The Glory of Christ

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Archives for August 2016

In Christ Alone – Redemption and Forgiveness

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In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Ephesians 1:7

The experience of salvation—the forgiveness of our trespasses—is the experience of being in Christ. It seems that we’ve a tendency to think of salvation as a gift, bought and given by Christ, while not realizing that He is the very gift of salvation. Whether we refer to it as redemption, forgiveness, salvation, or eternal life, it’s all Him! There’s no discovery or experience of any of God’s gracious works as entities in and by themselves—it’s all related to being “in him.”

     Paul stated that as follows: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We’re either “in him,” experiencing God’s salvation, or we’re separated from Him, “having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).

     Whenever we consider the reality of being “in Christ,” we have to go back till eternal ages, which Paul mentioned a few verses before: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Eph. 1:3-4). When Jesus was born, “he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham” (Heb. 2:16 KJV)—those who had been chosen “in him before the foundation of the world.”

     Therefore, when we consider Jesus’ righteous life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, we also have to see ourselves in Him. Paul stated: “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). We were (and are!) fully involved in His great work of salvation, being “in him.”

     This is all “according to the riches of his grace,” both the choosing and the glorious benefits of being in Christ. It will be our eternal enjoyment: “So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). That’s the beauty, excellence, and glory of the gospel—of Jesus Christ.

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

In Christ Alone – Eternal Life in Christ Jesus

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Do you truly know what you justly deserve? Do you agree with that? The Bible isn’t ambiguous when it comes to sin, justice, and wrath.  That’s why the gospel is such amazing news.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

The Bible makes a sharp contrast with what we justly deserve and what we graciously receive. It’s the eternal distinction between God’s righteous wrath and His pure mercy. If God were to deal with us according to our sins, even a single sin, eternal separation from Him would be our eternal portion.

     Paul expressed that as follows: “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thess. 1:9). The idea of partying in hell with friends is an absolute delusion. Rather, it’s the suffering of punishment—not just for a few years, but throughout endless ages. That is our just reward for our sins, whether we agree or not. No one will receive any injustice or unrighteousness.

     That’s why “the free gift of God” is completely astounding. While we rightly deserve “the punishment of eternal destruction,” God freely gives us fullness of joy and eternal pleasures: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). Instead of being cast “into the outer darkness” (Matt. 25:30), our Gracious Creator freely accepts us for His Son’s sake. That’s what John Newton meant by Amazing Grace.

     God’s free gift is “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The only way to receive and enjoy eternal life is in His Son: “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). We’re either “in Christ Jesus,” enjoying the infinite fullness of God’s grace, or we’re separated from Christ, awaiting our eternal wages. There’s no other reality. It’s one or the other. Paul even stated that those who are separated from Christ are daily “storing up wrath” (Rom. 2:5).

     Those who are currently separated from Christ are urged to flee to Him for their life, while those who are already “in Christ” are urged to hold fast to Him and give Him all the glory. To which group do you belong?

Click here to go to my books

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. Coming the 1st of September: Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.

In Christ Alone – Sharers in Christ

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How many shares do you have of Jesus Christ? Perhaps a strange question. Yet, once we know how many we have, we can truly live of all His profits.

For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Hebrews 3:14

What if someone made you a shareholder of one of the most profitable Fortune 500 companies—not just having one single share, but being the majority shareholder? You wouldn’t have to work anymore, just live off the profits. Obviously those profits would be in proportion to how many shares you have. What if you had all the shares? You would receive all the profits, right? That’s what Christian faith is all about!

     Being “in Christ” is synonymous with sharing in Him. When we receive Jesus by faith, we become partakers of all He has accomplished and obtained, eternally profiting from that. In How Deep The Father’s Love For Us, we sing: “Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.”

     Jesus said: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus’ righteous life on our behalf and His sacrificial death for all our sins was a payment to the Father. When we place our faith in Jesus, we become shareholders of who He is and what He has done. Furthermore, everyone who received Him is a full shareholder—there are no partial ones. We either have all or none of Him. We’re either “in Christ” or we have “no hope and [are] without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).

     Jesus used the best illustration: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). By faith we’ve been united to Him. His life is now our life. That’s why John wrote: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).

     The author of Hebrews stated that we are to hold fast to “our original confidence firm to the end.” Yes, there’s a real fight of faith, but it’s in relation to holding fast to Jesus as our very life and all. When we do so, we’ll be an eternal shareholder of all that He has accomplished and obtained, eternally living off His profits. That’s really good news!

Click here for my devotional books

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. Coming the 1st of September: “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.” There are 40 short devotionals, encouraging and equipping you in this battle.

