The Pain and the Purpose
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by Jon Buck
Grace Has Appeared
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by Jason Park
After ten verses of instruction on “the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (2:1), Paul explains to Titus the reason why our lives ought to accord with the gospel. It’s very simple: because God’s grace has appeared.
In the doctrine of God our Savior (2:9), grace has shone forth. The Light has come into the world. Where? How? In the birth of our Lord and Savior.
In Christ, God’s grace in salvation “was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim 1:9). But now, in history, God’s gracious purposes in saving darkened, sin-bound souls has been made gloriously visible in the appearing of our Christ.
By His appearance, He has abolished death – He died so that we would not perish eternally. Not only that, but by His death and resurrection, Jesus “brought life and immortality to light through His gospel” (2 Tim 1:10). So now in Him, we have eternal life, and we have the hope of an indestructible, incapable-of-sinning body, just like the one He has.
And the dawning of this sin-piercing grace is for “all men” – so that many, you and me, from every tribe and tongue and people and nation would be among those whom Christ has purchased for God with His precious blood (Rev 5:9).
The fruits of a life remade by this grace are inevitable and undeniably present in every believer. But in order to live such a life, we must always be attaching ourselves to this grace. We must be anchored by it (Heb 6:19), tasting it (1 Pet 2:3), seeing it (2 Cor 3;18), and letting it dwell in our hearts richly (Col 3:16).
And take heart, we didn’t make the first move in any of this…God did. His grace in His glorious Son appeared to us, with us, and for us. His grace always makes the first move, always pursues sinners, and always forgives and restores those who respond to it by humble faith.
That’s what Christmas reminds us – where sin abounds, grace super-abounds (Rom 5:20). And nowhere did it super-abound more brilliantly than in a lowly virgin’s womb and then nine months later, in a manger in Bethlehem. This is how God chose to have His grace come to us…let that fill us with wonder and with worship.
Hearts Revealed
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by Jon Buck
“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed…to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” ~ Luke 2:34-35
We discover from Luke’s gospel that the old man Simeon had been waiting for a special day. As a righteous and devout man, God had revealed to him that He would not die until he had seen the coming Messiah. He must have been quite old, because when he sees Jesus and His parents, his first words expressed thankfulness to be able to die in peace!
He must have been waiting and watching daily, praying that the Lord would make it clear which of the many children coming to be dedicated was the true Messiah.
On that special day, however, Simeon entered the temple, found Jesus and His parents, and blessed God for the coming of the Messiah as he held the baby in his arms.
Interestingly, his words about the birth of Jesus Christ are as true today as they were that special day so many years ago.
The birth of Christ reveals the thoughts of the heart.
How we respond to the birth of the Son of God is perhaps the single greatest test of the thoughts of our hearts.
The one who knows and loves God will rejoice at the glory of the coming of the Son of God. Christmas becomes a season of joy, not for presents or for family or for other blessings primarily, but for the glory and wonder of the Gospel. We love the truth that our Savior has come—our Immanuel!
To others, however, the birth of Jesus Christ is something that is either unimportant or, even worse, repugnant.
God’s glory in the coming of the Messiah still pierces into the hearts of men and women. Jesus reveals who we really are. How we respond to Him, both in His life and His death, tells us all we need to know about ourselves.
Increase and Decrease
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by Jason Park
John the Baptist’s last testimony encapsulated his entire life and ministry: I am not the Christ. In John 3:27-36, he gives a stunning litany of truths about Jesus Christ in contrast to himself: Christ is the bridegroom, not John, Christ is from heaven, not John; Christ speaks the words of God directly from God, not John; Christ has been given all things by His loving Father, not John; Christ is the source of eternal life; not John.
From the very beginning of Christ’s ministry, John pointed away from Himself to declare the singular glory of Christ. In John 1:29, he declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Here in John 3:28, John reiterates that he is not the Christ. In fact, from the very beginning, John exalted Christ, not himself, as he leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when she came into contact with the pregnant Mary (Luke 1:44). And in being sent ahead of Christ and pointing to Him and then finally seeing Him, John’s pre-born joy “has been made full” (Jn 1:29).
The joy of Christmas is in proclaiming to our hearts and to each other the same message as John’s: The Son of God has come into the world to speak the very words of God, to give the Holy Spirit without measure, and to take away our sins. That joy leaps in our hearts because we know what these truths mean in our hearts. And so, we point others to Christ, calling them to believe in Him for eternal life.
