What’s the first thing, and the last, with respect to our being a Christian? What is it, that if we lose it, we lose everything — the gospel, the church, eternal life, even the knowledge of God himself or any hope of access to His blessed presence? What is it, of all things, that we ought most fear that we would take for granted? The answer of course is obvious — JESUS CHRIST! It just can’t be stressed enough, however interesting and beneficial is our tradition(s), our church history, our doctrine, even our Christian relationship and practices in the church—they are only so beneficial as they are all
in/on/with/through/under/unto/for/like
Jesus Christ!
Have you ever considered the prepositional phrases that are used in the New Testament in reference to Jesus Christ? Someone considered one of the most prolific and influential Christian authors/apologists/missiologists/pastors/professors of our age has. In his little, if not also simple, albeit profoundly insightful meditation of a book Life in Christ, John Stott proposes “to explore the implications of a Christian faith and life which are focused on Christ by means of the prepositions which are used in the New Testament in reference to Him.”
Speaking of John Stott—I was recently on a “camping” (perhaps better “semi-camping”) trip with three other pastor/scholars, all a “tad” over 50, deep in the Adirondacks. One evening while enjoying a rich time of fellowship together, we contemplated the most influential Christian apologist/pastor of our lifetimes. It was unanimous—John Stott. It’s hard to imagine life without his popular Christology book entitled Basic Christianity or his significant soteriology (doctrine of salvation/atonement) entitled The Cross of Christ and the list could go on—Involvement (a two volume series on vocation/calling), Between Two Worlds (on Biblical Preaching), Baptism and Fullness (on the Work of the Holy Spirit), etc. Over 50 books in all! But perhaps more than even his writings, it was his Christian witness over his many years of service to Christ. I think of his energy in forming such evangelical and missional alliances as the Lausanne Covenant (we recite a portion of this in our worship occasionally). And there was his firm, if not always civil, advocacy for evangelical orthodoxy in often hostile places. On a personal note, he was my very first seminary professor in a class on the Pastoral Epistles (I used his notes in my recent Titus sermon series, for instance). And I can remember ever so vividly his defense of Christian orthodoxy in the face of a virulent antagonist once at Andover Newton—what an incredible witness to a young seminarian such as myself as he demonstrated with amazing firmness and restraint an example of the grace and truth of Jesus Christ that day!
And therefore, we begin where we also ought to end, with Jesus Christ! And by none other than perhaps the greatest advocate of Christ in our era, John Stott. In his writing, even meditation on Jesus Christ, you will, I think, discover a vast treasury of pastoral anecdotes as can only be delivered by someone so globally aware as John Stott in his life-long, if not waning, witness for the sake of Christ. You will be introduced to many great stories and encounters, but most of all, even if by way of much needed review, you will be reminded of why it must be “that Christ should have first place in everything” (Col 1:18 — sound familiar?).
Again and again, let’s pray this prayer for ourselves and for our church “lest we are led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ?” And by all means, do blog your thoughts even as you read—short brief thoughts will do, but thoughts that revel in the wonder of all things Jesus Christ!!
-Preston Graham
I am sorry to say that copies of this book will be arriving slowly to CPC over the month of September as this book is out of print in the USA. Please be patient if the bookstore does not have any copies available any given Sunday.
ReplyDelete