1 John 3 and 4 Bible Study Notes

 If you would like a re-cap on last night's study or you'd like to look ahead to Wed 5th May 7:45pm, you might find some of this helpful: 

Homegroup Leaders Notes (5) 1 John 3:11-24

 

Though we included it last time, I suggest you also read verse 10 this week!

 

How does the passage say we can know if we are genuine believers? What ways of distinguishing true and false believers does it give?

(If you really followed up on everything that came out of this question, it might give you a way in to the whole passage! You will probably need to point people to some of the specific verses mentioned below.

For a brave alternative way of doing the study (!) you could try making lists on big sheets of paper of everything that belongs to the devil / Cain / evil one / murderer / world / hatred / death / words tongue only etc. side on the one hand and the child of God / love / righteous / life / hated / cross / actions / rest / confidence / obedience etc. side on the other and discuss John’s arguments as you go along. To get the most out of this approach the leader would need to have a firm grasp of the logic of all the elements and how they fit together and be ready to think on his feet! Why does each of those things belong where it is? Etc.)

v10: that if someone does not love his brother (a fellow-Christian) he shows himself not to be a true child of God. V14: love for the brothers. Cf. v15. Love is characteristic of God and his children; hatred is characteristic of the devil and his children (v10).

Vv16 & 19.

V24 – real believers obey God’s command, explained in v23.

We know by the Spirit that Jesus lives in us v24. Perhaps we know that Jesus lives in us (v24) by the love, righteousness and faith which the Spirit works in us and also perhaps by the Spirit’s inner witness in our hearts.

 

What are the two “examples” given in this passage? What is it about them John wants us to learn from (to copy or to avoid)?

Cain v12 (Genesis 4). Jesus v16. Cain took his brother’s life; Jesus gave his life for his brothers.

V15 on hatred and murder see Matthew 5:21-22.

 

Why might the world hate us? (v13 – see also v12) Why did Cain hate Abel?

Remember what John has said about the world as in rebellion against God e.g. 2:15-17; 3:1. Non-Christians might act like Cain (v11-12) and hate Christians because the Christian’s righteous actions expose their unrighteousness.

 

What does our culture mean by “love”? What might people say “love” is? How would people finish the sentence “love is…”?

? A feeling. ? sentimental. ? confused with lust / sex.

What does verse 16 suggest real love is? How does the passage challenge our culture’s view of love?

The cross defines real love. It is to do with purposeful self-sacrifice, acting in a way that’s costly to self for the good of others. (Jesus’ love for us was not because we are attractive or loveable.)

 

How should we lay down our lives for our brothers (v16)? What might it mean in practice do this / love one another? What practical ways of doing this are suggested in the passage? (vv17-18)

Purposeful self-sacrificial costly servant-hearted love in action for the undeserving like Jesus showed. V17: it may involve practical or financial help. V18: real love will involve actions, not just words

 

In what ways could you / your group / our church show love like this?

 

How does v19 suggest that Christians can have a clear conscience?

Genuine acts of love (v18) are a sign of being a real believer. Only believers will be genuinely and self-sacrificial in their love of others. Such love is God’s supernatural work in us.

 

If our hearts condemn us (v20), does that necessarily mean we are not genuine believers? Why? What reassurance does John have for someone whose heart condemns him?

John seems to expect that from time to time our hearts may (wrongly) condemn us. It’s reassuring simply to know that guilty feelings don’t mean we’re condemned. God is greater than our hearts – and God has loved us and sent Jesus to die for all those who will trust in him.

 

What promise and conditions does v22 give?

We receive whatever we ask in prayer if we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him. We must do this in what we ask for too. The verse seems to imply that we pray according to God’s will. Cf. 5:14-15.

 

How does v23 sum up what God commands of the Christian?

Believe in Jesus and love one another.

Jesus’ command to love: John 13:34; 15:12, 17.

 

Summary points / applications / for prayer & praise:

John Stott’s summary of vv11-18: “Hatred characterizes the world, whose prototype is Cain. It originates in the devil, issues in murder and is evidence of spiritual death. Love characterizes the Church, whose prototype is Christ. It originates in God, issues in self-sacrifice and is evidence of eternal life.” (Epistles of John, Tyndale NT Comm., IVP, 1964, p144)

Praise God for his love for us and the death of the Lord Jesus for us.

