Deuteronomy 2:25
This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to fully understand the reality of God’s amazing grace and provision for our lives. In preparation for their forty-year stint in the wilderness, God went out ahead of the children of Israel and filled their enemies with fear. There were some areas (like the land given to Esau and given to Lot) that the Lord commanded His people to pass through. But the wilderness, where they would spend forty years, He prepared for conquest.
God knew that Israel would refuse to enter into the Promised Land. He knew that only Caleb and Joshua would bring back a good report and that the other ten spies would persuade the entire nation to recoil in fear of their enemies. Because He knew this would happen, He graciously provided the wilderness for His rebellious children.
He did what? Yes, God in His infinite wisdom caused a spirit of fear to fall upon all of the enemies of Israel that inhabited the wilderness so that His people could conquer and destroy them. If they (Israel) would refuse to have the Promised Land, God thought at least they could have the wilderness, free from enemies. He allowed His people to defeat the kings who ruled over the area so that they could posses the land.
It is my belief, however, that God didn’t do this on the behalf of His rebellious children, but on behalf of Caleb and Joshua, and all of the literal children that did not take part in deceiving the masses. Because no one could enter into the Promised Land until the generation of crybabies passed away, God had to provide safety and security for His still-chosen people. He is just, according to His word, and cannot break a promise.
Friends, today we are the generation of Caleb and Joshua. We are the literal children waiting for the time in the wilderness to pass so that we can inherit the Promised Land. Jesus came to prepare the way for us, to strike fear and anguish in the hearts of our enemies. He knew that we too would have to wander in the wilderness waiting for a generation of nay-sayers and scoffers to pass away.
The Blessed Hope in Christ that we have is the same Hope that Joshua and Caleb had in the wilderness. It is not the hope (wishful thinking) that someday the Promised Land will eventually be ours, but rather the hope that comes with knowing it is already ours. We have, as Christians, a joyful and confident expectation that we are already heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. We also have the knowledge that Christ Himself drove out our enemy, Satan, and provided this land for us to posses until our entrance into Heaven.
I don’t know about you, but this land is my land! Jesus has prepared the way for me to have safety and security until the time when all the crybabies pass away. So, Christian, rise up and enjoy the wilderness that God has graciously prepared for you!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Homophone?
Proverbs 20:30
Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
Every scripture, every point made in the Bible, can be (and should be) linked directly to Jesus. Scholars may read the words of Solomon in Proverbs and think, “Wow, what an incredibly smart man.” However, unless they are actively seeking Jesus, they’ll never receive the true blessing of God’s wisdom.
It is actually quite simple and really doesn’t take a lot of thought or time to glean the worldly wisdom and bullet-point sermons to be found in the Proverbs. At their core, these Proverbs aren’t much more than the fortunes found in the middle of a cookie at your local Chinese buffet. They are quick one-liners, simple and easy to remember, and occasionally amusing to the unenlightened mind. (Please allow me to clarify; I am not meaning to imply that Biblical scholars are simple-minded or unenlightened people! But there is more to the Bible than surface wisdom.)
We (we meaning church folk) seem to get caught up today in the how-to fix-it mentality of Christianity. We go to the Bible and use it as a manual for life’s repairs. We have become a professional body of Scripture-quoting robots. “Oh, you’re having financial problems? Hmmmmm, well, Proverbs says...” Or, perhaps there is a friend going through a marital struggle. “Well, Ephesians 5 says...and 1 Corinthians 7 says...” Instead of using Scripture to expound to our brothers and sisters the things concerning Christ, we use the Bible to expound to each other the things concerning ourselves. We point out to each other how screwed up we are! We are Scripture chuckers, so to speak, not teachers.
The key to true wisdom and true understanding of God’s word isn’t found in reading the Bible as a manual, but rather reading the Bible because it is Emmanuel. Get the homophone? A manual or Emmanuel?
So back to our Proverb, what does it mean? I guess first you have to ask yourself, “Why am I reading the Bible? Am I reading to gain wisdom and knowledge about how to fix my life, or am I reading in order to have a greater understanding of who Jesus really is?” The simple fix-it message in Proverbs 20:30 is this: you can physically beat the crap out of someone who has done wrong in order to correct them and cleanse them from their evil ways. Or you can spiritually flog a person with blow after blow from the Bible making each Scripture another strap on your flagellum. Incidentally, both of these methods of using Scripture (or brute force) actually work. Why? Because the lesson certainly is true on this level; it’s just not very grace-filled!
Of course, there is a second method. You could look to find Jesus in this very same verse and realize something more freeing and sanctifying than any good beating could ever be! Christ chose to become our whipping boy. God made it a point to hurt Christ with His wrath so that evil could be cleansed away. The stripes that were laid across His back were dealt out so that our hearts could be purified and made holy through Him.
From a Biblical standpoint both of these methods of teaching and correction will work. The first method is of the Law. Focus on you and your problem and do, do, do, do, do in order to fix it. The second method is based in grace, the grace that came at the cross. Focus on Christ and the fact that it’s done, done, done, done, done! The Man, Jesus, said, “It is finished!” 2 Corinthians 3 tells us that the Law had glory and was glorious, but can’t hold a candle to the Grace found through Christ! (2 Corinthians 3:7-11)
Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
Every scripture, every point made in the Bible, can be (and should be) linked directly to Jesus. Scholars may read the words of Solomon in Proverbs and think, “Wow, what an incredibly smart man.” However, unless they are actively seeking Jesus, they’ll never receive the true blessing of God’s wisdom.
It is actually quite simple and really doesn’t take a lot of thought or time to glean the worldly wisdom and bullet-point sermons to be found in the Proverbs. At their core, these Proverbs aren’t much more than the fortunes found in the middle of a cookie at your local Chinese buffet. They are quick one-liners, simple and easy to remember, and occasionally amusing to the unenlightened mind. (Please allow me to clarify; I am not meaning to imply that Biblical scholars are simple-minded or unenlightened people! But there is more to the Bible than surface wisdom.)
We (we meaning church folk) seem to get caught up today in the how-to fix-it mentality of Christianity. We go to the Bible and use it as a manual for life’s repairs. We have become a professional body of Scripture-quoting robots. “Oh, you’re having financial problems? Hmmmmm, well, Proverbs says...” Or, perhaps there is a friend going through a marital struggle. “Well, Ephesians 5 says...and 1 Corinthians 7 says...” Instead of using Scripture to expound to our brothers and sisters the things concerning Christ, we use the Bible to expound to each other the things concerning ourselves. We point out to each other how screwed up we are! We are Scripture chuckers, so to speak, not teachers.
The key to true wisdom and true understanding of God’s word isn’t found in reading the Bible as a manual, but rather reading the Bible because it is Emmanuel. Get the homophone? A manual or Emmanuel?
So back to our Proverb, what does it mean? I guess first you have to ask yourself, “Why am I reading the Bible? Am I reading to gain wisdom and knowledge about how to fix my life, or am I reading in order to have a greater understanding of who Jesus really is?” The simple fix-it message in Proverbs 20:30 is this: you can physically beat the crap out of someone who has done wrong in order to correct them and cleanse them from their evil ways. Or you can spiritually flog a person with blow after blow from the Bible making each Scripture another strap on your flagellum. Incidentally, both of these methods of using Scripture (or brute force) actually work. Why? Because the lesson certainly is true on this level; it’s just not very grace-filled!
Of course, there is a second method. You could look to find Jesus in this very same verse and realize something more freeing and sanctifying than any good beating could ever be! Christ chose to become our whipping boy. God made it a point to hurt Christ with His wrath so that evil could be cleansed away. The stripes that were laid across His back were dealt out so that our hearts could be purified and made holy through Him.
