If you’re tempted, we’re here to help.

Steve Brown:
If you’re tempted, we’re here to help on this edition of Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
This is Key Life. We’re here to let you know that because of what Jesus has done, God will never be angry at you again. Steve invited our friend Justin Holcomb to do the teaching this week. Justin is an Episcopal priest, an author, and professor at Reformed Theological Seminary.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. I have a gift for you, Dr. Justin Holcomb, who is the presiding Bishop of the Diocese of the Episcopal Church.

Justin Holcomb:
Take out presiding, that gets me in trouble. I’m no archbishop.

Steve Brown:
I, by the way, knew him when his hair was down to his belt. Things have really changed.

Justin Holcomb:
And I had, I had five earrings.

Steve Brown:
I know. I remember. And I remember the day when you cut your hair. And you did it for Jesus’ sake. And that blew me away.

Justin Holcomb:
And scholarship money.

Steve Brown:
Scholarship, but at any rate, Dr. Holcomb, I’ve invited in on Mondays during this season of Lent. And each Monday of each of the weeks of Lent, we’re going to take some time to talk about Lenten themes. I’ve been convicted by the fact that we haven’t taken much notice of the church year on Key Life. That has changed. And this Lent you’re going to learn things that will change your life, and we’re going to go there every Monday during Lent. Justin, you talked about prayers of Lent and how important they are to you. First, tell us what Lent is. And then pray one of those prayers and let’s talk maybe about repentance.

Justin Holcomb:
I love it. Well, so Lent is part of the church year, which you just mentioned. And the church year is just a tool. There’s no church year in the Bible there are rhythms in the Bible and how religion and spirituality works out. And we have a seven day and then a Sabbath and all that kind of stuff. And so, this is a tool. Some people are, you know, like it. The cool thing about the church here is that there’s a few billion people around the world who are doing that same thing as Christians at the same time.

Steve Brown:
That’s kind of nice.

Justin Holcomb:
So, you know, and again, so no shame if you or your church doesn’t do it, but it’s just wonderful when I travel and then I go somewhere and it’s Lent, week three and it’s the same themes, the same Scriptures. There’s a lectionary of readings, so you can go almost anywhere in the world and have some of the same themes on that Sunday. So, worshiping together with your brothers and sisters who are alive at that time, the church in the world at that time, together is just pretty cool. I still remember going to Sudan and I just started learning about liturgy and the whole service was in Dinka, which is the main language in South Sudan where I was going. And we got to the Nicene Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, two things that were in almost every service on a Sunday, if you’re in a liturgical church, especially in the Anglican communion. And I could join in. I knew what the readings were, and so I could follow along with my own Bible. And then I’m saying Nicene Creed and Lord’s Prayer while they’re doing it in Dinka and some in Arabic, and then I’m doing it in English. Anyway, so Lent is a 40 day season in the church year, right after Ash Wednesday and right leading up to Holy Week, to Easter. And it’s the 40 days, which is mirroring Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. And so, the main theme is looking at Jesus’ journey to the cross. And his focus is on repentance. And so, that’s the big theme is repenting of one’s sins and patterns. And then fasting. Now, I don’t do a lot of fasting. That’s just, I’m just bad at that. And sometimes Lent gets turned into like a self optimization thing like I’m going to drink less coffee. It basically becomes like a Christian version of New Year’s resolutions, I’m going to be on my phone less. That’s not really the heartbeat of Lent. Lent is like let’s get to the murder that’s in your heart. Let’s get there as opposed to kind of like more. Again, I don’t want to minimize people feeling convicted about certain things. But this is not self optimization season, this is repentance. And so, the key themes are repentance, humility, and refocusing on the person and work of Jesus and what he did in his death and resurrection. And so, that’s why some of the prayers. And so, every Monday, what we’ll do is just look at the prayer that’s called The Collect, it collects people. It’s the prayer that many around the world are praying on the day before we’re meeting. And so, Lent one, let me just read the prayer. This is about trusting God in times of temptation.

Almighty God whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know, the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save.

That’s why I like the prayers of Lent.

Steve Brown:
That’s powerful. Yeah, it really is.

Justin Holcomb:
I mean, look at one of the, just the words here.

Come quickly.

We’re talking to Almighty God.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the spirit to be tempted.

So, we’re talking to Almighty God. And what are we saying next to Almighty God?

Come quickly.

We’re, it’s like we’re beckoning.

Come quickly to help us. And be mighty to save.

I mean, there’s this vibe of Hebrews that says.

Hey, come before the throne of mercy, where you always will receive mercy and grace.

Like you don’t go before the King’s throne telling the King what to do or beckoning.

Come quickly.