In Christ Alone – Life and Light

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As we continue our book launch In Christ Alone, we’ve come to two vital parts: Life and Light. Apart from Christ there’s only darkness–great spiritual darkness. In Him there’s full life and light.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:4

In the Bible, the physical is many times meant to illustrate the spiritual. For example, the temple and all its worship and offerings were but “a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities” (Heb. 10:1). Furthermore, creation itself is meant to show forth God’s “invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature” (Rom. 1:20).

     Today’s verse declares that “the Word”—Jesus—had life in Himself. That means He didn’t derive life from God, He had it within Himself—He’s the self-existing One. That’s stated in sharp contrast with everything else. Only God has life in Himself. His creation, including us, derives life and existence from Him. We’re not self-existing; we’re receivers and beneficiaries of God’s life. That’s why Paul said: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

     As we start our journey In Christ Alone, it’s vital to understand this, for this isn’t only true with respect to our physical life, but also regarding our spiritual life. We derive life from Him. We have to gain the mindset that God’s always the Giver and we’re always the receiver. He’s always the Beneficiary and we’re always the beneficiaries.

     Paul articulated that as follows: “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Cor. 4:7). Here’s a definite test whether or not we truly understand and live in the reality of being in Christ: do we boast in ourselves or in Jesus? Whom do we praise for our spiritual accomplishments? To whom do we give the credit? Do we deeply realize that all spiritual life, growth, and fruitfulness come from Him?

     John wrote: “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). Having received Jesus by faith is what really matters! Eternal life is not a gift existing by itself. It’s Jesus! He is the life! He said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

     Everything has to be seen in relation to Him. Spiritual life in only in Jesus! Notice, also, that His life is synonymous with light. Indeed, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). It’s only in Him that we have true light. Apart from Him is only darkness.

Click here for my devotional books

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. Coming on the first of September: “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.” There are 40 short devotionals, encouraging and equipping us in this battle.

In Christ Alone – A New Creation

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As we continue with our book launch of In Christ Alone, we’ve come to our first devotional. “In Christ” we can truly experience deliverance from our past and enjoy a very hopeful and blessed future, to say the least.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

It’s only fitting to start our journey with the verse that truly defines it. When we are in Christ, “the old has passed away” and “the new has come.” Elsewhere Paul described this dramatic change as follows: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). When we were born again, we went from darkness to light.

     Just like a newborn baby has no clue about all the implications of having just been born, even so we are mostly clueless about the great transformation that took place when we were saved—from being separated from Christ, “having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12), to being “in Christ,” having become a partaker of Him. There are no other options in this life or throughout eternity besides these two.

     What does it mean that “the old has passed away” and “the new has come”? In describing this eternity-altering change, Paul wrote: “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Rom. 6:6). When we are “in Christ,” we’ve become partakers of His death and resurrection. In a very real sense we died and rose with Him.

     Therefore, having died with Christ is the perfect equivalent to the old having passed away, and having risen with Him is synonymous with the new that has come. That’s why Paul also stated: “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). We went from spiritual deadness—being separated from Christ—to spiritual life—being in Him.

     Lastly, this is in reference to anyone. It doesn’t matter if we’re bright or not so bright, rich or poor, young or old, famous or obscure. When one is “in Christ,” there’s an indissolvable union with Him that will take us through this earthly life and endless ages, experiencing all that He has accomplished and obtained for us.

Click here for my devotional books

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. coming soon: “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.” There are 40 short devotionals, encouraging and equipping you in this battle.

In Christ Alone – Introduction

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Do you agree: there’s no greater truth and reality than being in Christ? It’s what every Christian needs to know more deeply and experience more profoundly. That’s the title and subtitle of an upcoming book, which I’m planning to publish on Kindle in October: In Christ Alone! – What Every Christian Needs to Know More Deeply and Experience More profoundly.

     As we’re taking a break from our study in John’s gospel, we’ll have thirty-one devotionals in the coming weeks on what it means to be in Christ. I hope and pray that the Lord will use it to make us more unwavering in all the highs and lows of our lives, discovering more rock-solid ground to live on. Here’s the introduction:

Introduction

One of my favorite songs is In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. Some of the lines read: “From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.” Those are some radical truths.

     Do we really believe that “Jesus commands my destiny”? Are we truly persuaded that no one can “pluck me from His hand”? These statements are fully grounded in what Jesus said: “I give them [My sheep] eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). These profound salvation truths are realized In Christ alone!

     The Bible emphasizes that the experience and enjoyment of our salvation is only in Him: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). This includes our eternal bliss, which is also fully related to being in Him: “So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7).

     In Christ Alone is the sole message of this book. There are thirty one devotionals, highlighting this glorious truth, which every Christian needs to know more deeply and experience more profoundly. The root of this reality is grounded in God’s eternal counsel and purpose. The fruit of it will never be fully realized—it’s infinite.

