Month: December 2022

Included in the last part (7) is this statement which bears further investigation and consideration:

Wouldn’t sober consideration of the cross be sufficient to persuade any man (if sober) that here he is dealing in and with realities that plainly speak of a firmness beyond mere pleasures as a man might assess?

Surely we are not prohibited here from any (or even all, if allowed) investigation; Paul himself being a chief expositor of those matters revealed as to what took place “there”. What is/was accomplished as the man Jesus was nailed to the tree. Surely he did not write of these things that we would not know of them, but rather that in receiving them as from a faithful witness of such revelation, we too, would be brought to it, and thence into it. O! but this matter of trust runs so very deep. For if we do not trust Paul as faithful, we cannot trust the God of whom he testifies as faithful. And so we would conclude for every word of the apostles.

Listen, God knows every man is created (He is Creator) with a need to see for himself. That is to “know for himself” in reality, through experience, that there are both matters of ultimate truth (truth does indeed exist) and that all of such truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ, who is Himself found only in, and of God.

Please understand what is not being said. It is not being said that there is truth and on top of that, as superior to that (or in some way different from that) there is the truth of Jesus Christ. No, this is not it.

There is truth. And only found in and of Jesus Christ as given to man through His revelation by the spirit of God.

With this in mind (if one is able to receive it) we can consider what was proposed for further consideration:

Wouldn’t sober consideration of the cross be sufficient to persuade any man (if sober) that here he is dealing in and with realities that plainly speak of a firmness beyond mere pleasures as a man might assess?

“Mere pleasures as a man might assess” in sober consideration of the cross. Again, if he is able to receive the work of the cross and the sufferings of Christ as reality. For here, on a most fundamental level (that Paul was not too timid to either enter nor address, being made so) we are confronted with matters of pleasures; their appearance to man, esteem by man, understanding of man. Even that most fundamental of issues for man that: “if it pleases me, it must be good”. Do not make the naive mistake of thinking “but I am so far past that” or worse, “I am a man who has always been immune to the allure of pleasure establishing itself as goodness to me.” Such will only show how little they know of the cross of Christ.

O! yes, even the most novice of us can recite with some knowing “sin hath pleasures for a season” seeing that once things that were pleasurable have shown themselves in consequence (by some light of Christ given) of a dying and death. Yes, we each have our version, made true to us: “All that glitters is not gold”.

But now we are speaking of the cross of Christ, the sufferings of Christ; a matter beyond the slight mayhem we may have touched in our own disobedience. We are touching that particular matter (all of obedience!) by which all creation (of the old) is undone, and made completely and utterly, new. Let us not mistake our experience of a torn fingernail (and its effects upon us, alone) for what God has done in all, and to all, things. There are matters of scale and magnitude we dare not deny. But we are made able to follow…even if only a seeming trail of crumbs (bread has indeed been broken for us) that must lead us to the most fundamental of matters where truth is confronted to be seen. And, we are to see Christ.

We cannot escape the reconciling of this, not because a man has said it, not because it makes for sound doctrine, not because it will be a “help” (though all of these matters are matters of fact) but because God Himself declares it of Himself through a prophet whose words were found worthy by Jesus in quoting (for He is their origin, these very words). Isaiah.

And it is here that no man can go without a guide, without a navigator, without a secure comforter given, without some means provided for reconciliation to a thing (or matter, or person!) that is all and otherwise completely, utterly, ineffably, incontrovertibly beyond his grasp, and so far beyond that it itself is an immeasurably glorious gift to even recognize the puzzlement of it…(that a man might be provoked to enquire)…

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief

Do you see? Do you see how this must (and does) totally upset (overturn, rebuke, rebuff, contradict) all of our own, all of a man’s own, all of every man’s own understanding of pleasure as relative to truth? You see, this is truth. This is the truth of God. And there is no other, if any yet need be reminded. This is the truth of our God.

