His Humiliation, Our Salvation
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by Pierce Roybal
Jesus is Your Brother
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by Jon Buck
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
- Gal 4:4-5
Adoption is a beautiful thing. A child without parental care or sustenance is brought into a loving family where they become a full-fledged member and enjoy all the benefits of being a member of the family. Not only are they loved and cared for, but they become members of that family.
But imagine an adoption where the new parents were only willing to allow the child to stay with them if they were perfect. Any disobedience, any evil word, any evil deed, and the child would be rejected.
Spiritually, the thing that kept us out of the family of God was the Law. God’s Law requires complete and full obedience. He demands perfection. However, all of us have fallen short of the glory of that perfection that God demands because of the sinful choices we have made. Each of us is now enslaved to the Law in seeking to be made right with God. And this is a miserable place to be. We cannot keep the Law, and yet we must.
But the glorious reality of Christmas is that Jesus came into the world in the same state that we are—under the Law. The demands of the Law were perfection, but unlike any other person that ever lived, Jesus actually was perfect. No sin, no failure, no falsehood of any kind. Just perfection.
But at the end of that perfect life, He died, not for His own transgressions, but for the sins of those who would trust in Him in order to redeem them from the wages they had rightfully earned.
The perfect life that we needed to be part of God’s family was fulfilled, and the perfections of Christ were gifted to those who believe this is true. Now, in Him, we are adopted into the family of God, loved and cherished and safe for eternity. Nothing can separate us from the love that God has for His Son, or the love that God has for us.
This is the great message of Christmas…a Son, coming in perfection, to rescue His brothers and sisters through perfect righteousness and embracing them into His family. The baby in the manger is your older brother!
Christmas Sunday - When the Calendar Forces You to Worship
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by Jon Buck
I recently was talking with some students at school about a day off from classes for Veteran’s Day. They knew that school was cancelled, and they all had plans, but they didn’t know much about Veteran’s Day, or why it was important in American history. The traditions surrounding the day had overtaken the meaning of the day itself.
The same can happen with Christmas.
We’ve heard recently about quite a few churches that are planning on not meeting for Christmas. I can understand the impulse. There are family traditions to be kept, gifts to be opened, movies to watch. There are cookies to be eaten, and a Christmas dinner to be prepared. Church would just get in the way of all that.
But, of course, the great and central reality of Christmas is NOT those things. The traditions, the gifts, the family time, the meals—all the celebrations—are based on a single great and glorious activity of God in the birth of His Son.
Once every seven years, Christmas falls on a Sunday, and on those days, more than any other, the calendar forces us to consider the glorious and central reality of Christmas. On a day that is centered on Jesus and His entrance into the world, the church gathers to celebrate and worship Him. To miss church is to miss the point—that Jesus and His incarnation to carry our sins on the cross is the most joyful celebratory reality in the universe!
Next year will come, and Christmas won’t be on a Sunday again. But this year, and seven years from now, we have a great privilege to worship the Incarnate Savior on a Sunday. I pray your heart embraces the joy that this brings, and is willing to set aside traditions, meals, and the trappings of Christmas for the glorious reality at the center!
Holding Creation and In Creation—Jesus as A Baby
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by Jon Buck
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” ~ Col 1:17
The incarnation is one of the most interesting theological mysteries in the Bible. There are countless questions that the incarnation raises, and one of the most complex is how the One Being through whom all matter in the universe holds together could take on human flesh as a baby.
Think through why this is so radical. First, the Bible teaches that all things that exist hold together in Him. The author of Hebrews says that all things hold together ‘by the word of His power’, and Paul affirms this reality in Col 1:17. The obviously implication is that all matter—stars, flowers, your eyes as you read this—are being actively held together by the power of Jesus now. Further, all things that have ever existed were held together by His divine power at all points in history.
The Bible also teaches that Jesus was born as a baby in the town of Bethlehem. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, and fell asleep. He grew into a toddler, picked up sticks in the field, grew in wisdom and knowledge, learned carpentry, ate dinner with his family, and many other activities.
These sound like two radically different people.
However, they are not different. They are the same, and what’s more, they are the same person concurrently. Jesus was a baby in a manger, and was holding all things together by His power. He was sharing a loaf of bread with His brothers, and was maintaining the material universe.
How can these things be?
To be honest, I have no idea. Theologians can conjecture, and we should try to understand these types of deep theological mysteries. But there are things about God that are mind-bogglingly complex and incomprehensible.
This is ok. If we could understand all the nuances of the incarnation, and we could grasp all the complexities of who God is, we would no longer worship God, but would BE God. But we are not God, and God has come to us!
