taken from him. He died on his own terms, not a cowering victim but a triumphant Saviour. Because of him we can cry, Hallelujah! Imagine a symbol of humiliation is now a symbol of triumph!

SEVEN:

One of the most challenging things about the pandemic was being told we must wear a mask, where we can go and not go, who we can meet with, and the distance we must stay from others. We don’t like to be compelled to do anything. We believe in freedom and thus the protests we have seen. This whole matter of freedom brings up the question; was Jesus compelled by the Father to die for our sins?

With our punishment paid, THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS was uttered in a loud cry of victorious triumph. “Jesus called out in a loud voice,” (John 19:30): “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this he breathed his last. He bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Luke 23:46).

His first and last words from the cross were addressed to the Father. In this final word we see that the separation between the Son and the Father has ended as has his suffering. His sufferings did not destroy his relationship in the Godhead to the Father.

By saying, “into your hands I commit my spirit,” he indicates that his death was VOLUNTARY. He chose this path for you and me! Matthew 27:5 indicates that “he yielded up his spirit,” while John 19:30 describes it as “he bowed his head and gave up his Spirit.” Earlier he had predicted this. “The reason the Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:”17,18).

It is important to note here that the sinless man, Christ Jesus died. Neither the Father nor the Spirit died. It is incorrect to say that God died on the cross.

Note also the REDEMPTIVE EFFECT of his death. The hardened Roman centurion who had seen countless deaths and been unaffected by the whimpers, gasps, cries and curses uttered by others dying was astounded at this death. He had never seen a man die with a loud voice of triumph while uttering a prayer. Seeing Jesus die after hours of darkness in the midst of a terrible earthquake, he “praised God and said, ‘surely this was a righteous man’”

Matthew 27:54 records; “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” I have no doubt that at least the centurion became a believer in Christ that day.

Meanwhile the crowds who had gathered to leer and jeer at the crucified suddenly sobered. “When the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.” (Luke 23:48).

What should be OUR REACTION? His redemptive death teaches us that while our obedience must be absolute our service must be voluntary, not compelled. We can trust God in the darkness for his grace will enable us to persevere to the end and die triumphantly.

You can’t imagine a more victimized person than Jesus. Yet when he died, he didn’t say, “I am finished” but “It is finished.” He did not play the victim, and thus he emerged the victor. (Joni Eareckson Tada)

Praise God for the victory He purchased for us. Have a blessed Easter weekend knowing that the cross leads to the empty tomb.

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

The Seven Sayings of Christ from the Cross, Part One

This is the week that changed our world!

Martin Carlucci killed Walter Everett’s son. When Carlucci was convicted of manslaughter, the bereaved father forgave Michael. Why would he do that? He explained that people won’t understand why Jesus came and what Jesus is all about unless we forgive.

ONE:

As we begin the countdown of the week that changed our world, I’m going to post some thoughts on the seven sayings of Christ from the cross. After the 6 stages of the sham trial, Jesus was scourged, mocked, spit upon, and beaten then taken to the place of the skull where his hands and feet were nailed to a cross. Lifted up in agony, he said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

What did Jesus mean? He is praying to the Father as Isaiah 53:12 predicted, “He will makeintercession for the transgressors.” And who were those transgressors? The Pharisees who plotted his death, the mob who cried for his crucifixion, Pilate who washed his hands of his guilt, and the Roman soldiers whose unfeeling cruelty nailed him to the cross. Yes, but who else? Peter at Pentecost accused the whole audience of crucifying the Lord of glory. (Acts. 3:13-15,17) Peter knew what all honest sinners know. We crucified him, you and I! Yes, it was the Jews. Yes, it was the Romans. But he was delivered by the counsel of God to pay the penalty for our sins and because of the rebellion and guilt of individuals from all races of people.