From a Biblical standpoint both of these methods of teaching and correction will work. The first method is of the Law. Focus on you and your problem and do, do, do, do, do in order to fix it. The second method is based in grace, the grace that came at the cross. Focus on Christ and the fact that it’s done, done, done, done, done! The Man, Jesus, said, “It is finished!” 2 Corinthians 3 tells us that the Law had glory and was glorious, but can’t hold a candle to the Grace found through Christ! (2 Corinthians 3:7-11)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Why are you crying?
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
I’ve heard a lot of explanations for why Jesus wept over the years. The most common two: He was sad because His friend, Lazarus, had died, and He was moved by the sadness of those around Him. While both of these are seemingly good explanations, I find them flawed for one purpose: Jesus’ intention all along was to raise Lazarus from the dead!
You see, in order for Jesus to be sad at the passing of His friend, there would have to be an assumption that Lazarus was GONE and not coming back. For Jesus to be crying at the realization of Lazarus’ demise would mean that He had no hope for a resurrection, and we know this isn’t true. Jesus, being God, knew exactly what His plan of action was. He knew He would be bringing Lazarus back to life and that He wasn’t going to “stay dead”, so certainly He wasn’t crying because He lost a friend!
When we look at the second most common explanation, that is, He was moved by the sadness of His friends, we find the same basic flaw. Certainly Jesus knew why they were sad, but again His plan was to raise Lazarus from the dead. I think that if Jesus was actually reacting to His friends’ emotions, He would have been laughing. The kind of laughter that comes when you know something awesome is about to happen that no one else is aware of! The kind of giddy uncontrollable jubilation that you feel when you plan a surprise that seems to not be a surprise but really is a surprise. You all know what I’m talking about. If Jesus was honestly reacting to His friends in this case He would have been smirking at the least, knowing full well that in a couple of moments a dead man was going to rise up out of the grave.
So why did Jesus cry, and not just cry, but actually weep? I believe Jesus wept because He was looking at His creation and thinking back to when He first made the earth. He thought about those six days when He made the vastness of space with millions of galaxies and stars. He thought about forming the world with the voice from His mouth. He thought about the careful consideration He placed in the balance of oxygen and carbon in the atmosphere. He thought about creating water and sky, plants and animals. He thought about taking the dust of the earth and making a human body. He thought about breathing His life into that very body and having a friend. He thought about the fact that all of this He made was because of love. He thought about the perfect fellowship that He had with mankind, how He could commune with them because they were holy to Him.
Then He thought about man’s fall. He thought about how we took control of His creation. He thought about how we ruined His perfect garden. He thought about how much He loved us, and how much we loved ourselves. He thought about the fact that death was never part of His plan, but that we made it part of our plan. He thought about the cross, about His death, about His sacrifice, about His suffering, about how it would be all for us. He thought about the fact that His own people would reject Him. He thought about our day and age, when most of society would deny His very existence. He thought about the innumerable number of souls that would die. He stood there before the tomb of Lazarus and thought, for a moment, about His infinite timeline, and He wept!
I think Jesus wept because He was sad. He wept not because He saw Lazarus in the tomb, but because He saw the end of the age and knew that many would die. He wanted us to choose to follow Him, to walk with Him eternally, without death in the picture, and we didn’t. That, I believe, is the truth as to why Jesus wept!
Jesus wept.
I’ve heard a lot of explanations for why Jesus wept over the years. The most common two: He was sad because His friend, Lazarus, had died, and He was moved by the sadness of those around Him. While both of these are seemingly good explanations, I find them flawed for one purpose: Jesus’ intention all along was to raise Lazarus from the dead!
You see, in order for Jesus to be sad at the passing of His friend, there would have to be an assumption that Lazarus was GONE and not coming back. For Jesus to be crying at the realization of Lazarus’ demise would mean that He had no hope for a resurrection, and we know this isn’t true. Jesus, being God, knew exactly what His plan of action was. He knew He would be bringing Lazarus back to life and that He wasn’t going to “stay dead”, so certainly He wasn’t crying because He lost a friend!
When we look at the second most common explanation, that is, He was moved by the sadness of His friends, we find the same basic flaw. Certainly Jesus knew why they were sad, but again His plan was to raise Lazarus from the dead. I think that if Jesus was actually reacting to His friends’ emotions, He would have been laughing. The kind of laughter that comes when you know something awesome is about to happen that no one else is aware of! The kind of giddy uncontrollable jubilation that you feel when you plan a surprise that seems to not be a surprise but really is a surprise. You all know what I’m talking about. If Jesus was honestly reacting to His friends in this case He would have been smirking at the least, knowing full well that in a couple of moments a dead man was going to rise up out of the grave.
So why did Jesus cry, and not just cry, but actually weep? I believe Jesus wept because He was looking at His creation and thinking back to when He first made the earth. He thought about those six days when He made the vastness of space with millions of galaxies and stars. He thought about forming the world with the voice from His mouth. He thought about the careful consideration He placed in the balance of oxygen and carbon in the atmosphere. He thought about creating water and sky, plants and animals. He thought about taking the dust of the earth and making a human body. He thought about breathing His life into that very body and having a friend. He thought about the fact that all of this He made was because of love. He thought about the perfect fellowship that He had with mankind, how He could commune with them because they were holy to Him.
Then He thought about man’s fall. He thought about how we took control of His creation. He thought about how we ruined His perfect garden. He thought about how much He loved us, and how much we loved ourselves. He thought about the fact that death was never part of His plan, but that we made it part of our plan. He thought about the cross, about His death, about His sacrifice, about His suffering, about how it would be all for us. He thought about the fact that His own people would reject Him. He thought about our day and age, when most of society would deny His very existence. He thought about the innumerable number of souls that would die. He stood there before the tomb of Lazarus and thought, for a moment, about His infinite timeline, and He wept!
I think Jesus wept because He was sad. He wept not because He saw Lazarus in the tomb, but because He saw the end of the age and knew that many would die. He wanted us to choose to follow Him, to walk with Him eternally, without death in the picture, and we didn’t. That, I believe, is the truth as to why Jesus wept!
Monday, February 14, 2011
No Swimming!
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
I had a very interesting conversation with my son this morning on the way home from the gym which sparked some thinking on my part. The question raised was, “Daddy, do I have to be baptized? Because I don’t see why I have to be baptized.” I’m not sure why this question came out, because baptism isn’t something that we’ve discussed yet, but the conversation that followed was very enlightening.
I began explaining first off that he didn’t have to be baptized, but that baptism was a choice. I explained that it’s an outward expression of an inward faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I told him about how, before Christ came, people were baptized in water to wash away their sins, but that now we have the blood of Christ that washes away our sins. I told him it’s a way of professing, in public, faith in Jesus; a way to show your church and family that you believe in God.
“But I don’t have to show them anything! I know what I believe. I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins, that He came back to life, and that He’s coming back again someday. Isn’t that all I need to believe? Did Jesus say I need to be baptized?” Of course by now I’m searching the files of my brain trying to find an answer to his questions. How do I explain baptism?
Jesus was baptized; we follow His example! (Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.) Hmmm...sounds good, but on further thought, I can’t use that explanation. Jesus was living under law and tradition prior to His crucifixion. The only reason He got baptized was to fulfill all righteousness (even that which is implied by the washing away of sins through baptism). Why is it implied righteousness? Because the Bible clearly states blood is what cleanses sin and provides forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.) He wasn’t setting an example; He was ending the tradition! Everyone who was being baptized confessed their sins before going under the water, but the Bible doesn’t mention Jesus confessing sins. He just said it was something that He needed to do.