This is the point of the incarnation, and the reason why the authors of Scripture pay so much attention to the entrance of the Son of God into the world, and to His sustaining character. They don’t try to explain them away, and they don’t try to unite them. They simply explain both, and we are left to worship the power, wisdom, might, and glory of the One who has come.
Sent to Save, and to Glorify
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by Jon Buck
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” ~ John 3:17
It is right for us to think of God as holy. He is morally perfect, set apart, separate from sinners, and unique in His perfections. As such, and given His authority over all that He has made, He has the absolute right to judge the wicked. The Bible clearly affirms in a host of passages that this is true. God is the righteous Judge over all the earth, and will dispense justice upon the ungodly in perfect righteousness.
However, gloriously, that is not His FIRST response to sin.
In fact, His first response to sin is grace and mercy. We learn this not only from the flow of history with the people of Israel and the church. We also learn this from His own self-affirmation. In Exodus, as Moses asks to see God’s glory, God responds by announcing His name to Moses. And the first statements that define God are kind.
"The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
(Ex 34:6-7)
There is an infinite well of information in that statement, but what should be apparent is that God’s character is marked by compassion, grace, patience, love, truth, and forgiveness. He certainly punishes the guilty, but He is first kind.
And this grace and mercy and kindness is most glorious clear in how God the Father sent His Son into the world. He could have (and will!) sent His Son to judge the world and to bring a devastating end to sinners once and for all.
He could have come with fire and terror, waging war on all those who do not confess God as Lord, or love Him. This would have been just.
Instead, however, He came with mercy to save rather than to judge. His compassion caused Him to send His only Son into the world on a rescue mission rather than a vengeance rout.
Now—WHY? Why not judge? Why not punish? Why offer salvation to sinners? The answer is very simple. In offering salvation first, God honors Himself. There is nothing more glorious than for God to offer to pay the moral debt of His people by Himself, and then to offer salvation as a free gift. It is this trait of God that the angels rejoiced over!
God’s revealed will for you today is to believe this truth. What you rightfully deserve is this fiery judgment and terror. What He is offering you today is a crucified Savior—One who will take away your sins.
Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sang!
The Heart of Christmas
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by Gus Pidal
The first time I went to Disneyland was a landmark moment for me. I grew up hearing about “the happiest place on earth,” yet living abroad, I didn’t have the chance to go until I was in ninth grade. I remember it was a very hot August day. I was amazed by the parking lot trams, the smallest attention to every detail, even down to the bathrooms at the entrance to the park. Everything was clean and decorated with the most meticulous detail.
And ALL of this BEFORE even entering the amusement park itself.
Imagine how foolish it would have been to simply be amazed by these things at the entrance of an amusement park-even one so great and wonderful as Disneyland-and decide to stay there and not go on any of the rides. How ridiculous it would have been to substitute the wonder of Disneyland itself for their amazing bathrooms and parking lot.
But if we are honest, this often happens to us at Christmas, doesn't it? Sadly, when we think of Christmas, we think of many things that are just peripheral, things outside of what Christmas means…things that aren't sinful, but can sometimes take away from the true meaning of Christmas.
What is the true meaning of Christmas? John 1:14 tells us: “and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
This is what we should be celebrating and meditating on during this Christmas season. The incarnation of the second person of the Trinity. He who was from the beginning became flesh. To dwell among us. So that one day He would die for our sins.
So let’s use this Advent season as a time to prepare ourselves to worship Jesus “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
While there are many amazing things we can enjoy this Christmas season, let’s not let good food, white elephant gift exchanges, and special times with family replace the wonder we should feel for our Savior who came to die for our sins. Let’s celebrate this incarnation and worship. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
But I’ve Never Seen Jesus…
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by Jon Buck
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us.” ~ 1 John 1:1-2
Christmas is an interesting time of year because we spend all sorts of energy as Christians celebrating the birth, life, and death of a person we’ve never met. It seems very odd to do this, but we actually tend to celebrate this about other people as well. For example, we celebrate Presidents’ Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Columbus Day, but I’m fairly certain most of us have never met any of these people.
Still, there’s something very odd about the celebration of Christmas because Jesus wasn’t, at the time of His earthly life, a very influential figure. Furthermore, He lived thousands of years ago, and died the death of a criminal. It seems odd that we would celebrate Him in such extravagant ways.
However, as with other famous men from history, what we know about Jesus comes from those who were eye witnesses of His life and death. One of the closest of those eye witnesses was the Apostle John. He was a dear friend of Christ during His earthly life, and spent time with Him during His ministry years.
Many decades after the death of Jesus, John looked back fondly on those times with Him, but not simply remembering a lost friend. John understood who Jesus truly was—not simply a man who was born, but the revelation of the second person of the Trinity—the Son of God, the eternal life of God, entering the world.