One of the great misunderstandings of Scripture which led to a horrific historical crime was that of the mediaeval church labelling and persecuting Jews as, “Christ killers.” Hitler took up this horrendous twisting of history. No! No! a thousand times, no! “He bore our sins.” “He died for our sins, English, African, Asian, Mexican, French. It was our guilt that sent him to the cross. 

Jesus also prayed for forgiveness because “they do not know,” what they are doing. The Pharisees knew the injustice of their charge. The mob among whom many had relatives healed, knew this was a travesty of justice. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. But none knew the enormity of their crime…as so few on this Easter week know the magnitude of what happened. It was the crucifixion of the LORD of glory, the Son of God, the eternal creator of the world who laid aside His divine prerogatives to come as the Son of Man, our Saviour. What does this first saying mean for you and me? Three things; I desperately need forgiveness for my sins, no matter how great my sin, I can be forgiven, and I must forgive others. I confessed my sins to Jesus when I was 19 and I was forgiven. You can be too!

TWO:

The world is full of mysteries. Out in the desert near the town where we worked in Pakistan stood a lonely, crumbling tower, Pattan Minara. It was all that remained of a city by the Rajputs from over 1500 years ago. But even more mysterious, it stood on a thick mound of shards from an earlier city of the Indus Civilization that existed well over 3500 years ago. The writing from that mysterious Indus civilization has never been deciphered.

But greater than all other mysteries is that of life after death and why the giver of life should die upon a cross to secure for us this eternal life. Jesus was crucified at 9:00 in the morning. Beside him two thieves were also crucified to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” At first both of them, although guilty, joined others in mocking him and challenging him to come down from the cross.

Then one thief recognized the innocence of Jesus and cried to his robber companion; “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” And to Jesus he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

One thief is penitent and one impenitent. The penitent thief repents of his sins; that is, he has a spiritual change of mind. He confesses his guilt and cries out to Jesus for mercy. His repentance has led him to a changed attitude toward Christ as well. He now believes that Jesus is sinless, that his death is not the end for he will return, that he is able to forgive sins [he heard Jesus first word], and he realizes that Jesus has a kingdom of which he is a Lord.

In response, Jesus utters his second word from the cross. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)

Note that Jesus alone has the ability to ensure our destiny. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 19:27,28). Note also that our destiny can be settled immediately, NOW. There is no soul sleep, no slumbering in dark places of gloom until the day of judgement. Upon death, believers go immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ. Note thirdly that the place repentant believers go is called Paradise which is a word from Persian meaning “garden.” At death believers in Jesus pass into a place of indescribable beauty, peace and tranquility—with Jesus.

Pink tells us: “This thief was saved at the final hour of his life to show us that this is possible; But he is the only case of this happening to show us it is unlikely”. God can work in spite of there being no preaching, no meeting, no baptism, no time to grow in grace—but this is very unlikely. Beware lest we wait until it is too late to get right with Christ. Be saved today! No one is beyond mercy!

Three men shared death upon a hill,

But only one man died;

The other two—

A thief and God Himself—

Made rendezvous.

Three crosses still

Are borne up Calvary’s Hill,

Where Sin still lifts them high;

Upon the one, sag broken men

Who, cursing, die;

Another holds the praying thief,

Or those who, penitent as he,

Still find the Christ

Beside them on the tree.”

            (Miriam LeFevre Crouse.)

THREE:

Some estimate that 45% of all Baby Boomers will become CARE-GIVERS as their parents age. And yet the pandemic restricted the access many had to those from their families in retirement homes and care facilities. Fortunately, in many cases nurses, doctors and care-givers took up the slack. Sadly, many of those became burnt out with the intensity of their duties and now we have a huge shortage of care-givers. With restrictions eased, society needs to recover family visitation and care. If our societies are to work, rather than crash into chaos, we should seek a revival of the God-ordained function of loving families. Good Friday has something to say here.

Below the cross the soldiers were gambling for Jesus’ clothing. But from agony-dimmed eyes upon the cross, Jesus spied his mother among the group of women gathered to lament his death. He also spied one disciple. All the others had fled. To his mother he said, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to John he said, “Here is your mother,” indicating that John should care for his mother. “From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26,27).

