Declarations and Obligations Leading to Love

In their book Counsel from the Cross, Elyze Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson help us see how the Scriptures contain both elements of obligations and declarations. Both elements are helpful in particular when we think about Paul's call to accurate self-perception from Philippians 3:12-16.

Without a true understanding of the obligations at work in the Bible that the fact that every time we open God's Word, God is speaking and laying some claim on our lives. If we don't come with this perspective, aware of real obligations of obedience in the Christian life, we can become complacent and not see the call to press on and grow in our Christian walk.

However, the conversely can also be true. When we become aware of the obligations God sets before us, we can become more concerned and even consumed with our failure to live up to these commands.

This is where the gospel declarations become so important. In Philippians 3:12, Paul tells us that we can pursue God's call to press on because, "Jesus has made me His own."

We can pursue God because, through faith in His Son we receive strength to press on. But not just that, because we are owned by God through Christ, His Son's perfect obedience is placed on us and now God does not look at us through our faltering obedience, and instead looks at us and see His perfect Son.

The result in my heart is love for God, recognizing what He has done for me and this love then motivates me to obey Him more and more.

Biblical obligations are there and bring me to my knees as I see the real call to obedience but the gospel declarations build my love for God and keep me moving towards Him.

Infinitly indebted to God and grateful

Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson in their book, Counsel from the Cross, ask this question in relation to how we view God's love.

"What make me acceptable to him?"1

To help us then understand that our works won't get us there, that it is not about being good enough, later this quote struck my heart,

"Are you trying to avoid the truth that all you can bring to him [God] is debt that must be paid for by another?"2

Everything I do creates debt with God. Whether it is my sin that taints my good works or that next breath where I don't acknowledge the Lord for the gift He has provided, my life accumulates debt with God everyday.

In talking about this with a friend too, it isn't that some days I build up less debt that others because I have read my Bible or gone to church or prayed a little longer. No, my life, my conscious existence creates debt.

But what seems like horrible news is actually great news because through Jesus not only is my debt cancelled, forever, but He creates my account with His righteousness and His perfect obedience. I, in turn am eternally grateful to God because the mountain of debt that I created has been fully and finally paid for by another.

This great news leads me to love God, to appreciate Him and worship Him more because He has through His Son paid a debt I can never repay.

The wonderful hymn from Robert Lowry concludes it wonderfully,

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

1 Counsel from the Cross, Elyze Fitzpatrick and Dennis J Johnson, 77

2 Ibid, 77

Psalm 16 - True Satisfaction

"The unhappy restlessness of those who go astray is doubtless to be traced to their being destitute of the true knowledge of God." John Calvin

When am I truly happy and what brings that happiness? What brings me real joy? Is it a great dessert, my sports team winning again, finding that deal at the store, a great movie, a great concert? I am too easily amused, too easily pleased, like if I have a weekend filled with [literally] great desserts, then my life is complete. But the reality is as Calvin reminds me from Psalm 16, that happiness is short lived and leads to restlessness. When that cheesecake is digested, the happiness is gone.

We need to, I need to again ask myself the question, am I finding happiness and satisfaction in other things. But if the answer today or often is yes, what is the remedy, how do I learn to find happiness in God alone?

Well, it comes first through having our emotions captivated by something greater than the creation, recognizing though that our sin and our worldview want us to settle for less. Again, as Calvin states to respond we need to,

"...set God before us and keep all our senses bound and captive [to Him] lest they break loose and run after any other object."

We live in a sensory world with a worldview that tells us to be satisfied with the material, to be happy with stuff and the pursuit of stuff. And so we need to remind our souls of the many ways God has provided and again see His unique and abundant care for me, so that my emotions will then be filled with love for God rooted in the tangible blessings He provides.

Second though, as Christians we can rest in the fact that God is helping us with this battle, again as Calvin states from Psalm 16,

"God himself has engaged to exercise His power to maintain us in the safe enjoyment of Himself, a blessing inconceivably great."

God will remind us that nothing satisfies, nothing sustains, nothing blesses, nothing protects like He does and He will not let us be satisfied with less that Himself. And when He reminds us of this we will learn increasingly to see the inconceivably great blessing that He is.

So today, where am I settling for less and how do I need reminding that nothing satisfies like the Lord?