Amazingly, he looked at Jesus, saw Jesus with his eyes, heard Him, and touched Him—Jesus was a person to John. But when John proclaimed this reality to his readers, he didn’t just explain the person of Christ, but the gift that Christ brought—eternal life.
John spoke of the person of Jesus whom he knew well as the eternal life, manifested from the Father. True eternal life, for John, was Jesus. He was, and is, the person in Whom all of life exists, and He is the One being in the universe who could offer eternal life. And, remarkably, John met Him, was His friend, enjoyed meals with Him, saw Him.
The stunning thing about this truth is that through John’s account, though we have never had these experiences, we have eternal life in Him. This life isn’t through the physical presence of Jesus, but through the spiritual presence of Jesus in the hearts of His people. We know and see Him, the One who has come into the world and was manifested to us from the Father.
Perhaps you come to Christmas this year, and don’t know if you know Him. If He is eternal life, He is the most important in the universe for you to know. And the promise of the Scriptures is that, through the Gospel and the teaching of the Apostles, you can know Him!
This is the glorious reality of Christmas—the man, Christ Jesus.
Love Gives Life; Infinite Love Gives Eternal Life
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by Jon Buck
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. - 1 John 4:9
In the midst of a substantial financial loss, and at the beginning of a long four year litigation, P.T. Barnum quipped, “Talk is cheap, until you hire a lawyer.” The first half of this witty remark has become an American idiom. Simply put, anyone can say anything, but the only way to know what is in a person’s heart and mind is to see their actions.
How do you know if one person loves another? It’s hard to know, because, as Barnum said, talk is cheap. Anyone can say they love others, but can turn against them, treat them unfairly, or hurt them in other ways. And even if none of those things happen, simple words don’t always convince us of what is in others’ hearts.
Of course, the best way to know if someone loves is through their actions.
One of the clearest ways that we can express love for others is by blessing them with various forms of life. For example, when we serve someone else, we remove work or suffering from their experience. In bringing a meal to someone who is sick, we offer life—a piece of our life to lessen the suffering of theirs. Or when we serve someone else by taking part of their responsibility on ourselves, we offer them quality of life at that moment.
In fact, in many ways, serving is a constant willingness to trade our life for the blessing of the life of another. We relinquish our schedule, our strength, our desires, our finances—our life—to bless the life of another.
But of course, we have limited life resources. At some point, our schedule is full, our strength diminishes, and our finances run out. Much as we might desire to do so, blessing the life of another is outside of our ability. Nevertheless, love remains, and the willingness is present in us.
However, consider the magnitude of the resources that the Son of God has. He has infinite power, He is the Sustainer and Creator of all matter, His strength never fails, and, gloriously, He has infinite life to offer us.
Christmas is the great manifestation of the love of God toward us, because it is the moment that the infinite Son took on finite flesh in order to offer life to all who would trust in Him. It is through Him that eternal life is offered, and in Him, there is no limit to the life that He can give.
But eternal life wasn’t the end goal of the life and death of the Son of God. No, the end goal was that the love of God would be manifested—made known—gloriously revealed to His people. God’s love was manifested toward us in the moment that the Son of God took on flesh, with the purpose of offering life through His death.
So this Christmas, consider, do you have this life in Jesus? It is offered freely from the loving heart of the Father!
Immanuel—The God Man
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by Jon Buck
He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things. ~ Eph 4:10
The incarnation of the Son of God at Christmas is one of, if not THE, most glorious truths of the Christian faith. The beauties of the Son of God, born to suffer for the sins of His people for the glory of God are magnificent. However, there can be a difficulty in the minds of Christians, at times, with the immanence and the transcendence of Jesus.
‘Immanence’ means working inside of something or existing within something. It is often confused with ‘imminence’, which indicates that something is about to happen. The immanence of Jesus is His experience as humanity in the incarnation.
Jesus was immanent to the human race. He truly and really took on flesh, was born in a manger in the tiny village of Bethlehem, was raised by impoverished parents, and was trained as a carpenter. He was known, loved, hugged, and dialogued with by those who interacted with Him.
But Jesus wasn’t only immanent. ‘Transcendence’ means to be beyond the reach of any possible experience or knowledge. Things that are transcendent are impossible to grasp in any rational way. He is gloriously transcendent in His person, as the second member of the Trinity, in whom the fullness of Godhead dwells bodily (Col 2:9).
He is the One who created the universe, Who sits at the right hand of the throne of His Father, Who has all authority in heaven and on earth, and Who dwells in unapproachable light. He is the mighty God, the sustainer of all things through the word of His power.
How do we bring these things together?
