Who Is Jesus?

[Click the picture to listen to a sermon jam that I made]

"The sermon jam that Brent made is possibly the most important sermon clip that you'll ever hear."
-Joseph Edward Mejia

Christ Affection Stimulators & Robbers

Photo Credit: Andrew Gallo

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Philippians 3:8

"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ"

I have found that there are things in my life that stimulate my affection for Christ and there are things in life that dull my affection for Christ. Things that cloud my sight of Him and cause me to have an unhealthy appetite for the world and things that bring clarity to see Him and His work. Because of this, I have tried to pay attention to what these things may be. Here is a list:

Joey's Christ affection stimulators:

-My wife Kinsey
-Sushi
-The book of Romans
-Being with the body of Christ
-Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotions
-Conversations about the Gospel
-The ocean/beach

-Hymns
-Any counsel I get from Sovereign Grace friends
-Grace Community Church (main gathering times)
-The sky/clouds/colorful sunsets
-MacArthur's prayers
-Piper's tweets
-The gospel of John

Joey's Christ affection dullers:

-Getting pulled in and effected emotionally by a sports game.
(even though I don't like sports!)
-Too much time at the radio station that I work at sometimes.
-Long conversations about nothing.
-Critical/mean spirited joking

-Sleeping in too late
-Time wasted online
-Most movies
-Most sarcasm
-Getting too interested in fashion
-Spending money on the unnecessary

What stirs your affections for Christ? What robs you of that joy?

I'd love to see some of your lists.

Self-love & The Gospel

The gospel reveals to me the breathtaking glory and loveliness of God, and in so doing, it lures my heart away from love of self and leaves me enthralled by Him instead. The more I behold God’s glory in the gospel, the more lovely He appears to me. And the more lovely He appears, the more self fades into the background like a form love interest who can no longer compete for my affections.

Preaching the gospel to myself every day reminds me of God’s astounding love for me and also of His infinite worthiness to be loved by me above all else. These reminders leave me increasingly absorbed with Christ and with God’s ultimate plan to gather together all heavenly and earthly things to Him

Milton Vincent
A Gospel Primer

(Photo by: David Hensler)

My Sin and My Christ: A Journal Excerpt Written to the Greatest and Most Fickle Sinner I Know, Myself

