Category Archives: nuggets of wisdom

Advent – The King is Coming!

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I did not grow up celebrating the season of advent.  I had no idea what it was or that it was even on the church calendar until about 20 years ago. What is it anyway? Should Christians celebrate it?

Advent is the season of the year leading up to Christmas. It is observed with various traditions and rituals by Catholics and other liturgical groups such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists. In recent years, Advent celebrations of one type or another have been added to many evangelical services as well.

The word advent itself means “arrival” or “an appearing or coming into place.” Christians often speak of Christ’s “first advent” and “second advent”; that is, His first and second comings to earth. His first advent would be the Incarnation—Christmastime.

The Advent season lasts for four Sundays. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or the nearest Sunday to November 30. Advent ends on Christmas Eve and thus is not considered part of the Christmas season. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ’s first coming and an anticipation of His second coming. As Israel longed for their Messiah to come, so Christians long for their Savior to come again.

 

Should Christians observe Advent? This is a matter of personal conviction. Here is the biblical principle: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–6).

 

Churches that observe Advent usually decorate their sanctuaries in the liturgical color of Advent, purple (or in some cases royal blue). Some churches change the color to rose on the third or fourth Sunday of Advent to signify a greater emphasis on the joy of the season.

One of the most common Advent traditions involves the use of evergreen wreaths, branches, and trees. On the first Sunday of Advent, churches and homes are decorated with green to symbolize the eternal life that Jesus brings. An Advent wreath—an evergreen circle with four colored candles surrounding a white one in the middle—is placed in a prominent spot. The candles are then lighted one at a time, on successive Sundays. The first candle is the candle of “hope” or “expectation.” The three remaining candles on the perimeter are given various meanings depending on the church. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the center white candle is lighted; this is the “Christ Candle,” a reminder that Jesus, the Light of the Word, has come.

Advent calendars, used to count down the days till Christmas, are popular in many homes. An Advent calendar contains a number of covered “windows” that are opened, one a day, until Christmas Day. Each open window reveals a picture related to the season or a poem or a Bible verse or a treat of some kind. Many parents find that an Advent calendar is a good way to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas—although there are secular versions of the calendars, too.

Should Christians observe Advent? This is a matter of personal conviction. Here is the biblical principle: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–6).

There is certainly nothing wrong with commemorating Jesus’ birth and anticipating His return—such commemoration and anticipation should be an everyday part of our lives. Are Christians required to observe Advent? No. Does observing Advent make one a better Christian or more acceptable to God? No. Can celebrating Advent be a good reminder of what the season is truly all about? Yes, and therein lies its greatest value.

Messages on Advent

Dr RC Sproul has a great teaching series on Advent titled “The Messiah is Born”.  Click on the title link to listen.

“In this series, R.C. Sproul examines various themes that we must consider when we look at the first advent of Christ. Dr. Sproul discusses Mary’s role in the nativity and the necessity of Christ’s birth for our redemption, reminding us that the glory of God seen in the birth of Jesus will be seen again at His second coming.”

Pastor Alistair Begg has a teaching on Advent titled “The Purpose of Advent”   Click on title to listen.

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

 

Choosing Your Emotions

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for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  -James 1:3

 

Difficult things are going to happen to us in life whether we like it or not. Whether we are saved or not. At some point in this fallen world, we will experience trials and difficulties.  Being a Christian does not and will not shield us from the difficulties of life. If anything, becoming a Christian may sometimes bring more trials and difficulties than ever before.  For one the world would hate us, our worldly friends might come to resent us since we will no longer be interested in the ungodly activities we all used to participate it.

Difficult times usually bring out a flood of emotions such as fear, anger and anxiety. These emotions are considered normal reactions to difficulties. We expect them in ourselves and in others. But should we? The Bible calls us to a higher place. It teaches us that we do not have to respond to difficulties with the normal reactions, we can have a different reaction to difficult situations. It tells us we can choose our emotions. How?  By what we know to be true about God. This is not positive thinking, neither is it a call to “visualize” the problem away. 

 

You see, God does not have any favorite children, He will not treat us any differently than He treated His beloved Son. If the path to victory for the beloved Son of God was through suffering, why would we think ours will be different?

