Gospel Gratitude

As a church we have been plowing our way through Pauls epistle to the Colossians. The major thrust of Paul’s message is addressing false teachers in the church,  promoting false ways to God through any means other than the message of the gospel; the person and completed work of his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. These false teachers causing many within the church to experience doubts to what Christ had accomplished for them. Their doubts impregnating a lack of assurance, a lack of gratitude, and giving birth to immaturity; a perfect open door for false teachers to bring out their whiteboards of hearsay. (Col 2:8; 16-18; 4:12)

If this were true, that man could earn his way back into a right relationship with God (that is to have their sin taken away, pacifying God’s wrath for good, and making himself favorable with God) then God would have answered His own Son when He called out for Him in the garden!

One of the most vivid pictures of God declaring our condition and need of a substitute was seen in Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:35-36 ESV).

Jesus foreseeing His destiny of going to the cross for sinners, fell to His knees and prayed,

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me.”

(Mark 14:36)

The Son himself, seeing the cup that He was about to drink to it’s very dregs, prayed to God in Heaven this prayer. If anyone was more worthy to have his prayers answered, it was Jesus Christ. As recorded in Scripture…there was no answer from Heaven.

The same heaven that was ripped open at the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Father racing to brag about His Holy Son, declaring  his Holy microphone ““This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” was silent in the garden.

The same heaven and same voice thundered forth when Jesus and a few of his Apostles proceeded to the mountain, in which Jesus allowed His Apostles to see just a glimpse of His glory, was silent in the garden (Luke 9:34-35).

Jesus then, hearing the deafening sound of the Fathers silence, loving us to the end declared,

“Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)

Then Jesus was nailed to the cross, the world around Him would become a frightening  and deaf darkness, matching the inward darkness within Himself and all of man’s sinful hearts, would cry out,

“My God, my God, why hast tho forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

As that wonderful Christian confession in one song states, “I’m forgiven because you were forsaken. I’m accepted, You were condemned”

Heaven wouldn’t be silent much longer. The curtain in the temple was torn (ripped asunder) by the Fathers hand as a declaration of the satisfaction of the Son’s work of propitiation. Taking away our guilt and bring us access to Him as our Father.

Christ’s life, death, and resurrection is the good news that God has demonstrated his amazing love, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is to bring Him glory, and gratitude to all the hearts of those who are in Christ.

A lack of gratitude in any situation, is a reminder that we may have gospel amnesia. Go once again to the cross, and hear loud and clear what God has done for you in Christ. Heavens declaration of God’s love for His glory, His Son, and for sinners.