Pray that we would love one another sincerely and follow Jesus’ example, demonstrating self-sacrificial love in action. Look out for opportunities to do this.

Thank God that he hears our prayers.

 

 

Homegroup Leaders Notes (6) 1 John 4:1-21

 

Why do these verses suggest Christians need to be discerning? Why is it necessary to “test the spirits”? (v1)

 

How do these verses suggest that we should “test the spirits” / recognise true and false teaching / the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood?

 

vv2-3

V6: the “us” is probably the Apostles cf. 1:1-4, 19.

 

What comfort does verse 4 give us in the face of false teaching?

 

Can you think of ways in which we might be tempted to accommodate our teaching to the “viewpoint of the world” so that people might listen to us (v5)?

 

Why should we love one another?

V7 Similarly, v16b.

V11. Similarly, v19.

v21.

 

(If you didn’t use the “what do people in our culture think love is” etc. question last time, you could use it here in contrast to vv9&10)

 

How should we love one another? What should our love be like?

vv9-10

 

Since God is unseen (v12), how can we know he loves us?

v14. See also vv9-10.

 

How can we know that we are Christians? Vv13-16.

 

Why can the Christian be without fear? What does the Christian not fear? (vv17-18)

 

Why do verses 20 and 21 suggest it’s incredible to say we love God if we do not love fellow Christians?

See also 5v3

 

Summary points / applications / for prayer & praise:

Pray for true teachers and teaching in the church and that we might recognise and reject false teachers and teaching, not seeking to accommodate our teaching to what people want to hear.

Give thanks for God’s love for us and the confidence it gives us.

Pray for God’s help to love fellow Christians – especially any you find difficult.

 

Parish Data

 The Church Urban Fund parish look up tool allows you to see population, ethnicity, demographics and one or two economic and social things etc. about your parish compared to your diocese and the nation:

https://cuf.org.uk/lookup-tool

John 10vv11-18 Outline / Handout

 

 

Who is Jesus?

 

I AM – Yahweh – the divine name (Exodus 3)

 

The Good Shepherd (vv11, 14)

 

God as shepherd of Israel – Jesus fulfils this role for his people, for those who believe in him

 

Shepherds as kings / leaders

 

Contrast False / unfaithful Shepherds

 

What does he do?

 

The Shepherd provides and protects

 

Context of dangers, division, conflict – wolves (v12)

 

He lays down his life for his sheep only to take it up again (v11, v15, v17, v18) – he keeps his sheep safe and alive

 

He knows his sheep (v14)

 

He calls his sheep

 

He gathers sheep also from another sheep pen – the Gentiles – so that there is one flock under one shepherd (v16)

 

Why does he do it?

 

He cares for the sheep (v13)

 

He obeys his Father’s command (v18)

 

How does he do it?

 

By his death and resurrection

 

By his voice, which is also the voice of God, which we hear in the Scriptures

 

Who are we?

 

Believers are Jesus’ dearly loved sheep

 

We need the Good Shepherd!

 

What should we do?

 

Listen to and obey Jesus’ voice

 

Stick with the Good Shepherd

I AM Sayings OT background

 Ian Paul helpfully draws attention to this: (https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/jesus-the-good-shepherd-leads-his-sheep-in-john-10/)

 Felix Just notes how all these images are rooted in the OT, and primarily refer to God’s relationship with Israel:

• Bread of Life / Bread from Heaven – see Exod 16; Num 11:6-9; Ps 78:24; Isa 55:1-3; Neh 9:15; 2 Mac 2:5-8
• Light of the World – Exod 13:21-22; Isa 42:6-7; Ps 97:4
• Good Shepherd – Ezek 34:1-41; Gen 48:15; 49:24; Ps 23:1-4; 80:1; 100:3-4; Micah 7:14
• Resurrection / Life – Dan 12:2; Ps 56:13; 2 Mac 7:1-38
• Way – Exod 33:13; Ps 25:4; 27:11; 86:11; 119:59; Isa 40:3; 62:10
• Truth – 1 Kings 17:4; Ps 25:5; 43:3; 86:11; 119:160; Isa 45:19
• Vine / Vineyard – Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:9-17; Jer 2:21; Ezek 17:5-10

As Paul comments: "So Jesus’ claims here contribute to the high Christology of this gospel; what God was to Israel, Jesus now is to those who follow him."

