The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatian church regarding their legalism and he says this to them in Galatians 2 verse 21: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Very often we can find ourselves trusting in our performance to experience the amazing blessings of God, trying to gain acceptance to God through our adherence to the law.

Jerry Bridges, in his book “The Bookends of the Christian Life” defines the ‘A’mazing blessings of God as:

• Approval by God — His favour
• Access to His holy presence — His fellowship
• Acceptance into His family — His community
• Admittance into heaven — His eternal life
• Appropriation of our daily provisions — His earthly sustenance
• Ability to live the Christian life — His strength

When we strive to receive these ‘A’mazing blessings from God in our own strength, our own performance and our own merit we nullify Christ’s work on the cross and our ability to receive God’s grace.

Truly, as the hymn writer John Newton wrote, it is ‘Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.’

It is amazing grace that opens the door to these ‘A’mazing blessings of God, and our response to this amazing grace is simply to trust in Christ’s imputed righteousness and to glory in His wonderful grace towards us.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year and a new decade we might wonder what the next year or ten years might bring. One thing we can be certain of is that whatever takes place, good or bad, God is sovereignly ordering all things and all events.

Often we can think of God’s sovereignty in connection with good things, but God controls the good and the bad.

In 1 Chronicles 29:12 we read: “Both riches and honour come from you and you rule over all.”

God controls all things for his own glory, and the ultimate good of his people.  These two objectives are always in harmony.  The fact that we don’t understand what is happening doesn’t change the truth that these two objectives are always in his purpose.

Author Jerry Bridges writes: “God is completely sovereign (all powerful), infinite in wisdom, perfect in love and therefore, worthy of our trust.”

God is sovereign (all-powerful) over all.  He rules all things.  If there was a single event that could occur outside of God’s sovereign control we wouldn’t be able to trust him.  But, He IS sovereign and we can therefore put our trust and confidence in a powerful, wise and loving God.

I hope the following hymn, written by John Ryland (1753-1825), would be an encouragement to you as it has been to me.

Sov’reign Ruler of the skies
Ever gracious, ever wise
All my times are in thy hand
All events at thy command

His decree who form’d the earth
Fix’d my first and second birth
Parents, native place, and time
All appointed by him

He that form’d me in the womb
He shall guide me to the tomb
All my times shall ever be
Order’d by his wise decree

Times of sickness times of health
Times of poverty and wealth
Times of trial and of grief
Times of triumph and relief

Times the tempter’s power to prove
Times to taste the Saviour’s love
All must come, and last, and end
As shall please my heavenly friend

Plagues and deaths around me fly
Till he bids I cannot die
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love sees fit

So often we think we have to do something to gain our salvation, that this gift of salvation must have a cost somewhere, there must be something that we have to do.

The cynics of our world would say there is no such thing as a free meal.

A young fellow came forward in a Gospel meeting, earnestly asking, “What can I do to be saved?” Knowing the man thought he had to accomplish something by his own efforts to gain redemption, the Christian worker responded to the anxious inquirer, “You’re too late!”

“Oh, don’t say that,” exclaimed the distressed seeker, “I really want salvation; I’d do anything or go anywhere to obtain it.” “I’m sorry,” replied the other, “you’re too late for that. Your salvation was completed many hundreds of years ago at Calvary. It’s finished work! All you have to do is simply receive Christ. Then the blessed gift He offers will become yours through His merits.”

Realising his great debt was paid, the young man found peace by looking to the Saviour and resting his all upon the grace of God.

No matter what level of maturity we reach in our Christian walk we can never make any contribution to our justification and our acceptance with God. Our salvation was completed on the cross when our saviour cried “It is Finished.”

God wants us to live in the good of the finished work of Jesus –today.

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Colossae these words of instruction:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

At this time of the year many people are considering various acts of kindness expressed to family, friends and their communities, and a desire to emulate our Saviour by bringing peace and good will to men.

Sadly though, for the rest of the year, our culture seems to delight in being rude to people and finding any opportunity to be unkind and to be abusive.  Kindness does not happen naturally in human relationships. Any parent will have noticed this when observing their children’s reaction to others, and asking the question: “where did that come from?”