Loving compassion for all was a hallmark of Jesus’ ministry—and even in his death. In dying for our sins, he still arranged care for his mother through John since his own siblings were not believers. Note his special love for John. Note also the central role of women in the life and death of Christ. Do we grant women today the honour they deserve? Note the absence of men. How many times have men failed and continue to fail to demonstrate the faithfulness and courage needed to extend the kingdom? Men, we must gather at the cross.

But the abiding lesson of Jesus’ third word from the cross is that we must care for our relatives–especially our immediate family–our children, our parents, our grandparents. Failure to care for our immediate family shows a failure to grasp an elementary truth of the Christian faith. It is essential to obeying the 5th of the ten commandments. Even unbelievers care for their relatives. Consider the care Asians render to their aged. Can we who follow Christ, of whatever culture, do less? In the home-going of Mary Helen, my wife, I was very fortunate in this regard.

FOUR:

Have you ever heard the cry of a lost child in a mall, “Mommy!!” Or witnessed the anguish of a wife abandoned by her husband. Many of us, like myself, have wept over the death of a spouse. But none of us can really relate to The FOURTH CRY OF CHRIST FROM THE CROSS. It was a cry of abandonment. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46)?

From noon to three pm, darkness descended on the whole land accentuating Jesus’ agony. Luther and Calvin comment that during those three hours, Jesus endured the torments of the damned, the worst of which was his separation from the Father.

As expressed by the hymn writer;

Well might the sun in darkness hide

And shut his glories in

When Christ the mighty maker died

For man the creature’s sin.

The central question that echoes through history is WHY? And the simple answer is that Jesus endured SEPARATION for you and me, so we would not have to endure eternal separation in hell from God and all that is good and beautiful. Sin always leads to separation. The sin of adultery in a marriage often leads to separation between husband and wife. Crimes against the laws of society lead to separation from society in jail. Sins against God lead to separation from God in hell.

Why did Jesus endure this? Because his suffering is SUBSTITUTIONARY. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). “He hath made him, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Why? Because his suffering provides SATISFACTION of divine justice. Our society seems to believe in fairy tales. That as a nation we deserve something for nothing. We have a right to what we need even if we don’t work. We have a right to become a millionaire if we buy a lottery ticket. The government can spend more than they take in. We can raise wonderful children without discipline. Non-Christian religions believe the same. The gods can be appeased with candles and offerings and incantations.

But God, the Judge of all earth is Just in upholding the standards of divine law. Our sins provoke the wrath of God leading to punishment for our sins. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men” (Rom. 1:15). “All of us are…children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). We are all under condemnation but “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son” as the atonement or satisfaction for our sins. (John 3:16).

In the cross, God is both just in upholding his law and justifying all who receive Christ as their Saviour. As Christ bore our sins in agony on the cross, God turned his back on his Son so he could forgive us through grace. Because Christ satisfied divine justice, we can receive forgiveness. Although we receive this grace freely, it is not cheap. Such a cost!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)

The Seven Sayings of Christ from the Cross

This is the week that changed our world!

Martin Carlucci killed Walter Everett’s son. When Carlucci was convicted of manslaughter, the bereaved father forgave Michael. Why would he do that? He explained that people won’t understand why Jesus came and what Jesus is all about unless we forgive.

ONE:

As we begin the countdown of the week that changed our world, I’m going to post some thoughts on the seven sayings of Christ from the cross. After the 6 stages of the sham trial, Jesus was scourged, mocked, spit upon, and beaten then taken to the place of the skull where his hands and feet were nailed to a cross. Lifted up in agony, he said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

What did Jesus mean? He is praying to the Father as Isaiah 53:12 predicted, “He will makeintercession for the transgressors.” And who were those transgressors? The Pharisees who plotted his death, the mob who cried for his crucifixion, Pilate who washed his hands of his guilt, and the Roman soldiers whose unfeeling cruelty nailed him to the cross. Yes, but who else? Peter at Pentecost accused the whole audience of crucifying the Lord of glory. (Acts. 3:13-15,17) Peter knew what all honest sinners know. We crucified him, you and I! Yes, it was the Jews. Yes, it was the Romans. But he was delivered by the counsel of God to pay the penalty for our sins and because of the rebellion and guilt of individuals from all races of people.

