The Pursuit

I was able to attend The Pursuit this past weekend, a conference presented by Soveregin Grace Church in Gilbert, AZ. Among the many blessings I was encouraged by the preaching of rich doctrine in each session.

First was a tapestry for the whole of Scripture as found in Genesis 1-3. The 4 elements that are presented in those chapters are the main elements traced throughout the rest of the Bible, and they are Creator, Creation, Corruption and the Christ.

The next sermon dealt with 3 imputations from Romans 5. The given definition of imputation was so clarifying for me: to think of something as belonging to something else in such a way that it actually belongs to the other object. So, the first imputation noted is the imputation of Adam's original sin to the account of every person. It is that sin that gives me an infinite debt before the Father. The next 2 imputations are infinitely more wonderful to me. Second, is the imputation of the sin of those who would believe onto Christ (during the crucifiction). God looked at His Son as the most wicked person immaginable because He who knew no sin became sin for us. The last imputation is the one in which I am declared righteous before God, giving me eternal fellowship with Him. God imputes the perfect righteousness of Christ to me so that I stand before Him complete.

Later that day the message to us was the nature of genuine repentance. Repentance, as illustrated from selections from 1 Samuel, can be false and external or genuine lamentation leading to a return to the Lord. I was impressed with how often I attempt to fix my own problems with plans and more disciple instead of truly returning the Lord, allowing His grace to do the changing.

Then on Saturday morning I was able to hear CJ Mahaney speak from Phil 2 about how God works in me both to desire to and then to do Godliness. He performs a work of grace in my heart to casue me to even desire to live in a Godly way, and then the grace is sufficient to help me actually do that contrary to my sin nature.

I praise the Lord for the doctrine which will, Lord-willing, continue to lead to conviction and eventually habits of righteousness in my life.