To be honest, I don’t think we can. The apostle John was one of Jesus’ closest friends on earth. He calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’, and at the last supper, he leaned on Jesus’ bosom as a dear brother and friend. And yet, when Jesus appears to him on the island of Patmos to give him the book of Revelation, John didn’t shake hands or give Jesus a hug. He fell down in terror. Jesus was immanent, but He is transcendent.
Nativity scenes and other Christmas decor often seek to harness this truth. There are stars over the infant, attempts to paint light around the manger, and other such things. But this is not the point of the birth of Christ.
Paul explains these two realities to us in a simple sentence in Eph. 4:10. Jesus really did descend to earth (this verse is not talking about a descent into hell—it means He became a man). He entered into the world just as any other baby has entered into the world. He was consummately human. And, in a cattle stall in little village in the country, everything was dirty, humid, grimy, and probably quite uncomfortable.
But that was the point.
The very One that lay in the manger is the same One who ascended above all the heavens, in order that He might fill all things! The baby was the Creator and Sustainer of all matter—transcendent and glorious beyond all describing. He is consummately God, very God, self-existent and sustaining all things that exist.
This is so stunning to Paul that he emphasizes it—He who descended is Himself also He who ascended—this is one being who fills both of these roles. But that’s the whole point. He is the God-Man, the incarnate Son of God.
The whole point of Christmas is Jesus—Son of God, Son of Man, immanently human in all ways like we are, and yet transcendently glorious beyond all our deepest imaginings. He is Immanuel—God with us.
God Uses Your Pains to Teach You Theology
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by Jon Buck
Life is full of difficulties. Job tells us that man is ‘born for trouble as the sparks fly upward’, and the older I get, the more I feel the truth of this statement.
I often find myself thinking that things will ease up after the next hill, so to speak, but there’s always another hill, another ridge, another mountain. There’s always more difficulty to come.
But this, of course, is God’s design. In our sufferings, God is doing all sorts of powerful things for us. He’s teaching us that our faith is real (James 1:1-4), that the love of God causes us to endure (Rom 5:1-5), and that we have a lasting hope of glory (Rom 8:16-17), among other things.
One of the most interesting things that God is doing in our trials is teaching us to have good theology, and Paul’s example in Romans 15:30-33 and Phil 4:6-7 is a prime example.
In Romans 15, Paul is beginning a trip to Jerusalem, and writing the Romans to ask for their prayers. He’s going there to carry a gift from the Gentile churches, and he is aware that all sorts of difficulties are in front of him. The unbelieving Jews want him dead. The believing Jews don’t know if they can trust him. The ruling Gentiles are uncomfortable with Jewish rebellion in the city, and believing Gentiles are outcasts. Jerusalem is a perfect storm of suffering for Paul! And yet, God has called him to go there.
And so Paul requests prayer from his brothers and sisters in Rome, and not just any prayer—agonizing prayer with Paul. He asks them to petition the triune God for his rescue from he unbelieving Jews, and for unity with the Jerusalem church. This of course makes sense, given the massive problems that he could face when he arrives. Paul’s need is great, and his request is not surprising.
But, we find in Acts 20-21 that Paul’s requests are answered, though not how he would have expected. And so, Paul’s prayers, and the prayers of the Romans were God’s will.
But what did this experience teach Paul?
We find out, actually, in Phil 4:6-7. Paul is writing from prison after his experience in Jerusalem, and he tells the Philippians to be anxious for nothing, but to make their requests known to God with thanksgiving.
Now, there’s a lot that we could learn from Paul’s request before his trial, and his wisdom after his trial. But I think one of the most interesting is his use of the word ‘peace’ in both passages.
In Romans 15:33, he asks that the ‘God of peace’ be with the Romans—that is, that they would experience God’s peace, even as they pray for his deliverance. However, in Phil 4:7, Paul says that God’s peace will be present for those who make their requests known to God.
What had Paul learned?
God had taught Paul that peace wasn’t related to outcome or to circumstance, but to the knowledge of God, and giving thanks to Him in all circumstances. God had taught Paul to trust Him in sufferings, and so Paul was teaching the Philippians what he’d learned.
And the same is true for you today. God is using your trials, your sufferings, and you hardships to teach you important things about Himself, and those are more important than any blessing!
“My Pastor is too Busy”—An Encouragement Toward Pastoral Communication
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by Jon Buck
It’s not uncommon for folks to call their pastor seeking wisdom or help or even just fellowship, but then to apologize for calling.
I can understand this sentiment. I remember many times before I became a pastor when I would reach out to the pastors who were over me in order to seek similar things. I think the heart of those who apologize in these types of situations is good!
There may be a host of motives for saying sorry, and we’ll discuss those below. My goal in this article is to free you to call your pastor more, rather than less!
Busyness—Perhaps there’s the thought that your pastor is too busy to take your call! It is true that pastors are generally busy people. Those who aren’t busy aren’t generally the best pastors! Ministry is tough! Jesus’s disciples didn’t have time to eat, and Paul himself said that all the churches weighed down on him.