 

The Bible teaches us in James 1:2-3 the when difficult times come upon us, notice it says “when”, not “if”. Being a Christian as I said earlier does not exonerate us from experiencing difficult times.  As a matter of fact, God has ordained and determined in His sovereignty that as believers, we will experience difficulties on our journey from earth to heaven. Luke tells us in  Acts 14:22 that the Apostle Paul went about “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  

Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 16:24-26  “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.For whoever would save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”   The cross is an instrument of torture, an instrument of pain and death. Yet, Jesus says if we are to follow Him, we must forsake ourselves, our desires, our wants, carry our cross, then follow. He goes on to make us a promise – that it is in losing our lives for Him and in being willing, even to die for His sake that we can truly live.

Why would a loving God plan for His children to go through suffering and difficulty to get to heaven?  God has designed suffering as a means to purify us. To remove all the impurities that would hinder us from becoming a pure vessel unto honor in the Lord’s house. Impurities such as pride. Pride is the root of many sins, if not all and a sure sign of immaturity.  Suffering produces steadfastness and humility both of which are the evidence of maturity.

 

 God uses trials to produce steadfastness or patience in His children. Patience is the evidence of our Christlikeness and maturity.

 

This is why James tells the believers he was writing to and us, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, that when difficulties come, we should appraise the situation (consider it) in light of God’s word. In light of verses like Acts 14:22 above and also, Hebrews 12:7 – Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? and many other scriptures in the Bible.

 

Knowledge of the word of God is the key to choosing our emotions.

 

You see, God does not have any favorite children, He will not treat us any differently than He treated His beloved Son. If the path to victory for the beloved Son of God was through suffering, why would we think ours will be different? Hebrews 5:8 tells us concerning Jesus that “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered”. Now, unlike us who are sinful humans and born in sin, Christ did not have to suffer to correct any sinful disobedience in His life, as John MacArthur puts it “He learned obedience for the same reasons he bore temptation: to confirm his humanity and experience its sufferings to the fullest (see notes on Heb. 2:10; cf. Luke 2:52; Phil. 2:8). Christ’s obedience was also necessary so that he could fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15) and thus prove to be the perfect sacrifice to take the place of sinners(1 Pet. 3:18). He was the perfectly righteous One, whose righteousness would be imputed to sinners (cf. Rom. 3:24–26).”

Humility and patience does not only show maturity, but makes us more like Jesus, which is God’s goal for us. God allows difficulties in our lives because we were predestined by God, to be confirmed into the image of His Son. Romans 8:29 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”  Even before the foundation of the world, God has predestined that all who belong to Him will be made into the image of Christ. God uses trials to produce steadfastness or patience in His children. Patience is the evidence of our Christlikeness and maturity.

Someone might say, why must we attribute all suffering in our life to God? Surely the devil attacks the children of God and we ought to “rebuke him”.  Not only the devil, we can also incur the Lord’s discipline in our lives when we sin. Why should we attribute all suffering to God maturing us?  We attribute all suffering to God because He is sovereign over circumstance and situation.  While God is not the author of evil, He has does the circumstances to achieve His purposes. That is why James tells us to appraise every trial that come into our lives in light of what we know about God and His word. Then and only then will we be able to choose to respond with the right emotions.

When difficulties arise in our lives, we do not have to succumb to the “normal” emotions of those around us, we can chose a joyful emotion because of what we know about the character of God. Our choice of emotions does not rest in our ability to “bear it”, but on God and what we know about His word. Knowledge of the word of God is the key to choosing our emotions. That is not always an easy thing to do, that is why James asks us to pray for wisdom.  Pray boldly and ask in faith without doubting and God will give us that wisdom. James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Coming and Going

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To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings. – James 1:1b

 

What did you think the Christian life was when you first got saved?  I don’t know specifically what I thought when I first came to Christ, but somehow, I just knew that things were going to get better in my life. Initially, I though that meant He will not allow anything bad (as I defined bad) come into  my life.  I believed then that God would protect His own from the difficulties of life if we prayed hard enough and exercised faith.  As I began to read my Bible and grow, I realized that God works in our lives not only through the good, but also through the hard times. Especially through the hard times.  In fact, He has decreed difficulties and trials as a means of bringing us to spiritual maturity.

After the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples in Acts 2, the apostles began to preach the gospel with courage and boldness, and as a result, many were converted and came to embrace Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Thousands were added to the Church daily.  After Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 people were saved. Acts 2:41.  When Peter and John healed the lame man at the beautiful gate of the temple, about 5,000 men believed and came to Christ. Acts 4:4.  Within a short time, the church in Jerusalem had become a mega church without perhaps almost 20,000 people if you add women and children.

