Sunday, July 8, 2012

Is God ever lonely?

The doctrine of the Trinity expels unworthy ideas about the perfection of Godʼs life. It is unworthy to think that God without us is lonely or bored. God is not looking for something to do in the happy land of the Trinity. God did not created the world in order to fill the drafty mansion of heaven with the pitter-patter of little feet. God is not pining away for companionship in a lonesome heaven. [We should] always reject the idea of divine loneliness or boredom. But as soon as you entertain the truth of the doctrine of the ontological Trinity, the unworthiness of the idea of a lonely or bored God becomes patently obvious. 
The Triune God is one, but not solitary. 
Nothing that God does in creation or redemption is done because God lacked employment or occupation. The incarnation of the Son of God was not undertaken as an excellent adventure to provide diversion from the dullness of being the eternal Son. All these are ideas are unworthy of God, as the doctrine of the Trinity makes obvious...The tri-personal love of God is not a love that needs any completion. Consequently we should avoid presenting the gospel in a way that suggests God is begging us to come back home so He can finally be happy again, as if our redemption repairs a breach that ruptured the blessedness of God. 

- The Deep Things of God; How the Trinity Changes Everything, Fred Sanders, Crossway, Wheaton Illinois 2010 pg. 95-96

Friday, July 6, 2012

How does Jesus see the church?

On earth she is often in rags and tatters, stained and ugly, despised and persecuted. But one day she will be seen for what she is, nothing less than the bride of Christ, “free from spots, wrinkles or any disfigurement,” holy and without blemish, beautiful and glorious. It is to this constructive end that Christ has been working and is continuing to work. The bride does not make herself presentable; it is the Bridegroom who labours to beautify her in order to present her to Himself.
        -John Stott, as quoted by Josh Harris, Why Church Matters, Multnomah, 2011 pg. 31

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

God inspires, God enables.

While God’s glory inspires obedience, it is empowered by His grace. Isaiah was right to be afraid to be in the presence of God. But God in His grace cleansed him of his sin so that he could respond to God’s call. God not only inspires us through His glory, He also gives us the ability to respond through His grace. This is the beauty of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. We have been reconciled so that we can image Him to the world, and He sends us the Holy Spirit to empower us to such a life.

Brad House, Community, Crossway 2011, pg. 39