Gospel Prism

Well, I returned from the Sov Grace Leadership Conference (LC). What a wonderful joy it was to meet so many pastors and fellow believers who simply loved to bask in the Gospel. What struck me more than the worship (which was great) and the messages (which were great as well) were the hearts of all who were there. To find men and women committed to not only talking about the Gospel, but also living it out in their lives. And to see what lengths Sov Grace went to in order to allow conferees to experience this grace was really special.

Just a few thoughts from the conference…

Concerning RC Sproul, I had last seen him at a Ligonier conference in the early nineties. When he began speaking, I couldn’t help but think how much he had aged. He was always sprightly and energetic, but that enthusiasm seemed to have passed him by. But as the second night came, something seemed to have changed. As if the Spirit were moving his lips and leading his gestures, his energy returned. Perhaps it was the subject. Speaking about the holiness of God is an awesome thing.

He spoke on the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17 the second night. And boy was that message inspiring. I had heard his Wed. night message a few times on Isaiah 6 before. I love his observation about the seraphim and its creation as a creature with 3 pairs of wings for the sole purpose of hiding from God’s glory. But his exposition of Matthew 17 left me in awe of Jesus. We often do not think of Jesus as the Holy Jesus. But this picture of Matthew 17 gives us a glimpse of just how holy Jesus truly is.

I have also been reading John Owen’s book, The Glory of Christ, and in it Owen emphasizes continually that we see and think of Jesus in such a limited view. When he was on earth, Jesus’ glory was hidden from us. The apostle John laid in Jesus’ boso at the last supper. And yet, when John sees Jesus in Revelation, he falls immediately face down. To see Jesus in our sinful state now as the resurrected Lord, is to be utterly ruined, as happened to Saul on the road to Damascus. Well, RC was able to show us on Thursday night this Jesus and it was an awesome view of our Lord.

The final thought that struck me from Matthew 17 was the end of the text. Verses 7-8 say:

But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.� 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Just like Psalm 27, to see God’s holiness should bring terrible fear. The disciples are lying on the ground cowering. And yet, BECAUSE of Jesus’ touch and his words, they need not fear. The night left me in awe of Jesus for being both light and salvation and because of this combination, like the disciples, I need not be afraid.