     One can safely say that there’s no greater truth and reality than being in Christ Jesus. It’s the totality of our salvation—our regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. The deeper we grow in this truth, the more rock-solid ground we discover. That will make us unwavering in all the highs and lows in our lives: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rules, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).

    Are you ready to grow deeper? Do you want to discover more rock-solid ground? There’s only one answer: finding our all In Christ Alone!

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. Coming soon: Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit. There are 40 short devotionals, encouraging and equipping us in the battle.

Uncertain Certainties

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What does it mean to follow Jesus? As we continue our study in John’s gospel, we find a clear clue!

He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they come and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

John 1:39

John the Baptist had highlighted Jesus as God’s Lamb. His two disciples left him “and they followed Jesus” (John 1:36-37). As they were following, Jesus asked: “What are you seeking?” They responded: “Where are you staying?” Jesus didn’t give many specifics; He said: “Come and you will see.”

     Following Jesus is a walk by faith and not by sight. He doesn’t disclose much. Yet, there is no greater certainty in life than following Him—all other ground is sinking sand. While we may not know the way, we know the Person.

     It’s ultimately a matter of Whom and not what—who He is and not what He can provide. Later on many would desert Him. Jesus asked the Twelve: “Do you want to go as well?” Peter responded: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-68).

     When our goal is to be with Jesus, we’ll never be disappointed. However, when we want to know all the specifics of our life, there’ll be inevitable disappointment because He doesn’t reveal that and following Him is mostly through the more difficult roads.

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
Author of “A Glorious Sacrifice“

P.S. Coming soon: “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.” For more info go to www.devotionalwriter.com

What Are You Seeking?

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Question: would you like to preview “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins“? There are 40 short devotionals, encouraging and equipping you to arm yourself with God’s Word and Spirit in this important battle.

     Just email me and I will send you a copy of the book. My request (yes, there is a small string attached) is that you will write an honest review of the book on Amazon when it goes live (probably at the end of this month or the beginning of September). A review only takes a few minutes of your time and is a great blessing for me.

     As we continue in John’s gospel, we’ve come to a vital question: What are you seeking? Are you seeking Jesus for who He is or for what He can provide?

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

John 1:38-39

It may have been the first time that Jesus asked the reason why people were following Him, but it was certainly not the last time. Later on He would say to those who followed Him: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26).

     One of the two disciples was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Their response was: “Rabbi . . . where are you staying?” It seemed that they were truly following Jesus for who He was, while the ones in the sixth chapter for what He could provide. He asked “what” and they responded with “you.”

     What are we seeking from Jesus? Are we seeking what He can give or do, or who He is? While the “giving” and “doing” are an integral part of who He is, He should be the main pursuit. When our reason for following Him is based on what He can give or do, we can easily become disappointed—not providing the healing we plead for or not do other things we consider important. On the other hand, when we seek Him for who He is, whatever He may give or do, we’ll never be disappointed.

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer

Pointing to Jesus

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It seems that yesterday’s post didn’t go out through MailChimp. It’s worth the read: http://thegloryofchrist.com/the-lamb-of-god/ Here’s the one for today. What’s the measure of a true Christian leader?

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

John 1:37

John’s mission and mandate was “to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him” (John 1:7). His main message was to point to “the Lamb of God.” That’s also our main message. When John’s disciples heard him talk about Jesus, highlight Him as God’s Lamb, they left John and followed Jesus.

     What would be the opposite? Sects and sectarian tendencies try to pull its hearers to themselves. They like to emphasize that the truth is really (and only) found with them, discouraging the adherents from other real and legitimate Christian churches.

     Whenever a Christian leader tries to attract and keep the hearers to himself, he’s lost the Biblical mandate, which is to always point to Jesus and follow Him. John had no problem with his disciples leaving him as long as they were following Jesus. Isn’t that the test of a true Christian leader?

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer

P.S. Coming soon: “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.” You can find out more right here: www.devotionalwriter.com

The Lamb of God

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What was John the Baptist’s main message? What was John the Apostle’s main message? What was Paul’s main message? What should be our main message?

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

John 1:35-36

John the Baptist “came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” What did his witness consist of? His main message was that Jesus is “the Lamb of God.” The Father sent His Son to live a perfect righteous life—to be our unblemished, spotless Lamb—and then He offered Him as our sacrifice: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Isa. 53:10).

     In Acts we read: “For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:27-28). God offered His Son as our Lamb.

     Paul emphasized that which is “as of first importance”—the gospel. He wrote to the Corinthians: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures . . .”  (1 Cor. 15:3-4). That was his most important message throughout his ministry.

     The reality of Jesus as God’s Lamb is everlasting. In revelation we read: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:9-10).

     Indeed, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:12).

Click here to get your copy of “A Glorious Sacrifice” (only $0.99)

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. Coming soon: “Battling Sexual Temptations and Sins: Overcoming through God’s Word and Spirit.”