Dear Friend,
It so happened that this past weekend I was in the UK during the celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. I was speaking at a conference in the town of Kilmarnock, which is in Ayrshire. It was there, in 1956, that I stood with my mum and waved my Union Jack as the Queen passed through town. For the past sixty-six years I have enjoyed the privilege of being one of her subjects.
Most of us put off thoughts about death. The unknown is often too uncomfortable to think about, and the pressing issues of the moment provide a welcome diversion. But the author of Ecclesiastes suggests that we’ll live our best life when we look toward eternity! Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End explores the wonderful and wise insights from the writer of Ecclesiastes—a man who tasted every good earthly gift and concluded that nothing in this world can provide lasting joy and contentment.
While most people would agree that our world is broken, they may not agree about how to fix it. In the following clip, Alistair looks to the unique experience of the thief on the cross as a reminder that the only solution to brokenness is found in the execution of an innocent man: Jesus, the Son of God.
Without the preaching of the cross, without preaching the cross to ourselves all day and every day, we will very, very quickly revert to faith plus works as the ground of our salvation; so that, to go to the old Fort Lauderdale question—“If you were to die tonight and you were getting entry into heaven, what would you say?”—if you answer that, and if I answer it, in the first person, we’ve immediately gone wrong. “Because I…” “Because I believed. Because I have faith. Because I am this. Because I am continuing.” Loved ones, the only proper answer’s in the third person: “Because He…” “Because He…””
Think about the thief on the cross. What an immense… I can’t wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, “How did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend. You’d never been in a Bible study. You’d never got baptized. You didn’t know a thing about church membership. And yet—and yet, you made it! You made it! How did you make it?”
That’s what the angel must have said—you know, like, “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“Well, ’cause I don’t know.”
“Well, you know… Excuse me. Let me get my supervisor.”
They go get the supervisor angel: “So, we’ve just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?”
The guy says, “I’ve never heard of it in my life.”
“And what about… Let’s just go to the doctrine of Scripture immediately.”
This guy’s just staring.
And eventually, in frustration, he says, “On what basis are you here?”
And he said, “The man on the middle cross said I can come.”
Now, that is the only answer. That is the only answer. And if I don’t preach the Gospel to myself all day and every day, then I will find myself beginning to trust myself, trust my experience, which is part of my fallenness as a man. If I take my eyes off the cross, I can then give only lip service to its efficacy while at the same time living as if my salvation depends upon me. And as soon as you go there, it will lead you either to abject despair or a horrible kind of arrogance. And it is only the cross of Christ that deals both with the dreadful depths of despair and the pretentious arrogance of the pride of man that says, “You know, I can figure this out, and I’m doing wonderfully well.” No.
Because the sinless Savior died,My sinful soul is counted free;For God the just is satisfiedTo look on Him and pardon me.
That’s why Luther says most of your Christian life is outside of you, in this sense: that we know that we’re not saved by good works, we’re not saved as a result of our professions, but we’re saved as a result of what Christ has achieved.
June 27, 2022
“We may often forget to meditate upon the perfections of our Lord, but He never ceases to remember us.” — C.H. Spurgeon
What does the Bible say about divorce? Download or listen to sermons by Alistair Begg about marriage, divorce and remarriage.
Divorce and Remarriage (Matthew 19:1-9) — Listen | Download MP3
In order to understand what the Bible teaches about divorce, we must first understand what it teaches regarding the nature of marriage. Following Christ’s example, Alistair Begg appeals to the authority of Scripture to teach us how to think biblically about this difficult topic as we consider what marriage is and how that affects its dissolution.
Divorce — Part One (Mark 10:1-9) — Listen | Download MP3
Because marriage is part of God’s purpose since creation, the Bible’s instruction concerning marriage and divorce applies to every marriage. Jesus’ instruction in Mark 10 is unequivocal, and we cannot disregard it. Alistair Begg teaches us how to apply it within the framework of Gospel truth.
Divorce — Part Two (Mark 10:10-12) — Listen | Download MP3
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus on the topic of divorce, He did the same thing we should do when facing difficult issues: return to first principles. Alistair Begg reminds us that marriage is a creation ordinance instituted by God as a pattern for all humanity. Marriage, in all its successes and failures, requires God’s grace to redeem, restrain, and restore our human weaknesses.
Marriage and Divorce (1 Corinthians 7:8-16) — Listen | Download MP3
The Bible is clear about the lifelong commitment involved when two people marry, but are there scriptural grounds for divorce? Should a believer stay with an unbelieving spouse? Is remarriage permissible after divorce or widowhood? Alistair Begg explores these issues and assures believers that, with God’s help, lost affections can be rekindled and covenants made between husbands and wives can be preserved.
Planting Hedges in Marriage — Part One (Selected Scripture) — Listen | Download MP3
Most often a failed marriage is not the result of a one-time event, but rather the result of a slow leak that finally bursts. Alistair Begg warns us that regardless of how strong we think we are, we are not immune to the pitfalls that bring about marital chaos. Because of this, we should carefully consider the environment to which we subject ourselves, working hard to establish boundaries that protect our marriages.
Planting Hedges in Marriage — Part Two (Ephesians 5:22-33) — Listen | Download MP3
The greatest joy we will experience in marriage is found when we learn to put our partner first. When we value the happiness of our spouse over our own happiness, we will begin to understand the meaning of true, sacrificial love. Alistair Begg teaches us several ways that will help us show love and appreciation for our husband or wife.
More Sermons on “Marriage” | View All Topics
“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)
June 20, 2022
“Man’s ways are variable, but God’s ways are everlasting.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Men are often masters of delegation. Give them a task, and they can quickly assign just the right person to do it. A simple phone call? Let the office assistant make the connection. Household chore? One of the kids can get it done.
Delegation can be a wonderful thing—but what about abdication? What if we assign away our responsibilities?
All marriages have challenges, because a union between two sinners—even a God-ordained union—isn’t going to be perfect. But encouragement from Gospel-Shaped Marriage: Grace for Sinners to Love like Saints will help you understand that a marriage’s greatest chance for success comes when both husband and wife adhere to God’s design.