However, from a pastor’s perspective, there is never a time when a man is too busy to hear from his sheep. In fact, just the opposite—pastors love to hear from their sheep! One of the most painful things about pastoral ministry is to not hear from someone, and then discover that they’ve been struggling, or made a decision, or pursued a situation that you never heard about.
Instead, it’s far better to know what’s happening among the flock, and one of the best ways for that to happen is through open pastoral communication. Pastors love to hear from their sheep, and to be
What’s more, your pastor’s own spiritual life and communion with Christ is dependent on his care for you (Heb 13:17)! How grateful would he be to know how you’re doing?
2. Discouragement—A second common hesitancy is the fear of discouraging your pastor by sharing your struggles or sins. Again, I think this comes from a good place. As a sheep, you might be afraid that your pastor will be discouraged that his sermons aren’t helping, or that his counsel isn’t taking root. You might be concerned that the ‘last thing he needs’ is to hear about your struggles.
However, from a pastor’s perspective, the exact opposite is true. Pastors love to hear from their sheep, even when (especially when) a sheep is struggling. Pastors are called to shepherd the flock of God among them, and to exercise oversight—to watch over the souls of the sheep that God has allotted to their care. When a pastor doesn’t know what’s happening in a person’s heart, they are unable to fulfill this calling that God has placed on them!
Instead, pastors love to hear about what’s going on in a person’s heart so that they can care for them. The greatest joy in a pastor’s heart is to hear that his people are doing well…and the only way people are going to grow into doing well is through the care and oversight of pastors. And so, from a pastor’s perspective, it’s much better to hear from the sheep so that they can be helped!
3. Just Encouragement—A third thing that could happen in a person’s heart is that they might think that their current enjoyment of God, and their spiritual life isn’t worthy of a call to their pastor. Again, this isn’t a bad-hearted sentiment. Things are going well! They’re not in any struggles. In fact, they’ve been growing in Christ! So why interrupt a pastor’s study with that news?
Simply put, this is a great joy and encouragement to a pastor’s heart! It’s a blessing to hear from a brother or sister about how the Lord is working in their life. It doesn’t matter if God used the pastor himself, or the sermons from a pastor down the street. The greatest joy a pastor has is to hear that his sheep are doing well. It isn’t a time-waster or a distraction—quite to the contrary. It is a great joy to hear that God is working among His people!
So, no matter what you might be thinking, remember, your pastor would love to hear from you. Whether he’s busy or not, and whether your call is one of struggle or blessing, pastors love to hear from their sheep! This is God’s heart for us as well, and as shepherds turn to the great Shepherd for help and care, they find the strength and joy needed to fulfill this calling!
Unspoken Requests
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by Gus Pidal
I will never forget that small church I visited over a decade ago. Melissa and I were in the midst of gathering our support to go to Spain and I was invited to this small congregation to present our ministry in Spain and to share what the Lord was doing in our lives. I was fresh out of seminary, very inexperienced, and I happened to come to the service earlier and sat in their adult Sunday school with 7 adults.
Before the class started, the teacher asked, “Are there any prayer requests?” An older saint raised her hand immediately, you can tell she had something to share, yet when she was called upon she said, “it’s unspoken”.
Two words, well two and a half words… “It’s. Unspoken.” What did that mean? What in the world is an unspoken prayer? The Sunday school teacher did his best to pray for Sister So and So and her “unspoken prayer,” yet the question still lingered in my mind… What is so private about a prayer request that this older saint could not share with the 7 people that were in that claustrophobic classroom? I do not know, but it really does not matter. Perhaps it was something very heavy for her to bear. Possibly it was private. Nevertheless all those years ago, I remember driving home, it was a very long drive that included a lot of L.A. traffic, meditating on a verse Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
It is easy to pile on this poor older saint for not being “real” and sharing her prayer request, but I believe that the onus is on us (no pun intended). We must create a culture where we bear one another’s burdens as we seek to glorify Christ with our lives. And how do we do this? We do it by being honest and sincere ourselves, we do it by seeing our church as our family in the faith, we do it by honoring the Lord with our lives by bearing, by carrying other’s burdens because of what the Lord is done for us.
We also do it by having a high view of God. The sovereignty and the love of God bring us hope and allow us to be open and honest with one another. So, instead of sharing unspoken prayers, we can be sincere with others because we know that God is sovereign over everything, even our faults and our frustrations. At the same time and in the middle of our difficulties, we know that God loves us because He already demonstrated his love for us in that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8).
The Bigger They Are…(An Encouragement to Share the Gospel Boldly)
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by Jon Buck
“…the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation…” - Rom 1:16
I’ve never been in a street fight.
