Christ Who Sits

I'd planned to put together another post for the Scriptural Lessons from the Natural World series I began a couple of months ago, but it's now Thursday evening and I've got nothing but a few scripture references and some notes scribbled in my planner. So I have a contingency post for you, a re-edit and repost of something posted several years ago on my own blog. 

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV)

This description of Christ sitting at the right hand of God makes us think first of his exalted position.  He sits beside the Father, coequal with him. He is Lord of All, and every creature is obligated to bow to him and confess this.

But it's not Christ’s placement I'm focusing on in this post; it's his posture.

An old covenant priest stood daily in his priestly work. He was always standing in God’s presence because his ministry was never done. Every day, over and over again, he offered the same sacrifices. His sacrifices needed to be repeated because they were ineffectual: They didn’t actually take away sins. They were, in a way, a stop-gap measure instead of a solution. The old covenant priest’s sacrifices never cleansed completely, and the outward cleansing they provided was only temporary.

There’s a pathetic quality to this picture, isn’t there? I sometimes complain that “a woman’s work is never done,” but I’ve got nothing on the old order priests. Day in and day out they stood to do exactly the same job, and that they needed to keep repeating only served as a reminder that their work was ineffective.

Not so with Christ’s priestly work: He offered one sacrifice of himself and then he sat down at the right hand of God. One sacrifice and his work was done. His work was was effectual — a solution that took care of the whole problem all at once. It “perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” His work never has to be repeated because it cleanses completely and forever. It is finished.

Christ is right now sitting, waiting for his enemies to become his footstool. He can take a resting position because he has already offered the once-for-all-time sacrifice. His enemies are not yet lying beneath his feet, but the work that will bring him certain victory over them is completed.

And because Christ sits, the believer can rest. Our status before God does not depend on our work—past or future—but Christ's already finished work, which has "perfected [us] for all time." This doesn't mean that we don't sin, but that in Christ, we have a permanent good standing before God. Christ's work is completed; we are forgiven; we can rest.

But there's more: Because Christ sits, the believer can come. His sacrifice was completely effective, so

we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22 ESV).

Our full assurance and bold approach are grounded in Christ's finished work. There is a dedicated access road just for us. That our Priest is a sitting Priest is confirmatioon that our hearts have been sprinkled clean, our bodies have been washed, we are fully and finally forgiven, and the way to God is opened for us.

He came, he died, he rose, and now he sits, so we can rest from our work and enter his presence. Let us draw near!

Book Review: Glimpses of Grace by Gloria Furman

As Christian women, we often feel a disconnect in our lives. We have our so-called Christian life—going to church, reading our Bibles, and prayer—and our ho-hum lives of laundry, meals, and work. Does Christ’s death and resurrection make a difference in our day-to-day lives? Is there a Christian way to mop a floor?

While there’s not a distinctly Christian way to mop a floor (otherwise I’ve been doing it wrong), being a Christian does affect how we approach our work. The gospel influences every aspect of our lives, even the most mundane. But how?

That’s the question Gloria Furman wanted to explore in her book, Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home. “What does the gospel have to do with our lives in the home? How does this grace change the way we live?” (page 17)

Using personal illustrations, Gloria thinks through how the gospel impacts our lives. But this book is much more than a series of fluffy vignettes. Gloria did some heavy digging for us. In doing so she shows us in an engaging, understandable way that theology is not a dry subject fit only for academics. We all need to understand who God is, who we are, and what life is all about. This is important for every Christian, but for the homemaker who feels that life is just a series of mundane tasks that are undone as soon as (if not before) they are finished, it is an especially needed breath of fresh air.

Gospel-centered has become something of a buzzword among books and blogs. Gloria is careful not to fall into Christianese. In one of my favorite chapters of the book, “Don’t Smurf the Gospel,” she encourages us not to let our Christian life become a series of clichés. She also explains how we can fact check what we hear, and sort the true from the false.

This is a personal book that contains much of Gloria’s personal story. Most of it is set in the context of the mother with small children at home. But even though my children are not so small, I was still blessed and encouraged by this book. We all need the reminder about the ways the gospel changes our everyday lives, whether our “babies” are 5 weeks or 50.

Many thanks to Crossway Books for providing a review copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Theology and the non-intellectual (me)

I'm no intellectual. Several weeks ago a couple of friends on Twitter were bemoaning the anti-intellectualism that is seemingly prevalent among evangelical women. I had to Google anti-intellectualism, thus proving their point. And mine. The truth of the matter is, if it weren't for Google I wouldn't understand about half of what you people talk about. I'm serious.

