In our prior post, number 27, we discussed the sacrifice of Jesus. His sacrifice is more than the hours of trial and then death on the Cross. He surrenders, for a time, the independent exercise of His divinity. Therefore, He could pray the night before His death, “Father, if there is any way, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”
When we understand the sacrifice of the Christ (in so closely as we can understand the sacrifice of God for the race of Humanity that offended God) we come a step closer to understanding the attributes of God. The attributes of God are beautifully described in two little books, to wit:
Rudolph Otto, The Idea of the Holy
Hemann creamer, The Christian Doctrine of the Attributes of God
And not less in
A.W. Tower, The Knowledge of the Holy
READER ALERT: THESE THREE LITTLE BOOKS COMPRISE NO MORE THAN 300 PAGES BUT THEY ARE ABOUT AS EASY TO READ AS WHAT I DO HERE ON PASTORSPROSE. READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL, BUT THE SECOND READING WILL CHAINGE YOUR MIND FOREVER.
Creamer, Otto and Tozer all present the consistency of God as displayed in God’s actions, but delight the reader with tales of God’s inconsistency. No, God is neighbor whimsical, even less capricious (for God is not a barbarian, as close to violence as we might find, but God varies from the norm in all matters related to redemption. Our Reformed Historical Theology counterparts (out of respect I will not call them brethren) make their primary mistake in two places; they suppose there is only the Historical Reformed Movement over against the General Salvation teaching (there is much other and more) AND there desperate need of a form (I.e. consistency) ignores the Truth of God’s inconsistency as regards spiritual salvation.
Let me illustrate.
Here is a slogan: With God the Math does not work.
To gain you life you must lose it.
To protect your prerogatives you risk losing all.
Rather than bulld your own empire you must take up the cross like Jesus.
Rather than build your own empire, store up spiritual treasures in Heaven.
Rather than build your church with religious folks, seek and save out the lost.
The last will be first. The first will be last.
God, who needs nothing from us intends everything for us.
The God who is offended by human sin pays the full redemption price for the offenders, Since (not if) this is true we cannot cry foul when God saves someone we do not want saved, or shows patience to anyone we are ready to condemn,
You can think of others. Here is the biggest one:
Jesus, Godself, dies for the ungodly, while we are yet sinners.
Yes, I dare to use the word sinner. I think it is possible we quit talking about Jesus in teaching and preaching about the time we decided we were really not sinful at all, but only misunderstood. Historically, the Christian Chrch stops talking about the blood of Jesus when it enjoys periods of prosperity. We don’t need the garish blood when our big building are full (usually at the expense of our little buildings); when we find our life-line strained we rediscover the l9ve of God for the diminished classes.
In fact we are all the diminished classes in relation to what God would want for us. Hold your head up. Keep your eyes on the eastern sky. Your redemption draweth night. Don’t miss it.