Wonderful Maker

CHRIS TOMLIN
You spread out the skies over empty space
Said "let there be light"
Into a dark and formless world Your light
was born

You spread out Your arms over empty hearts
Said "let there be light"
Into a dark and hopeless world Your Son
was born

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son for You are good

What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

No eye has fully seen, how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard
The faintest whispers of how great You are


You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son for You are good

What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only son for You are good

What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

Riches in Christ

The Gospels speak of the "Kingdom of God" and "realized eschatology", but God's promises of eternal life are not completely found in this world. In Jeremiah 31 the Lord promises a New Covenant where His law will be written on His people's hearts and that they will no longer need to teach about the Lord because all will know the Lord. Although there is a taste of these promises, they will not be completely found until after Christ's return. Until Christ's return, we Christian's have been given the Holy Spirit as a "down payment" (pledge or promise) of our inheritance in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Revelations 21:3-5 describe a time when there will be no more pain, death, or mourning, but this is not in the present age for the verses say that the old things will pass away and He will make everything new.

The view that everything is going to be good and happy for Christians is absolute misinterpretation of scripture. Jesus himself tells his followers, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that a disciple’s call is to “come and die” for grace is costly (89). This does not sound like easy road that the "health and wellness gospel" teaches. In John 16:33, Jesus tells his disciples that there will be many problems in this, but He does not leave them with out hope for He says “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Wealth is not a bad thing, but a disciple cannot serve money for “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). 1^st Timothy 6:10 warns that money can be dangerous not only because the love of it is the root of many evils, but people desiring money have wondered from the faith. The writer of Hebrews writes “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have”, but continues this with a promise “because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” There are riches that come from a relationship with Christ, but the richness is Christ and His word. “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

AS POSTED ON BLACKBOARD AT SWBTS 9/17/2010

Our Perfect Hope

The Bible speaks of Christians having a hope, but what is this hope? This hope is quite simply Jesus Christ. Christ made a way for sinners to be reconciled to God through His death and resurrection. Christ is our anchor that holds our soul to God. Believers are secure in not only His hands but also in His Father's hands (John 10:28-30).

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV)

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Send "On Christ The Solid Rock" Ringtone to your Cell

"My Hope is Built"
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

When darkness seems to hide His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

AMEN

Accountability

Hebrews 3:12-14 (ESV)

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

Christians are to exhort (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another daily. This is not just to show love, though we are to do it in love (Eph. 4:15), but the purpose is to prevent sin from getting a hold in one's life.

Matthew Henry commentary on this passage states,

"There is a great deal of deceitfulness in sin; it appears fair, but is filthy; it appears pleasant, but is pernicious; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin is of a hardening nature to the soul; one sin allowed prepares for another; every act of sin confirms the habit; sinning against conscience is the way to sear the conscience; and therefore it should be the great concern of every one to exhort himself and others to beware of sin."

We do have several encouragements about defeating sin and holding firm till the end.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASV)

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

Philippians 1:6 (NASV)

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Our GREAT HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASV)

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 2:18 (NASV)

"For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."

Matthew Henry (Hebrews 4:15)

"Though he is so great, and so far above us, yet he is very kind, and tenderly concerned for us. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities in such a manner as none else can be; for he was himself tried with all the afflictions and troubles that are incident to our nature in its fallen state: and this not only that he might be able to satisfy for us, but to sympathize with us."

Before the Throne of God

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

Amazing Grace to Sinners

1 Timothy 1:12-17

"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

How amazing is God's grace that although I am a sinner, once a enemy of God and was in complete rebellion against Him, that He would call us to His service as His children.

"You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same, You are amazing God" - Chris Tomlin

Avoiding Sin

James 1:12-15 (NASV)

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."

Be Careful What You Look At:

Psalms 119:37 (NASV)

"Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity (worthless things in NIV), And revive me in Your ways"

Be Careful What You Think About:

Philippians 4:8 (NASV)

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Be Careful Where You Go:

Matthew 7:13(NASV)

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.”

Flee Sin, and Pursue Holiness:

2 Timothy 2:22 (NASV)

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Treasure God’s Word:

Psalm 119:11 (NASV)

Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You