Our Victorious King

This week, in our study of Matthew’s genealogy, we focused on the kingly line of Jesus as the rightful heir to the eternal throne of God’s people. One of the great hopes of the gospel is that King Jesus has already defeated the evil forces of the world (sin and death). The victory has been won, and all who belong to Christ are playing a winning game! Peter reminds us that Christ "has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him" (1 Peter 3:22). There is no monarch or president on earth who acts outside the sovereign hand of our good and gracious King. The Lord says in Isaiah 46, "I make known the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose" (Isaiah 46:10).

Peter also assures his readers that not even the evils of Nero and the Roman Empire can thwart the mighty hand of God. Are these same principles not true for us today? Of course they are! Have hope, friends—the Ruler is on the throne, and His Kingdom is forever. We know one thing for sure: just as the Roman Empire, the establishment of all nations will one day come to an end. But it is just as certain that the Kingdom of God will endure forever! (Ps. 45:6, 2 Sam. 7:16, Dan. 2:44). We do not live simply for an enduring "city" on earth; "instead, we seek the one to come" (Hebrews 13:14b). Peter reminds us that our citizenship is not of this world, and our Master is not of this world—our citizenship is in heaven, and our Master is the Lord Jesus Christ alone!

No matter what our future holds, the victory is ours in Christ. Let us keep the main thing the main thing and live in light of the gospel—Christ's death, resurrection, and present rule as King.

The Righteousness of God

This week we celebrated Reformation Sunday by exploring the doctrine of Sola Gratia (Grace Alone). I mentioned that years prior to the reformation Martin Luther was teaching a class through the book of Romans when he came upon Romans 1:17 which reads, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” This theme of the righteousness of God is mentioned in one form or another 8 different times in Romans (although it is worded differently elsewhere). Righteousness can be defined as the state or condition of being perfectly conformed to God’s law and Holy Character. True righteousness belongs only to the Lord—it is perfect because it is “of God” thus it is the perfect righteousness that only God possesses.  This is where the issue lies—it is perfection so therefore we must be perfect to obtain it. This is why the righteousness of God was at the heart of Luther's theological struggle. No matter how hard he worked, he could never obtain it and by it he stood condemned.

It wasn't until Luther understood what Paul was illustrating when he wrote, “from faith to faith.” Two chapters later in Romans 3 he uses the exact same phrase again; “apart from law the righteousness of God has been manifested." (Rom. 3:21) This phrase seems to be placed here very strategically by Paul. In the verses leading up to it, Paul has established that this righteousness of God cannot be obtained by works. He even states in verse 5 that this righteousness of God is shown through our complete inability to be truly righteous. Having done this, verse 21 shows us that the righteousness of God can only be obtained apart from the law. As previously mentioned, it can only be obtained "through faith.”

This is the beauty of the gospel—true righteousness belongs to God; therefore, it is the righteousness of God. God offers us this "alien" righteousness freely in Christ based on no merit of our own. Paul echoes this concept elsewhere in his epistles. Perhaps, nowhere is it better explained than in his second letter to the church in Corinth: “He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. 5:21) Paul is showing his readers that sinful man can only become righteous in God’s sight through a substitute. Paul illustrates this further in Romans 4 as he draws upon the example of Abraham’s faith in Genesis 15: “21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Rom. 4:21-25) It was the gift of faith by which one received the righteousness of God. Paul makes clear that the substance of this righteousness is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the righteousness of God that is necessary for salvation is given by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, on the authority of scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. What a gracious God we serve!

Resting in the Sovereignty of God

Christian, are you presently resting in the sovereignty of God? With all of the chaos that is ensuing as the result of the Coronavirus, it is crucial that we allow the truths of God’s sovereignty to sink deep into our hearts. Take a moment to read the words of our confession concerning the providence of God: 

“God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and      govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.” (WCF 5.1)

God has orchestrated and will continue to orchestrate all of human history for his own purposes. All the wars, plagues, and even pandemics are disposed by God in accordance with his perfect and secret plan. This same God who decrees everything that comes to pass is entirely merciful and good. The question that must be answered is not whether we simply give some intellectual assent to this reality, rather has this truth taken root in our hearts? There is nothing more comforting to God’s people than his sovereign control over all time and matter for his own glory and their good!

Despite a life riddled with severe depression along with mental & physical pain, Charles Spurgeon took refuge in the sovereignty of God. Spurgeon wrote, 

“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne...for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust.”

We don’t need to feel as if we are totally in control. At its core, the need for control is evidence of a lack of faith in the goodness and sovereignty of the Lord. Brothers and sisters, if you are being overcome with fear or anxiety, set your minds on the sovereignty of God!