1 John 2 and 3 further questions and notes

To go with last night's and next week's midweek meetings: 

If you’d like a re-cap on the passage we looked at last night (1 John 2:28-3:10, Wed 21^st April), you might find the following helpful:

What does John tell his readers to do in this passage? What does that mean?

“continue in him” (v28). “Him” = Jesus. Cf. 2:24. We remain in Jesus by seeing that the apostle’s message remains in us.

Why should we do it (v28)?

So that we might have confidence and be unashamed before Jesus at his appearing = the Second Coming.

 

What categories does our passage divide people into? (v10).

Children of God and children of the devil. Our passage shows us how to tell them apart. It is striking that no third category is suggested.

 

How does the passage characterise / describe real Christians? How can real Christians be known / identified? What do real Christians do?

Christians are children of God (vv1-2). They bear the family likeness of godliness..

They do what is right and love their brothers (fellow Christians) (v29, v10).

The same questions can be asked negatively: how does the passage suggest false believers or teachers can be identified?

Remember the context of false teaching that John is addressing (v7). One way to spot false teachers is by their ungodly lifestyle (v8) or the ungodliness their teaching encourages.

 

What incentives / reasons / arguments for godly living does the passage give?

(This would be a very open question that requires people to pick out the implications of a number of points in the passage. Some are drawn out by the questions below).

V3: the hope of seeing Jesus and being like Him. As children of God we are to bare the family likeness (2v29, 3vv2-3). Jesus’ purpose to destroy sin and the work of the devil means his people should have nothing to do with it (v5, v8). Sin is incompatible with our new God-given life (v9).

 

How does verse 2 describe the Christian hope?

When Jesus returns we will see him as he is and will be made like him. We will be made sinless, like Jesus. (We will also be given glorified resurrection bodies like Jesus now has).

How does verse 3 suggest that hope should affect us now? What’s the logic?

We purify ourselves as Jesus is pure. If we want to be like Jesus in the future, surely we want to be like him now. We are to live in the light of our destiny.

 

How / why do vv5-6 suggest that continuing to live in sin is incompatible with Christian faith? What was the purpose of Jesus’ coming? Vv5, 8.

Jesus came to take away sins (v5) and to destroy the work of the devil (v8) so it makes no sense to profess faith in Jesus and want to hold on to your sins (v5), which are works of the devil which are to be destroyed. There is no sin in Jesus (v5) so it is incompatible with living in Jesus to live in sin (v6). 

 

Do Christians in fact continue to sin?

Yes! Cf. 1:8.

So what does John mean when he says that “no-one who continues to sin” knows Jesus (vv6, 9)?

John is talking about a consistent pattern of life. Just because someone does some things that seem good, that doesn’t necessarily make them a Christian! Similarly, a genuine believer wont be continually complacent about his sin and unrepentant. Real Christians are sinful and far from perfect but they strive to be godly and we should expect some progress.

 

You might ask group members to think on their own about whether there are particular sins they are continuing to live with / are cherishing / have ceased to fight against etc. You could allow sometime for silent reflection and prayer.

 

Summary points / applications / for prayer & praise:

Praise God for the confidence we have in Christ (v28).

Praise God for his great love and for the privilege of being his children (v1), and our glorious future (v2).

Pray that we would remain in Jesus (v28) and not be lead astray (v7).

Pray that we would never be satisfied with our sin but that we would repent of it and seek to be more like the Lord Jesus. Confess any known sins to God and repent of them.

Praise God that Jesus has taken away our sins (v5) and destroyed the work of the devil (v8).

* * *

God willing, on Wednesday 28^th April at 7:45pm via Zoom, we’ll look at 1 John 3:11-24.

The person leading has suggested you might like to think about the following questions in advance:

(1) In what ways have you experienced self-sacrificial love from others?