Yet, I'll confess freely and often: I love theology. This passion for the study of God ("theology") has been tepid, or even nonexistent, in years past. In other words, you'd be more apt to find me poring over the Pottery Barn catalog than the Word of God much less any of the theological tomes that now clutter my bookshelves. My love for theology has been a journey, one I stumbled upon by accident. It found me when I wasn't even looking.

I'm a self-described stumbling theologian, meaning that I never set out to become a student of doctrine nor even a teacher of the Scriptures. Talk of this theological truth or that doctrinal interpretation bored me and seemed, frankly, rather irrelevant (see "anti-intellectual", above). I remember years ago chatting on the phone with a long distance friend and the subject of Calvinism entering our conversation. In what context I don't exactly remember; she was a seminary student at the time so maybe she broached the subject. At any rate I remember saying "I just don't see how it matters, really. What's the big deal?"

How little did I know.

To my way of understanding the most crucial theological question had been answered: I was saved. And, hello, I knew it was Jesus who saved me. Beyond that, well, I knew what I'd always been taught and I knew more or less what my denomination was purported to believe and I did love the Lord Jesus and I tried really, really hard to be good and do good. But to me, even though I had no clear idea of what theology was and was not, it had no bearing on my real, day to day life.

How little did I know.

I now know I was a moralist, doing my best to be my best. I was also a pragmatist. Theology didn't "work" in my real life--or so I thought--so I had no need for it. Don't get wrong, I engaged in "bible study" but the sort of hunt and peck approach intended to offer therapeutic answers to my perceived need of the moment.

Ah, but the Lord. Graciously He allowed me to come to the end of this moralistic pragmatism. My do-better, try-harder brand of Christianity left me wanting. I found myself desperate for something more, something better, something stronger, something solid and satisfying. I wanted, I needed, a truer, broader understanding of the Lord and His ways.

Quite by accident, as I said, or so it seemed to me, I stumbled into the sea of theology and doctrine, discovering as I did so there was far more to know of God and His Word than I’d ever imagined. I became determined to know His Word. I was shocked--delightedly so--to discover it affected my reality in profound and unexpected ways.

What a revelation! I'd spent years--years!--trying to make sense of my life based on what I thought I knew about God and His ways. Do not hear me say that all that I'd been taught up to that point was heretical and insufficient. No doubt I was privileged to learn from many serious teachers of the Word who carefully expounded the truth of Scripture. I daresay the fault lay with me and my reluctance to submit to the Word.

But, the Lord. As my understanding grew, I saw that my desperation was not for better mothering practices or five steps to contentment or even a spiritual gift inventory. No, what I needed in my mothering, for example, was the gospel truth that there is grace for desperate, deficient moms. What I needed in my fight for contentment was to realize God owns all and rules all; He is sovereign. What I needed as I looked for my place of ministry was a sense of vocation, that all I do is service to my Savior.

These are theological truths. As I clean house, do laundry, serve in my church, meet a friend for lunch, whatever it is I find to do, it is affected by my theology. How I live reflects what I think about God and what I think about God affects how I live. Theology and reality necessarily intertwine. Thus we are all theologians in one respect or another. The question remains: what kind of theologians are we?

It is true: I'm no intellectual. I am continually reminded of my own lack of knowledge. More often than not I feel rather dumb and a little silly before those who are far more theologically profound. I still sometimes prefer to discuss lipstick and hairstyles than certain Biblical passages. And, yes, Google is my friend.

But the Word of God has changed me far beyond mere therapeutic and pragmatic ramifications. Not only has the study of theology affected my reality but it has transformed my affection. The more I engage in Bible study, the more I know the Lord, and the more I know the Lord, the more I love Him, and the more I love Him the more I want to know Him. Glory to God, theology is not a dry academic exercise reserved for the intellectuals among us. It is for ordinary women too, nay, even the non-intellectuals like me, and by it we are changed from glory to glory as we behold the face of Christ! Yes and amen!

Finishing the Race

It's been a sad week. Two elderly sisters in my church went home to glory. I also learned that a dear friend of my grandparents died last month at the age of 104. These women fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. They loved God and the people He placed in their lives. They will be greatly missed.

As I was thinking about these women, I wondered "What was their secret? How did they endure so well? How did they persevere through the Great Depression, WWII, widowhood, and illness?" This led to another question. "How will I finish the race?" I'm on the plus side of 50 now. I could die today, but I could have another 40 years ahead of me. It would be easy to think, "What do I need to do to make sure I die well?" But that's probably not the right question. A better question would be, "What has the Triune God done to ensure that I will finish the race?"