A humorous illustration of unkindness is exemplified by the following: George Bernard Shaw once wrote a letter to Winston Churchill saying, “Enclosed are two tickets to the opening of my first play. Bring a friend — if you have one.” Churchill replied, “Dear Mr Shaw, unfortunately I’ll be unable to attend the opening night of your play due to a prior engagement. Please send me tickets for a second night — if you have one.”

Kindness is encouraged and exampled by our Lord Jesus and can become the means of opening the door to many situations.

Augustine of Hippo, is a well-known early church father.  Before Augustine’s salvation, friends encouraged him to go to Rome and then to go on to Milan to hear the Bishop of Milan, a man called Ambrose, who was then considered the greatest orator in the church.
When Augustine first went, he said that Ambrose’s preaching really didn’t impress him that much. In fact, he said if this was the best the church had to offer, the church didn’t have very many good orators.

However, he also said that Ambrose’s kindness to him was such that it overcame his lack of estimation of his preaching ability. It was Ambrose’s kindnesses to Augustine that led Augustine to listen to his preaching, and this in turn led to Augustine’s conversion to Christ.

His kindness had opened the door for the word of God to be received.  Let us be good news to others before we tell them the good news.  As God’s chosen ones, let us put on kindness to all we come in contact with. Not just at Christmas, but throughout the year.

In Luke 23:32-35 we read the first cry of Jesus from the cross: “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

On the cross, racked with pain, Jesus was cruelly, unjustly, and disgracefully executed, and at the very moment of his most acute suffering he prayed this wonderful prayer to His Father in heaven: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Jesus said they did not know what they are doing. Were they ignorant of their wrongdoing? Of course not! But they were ignorant of the enormity of their crime. They were ignorant that they were putting to death the Lord of Glory, and so Jesus prays for forgiveness for them for they knew not what they did.

It wasn’t just their actions 2000 years ago that put Jesus on the cross, it was their sin and our sin that put our saviour on the cross.  Martin Luther once said, “We carry his very nails in our pockets.”

John Stott writes, “Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us (leading us to faith and worship), we have to see it something done by us (leading us to repentance).”

John Newton not only understood his part in the cross, but also his rescue by the cross when he wrote the following wonderful hymn, “The Look”:

“In evil long I took delight, unawed by shame and fear;
Till a new object struck my sight and stopped my wild career.
I saw one hanging on a tree in agonies and blood;
Who fixed his languid eyes on me as near his cross I stood.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt and plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins his blood had spilt and helped to nail him there.
Alas, I knew not what I did but now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid, For I the Lord have slain.

A second look he gave which said, I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransomed paid I died that thou mayest live.
Thus while his death my sin displays in all its blackest hue;
Such is the mystery of grace it seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy,
my spirit now is filled;
That I should such a life destroy,
yet live by him I killed”.

The extent of Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness was, and is not just for those standing around the cross. It is for all of us who have put our faith and trust in his finished work at the cross. We too have received that second look, and by his grace our pardon has been eternally sealed.

Author and pastor Sam Storms once wrote: “Of all the miracles that have occurred or may yet occur, none can compare with nor any should evoke greater gratitude than the miracle of eternal life.”

Some Christians are looking for miracles — new things, new experiences. Yet there is nothing more wonderful than the miracle of eternal life.

I believe the transforming effect of the gospel is grateful, extravagant worship and there is no better place to be refreshed and transformed in the gospel than at the cross.  Listen to the words of our friend Charles Spurgeon:

“The more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard the more noble our lives become, nothing puts life into men like a dying saviour.”

How often do we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard?

Let’s remind ourselves afresh of the cries of Calvary:

1. “The Cry for Pardon” — ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.‘ (Luke 23:34)
2. “The Cry of Assurance” — ‘This day you will be with me in paradise.‘ (Luke 23:43)
3. “The Cry of Compassion” — ‘Dear woman, here is your son… Here is your mother.‘ (John 19:26-27)
4. “The Cry of Anquish” — ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?‘ (Mark 15:34)
5. “The Cry of Suffering” — ‘I’m thirsty.‘ (John 19:28)
6. “The Cry of Victory” — ‘It is finished.‘ (John 19:30)
7. “The Cry of Submission” — ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.‘ (Luke 23:46)

Let’s resolve to dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard and allow the cries to evoke gratitude and passionate worship.

John Piper:
“Strong affections for God rooted in truth, are the bone and marrow of biblical worship.”