| Author | Message | ||
| Patti |
The third chapter of Romans is addressing the problems between Jewish and Gentile believers. The Jewish believers, naturally, thought that the Gentiles should observe the Jewish traditions, including sabbath keeping and eating certain meats (Romans 14) and circumcision (Romans 3). Paul spends Romans 1 and 2 saying that we are all equally sinful in the eyes of God, Jew and Gentile, those with the law and those without. One cannot really understand any part of Romans without the rest, so I have gone on into Romans 4. I stopped only because of time and space limitations. Romans is probably the best discourse on the Gospel that we have, as Paul stays focused on righteousness by faith for practically the entire book. Romans 3:1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. Interesting. People often quote this chapter when speaking of "keeping the law" or of "good works." But what is the specific "work" Paul is addressing in this chapter? Circumcision. I have yet to hear anyone preach that circumcision is still required of Gentile believers. 3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." 5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) This is an argument that is used quite often against Calvinists. The argument goes like this: Calvinists believe in the depravity of man. They also believe in predestination. Their claims amount to the God predestining some to be lost (evil, sinful) is not just. That if God predestined certain people to be lost, then He cannot justly punish them. What Paul is asking is if it is God's will that we be unrighteousness to show, by contrast, His great mercy and power in saving sinful man. 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Paul replies, Of course not. God could not sit in judgment on a lost world if it were sinful by God's own design? 7 Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" Again, if my sinfulness increases God's glory, then why would I be punished for my sin? 8 Why not say--as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say--"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved. Obviously people were saying this about Paul, as we have certainly heard it said about us. They claimed he was preaching antinomianism, that we should go out and do evil so that the fullness of God's mercy might be seen in us. Obviously, Paul did not agree with this. (And neither does anyone here that I know of...) 9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better [2]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. Are we (the Jews, the ones who have the law) any better off for having the law? The answer, below, is an emphatic NO! 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." [3] 13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." [4] "The poison of vipers is on their lips." [5] 14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." [6] 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know." [7] 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." [8] 1That goes for Jews and Gentiles alike. There is none that does good. No, not one. 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Our righteousness, the righteousness that is by faith from first to last (Romans 1:17), does not come by observing the law. The law serves to make us conscious of sin so that we will run to the cross for forgiveness and mercy. 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. A righteousness has come to us from God, apart from law, and therefore, apart from anything that we can do. It is alien; it is exterior to us. And it remains that way. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. The only way we are justified is by faith ONLY. Our righteousness is in Jesus Christ, and it is perfect, unblemished, sufficient for all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, There is no difference, Jew or Gentile, SDA or former-SDA, RC or reformed. All have sinned; all continue to fall short of God's glory. Our only hope is in the imputed righteousness of Christ. 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Justified freely by His grace, the totally undeserved mercy of God through our redemption which was worked out by Jesus Christ. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, [9] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- Do any of you have student loans? I do. (A substantial one.) Have you ever applied for a forbearance? A forbearance is a putting off of the payments until a time that you are able to pay. God put off the payment for the sin committed from Adam to Jesus Christ until the atonement should be accomplished. He did not merely forget them; His justice demanded that all sin be atoned for. He merely put it off "until the fullness of time had come." 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. The Gospel is a message of justice. How God can justify the ungodly. Jesus had to fulfill all things for us--we are incapable--so that we could be completely saved by faith in Him. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. The Gospel is the great equalizer. We are all totally sinful; yet we are all totally perfect when we believe in the perfect work of Jesus Christ. There is no room for boasting. There is no witnessing to one's changed life or "good works." Why? Because our justification, our being set right with God, came upon the basis of Christ's work for us and our belief that His work was totally sufficient--a complete and perfect atonement. Our witness is to the doing and dying of Jesus Christ in our behalf. And not in our behalf only, but for all who will believe. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Again, we are all equally justified before God in Jesus Christ. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. Romans 4:1 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Even before Christ came in the flesh, God was accounting the faith of His people as righteousness. 4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. If we work for any part of our salvation, it is no longer a gift. My grandmother, bless her heart, was a very legalistic person. That is not necessarily bad. She paid her tithes (double tithe, actually) faithfully, she was honest to a fault. If anyone ever gave her a gift, she insisted on paying them back, or returning an equal favor. I heard a sermon once about the blessings of being able to accept a gift. People are blessed when they give, and if we insist on paying it back, we nullify their blessing of unselfishness. I told my grandma this once, and from then on, every time I gave her something, I would say, "Now don't take away my blessing," and she would understand that all I wanted was to make her day a bit brighter. Salvation is a gift. If we "pay it back" it is no longer a gift, but something we have "earned." I have some precious Dachshund pups for sale. I put a picture of them up on another forum. And then I posted another post entitled "free gift." One lady wrote me and said she got all excited when she saw my post. She thought that my "free gift" might be a puppy! I corrected her very quickly and told her if she would like to give me $150, I would give her one of my puppies as a "free gift." (BTW my sweet Dutch hubby claims that "free gift" is a horrible redundancy.) It occurred to me that that is how it is in most of Christendom today. God's "free gift" of salvation can be ours "if the price is right." If we have faith that works in love, if we keep the commandments, if we love our neighbors," etc, ad nauseum. Which effectively nullifies both the "free" and the "gift." 5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. Now THERE we have a truly free "free gift." To him who DOES NOT WORK, BUT TRUSTS HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY. Be careful before you put up any disclaimer, any rebuttal, or any qualification. God justifies the ungodly who believe in Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel. 6 So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin." What wonderful Old Testament Gospel texts! Further proof that there is, always has been, only one way to salvation: Trusting in God's salvation in Jesus Christ. 9 Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. Abraham was reckone righteous with God BEFORE he did anything to prove his loyalty. He believed. He believed God would make of him a great nation, him an old man with an old wife. He trusted God when He commanded that Abraham offer his only son, the son of promise. 11 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, If Abraham had been accounted righteous AFTER he was circumcised, he could not have been the spiritual father of all who believe in Jesus Christ, Jew and Gentile alike. 12 and likewise the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. By faith, we are righteous. By faith, by believing in Jesus Christ, we have inherited not only this world, but the world to come. And as long as we believe in Jesus Christ, we know that we will be with Him in heaven. His promises are not just platitudes. They are very real and we can depend upon Him to be faithful. We are saved by this trust in the grace of God, the confidence that Jesus' work was sufficient for us, the assurance that He will come again and receive us unto Himself. Grace and peace, Patti 4 Psalm 51:4 9 Or "worse" 12 Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20 13 Psalm 5:9 13 Psalm 140:3 14 Psalm 10:7 17 Isaiah 59:7,8 18 Psalm 36:1 25 Or as "the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away sin " | ||
| Max |
Dear Patti, Max: Do you believe there is any place for human effort/striving on the part of the redeemed sinner? Patti: Not much. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Max: There is no text without context. In saying, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light," Jesus is obviously not talking about good works. He's not even talking to saved individuals. He's talking about the burden of sin born by all who have not yet accepted Christ's salvation. Jesus gives gave many commandments for his saved followers to carry out. Nowhere does Jesus say that human effort is not required in discipleship. Blessings to you, Max | ||
| Patti |
Matthew 12:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Rest? Where have I heard of resting in Jesus Christ before? Hebrews 4 maybe? 1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they (the children of Israel) did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, `They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. (or disbelief) 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Certainly this is the Gospel message! We rest from our works (labor) and from the burden of sin (heavy laden). 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Again, REST. RESTING means NOT WORKING. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We do not have to work for our salvation. Our salvation has been accomplished, once for all, in Jesus Christ. Our works have absolutely no effect on our salvation. If we are not saved by works, we are not lost by them or without them. We are saved only by the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. | ||