Back to the earlier question: did Jesus say I need to be baptized? The answer is a resounding no! He needed to get baptized, but you don’t. But now I’m questioning why the church still follows this tradition if Jesus already fulfilled and ended it. Then an epiphany, or so I thought. The Great Commission! Jesus did say to go out and baptize. You can see the circular discussion that we were having. Yes, you need to get baptized, no you don’t need to get baptized; yes, no, yes, no. All within the span of a 2 mile car ride.
Jesus did say to go out and baptize, but He gave three specific baptismal tools: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He didn’t say water! Immersion baptism was a symbol of the cleansing of sins, but it did nothing, and continues to do nothing for a soul’s eternal salvation. It’s a “Christian” tradition that imposes a sense of guilt and worry on the people who haven’t done it, or can’t do it, or are simply afraid of the water. Jesus specifically told His disciples to baptize with the Trinity. He was in essence telling them, “Forget all of this water stuff, you need to fully immerse the nations with Me.”
So that’s what I told my son. You don’t have to be baptized in water, you’ve been baptized in the Spirit.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
I had a very interesting conversation with my son this morning on the way home from the gym which sparked some thinking on my part. The question raised was, “Daddy, do I have to be baptized? Because I don’t see why I have to be baptized.” I’m not sure why this question came out, because baptism isn’t something that we’ve discussed yet, but the conversation that followed was very enlightening.
I began explaining first off that he didn’t have to be baptized, but that baptism was a choice. I explained that it’s an outward expression of an inward faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I told him about how, before Christ came, people were baptized in water to wash away their sins, but that now we have the blood of Christ that washes away our sins. I told him it’s a way of professing, in public, faith in Jesus; a way to show your church and family that you believe in God.
“But I don’t have to show them anything! I know what I believe. I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins, that He came back to life, and that He’s coming back again someday. Isn’t that all I need to believe? Did Jesus say I need to be baptized?” Of course by now I’m searching the files of my brain trying to find an answer to his questions. How do I explain baptism?
Jesus was baptized; we follow His example! (Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.) Hmmm...sounds good, but on further thought, I can’t use that explanation. Jesus was living under law and tradition prior to His crucifixion. The only reason He got baptized was to fulfill all righteousness (even that which is implied by the washing away of sins through baptism). Why is it implied righteousness? Because the Bible clearly states blood is what cleanses sin and provides forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.) He wasn’t setting an example; He was ending the tradition! Everyone who was being baptized confessed their sins before going under the water, but the Bible doesn’t mention Jesus confessing sins. He just said it was something that He needed to do.
Back to the earlier question: did Jesus say I need to be baptized? The answer is a resounding no! He needed to get baptized, but you don’t. But now I’m questioning why the church still follows this tradition if Jesus already fulfilled and ended it. Then an epiphany, or so I thought. The Great Commission! Jesus did say to go out and baptize. You can see the circular discussion that we were having. Yes, you need to get baptized, no you don’t need to get baptized; yes, no, yes, no. All within the span of a 2 mile car ride.
Jesus did say to go out and baptize, but He gave three specific baptismal tools: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He didn’t say water! Immersion baptism was a symbol of the cleansing of sins, but it did nothing, and continues to do nothing for a soul’s eternal salvation. It’s a “Christian” tradition that imposes a sense of guilt and worry on the people who haven’t done it, or can’t do it, or are simply afraid of the water. Jesus specifically told His disciples to baptize with the Trinity. He was in essence telling them, “Forget all of this water stuff, you need to fully immerse the nations with Me.”
So that’s what I told my son. You don’t have to be baptized in water, you’ve been baptized in the Spirit.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Christ IS the answer!
Numbers 27:16-17
16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
As Moses’ life drew near an end, there was one important thought at the forefront of his mind: that God would appoint a good leader for Israel. Moses wanted to make sure that the person God selected would be like a shepherd to the people. He wanted a man who would not only be out preparing the way for them, but would also be living among them, and going behind them to ensure that no one was left behind.
Moses was asking for a leader for the nation of Israel, but he wasn’t specific with God. He asked for a man to be set over the congregation. He wasn’t specific in his words as to which congregation he was referring; he just said “congregation”. God listened to Moses and answered his prayer, with exactly what he asked for. I find it somewhat amusing how legalistic our God of grace can actually be. With God, specificity is crucial! Take, for example, the resurrection of Lazarus. (John 11:43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”) Had Jesus not called Lazarus, specifically, all of the dead would have risen!
Thanks to Moses’ lack of specification, when he made his plea with God for the next leader of the congregation, he inadvertently asked for a Messiah! Now of course we know God isn’t an idiot and He knew exactly what Moses was asking for, but He used the faithful prayer of Moses to bless the rest of the world. He answered Moses’ implied prayer with Joshua, a man whose name means Jehovah Saves. But God chose to answer Moses’ actual prayer with His own Son, Jesus.
Moses was specific in some of his prayer. He asked for a man who could go ahead of the people, prepare a way, come back to get the people, and lead them in. He asked for a man who would not only be a leader to the people, but who would live with them, like a shepherd lives with the flock. Moses wanted someone who would care for the people, who would ensure that each person made it into the promised land.
The real answer to Moses’ prayer in Numbers 27, his prayer for a true leader, is Jesus Christ. Christ Himself said that He is the good shepherd (John 10:11). Christ Himself said that He would go prepare a place and return to get us (John 14:2-3). Christ is the head of the church, which is also called a congregation (Ephesians 5:23). Christ is the answer!
16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
As Moses’ life drew near an end, there was one important thought at the forefront of his mind: that God would appoint a good leader for Israel. Moses wanted to make sure that the person God selected would be like a shepherd to the people. He wanted a man who would not only be out preparing the way for them, but would also be living among them, and going behind them to ensure that no one was left behind.
Moses was asking for a leader for the nation of Israel, but he wasn’t specific with God. He asked for a man to be set over the congregation. He wasn’t specific in his words as to which congregation he was referring; he just said “congregation”. God listened to Moses and answered his prayer, with exactly what he asked for. I find it somewhat amusing how legalistic our God of grace can actually be. With God, specificity is crucial! Take, for example, the resurrection of Lazarus. (John 11:43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”) Had Jesus not called Lazarus, specifically, all of the dead would have risen!
Thanks to Moses’ lack of specification, when he made his plea with God for the next leader of the congregation, he inadvertently asked for a Messiah! Now of course we know God isn’t an idiot and He knew exactly what Moses was asking for, but He used the faithful prayer of Moses to bless the rest of the world. He answered Moses’ implied prayer with Joshua, a man whose name means Jehovah Saves. But God chose to answer Moses’ actual prayer with His own Son, Jesus.
Moses was specific in some of his prayer. He asked for a man who could go ahead of the people, prepare a way, come back to get the people, and lead them in. He asked for a man who would not only be a leader to the people, but who would live with them, like a shepherd lives with the flock. Moses wanted someone who would care for the people, who would ensure that each person made it into the promised land.
The real answer to Moses’ prayer in Numbers 27, his prayer for a true leader, is Jesus Christ. Christ Himself said that He is the good shepherd (John 10:11). Christ Himself said that He would go prepare a place and return to get us (John 14:2-3). Christ is the head of the church, which is also called a congregation (Ephesians 5:23). Christ is the answer!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Righteous dude!
Proverbs 10:25
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs are fun. They are like an intermission in the center of the Bible, filled with wisdom and common sense. It’s the fortune cookie of God’s word. I don’t know about you fine folks, but I love some Chinese food and I always eat the fortune cookie. So if you’re a fan of the Super China Mega-buffet, and you’re hungry today, you’re going to love what God’s word has in store for you!
