Rejoicing in Christ

1. Christianity's Core is Christ Himself.

But the center, the cornerstone, the jewel in the crown of Christianity is not an idea, a Tweet system or a thing; it is not even “the gospel” as such. It is Jesus Christ.

Beyond concepts. Christianity is not primarily about abstract ideas like "grace" or "the Bible" as standalone concepts, nor is it merely a "Christian worldview" or a set of moral rules. These are vital, but they are meant to describe or point to something—or rather, Someone—far greater. The true essence, the very heart of the faith, is the person of Jesus Christ.

Marginalizing Christ. Many Christian problems and errors arise from inadvertently pushing Christ to the periphery. When Jesus becomes just "another brick in the wall" of theological concepts, or merely a delivery boy for salvation, the entire structure of faith weakens. The Reformer John Calvin noted that obscuring Christ opens the way for every kind of falsehood.

Paul's example. The apostle Paul's life exemplified this Christ-centered focus, declaring, "For to me, to live is Christ." His profound satisfaction and delight were found in knowing Jesus, recognizing nothing else as desirable or sufficient. This book aims to re-center our attention on Christ, that we might know him better, treasure him more, and enter into his joy, thereby honoring the Father.

2. Jesus Reveals the Unexpectedly Kind God.

There is in fact no God behind the back of Jesus, no act of God other than the act of Jesus, no God but the God we see and meet in him.

God is like Jesus. For millennia, humanity has imagined dreadful gods or ultimate nothingness. The Christian answer is simple: God is like Jesus Christ. John 1:1 reveals the Word (Jesus) was with God and was God, expressing God's very nature. This means there is no sinister, less compassionate God hidden behind Jesus; the Father's heart is perfectly mirrored in the Son.

Revolutionary truth. This truth, fiercely defended by the early church (e.g., Nicene Creed's "God from God, light from light"), bursts sunshine into our understanding of God. It assures us that the God of love, power, wisdom, justice, and majesty is precisely as Jesus revealed him to be—tender, merciful, and full of grace, especially towards the weak and sinful.

Idolatry without Christ. Without knowing God through Christ, all our thoughts about God, however respectful or philosophically satisfying, risk becoming idolatry. As Stephen Charnock and Martin Luther emphasized, only in Christ do we see God's mercy and justice reconciled, transforming our perception from an angry judge to a loving Father, making all his attributes amiable.

3. The Creator Became Man to Redeem Humanity.

The Word become flesh.

Last Adam's purpose. The Son of God became human to be the "Last Adam," reversing the fall of the first Adam. Adam, created in God's image and crowned ruler, was a "pattern of the one to come." His failure to image God and his unfaithful sonship were undone by Christ, who perfectly loved and obeyed the Father.

Marriage and new creation. Adam's deep sleep and the creation of Eve from his side prefigured Christ's death on the cross, from which his bride, the Church, was formed. This profound mystery highlights Christ's intention to give life to his bride and be one with her. His incarnation was not to undo creation but to redeem it, initiating a new creation where sin's ravages are reversed.

Virgin birth's significance. To become the head of a new humanity without inheriting Adam's sin, Christ needed to be born of woman but without a human father. The virgin birth, through the Holy Spirit, signifies that salvation is a miraculous, supernatural intervention, not a product of human effort. It underscores that Jesus is first and foremost a Savior, not merely an example, guarding the gospel's goodness.

4. The Cross: Where Love and Power Converge.

Christ was never more lovely to his church than when he was most deformed for his church.

Ultimate self-giving. On the cross, the eternally beautiful Son of God was disfigured, taking on the ugliness of our pain and sin. This act, however, revealed the utter vigor and ardor of his boundless love for his Bride. It was in this moment of physical appallingness that he became most dear, proving his character and igniting delight in the Father's heart.

