All of Scripture points to the cross of Christ as the ultimate frame of reference for the redemption that legally justifies our sins and
satisfies God’s wrath. Jesus' death on the cross enables the presence of God to dwell in our hearts and is made effective to the sinner only through one's personal faith in His gospel!
“God can be found only in suffering and the cross!” (#21 Hiedelburg Disputation; Martin Luther 1518). The miracle of the gospel transforms the people of God into "bearers" of His presence, which they are commissioned to take to the nations!
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He lead them on the Calvary road of suffering and death. "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Mat 16:24). After Jesus had risen from the dead, He commissioned His disciples to proclaim and bear His gospel to the nations.
On my personal journey I have found that the missionary is nothing more than an earthen vessel who is sent to proclaim and display the power of God (2 Cor 4:7) through his/her weakness (2Cor 12:9). In light of the gospel, I count it all loss (my human strength, earthly accomplishments and personal ambition) compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8). Luther said "He who does not know Christ does not know God hidden in suffering" (ibid).
To be clear, it is not the suffering we seek in order to know God, but the joy that is set before us when we fix our eyes on Jesus as we approach His cross. (Heb 12:2). God makes His presence known through the brokenness of His vessel so "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested" (2Co 4:10). As we bear the cross, the joy we share is being present with Christ in the power of His resurrection...which is found in the context of suffering (Phil 3:10). Why must this include suffering? that is the subject of my next post!
“God can be found only in suffering and the cross!” (#21 Hiedelburg Disputation; Martin Luther 1518). The miracle of the gospel transforms the people of God into "bearers" of His presence, which they are commissioned to take to the nations!
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He lead them on the Calvary road of suffering and death. "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Mat 16:24). After Jesus had risen from the dead, He commissioned His disciples to proclaim and bear His gospel to the nations.
On my personal journey I have found that the missionary is nothing more than an earthen vessel who is sent to proclaim and display the power of God (2 Cor 4:7) through his/her weakness (2Cor 12:9). In light of the gospel, I count it all loss (my human strength, earthly accomplishments and personal ambition) compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8). Luther said "He who does not know Christ does not know God hidden in suffering" (ibid).
To be clear, it is not the suffering we seek in order to know God, but the joy that is set before us when we fix our eyes on Jesus as we approach His cross. (Heb 12:2). God makes His presence known through the brokenness of His vessel so "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested" (2Co 4:10). As we bear the cross, the joy we share is being present with Christ in the power of His resurrection...which is found in the context of suffering (Phil 3:10). Why must this include suffering? that is the subject of my next post!
Therefore we can conclude from the overall Biblical context that we are designed to proclaim and bear the gospel in spiritually dark places.
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