As I was reading along this morning I noticed something interesting. The word righteous kept jumping out off the page at me. Two questions came into my mind: what and who is righteous? If I could figure this out, then these sayings might have a whole new meaning to me.
First off, let’s define righteous. Righteous is an adjective. It’s a word used to describe someone or something. Here in Proverbs, it’s describing someone. Righteous is defined as a person who is morally right, without sin, and fully justified, one who observes and maintains the entire law. Holy is a good synonym for righteous.
Knowing the definition certainly makes it a lot easier for us to decide who is righteous. Jesus is righteous. Better than knowing that Jesus is righteous, I know that I am righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:18, Romans 5:17). Since Scripture verifies this for me, I can be confident in my statement that I am righteous.
These Proverbs were written by Solomon, the wisest and richest man ever to live, for our learning and instruction. They are filled with valuable life lessons (or principles, if you will) about finances, marriage, child rearing, and countless other day-to-day struggles that we all face. I find it more encouraging, however, to read them as a personal letter from Christ to me. They take on a whole new meaning; they give a whole new understanding of who I am because of Christ.
The Bible tells me that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, I am free to insert myself in the text every time the word “righteous” appears. (Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.) The yoke of slavery is the constant labor of trying to fulfill the law through works. The yoke of slavery is our vain attempts to gain God’s blessing and righteousness through our own good deeds.
Since all the work was done and finished at the Cross (John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.), I can rest in the understanding that these Proverbs aren’t things that I have to strive to achieve, but that they are things which have already been achieved for me, through Christ.
It’s a lot easier to read these as the righteous, rather than as one still trying to become righteous. When the whirlwind passes by, what if I’m not righteous? Will I fall? Will I be swept away? How do I become righteous? These are the questions that must be asked without Christ. But with Him, the fact is that when the whirlwind comes, I won’t be swept away because I have an everlasting foundation. His name is Jesus! As He is, so are we in this world!
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs are fun. They are like an intermission in the center of the Bible, filled with wisdom and common sense. It’s the fortune cookie of God’s word. I don’t know about you fine folks, but I love some Chinese food and I always eat the fortune cookie. So if you’re a fan of the Super China Mega-buffet, and you’re hungry today, you’re going to love what God’s word has in store for you!
As I was reading along this morning I noticed something interesting. The word righteous kept jumping out off the page at me. Two questions came into my mind: what and who is righteous? If I could figure this out, then these sayings might have a whole new meaning to me.
First off, let’s define righteous. Righteous is an adjective. It’s a word used to describe someone or something. Here in Proverbs, it’s describing someone. Righteous is defined as a person who is morally right, without sin, and fully justified, one who observes and maintains the entire law. Holy is a good synonym for righteous.
Knowing the definition certainly makes it a lot easier for us to decide who is righteous. Jesus is righteous. Better than knowing that Jesus is righteous, I know that I am righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:18, Romans 5:17). Since Scripture verifies this for me, I can be confident in my statement that I am righteous.
These Proverbs were written by Solomon, the wisest and richest man ever to live, for our learning and instruction. They are filled with valuable life lessons (or principles, if you will) about finances, marriage, child rearing, and countless other day-to-day struggles that we all face. I find it more encouraging, however, to read them as a personal letter from Christ to me. They take on a whole new meaning; they give a whole new understanding of who I am because of Christ.
The Bible tells me that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, I am free to insert myself in the text every time the word “righteous” appears. (Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.) The yoke of slavery is the constant labor of trying to fulfill the law through works. The yoke of slavery is our vain attempts to gain God’s blessing and righteousness through our own good deeds.
Since all the work was done and finished at the Cross (John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.), I can rest in the understanding that these Proverbs aren’t things that I have to strive to achieve, but that they are things which have already been achieved for me, through Christ.
It’s a lot easier to read these as the righteous, rather than as one still trying to become righteous. When the whirlwind passes by, what if I’m not righteous? Will I fall? Will I be swept away? How do I become righteous? These are the questions that must be asked without Christ. But with Him, the fact is that when the whirlwind comes, I won’t be swept away because I have an everlasting foundation. His name is Jesus! As He is, so are we in this world!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
#$&%^
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Okay, so anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the most eloquent person in the world, though sometimes I use some pretty colorful language. Occasionally, I use this language when I’m mad, but mostly I use it when I’m carrying on a casual conversation. Perhaps it’s just part of the dialect of the region in which I grew up, or maybe I’m just not smart enough to remember the big fancy adjectives. Who knows? The question I’ve always asked myself, however; “What is wrong with these words?”
I’m sure you can imagine how many times I’ve had this scripture thrown in my face throughout my life. Some translations say, “Let no evil talk...”, while others say, “Don’t say anything that would hurt another person....”. Which ever translation you’re using, the inferred message is “don’t use those nasty curse words”. I’m not too sure that’s God’s message though, and I’m about to explain why.
This passage in Ephesians 4 is not about words, it’s about the Holy Spirit. More specifically, it’s about not grieving the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? In some translations the word grieve is actually quench, extinguish, or hinder. When we look at it in context, we see that we are called to use our words carefully so as not to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. We know from John 16 that the Holy Spirit has one job here: to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. Of sin for not believing in Jesus; of righteousness that Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father; and of judgement that we may know that the ruler of this world (Satan) has already been judged. So this scripture is telling us to use only words and teachings that will aid the Holy Spirit in His mission, not hinder Him.
So what is a “corrupt word”, contextually? It’s a word, or message, that doesn’t impart the Gospel of Grace to the hearer. It’s the teaching of laws, rules, and regulations in order to gain God’s acceptance, rather than the teaching of the unmerited grace offered to each of us by Christ at the cross. Teaching the law and doling out requirements doesn’t do anything to edify an individual, and it certainly doesn’t edify the body as a whole. The constant bombardment of both societal and religious rules does nothing but cause people to feel unworthy, unloved, and unaccepted.
These corrupt words that Paul writes about to the church at Ephesus aren’t what we would call “curse” words today, but rather, they were the rules and legalistic doctrines taught by the Pharisees and religious leaders in order to maintain control of the church. Rules and regulations force us to constantly focus on ourselves, on what we’re doing wrong, and we know that there is nothing good in us. (Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.) There is nothing edifying or uplifting about being constantly self-deprecating and certainly there is nothing uplifting about someone else pointing out your flaws.
So, we are to teach the Gospel of Grace brought to us by Jesus. This is uplifting. Instead of looking at ourselves, we focus on the perfect Son of God. That’s uplifting. When you come to the foot of the cross, you don’t stare up at a mirror, you look up at the Saviour. That is where you find your redemption, by having the proper focus on Christ’s grace, not your imperfections: look up, not inward!
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Okay, so anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the most eloquent person in the world, though sometimes I use some pretty colorful language. Occasionally, I use this language when I’m mad, but mostly I use it when I’m carrying on a casual conversation. Perhaps it’s just part of the dialect of the region in which I grew up, or maybe I’m just not smart enough to remember the big fancy adjectives. Who knows? The question I’ve always asked myself, however; “What is wrong with these words?”
I’m sure you can imagine how many times I’ve had this scripture thrown in my face throughout my life. Some translations say, “Let no evil talk...”, while others say, “Don’t say anything that would hurt another person....”. Which ever translation you’re using, the inferred message is “don’t use those nasty curse words”. I’m not too sure that’s God’s message though, and I’m about to explain why.
This passage in Ephesians 4 is not about words, it’s about the Holy Spirit. More specifically, it’s about not grieving the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? In some translations the word grieve is actually quench, extinguish, or hinder. When we look at it in context, we see that we are called to use our words carefully so as not to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. We know from John 16 that the Holy Spirit has one job here: to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. Of sin for not believing in Jesus; of righteousness that Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father; and of judgement that we may know that the ruler of this world (Satan) has already been judged. So this scripture is telling us to use only words and teachings that will aid the Holy Spirit in His mission, not hinder Him.