| Max |
Patti, ^^ We do not have to work for our salvation. Our salvation has been accomplished, once for all, in Jesus Christ. Our works have absolutely no effect on our salvation. If we are not saved by works, we are not lost by them or without them. We are saved only by the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. ^^ Yes, the incident of the theif on the cross -- a person who performed absolutely no good works after he was saved -- went on into paradise (kingdom of God = the church) that very day. But if by a miracle of God his life was spared, and he was removed alive from the cross, and recovered from his wounds -- then HE WOULD HAVE BORN GOOD FRUIT (PERFOMRED GOOD WORKS). If he would not have done so, then his grace/faith relationship with God would have been phony. He would have shown himself to be a weed and not a wheat, and he would have perished without God. Agreed? Max | ||
| Patti |
All his righteousness would still have been filthy rags, Max. I am not sure what you want me to say.... Christ came to save SINNERS. If we ever ceased to be a sinner, we would no longer need Christ. | ||
| Max |
Patti, I don't want you to say anything. Nor am I trying to get you to do anything. I do think we all need to respect Scripture and not take it out of context or read into it our own ideas. ^^ The third chapter of Romans is addressing the problems between Jewish and Gentile believers. The Jewish believers, naturally, thought that the Gentiles should observe the Jewish traditions, including sabbath keeping and eating certain meats (Romans 14) and circumcision (Romans 3). ^^ Patti, this is simply not the case. Romans 3 does not address any problems between Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul doesn't even get to such problems until the thesis part of the book of Romans is over and done. He does not address the problems till chapter 14. Romans 3 is cooncerned only and solely with establishing that there is NO difference before God between Jews and Gentiles. How can we draw truth from Scripture if we do not use accepted exegetical methods? Not intending to start a fight and still considering you a friend, Max | ||
| Max |
Patti, ^^ All his righteousness would still have been filthy rags, Max. I am not sure what you want me to say.... Christ came to save SINNERS. If we ever ceased to be a sinner, we would no longer need Christ. ^^ So true, Patti, so true. Christ has both rest AND work for us to do for him. I don't work to get into heaven, but neither do I rest to get there. Both resting and working, but not necessarily at the same time, Max | ||
| Patti |
Max: I don't work to get into heaven, but neither do I rest to get there. -- Patti: But you DO, Max. You do rest to get to heaven. If one cannot rest in the completed work of Jesus Christ, then how strong is his faith? Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. [1] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, `They shall never enter my rest.'" [2] And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." [3] 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." [4] 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 THERE REMAINS, THEN A SABBATH-REST FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD; 10 FOR ANYONE WHO ENTERS GOD'S REST ALSO RESTS FROM HIS OWN WORK, JUST AS GOD DID FROM HIS. 11 LET US, THEREFORE, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENTER THAT REST, SO THAT NO ONE WILL FALL BY FOLLOWING THEIR EXAMPLE OF DISOBEDIENCE. (or disbelief, see Chapter 3: 15 As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." [2] 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed [disbelieved]? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.) | ||
| Max |
Patti, Resting is not the act of accepting free grace. Accepting is the act. Rest is the result of accepting grace, not a precondition for it. The passages from Hebrews that you quote only demonstrate the truth of what I'm saying here. We are not able to have the eternal Sabbath rest in Christ Jesus without first accepting it. Blessings, Max | ||
| Patti |
Max, I am very confused. I am not even sure what you are driving at anymore. Your one agenda seems to be to discredit everything I say, although I have given you ample Scriptural support. --Resting is not the act of accepting free grace. Accepting is the act. Rest is the result of accepting grace, not a precondition for it. The passages from Hebrews that you quote only demonstrate the truth of what I'm saying here. We are not able to have the eternal Sabbath rest in Christ Jesus without first accepting it. -- I do not understand. How much effort does it take to accept a gift? You are the one placing preconditions on God's grace. Our salvation has been completely attained for us in Jesus Christ. How much "work" is involved in believing this? If someone says that they love you, how much effort is involved in believing that they do? If someone says that they have forgiven you, how much effort is involved in believing that this is true? No, THE EFFORT COMES WHEN ONE DOES NOT TRULY BELIEVE, and they try to "earn" love and forgiveness it in some way. We are saved by the grace of God ALONE by the historical, unrepeatable, once-for-all work of Jesus Christ ALONE through faith ALONE. If we add anything to this perfect work, this foundation of our salvation, then we corrupt it with our filthy rags. | ||
