I trust that you had a blessed Easter. It has been a very special time for our Keswick family as we have reflected on the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday.
I shared with you that I have been working through Paul David Tripp’s Journey to the Cross.
I want to share this passage with you and it so gripped my heart:
The birth of Jesus was a victory.
The escape from the hand of Herod was a victory.
The humanity of Jesus was a victory.
The perfect life of Jesus was a victory.
The triumph over temptation was a victory.
The public baptism of Jesus was a victory.
The teaching of Jesus was a victory.
The healing ministry of Jesus was a victory.
The arrest in Gethsemane was a victory.
The trial and torture of Jesus was a victory.
The crucifixion with criminals was a victory.
The separation from his Father was a victory.
His death on a cross was a victory.
The resurrection was a victory.
His post-resurrection appearing to his followers was a victory.
His ascension was a victory.
Everything in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, even those things that appeared to be defeats, were victories. Each was a victory because each was done in fulfillment of God’s plan. Each was a victory because it was done in fulfillment of prophecy. Christ did all these things as our substitute. He did them all on our behalf. He lived, for us, the life we could have never lived. He won, for us, battles that would have led to our defeat. He suffered, for us, so we would not suffer God’s anger over sin. He conquered, for us, the final enemy, death. Yes, it was a life of suffering and death, but in it all was victory after victory. He came to conquer, and conquer he did. He came to reverse the course of human history, by victory after victory, until he could say, “It is finished.”
Tripp, Paul David. Journey to the Cross (pp. 135-136). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
I shared this at our recent Hymnsing. As I was greeting folks, a pastor said think about this – go back a reread the list above and look at it this way – for everything listed as a victory, for the Enemy and his host of demons, everyone of this things was a DEFEAT!!!
Here is Tripp’s punch line:
The cross was a triumph!
Sin defeated!
Forgiveness granted.
Acceptance with God assured!
Eternal life guaranteed!
Victory now and in the world to come!
This is your identity!
NOW GO LIVE IT OUT.
I couldn’t have said it any better. GO LIVE IT OUT!!!
Living in light of the gospel,
Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick
bwelte@americaskeswick.org
Check this great arrangement by our friends Dick Tunney and Steve Green of Immortal, Invisible and In Christ Alone
Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
Think About This: “Today you will envy the blessings of another, or you will bask in the wonder of the amazing grace you have been given.” – Paul David Tripp