One of the great misunderstandings of Scripture which led to a horrific historical crime was that of the mediaeval church labelling and persecuting Jews as, “Christ killers.” Hitler took up this horrendous twisting of history. No! No! a thousand times, no! “He bore our sins.” “He died for our sins, English, African, Asian, Mexican, French. It was our guilt that sent him to the cross. 

Jesus also prayed for forgiveness because “they do not know,” what they are doing. The Pharisees knew the injustice of their charge. The mob among whom many had relatives healed, knew this was a travesty of justice. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. But none knew the enormity of their crime…as so few on this Easter week know the magnitude of what happened. It was the crucifixion of the LORD of glory, the Son of God, the eternal creator of the world who laid aside His divine prerogatives to come as the Son of Man, our Saviour. What does this first saying mean for you and me? Three things; I desperately need forgiveness for my sins, no matter how great my sin, I can be forgiven, and I must forgive others. I confessed my sins to Jesus when I was 19 and I was forgiven. You can be too!

TWO:

The world is full of mysteries. Out in the desert near the town where we worked in Pakistan stood a lonely, crumbling tower, Pattan Minara. It was all that remained of a city by the Rajputs from over 1500 years ago. But even more mysterious, it stood on a thick mound of shards from an earlier city of the Indus Civilization that existed well over 3500 years ago. The writing from that mysterious Indus civilization has never been deciphered.

But greater than all other mysteries is that of life after death and why the giver of life should die upon a cross to secure for us this eternal life. Jesus was crucified at 9:00 in the morning. Beside him two thieves were also crucified to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” At first both of them, although guilty, joined others in mocking him and challenging him to come down from the cross.

Then one thief recognized the innocence of Jesus and cried to his robber companion; “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” And to Jesus he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

One thief is penitent and one impenitent. The penitent thief repents of his sins; that is, he has a spiritual change of mind. He confesses his guilt and cries out to Jesus for mercy. His repentance has led him to a changed attitude toward Christ as well. He now believes that Jesus is sinless, that his death is not the end for he will return, that he is able to forgive sins [he heard Jesus first word], and he realizes that Jesus has a kingdom of which he is a Lord.

In response, Jesus utters his second word from the cross. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)

Note that Jesus alone has the ability to ensure our destiny. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 19:27,28). Note also that our destiny can be settled immediately, NOW. There is no soul sleep, no slumbering in dark places of gloom until the day of judgement. Upon death, believers go immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ. Note thirdly that the place repentant believers go is called Paradise which is a word from Persian meaning “garden.” At death believers in Jesus pass into a place of indescribable beauty, peace and tranquility—with Jesus.

Pink tells us: “This thief was saved at the final hour of his life to show us that this is possible; But he is the only case of this happening to show us it is unlikely”. God can work in spite of there being no preaching, no meeting, no baptism, no time to grow in grace—but this is very unlikely. Beware lest we wait until it is too late to get right with Christ. Be saved today! No one is beyond mercy!

Three men shared death upon a hill,

But only one man died;

The other two—

A thief and God Himself—

Made rendezvous.

Three crosses still

Are borne up Calvary’s Hill,

Where Sin still lifts them high;

Upon the one, sag broken men

Who, cursing, die;

Another holds the praying thief,

Or those who, penitent as he,

Still find the Christ

Beside them on the tree.”

            (Miriam LeFevre Crouse.)