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

From Grudem's Systematic Theology:

If God's guarding has as its purpose the preservation of believers until they receive their full heavenly salvation, then it is safe to conclude that God will accomplish that purpose and they will in fact attain that final salvation. Ultimately their attainment of final salvation depends on God's power. Nevertheless, God's power continually works "through" their faith. Do they wish to know whether God is guarding them? If they continue to trust God through Christ, God is working and guarding them, and he should be thanked.¹

[W]hat Peter said in 1 Peter 1:5 is true: namely, that God does not guard us apart from our faith, but only by working through our faith so that he enables us to continue to believe in him. In this way, those who continue to trust in Christ gain assurance that God is working in them and guarding them.²

As a recovering moralist, I need to remember this. Even if I tried my best, do I really think it's in my power to keep myself to the end? But it doesn't rest on me, thank God, and it doesn't rest on you either. He will complete the work He has started. (Phil. 1:6) His power guards His own and nothing can snatch them from His hand. (John 10:27-30) But at the same time, His grace enables us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling knowing that He is at work in us. (Phil. 2:12-13)

I wasn't privy to the day-to-day details of these women's lives, but God's power kept these sisters. They were saints but still sinners. They needed daily grace for daily self-denial. They needed the Word for spiritual nourishment on the journey. They needed the joy of the Lord during times of suffering and divine strength to live another day in physical weakness. But at the appointed time, their earthly course was done, and their Lord and Savior welcomed them home.

For those of us still on pilgrimage, the sanctification road seems long. There are high points but deep valleys, too. Sometimes we fall flat on our faces and are tempted to quit. But there is hope. God will complete what He has started, and all His children will cross the finish line to the praise of His glorious grace.

It is because God never forsakes His work that believers continue to stand to the very end.³

                                                                                                                                                    

1. Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, Zondervan, 2000, pg. 792.
2. Ibid. 793.

3. Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhoff, Eerdmans, 1993 reprint, pg. 546.

Fighting for Your Girl's Dreams

Note: This is part of the Fight Like a Girl Series. Other posts are found under the series tag.  

At 14, I dreamed of a big career in a big city 700 miles to the north.  I didn't understand the bemused smile my mother usually wore as I spouted off my grand plans. I had my life mapped out, but I didn't need that map. Although I anticipated having a 10-hour drive to my parents' home, it takes a mere 10 minutes.

Which is why I, too, wear a bemused expression when my daughter reels off  her great plans for her big life in a city 500 miles to the south. I tell her something my mother wasn't able to tell me, The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Still, I'm glad my girl has big dreams. Who am I to say that they have not been given to her by God? Her preferred career would give her an opportunity to minister to people in need. It may be that He has a place for her in this particular field for just that purpose.

It seems the blogosphere has recently been inundated with posts about Biblical womanhood and complementarianism. (For the record, I am a complementarian.) I don't want to add to the clamor and I'm not responding to any post I've read. I do want to encourage other mothers to fight for their girl's dreams, no matter what they are.

Some girls dream of impacting the world for Christ through their homes; they have a God-given desire to marry, have children, and work faithfully, full-time at home. This is a noble calling of the Lord and if it is the call our daughter feels, we should not hesitate to offer our support and encouragement in that direction. We should teach her the art of homemaking, procure or provide lessons in different domestic skills, and instruct her in the values and benefits of being a stay-at-home wife and mother.

Other girls dream of living out the Gospel in the workplace. This, too, can be a noble calling from the Lord. Our society benefits when Christian women serve others through their careers. Our support and encouragement is no less important if this is our daughter's inclination. In addition to educating her about her responsibilities as a wife and mother, we can look for opportunities to learn about the benefits - and the pitfalls - of a specific career. We can help her be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible.

In short, we should exhort her to work heartily, as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23) in her chosen vocation. Even if she chooses a path that is not our own.

We should also be honest about our own calling. My daughter has seen the positives and negatives that accompany having a career outside of the home. She also realizes that our home and family mean more to me than my job. I have taught her that a woman has an incredible opportunity to minister to and bless her family by providing home-cooked meals and keeping a clean home. As much as I have tried to model that for her, she has seen how difficult it is to provide these things when employed outside of the home. She knows that stay-at-home mothers face challenges as well. Whatever choice she makes will require sacrifice. Neither situation is perfect, because we live in a fallen world. It is imperative that she realize that.

Finally, we should accept the fact that we don't know what God has planned for our daughter's future. He may call her into the mission field in Africa or in the local hospital. Perhaps she will remain single. Perhaps she will have a husband but no children.  I don't know if God has given my daughter this particular ambition because He's going to allow her to find the cure for cancer or to prepare her to homeschool the one who will. I only know that I will rejoice in whatever blessing the Lord bestows upon her, whether it is a big career or a big family. If she seeks to do everything to the glory of the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31), how could I ask for more?