Is Jesus my joy? Your joy? Or is life fundamentally about me? About my glory? About my desires? If so, Christmas will not be a time of joy because joy only comes through worshiping Christ. Joy, true and lasting joy, is not found here on the earth; it was never meant to be.
But as we realize the gifts we have been given through Christ, we cannot help but leap for joy at our Messiah. As the glory of Christ fills our hearts and takes up more and more of our field of vision, He increases, and we decrease. And as He increases, so too our joy.
Let Him in. Let more of Him in. Let more of His word dwell in your hearts this season. For His glory…and for your joy.
The True King
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by Jon Buck
“Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” ~ John 19:37
In the final days of His life, Jesus went back and forth between world leaders. From Pilate to Herod, and back to Pilate again, before being condemned to die by the demand of the Jews.
As He stood before these leaders, willingly submitting Himself to the governing authorities established by His Father, He spoke many words of truth. However, in His conversation with Pilate, He has a fascinating conversation.
Pilate asks Christ if He is a King, and Christ responds in the affirmative. Jesus is indeed a King. All the human authorities around Him—Pilate, Herod, Caesar, and the rest—were nothing. The true King was Jesus. He had the only true authority to rule over the nation of Israel, and indeed over the world.
And yet, He stands before Pilate, submitting Himself to questioning by the rulers of the world.
But why?
He tells us Himself. He was born, and has come into the world, for a single purpose. The purpose for His coming into the world was not to take His rightful place as King, but to testify to the truth of the Gospel. He hadn’t yet come to rule, to reign, or to judge, but had come to be a witness regarding the Gospel.
But had anyone heard? Had anyone ‘believed the message’ as the prophet Isaiah had asked (53:1)? Jesus says that they have indeed—everyone who is of the truth hears His message of the Gospel and believes.
This promise—the promise of forgiveness for sins through the death He is about to endure—when believed, brings the believer into the truth.
Hearing is believing. And believing is being part of the very truth of the Gospel.
The one who is of the truth is no longer subject to Pilate, Herod, Caesar or the others. Instead, he is subject to Christ. He is ‘of the truth.’
Jesus was born to lead a new group of people—a new nation—as their true King. This King and His people willingly submit to the earthly authorities and understand that this world is not their home and their King has led them into true freedom through the truth.
Christmas is the call of the Gospel to join with the true King who has come as a witness of the truth. Are you a part of His kingdom? Do you hear His voice?
God With Us
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by Jason Park
The second of two names given to our Lord is “Immanuel,” from the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. This verse describes how a virgin will give birth to a son and that people will call his name “Immanuel.” Matthew inserts the translation of this Hebrew term – it means “God with us.”
Now, Jesus is never called “Immanuel” in any of the Gospels or in the rest of the New Testament. So, the name symbolizes the profound mystery of a man who is also God. And that mystery is at the heart of the incarnation, at the heart of the nature of Christ, and at the heart of His glorious ministry to bear our sins as our substitute on the cross.
Because Christ is “God with us,” we know God is for us and not against us (Rom 8:31). We know that He will never desert us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5). We know that we have a sympathetic great High Priest who passed through the heavens only after He became sin for us (Heb. 4:14-15; 2 Cor 5:21). We know He is able to come to aid of those who are tempted because He was tempted in His sufferings (Heb 2:18). We know He is our Advocate with the Father who is the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 2:1-2). We know that He sits at the right hand of God interceding for us (Rom 8:34). We know that He abides in us and we in Him (1 Jn 4:13).
And yet, Christ ascended in a resurrected body and remains in that state forever fills our hearts with fear and wonder. How could the One through whom God made the universe be robed in flesh though He returned to His preincarnate glory? Why would He choose to remain in a body, even in a glorified one? Because Christ loves us. And He wants to be one of us, one with us, and to show just how much He wants to dwell with us and have us dwell with Him.
What will it be like to know God with us in the flesh, when our eyes finally lock with His and faith turns to sight? Christmas points us to that future hope. But in the meantime, though Christ be absent in the flesh, He is with us…God with us…and that makes all the difference in the world.
A Lifelong Rescue Mission
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by Jon Buck
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” ~ Luke 19:10
We’ve all heard of rescue missions that have become the stuff of legend.
Think of the daring night flotilla at Dunkirk during WWII to rescue the British soldiers. Or read about the stunning rescue by the Israeli Defense Force of the hostages held by the PLO at Entebbe Airport. Or we can remember hearing stories of daring rescues of lost hikers and skiers during storms.