The other day while in Theology II we were discussing the reality of sin and of its disgusting nature. While the class progressed and the teacher continued to paint what was an honest and Biblical perspective of sin, a girl raised her hand and asked a very good question. Apparently the professor was doing a decent job because when called on the girl asked how we were to hold to such a weighty and disgusting view of our sin without letting it overwhelm us. In essence her question was: how, if sin be so horrible, can it be of any good for us to constantly hold it as such? Wouldn’t the guilt of it alone leave us feeling condemned under its sheer weight? Is it helpful for us to daily bear such notions of our sin as the most vile and disgusting thing ever to exist? Won’t this just create an overwhelming sense of our own rottenness and leave us bowed and depressed? Her question was one so vitally important to the Christian life that, knowing its profound implications, I sat still in my seat, while my heart began to exceedingly speed on.
I wondered how many she spoke for. How many held similar questions even subconsciously? For certainly if those sitting in class were getting anything of what the professor was saying this girl’s question would be their first question as well. If sin be so sinful and I be so full of it, what chance of living joyfully have I? How many, I wondered, were benefiting very little from the class because deep down they realized to hold such serious thoughts of sin would be of no practical use to them? How many sat there thinking, “Yes, yes, but let’s not focus too much on this wretchedness. God is a God of grace and of love, after all, so let us get on with rejoicing and forget all this disgusting and miserable talk. We all know our sin is bad anyways.” And how many left the class not at all provoked because of how wretched they were, and not at all disturbed by their sin?
Oh, how I wish I could tell their souls to sit down that God would open their ears that I might have a word with them. What grace have we without serious thoughts of sin? What joy is there when we neglect to contemplate the wretchedness that dwells within us? I’ll tell you what grace we have: it is a cheap grace. I’ll tell you what joy: a light joy- a cavalier jolliness. This is the result of not sitting awhile and letting the stink of our own sin reach our noses. When we neglect to peal back the lids of our hearts to honestly look at the worms inside we will not even know what God’s grace means. God’s forgiveness will be small and His love will be shallow when our sin is light. A flippant dealing with sin leads to a weightless understanding of the gospel. And it is a tragedy.
The great Puritan John Owen once said, “He who has slight thoughts of sin never had great thoughts of God.” He is exactly right. We will never know how great of a Savior we have until we are deeply familiar with how great of a sinner we are. Until we know how much we hate God, we will never know how much He loves us. And oh how the many layers of our sin can so quickly throw us into the mires of despondency! Address one and you will surely find one beneath it. And probe that one and no doubt another ten others will show their ugly faces. Yet oh how the arm of God’s mercy is ever long enough to pluck us right out of this sinking pit again and again and set our feet to dancing and our mouths to singing!
Dear soul, know that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in you. Know that where your sin abounds, the grace of Christ abounds all the more. Know that your sins are never as great as Christ’s mercy. His forgiveness is big enough for your failures. Here is a well infinitely deep- no sin, however heinous, nor offense, however numerous, can dry it up. It extends down and ever down forever. Oh yes, though your sins be great, God’s love for you is greater.
And though your countless failures and your many shortcomings weigh heavily, Christ’s shoulders are strong enough to bear them even in your case. Oh, how strong are his shoulders? For did He not already carry your sins upon them? It is not much for Him to bear them now, for has He not already borne them? Though the weight of your sins may crush you and you may feel as defeated as ever- remember, victory is yours for there is a man who has already been crushed in your place. Christ Jesus has taken your sin upon his shoulders and has carried them all the way to Calvary.
Your sin has been paid for. Oh yes, it has! Won’t you believe it? Is your sin too horrible that it cannot be atoned for? Are you such a wretched and hopeless case that Christ cannot save you? Do you think you are unforgivable? Do you doubt such a perfect man would die for you? Is this impossible- that all the countless sins you have committed be done away with, forgiven, erased, forever? Is it unbelievable? Is it too good to be true? Oh doubting one, Christ’s blood is more than enough for you. Yes you are a mighty sinner, but Christ is a mighty Savior. Yes you are a miserable case, but Jesus is an amazing Christ. Are your sins black? Are your secrets dark? Christ’s blood is redder still, his righteousness whiter; Christ’s work on your behalf outshines your deepest and darkest secrets. Though you prove yourself a failure again and again, Christ is faithful even for you. His work forever stands as your pardon if you would but believe it.
Won’t you raise your defeated head and open your weary eyes? Look now, look! There is one I see who is pleading your case. Look! There he is bloodied and beaten in your place. Look, look! At the cross he has set himself to carry. Look, oh faint-hearted soul, there is your name I see inscribed on that cross. Look, it is your crown of thorns I see he wears. Look, it is your nails meant for you that have nailed him to this tree. Oh burdened person, oh worn-out saint, and oh searching soul- won’t you look? See him there now. He is hanging in your place. There he is condemned so that you don’t have to be. Oh, won’t you look, can’t you see? There he is. There he is dying for you. There he is taking the penalty of your sins upon himself. There he is in his dying breath, bringing eternal life to you. There he is, oh hear him now! At his very end, hear him, he musters the last of his strength and cries, “It is finished!” And he gives up his spirit; and his head falls to his chest. It is finished. It is done. The price of your sin has been paid. The cost of your redemption has been ransomed. The gift of your forgiveness has been purchased.
Now lift your head oh despairing and troubled one. Wipe the sadness from you eyes. Look now! Look again! The scene is not finished! Look at Christ’s tomb? What! Something is happening! The tomb containing our dead Savior is shaking, the great stone sealing him in has been moved! What! What is this? Look! Look! Quickly! The body! It’s gone! Where has it gone? What has become of our precious Lord’s body? Come now- come outside. Look over there! A figure, he is walking our way. Perhaps he is a thief, the one who has stolen our Lord’s body. As he approaches you cannot recognize him, but he looks strangely familiar. As he gets closer, you begin to weep. His face is all-too familiar indeed. And now he is before you. There is a warm smile parting his lips and kind eyes meet yours. In a rush it dawns on you, and you cry, “Teacher!” and fly into his arms. As the tears stream down your face, you look up again into the face that you did not think you could ever forget. Is this really Him? You take a step back. Almost as though he were reading your mind, the man before you turns over his palms, showing you his hands. He then gently takes your hand and places your fingers over the holes you now see clearly there. The holes are real. You have seen what caused them. You look into his eyes again, still struggling to believe this is real. Still holding that almost surreal smile the man moves your hand from his and places it on his side. There you feel another hole, a hole you know all too well verified that he was supposed to be dead. You look once more into that kind face and his eyes remain too real for you to resist. This is Jesus the Christ, risen again. He has been dead three days, and now He is alive!
Oh yes, the Lord who has died for you, has indeed risen again. He was dead, yes- for your sins he died. But He did not stay dead. No! This man, Christ, has more than died for your sins- He has defeated them completely! What more, He has more than died- He has conquered death! He has not only paid for your sins in his death, He has purchased your victory in His resurrection! As He has been crucified, oh soul, know that it was for you. And as He has risen again, oh be sure that it was also for you. If you have been crucified with Him, believe that you have also risen with Him. His resurrection was in your place just as his death. Your old self is done away with and the new you has been born! Your sinful nature has been dealt its death blow and your new life is here to be lived! Oh yes! There is a mighty lion that death cannot subdue and sin cannot stop. His power extends from the depths of Hell to the glories of Heaven. Hell itself holds no power over you, Christ has endured it for you. Sin has no power- Christ has conquered it. Death has no sting- Christ has absorbed it. All is yours and yours is all in the resurrected Christ.