Our God is pleased to have crushed His own Son. And that of His love. His delight. And any man would be (O! but so rightly) puzzled, and righter still if provoked to ask “how can this be?”! For it is. And there is no “work around” for this, there is no escape of its confrontation, no escape of all it summons up in a man as to what he has considered pleasure and pleasing things…in the light of what God declares as pleases Himself to do, and have done. Here all must be overturned by truth, even, and especially that peculiar matter to which every man has been subject to bondage in mind and heart, and that is, to whatever measure it has been embraced (and every man has!) “if it pleases me, it is good”.

For here is “the Good” (God) declaring the truth of what pleases Him, and has, in His doing. Here is a frank confrontation with all previously assumed of what “good” is, what it (He) looks like, experiences, knows…and works according to. And as all already know in such matters …”something’s gotta give”.

Something will, and must, buckle under. While another shows sovereignty.

Happy is the man who buckles. For now, rather than working continually backward (even in disobedience) to an opposition unrelenting, even hostile, and at all enmity with all thinking of flesh to a perfect frustration thereof…(provoking even further hostility in the man) a man finds rest.

Yes, everything is turned upside down, so they might be rightside up. God is different than me! There is “another”. I am not alone (even though He seem so very very different!) And here we face a square matter, so squarely in truth that matters not once seen clearly, once seen as though through a veil in our pursuit that the discerning of them was so unclear, so obscure, so able to be used to trick and fool us into all condemnation in our confusion of pleasure’s relation to truth, and truth’s relationship to pleasure.

And here a verse of scripture begins to display a mother lode of glory as we are exercised in our eating of a loaf broken for us. And the revelation of how “broken” broken is…for us in service to God. A loaf broken to deliver us from the tyranny of being deceived by our own pleasures into such bondage to death; broken for us, given for us, and to us, as all of life itself (Himself!)…that is life indeed. (For there is no other!)

For if we will be persuaded to the goodness of truth being our joy and pleasure rather than past assumptions of our pleasures indicating goodness, we will see the hope extended to such, with a likewise salvation from a very matter not subject to contradiction (as it is of God ordained):

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

“because they received not the love of the truth…but had pleasure in unrighteousness”

Don’t be deceived by the power of pleasure to so leave a man in all resistant to truth. And God forbid we be deceived to think “God would not further enforce that to a man”.

But it takes God (and no less) to show through the cross and work of Jesus Christ how much a man is given to pleasing himself…thinking it good…but that leads to all condemnation. And how, according to pleasure he esteems all things relative to himself and is indeed locked up to it unless appointed to see otherwise. What pleases him, he accepts, what displeases him, he rejects. And the received things, working according to his pleasure, become to him, truth.

A man must be saved. And, salvation is of the Lord. As is all judgment, no less. No other.

Stay hungry. And find food everywhere.

A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

There is a realness to these matters that a man may find difficult to substantiate to others though he be freely given to testify of them. And it is not peculiar to some that their testimony is the very thing assigned them for such substantiation to themselve’s no matter, or in spite of, how difficult it may be found (even perhaps impossible) to persuade another. We are walking where all things are made new, and all things are of God.

All here rests solely upon God; His work of revelation, His work in leading through Christ, His establishing a man in such truth that the man would know it is only God capable of such. It is not without reason Paul exclaimed “Who is equal to such a task?” For what is odious to some will be life to others. And unless the man be delivered from any agenda to control the working of such matters in the ear of hearers so that they be manipulated to be “more acceptable” (thus making the man more acceptable) such a man is still caught up in his own personal agendas.

Now God forbid there also be any inclination to make matters harsh. Wouldn’t sober consideration of the cross be sufficient to persuade any man (if sober) that here he is dealing in and with realities that plainly speak of a firmness beyond mere pleasures as a man might assess? Even that very firmness of which and with which Jesus spoke?

