Leon Morris on the Cross and the Past

This year I've made a resolution to seriously study at least one book on the cross, inspired by CJ Mahaney's helpful comments. Part of the fruit of that is reading Leon Morris' 'The Cross in the New Testament' which was given to me by Allan Rees ages ago and I have just finished. Leon Morris was an Australian evangelical theologian who wrote loads of good stuff, recently I've used his superb commentary on Matthew in the Pillar series.
Loads I could say about this book, helpful about the atonement in Luke (cos some people say Luke has nothing to say about Jesus as our substitute but he clearly does). I'd like to quote (in length!) one passage on the cross and the past:

'One great merit of the substitutionary way of viewing the atonement is that it makes a genuine attempt to face the problem of the past. Granted that any religion that claims to be adequate for men's needs must bring present peace of mind and the assurance of a transformed future, yet it is little short of astonishing to see how many writers on the Christian salvation content themselves with giving thought to the present and the future. They write as though good intentions were all-important, and treat the past as of no account....The power of positive thinking means much to modern man. We like the forward look, and phrases like 'morbid preoccupation with past sins' come easily to our lips. We take the injunctions of our psychiatrists and feel ourselves immensely superior to the men of previous generations who brooded and fretted over their misdeeds.

(Yet) The past is important. It cannot be shaken off. It cannot be ignored. It reaches in to the present and affects our status and our actions. Why should we think otherwise when God's judgement is in question? The heart and the conscience of man know that it is not otherwise. Neither here or anywhere else in our experience can the past be ignored. It rises up to haunt us and demands that justice be done to it. The problem of guilt is not solved by pretending it is not there. Sin must be faced and dealt with. Otherwise we will live with a perpetual sense of guilt and helplessness.

We cannot know peace at the deepest level until we have come to see that, though our guilt is real, so is God's forgiveness. Christ has dealt with our past...It is an outstanding merit of the substitutionary view, then, that it does not gloss over the past. It recognises it for the serious ans significant thing that it is. But it affirms that Christ has taken care of our past as He has taken care of every aspect of our need. He has paid the penalty. He has wiped out the sin. He has freed us from the entail of the past"

The Cross in the NT, p412-414

Will you not hold truth fast?

"As men take no hold on the arm of flesh till they have let go of the arm of God (Jer.17:5), so men take no hold on error till they have let go their hold of truth; therefore hold hast to the truth (2 Tim. 1:13, and Titus 1:9). Truth is thy crown, hold fast thy crown, and let no man take thy crown from thee. Hath not God made truth sweet to thy soul, yea, sweeter than honey, or the honeycomb? and wilt thou not go on to heaven feeding upon truth, that heavenly honeycomb, as Samson did of his honey comb. Ah, souls, have you not found truth sweetening your spirits, and cheering your spirits, and warming your spirits, and raising your spirits, and corroborating your spirits? Have you not found truth a guide to lead you, a staff to uphold you, a cordial to strengthen you, and a plaster to heal you? And will not you hold fast to the truth? Hath not truth been your best friend in your worst days? Hath not truth stood by you when friends have forsaken you? Have not truth done more for you than all the world could do against you, and will you not hold fast to the truth? Is not truth your right eye, without which you cannot see for Christ? And your right hand with out which you cannot do for Christ? And your right foot without which you cannot walk with Christ? And will you not hold truth fast? O! Hold fast the truth in your judgements and understandings, in your wills and affections, in your profession and conversation."

Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices, p96 (Banner of Truth)

Songs and Hymns

Before we left for Llandrindod, my good friend Phillip Parsons of Townhill Baptist Church, Swansea, recorded me singing some songs what I have wrote. Backing vocals were supplied by Angharad Parsons and Sian Williams. My intention has always been to post them sometime, and as Rach has been poorly today it has afforded her the opportunity to do so. The songs theselves have been written over the last seven years, some of them are versions of hymns. And a couple of them are children's songs. Please excuse the rough demos, and the occasionally out of tune singing (thats me, not Angharad or Sian!) I hope these songs make you think about great truths and a great Saviour!

You can listen to them here

Campbell's Soup

No, not those tinned jobbies - real soup! We love making (and, obviously, eating) soup, so thought it'd be nice to share the goodness...

Recipe 1: Carrot and Cumin Soup

(serves 4)

3tbsp butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
12oz carrots, sliced
1.5 pints vegetable stock
3/4 tsp ground cumin
2 celery sticks, sliced thinly
4oz potato, diced
2 tsp tomato puree
2 tsp lemon juice
2 dried bay leaves
1/2 pint milk
salt & pepper to season

* Melt the butter, add the onion and garlic, fry until soft.

* Add the carrots and fry for 5 minutes

* Add the stock, cumin, seasoning, celery, potato, tomato puree, lemon juice and bay leaves and bring to the boil.

* Cover and simmer gently for 30 mins until all the veg are tender

* Discard the bay leaves, cool the soup and blend.

[At this stage the soup can be frozen for up to 3 months if you want to save it]

* Add the milk and bring slowly to the boil

* Enjoy!

Christians in India are being attacked and need protection

Open Doors write "The murder of Hindu extremist leader Laxmanananda Saraswati sparked an outburst of violence against the Christian community that has claimed the lives of at least 56 people and destroyed hundreds of churches and homes. 50,000 people are reported to have fled the violence, while an estimated 13,000 found shelter in nine refugee camps in the region.

Violence against Christians in Orissa state is ongoing, and to date there has been no adequate or decisive response by the authorities to protect them. Please join with Christians worldwide and speak up on behalf of the Christian minority in Orissa. Write a letter to the Indian High Commissioner asking him to urge India's government to deploy sufficient forces to prevent further violence, protect Christians and ensure compensation for the victims."

To write to the High Comissioner, and your local MP, follow this link

Mission not Maintainence

I read 1 Samuel 13 this morning, about Johnathan's two-man rout of the Philistines. I read later Dave Bish's notes of Richard Cunnigham's preach on the same passage which you can read here. The contrast between Saul not even bothering to enquire of the Lord, and Johnathan's gospel boldness really did strike me. I also remebered John Piper making the same kind of comments in his sermon 'Risk is Right' at the EMA when I went along a couple of years ago. And the challange for me is: Jonathan or Saul? Who are you most like? Who do want to be like? What are you going to do about it?

Veggie Tales

We've grown vegetables! Beans, onions, lettuce and potatoes, with tomatoes and chillis on the way. We are proper country folk now.