They look pretty scary, honestly, and I have no desire to be in one. I’m not, by nature, a fighter, and would rather just back away slowly.
But the phrase ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall’ has been used in the context of bringing down large and important figures in boxing for years. In fact, the expression is believed to come from boxing and became popular when Robert Fitzsimmons used it in a 1902 newspaper interview before fighting the much heavier James J. Jeffries.
If you’re like me, there are certain people in your life that you feel are the furthest from salvation. They’re so hardened, and so darkened by sin, that you’ve given up hope that God will ever save them.
You might be right, but can you imagine a more hardened sinner than the Apostle Paul? He was busy killing Christians when Jesus saved him. Of all the religious leaders of his day, Paul says that he was outworking all of them in self-righteousness, and in the persecution of the church (see his pedigree in Phil 3:1-6).
And yet, Jesus saved this hardened sinner.
And the weight of his salvation was felt around the world at the time, and has echoed down to us in our day through his ministry.
He was one of the biggest, but Jesus brought him down.
No wonder, then, that when Paul wrote Romans, he said that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. No matter how powerful, and no matter how important a person is, their power is nothing in comparison to the power of God.
And when that power of God is unleashed on a person for their salvation…well…they’re going to be saved. No matter how big an unbeliever is, friends, Jesus is bigger, and the Gospel is His power to bring them to Himself.
So, rather than despair for the hardest in our lives, and rather than make excuses for our lack of boldness because of the hardness of those around us, let’s willingly and openly proclaim the Gospel to a lost and dying world.
Those whom God chooses will be saved, and nothing can keep them from that destiny.
Why Did God Create A Massive Universe? A Brief Reflection on the Webb Telescope Images
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by Jon Buck
Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord. - Jer 31:37
NASA recently released a group of new photos from the James Webb Space Telescope—a state-of-the-art space telescope that has just recently produced its first deep space images. The most recent set of photos utilized the gravity from a group of galaxies in order to look substantially further into space than had ever been done before.
The resulting image is shocking and beautiful. The field of vision in the photo is approximately the size of a grain of sand, held at arm’s length, toward the sky. And, in that tiny space, there are literally thousands of visible galaxies, some of which are the furthest ever photographed at approximately 4.6 billion light years away.
The image has made news because of the incredible distance that exists between the objects and the earth, and because of the apparent age of the objects as well.
However, as a literal 6 day creationist, these findings are unsurprising. In fact, they are enjoyable to me!
First, it is glorious to see the profound power of God in creation. The bible tells us that God created the stars of heaven (Isa 45:12) with His voice, and that their motion and names are all known to Him (Is 40:26).
Second, it’s amazing to think that God created these celestial bodies, and created the light that exists between them and earth, simply by speaking. According to Genesis 1, God created light on the first day (dividing light from its source—something no ancient mind could have conceived of) and the luminaries on the fourth day. These wonders were made in a moment, simply by the spoken word of God.
However, this might leave us to wonder God’s purpose in creating such massively distant and numerous galaxies and celestial bodies.
The answer is, like all others, found in the Scripture. God promised the nation of Israel that He would restore them to their land, and would faithfully plant them there, and bring them into a relationship with Him. These promises are salted into literally every Old Testament book.
However, the experience of any Jewish believer during those many generations might have caused some doubt. Unbelief, sin, judgment, and destruction was the constant experience of the nation, and God’s faithfulness may have been questioned.
God’s answer to the nation of Israel was simple—if you can measure the universe, I’ll forget you. But since God can’t ever change His mind or forget His promises, we can have great confidence that the universe will never be measured.
Each time the next generation telescope points its lens toward blackest space, God’s faithfulness is called to the test. And every photo sprinkled with galaxies at absurd distances simply indicates that God has passed the test. And, gloriously, if God is faithful to His promises to Israel, then He will be faithful to His promises to you!
So, next time you see a picture of distant galaxies and planets, remember…this is just a reminder to you that God will never and can never change. He will hold you until the end.
The Subtle Danger of Works Righteousness
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by Jon Buck
“It was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” - John Bunyan
One of the most fascinating things about the human mind is how it can process complex concepts rapidly, and with great understanding. And one of the most complex notions that we encounter as Christians is the concept of self-analysis. We can often be quick to examine our hearts and motives, and, at times, find ourselves despairing over whether we have truly submitted ourselves to Christ.
We might call this a ‘lack of assurance’ or ‘struggling with doubt’, but these internal dialogues are intense, and can be soul-crushing battles with fear and despair. And, of course, the Bible affirms that nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ, and so we can trust that God will bring us through. But at times, it doesn’t feel that way.
