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DAYS OF PRAISE-PRAISE HIM FOR HIS DEATH~TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
What Christ's Death Meant to Him
"Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14)
If
one were to ask why Jesus died, the average evangelical would usually
say that He died to save us from our sins. It is true that "Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3), but this is not the whole answer, by any means. Too many Christians think of the death of Christ only in terms of what it means for them--not what it mean to Him.
Our text says that He died for us and redeemed us from iniquity, not just to keep us from going to hell, but to "purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Paul says: "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living" (Romans 14:9). He wants a people who will have Him as Lord of their lives. "Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it; . . . That he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27).
"He
died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). "How much more shall the blood of Christ . . . purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14). Finally, the apostle Peter reminds us that the Lord Jesus Christ "bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24), "that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
We
who have been saved by the redeeming death of Christ for our sins often
thank Him for what He has done for us--and we should. But we also
should praise Him for what
He has thereby done for Himself, and then seek always to live in such a
way that His holy purpose is accomplished in our lives. HMM
To God Be the Glory!!!
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." (Psalm 115:1)
One of the great words of the Bible is the word "glory," and it should be evident that glory belongs to God, not man. Indeed, the very "heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). Not only do the heavens declare His glory, but "his glory |is| above the heavens" (113:4), and "the glory of the LORD shall endure for ever" (104:31). In heaven the mighty hosts of angels "give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name" (29:2).
It is thus singularly inappropriate for God's servants on earth to seek glory for themselves. "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man
glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let
him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me,
that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and
righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the
LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
This Old Testament exhortation is echoed in the New. "God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty; . . . That no
flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:27, 29-31).
As our text reminds us, God manifests His glory to us today in both mercy and truth, mercifully saving us in Christ, who is Himself God's truth (John 14:6). Thus, in Christ, "mercy and truth are met together" (Psalm 85:10), and we shall "praise thy name for thy lovingkindness |same word as 'mercy'| and for thy truth" (Psalm 138:2). HMM
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