So let us go back to the Theology lecture. Let us go back to our wretched sin. Is it terrible? Christ is tremendous. Is it ugly? Christ is beautiful. Is it awful? Christ is amazing. Dear sinner, have you a horrible habit of sinning? Christ paid the penalty for it. Have you great doubts that you will ever be able to get victory over your sin? Christ has purchased for you the power to do so already. Oh burdened sinner, oh restless and frustrated saint, oh hopeless and bitter soul- know what is yours in the crucified and risen Christ. There is not a sin that can be held against you before the court of God the Holy One which Christ does not plead your case. Of all your failures, of all your greatest and most wicked acts, there is not one that holds any sway when the risen Christ says, “He’s with me.”
Is this grace impossible in your case? No, it is amazing. Is this love not possible for you? No, it is divine. You have nothing left to ask before God; you have nothing more to say. Christ is yours and you are Christ’s, what duty have you anymore but to praise His name? Yet what delight? You are as righteous as Christ- for He is your righteousness. You possess all that is His- for Christ is God’s and you are Christ’s. You have life eternal, joy to the full, and hope everlasting. The peace that passes all understanding is yours. The mercy that is new every morning is yours. And, oh soul, if you could but taste it now, the love which God loves even his very own Son is yours. This love knows no height that you can hit its roof; and no depth that you can dive to its bottom. It knows no breadth that you can span; nor any greatness you can ever fathom. It is infinite altogether and never ending.
This love is a sweetness that, far from yielding only temporary gratification, fully and lastingly whets the soul. Yea, what the soul finds in Christ is more than enough and fills the soul even to overflowing. It is a fountain bursting with blessings as numerable as the water drops it spews forth. Can you count them? Don’t even bother; rather bathe in this fountain; swim in it, drink deeply of it. Always take your full of it. Breathe in Christ.
Oh, does not the thought of Christ cause you to smile? At the mention of His name does your heart not jump within you? Think of Him, dwell on Him; let Him richly dwell within you. You can never have too much of Christ. Oh person, sit yourself down and preach to yourself Christ. Oh believer, draw nearer to Christ. Oh burdened sinner get yourself up and look upon Christ. Turn your eyes from your sin and see Him there. See Him on the cross. See Him raised again. See Him interceding for you before the Father. He is all you need. He is ever what you will need. He is all you have. And all of Him is yours.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Because the Sinless Savior Died...

There is no more important thing to God than God’s glory; and there is no better display of God’s glory than the display of God’s glorious grace; and there is no better display of God’s glorious grace than the display of the gospel; and there is no better display of the gospel than the cross of Christ. If I am to live for God’s glory I must live next to the cross. If my passion for God is to line up with God’s passion for God then I must dwell by where His passion was manifested in this universe unlike any other point in history ever: I must dwell by the cross. If my mission for God is to line up with God’s mission for God, then I must labor in light of that most glorious manifestation of His mission for making much of Himself: I must labor in light of the cross. If I am to live admiring anything, if I am to live motivated by anything, if I am to live passionate about anything, if I am to live reflecting upon anything, if I am to live rejoicing in anything, if I am to boast in anything, if I am to live because of and for anything, let it be Christ and him crucified. Let it be the cross. If I am to live the gospel-centered life, I need to live the cross-centered life. I must get near enough to that blazing fire at which the flame of my love is kindled. I must get near the cross. As Spurgeon said, I must “abide hard by the cross and search the mysteries of his wounds.” This is where getting on board with God’s mission for Himself through the gospel of His Son begins. It begins with riveting my attention on One hanging on a tree. It begins with expending my energies admiring, exploring, expositing, and extolling Jesus Christ. It begins with surveying the wondrous cross on which the King of Glory died. It begins with because the sinless Savior died…