 

One might be tempted to ask, since God is all powerful, surely, He can take the gospel to the ends of the earth without disrupting the lives of His people? Yes, He has the power to do so, but has chosen not to. Why? Believe it or not, the scattering of these believers and all the trouble that would follow, was not just for the spreading of the gospel alone, but also for their sanctification and growth.

 

I have often wondered what they must thought their lives would be as new believers. Did they believe that finally all their problems would be solved?  Most of them were contemporaries of Jesus and would have seen him personally performing miracles. Now that they have come to understand and believe that He was indeed the Messiah, would miracles begin to happen in their lives and homes?  Would all their personal and political problems be finally solved? If anyone of them thought so, that was quickly shattered after the execution of Stephen in Acts 7.

Shortly after that incident, these new believers were on the run for their lives. They had to leave behind family, jobs, friends and perhaps all they had known and have been familiar with all their lives, while heading into the unknown. Is this what they thought their lives would be?  Where was God in all of this? No doubt some were leaving unsaved family members behind who must have thought they were foolish to follow Christ.

The reality is that the scattering of these believers, the leaving behind of family, friends, job, and everything they had known and had been familiar with was all in the plan of God for their lives.  God had planned that His people would take the gospel to the whole world.  Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8.

One might be tempted to ask, since God is all powerful, surely, He can take the gospel to the ends of the earth without disrupting the lives of His people? Yes, He has the power to do so, but has chosen not to. Why? Believe it or not, the scattering of these believers and all the trouble that would follow, was not just for the spreading of the gospel alone, but also for the sanctification and growth of the believers as well.

God had ordained that as these new believers were coming to faith in Christ, they would also be going out with the gospel to the whole world. This task was ordained to be difficult by God Himself for their own good and for His glory. Even the task given to Christ to be the savior of the world was not without pain and difficulty. Why has God ordained suffering as part of our sanctification process?  The pastor of the Jerusalem church, James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, sent a letter to these scattered believers as they experience difficult trials in their lives. That letter is the New Testament epistle of James.  What did he say to them?  I will attempt to unfold some of the lessons in that letter in the weeks ahead. 

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

The Reformation – Part 2

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Once more I repeat, if men would only study with attention the Bible and the History of the Reformation, I should have little fear of their “minds being led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

 

Last week, I began a two part series on what the reformation is and why we should care.  I mentioned that the reformation came about because men like Luther, Zwingli and others wanted to address some of the false teaching within the Roman catholic church.  It should be noted that Luther did not want to break away from the Catholic Church, he just wanted to reform it.  He later found out that reforming the church was impossible, so he and others eventually broke away. 

After the break up, the reformers saw the need to distinguish their teachings and beliefs from that of the Catholic Church. To put it in simples terms, they came up with what is known as the “Five Solas”:

1. Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone”
2. Sola fide: “faith alone”
3. Sola gratia: “grace alone”
4. Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
5. Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”

Sola is a latin word that means “alone”. Latin was the language of their day. More on the “Five Solas” here

Last week, I shared the first of a two part series by Dr. RC Sproul on the reformation. This week, we will listen to part of the message.

False doctrine has plagued the Church since it’s inception. The NT books of Galatians and Colossians were written to address false doctrines within the Church. It is no different in our day. How do we arm ourselves against false doctrine?  JC Ryle explains:

 

Making of the Protestant Reformation(Part 2)

by RC Sproul

For more teachings and lectures on the Reformation by Dr. R.C. Sproul, Click here

JC Ryle in his book “Warnings to the Churches” suggested two ways to arm ourselves against false teaching: First, study the Bible and second, learn the history of the reformation. He put it this way:

(1) Let us read our Bibles from beginning to end with daily diligence, and constant prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and so strive to become thoroughly familiar with their contents. Ignorance of the Bible is the root of all error, and a superficial acquaintance with it accounts for many of the sad perversions and defections of the present day. 

In a hurrying age of travel and communication, I am firmly persuaded that many Christians do not give time enough to private reading of the Scriptures. I believe seriously that English people knew their Bibles better two hundred years ago than they do now. The consequence is, that they are “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching,” and fall an easy prey to the first clever teacher of error who tries to influence their minds.