 

(2) Have you ever faced hatred or opposition for your Christain faith?

If you would like to dig into the text, you might find some of the following helpful:

Though we included it last time, I suggest you also read verse 10 this week!

How does the passage say we can know if we are genuine believers? What ways of distinguishing true and false believers does it give?

See especially v10, v14, v15. Vv16 & 19. v24, explained in v23.

Try making lists of everything that belongs to the devil / Cain / evil one / murderer / world / hatred / death / words tongue only etc. side on the one hand and the child of God / love / righteous / life / hated / cross / actions / rest / confidence / obedience etc. side on the other and think about John’s arguments / logic. Why does each of those things belong where it is?

What are the two “examples” given in this passage? What is it about them John wants us to learn from (to copy or to avoid)?

v12 (see Genesis 4). v16.

V15 on hatred and murder see Matthew 5:21-22.

 

Why might the world hate us? (v13 – see also v12) Why did Cain hate Abel?

See also e.g. 2:15-17; 3:1.

What does our culture mean by “love”? What might people say “love” is? How would people finish the sentence “love is…”?

What does verse 16 suggest real love is? How does the passage challenge our culture’s view of love?

 

How should we lay down our lives for our brothers (v16)? What might it mean in practice do this / love one another? What practical ways of doing this are suggested in the passage? (vv17-18)

 

In what ways could you / your group / our church show love like this?

 

How does v19 suggest that Christians can have a clear conscience?

 

If our hearts condemn us (v20), does that necessarily mean we are not genuine believers? Why? What reassurance does John have for someone whose heart condemns him?

 

What promise and conditions does v22 give?

Cf. 5:14-15.

 

How does v23 sum up what God commands of the Christian?

Jesus’ command to love: John 13:34; 15:12, 17.

Summary points / applications / for prayer & praise:

John Stott’s summary of vv11-18: “Hatred characterizes the world, whose prototype is Cain. It originates in the devil, issues in murder and is evidence of spiritual death. Love characterizes the Church, whose prototype is Christ. It originates in God, issues in self-sacrifice and is evidence of eternal life.” (Epistles of John, Tyndale NT Comm., IVP, 1964, p144)

Praise God for his love for us and the death of the Lord Jesus for us.

Pray that we would love one another sincerely and follow Jesus’ example, demonstrating self-sacrificial love in action. Look out for opportunities to do this.

Thank God that he hears our prayers.

That'll preach!

 In our preaching group, we have been discussing Saving Eutychus: https://www.savingeutychus.com/

In Chapter 8, we are walked through a sermon. 

The author comments that there comes a moment when (ideally!) it all seems to come together. That's my experience too. 

As you think about your hearers and the text, you are looking for a big idea (ideally maybe even the main idea of the text, or at least something congruent with the melodic line of the passage). But you also want to begin to see how it will connect with and apply to your congregation. It's then that you begin to think, "yes, aha! This'll preach!". It's at that point that you can write out your theme and aim sentence and headings and introduction and conclusion and work on applications and illustrations to the extent that you believe in such things! 

1 John 2 and 3 Midweek Meeting notes

 If you'd like a little re-cap on last night's study or you'd like to look ahead to next week:

From Wed 21st April we're going to meet a little later at 7:45pm via Zoom. 

(3) 1 John 2:15-27

 

In this section John contrasts the world and the Christian (vv15-17) and antichrists and the Christian (vv18-27).

 

What does John mean when he tells us not to “love the world” (v15)? (How does this fit with verses such as John 3:16, which speak of God’s love for the world?)

“World” here is society and culture organised without and in opposition to God. We are to love the good world God has created, but we are not to be “worldly” in our thinking. See James 4:4. Neither are we to be engrossed in this passing world. Above all we are to love God.

How does John describe “the world”? How would you put these attitudes and activities in your own words? Can you think of examples of worldly thinking or behaviour?

V16. It seems to involve our sinful nature within and temptations from outside, as well as pride – ways our world might celebrate or justify sin.

Why is worldly thinking inappropriate for the Christian? How does John encourage us to avoid it?

Love of the world is opposed to love of the Father (v15) and does not come from God (v16). The world is passing away (v17).

