Tag: Hope

Gospel Shaped Death

On By BrianIn Book of Luke

Some say there are only two things certain in life – death and taxes.  I would suggest that there are a few more certain things, but death is certainly certain.  Even though we live in denial, death could come to our door at any time of any day.  We will die.  How should we approach death – apart from the gospel?  And how should the gospel shape our approach to death?

In Luke 23, Luke relates the story of the two criminals on crosses on either side of Jesus.  One criminal joins the mockers, but the second rebukes him – “Do you not fear God?”  Presumably these two criminals dying outside of Jerusalem are Jews with an understanding of who God is from the Old Testament.  They know God is holy and just – he will punish sin.  They know God created us to live in a perfect loving relationship with God, but that we sinned against God bringing death and separation and judgment.  Perhaps they have heard Jesus warn of hell – a place of separation and judgment after death.  Indeed, do you not fear God?  You are about to die and face his judgment.  You have every reason to fear!  Without some good news we are in a heap of trouble.

But the second criminal has noticed something.  This Jesus has done nothing wrong.  The rest of the New Testament confirms his observation – Jesus was without sin.  So if sin brings death, but he is without sin, why is he going to die?  Clearly this is further than the thief is thinking, but Peter gives the answer – Jesus is dying for our sins (I Peter 2:24).  He is taking our sins upon himself, and the death, judgment, and separation that goes with those sins.  Why?  So we can escape God’s judgment and be reconciled to God.  Again, this is more than the criminal understands, but he somehow realizes that salvation is available from this man dying on the middle cross.

And so the criminal does the only sensible thing. He asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom.  He looks to Jesus.  He is trusting, believing in this man to save him.  And Jesus tells him that they will be together in paradise that very day.  By looking to Jesus, he has escaped eternal judgment and separation from God.  Instead he has received eternal paradise with Jesus.  No wonder that Paul later says that death is gain.  Why?  Because he will be with Jesus (Philippians 1:21-23).

The gospel utterly turns our approach to death around.  Instead of separation there is relationship.  Instead of judgment there is pardon.  Instead of hell there is paradise.  Instead of fear there is anticipation.

And yet that is only part of the gospel.  For Jesus will not only die and be buried, but he will be raised from the dead.  And because he is raised from the dead, those who look to Jesus will also be raised from the dead when Jesus comes back.  We will be victorious over death like Jesus (I Corinthians 15).  And we will dwell in a new heaven and earth forever with the Lord (Revelation 21).  We not only look forward to paradise with Jesus, but even more we hope in our own resurrection.  And this hope is not “I wish it were true” hope.  It is a certain hope based on the very promises of God.

Yes, there are more things certain than death and taxes.  Death is certain.  But for the one who looks to Jesus, paradise with him after death is certain.  And the resurrection when he returns is certain.  And so the gospel shapes our approach to death from fear to anticipation and hope.  May we live and die with this anticipation and hope alive in us as we look to Jesus.

Gospel Shaped Suffering 2

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

How can the gospel shape our suffering?  In the last post, we considered two ways: as we recognize that we are following the path of Christ and as we embrace his purpose of becoming more like Christ through suffering.  In this post we will look at two more ways that the gospel shapes our suffering.

Resting in the Love of Christ (Perseverance)

Romans 8:31-39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We are secure in Christ.  He will preserve us to the end.  This is a glorious part of the gospel.

It is also a great assurance in suffering.  These verses make clear that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ – not tribulation, distress, persecution, danger, death – nothing.  In our trials we are sometimes tempted to wonder if God still loves us.  These verses assure us that he does.  In our trials we can rest in his love.  That is gospel shaped suffering.

Rejoicing in the Hope of Christ (Resurrection and Glorification)

In the Matthew 16:21, the path of Christ which leads through suffering and death goes on to resurrection.  As we follow the path of Christ, we have the same hope.  II Corinthians 4:14, and many other passages, make clear that as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too will be raised.  And we will be raised to glory.  Romans 8:16-21 speaks of this glory that awaits us.  This hope is part of the gospel.

And this hope is a great encouragement to us in our suffering.  Paul says that our current suffering is not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed (Romans 8:18).  He calls our current suffering slight and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory that is coming (II Corinthians 4:17).  Since suffering today often seems anything but slight and momentary, the glory that awaits us must be incredible indeed!  So in our suffering we can rejoice in our glorious hope of resurrection.  In our trials we look forward to the glory that awaits us.  Our hope is set on a day when there will be no more crying, or pain, or death, when we will dwell with the Lord forever in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-5).  This is gospel shaped suffering.

Our suffering can be shaped by the gospel as we rest in Christ’s love and rejoice in our hope.  Do we approach suffering in this way?

We’ll look at some more ways that our suffering can be shaped by the gospel in the next post.