Paradox of glory. The cross is a place thick with irony and paradox: the holy one between criminals, the high and mighty lifted up to die. Yet, it is precisely here that his true identity as the Son of God, the loving Bridegroom, the Lord of glory, and the King enthroned is most definitively displayed. The centurion's exclamation, "Surely this man was the Son of God," captures this profound truth.

Theology of the cross. Martin Luther declared, "The cross alone is our theology." It redefines our understanding of God's glory, wisdom, righteousness, love, justice, and power, none of which look as we'd expect. Love is defined by his self-sacrifice, justice by his demonstration on the cross, and power by his crushing of Satan and death. The cross not only saves but also unmasks our pride and selfishness, revealing God's humble, self-giving nature.

5. Crucified and Raised with Christ: A New Identity.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

Death to old identity. Just as all born in Adam share his fate, all reborn in Christ share his. We died with him, our old identity slaughtered and buried. His death, not our sin, becomes our past. This offers profound relief from the societal pressure of self-confidence, which is a fragile, yo-yoing foundation before God.

Anchored in Christ. The cross annihilates any possibility of placing ultimate trust in ourselves, whether in our goodness or badness. Instead, it anchors our assurance in Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This allows us to boldly declare, like Paul, that we boast only in the cross, for in Christ's death, we met and endured all our condemnation.

Firstfruit of life. Christ's resurrection was God's vindication, declaring him worthy of life and inaugurating the new creation. As the firstfruit of life and righteousness, all in him share this life-giving justification. We are clothed with his righteousness, not our own, because we are in him. This means our new identity is defined by Christ's perfect standing before God, not our fluctuating behavior or feelings.

6. Our High Priest and King Intercedes from Heaven.

My advocate is on high.

Ascension's comfort. Jesus' ascension, far from being a sad departure, strengthens our relationship with him. He faithfully bears our humanity back to heaven, becoming our forerunner. Just as the Old Testament high priest entered the Holy of Holies, Christ, our true High Priest, entered heaven itself with his own blood, now appearing for us in God's presence.

Completed atonement. Having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, Christ "sat down at the right hand of God," signifying his atoning work is complete. This provides profound security for believers, knowing that our firstborn brother in heaven has nothing more to do with our sin. We can confidently approach God, our names engraved on Christ's hands and heart.

Interceding King. Christ's ascension also establishes him as our priest-king, of the order of Melchizedek. He sits on the throne, having the right to rule and intercede. When we are faithless, weak, or unable to pray, he "is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." His kingly triumph means his life-giving reign must be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, filling the universe with his glory.

7. Life in Christ: Union Fuels Our Holiness and Joy.

The greatest benefit of union with Christ is Christ.

Union and communion. Jesus' ascension led to the sending of his Spirit, uniting us to him and making us one. This union is not a loose affiliation but a profound, spiritual marriage, symbolized by the Lord's Supper. The ultimate goal of this union is not merely salvation or heaven, but communion with Christ himself—to know and enjoy him.

Holiness redefined. This union transforms our understanding of holiness. It's not about self-produced morality or external obedience, but a heartfelt delight in Christ. We love him because he first loved us, and this love wins us to love God and others with sincerity. The "violence of God's grace" consumes our lethargy, making us forcefully desire him and enjoy holiness.

Sharing the Son's life. Through the Spirit of adoption, we share the Son's own affection for the Father, crying "Abba!" This identity as beloved children of God frees us from fear and insecurity. We are drawn into the Son's life, sharing his passions, concerns, and joys, and finding ourselves increasingly dead to sin and alive to righteousness, becoming a new creation.

8. Suffering with Christ: A Path to Deeper Joy and Victory.

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Following the forerunner. If the life we share is Christ's, then suffering is an inevitable part of our journey. As our firstborn and forerunner, Christ leads us "through suffering to glory." This means suffering is not a sign of God's indifference but a means he uses for our ultimate blessing, just as he used the cross to defeat sin and death.

Joy in suffering. For Christians, joy is not merely a consequence of suffering but precedes, follows, and encases it. Christ's preceding joy strengthened him to suffer, and he shares this enabling joy with us. The more we delight in Christ and are filled with his glory, the more willing we become to suffer with him, finding joy in participating in his journey.

