OPENING my Bible to the Psalms, I noticed that at sometime I had placed a little penciled star next to the heading of the 25th Psalm. Reading it again, it didn’t take long to remember why I had have done that. What a wonderful Psalm. It now has a second star by it. If you haven’t considered it lately, today might be a good day.
MY comments below are, well – my comments. Rather than continue with Positional Truth at this moment, I want to note something from last week’s consideration.
I HAD mentioned last week John Murray’s book Redemption Accomplished and Applied, and how it explores each aspect of the work of Redemption. I remember years ago a Bible teacher illustrating the “sin barrier” between God and man like a multi-layered bricked wall, each brick being a particular problem as a result of sin, explaining how Christ’s work on the cross removed that barrier brick by brick. Studying Murray’s book years later further explained how Christ performed that task and perfectly resolved each of the sin created barriers in our relationship to God.
THERE is a legend of Alexander the Great who entering ancient Phrygia was confronted with a intricate knot tied to an oxcart by which the Phrygians believed that whoever could untie it would become their King and ruler. Unable to find a loose end and solve the riddle, Alexander did what he did best, pulled his sword and with one swift blow severed this Gordian knot, and thus assumed rule. He had not the heart, mind, nor the patience and time to undo the knot. Thinking on this, one might consider our Lord and the Gordian knot created by our sin and its many consequences. It is not so with our Jesus as it was with Alexander. Our Lord does have what is needed and was in person all he needed to be to undo the Gordian knot that held his people enslaved in sin and unbelief. He worked through and unwound each cord as only the true Master could and did. Which brings me to my point from last week.
THERE is a word found in last week’s consideration, located in Romans 6:11, “reckon.” It’s not a word we use very much. I can recall hearing it from some old Hollywood western cowboy movie, but apart from that, it’s not a commonly used word today. The word means to “count it as so”. The NAS and ESV translate it “consider.” In the Greek it really means to “take inventory,” “conclude” concerning a fact. Some commentators refer to it as an accounting term, as in a ledger. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians’ he tells us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). In other words, we are to study and work these things out; take inventory of the wonderful blessings of Christ that are ours by His free grace, and apply them to obedient faith and practice. We are to “reckon” them as so; count on those facts procured by Christ for His elect. We serve no dictator, but a Redeemer King, who loves us and gave us His very life; who Himself came under the sword of judgment to completely free us from all that would bind us now and for evermore. And if He would make us free, we shall be free indeed! John 8:36
THEREFORE, “….reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:11) There are far reaching implications to this little discussed exhortation. As we return to our study of Positional Truth, we need to keep this accounting term in mind, and with it the assurance of all we possess in our unchangeable Union with Christ.
In the incalculable blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