“What shall I say then…Father deliver me from this hour? But is for this very hour I have come”

That knowing that such a matter that would seem to persuade to all escape from is not only “a” matter at hand…but the very “the” matter upon which all is toward and concluded for; and so much in the consciousness of Christ it cannot be denied. This is the “it” of His coming. No, no man need be harsh for there can be nothing added to the depths of the Lord’s suffering and death to make sure (to the sober) that any lesson be driven home. It is enough a man enter such sobriety, he will have sufficient odor. And fragrance. God’s agenda (plan/purpose/resolution) in this matter must be fulfilled, and is, by the sufficiency of Christ to it. All and any of our own attempts for effect are more than nullified, they are here lifted naked upon a tree for plain knowing.

We can be…plain. And till this is known as the relief it is from all striving to either embellish or diminish (for any hearer’s sake) we will not know it as relief. We will still be laboring and striving according to the terrible metrics we have adopted to ourselves for measuring success/effectiveness and/or failure. Paul came to enjoy such a place where he said he no longer even judged himself, he had come to know a faithful Father into whose hands all discipline through Christ would be ministered…and that alone…rightly. He was wholly convinced he was being watched over quite diligently.

And though this may sound to some (or might be twisted so) as a call to being casual about such weighty matters, it is in truth…all that being casual about such matters is not. He knew and walked with a “ready judge”. Indeed Christ Jesus had proved himself to Paul in His showing as promised by bringing him (Paul) to the Father:

“But I will show you whom you should fear…” And Paul was made amenable to being shown things.

Therefore Paul was not reluctant to write:

“Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men”

And I am convinced here by my own necessity of many chastenings and rebukes… and the myriad forms they have taken, that Paul was not speaking in hyperbole. Many things may be found difficult to express, even when understood, that are beyond any assurance a man might grasp to himself that he has expressed them well. There is nothing in this new life that is not Christ reliant, or, if better put: Thanks be to God all relies solely upon the Christ of God for revelation and understanding! There are no surer hands into which all can, and must be, placed. And surely this matter Paul speaks of as knowing, i.e. “the terror of the Lord”, is no less.

Having spoken of it elsewhere I hope not to belabor it, but the matter of terror and love must be reconciled to the believer (as they seem strange in coexistence) unless we take Paul a liar. God forbid. Far better for any to take me as one, or so lacking in understanding as to be unworthy of considering than for any believer to believe Paul was merely speaking “out of his hat”. And if one would have (as some gift of God) some hope of persuasiveness, this makes this pairing not merely now odd, but also in a very real way, necessary. Knowing the terror of the Lord makes a man a persuasive man; and only a man with no care that the interests of Christ be served would then seek to shun such knowing of terror in service to persuasiveness. But really, of our own choosing we might be honest, none of us cares to be terrified. Nor would choose to know it if given our druthers. Warm hugs, lovely commendations, and bright smiles of reception, yes; but who wants a glimpse of God’s fiery wrath? Who could “handle” it?

There is a right answer.

Do we know Him?

It would at least seem reasonable to address the “It” in the title, though I am convinced most have some sense of their opinion. Is “It” the gospel? Is it the faith? (As we are told in one place of our “faith which worketh by love”) Is it more? Something other? Life? Jesus Himself? (it would seem less than savory to refer to Him as an it though, wouldn’t it?) Might it be the whole of creation as a man might perceive it? Even extending to what he doesn’t see of it but senses its being “out there”…somewhere.

Here might be the place where what is called theology (even if described as a sort of discipline of thought or mind by which we express our sensing of reality) and philosophy (also a discipline, so to speak) happily exist. Even co-exist. For we find no prohibition in scripture against thought, meditations upon, nor consideration of the things expressed. Indeed, we are told to think (and who avoids it, anyway?) upon certain matters. “Consider the sparrows…” “Consider the lillies…” And who, if thinking himself a believer, can avoid thinking in terms of significance…of some drive to apprehend/understand matters presented as to their full meaning?