Bruised and bruising. Our union with Christ means we are both the bruised one and the one who bruises. While we face suffering from Satan, the world, and indwelling sin, we also participate in Christ's victory. Every act of rejoicing, resisting sin, proclaiming Christ, or showing love presses home his triumph, stamping on the serpent's head. We are hard-pressed but not crushed, carrying Jesus' death so his life may be revealed.

9. Christ is the Antidote to All Despair and Spiritual Exhaustion.

Constant contemplation of Christ and his glory, putting forth its transforming power unto the revival of all grace, is the only relief in this case.

Godliness is Christ. The "mystery of godliness" is not a technique or habit, but Christ himself. Sin is Christlessness; all self-improvement efforts without him are ultimately futile. True godliness, vitality, and liberation from imperfection come only through knowing, relying on, and looking to Christ.

Transformative gaze. What fills our vision shapes our thoughts and actions. Looking to Christ is not merely an intellectual exercise but a transformative act. As we contemplate him by faith, we are "transformed into his likeness." This spiritual transformation now is a foretaste of the complete physical transformation that will occur when we see him face to face at his return.

Cure for exhaustion. Modern Christian activism, while good, often leads to burnout due to self-dependence. The antidote to spiritual exhaustion, decay in grace, and heartbreak is a "fresh view of the glory of Christ by faith." John Owen, who endured immense personal tragedy, found that contemplating Christ lifted his mind above life's troubles, expelling all poison and restoring his soul.

10. The Same Jesus Returns to Usher in Cosmic Jubilee.

In all my sorrow and persecution I lift up my head and eagerly await as judge from heaven the very same person who before has submitted himself to the judgement of God for my sake, and has removed all the curse from me.

Jubilee's fulfillment. The Old Testament jubilee year, with its canceled debts and freed slaves, foreshadowed Christ's return. Just as the high priest's return from the Holy of Holies inaugurated jubilee, Christ's return, heralded by a trumpet, will bring the ultimate liberty and rest. The angels promised, "this same Jesus... will come back in the same way."

Comfort in judgment. For those who trust in him, Christ's return as Judge is not terrifying but a source of profound comfort. The Heidelberg Catechism asks, "What comfort is it to you that Christ will come to judge the living and the dead?" The answer: the Judge is the very same person who suffered judgment for our sake, removing all curses. This transforms "Doomsday" into "the most happy Last Day."

Hope centered on Christ. Our hope is not merely for heaven or the conquest of evil, but for the Bride to be with the Bridegroom, face to face. He is the "blessed hope," the fountainhead of all new creation blessings. His return means individual transformation and cosmic renewal, as all things will find their intended purpose and beauty centered around him.

11. Paradise Regained and Improved: Our Glorious Inheritance.

The creation that is sliding back into willful darkness will be suffused with the bright glory of Christ, and it will share the liberation of the children of God.

Cosmic reordering. Christ's return will bring about "the renewal of all things," liberating creation from its "bondage to decay." The earth, which now groans under sin, will rejoice at his judgment, for his justice means the removal of evil and injustice, not destruction, leading to the renewal of creation. This is the true Joshua cleansing the earth for his people.

Light triumphs. Christ's judgment is like light confronting night, dispelling darkness. This process has already begun in believers, as his light shines in our hearts. It culminates in the eternal summer of the new Jerusalem, where "there will be no more night," and the Lord God will give light, signifying the complete victory of Christ's truth, beauty, and goodness over all evil.

Superior to Eden. This hope is not merely a return to Eden but an improvement. As the Last Adam, Christ is superior to the first, and his reign will be more glorious. We will be adopted sons, sharing his infallible faithfulness, with glorious, imperishable "spiritual bodies." This is a time of "double portions," the inheritance of the firstborn, bringing everlasting joy that far outstrips the original paradise.