| Cindy |
Good morning Patti! Amen to your posts above. May the Holy Spirit bring us all to unity in Christ Alone. I am grateful to be able to finally Rest in HIM! A debtor to His mercy always, Cindy | ||
| Cindy |
Dear Max! I will attempt to post some answers to your questions today. I do not have the stamina of you or Patti... I'm amazed at all the posts you both have put on since Friday night! "For Christ's love Compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that thosewho live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again." 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 Blessings, Max Standing in His Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Cindy |
Max, you asked if I believed in ëhuman effortí or ëstrivingí in our relationship with God... This is a good question, Max...one I have struggled with for years. I was always told by Week of Prayer speakers, etc., to discipline myself to a quiet time with God, take time for Bible Study and witness to others. This was a formula for ësuccessí in a relationship with God. The only trouble was, I was bored sitting down with the Bible, my mind would wander, and I had no clear message to witness to others. I went through a lot of effort and striving to get this relationship; it never worked for me!! Only the message of the Cross, Christ crucified for me!, has ever given me the DESIRE to take time with God, study the Scripture and tell others. Iím sure it is the Holy Spiritís work that has brought home to me the truth that my salvation is Complete and Free because of JESUSí perfect work on my behalf. Here, in the message of the Cross-, is the Power of God!! (See 1 Corinthians 1:18-31) So I will say, I AM THROUGH WITH STRIVING!!! I JUST WANT TO REST!!! The Rest in Christ is wonderfully good news to me! I suppose my only ëeffortí now is to keep remembering the promises of God. I tend to get overwhelmed by the ëgiant of Despairî (as in Pilgrimís Progress) and only meditating on Godí promises will chase that ëgiantí away from me. I try to memorize Scripture for this, but I wouldnít call that an effort or striving; It is a joy! I have copied this quote in a journal of collected quotes I started in 1992. I think itís from Oswald Chambers, but unfortunately, I forgot to write down the author. Any way, it is how I see ëeffortí and ëstrivingí. With all that has happened in my life in the last few years, my only Hope and source of Strength has been in Resting in Jesusí perfection onlyóNOT a mixture of my earnestness, piety, or witness. He alone is Worthy. ìFaith is not an EFFORT, a STRIVING, a ceaseless seeking, as so many earnest souls suppose, but rather a LETTING GO, an ABANDONMENT, an ABIDING REST IN GOD that nothing, not even the soulís shortcomings, can disturb.î Yes, I believe the Holy Spirit is promised when we believe in Christísí perfect work for us; and He will do IN us what Christ has done FOR us... but we are not to merge the two works! The Gospel must always stand alone! To me it is this: THE ACT GOD by which HE DECLARES SINNERS TO BE RIGHTEOUS! BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, BECAUSE OF CHRIST ALONE!!! Resting! In this all-surpassing Grace.... Cindy | ||
| Patti |
Cindy, I am crying. Your words were exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you. You have given me great comfort this morning. "I love to tell the story for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest." We never outgrow our need to hear the good news of our acceptance in Jesus Christ. I wish I could personally hug your neck. For now I guess a cyberhug will have to do. God bless you, as your words have blessed me. Patti | ||
| Cindy |
Patti, Your love came through cyberspace! Thank-you! Always in debt to His Grace alone, Cindy | ||
| Cindy |
Max, you wrote: ìReal grace does not allow the redeemed sinner to behave passively, does not allow the person who is filled with the Spirit to just contemplate the once-for-all-time, once-for-all-persons, historical, completed, unique act on the crossî. I submit real grace does ALLOW the redeemed sinner to behave passively...Real Grace IS A GIFT!! A gift freely given does not depend on the response of the receiver... Of course, it would be hard to behave passively to such a wondrous gift!!.. but it is the Holy Spiritís work to motivate us to any action once we have BELIEVED in Christ! And Max, there is POWER!!! in just contemplating the once-for-all-time, once-for-all persons, historical, completed, unique act on the Cross!!! We don't need more than JESUS! I can't remember all the words of this song, but I like these: ìI love to tell the Story! Of Jesus and His love.. (it satisfies my Longing, as nothing else can do!) I love to tell the Story Tíwill be my theme in Glory... To tell the Old, Old Story Of JESUS and His loveî Resting at the Cross, Cindy | ||
| Patti |
