Banner 2010 04

Our final morning was an excellent one. Palmer Robertson took us to Matthew 24:14 and in a fairly wide ranging message considered the mystery of the gospel, which is not something secret but something once hidden but now revealed. The mysterious element is its spread (as spoken of in Ezekiel and Daniel and by Christ when he speaks of a tree growing by itself). The mystery is not simply the inclusion of the Gentiles but the spread of the gospel and the fact that the Gentiles are equal participants with the Jews in every way in the promises of the gospel. Because it is by grace alone through faith alone even wild Scots can be grafted in. It is grace not race. He suggested that Paul chosen over Peter to be the one to go to the Gentiles because he was the one who knew the OT promises best. He spoke too of undulation as the gospel spreads from one group to another.

The practical implications of this are that every promise to Abraham the believer is also to all Gentiles who believe. There are always things to be learned from other Christians. He then spoke of the promised blessing, seed (in a rather Presbyterian way) and land as including the whole world (including some strong comments against anti-Palestinian evangelicals).

His final point was that this gospel is spread by preaching (shall be preached)

Already well blessed it was delight then to hear the closing sermon on John 21:15ff from Ted Donnelly. As full of humour and warmth as ever he spoke of his mixed emotions at such a conference – so much to be thankful for (family, church, etc) yet with many regrets – over sins, failure in duties, and above all the lack of prayer. We are such mixtures. Wise/stupid, selfless/egocentric, kind/cruel, spiritual/disgustingly worldly, etc.

Peter was the same and he says to Jesus - Lord you know everything, you know I love you. And so we looked at the public restoration of Peter and considered three things.
1. The Lord is dealing with the past

It was like an echo chamber – gathered round a fire! He had boasted that he loved Jesus more than the others. The three times motif is there again (there is an eastern tradition of repeating a thing three times to solemnise). He is reliving his sins in the light of his wretchedness. Here is the Lord who turned and looked at him Jesus. Peter had cried not because it was a look of anger or disappointment but of love. Each time he had to answer Jesus some of the pain leeched away from his soul

Many things are best forgotten but it is good to say to God, you know everything. We can't be pious phonies. There's got to be total openness between us and Jesus. Rather then picking at the scab of our sins we must bring them to Christ
He quoted Question 60 from the Heidelberg Catechism.
Q. How are thou righteous before God?

A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me, the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.

2. The Lord is clarifying the present

Different words are used for love - whether this is significant or not is not entirely clear (cf Hendriksen against Morris and Carson). We are far too afraid of emotion sometimes. He used a wonderful illustration of an ugly piece of plaster at home - a present from his daughter when young – not great but loved for her sake. Our work is the same to God. He knows. 1 John 3:19, 20 "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."

3. The Lord is commissioning for the future

Pastoral ministry is continuing the work of Christ. Loving sheep can be a difficult task. Our love for Christ enables us to love people. We had several quoted from Matthew Henry and a good one from Calvin near the end then these to close -

George Herbert

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee.

This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold ;
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.

J C Ryle
"‘Lovest thou me?’ is, in reality, a very searching question. We may know much, and do much, and talk much, and give much, and go through much, and make much show in our religion, and yet be dead before God for want of love, and at last go down to the Pit. Do we love Christ? That is the great question. Without this there is no vitality about our Christianity. We are no better than painted wax-figures: there is no life where there is no love"
C S Lewis
"the charge to Peter was feed my sheep; not try experiments on my rats, or even teach my performing dogs new tricks."
Some were in tears at the end of such preaching. All I am sure were revitalised and ready to try again in this vital work of feeding the sheep.