The Cup

“Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” — John 18:11

“For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.”

— Psalm 75:8

Christian, that cup of wrath is our well-deserved portion for all eternity, but God who is so rich in mercy sent his own Son to drink that cup and endure that punishment in our stead.

Unlike what dispensationalists teach, Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection from the dead was always the first and only plan of salvation for the only true Israel — the Israel of God.[1]

The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Jesus asks rhetorically. If He did not, there would be no hope for Peter, or John, or any of us. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished[2].

Human reason unaided by the Holy Spirit does not understand how the death of Christ guarantees eternal life. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise[3]… and Jesus says that His hour, the crucifixion, is in fact his triumph and glory, not his defeat.

“The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified… Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.[4]”

So there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus[5], but that cup is still waiting for everyone who rejects the gospel. The wicked spoken of in Psalm 75 are all those who are not ordained to eternal life.[6]

Selah.

Scriptures: [1] Gal 6:16 [2] 1st Cor 15:18 [3] 1st Cor 1:27 [4] John 12: 23,27 [5] Rom 8:1 [6] Acts 13:48

That It Might Be Fulfilled Which Was Spoken Part 2

“…He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.”

— Genesis 49:11

“And he was clothed with a vesture dripped in blood…he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” — Revelation 19:13,15

As I have shown previously on the first half of Genesis 49:11, God has declared the end from the beginning. Liberal Christianity and anti-nomian “fundamentalists” alike tend to believe that there is a radical separation between the Old and New Testaments, and that God’s essential character and nature are somehow different between the two. But here we see that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.[1]

Just like Zechariah expounded the first half of Genesis 49:11 for us, Isaiah also gave us a deeper understanding of the second half. All the prophets refer back to the books of Moses and illuminate the darker sayings for us over the course of redemptive history. Therefore we should be skeptical of anyone claiming to have a "new revelation" from God, because even the tried and true prophets of the Lord did not always bring "new" revelation so much as they repeat, expand and expound the eternal and unchanging Word of God for us because unlike God we are dull of hearing and often forgetful of the everlasting covenant.

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blook shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.[2]

It is interesting that there are relatively few depictions of this Jesus in Catholic art compared to the number of times Jesus is depicted as a helpless infant, or a dying man on the cross. But the scripture says that all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,[3] not just those that tickle our fancy. Behold: The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.[4]

The Westminster Shorter Catechism has contained within it one of the most profound statements in the English language:

Q. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

Of course, the second half of that statement can only ever properly apply to the elect of God. All of mankind exists to glorify God, but only the elect will enjoy that fact forever. The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous[5].

Today is the day to repent and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. You must kiss the Son, lest he be angry.[6] We are not promised another day. We can bend the knee now and be safe from the wrath to come, or we can be tread down in the winepress of His fury on the Last Day.

Behold your God!

Scriptures:

[1] Hebrews 13:8

[2] Isaiah 63:3

[3] 2nd Corinthians 1:20

[4] Proverbs 16:4

[5] Ps 1:4-5

[6] Ps 2:12

A Wedding and An Execution

“Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”

— 2nd Peter 1:14

“…but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and crry thou whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

—John 21:18-19

The invitation to follow Christ is an invitation to die — die to sin, die to self, die to the world that is enmity with God.[1]

Tradition has it that the Apostle Peter was crucified on a Roman cross like Jesus was. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs says of Peter’s death:

“Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom me, worshipping, said, “Lord, whither dost Thou go?” To whom He answered and said, “I am come again to be crucified.” By this, Peter, Perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.”

I am not saying we should look at tradition or history on par with scripture, but we do see that the knowledge of Christ brings liberty from the fear of death. Thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near thee[2].

The scriptures, particularly the New Testament are careful to distinguish between the “sleep” of the physical body and the spiritual death of the soul that is the true death that we should fear[3]. Jesus explains to us that “…He is not a God of the dead, but of the living.[4]”

Established in the righteousness of Christ, the Rock unmovable, we can meet eternity with confidence.

“He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life [present tense!], and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

If you are saved you live, you will live, and you are living and reigning with him forever.

Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb[5].

Amen.

Scripture References [1] James 4:4 [2] Isaiah 54:14 [3] Matthew 10:28 [4] Luke 20:38

[5] Revelation 19:9