One of the greatest causes of this breed of doubt is our own internal thoughts and self-analysis. These may take the form of sinful temptations, of sinful thoughts and desires, of an awareness of lack of love for Jesus, or countless other forms. These can sometimes come in tidal waves, and leave us bruised and battered, and filled with doubts about our salvation.
Now - if you’re careful, you’ll notice that this is an interesting phenomenon—we are doubting our salvation because we have doubts. In other words, the doubts themselves become infinitely regressive—doubts lead to doubting, and doubting leads to greater doubting, etc. This toilet bowl of confusion can pull our faith down rapidly.
It’s helpful to know that one of the greatest Puritan pastors, John Bunyan, struggled with this same issue.
At its core, this mode of thinking is actually works-righteousness, disguised as a subtle form of godliness.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ informs us that God does not accept us based on our good or bad ‘frames’, as Bunyan calls them. My own internal confidence, my own internal victory, my own internal struggle—these are neither the cause of my salvation, nor the forfeiting of it. In fact, none of my works, either good or bad, are the cause of my salvation.
In fact, the beauty of the Gospel is that I am accepted by God because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. On my very best day, filled with joy and faith and service to God, I am no more loved than on my very worst day, filled with fear and doubt and struggle. God has accepted me in the righteousness of Jesus alone, and that cannot change.
So—how do we fight these doubts and fears?
The answer, of course, cannot come from inside us. Everything inside of us is confused and broken in those moments. So the answer must come from outside of us—the answer must come from God’s Word.
God has spoken, and His word is true. When He tells me that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15), this is true. I must trust His word more than I trust my own thoughts. I must remind myself that, yes, I am a sinner, but Jesus came to save sinners…Yes, I am sinfully doubting, but Jesus died for sinners…yes, I am fearful, but Jesus Christ came to rescue those who fear.
It is the Word—read, and believed—that will set me free. As another wise sinner like Bunyan once said, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Roe v. Wade: Praising God, Praying for Neighbors
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by Jon Buck
This morning, at 10 AM EST, the US Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade by a 6-3 decision. The decision was handed down amid substantial controversy after the illegal leak of the opinion several weeks ago. Since 1973, abortion has been considered a constitutional right in the US, but the decision now moves that choice to the individual states to decide.
I must say that waking up to this news splashed across the internet was one of the most joyful and encouraging things that has happened politically in recent years. Abortion is a wicked wrong in our nation, and the fact that there will be less access to abortion in certain states is a great blessing.
The decision is also one of the most polarizing in recent years. The internet is filled with cries of joy and cries of lamentation, depending on who is speaking. Politicians, actors, pundits and the like are all expressing their opinions, and often in the most vehement ways.
But what should our response be as Christians?
First, I hope that your heart is rejoicing at this step in the right direction for protecting the lives of the unborn. I hope that you are filled with thanksgiving to God for this decision that will undoubtedly lessen the number of infants who are mercilessly killed in our nation.
But second, I hope that we, as Christians, will take this opportunity to pray for those around us who disagree. The polarization around this issue can cause an even more complex situation for the Gospel. Those who believe in abortion as a constitutional right will be even more hardened by the decision to turn from anything that even begins to sound anti-abortion.
But the biggest problem for these neighbors of ours is not their support of abortion, nor is it any other political position, regardless of how sinful it may be. Instead, the biggest problem for everyone on both sides of this debate is where they stand before God—whether they have truly trusted in Christ for their salvation, or not.
In the coming weeks as this decision unfolds, we’ll see more and more videos of angry protestors and rejoicing protestors. Regardless of who you see, I hope your heart will pray for them. Pray that they would not be confused about what is the primary need in their lives. Pray that they would understand that abortion isn’t the main issue, but that Jesus is.
And, I hope that as Christians, we will seek to limit the vitriol that will inevitably spill all over the internet. I pray that we’ll protect the Gospel, and show Christ to our neighbors by our attitudes.
Is There Power Enough?
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by Jon Buck
“…and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
Eph. 1:19-20
There have been times in my Christian life where I’ve struggled with certain sins, and found myself in deep despair. After fighting and wrestling with my own sin, and finding myself unable to conquer temptation, I have sometimes begun to doubt if God was with me, and if He had power to change me.
I don’t think this struggle is uncommon.
Paul himself wrote in Romans 7:25 - “Oh wretched man that I am! Who will free me from the power of this death?”
Sin seems so incredibly powerful, doesn’t it? The temptations that course through us produce a nearly-constant potential to stumble in a wide variety of ways.
Perhaps you find yourself struggling with anxiety. You are anxious about a host of different concerns. And, having experienced the pain of anxiety already, you find yourself anxious about being anxious.