 I entreat my readers to remember this counsel, and take heed to their ways. It is as true now as ever, that the person who is versed in, or adheres strictly to, the text of the Bible, is the only good theologian, and that a familiarity with great Scriptures, is, as our Lord proved in the temptation, one of the best safeguards against error.  Arm yourself then with the sword of the Spirit, and let your hand become used to it.

I am well aware that there is no royal road to Bible-knowledge.  Without diligence and pains no one ever becomes “mighty in the Scriptures.” “Justification,” said Charles Simeon, with his characteristic quaintness, “is by faith, but knowledge of the Bible comes by works,” But of one thing I am certain: there is no labor which will be so richly repaid as laborious regular daily study of God’s Word. 

(2) The second and last counsel which I venture to offer is this. “Let us make ourselves thoroughly acquainted with the history of the Reformation.” My reason for offering this counsel is my firm conviction that this highly important part of history has of late years been undeservedly neglected. 

Thousands of Christians nowadays have a most inadequate notion of the amount of our debt to our martyred Reformers. They have no distinct conception of the state of darkness and superstition in which our fathers lived, and of the light and liberty which the Reformation brought in. And the consequence is that they see no great harm in the Roman Catholic movement of the present day, and have very indistinct ideas of the real nature and work of Catholicism. It is high time that a better state of things should begin. 

Of one thing I am thoroughly convinced: a vast amount of the prevailing apathy about the Romanizing movement of the day may be traced up to gross ignorance, both of the true nature of Catholicism and of the Protestant Reformation. Ignorance, after all, is one of the best friends of false doctrine. More light is one of the great wants of the day, even in our century. Thousands are led astray by Catholicism or infidelity from sheer want of reading and information.

Once more I repeat, if men would only study with attention the Bible and the History of the Reformation, I should have little fear of their “minds being led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

Emphasis mine.

In 2017, the 500th anniversary of the reformation was celebrated by Christians all over the world. You can watch the celebration conference by ligonier ministries here :

Reformation 500 Celebration

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Reformation- Part 1

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Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require of me a simple, clear and direct answer, I will give one, and it is this:

I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council, because it is as clear as noonday that they have fallen into error and even into glaring inconsistency with themselves.


If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to God’s word, I neither can nor will retract anything;  for it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience.

 

Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise; God help me! Amen.

 

The quote above is part of the famous speech given by Martin Luther in defense of his protest against the catholic church at the Imperial Diet of Worms (both are german words pronounced ‘deet of vorms’) on April 18, 1521.

Reformation day is celebrated on October 31, on the Church calendar.  If you are a Christian, you have probably heard of haloween, but have you heard of the protestant reformation? Did you know there was a connection between haloween and the reformation? Surprised?  

According to Wikipedia, “Reformation Day is a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated on 31 October, alongside All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) during the triduum of Allhallowtide, in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation.”

If you are like me, you probably never heard of the protestant reformation growing up, neither was it ever talked about nor celebrated in your church. This is really sad indeed  There are probably millions of Christians around the world who have never heard and know nothing about the reformation.  

Just at the same time the culture will be celebrating halloween, the  church will be celebrating the  reformation,. Both are celebrated on October the 31st. What exactly is the reformation and why should we care?

From gotquestions.org : “The Protestant Reformation was a widespread theological revolt in Europe against the abuses and totalitarian control of the Roman Catholic Church. Reformers such as Martin Luther in Germany, Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, and John Calvin in France protested various unbiblical practices of the Catholic Church and promoted a return to sound biblical doctrine. The precipitating event of the Protestant Reformation is generally considered to be Luther’s posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517.”

The men of the reformation were willing to die for their faith and indeed  many were killed, burned at the stake.  Outside of the God’s word itself –  the Bible, the reformation is one of most important event in Christian history.  

What was it that drove them to risk their lives in such a manner?  In order to learn how the reformation came about and what it is, I have decided to share the two part series by the late Dr. RC Sproul.  As always, he does a masterful job of explaining what the reformation is and it’s importance. I will share part 1 this week and Part 2 next week.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Making of the Protestant Reformation (Part 1) by RC Sproul

JC Ryle

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You may weep under preaching one day, and be lifted to the third heaven by joyous excitement another day, and yet be dead to God.

 

Your religion, if it is authentic, and given by the Holy Spirit,

must be in your heart.

It must hold the reins.

It must sway the affections.

It must lead the will.

It must direct the tastes.

