Introduction:
Advent is a season of remembering. Next week many of us will begin working our way through various advent devotionals that will guide us through the biblical story as a means of preparing the way for Christmas. As an act of memory, the season of Advent helps us put the Christmas story in its proper context by reminding us why Jesus had to come in the first place. Paul tells us that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5). We love to hear the story because it prepares us to say “this is the moment!” This means that memory is essential to our identity as people who have been saved by the grace of God. But memory is also a spiritual muscle that must be exercised regularly if we are to grow in grace and godliness. It is essential to the ongoing application of grace to my life.
Why Remember?
Paul always reminds Christians of who they were before explaining what God has done.
Look at Eph. 2: Paul says that we were “dead in our sins.” What does this mean?
- The word “following” used here means to be mastered or controlled by something. Paul explains what this means by describing death as slavery to three things: (1) the ways/spirit of the world, (2) the prince of the power of the air who works in the sons of disobedience, and (3) the cravings/desires (addiction) of the flesh.
- Titus 2:3: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” We are let astray and slaves of our own evil passions.
- Every person who meets Jesus sees this clearly. There is a desperation to the people who seek out Jesus in the Gospels (blind, dying, sick, sinful).
Notice that the wonder and glory of the gospel is that our condition does not limit God’s power, but even more astonishing it doesn’t limit His desire for us.
- 2:4: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
- Titus 3:4 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
This is why God gave Israel the Passover. Exodus 13: “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place… You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.” It is also why the Lord’s Supper is built on top of the Passover. “Do this in remembrance of me.” Eucharist means “to give thanks.”
The relief and joy of the Gospel is found in remembering the mercy and grace of God against the backdrop of our hopeless slavery to sin.
Mind the Gap: The Temptation of Forgetfulness
The Bible makes it clear that we must remember that we began by grace, but memory is also essential to making progress in the faith, to becoming fruitful. Here’s the reason why: I didn’t just need saving in the past, I need the ongoing application of my salvation right now, in the present.
- 2:6-7: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
- The problem of the “gap.” Between past and the future blessings, spiritual amnesia can set in. Let’s look at Deut. 8 to see how this happens:
- 2-3: Israel is to remember the 40 years because God taught them that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
- 14-17: In the midst of blessing, beware lest your heart be lifted up and you forget…Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’
- The result: Self-righteousness (9:4, 6-7) “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land…Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.”
Notice what happens when “I” am suddenly the savior. I am not the one who needs saving, other people are. In fact, most of my problems become external to me: A bad job, a difficult spouse, frustrating children, disappointing friends, not enough money, a poor diet, a lousy schedule, not enough sleep, etc. In fact, it is easy for me to blame others for my problems.
- Jesus said that Pharisees are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside but full of death on the inside. Pharisees, however, are blind to evil in their own hearts. They are like the unforgiving servant: quick to extract payment from others because they have forgotten their need for forgiveness.
- The issue is one of control. If Jesus is my therapist, my helper, my example, or my guide, I still retain control of my life. But if Jesus is my Savior, all that I have an am and all that I have comes from Him. I need
- Remembering is essential so that we continue as we began, all by His grace.