Perhaps lust is a dangerous arena for your heart. You find yourself constantly confronted by the unrighteousness of the world. The offer of evil pleasures seems ubiquitous, and your heart is often pulled in that direction. No matter how much you hate the consequences, you find yourself craving again and again.
Or, perhaps the appeal of the world—the craving of your flesh—calls out to you like a siren song. The allure of newer and better ‘stuff’. The appeal of vacations, and pictures of mountains or white sandy beaches. You find yourself day-dreaming, filled with discontentment of your circumstance, knowing all the while that your cravings are leading you into sorrow.
My question is, “Is there power enough to change me?”
Does God have what it takes to change my evil heart? Does He have the power of transform my desires? Can He actually make me more like Jesus, and less like the ‘old’ me?
Paul’s unequivocal answer is yes. There is plenty of power in God for all the needs your heart has, and that power is yours by faith.
In fact, in Eph 1:19-20, Paul explains his desire that all Christians know the ‘surpassing greatness of God’s power’, and particularly, the ‘working of the strength of His might’ that is ours through Him.
And, to show the immense power of God, Paul points to two different events—the resurrection, and the ascension. Why these two?
The resurrection is the pronouncement of God’s victory over sin and death. Jesus is alive, and our sin is dead. That power that conquered sin once and for all is the very power that works in you! Is there any power greater than the power to restore life? And the resurrection power of Christ belongs to every single child of God, right now!
The ascension points to the power of God over all circumstances that you might face. There is nothing that is outside the absolute sovereign control of the King who sits on the throne. Jesus has taken His seat at the right hand of the majesty of God the Father, and everything that is coming into your life—temptation or suffering—has come from His hand.
And so - is there power enough for you to change? The power that raised Christ from the dead, and the power that gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth is yours, right now, in Him.
Do you believe that? If you do, you have all the power you need!
Four Races, Three Denominations, One Gospel
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by Jon Buck
I love this picture.
I don’t love it because I’m in it. In fact, quite to the contrary—I’d rather not be!
I love this picture because of what it says about the Gospel and its power. This picture contains four different races, three different denominational and ecclesiological perspectives, and yet, one glorious gospel uniting it all.
Let me introduce you to these brothers.
On the far left is PJ Tibayan. He’s the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Bellflower. This church is part of the Southern Baptist convention (SBC), is congregational, and practices a semi-closed communion.
Second from left is Bobby Scott. He went to the Master’s Seminary with me, and is the associate pastor at Community of Faith Bible Church in South Gate Los Angeles. He and I are more or less completely on the same page in terms of our theology.
The man next to me is Rudy Rubio. He is the pastor of Reformed Church of Los Angeles, a Presbyterian church in Lynwood. His church believes in infant baptism, holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith, and is part of the Acts 29 church planting network.
Now - I want to be clear. None of the four of us agree 100% on what we believe about the Bible. In fact, with the exception of Bobby, I would probably find it challenging to attend their churches for an extended amount of time, as they would find it challenging to attend ours.
However, we love one another as brothers in Christ, and pray for each others’ churches.
Why? Because the Gospel—the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners, embraced by grace alone through faith alone is the heartbeat of each of these men’s ministries.
In fact, in the background you can see the T4G logo—Together for the Gospel. That’s what we are!
Heaven is very much like this—brothers and sisters of different backgrounds who lived their lives with various convictions about secondary and tertiary doctrines, but who were all radically committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and His glory alone!
The Gospel unites what the world, and even denominations, can divide.
I love this picture because it is a picture of heaven, and because heaven is about the glory of Jesus Christ!
Remembering When We Doubt
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by Jon Buck
“…who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Eph 1:3
My Christian life has been marked by a constant ebb and flow of faith and struggle. At times, I have enjoyed seasons of faith and hope, and at times, I have wrestled with doubt and despair. Throughout these seasons of doubt, I forget many of the blessings that the Lord has already poured out for me.
Paul states this fact unequivocally in Eph 1:3. God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. There is no spiritual need, no spiritual strength, no spiritual concern that has not been provided for me in Christ!
Of course, in seasons of doubt, these realities are not clear in my heart. I doubt God’s love and care. I find myself worshipping idols. I forget His sovereign hand over me. And these are just a few!
The way back is always the same —I lack faith in all that God has for me and is for me in Christ. I have forgotten the glorious truth of this verse, and instead have focused on my circumstances, my sin, my needs. But I can always remember. I can always remind myself that the Lord is good, and that all the spiritual needs that I have are mine in Christ already.
How glorious is that? The needs I have this morning in my spirit are already mine through Christ and His shed blood. I need only remember this truth in faith, and my heart is filled with those very blessings.
So—if you’ve forgotten all that God has for you in Christ, or if you doubt, read this verse, and remember!
Beware ‘Nike’ Christianity
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by Jon Buck