CCC Gainesville | Blog
Q: What does the law of God require?
A: Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and love our neighbor as
ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands
should always be done.
Perfect obedience can only be grasped if we have complete understanding of the Gospel message. Our obedience does not buy us salvation. Ephesians 2:8-10 states “ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Our identity in Christ has nothing to do with intelligence, strength,
ability, or effort on our part. God showed us grace by sending Jesus
to take our punishment, and to perfectly obey in our place. Because of this gift we are empowered by
the Holy Spirit to obey God’s commands. Our personal obedience, imperfect but sincere, was made possible because God saved us and because we are made perfect in Jesus. As we rest in God’s justification of us, we can freely obey God’s commands. To truly be able to seek obedience is to truly accept the gospel message.
This is week 7 of 52 catechism readings from New City Catechism. Christ Community is reciting an entry from the catechism each Sunday in 2013.
Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world;
being yesterday and today the same, and forever. *
(from Chapter 8, section 6 of the Westminster Confession of Faith)
*Gal. 4:4–5. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gen. 3:15. And I will put enmity be- tween thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
1 Cor. 10:4. And [our fathers] did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Rev. 13:8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Heb. 13:8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
See Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:15.
Lent. For the seven weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we practice sober awareness of our frailty, sins and smallness. It starts on Ash Wednesday when those ashes are traced on our foreheads in the shape of the cross, a tactile reminder of our origins in the dust. From there we come, and to there we will go.
You want to really live, the kind of living that drains the marrow from every day? Then start by facing your death, your weakness, your smallness. We spend seven weeks facing our death and despair and doubt, entering into it with the fullness of our being—heart, mind, emotions—we leave nothing behind.
We do this for a number of reasons, chief among them the simple truth that Sunday comes after Friday. Only when you’ve gotten through, not around “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” are you ready to throw the only kind of Resurrection party worthy of the occasion—that Sunday when we run huffing and puffing from the open tomb, beating our pots and pans in that clanging raucous outburst that begins with those three resounding words: “He is risen.”
That day when all the amps are turned up to “11.” –Rob Bell
We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others. – Elisabeth Elliot
The aim of Ash Wednesday worship is threefold:
— to meditate on our mortality, sinfulness, and need of a savior;
— to renew our commitment to daily repentance in the Lenten season and in all of life; and
— to remember with confidence and gratitude that Christ has conquered death and sin. –The Worship Sourcebook
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster. –Joel 2:12-13 ESV
6:00am & 6:00pm in the Sanctuary tomorrow, Ash Wednesday
Last weekend a group of our Middle School students ventured away from CCC to Camp Southwind in Ocklawaha, FL for the annual MidWinter Retreat. We were entertained and challenged through the teachings of Danny Ray, a talented illusionist from San Diego. Danny preached on the topic of identity, and how all of us as Christians are deceived constantly that we can find life in things apart from Jesus. During the day on saturday, the whole camp participated in an Amazing Race, followed by free time where students played games, hung out, went canoeing and swimming, and braved the high ropes course. It was an awesome weekend! Here are some pictures
From a brief article by UF grad Freddy Harrell
We too easily forget our Maker and Redeemer; replacing God with things and ambition. Lent is the season that does something about this situation. It calls us back to God, back to the basics, back to the spiritual realities of life. It calls us to put to death the sin and the indifference we have in our hearts toward God and our fellow persons. And it beckons us to enter once again into the joy of the Lord–the joy of a new life born out of a death to the old life. That is what Ash Wednesday is all about–the fundamental change of life required of those who would die with Jesus and be raised to a new life in him.
Join us Wednesday, February 13th at 6AM or 6PM*
The truth about ourselves awaits, and a reminder that God in his great love for us, promises new life in the midst of the old, new birth in the midst of the old, new creation in the midst of the old.
*A light meal will be served after the evening service.