THREE:

Some estimate that 45% of all Baby Boomers will become CARE-GIVERS as their parents age. And yet the pandemic restricted the access many had to those from their families in retirement homes and care facilities. Fortunately, in many cases nurses, doctors and care-givers took up the slack. Sadly, many of those became burnt out with the intensity of their duties and now we have a huge shortage of care-givers. With restrictions eased, society needs to recover family visitation and care. If our societies are to work, rather than crash into chaos, we should seek a revival of the God-ordained function of loving families. Good Friday has something to say here.

Below the cross the soldiers were gambling for Jesus’ clothing. But from agony-dimmed eyes upon the cross, Jesus spied his mother among the group of women gathered to lament his death. He also spied one disciple. All the others had fled. To his mother he said, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to John he said, “Here is your mother,” indicating that John should care for his mother. “From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26,27).

Loving compassion for all was a hallmark of Jesus’ ministry—and even in his death. In dying for our sins, he still arranged care for his mother through John since his own siblings were not believers. Note his special love for John. Note also the central role of women in the life and death of Christ. Do we grant women today the honour they deserve? Note the absence of men. How many times have men failed and continue to fail to demonstrate the faithfulness and courage needed to extend the kingdom? Men, we must gather at the cross.

But the abiding lesson of Jesus’ third word from the cross is that we must care for our relatives–especially our immediate family–our children, our parents, our grandparents. Failure to care for our immediate family shows a failure to grasp an elementary truth of the Christian faith. It is essential to obeying the 5th of the ten commandments. Even unbelievers care for their relatives. Consider the care Asians render to their aged. Can we who follow Christ, of whatever culture, do less? In the home-going of Mary Helen, my wife, I was very fortunate in this regard.

FOUR:

Have you ever heard the cry of a lost child in a mall, “Mommy!!” Or witnessed the anguish of a wife abandoned by her husband. Many of us, like myself, have wept over the death of a spouse. But none of us can really relate to The FOURTH CRY OF CHRIST FROM THE CROSS. It was a cry of abandonment. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46)?

From noon to three pm, darkness descended on the whole land accentuating Jesus’ agony. Luther and Calvin comment that during those three hours, Jesus endured the torments of the damned, the worst of which was his separation from the Father.

As expressed by the hymn writer;

Well might the sun in darkness hide

And shut his glories in

When Christ the mighty maker died

For man the creature’s sin.

The central question that echoes through history is WHY? And the simple answer is that Jesus endured SEPARATION for you and me, so we would not have to endure eternal separation in hell from God and all that is good and beautiful. Sin always leads to separation. The sin of adultery in a marriage often leads to separation between husband and wife. Crimes against the laws of society lead to separation from society in jail. Sins against God lead to separation from God in hell.

Why did Jesus endure this? Because his suffering is SUBSTITUTIONARY. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). “He hath made him, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Why? Because his suffering provides SATISFACTION of divine justice. Our society seems to believe in fairy tales. That as a nation we deserve something for nothing. We have a right to what we need even if we don’t work. We have a right to become a millionaire if we buy a lottery ticket. The government can spend more than they take in. We can raise wonderful children without discipline. Non-Christian religions believe the same. The gods can be appeased with candles and offerings and incantations.

But God, the Judge of all earth is Just in upholding the standards of divine law. Our sins provoke the wrath of God leading to punishment for our sins. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men” (Rom. 1:15). “All of us are…children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3). We are all under condemnation but “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son” as the atonement or satisfaction for our sins. (John 3:16).

In the cross, God is both just in upholding his law and justifying all who receive Christ as their Saviour. As Christ bore our sins in agony on the cross, God turned his back on his Son so he could forgive us through grace. Because Christ satisfied divine justice, we can receive forgiveness. Although we receive this grace freely, it is not cheap. Such a cost!

(Let me know your thoughts on this subject. If you appreciate this blog, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at:  Facebook: Eric E Wright Twitter: @EricEWright1 LinkedIn: Eric Wright ; Eric’s books are available at: https://www.amazon.com/Eric-E.-Wright/e/B00355HPKK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share)