So what is a “corrupt word”, contextually? It’s a word, or message, that doesn’t impart the Gospel of Grace to the hearer. It’s the teaching of laws, rules, and regulations in order to gain God’s acceptance, rather than the teaching of the unmerited grace offered to each of us by Christ at the cross. Teaching the law and doling out requirements doesn’t do anything to edify an individual, and it certainly doesn’t edify the body as a whole. The constant bombardment of both societal and religious rules does nothing but cause people to feel unworthy, unloved, and unaccepted.
These corrupt words that Paul writes about to the church at Ephesus aren’t what we would call “curse” words today, but rather, they were the rules and legalistic doctrines taught by the Pharisees and religious leaders in order to maintain control of the church. Rules and regulations force us to constantly focus on ourselves, on what we’re doing wrong, and we know that there is nothing good in us. (Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.) There is nothing edifying or uplifting about being constantly self-deprecating and certainly there is nothing uplifting about someone else pointing out your flaws.
So, we are to teach the Gospel of Grace brought to us by Jesus. This is uplifting. Instead of looking at ourselves, we focus on the perfect Son of God. That’s uplifting. When you come to the foot of the cross, you don’t stare up at a mirror, you look up at the Saviour. That is where you find your redemption, by having the proper focus on Christ’s grace, not your imperfections: look up, not inward!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
His Righteousness = your righteousness
Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
If you want to really challenge people, if you really want to raise the stakes and get your congregation on board with serving, then start teaching them about the works they have to do to get into heaven. Go right ahead and tell them that Jesus said that without their good works and exceeding righteousness, they’ll never get into Heaven. That’s a good way to really expound the Gospel of Grace to the masses (note sarcasm!). I know a message like that would make me feel really good. I would probably start thinking, “Wow, I’ll never be as good as (insert famous Christian leader’s name here)! Guess I’m not going to heaven. What’s the point?”
In order to understand this passage, we first have to understand who is speaking. It’s Jesus here folks, and guess what, He’s talking about Himself. Just prior to uttering these seemingly harsh words and giving this impossible challenge, Jesus talks about His mission to FULFILL the Law! The verse just before this one says, “whoever practices and keeps these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Who is called great in Heaven? Jesus! (Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”) I know the verse doesn’t say “great” but it’s implied. If everything and everyone is worshipping and giving praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever to the Lamb on the throne, then we can assume that Jesus is considered great in heaven.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders of the day. They were the ones who walked around passing judgement on others and boasting about all the good they themselves had done. They were the ones who “kept” the law; that is, they enforced it on others, but didn’t abide by it themselves. They were viewed by the community as righteous, so Jesus had to make a point that being great in heaven meant being even more righteous than the Pharisees. The Jewish people must have been completely confused, wondering how they could be more righteous than their religious leaders.
At that time, they were living under the restrictions of the Law and by the rules and regulations passed down from God to Moses. They had no understanding of the redemptive blood of Christ because He had not yet died. They had no clue what Grace was because the “Age of Grace” had not yet begun. It wouldn’t begin until Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. So their understanding of this would have been literal; good works and obeying all of the law, without exception, grants you access to heaven. But our understanding is through Grace. We have to read this scripture for what it truly is saying.
Jesus is telling us that He is well aware of the fact that no one (except Him) can fulfill and live out all of the laws. He is saying that even the Pharisees, with all of their perceived righteousness attained through works and deeds, aren’t good enough. He’s telling us that the only way to get to heaven is by having His righteousness. That is the righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees.
The Bible tells us that we have become the righteousness of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.) That being the case, our righteousness has already surpassed that of the teachers of the law. Their attempts to live out the letter of the law, to lord it over our heads as a necessity for salvation are scripturally and doctrinally wrong. Faith and trust in Jesus Christ is what makes us righteous. (1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.)
So let your works speak to the fact that you have been given a new life through Christ Jesus, but don’t let them be the definition of your salvation. Realize that you have been made righteous through His blood and that your righteousness surpasses that of the teachers of Law. Let the Grace of Christ abound in your life.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
If you want to really challenge people, if you really want to raise the stakes and get your congregation on board with serving, then start teaching them about the works they have to do to get into heaven. Go right ahead and tell them that Jesus said that without their good works and exceeding righteousness, they’ll never get into Heaven. That’s a good way to really expound the Gospel of Grace to the masses (note sarcasm!). I know a message like that would make me feel really good. I would probably start thinking, “Wow, I’ll never be as good as (insert famous Christian leader’s name here)! Guess I’m not going to heaven. What’s the point?”
In order to understand this passage, we first have to understand who is speaking. It’s Jesus here folks, and guess what, He’s talking about Himself. Just prior to uttering these seemingly harsh words and giving this impossible challenge, Jesus talks about His mission to FULFILL the Law! The verse just before this one says, “whoever practices and keeps these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Who is called great in Heaven? Jesus! (Revelation 5:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”) I know the verse doesn’t say “great” but it’s implied. If everything and everyone is worshipping and giving praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever to the Lamb on the throne, then we can assume that Jesus is considered great in heaven.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders of the day. They were the ones who walked around passing judgement on others and boasting about all the good they themselves had done. They were the ones who “kept” the law; that is, they enforced it on others, but didn’t abide by it themselves. They were viewed by the community as righteous, so Jesus had to make a point that being great in heaven meant being even more righteous than the Pharisees. The Jewish people must have been completely confused, wondering how they could be more righteous than their religious leaders.
At that time, they were living under the restrictions of the Law and by the rules and regulations passed down from God to Moses. They had no understanding of the redemptive blood of Christ because He had not yet died. They had no clue what Grace was because the “Age of Grace” had not yet begun. It wouldn’t begin until Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. So their understanding of this would have been literal; good works and obeying all of the law, without exception, grants you access to heaven. But our understanding is through Grace. We have to read this scripture for what it truly is saying.
Jesus is telling us that He is well aware of the fact that no one (except Him) can fulfill and live out all of the laws. He is saying that even the Pharisees, with all of their perceived righteousness attained through works and deeds, aren’t good enough. He’s telling us that the only way to get to heaven is by having His righteousness. That is the righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees.
The Bible tells us that we have become the righteousness of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.) That being the case, our righteousness has already surpassed that of the teachers of the law. Their attempts to live out the letter of the law, to lord it over our heads as a necessity for salvation are scripturally and doctrinally wrong. Faith and trust in Jesus Christ is what makes us righteous. (1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.)
So let your works speak to the fact that you have been given a new life through Christ Jesus, but don’t let them be the definition of your salvation. Realize that you have been made righteous through His blood and that your righteousness surpasses that of the teachers of Law. Let the Grace of Christ abound in your life.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Dont fall.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
I think somewhere in the Bible Christ actually mentions allowing Him to shoulder our burdens. Oh yeah, it’s in Matthew 11:28-30. Christ calls all of us who labor to come to Him and get rest. He’ll take our yoke (burden), and we get to take His yoke. This is a really good deal for us! He does our work, we get His easy life of Kingship. It’s not really a fair trade, but hey, He’s God, if that’s His desire, then I’m all in!
Before going any further, we have to be agreed on the definition of labor. Labor is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, labor is defined as a productive act or job that has to be done. Labor is also the name of the very painful contractions a woman feels during childbirth. As a verb, labor means to exert one’s power, to strive and toil toward a goal. It’s the pitching and rolling of a ship at sea. During childbirth, labor is the actual process of giving birth.