 

The term “antichrist” is unique to John’s letters (see also 4:3; 2 John 7). The man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2) may be the same figure. The antichrists are probably the same people as the false prophets on 4:1.

 

Specifically what do the false teachers seem to have been denying?

V22 – “that Jesus is the Christ”, that is, the anointed one / Messiah, the promised rescuer king of the Old Testament. (See also 4:2-3; and 2 John 7 for what they might have taught). This is the lie (cf. v4).

 

How does verse 19 suggest we can spot false teachers / teaching? What do false teachers characteristically do?

False teachers do not remain with the Apostles’ teaching, which is preserved in the New Testament.

Can you spot a repeated word or idea in vv19, 24 and 27? What is the contrast here?

The false teachers did not remain with the apostolic church (v19) but John’s readers are to make sure the truth they have heard from the beginning remains in them that they may remain in the Son and in the Father (v24) as the anointing remains in them and teaches them to remain in Jesus (v27).

 

Why is it important that what we have heard from the beginning remains in us? (v24)

If it does, we will remain in the Father and the Son and have the eternal life he has promised. Remember that believing in Jesus brings real fellowship with the Father and the Son (1:3).

How can we make sure what we have heard from the beginning remains in us? (v24)

Don’t put up with false teaching. Seek out and pay attention to good Bible teaching – books / other resources. Group Bible study! We’ll need the Spirit’s help…

 

What helps us to remain in the truth? V27

The anointing we have received from God (v20), presumably the Holy Spirit. Maybe the false teachers were claiming some special kind of anointing. John reassures his readers that as Christians they all have the Spirit’s anointing.

Notice how these verses hold together the Word (the apostles’ message) and the Spirit (this anointing), who helps us to understand and receive the Word.

 

Does v27 mean we don’t need Bible teachers?

John can’t mean that as he is teaching them himself! Perhaps the point is that we don’t need any teaching other than the Apostles’, recorded for us in the Bible. Teachers who explain and apply God’s word to us will help us but we are not to seek after new / esoteric revelation. We have the truth publicly preserved for us in the Bible.

 

Summary Points / Prayer / Praise / Application

Don’t love “the world” / think in worldly ways.

Stick with the Jesus of the Bible and the Apostles’ teaching about him. Don’t be lead astray by false teaching.

(4) 1 John 2:28-3:10

 

What does John tell his readers to do in this passage? What does that mean?

v28 Cf. 2:24

Why should we do it (v28)?

What categories does our passage divide people into? (v10).

How does the passage characterise / describe real Christians? How can real Christians be known / identified? What do real Christians do?

vv1-2, v29, v10

The same questions can be asked negatively: how does the passage suggest false believers or teachers can be identified?

vv7-8

What incentives / reasons / arguments for godly living does the passage give?

V3; 2v29, 3vv2-3; v5, v8; v9

How does verse 2 describe the Christian hope?

How does verse 3 suggest that hope should affect us now? What’s the logic?

How / why do vv5-6 suggest that continuing to live in sin is incompatible with Christian faith? What was the purpose of Jesus’ coming? Vv5, 8.

Do Christians in fact continue to sin?

 Cf. 1:8.

So what does John mean when he says that “no-one who continues to sin” knows Jesus (vv6, 9)?

Summary points / applications / for prayer & praise:

Praise God for the confidence we have in Christ (v28).

Praise God for his great love and for the privilege of being his children (v1), and our glorious future (v2).

Pray that we would remain in Jesus (v28) and not be lead astray (v7).

Pray that we would never be satisfied with our sin but that we would repent of it and seek to be more like the Lord Jesus. Confess any known sins to God and repent of them.

Praise God that Jesus has taken away our sins (v5) and destroyed the work of the devil (v8).

The Third Sunday of Easter (Year B) Acts 3 and Luke 24 Headings and Jottings

 There are of course many ways to skin a cat or to preach a Bible passage, which is good news for Lectionary preachers! I seem to have preached on Acts 3:12-19 and Luke 24:36-48 at least once before in living memory, so here are one or two headings which might be of use. 