It must influence the choices and decisions.

It must fill the deepest, lowest, inmost seat in your soul.

Is this your religion?

– JC Ryle –  Practical Religion

 

In a day like this, when hearing and thinking without doing, is so common, no one can rightly wonder that I press upon men the absolute need of self-examination.  Once more, then, I ask my readers to consider the question of my text, “How is it with our souls?”

 

Let me ask, in the third place, whether we are trying to satisfy our consciences with a mere formal religion?

 

There are myriads at this moment who are making shipwreck on this rock. Like the Pharisees of old, they make much ado about the outward part of Christianity, while the inward and spiritual part is totally neglected.

 

– J.C. Ryle – Practical Religion

 

If you follow me on twitter, you will know that one of my all time favorite Christian author and theologian is JC Ryle. I call him my bishop. Every morning on my twitter account, I tweet the proverbs for the day, some other scripture verses and JC Ryle.  Bishop Ryle was a master theologian and a prolific writer.  Some of His famous works are:

  • Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots
  • Practical Religion
  • Commentary on the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John)
  • The Cross
  • Knots Untied
  • Repentance
  • A Call to Prayer
  • Thoughts for Young Men
  • The Duties of Parents

All his works are truly a gift to the body of Christ. His work on holiness, practical religion and commentaries on the gospel are by far my favorites.  Honestly, I love all of his works, they are all my favorites.  A modern preacher that compares to JC Ryle today would be John MacArthur. Both are similar in their love for scripture, in-depth  knowledge of the word and boldness in proclaiming the gospel.

Over the next several weeks, I intend to share some quotes from his works on this blog. First let me introduce you to the man I call my bishop.

John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) was born in Macclesfield, England the son of a wealthy banker. He was headed for a career in politics before being called into the ministry. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford where he was an athlete who rowed and played Cricket. He was offered a teaching position, which he declined.

He was spiritually awakened in 1838 while hearing Ephesians 2 read in church. He was ordained by Bishop Sumner at Winchester in 1842. After holding a curacy at Exbury in Hampshire, he became rector of St Thomas’s, Winchester (1843), rector of Helmingham, Suffolk (1844), vicar of Stradbroke (1861), honorary canon of Norwich (1872), and dean of Salisbury (1880).

In 1880, at age 64, he became the first bishop of Liverpool, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. In his diocese, he formed a clergy pension fund for his diocese and built over forty churches. Controversially, he emphasized raising clergy salaries ahead of building a cathedral for his new diocese. He retired in 1900 at age 83 and died later the same year. He is buried in the All Saints’ Church, Childwall, Liverpool.

Ryle was a strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of ritualism. J.C. Ryle was a prolific writer, vigorous preacher, faithful pastor, husband of three wives, [widowed three times: Matilda died in 1847, Jessie died in 1860, Henrietta died in 1889] and the father to five children [1 with Matilta and 4 with Jessie]. He was thoroughly evangelical in his doctrine and uncompromising in his Biblical principles.

 

But it does cost something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible.

 

There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run.

 

Conversion is not putting a man in an arm-chair and taking him easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. Hence arises the unspeakable importance of “counting the cost.”…………….

 

Surely a Christian should be willing to give up anything which stands between him and heaven.

 

A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing! A cheap Christianity, without a cross, will prove in the end a useless Christianity, without a crown.

 

– JC Ryle – Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots

Yet I Sin

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Unmask to me sin’s deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.

 

The Valley of Vision is a gift and a treasure to the body of Christ. I will be forever grateful to Christins in days gone by who took the time to write down their heart felt prayers.

As Christians, we sometimes underestimate the power of sin over our lives. While we are victorious in Christ, we still have to contend with the world, the flesh and the devil daily.  Sin is deceitful and comes in very subtle ways. Until we understand the power and deceitfulness of sin, we will not be able to truly live victoriously.

This prayer “Yet I Sin” can be found on page 124. It is a prayer of confession, repentance, and a cry to be made more like Jesus.  

 

ETERNAL FATHER,

Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess,
but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amend.

I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.

My faculties have been a weapon of revolt
against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly,
Grant me to know that the way of transgressors
is hard,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good.

I have seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law,
the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
yet I daily violate and contemn its precepts.
Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences,
allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.

All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them
cry pardon.

Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief
that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance
I may see more clearly the brightness
and glories of the saving cross.

Amen.