These stories grip our imaginations because we recognize the remarkable courage of the rescuers who sometimes must give their lives to save others.
But without question the greatest rescue mission in the history of the world happened on the very first Christmas when Jesus was born.
He didn’t come into the world with all the accoutrements of a rescuer—guns, ammo, camouflage, or mountaineering equipment. No - instead Jesus came into the world in the likeness of human flesh with a mission from His heavenly Father. He came to seek and save those who were lost because of their sin.
In fact, the entire course of Jesus’ life had this single-minded goal. He was born and lived and died for this single purpose. His weapon for saving the lost was His own life. He lived a life of perfect righteousness in order to satisfy God’s requirement for heaven. And, by offering Himself, His very body, on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, He atoned for the sins of His people.
But He also did something else remarkable, He sought out the lost. He pursued them in order to save them. And far better than the best rescue story, Jesus pursued those who were lost, and who hated their rescuer!
The story of Christmas is really a thrilling story of rescue and a willing Rescuer who has sought and saved sinners like us. How stunning to remember that the baby in the manger is the greatest Rescuer the world has ever known!
Light in Darkness
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by Jon Buck
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” ~ John 3:19
I’m sure at some point you’ve been startled in the night by a loud sound. You jump out of bed, wondering what’s happened. In that moment, with everything dark, your mind can wander to all sorts of things! An intruder. An animal. A sleepwalking child.
When things are dark, you need light. You stumble to the switch, turn on the light, and figure out what’s going on.
But imagine in that scenario hating the light. Imagine rejecting it. Choosing at that moment to close your eyes tightly in order to stay in the dark. How insane!
And yet, this is precisely what Jesus says happened when He came into the world.
He brought spiritual Light and life. He came as the shining God-man, glorious beyond all description in His character and work. And, stunningly, He came to offer righteousness and communion with God as a free gift! John says that 'the Light was the life of men' (John 1:4). Jesus came offering forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
But Jesus says that the judgment on the world was not from Him, but that they loved the darkness instead of the Light. Jesus came, and they shut their eyes and denied that the light was on.
Why? Because their deeds were evil. They loved darkness because they wanted to sin. They squeezed their eyes shut because in the darkness, they could sin with impunity. But the Light showed them that they needed a Savior.
That’s still what Jesus is doing today—shining as a Light in the world, and offering Light and life to men who are in darkness. Christmas each year is the same event, in one sense. It is the reminder that Jesus has come with salvation and healing and mercy for sinners. I hope that you love the Light and worship Him for His great love for sinners like you!
“You shall call His name Jesus”
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by Jason Park
When the angel Gabriel informs Joseph of “the Child who has been conceived in her” by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20), he uses two names for this “Son” (v. 21).
The first name, the name by which we know Him best, is “Jesus.” And the angel tells Joseph why the Son’s name is to be “Jesus” – “for He will save His people from their sins” (v. 21). The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of “Joshua,” which means “the Lord saves.”
Now, this is no ordinary Child. He is the Messiah, the long-awaited Seed of Abraham and King of Israel who would restore righteousness and justice to the world (v. 17). He is conceived in his virgin mother by the Holy Spirit (vv. 18, 20), not by his human father. Fully God, yet fully Man, come into the world to do one thing: to save His people from their sins.
Names often have great significance in the Bible, but this name rules them all. The name that would one day be exalted above every other name (Phil 2:9-11) is the one we call on to save us from our sins and because He has saved us from our sins (1 Cor 1:2).
It is the sweetest and fairest name of all – the name by which we have been called by God to Himself as His people (Amos 9:12; James 2:7). This is “Jesus,” our Ruler, our Shepherd (Matt 2:6), the Light that has dawned on our spiritual darkness (Matt 2:16).
He was born to save us. Not from heaven, but on earth; not by the snap of his fingers, but by the sacrifice of His own life. The Lord saves like this. And this is why we particularly adore Him during Christmas.
So, reflect on what His name means. Respond to Christ in gratitude and joy. And reveal to others by your love, kindness, and goodness that the name of Jesus is more than a name to you – it is your soul’s very life.
Christmas is for Worship
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by Jon Buck
“Glory to God in the highest…” ~Luke 2:14
There are many things that our culture has put forward as the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas movies laud the importance of family, traditions, and being ‘home for the holidays’. Others suggest that Christmas is the season for altruism - a general kindness for all, since Christmas is the ‘most wonderful time of the year’.