And it always comes back to because the sinless Savior died... It must come back to the cross. It must retain its central place- primary, of first importance. It cannot be displaced to the peripheral. It cannot be shifted even in the slightest degree. It cannot be moved even in the least by any other insights that come to take on far too much attention. We simply cannot take our gaze off it, nor let our eyes ever drift away from it. We cannot move away from it. We cannot move on from it. We can only ever strive to move nearer, to search closer, to inquire further. It is that blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled. We must draw near to that fire ever and always. We must stay close. Otherwise we will become cold- our affections cooled, our passion diminished, our hearts complacent, our focus distorted, and our Christianity nominal. We must, not simply because of it, but because of Him who hung on it. In our place condemned he stood. It was because of our transgressions Christ was wounded, for our iniquities he was crushed. It was because of our sin that he was so marred beyond human semblance. Why is the cross that central element of the gospel that cannot be forfeited even in the smallest degree? Because when we behold the disfigurement of the Son of God, when we find ourselves appalled by his marred appearance, when we see his languid eyes meet ours, we need to reckon afresh that it is upon ourselves we gaze, for he stood in our place.

It is this news, this good news, this amazing news, the news of salvation, the news of Christ and him crucified that fans into flame radical sacrificial, sold-out, supremely satisfied, crazy love for God. And it is with this that God is most glorified. Because it is with this that we are most satisfied in Him. Because when we sit next to the holy flame of God’s grace on the cross, we see God’s unfathomable love for us and are set ablaze by it. It is as this grips us, as this burns within us, we become holy torches. That everything we touch, everything we do, and every person we interact with may also be lit by our fire. And then they burn. And the fire spreads. And as it does that great glacier, this cold world itself begins to melt.

America's Financial Meltdown

The economic crisis that our country faces seems to hit a the core of the average American. For the first time ever I am seeing mass quantities of people panic about their future and ability to provide for their families. In the industry I work, things are even scarier. One in five auto dealerships are soon to be closing, manufacturing plants are closing down, workers are being layed off, dealership are down-sizing and shrinking staff, sales are down, income is minimal, yet bills remain. As a pastor I have had recently seen grown men weep and share their fears, concerns and questions about what lies before us. Biblical counsel if therefore crucial and most necessary if believers are going to weather these temporary hardships and uncertainties.

In a recent book by Pastor Mark Dever, he quotes the writings of Jonathan Edwards and in so doing examines the way the world responds to loss and implies the way believers are to respond to tragedy, loss and dire times. He references the Old Testament book of Job to make his case.

"In 1723, a young pastor of a church in Manhattan, Jonathan Edwards, preached a sermon called "The Nakedness of Job." He described wealthy Job's sudden losses, which included even the lives of his children. And then he turned to how we ought to respond to such losses in contrast to how the world responds."

'Perhaps, when you read the history of Job, you read it as a strange thing that happened but once in the world; but, for the time to come, read it as a think thing that happens daily, and frequently, for every man at death is as much deprived of all his worldly goods as Job was...The history of Job is only a shadow of death; it is no more than happens to every man in the world...Such is the folly of the world. They pursue violently after the world, slave and tire themselves for a little of it, are exceeding anxious and careful about it. Their minds are gnawn with care and anxiety; they undergo abundance of difficulties for it, and will often violate their consciences, disobey their God, and go very near hellfire--so near as to scorch them--come so near to the pit that their feet are every moment ready to slip. When they lose the world, they mourn as if they had met with a loss that it is impossible should be repaired, either in this world or the next, and when they have got a little of the world, they please themselves with the thoughts of it as much as if they were sure they could never lose it, neither by death nor otherwise...Before, they were careless and at ease, as if death were not wont to come into their parts of the world.'

Death, loss, decay are all part of life for believers and unbelievers. That is why scripture counsels us to NOT lay up treasure here on earth. If we are to joyfully meet this world head on with its current crisis and defeat satanic deception of security in goods, our treasure must be God, as was the case with Job. If our treasure is earthly, we will surely panic, become depressed and even bitter towards God and thus reveal our idolatry--that we loved things more than the One who gave things to us.

Let the current economic crisis be used of God to reveal your current affection or lack of it for God. Realize this is the grace of God in action working out your sanctification. And as tough as it is, in the midst of pain, give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and goodness endures forever.