Ash Wednesday 21

Ash Wednesday Intro

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) that lead up to Easter. This first day of Lent and the following liturgical season are marked with a somberness as Christians reflect on their mortality, their sinfulness, and the dying of self that comes with new life in Christ.

While there is no mention of Ash Wednesday in the Bible, the Old Testament records acts of repentance or mourning accompanied by symbolic ash and sackcloth. Recall stories of David, Esther, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel.

Ashes are a biblical reminder of our mortality: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). The spreading of ashes on foreheads is a visible reminder of this. The ashes also represent sorrow and repentance for sin.

Ash Wednesday reminds us that two things are involved in genuine repentance: “the dying of the old self and the coming to life of the new” (Heidelberg Catechism, question and answer #88). The way to Easter is the way of the cross. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3). New life with Christ involves a daily surrendering of the old life. Ash Wednesday, the first step of this Lenten journey, invites us to acknowledge our mortality and our sinfulness by the imposition of ashes.

Hebrews 12:1–13 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

In his commentary on Hebrews, George Guthrie explains the background behind ancient parenting practices. He writes, “In the cultural context behind Hebrews (both in Judaism and the broader Greco-Roman culture) the father was seen as having the ultimate responsibility for the training of a son (the language used here). Although a tutor might be responsible for the care and training of a boy after age six or seven, the ongoing role of the father was much more significant (cf. 1 Cor. 4:15). In a positive sense, the father’s responsibility was to train his son in such a way that he was well prepared for adulthood. This training often involved correction and punishment, but the goal was to help the child develop character and wisdom” (George H. Guthrie, Hebrews, The NIV Application Commentary [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998], 407).

How can we tell the difference between discipline from our heavenly father and attacks from the enemy?

1. Restoration not destruction (Romans 3:21-26) (John 10:10)

Romans 3:21–26 NLT

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

John 10:10 NLT

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

-The Spirit of God confronts, has compassion, and recognizes the humanness of our sin

-He will walk us out of it into victory through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice

-The Enemy confronts, and Isolates you by saying “you are the only one who deals with this”

-wants to keep you ashamed and Isolated

2. Free Gift not Deserved Reward (Romans 5:8, 6:19-23)

-Jesus shows us there was nothing we did to deserve his love so there is no way we can earn the free gift of his love and salvation. It can only be recieved by our faith.

-The Enemy says you don’t deserve his love, but you can work hard to try and earn it!

3. Confession not Condemnation (Romans 8:1, 10:9-13) (Ecc. 4:12)

-If we confess he is Lord and believe he is our savior we are forgiven, and we can bring our sins to him and those who walk with us in the faith. We all struggle in this life we need others to walk with us.

-The Enemy says You need to keep this a secret because it will change how people see you. They will never look at you the same again.