Ocean of Grace (29): WEDNESDAY – The Usefulness of Christ (p99ff)

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

 

My jottings:

 

(Comments welcome)

 

Ocean of Grace (29): WEDNESDAY – The Usefulness of Christ (p99ff)

 

Reflect on the questions Chester asks. What do you boast in / glory in / rejoice in / delight in? What do you treasure and value (about yourself)? What are you tempted to depend upon before God?

 

How does boasting in the cross of Christ nullify all other boasting?

 

(There are 38 references to boasting in the New Testament. You might want to follow up some of them. https://www.stepbible.org/?q=strong=G2744&options=VNHUG)

 

* * *

 

It can be helpful to examine our hearts, but Chester is surely right to imply that for every look within (at our own hearts) it is wise to take several looks to Him (to Christ). We can rejoice that our salvation and standing before God depends on Christ not on us. We glory and boast and delight and rejoice in Christ Crucified.

 

* * *

 

Is wallowing in our guilt and sin our danger? Maybe we are also sometimes tempted to ignore and deny it? There has no doubt been a shift since the 17^th Century in our cultural besetting sins!

 

* * *

 

Do you want to pick one office or title of Christ from the reading to reflect on and thank God for today?

 

Could you preach to yourself about the difference Christ makes? What do you see when you look at yourself? And at Christ? How does he answer your need?

 

* * *

 

We could, of course, also do a useful bible study on the meaning of the word “flesh” (sarx) in the Bible and in the Apostle Paul in particular. The word is used 149 times, as well as other related forms like “fleshly” (a further nine times). Sometimes it is translated rather freely as “sinful nature” (NIV). Sometimes it is used in relation to circumcision so there is more than a hint of literal bodily flesh, though of course the Bible is normally positive about the body as a good gift created by God. It would be useful to think of all the words “flesh” is associated with in the Bible and what it is contrasted with, for example, the Spirit.

 

Various free online Bible study tools can be helpful e.g. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/sarx.html

 

https://www.stepbible.org/?q=strong=G4561&options=VNHUG

 

Hymn: Worthy, O Worthy are you, Lord

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR9lu0Ak_OQ

 

Words etc.: https://www.divinehymns.com/lyrics/worthy-oh-worthy-are-you-lord-song-lyrics/