Another one of my favorite hymns: Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat and the burden of the day. Upon that cross of Jesus, mine eyes at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me And from my stricken heart with tears, two wonders I confess, The wonder of redeeming love and my unworthiness. I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss My sinful self, my only shame, my glory all, the cross. The writers of these old hymns certainly knew the foundation of their salvation. Thank you again, Cindy. Grace and peace, Patti | ||
| sherry |
Here! Here! I agree. And yes those old hymns are just beautiful for foundational truths. Ever since I read Maryann's posts on another thread about Fanny Crosby, I've just been singing those songs. Jesus, and Him crucified, His Love...these understood through the Holy Spirit in my heart have motivated me towards Bible study like never before. I WANT to study and learn more, I no longer do it 'cuz I should...but the most important aspect of my relationship with Him is worship. Praising Him irregardless and coming to Him as I am seems to bring me to the place of receiving from the Word what is needed for Today. I put this on another thread but I'll share it here too - the Hebrew of Jesus is Yahshua - a 7 letter word - again perhaps a testimony to Jesus being our complete rest! He is our great Shepard. His sheep know His voice, and He knows his sheep. And as sheep, we rely entirely on the Good Shepard for all our needs. | ||
| Cindy |
Sherry, Hi! I've enjoyed reading your posts! I agree with you; ever since Maryann posted on Fanny Crosby it has really opened my mind to appreciate even more the words to songs. I went through some of Fanny's songs yesterday at church; they are very inspiring! I like what you said about Jesus being Yahshua in Hebrew-a 7 letter word. Like the Sabbath, yes, He is our complete Rest. But not just one day in seven, but every day. You know, one song I always disliked was one sung in Cradle Roll or Kindergarten: "One, two, three, four, five, six, for us! One, two, three, four, five, six, for us! One, two, three, four, five, six, for us! The Seventh is for Jesus!" The theology of this song just seemed wrong to me. Every day should be for Jesus, and by having it for Jesus--of course, it would be for us also. He only wants the best for us. At least now S.D.A's have stressed more of a theology of the blessings of the Sabbath rest so the Seventh can be for us, too!. I don't know if they even sing this anymore. I also love the term of Jesus being our Shepherd. I like what you wrote: "He is our great Shepherd. His sheep know His voice, and He knows His sheep. And as sheep, we rely entirely on the Good Shepherd for all our needs." Three Scriptures come to my mind when I think of Jesus being the Good Shepherd. In Deuteronomy 1 the Lord is described as going before the Israelites to search out places for them to camp and to show them the way they should go. "there you saw how the Lord carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." The Lord not only acted like a good shepherd finding safe resting places, but also as a devoted Father, carrying his son! Psalm 28 praises the Lord; He is our Strength! He is our Shield! "Save your people and bless your inheritance; Be their Shepherd and carry them forever!! And of course Psalm 23 where "The Lord is My Shepherd! I have everything I need....." This reminds me of a hymn (I know it's in the Presbyterian Hymnal and was sung at Princess Diana's funeral): "The King of love my Shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His, and He is mine for ever. Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul He leadeth, and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me, and on His shoulder gently laid, and Home rejoicing brought me. In death's dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me; thy rod and staff my comfort still, thy Cross before to guide me. Thou spread'st a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth: and O what transport of delight, from thy pure chalice floweth! And so through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never: Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise, within thy house for ever." J.B. Dykes (1823-1876) Psalms 23 H.W. Baker (1821-1877) In debt always to His Grace, Cindy | ||
| Pat Darnell |
Oooo, Cindy - I had forgotten that little "Seventh is for Jesus" song - and I was a SS kindergarten teacher for years!! I often think about a lot of the SDA songs, as compared to the "Christian" Hymns. Fortunately, I began playing for church at age twelve, and continued it through my adult life as my profession, so I've been surrounded with hymns all my life. (I could reconstruct a fair-sized hymnbook if they were all burned, I'm sure.) It is interesting to compare the SDA Hymnal with any other hymnal. Words and phrases are subtly changed here and there. A notable one in the latest hymnbook is the stanza of "Because He lives" which talks about death giving way to victory....left completely out...Oh, well they pay less royalty to Gaither that way! <G> Someone on here mentioned "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." I worked for one church which believed very strongly that the man is the head of the wife - even spiritually. I would always change my postude to this hymn...sort of getting in the last word! <grin> "On CHIRST the solid Rock I stand, ALL other ground is sinking sand." It was seldom noticed, but I had said it for me and my Lord, anyway...Dan always noted it and grinned at me...Thank goodness, he is not "lordy"! Pat |