Now that we are secure in our understanding of the word labor, we can move on through the scripture and learn how we can apply it to our lives, through Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t talking about labor in reference to the issues or physical labor that we face, whether that be in the job force, at home, while parenting, or when mowing the lawn. Jesus was referring to our spiritual labor, that is, our attempts to gain God’s approval through keeping the law.
When we live our lives subject to the law, we become bound by its rigidity. That’s part of the reason God wrote the law on rocks. Rocks do not bend; they don’t give; they are unforgiving! Christ came to fulfill the law, to meet all of its requirements, so that we could be set free from our labor in it. (Matthew 5:17) He used the word “labor” because there isn’t a more perfect word to describe our constant pain and strife under the law.
When we choose to live according to the law, allowing our own accomplishments and works to speak for our “goodness”, we live a life of toil and strife. Every day we wake thinking, “Today I have to be a good person (we set a goal). I have to work hard to be that good person, toiling with my nature to avoid the wrath of God.” Throughout the day we make mistakes. Maybe we overreact to our children’s behavior, or maybe we flip that guy off who didn’t use his turn signal. Like a ship at sea, we are tossed from side to side by the waves of life, struggling to stay afloat.
The point is, there is no rest! But with Christ, He promises rest. What Paul is telling us is with Christ we are no longer tossed around by the waves; we stand fast! With Christ, we are not saddled with the burden of the law, but completely covered by His Grace! It’s all too easy for us, as Christians, to get caught back up in the labor of good-doing, and re-subject ourselves to the law. If we live like that, we are fallen from Grace. (Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.)
The Grace offered by Christ at the cross is on a higher level (spiritually) than the Law given to Moses at the mountain. The Law will never save us; it only condemns us. (2 Corinthians 3:9) It is good, it is God’s, but we can’t fulfill it, so to try is futile. But Grace, Grace is what saves us! (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is what brought Christ to earth in the first place. Grace is what makes the rest of the world say, “Huh?”
Please don’t misunderstand me or misconstrue what I’m saying; it is good to try to live a “good” lifestyle. However, even the best lifestyle can’t hold up to the perfect Law of God. It is better to accept a Grace lifestyle, and to live under the blessings of the cross. It is best to let the incredible works of Christ speak on your behalf, both to the Father, and to the world around you!
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
I think somewhere in the Bible Christ actually mentions allowing Him to shoulder our burdens. Oh yeah, it’s in Matthew 11:28-30. Christ calls all of us who labor to come to Him and get rest. He’ll take our yoke (burden), and we get to take His yoke. This is a really good deal for us! He does our work, we get His easy life of Kingship. It’s not really a fair trade, but hey, He’s God, if that’s His desire, then I’m all in!
Before going any further, we have to be agreed on the definition of labor. Labor is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, labor is defined as a productive act or job that has to be done. Labor is also the name of the very painful contractions a woman feels during childbirth. As a verb, labor means to exert one’s power, to strive and toil toward a goal. It’s the pitching and rolling of a ship at sea. During childbirth, labor is the actual process of giving birth.
Now that we are secure in our understanding of the word labor, we can move on through the scripture and learn how we can apply it to our lives, through Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t talking about labor in reference to the issues or physical labor that we face, whether that be in the job force, at home, while parenting, or when mowing the lawn. Jesus was referring to our spiritual labor, that is, our attempts to gain God’s approval through keeping the law.
When we live our lives subject to the law, we become bound by its rigidity. That’s part of the reason God wrote the law on rocks. Rocks do not bend; they don’t give; they are unforgiving! Christ came to fulfill the law, to meet all of its requirements, so that we could be set free from our labor in it. (Matthew 5:17) He used the word “labor” because there isn’t a more perfect word to describe our constant pain and strife under the law.
When we choose to live according to the law, allowing our own accomplishments and works to speak for our “goodness”, we live a life of toil and strife. Every day we wake thinking, “Today I have to be a good person (we set a goal). I have to work hard to be that good person, toiling with my nature to avoid the wrath of God.” Throughout the day we make mistakes. Maybe we overreact to our children’s behavior, or maybe we flip that guy off who didn’t use his turn signal. Like a ship at sea, we are tossed from side to side by the waves of life, struggling to stay afloat.
The point is, there is no rest! But with Christ, He promises rest. What Paul is telling us is with Christ we are no longer tossed around by the waves; we stand fast! With Christ, we are not saddled with the burden of the law, but completely covered by His Grace! It’s all too easy for us, as Christians, to get caught back up in the labor of good-doing, and re-subject ourselves to the law. If we live like that, we are fallen from Grace. (Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.)
The Grace offered by Christ at the cross is on a higher level (spiritually) than the Law given to Moses at the mountain. The Law will never save us; it only condemns us. (2 Corinthians 3:9) It is good, it is God’s, but we can’t fulfill it, so to try is futile. But Grace, Grace is what saves us! (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is what brought Christ to earth in the first place. Grace is what makes the rest of the world say, “Huh?”
Please don’t misunderstand me or misconstrue what I’m saying; it is good to try to live a “good” lifestyle. However, even the best lifestyle can’t hold up to the perfect Law of God. It is better to accept a Grace lifestyle, and to live under the blessings of the cross. It is best to let the incredible works of Christ speak on your behalf, both to the Father, and to the world around you!
Perfect!
1 John 4:17
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Sometimes I look in the mirror and I don’t like what I see. I’m a little thick around the middle, there’s a little too much gray in my hair, and my biceps aren’t what I had hoped for in a bicep. Sometimes I don’t see a physical reflection of me in the mirror, but a mental reflection of who I have become in my mind’s eye. More appropriately, I see a perceived reflection of who I have become, not necessarily the true image.
I’m fairly certain that I am not the only person to have and have had these feelings. The world today is constantly bombarding our minds with society’s interpretation of who we should be or be like. There are pictures on magazine covers of chiseled male bodies being fallen upon by voluptuous, perfectly curved, “flawless” women. There are commercials on the television for medication to remove gray hair, stop balding, cure rough dry skin, and increase sexual stamina, all geared toward showing us how imperfect we are. Sometimes we can even see a commercial for an ailment or disease that we had no idea existed; now we worry we may have it! This opens us up to even more trouble and self-deprecation, worry and concern for who we are and what we have become.
All of these opinions of who we are do nothing for our lives or our health. When I look in the mirror and see a thick waist, I realize that I’m not in the shape that I want to be in. This makes me want to work out more at the gym. But, no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I work, when I look in the mirror and analyze myself, I’m never good enough. This has been the problem since the fall in the Garden. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened. Suddenly they realized they were naked and desired to cover up their perceived flaws. They stopped seeing each other as God saw them.
Since then it’s been God’s desire to restore our “vision”, so to speak, and allow us to see each other, see ourselves, as He sees us. The only way to accomplish His mission was to cover our “nakedness” with His Son’s blood. You see, the nakedness that Adam and Eve saw in the garden was both physical and spiritual; that’s why today we need to receive Jesus both physically and spiritually. Adam and Eve ate the fruit and their eyes were opened to the physical and spiritual world all at once. (Genesis 3:7) When we partake of the Bread of Life there is a physical and spiritual restoration of our sight. (Luke 24:30-31)
This restoration allows us to boldly proclaim, “As He is, so are we in this world!” Our full restoration hasn’t been reserved for our eventual admittance into Heaven, but is here, now, in this world. Jesus is sitting, resting, completed, crowned in glory and honor at the right hand of the Father. He is perfect in every way, spotless and blameless, strong and fit. Just as He is in Heaven, so am I in this world today. The lies of Lucifer can’t hold up to scripture as uplifting as this. As He is, so am I in this world, TODAY!
