Getting The Gospel Down Deep
Posted October 19th, 2009 by Tullian TchividjianThinking out the deep implications of the gospel and applying its powerful reality to all parts of my life is a daily challenge and a daily adventure. Theologically I understand that the gospel didn’t just ignite my Christian life but it’s also the fuel that keeps me going and growing every day. My challenge is understanding how this works functionally. So, here are a few questions I go back to all the time which help me make the connection between what Christ accomplished for me and my daily internal grind:
Since Jesus secured my pardon and absorbed the Father’s wrath on my behalf so that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”, how does that impact my longing for approval, my tendency to be controlling, and my fear of the unknown?
How do the life, death, and resurrection of Christ affect my thirst for security, affection, protection, meaning, and purpose?
In other words, how does the finished work of the One “exposed, ravaged, ruined, and resurrected for us” satisfy my deepest daily needs so that I can experience the liberating power of the gospel every day and in every way?
Being able to answer these questions helps me to get the gospel deep into the fabric of my being.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Tullian,
I return continuously to Jesus response to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Neither do I condemn you, go and leave your life of sin.” Jesus really loves me and shows it daily with total acceptance. I cannot fathom it but do accept it. I can go to work, experience the grind and know that I am accepted in Jesus, loved tremendously and can hardly wait to be with Jesus in Heaven for eternity. Have a great week.
October 20th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Dear Tullian,
The answer to the questions you pose is “trust and obey”.
Trust that because Jesus died for your sins you do not need to try and control others and the outcomes, be approved of by others or fear others and things. Jesus will keep you; just trust and obey Him.
If Jesus approves us why do we need approval from others? How do we know if He approves our actions? Are we obeying (glorifying) Him in all we think, say, and do? How do we know if we are obeying Him? We must know what the Bible says in order to know how to obey Him.
Trust that the security, affection, and protection is there; don’t rationalize just trust and obey.
Everything is found in Jesus not in man. He is our security and if we trust and obey we do not have to waste our time with man’s thoughts and fears but think on God’s thoughts only.
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, … and put on the new…Ephesians17-24
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way.
While we do His good will He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
(This is one stanza of the Hymn, “Trust and Obey”, lyrics by John H. Sammis 1887 and Composed by Daniel B. Towner 1887).
October 20th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Seriously you get it. You get it more than most. You might not live perfectly, but you see the question that you are suppose to see and then you preach it. For me this is a Holy Spirit question, you look deep inside yourself and you ask that question and you wait patiently for the answer because you can’t find the answer inside of yourself, you can’t find it without a deep conviction that Christ is Christ. Those questions are silly without Christ, it has to be poured into your heart through the Spirit which is from Jesus.
I ask myself the question every morning, “God what do you want me to learn about you today?”, but this question you ask is more than that. It is recognizing that something needs to change and one has already come with the power to change it.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Tullian,
Excellent thoughts! Someone who’s done groundbreaking work in this area is Tim Chester from Crowded House in England. Read up on his “Four G’s” for some amazing insight along these lines. He takes the idea that “Sanctification is closing the gap between your mind and heart,” to a whole new, extremely practical level. http://timchester.wordpress.com/
October 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Buddy and Rita,
Excellent. Trust and obedience are the two essentials. One can rephrase the answer also by saying “faith and repentance”. Isn’t that the core of being a Christian, trusting Christ alone in His atoning, sanctifying and glorifying work by faith, and then, and only then, walking in obedience (repentance and good works). There’s no change in our lives unless the Spirit of grace works change in us. We need to be desperate enough to recognize our shallowness and needy condition, to cry out to Him and then trust Him in His love and power to glorify His name and work mightily in our lives. I would say also that order is an important part of this as well. Trust must come first, then good works as we are transformed into His image.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:26 am
Pastor Tullian
Thank you for recommending the book “Instruments in the Redeemer’s hands, People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change”. I received it in the mail yesterday and started reading right away. Excellant thank you again. I would recommend it also. God Bless.
On page 13: He says, The first thing sin produces is rebellion. We are born with it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
[…] October 23, 2009 by Dan Lowe Tullian Tchividjian has a great post over at his blog on how to apply the gospel to our lives each and every day. You can find it here http://www.crpc.org/blog/?p=747 […]
November 9th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
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