For Him

[Jeff Greening]

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36


It was about 2002 or 2003 that my view of God became bigger then I would ever think. It was at a time of heartbreak seeking God's help. My dear wife was still sick and unable to live a normal healthly life. We still had children at home and attempting to be a model and father to them.
There was a friend named Bob, who was attempting to go through the process of being a minister. And one of those tasks was to lead in a service of some kind. So He showed us a dvd series named , "Canvas". It lasted four weeks with the following titles: 1)Glory 2)Wonderful Cross 3)Big God, Little Me 4)The Way of Glory.
All my thoughts and limitations that I placed on my concept of God began to fall to the waste side. All the trials and difficulties that clouded my eyes from the God of the Bible. Were made into a opportunity to offer to God as "Glory". The fact that, "From Him,Through Him and To Him" are all things used to give Him great Glory.
This was huge for me! I never looked at life or God the same.
I started to listen to this same message on audio over and over and over. I had such a small view of God, a small view of His Glory and a small view of the Cross. What! Yes. The Gospel was only an entry point into a relationship with God and not "From Him,through Him and To Him. The Gospel was beginning to become everything. John Piper says it so some much clearer:

What's the Gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.

The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

That’s the gospel.

You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”
No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.

You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.

The Cross became From Him, through Him and To Him. I therefore must live the same


I have posted a video from Paul Washer called For Him, please give it a listen, The sound is a little off at times but the message is so needed in these days when "the bridge is out" for so many people.

For those who Have Ears, please Hear!

[Jeremy]

I fully agree both with the blog and with Bradmc. It is no contradiction to remain grounded in the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and still to "move on" to deeper things. The foundation for our salvation - and for our fellowship - is not in the deeper things but in the cross. But for us to grow up into that "perfect man" requires the fellowship AS WELL as the meat. The two, I think, are inseparable. Just as Jesus chastized one of the churches for leaving their "first love", it is possible to "move on" and let the cross blend into the background. But it is also possible to simply walk without growing - feeding on milk all of one's days.

[bradmc]

I thot I commented on this already... hmmm. I would agree as long as you include sanctification as part of the Gospel and not just justification. Doesnt Paul encourage us to move on from the milk of justification and get into the meat of sanctification?

[bradmc]

I guess I agree to a point. As long as you understand the deepening message of salvation as you go. Paul says we are to move on from milk to the meat. From Justification to Sanctification. As long as your meaning of "the Gospel" includes this philosophy then I completely agree.