Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more. (New City Catechism) All? It seems a dream which never humanContinue reading “Catechism 25”
Tag Archives: the Cross
Catechism 24
Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die? Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgivenessContinue reading “Catechism 24”
Family Tree
…and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2) What a father did once when an apple looked sweet sent tremors shaking through the earth, breaking roots, severing limbs, Continue reading “Family Tree”
Lent 45: Good Friday
They took him down to Golgotha, to Golgotha, the place of skulls; they set him in between two thieves and hurled disease on him. They struck his face and speared his side at Golgotha, at Golgotha; they called him king and laughed at him and cursed him on the tree. The earth, it shookContinue reading “Lent 45: Good Friday”
Lent 43: Wednesday of Holy Week
But listen as they question Him; listen as they plot and lie. Listen: by the fireside, Peter lies and cries. Watch as, dust, we crumble down; watch the Son of Man, betrayed, tell the truth, secure His death and die for dust He made. Has anything like this been seen? The eternalContinue reading “Lent 43: Wednesday of Holy Week”
Lent 42: Tuesday of Holy Week
Yet dust we are we cannot stay awake and pray (the flesh is weak) and dust we are we walk away and hide ourselves in dull deceit. And dust He is yet more than dust transfigured with the Father’s grief; our dust He takes up to the Cross and dies beside a thief.
Catechism 15
Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose? That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior. (New CityContinue reading “Catechism 15”
Lent 39: Saturday of Fifth Week
Sit with Him; eat with Him; dip the bread, by His side – Surely Lord not I? Walk with Him through olive trees; fall asleep and fail to pray; watch as one of you betrays – Surely Lord not I? Warm yourself by cosy fires; answer truth with spitting lies; listen as theContinue reading “Lent 39: Saturday of Fifth Week”
Lay this body down… – Streaming Page CXVI’s “Good Friday to Easter” Day Three
What now? Death takes the best; the body droops upon the Cross. We look; the sting in eyes declares that all is done. It is finished. What? Are we done for, Lord? Where the hopes and fears of all the years, once met in You? Where now? All done? All done for? What next?Continue reading “Lay this body down… – Streaming Page CXVI’s “Good Friday to Easter” Day Three”
Go to Dark Gethsemane: Streaming Page CXVI’s “Good Friday to Easter” Day 2
First the garden. And this first betrayal: friends asleep when most needed; then – another in the wings, a kiss at the ready; a sword, the sternness of armies come to slay a spotless lamb. O Christ – I have not even a sword; only betrayers’ kisses heaped withContinue reading “Go to Dark Gethsemane: Streaming Page CXVI’s “Good Friday to Easter” Day 2″
The Consolations of Writing 