Calvin Synod Herald, 2007 (108. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2007-09-01 / 9-10. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Comfort at the Cross Psalm 51:1-19 / Exodus 20:1-21 I. Organize Fear A. Life comes with problems. “A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.” (Psalm 73:1-5) B. Jesus not only did not say the Christian life would be easy, He warned that it would be dangerous. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) C. Put the Lord ahead of all life’s other problems; God is more interested in His people than His enemies are. “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:13) “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16- 18) D. Jesus taught believers to organize their fears appropriately; eternity is God’s to direct. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) II. Fear Turns the Heart to Comfort A. The fear of God puts all the other fears in perspective. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10) B. As God’s blood-bought property, people have value to Christ beyond what either they or the world can appreciate this side of heaven. “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:23) C. Worry is not part of the believer’s job assignment; comfort comes from God. “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;” (Isaiah 51:12) D. The substitutionary atonement on the cross combines fear, terror, awe, and ultimately comfort; Christ Himself died for His poor sinners. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:18-19) E. When people get over selfish focus on themselves, the overcoming love of God changes their perspective on all things. “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:8 s) F. God’s election is a richly refreshing source of comfort; “I belong - body and soul, in life and in death - not to myself but to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, Who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and completely freed me from the dominion of the devil. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16) III. Receive the Savior’s Comfort A. The Savior called God’s people to trust Him and find their resources in Him. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) B. God will always remember; nothing gets past God. “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39) C. If God feeds the sparrows, He will feed His own. “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31) D. The believer’s place at God’s table was purchased at the cross; put aside fears, worries, doubts, guilt, and all the chains of the world and come to the Passover feast of God. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:26-30) Dr. Edwin P. Elliott Reformed Presbyterian Church Manassas, Virginia □