ACTS 3:12-19

 (1) What the people have done (v13b-15): rejected and killed the author of life

 (2) What God has done (v13, vv15b-18): glorified and raised Jesus from the dead

 (3) What the people should do (v19): repent and turn to God

(4) What God will do (v19): wipe out their sins and send times of refreshment

 Stott,

 The people’s 4-fold dishonouring of Jesus:

(1) You handed him over to be killed

(2) You disowned him before Pilate

(3) You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be released to you

(4) You killed the author of life

Chris Green, The Word of His Grace (IVP) p60 – the content of Peter’s preaching

The facts – you killed him, God raised him, we saw him (vv13-15)

The offer – forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (vv16-19)

The reason – the return of Christ (vv20-23)

The response – repentance and faith (vv24-26)

LUKE 24:36-48

Luke wants us to be certain of the things we have been taught.

 

(1) We can be certain that Jesus has achieved peace with God for us (v36)

 

(2) We can be certain that Jesus really rose physically from the dead (vv37-39)

 

(3) We can be certain that Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures (vv44-45)

 

(4) We can be certain that Jesus will equip us to be his witnesses, to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name to all the nations (vv46-51)

 

1 John 2vv15-27

After an Easter break, we are resuming our midweek meeting Wed 14th April 7:30pm via Zoom. We're going to look at 1 John 2:15-27. There's no expectation of preparation, but if you wanted to think about it ahead of time, you might find the following useful:

 Homegroup Leaders Notes (3) 1 John 2:15-27

 

In this section John contrasts the world and the Christian (vv15-17) and antichrists and the Christian (vv18-27).

 

What does John mean when he tells us not to “love the world” (v15)? (How does this fit with verses such as John 3:16, which speak of God’s love for the world?)

See James 4:4. 

How does John describe “the world”? How would you put these attitudes and activities in your own words? Can you think of examples of worldly thinking or behaviour?

V16.

Why is worldly thinking inappropriate for the Christian? How does John encourage us to avoid it?

vv15-17

The term “antichrist” is unique to John’s letters (see also 4:3; 2 John 7). The man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2) may be the same figure. The antichrists are probably the same people as the false prophets on 4:1.

 

Specifically what do the false teachers seem to have been denying?

V22 –  (See also 4:2-3; and 2 John 7 for what they might have taught (cf. v4).

 

How does verse 19 suggest we can spot false teachers / teaching? What do false teachers characteristically do?

Can you spot a repeated word or idea in vv19, 24 and 27? What is the contrast here?

 

Why is it important that what we have heard from the beginning remains in us? (v24)

See also 1:3.

How can we make sure what we have heard from the beginning remains in us? (v24)

 

What helps us to remain in the truth? V27

See also v20

Does v27 mean we don’t need Bible teachers?

 

Summary Points / Prayer / Praise / Application

Don’t love “the world” / think in worldly ways.

Stick with the Jesus of the Bible and the Apostles’ teaching about him. Don’t be lead astray by false teaching.

 

The ultra-traditionalism of chinos at the Eucharist

 The Revd Professor Gerald Bray writes:

"In recent years, some clergy have taken the radical step of returning to New Testament practice where (as far as we can tell) the celebrant(s) wore their ordinary clothes [to preside at the Eucharist], but such is the legacy of controversy within Anglicanism that this very traditionalist solution is regarded as an extremely low-church phenomenon that may even be a provocation to those who are not like-minded." 

Anglicanism, p53

Ocean of Grace (47 & 48): EASTER SUNDAY – To Wake More Merry (p155ff)

 

Some comments on, jottings arising from, questions, prayers and hymns to accompany:

 

Tim Chester, An Ocean of Grace: A Journey to Easter with Great Voices from the Christian Past (The Good Book Company, 2021)

 

Book available: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/an-ocean-of-grace

 

All my jottings were shared at http://marclloyd.blogspot.com/ 08/02/2021-04/04/2021

 

(Comments welcome)

 

Ocean of Grace (47 & 48): EASTER SUNDAY – To Wake More Merry (p155ff)

 

Thank God that Jesus has tamed the old ogre, death. Our enemy has become a servant who ushers our souls into the nearer presence of King Jesus. And meanwhile our bodies sleep in the grave as we await the Resurrection Day. Cemetery means sleeping place or dormitory. And the nap of our bodies until judgement day is nothing to fear. Death has lost his sting.

