Unfathomable Grace

Hebrews 1:8-9    But of the Son he says … “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness ….”

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In this first chapter of Hebrews, the inspired author reminds us of the brilliance of Jesus Christ. Jesus was better than …

• The prophets
• The angels

Why was he so grand? It is because Jesus was …

• The heir of all things
• The creator of the world
• The image of the invisible God
• The upholder of the universe
• The perfect purger of our sins
• The begotten Son of the Father
• The one whom angels worshiped and served
• The king who forever reigned
• The king who loved righteousness and hated wickedness

Oh, how Jesus loved righteousness. He ..

• Was born without any hint of sin
• Grew in wisdom, stature, favor with man, and favor with God
• Consumed with his Heavenly Father’s business
• Was most serious about keeping all the rules of worship given to Moses
• Lived not by bread alone but by every Word given from God above
• Loved God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength
• Loved properly his neighbors
• Was filled with the Spirit without measure
• Had love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
• Succumbed not one bit to temptation
• Perfectly honored and obeyed the will of his Father

And yet, at the same time, he whole-heartedly hated wickedness. Jesus …

• Called out sinners
• Humiliated self-righteous hypocrites
• Highlighted the true extent of God’s law
• Purged his temple
• Defeated demons
• Dominated the devil
• Preached woe upon haughty, unrepentant sinners
• Promised to come again and wipe out the wicked
• Taught of future hell awaiting the accursed

And here is one more nugget of true truth — Jesus is the same … yesterday, today, and forever. The Son of God never changes. Today and tomorrow, he is the King who continues to love righteousness and hate wickedness, and with the author and recipients of Hebrews, for this we give Jesus praise.

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Therefore friends, how would the King have us respond to this meditative thought?

Let us see in scripture, in the Law, that there are divine categories of righteousness and wickedness. There is objective truth. God determines that which is right and wrong. His opinion on morality is all that matters.

Let us see in scripture, in the Law, how God is delighted by righteousness. Let us also see how he loathes and abhors wickedness.

Let us see in scripture, in the Law, the revealed will of God for all men and women. Sure, we are to do righteousness and not do that which is evil. However, more than that, we too are to internally love God and that which he loves and commands, and we are to hate all else.

Let us see in scripture, in the Law, that we are totally fallen. We are born with broken desires and thoughts, and this is proved every day as we fail to love God and our neighbors with perfect propriety.

Let us see in scripture, in the Law, that God hates the devil, his demons, his children, and all their depraved doings. (Psalm 5:5; 11:5; Proverbs 6:18; 15:8-9; 16:26; Revelation 2:6)

Let us see in scripture, in the Gospel, that God loves many whom he hates. While we were sinful enemies, he came to earth, added humanity to himself, and played the role of the righteous-substitute. Jesus kept the Father’s law perfectly and passed along his righteous record to his friends. Then he suffered the Father’s sentence so that we might never experience one jot or title of God’s wrath and condemnation. Then he sends his Spirit to incite us from within to cry out, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Let us see in scripture, in the Gospel, that regardless of what we do, we are thoroughly righteous. This is because our righteousness-status has nothing to do with what we do. We are always viewed in light of Christ’s obedience.

Let us see in scripture, in the Gospel, that we are filled with the same Holy Spirit that communed with Jesus. We are the Spirit’s Temple. We are the Spirit’s Holy of Holies. Because we are perfectly clean, because we are “holy, holy, holy,” he is pleased to dwell in us.

Let us see in scripture, in the Gospel, that because we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are destined to be fruited by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, let us keep step with the Spirit. Let us walk with him, and commune with him in prayer. Let us pray that the Spirit might …

• Show us our Father’s unfathomable love and grace
• Show us God’s good law
• Inflame our hearts with love for righteousness
• Allow us greater success in doing righteously
• Grant us eagerness to wait for the day when only righteousness is experienced
• Show us our remaining and indwelling sin (Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15)
• Grant us hearts with a more intense hatred for wickedness – in ourselves and our world

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Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

Rock of ages, cleft for me; let me hide myself in Thee

Let the water and the blood; from thy riven side which flowed

Be of sin the double cure; cleanse me from it’s guilt and power