Much of corporate America sees Christmas as the largest profit season. In the attempt to make the most of the present-buying frenzy, corporate America pushes Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas Specials, and the like.
However, a quick perusal of the beginning of Luke and Matthew (the two gospels that contain information about the birth of Jesus) reveals that the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ inspires worship.
Mary worships God for the blessing of the coming Savior. (Luke 1:46-55)
Elizabeth worships God for the privilege of knowing the time of Christ’s birth. (Luke 1:42-45)
Zechariah worships the Lord for sending the long-awaited and promised Messiah, and for the provision of John the Baptist who would announce His coming. (Luke 1:68-79)
The angels who announce the birth worship in song about the glory of God. (Luke 2:14)
The shepherds worship God when they see the Child. (Luke 2:20)
Simeon in the temple rejoices and worships God for sending the light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. (Luke 2:32)
Anna worships the Lord for the birth of the One who would redeem Israel. (Luke 2:38)
The wise men from the east worship the Child and present Him gifts. (Matt. 2:10-11)
The constant theme throughout the first few chapters of both Gospels is worship! In fact, every character in the first chapters worships something. Even Herod, when faced with the potential of a usurper to the throne, worships himself, and murders the children around Bethlehem.
Interestingly, like each of these characters, whatever we make the ‘meaning’ of Christmas eventually reveals what we worship. Whether family, kindness, or profits, our focus during this season is the thing we hold most dear, and therefore what we worship.
This year we’re going to be posting Advent readings throughout the month of December. Each one will contain a meditation on the birth of our Savior from various texts of Scripture.
The goal of these readings is to encourage you follow the biblical example of worshipping God through this season. The events surrounding the birth of Christ in the Gospels are filled with worship, and so our desire is to help each of you give glory to God in the highest each day as we remember the Advent of our Savior!
Local Church Details, Part 10: Finding Your Spiritual Gifts
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By Jon Buck & Jason Park
Thankful for the Body
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by Jon Buck
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”
~ 1 Cor 12:18
Happy Thanksgiving!
I was reflecting this morning on how thankful I am for the body of Christ at FBC. As a pastor, there can sometimes be a temptation to think that everything is ‘on you’ when it comes to the spiritual care and unity of the body.
But there’s nothing that could be further from the truth!
God has placed each member of our little church in exactly the right place and the right time! What a blessing to see and hear that so clearly. Each one has a special gift, each has a special connection to others, each has a special way to serve and care for the others—and each is precisely where God wants them.
As I spent time considering this, I was so encouraged to see photos on social media, comments from others, and the general connectedness of the family here at FBC. Brothers and sisters carrying out their roles for the glory of God and the blessings and care of others. The Lord has built and will continue to build His body for His glory!
I pray that your Thanksgiving is a day filled with joy—joy in the love of God for you, joy in the blessings that surround you, and joy in your place in the body of Christ!
Reasons for Joy Today
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by Jon Buck
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Phil. 4:4
To be completely honest….
This past week caused me some moments of struggle in my Christian walk. I have been thoroughly enjoying church over the past few weeks as we’ve been able to meet indoors. My heart has been full, hearing the saints sing, and enjoying fellowship with God’s people.
In many ways, this past Sunday was a highlight - to sit, listen to Jason preach such a glorious text, and to sing to the Lord for all His goodness.
And then Orange County moved to the purple tier.
Suddenly, shifting back outside, thinking about weather, sound, distractions, childcare, children’s ministry, health safety, masking, etc.
And then, seeing all that has been happening in our state on the news. Lockdowns, curfews, hypocrisy.
With all this, I’ve been sorely tempted to grumble and complain! But, I’ve been rebuked by the Lord this week as well - rebuked to rejoice. And so, Below are a list of ten things that I’m rejoicing for today. It’s not the least bit exhaustive, but it’s where my heart is at.
A group of like-minded elders who have helpfully challenged, rebuked, and forgiven me this week as I’ve wrestled through the changes.
Freedom to worship the Lord Jesus Christ without persecution. (Yes, outdoors, and yes, with restrictions, but I’m rejoicing that we can still freely gather and worship!)
A wonderful facility with a lovely parking lot in which to gather and worship.
An amazing worship/AV/Sunday team with incredibly talented folks who can put together a worship set inside AND outside (including live-stream) at the drop of a hat.
Folding chairs in a portable trailer.
EZ-ups.
72 degrees and sunny on Sunday (at least for now!).