 

We may think of ourselves clothed now (by grace through faith) not with the fig-leaves (or indeed the filthy rags) of our supposed works righteousness but in the glorious righteousness of Christ.

 

Give thanks that what Adam marred, Christ has mended. Paradise is restored for believers – only better for Jesus will bring us not just back to The Garden but to the glorious Garden City and to the New Creation.

 

Glory, power and praise indeed to Jesus the crucified and risen one.

 

Hymn: Jesus Christ is risen today

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMwPEmUMP7U

 

 

Words: https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_christ_is_risen_today_our_tri

 

* * *

 

Some other hymns which I thought of which I’m not sure I got round to using:

 

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

 

The Lord’s My Shepherd

 

O Love that wilt not let me go

Jottings etc. to accompany Tim Chester's, An Ocean of Grace

 

Some comments on, jottings arising from, questions, prayers and hymns to accompany:

 

Tim Chester, An Ocean of Grace: A Journey to Easter with Great Voices from the Christian Past (The Good Book Company, 2021)

available here as a PDF.  

Book available: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/an-ocean-of-grace

 

All my jottings were shared at http://marclloyd.blogspot.com/ 08/02/2021-04/04/2021

 

(Comments welcome)

 

Ocean of Grace (46): HOLY SATURDAY – Conquering Love (p152ff)

 Lent Book: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/an-ocean-of-grace

 

My jottings:

 

(Comments welcome)

 

Ocean of Grace (46): HOLY SATURDAY – Conquering Love (p152ff)

 

The cross is Jesus’ great victory. And we may think of ourselves and all the redeemed as the spoils of the cross. By his triumph, Jesus wins us. We belong to Jesus both by creation and redemption. We are not our own: we are bought at a price. The cross set us free from slavery to sin and Satan and now we have a new Lord to whom we belong body and soul. He has claimed us. May we be glad to be conquered by Christ and wholly dedicated to his good service.

 

On the cross as Jesus’ triumph, see further Colossians 2:15. Jesus leads us in triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14). Ephesians 4:8 also pictures Christ as the victor giving gifts to his people after his conquest.

 

Spurgeon is surely right that the gospel is endlessly astonishing and marvellous. Let it move us to repentance and to delight in the love of God for us afresh. May this theme never be stale to us.

 

Hymn: Low in the grave he lay

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0arouoCJ8es

 

Words: https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/low_in_the_grave_he_lay

Ocean of Grace (45): GOOD FRIDAY – Our Greatest Glory (p149ff)

 Lent Book: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/an-ocean-of-grace

 

My jottings:

 

(Comments welcome)

 

 

Ocean of Grace (45): GOOD FRIDAY – Our Greatest Glory (p149ff)

 

The cross is indeed a glorious meeting of mercy and justice. This is captured in Psalm 85v10:

 

You, Lord, showed favour to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
² You forgave the iniquity of your people
    and covered all their sins.^[b]
3 You set aside all your wrath
    and turned from your fierce anger.

⁴ Restore us again, God our Saviour,
    and put away your displeasure towards us.
⁵ Will you be angry with us for ever?
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
⁶ Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
⁷ Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

⁸ I will listen to what God the Lord says;
    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants –
    but let them not turn to folly.
⁹ Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
    that his glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

 

As Romans 3 argues, the cross is God’s just way of justifying (declaring righteous) the unjust (sinners) by faith in Jesus (the righteous one). (See especially v26). See also Romans 4v5: God justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness (justification / justice).

 

We may glory / boast / delight in the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14). Its surprising hidden glory re-writes all our notions of greatness and power. What looks like humiliation and shame is victory. As Jesus is degraded, he is exalted. Here is the glory of the crucified God! It turns out that self-sacrificial service, self-giving, pouring out your life and rights for the sake of others, is the most glorious God-like thing you can do.  

 

Hymn: I will glory in my redeemer

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR4wRqL0Cn0

 

Words: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/i-will-glory-in-my-redeemer/