God does not see my flaws, my imperfections, my anger, and my bitterness; He sees me perfectly restored to the image of Jesus Christ, just as He made man in the Garden. When He looks at me, at those of us professing faith in Christ, He sees only what is good, none of what is bad. (Jeremiah 31:34) Live into it, accept, rejoice in it: AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Sometimes I look in the mirror and I don’t like what I see. I’m a little thick around the middle, there’s a little too much gray in my hair, and my biceps aren’t what I had hoped for in a bicep. Sometimes I don’t see a physical reflection of me in the mirror, but a mental reflection of who I have become in my mind’s eye. More appropriately, I see a perceived reflection of who I have become, not necessarily the true image.
I’m fairly certain that I am not the only person to have and have had these feelings. The world today is constantly bombarding our minds with society’s interpretation of who we should be or be like. There are pictures on magazine covers of chiseled male bodies being fallen upon by voluptuous, perfectly curved, “flawless” women. There are commercials on the television for medication to remove gray hair, stop balding, cure rough dry skin, and increase sexual stamina, all geared toward showing us how imperfect we are. Sometimes we can even see a commercial for an ailment or disease that we had no idea existed; now we worry we may have it! This opens us up to even more trouble and self-deprecation, worry and concern for who we are and what we have become.
All of these opinions of who we are do nothing for our lives or our health. When I look in the mirror and see a thick waist, I realize that I’m not in the shape that I want to be in. This makes me want to work out more at the gym. But, no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I work, when I look in the mirror and analyze myself, I’m never good enough. This has been the problem since the fall in the Garden. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened. Suddenly they realized they were naked and desired to cover up their perceived flaws. They stopped seeing each other as God saw them.
Since then it’s been God’s desire to restore our “vision”, so to speak, and allow us to see each other, see ourselves, as He sees us. The only way to accomplish His mission was to cover our “nakedness” with His Son’s blood. You see, the nakedness that Adam and Eve saw in the garden was both physical and spiritual; that’s why today we need to receive Jesus both physically and spiritually. Adam and Eve ate the fruit and their eyes were opened to the physical and spiritual world all at once. (Genesis 3:7) When we partake of the Bread of Life there is a physical and spiritual restoration of our sight. (Luke 24:30-31)
This restoration allows us to boldly proclaim, “As He is, so are we in this world!” Our full restoration hasn’t been reserved for our eventual admittance into Heaven, but is here, now, in this world. Jesus is sitting, resting, completed, crowned in glory and honor at the right hand of the Father. He is perfect in every way, spotless and blameless, strong and fit. Just as He is in Heaven, so am I in this world today. The lies of Lucifer can’t hold up to scripture as uplifting as this. As He is, so am I in this world, TODAY!
God does not see my flaws, my imperfections, my anger, and my bitterness; He sees me perfectly restored to the image of Jesus Christ, just as He made man in the Garden. When He looks at me, at those of us professing faith in Christ, He sees only what is good, none of what is bad. (Jeremiah 31:34) Live into it, accept, rejoice in it: AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!
Friday, February 4, 2011
No Fear
Numbers 22:3
And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.
Moab was a kingdom to the east of the Dead Sea whose king was Balak. This vast plain was an area that God was going to lead Israel through on their way to the promised land. Balak did not want the nation of Israel to come through his land. He feared that they would conquer him and take everything that he had on their way though.
Balak sent for Balaam, a prophet and a man of God, to come and curse the Israelites. His thought was that if Balaam cursed the Israelites, then he would be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. But Balaam wasn’t the type of man to just casually do what he was asked. Instead, he said that he needed to talk to God and find out if a curse on this people was what He wanted. God said no. More than that, God said these people are “blessed”.
Interestingly enough, God didn’t say that they would be blessed, but that they are blessed. He was talking present time, right here, right now, these people, His people, are blessed. Not a lot you can do with that one but go back and say, “Nope, God’s blessed these people. You’re not going to get a curse out of me.” So Balaam went on and not only did he not curse the Israelites, but he blessed them right in front of Balak. I bet that was annoying!
But it wasn’t just Balak that was afraid; the Bible tells us that Moab, the entire nation and the land in which they lived, was afraid. Why was Moab afraid; why were they “sick with dread”? Because they already knew that Israel was the nation of God. They knew when they saw the Israelites setting up camp around the area that God’s people couldn’t be stopped from gaining their inheritance, that God wouldn’t allow them to be turned back and robbed of the blessings He had already promised to them.
How does this relate to us? Moab, for the Israelites, was a land that they had to dwell in and pass through on the way to the promised land. It was ruled by their enemy, Balak, who did not want to lose what he had. Today, Moab is all of the world and society that we as Christians are camped in and around. It is ruled by our enemy, the Devil, the prince of this world, who does not want us to get back all that he has taken from us. (John 14:30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,) But we are children of God. We are His people. We should have peace of mind and strength of heart knowing that all of this world, and the Devil, are exceedingly afraid and sick with dread! Not because of us, but because of our heritage!
We are blessed already, and will continue to be blessed, because that is God’s promise. There is no person or being who can curse us or rob us of our blessings. We are heirs to the Throne, royalty through the Blood of Christ, and because of that, we make the Devil and his minions sick with fear. Rejoice, stand tall, and fear not, for our enemy is terrified!
And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.
Moab was a kingdom to the east of the Dead Sea whose king was Balak. This vast plain was an area that God was going to lead Israel through on their way to the promised land. Balak did not want the nation of Israel to come through his land. He feared that they would conquer him and take everything that he had on their way though.
Balak sent for Balaam, a prophet and a man of God, to come and curse the Israelites. His thought was that if Balaam cursed the Israelites, then he would be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. But Balaam wasn’t the type of man to just casually do what he was asked. Instead, he said that he needed to talk to God and find out if a curse on this people was what He wanted. God said no. More than that, God said these people are “blessed”.
Interestingly enough, God didn’t say that they would be blessed, but that they are blessed. He was talking present time, right here, right now, these people, His people, are blessed. Not a lot you can do with that one but go back and say, “Nope, God’s blessed these people. You’re not going to get a curse out of me.” So Balaam went on and not only did he not curse the Israelites, but he blessed them right in front of Balak. I bet that was annoying!
But it wasn’t just Balak that was afraid; the Bible tells us that Moab, the entire nation and the land in which they lived, was afraid. Why was Moab afraid; why were they “sick with dread”? Because they already knew that Israel was the nation of God. They knew when they saw the Israelites setting up camp around the area that God’s people couldn’t be stopped from gaining their inheritance, that God wouldn’t allow them to be turned back and robbed of the blessings He had already promised to them.
How does this relate to us? Moab, for the Israelites, was a land that they had to dwell in and pass through on the way to the promised land. It was ruled by their enemy, Balak, who did not want to lose what he had. Today, Moab is all of the world and society that we as Christians are camped in and around. It is ruled by our enemy, the Devil, the prince of this world, who does not want us to get back all that he has taken from us. (John 14:30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,) But we are children of God. We are His people. We should have peace of mind and strength of heart knowing that all of this world, and the Devil, are exceedingly afraid and sick with dread! Not because of us, but because of our heritage!
We are blessed already, and will continue to be blessed, because that is God’s promise. There is no person or being who can curse us or rob us of our blessings. We are heirs to the Throne, royalty through the Blood of Christ, and because of that, we make the Devil and his minions sick with fear. Rejoice, stand tall, and fear not, for our enemy is terrified!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
In between
Numbers 16:48
And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
I can’t begin to imagine how annoyed Moses must have been with the Israelites. First it was, “Get us out of Egypt.” Then it was, “This place is horrible. We should have stayed in Egypt.” Then they complained about the food. Then they decided that Moses had appointed himself as leader and that God wasn’t really leading them, so they had a rebellion.