A flexible church family, willing to pursue righteousness and God’s Word together at the expense of comfort, whether indoors, outdoors, or via Live-streaming.
Zoom (yes, yes, I know - we’re all ‘zoomed-out’, but praise God for such cool technology!)
Fellowship in groups of less than three households!
I hope and pray that your heart is rejoicing in the Lord today, and the many ways He is caring for us during this very strange season.
Local Church Details, Part 9: Membership at FBC
/By Jon Buck & Jason Park
Local Church Details, Part 8: What is "Ministry'?
/By Jon Buck & Jason Park
Local Church Details, Part 7: Deaconesses?
/By Jon Buck & Jason Park
Shining as Lights in Darkness
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by Jon Buck
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” ~ Phil. 2:14-15
As we wait together for the results of the election and the certain court battle to come, I am reminded again that my calling as a Christian has very little to do with who is President, or who controls the House of Representatives, or who is on the Supreme Court, etc.
Oh, of course these leaders influence day to day life. Much may change in the coming years. Things may grow increasingly dark as various men and women come to power. In fact, I might venture to guess that, based on the way the Bible explains the end of the world, things WILL grow increasingly dark. There will likely be religious and moral darkness that increases. There will likely be political and civil darkness that increases. Much may change in the coming years.
But all of this matters very little in terms of my calling as a Christian.
God has called me (and you, if you’re saved) to shine as a light in this world filled with darkness, perversion and crookedness. God wants His children shining, and what better way to make them really stand out, then to surround them with darkness.
But how to shine? That’s the question. When all the world around you grows dark, how do you shine?
The answer, according to Paul, is to do all things without grumbling or disputing. ALL things!
‘Do’ social media without disputing.
‘Do’ tax returns without grumbling.
‘Do’ personal interactions with others who disagree without disputing.
‘Do’ news-watching without grumbling.
….but how….? Because my heart can tend to grumble and dispute frequently.
The answer is in the verse - as children of God. Ah - there it is! I don’t need to grumble, complain or dispute because I am a child of the Sovereign God of the Universe. He’s my Dad, and He’s caring for every detail. All that comes to me is from His loving hand. Why would I grumble? Why would I dispute? Instead, I can trust Him, and give thanks rather than grumble, and love rather than dispute.
Local Church Details, Part 6: Choosing Deacons
/By Jon Buck & Jason Park
One Great King
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by Jon Buck
And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. ~ Rev. 21:23-24
Today is election day.
I can vividly remember the many times I’ve personally voted, as well as the elections that happened when I was too young to vote. These are special times, as Americans exercise their civil right to choose the next leaders of our nation.
However, with today’s elections so hotly contested, and so much apparently ‘on the line’ in terms of policy, I’ve been thinking this morning about the true King of the world.
Sovereign in elections
The concept of God’s sovereignty is clear in Scripture. The Lord governs over all things, and Paul tells us that the powers that be are ‘established by God’ (Rom. 13:1). This concept is understandable when a single Caesar takes power in a coup. However, it is far more remarkable in a representative democracy like ours.
Consider for a moment the massive authority of God. The winner of today’s election will be chosen, not by Americans, but by the Lord of all Americans. God is sovereign over every person who steps into the ballot box or mails in their ballot, the counting process, voter fraud, battleground states, and mismanaged tallies. Not a single event over the next few days falls outside of His absolute sovereignty. And when a winner is declared, that man will be ultimately chosen by God.
Purposeful ends
This, of course, begs the obvious question—what if a candidate wins who brings America to her knees? How is this a good thing?
The answer, as John saw in Revelation 21, is that no nation is preeminent. America, for all her blessings to us, is simply another nation in the massive gathering of nations that God has ordained. And those who know Christ as their Savior will someday come and bring all their glories into the New Jerusalem in worship of the one Great King over all kings—Jesus Christ.
Perhaps God’s plan is to continue to use America as a source of truth and light for the Gospel in various ways. Or, perhaps God’s plan is to bring America to her knees, and to put our society through a trying time. He has certainly done the latter in previous generations and with other nations. Either way, God is good, and His purposes will stand. He will bring about the end of all things, and will place His Son, Jesus Christ, on the throne of the New Jerusalem.
So, as you watch election day unfold, remember: Jesus is the True King, America is a small cog in God’s ultimate plan to glorify Him, and today’s outcome will not change your eternal destiny. Sit back, grab some chips, and watch the Lord work His will out in the world.
God ‘Opened a Door’ Part 2 - Danger, Danger Everywhere
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by Jon Buck