Who do we think we are? So, I just love, there’s a few things in that. So, I’ll stop. Cause I want you to be able to ask questions and talk too.

Steve Brown:
Well, start with, you talked about repentance being the theme. That’s from a Greek word, means refocus, attitudinal, a whole new thing. That’d be a good way. You were telling me that my giving up okra and liver for Lent isn’t good enough?

Justin Holcomb:
I don’t know if it’s good enough or not. That’s up to you to decide with you and God, but it’s a little bit more than just, again, it’s not the self optimizing, it’s not, I’m going to drink less caffeine. It’s okay, why are you drinking the caffeine? Is it because you’re a workaholic and you want people to approve of you and give you your identity? So, you work longer than you should. So, you’re addicted to caffeine. Like it’s kind of getting below at another level of what’s going on. And the reason I like the idea of, cause the theme of Lent is repentance. And we learned from Romans 2:4.

God’s kindness leads to repentance.

And so, that reframes how we should think about repentance. Repentance isn’t something of, I change my behavior and then I’m getting in the flow with what God’s doing. It is, you’ve already accepted me into your family, I belong in your family and at your table, I’m not acting like it, but it sure would be a lot more freedom if I was, would you change my heart? And cause I’m being like, this person says, I’m assaulted by many temptations. Like, that’s strong language,

Steve Brown:
It really is.

Justin Holcomb:
assault. And that’s really what Satan and what our sinful nature is doing is we are being assaulted by temptations. And so, when you looked at Jesus who, this is Hebrews 4:15.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.

That’s shocking.

But one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

I don’t even know how that works out, how the God man is tempted, but that’s a whole different thing.

Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

And so, Jesus was tempted in every way that we are. So, in one sense, he gets it. So, when we’re sitting there, we’re not alone, not only have other people felt the same temptation we felt, but our Savior has felt those temptations. Again, not every single little nuance of a temptation, but he had a human nature that was tempted, but without sin. And so, because he was sinless, this is what the Hebrews, because he was sinless and righteous, when we turn to Him in faith, in repentance, our sins are forgiven, and we are declared righteous, because our sins go to Him, and His righteousness goes to us. And so, in that temptation, the strength of the gospel in that temptation is, I’m getting a free gift of His righteousness. I need it. I don’t deserve it. Maybe that will buoy me, just strengthen me, in temptation. Not because I don’t want to not have to need it, but when you know that the righteousness came at the cost of the precious blood of the Lamb, that helps refocus where your attention is. I can go headlong into darkness. It’s not really that freeing. And it just dishonors the God man who loves me. And thinking through his temptation in the midst of your temptation is a really powerful thing to start doing in Lent.

Steve Brown:
It really is. And your emotion moves me too when I think about that. I, you know, repentance is a reference to me during Lent and throughout the year. You know, I don’t always do it right, and there’s always the darkness, and as the prayer says, many temptations, and they’re pretty scary. But let me tell you, Justin, and I know this is something you can say too, you never met a man who wants to please God more than I do. I really do. And the fact that when I fail, the blood of Christ is sufficient and finished, and the righteousness of Christ is mine, that doesn’t make me want to rebel. It doesn’t want me, make me want to be worse. It makes me want to be more like Him. And that’s what Lent is about, isn’t it?

Justin Holcomb:
Absolutely. Absolutely.

Steve Brown:
Can we do this next Monday, too?

Justin Holcomb:
I would love to.

Steve Brown:
I hope you were listening, cause this is an important time of the year, time of repentance. You think about that. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
Thank you Steve Brown and Justin Holcomb. What a fascinating look at Lent. I know I learned a lot. And again, we’ll be doing this every Monday throughout the Lenten season as we journey toward Easter. Well, I think you’ll agree with me. There’s something special about a Bible teacher who can make challenging concepts more accessible without watering down or dumbing down the message. Steve has that gift and so does Chad Bird. We spoke with him recently on Steve Brown Etc. about his book called Your God is Too Glorious. It’s all about the idea that even if your life is pretty ordinary, God still wants to use you. We put that show on a CD that we would love to send to you for free. Sound good? Then Call us right now at 1-800-KEY-LIFE that’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] to ask for that CD. Or to mail your request, go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses for the U.S. and Canada. Again, just ask for your absolutely free copy of the CD featuring Chad Bird. And finally, if you’re blessed by Key Life, would you help share that blessing with others through your giving? Giving is easy, just charge a gift on your credit card, or include a gift in your envelope. Or you can now give safely and securely through text. Just text Key Life to 28950. And as always, if you can’t give right now, or maybe you’re not called to that, all good. Zero pressure and guilt from this side. But if you think about it, please do pray for us, would you? Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And Key Life is a listener supported production of Key Life Network.