But our thinking is to be informed. Informed of matters whose end is always God and His Christ in light of any matter presented. In other words, to what end are we told to consider the sparrows? To the end that, in all of their lack of labors to sustain those things that sustain them (they neither plant nor reap) they are being cared for and fed. And that even beyond such observable activity (or lack thereof) there is an unwinking observer and carer, who not only provides…but is entirely aware when even one falls to the ground.

Yes, philosophy informed of God is not excluded nor proscribed in the strict sense of its meaning “love of wisdom”. That wisdom we are told that “comes from above”. (We are even warned of those who refuse to receive the love of the truth). The short summation might well be:

Think of all things in terms of the love of God shown us in Christ so that by such thinking/meditations, yes…even philosophizing of such end as found in God…we might also apprehend to the knowledge of God; not merely that “He is” (that must be settled), but how, in His being and expression of that being…He is. And here it must also be settled that this God, our God, Person of all person cannot be known apart from His willing of it. He cannot be observed, much less understood, in any way “at will” but by His own will.

And here we discover that no matter our seeming labors in either thoughts or considerations, it is a gift (of a will) to be invited to them, to be provided with open access to them (not forbidden) and such are ours made so by Christ. Ask, seek, knock…be “on the hunt” with a promise that in so doing one will never find disappointment…only abundance of joy. We are learning someone is making themselves known to us without reservation, without reproval for our “need to know”, no shaming of our ignorance as we investigate the obedience of God’s Christ to be seen in a man, even a man made like as we in all respects, but without sin. Even a man who, having come to be amongst us in a body and live out that life before us, made plain His own total dependence to be “shown” things. As He was unashamed of declaring this utter dependence (with manifest consequence made by the resurrection of His approval) likewise, we too, are unashamed of our not yet knowing for we are unashamed of whom we seek to its fulfillment. The Christ of God. Jesus.

But, yet again, even as so much of plainness is spoken of in the above: of Christ’s coming to live and abide amongst us, let us not forget what Jesus declared that “no man knows the Son but the Father and those to whom He chooses to reveal Him”. There is a seeing that is not true seeing; despite its sounding either too elitist, arcane or esoteric. It is not to the end of directing to gurus nor the spiritually adept, but rather that any sight of understanding be deeply appreciated as the gift it is and not taken for granted.

Here “To him who has, more shall be given…” is found working in a gratitude that is neither feigned nor can be manufactured. One is sharing in the Father’s delight in the Son, and the Son’s delight in His, and even our, Father. We are called into that relationship. And nothing else, nor less; for certainly it becomes clearer to us as we see that anything of else…would be less. No, we can never make too much of this union. We might at times hold it as less in some esteem, but it can never be over esteemed. For it is in this eternal union that all has flowed that we might know, or come to know both in creation of things seen and all those things we are instructed to look into that are beyond creation, even this very relationship. From atoms to nebulae (such as we apprehend them) all has flowed through and from this (our) God’s good pleasure in Himself. Even to be made known to us by His very spirit. No, “it” cannot be made less of. But all is open to the believer, even the “it” of it, to the believer for knowing, seeking, asking of grateful entreaty to see rightly. Clearly. Fully. Our God is not a tease. He withholds nothing nothing from the Son of His love; and to see Him “as He is”, our fervent hope in all, is to know both that indeed “all things have been given of the Father”, and no less, that He has done as promised, to make all things known to us in His showing us the Father. By taking us to Him, in Himself.

If we are warned against becoming dull of hearing, let us show ourselves sons by taking such word to heart, not casting off instruction and by such show ourselves His children and not bastards. God forbid we succumb to a casualness that prevents both our true hearing of what our Lord asked in prayer while in His days of flesh, nor the conviction of how our Father responds to the Son’s entreaties. (Yes and amen!) Even in this matter recorded (as all has been for our benefit) here:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (KJV)

And though I am tempted to highlight certain verses in the above, perhaps to the even making of a “point” I find salient, thankfully the spirit forbids. And am made content in seeking to answer my own proposal as to what is the “it”. To know the this of it.