It wasn’t so much the entire body of people, but a certain few led by one man, Korah, who were causing the trouble. Korah was a leader among the people of Israel and he was on a mission to oust Moses from his God-given position of authority. He was lying and starting rumors in order to accomplish his mission.
God, however, would have none of it. Instead He called Moses to bring the people together and tell them that if Korah and his companions died natural deaths, they were right. But if they died in some unusual way, like if the earth were to open up and swallow them, then it must be God’s doing and Korah was wrong!
Guess what happened? The earth opened up and swallowed Korah and his companions. The next day the people complained to Moses again. This time Moses made a different decision. When God sent out His wrath, Moses sent out Aaron into the congregation with specific instructions: “.....make atonement for them....” Aaron did just as Moses commanded. He went into the midst of the people and made atonement for their sins. When he did this, the plague stopped. Aaron stood firm and created a line between the dead and the living. Unfortunately, a lot of people still died, but many more were saved.
Our adversary the Devil, and his companions, are in our camp, that is, the world today. They have been walking about starting rumors and making false accusations against God. This constant whispering of untrust and disbelief is what he uses to further separate us from God. Satan himself started this tradition in the Garden thousands of years ago, and not much has changed since then. Fortunately, as Moses sent Aaron into the midst of the people, so too has God sent Jesus into the midst of the people.
Christ came to earth to make atonement for our sins, for our turning away from God, and for our lack of trust in His faithfulness. He came to redeem us from our ignorance in believing the Devil’s lies, and for our hubris in thinking that we could be like God. This act of grace is what has saved many and is continuing to save today. You see, today Jesus is standing between the dead (Satan and his army of demons) and the living. Jesus has STOPPED the plague, that is, sin and its deadly consequences, and is our atonement before a holy and just God.
And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
I can’t begin to imagine how annoyed Moses must have been with the Israelites. First it was, “Get us out of Egypt.” Then it was, “This place is horrible. We should have stayed in Egypt.” Then they complained about the food. Then they decided that Moses had appointed himself as leader and that God wasn’t really leading them, so they had a rebellion.
It wasn’t so much the entire body of people, but a certain few led by one man, Korah, who were causing the trouble. Korah was a leader among the people of Israel and he was on a mission to oust Moses from his God-given position of authority. He was lying and starting rumors in order to accomplish his mission.
God, however, would have none of it. Instead He called Moses to bring the people together and tell them that if Korah and his companions died natural deaths, they were right. But if they died in some unusual way, like if the earth were to open up and swallow them, then it must be God’s doing and Korah was wrong!
Guess what happened? The earth opened up and swallowed Korah and his companions. The next day the people complained to Moses again. This time Moses made a different decision. When God sent out His wrath, Moses sent out Aaron into the congregation with specific instructions: “.....make atonement for them....” Aaron did just as Moses commanded. He went into the midst of the people and made atonement for their sins. When he did this, the plague stopped. Aaron stood firm and created a line between the dead and the living. Unfortunately, a lot of people still died, but many more were saved.
Our adversary the Devil, and his companions, are in our camp, that is, the world today. They have been walking about starting rumors and making false accusations against God. This constant whispering of untrust and disbelief is what he uses to further separate us from God. Satan himself started this tradition in the Garden thousands of years ago, and not much has changed since then. Fortunately, as Moses sent Aaron into the midst of the people, so too has God sent Jesus into the midst of the people.
Christ came to earth to make atonement for our sins, for our turning away from God, and for our lack of trust in His faithfulness. He came to redeem us from our ignorance in believing the Devil’s lies, and for our hubris in thinking that we could be like God. This act of grace is what has saved many and is continuing to save today. You see, today Jesus is standing between the dead (Satan and his army of demons) and the living. Jesus has STOPPED the plague, that is, sin and its deadly consequences, and is our atonement before a holy and just God.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Biblical contradictions?
1 John 5:18
We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
Now here’s an interesting piece of information that is seemingly a huge inconsistency in the Bible, one that seems to void all other scripture and prove the existence of God to be a farce! Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be “born again” in order to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). This rebirth is what happens when a person acknowledges the deity of Christ and accepts His sacrifice on the Cross. When a person becomes a “born again believer”, then he is being born of the Spirit of God, and is starting a new life in Christ.
As Christians, we accept this gift of rebirth and claim it for our heavenly inheritance, but do we stop sinning? I am a faithful believer in Jesus Christ. I know that He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for me, and rose from the dead, but I sin daily! How can this be? If I were truly born of God, then I would no longer sin; right? Perhaps I’m not a real believer. Perhaps the Bible is wrong.
Nope! Here’s the simple truth. The sin that I am no longer capable of committing is the sin of ignoring the existence and deity of Jesus Christ. This is the sin that is referenced here in 1 John, not the casual earthly sin that we so often commit. It is also the sin that Christ speaks of in Matthew 12:31, calling it “blasphemy against the Spirit”. Stealing, lust, envy, cursing, speeding, driving on a revoked license, and countless other things are earthly sins, but to ignore Jesus Christ is the one spiritual sin.
Jesus Himself said that the Holy Spirit would come to convict the world of sin. A lot of people, a lot of churches, stop there, but Christ went on to clearly state the sin to which He was referring. (John 16:8-9 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;) I don’t think He could have made it any more obvious what He was talking about. The sin that the Spirit is going to convict the world of is their refusal to believe in, and acknowledge, Jesus as Lord.
So, good Christian, the truth is that being a child of God, you are no longer a sinner. According to scripture you stopped sinning the day that you professed faith and belief in Jesus as Lord. Mistakes or “sins” will still be a part of your life, but they aren’t a determining factor for your eternity! Your faith in Jesus Christ makes you perfect!
We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
Now here’s an interesting piece of information that is seemingly a huge inconsistency in the Bible, one that seems to void all other scripture and prove the existence of God to be a farce! Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be “born again” in order to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). This rebirth is what happens when a person acknowledges the deity of Christ and accepts His sacrifice on the Cross. When a person becomes a “born again believer”, then he is being born of the Spirit of God, and is starting a new life in Christ.
As Christians, we accept this gift of rebirth and claim it for our heavenly inheritance, but do we stop sinning? I am a faithful believer in Jesus Christ. I know that He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for me, and rose from the dead, but I sin daily! How can this be? If I were truly born of God, then I would no longer sin; right? Perhaps I’m not a real believer. Perhaps the Bible is wrong.
Nope! Here’s the simple truth. The sin that I am no longer capable of committing is the sin of ignoring the existence and deity of Jesus Christ. This is the sin that is referenced here in 1 John, not the casual earthly sin that we so often commit. It is also the sin that Christ speaks of in Matthew 12:31, calling it “blasphemy against the Spirit”. Stealing, lust, envy, cursing, speeding, driving on a revoked license, and countless other things are earthly sins, but to ignore Jesus Christ is the one spiritual sin.
Jesus Himself said that the Holy Spirit would come to convict the world of sin. A lot of people, a lot of churches, stop there, but Christ went on to clearly state the sin to which He was referring. (John 16:8-9 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;) I don’t think He could have made it any more obvious what He was talking about. The sin that the Spirit is going to convict the world of is their refusal to believe in, and acknowledge, Jesus as Lord.
So, good Christian, the truth is that being a child of God, you are no longer a sinner. According to scripture you stopped sinning the day that you professed faith and belief in Jesus as Lord. Mistakes or “sins” will still be a part of your life, but they aren’t a determining factor for your eternity! Your faith in Jesus Christ makes you perfect!
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