I liked it. I had a few minor qualms with it, but overall it was good. And while admittedly the subject matter wasn't the Gospel; and while it was being pushed towards professing believers to exhort them to improve in a particular way, I still wish they could have managed to work in more of the Gospel into it. It's sometimes said that Christians often don't present the Gospel well enough for the non-elect to reject it. That is to say, we present such a shallow version of the good news that anyone would accept it, even those who would never commit to the true good news of salvation.
I wouldn't go that far in either of these two films. The Gospel is shared in both - and clearly enough - so that an unbeliever watching hears enough to be saved from it. But, if I may presume to paraphrase a statement from "Courageous": I don't want it to be simply 'good enough'. The Gospel is such a great and beautiful thing that it deserves to be richly declared for all its wonder and majesty.
How many Christians in the world today can even articulate the Gospel clearly, let alone truly understand the full majesty that Paul was pointing to in Ephesians 1:17-23:
Paul's desire was,
The 'riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints'. Too often, we're fortunate to even hear the true Gospel. The majesty is far too often forgotten."that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."
That's why I'm especially grateful when I encounter the Gospel when it is truly shared well.
Two examples of this:
1. A song:
The folks over at Church Works Media have written a number of good songs. One in particular I'm sure some of you are unfamiliar with, though I think there may be some who are aware of it: "His Robes for Mine".
"His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!You can hear the song performed by Soundforth's choir over at Grooveshark, if you are interested. Yet, a song is kind of limited in it's message by the very nature of the medium. And as much as I like this song and recommend you to listen to it, I'd like to recommend even more the second thing I spoke of above:
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.
Chorus:
I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.
His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.
His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.
His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!"
2. A book:
Some of you may have heard my mention my recent enjoyment of the podcasted sermons of Sinclair Ferguson, the Scottish preacher/theologian. I tell you frankly, I'm not sure I know of anyone else living who speaks of grace so beautifully as Sinclair Ferguson. It is both convicting and incredibly encouraging to hear him tell of God's wonderful grace towards us. Ligonier Ministries has what they call "$5 Fridays" on their website store. Some weeks ago, Dr. Ferguson's book, "By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me" became available on a certain Friday. Dad was getting a copy for himself, in addition to several other books. Now ordinarily Dad and I try not to buy the same books. On this particular one, though, I asked him to get me a personal copy as well.
Before reading it, I had some momentary concerns that perhaps Dr. Ferguson's Spirit gifted ability to speak on grace extended only to preaching and that it might not carry over as well to written works. Having finished the book, I can say without any hesitation that I had no cause for worry. I not only enjoyed the book, I am already looking forward to reading it again the next time (though I will hold back from doing so immediately...while I read another of his books, "In Christ Alone" :-D ).
The book is composed of seven chapters, each one somewhat centered around the themes of the seven verses of the song, "Oh How the Grace of God Amazes Me".
"O how the grace of God
Amazes me!
It loosed me from my bonds
And set me free!
What made it happen so?
’Twas His will, this much I know,
Set me, as now I show,
At liberty.
My God has chosen me,
Though one of nought,
To sit beside my King
In heaven’s court.
Hear what my Lord has done
O, the love that made Him run
To meet His erring son!
This has God wrought.
Not for my righteousness,
For I have none,
But for His mercy’s sake,
Jesus, God’s Son,
Suffered on Calvary’s tree -
Crucified with thieves was He -
Great was His grace to me,
His wayward one.
And when I think of how,
At Calvary,
He bore sin’s penalty
Instead of me.
Amazed, I wonder why
He, the sinless One, should die
For one so vile as I;
My Saviour He!
Now all my heart’s desire
Is to abide
In Him, my Saviour dear,
In Him to hide.
My shield and buckler He,
Covering and protecting me:
From Satan’s darts I’ll be
Safe at His side.
Lord Jesus, hear my prayer,
Your grace impart;
When evil thoughts arise
Through Satan’s art,
O, drive them all away
And do You, from day to day,
Keep me beneath Your sway,
King of my heart.
Come now, the whole of me
Eyes, ears and voice,
Join me, creation all,
With joyful noise:
Praise Him who broke the chain
Holding me in sin’s domain,
And set me free again!
Sing and rejoice!"
While these verses are used as a sort of centering point around which each chapter circles, make no mistake: It is unrelentingly Biblical. For instance, chapter two uses the three (or one, depending on how you interpret the passage) parables of Luke 15 as his basis. Chapter 5 primarily answers the questions found in Romans 8:31-35. Much of chapter 6 is devoted to an examination of the story of Job, particularly focusing on Job 9-10. The final chapter is a beautiful examination of Romans 6.
The seven chapters are titled:
- My Chains Fell Off
- Unconditional Love
- At God's Expense
- A Great Exchange
- Guaranteed Security
- Delivered From Evil
- True Freedom
This post is long, so we'll end here.
SDG
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