And because he saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. And after he sat down, his students came to him. Then, he opened his mouth and began to teach them, saying...
Matthew 5:1-2
What are you thinking about as you sit down to read this today? Maybe you’re thinking, “I really need to feel connected to God.” Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, here we go - I’m going to be disciplined and read some spiritual stuff now.” Maybe you’re a naturally disciplined person, and you’re doing this out of habit - a very good habit - but thinking about other things that you’ve got lined up for the day.
Whatever it is you’re thinking about, I think you’d agree that what we think about is a result of what we long for, and the action of longing comes from an underlying belief that if we get what we long for, we’ll be happier and avoid pain. And that’s normal. As people, we all are on a pursuit to find lasting happiness and avoid pain.
The people who heard and saw Jesus were no different. They heard the promises of a perfect, happy Kingdom which would be given as a gift to everyone who submitted to God’s commands. And they saw the preacher reverse the effects of sin in the world - stopping sickness, pain, and even death. Word spread, and people gathered. Like us, these people wanted to be happy. And this guy looked like a good candidate to give them what they wanted.
He went up the mountain...
Jesus responded to the gathered crowds by going up a mountain. Now, Matthew, who was one of Jesus’ students who was there, and who wrote this book, isn’t trying to be a good storyteller in telling us that Jesus went up a mountain. He’s not trying to simply give us a setting for this sermon; there are no other setting elements. Further, Jesus intentionally went up the mountain. He was sending a message by his actions along with his words that would shock the crowds (7:29).
This is why Jesus’ ascending the mountain would’ve been surprising. The most important prophet in Israel’s history was Moses. That’s because God established his relationship, technically ‘covenant,’ with Israel, through Moses. Moses was commanded to ascend a mountain to get the terms of the covenant from God to deliver them to the people. And when he did, God, accompanied by darkness, thunder and lightning, from the mountain, verbally announced his Law to the whole nation. They were, understandably, terrified. (See Exodus 19-20.)
God’s covenant with Israel included laws, and it also included promises - promises that were ultimately for the forgiveness of sins and eternal joyful life in God’s presence. The God who had announced himself to all of Israel was certainly scary, but he was also certainly good and loving - and could be trusted. God had introduced himself to Israel way back then - and it was an act of favor to people who had no real, lasting hope.
So when Jesus, the herald of God’s coming Kingdom, went up a mountain he was sending a message. God was about to speak again. God was about to introduce himself. God was about to initiate relationship with man.
Humans were about to see the glory and hear the voice of the God who loves.
He sat down...
When Jesus sat down, he was taking the cultural posture of a preacher in that day. It was as if he was getting behind a pulpit. His students, or disciples, came to him. They were committed to his teaching before this point; but now their attention was really grabbed. And why wouldn’t it be? What experience would be more momentous than God relating to you?
He opened His mouth and taught...
Matthew then tells us that Jesus opened his mouth and taught. On a quick reading, one might pass over that phrase ‘opened his mouth’ as just a strange manner of speaking of ancient people. But it wasn’t. Matthew, reflecting back on this sermon years later, purposefully said ‘Jesus opened his mouth.’
The reason for this is that in the past God is said to have opened the prophets’ mouths - particularly Moses’. That’s an idiom for saying that he gave them the words to say. They were acting as prophets - speaking God’s words. Matthew wrote this to clue us in on this startling fact: Jesus was speaking about the eternal Kingdom of God based on his own authority over it. He opened his own mouth.
Matthew didn’t understand that at this point. But it would just be a short time after this that Jesus would be publicly and brutally murdered. Matthew and the others were scared out of their minds. For a couple days, anyway. Then Jesus rose from the dead and came back to his students. They went up the same mountain together, probably recalling the first time they’d ascended it; and then, Jesus told them clearly: “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”(28:20).
In that sentence, Jesus claimed to have sovereignty over everything that exists. And when he did, the disciples probably thought back to the first time he ascended this mountain - and remembered with awe - they were not just hearing God’s words given to them by a prophet like Moses, though that would in itself be amazing. No - they sat in the presence of God himself, as God himself spoke to them, based on his own authority as creator of everything they could see, everything they couldn’t see, and every event that would ever take place in space and time.
They weren’t just hearing from a prophet of God. They were actually with God. Or, to be a little more precise, God had come down to be with them.
After rising from the dead, Jesus also told them to announce his teachings to every culture on earth, because he would grant some people entry into his Kingdom. And he promised that he would be with his students always, until the end of the world (28:19-20).
But how would he be with his disciples? Because it certainly doesn’t look or feel like he is here sometimes. Simple - the same way he had done so with the disciples before. By his word. By his teaching... as he governs and controls everything that exists.
Jesus’ disciples didn’t see a cloud of darkness and fire descend on a mountain, with thunder and lightning, and the terror-inducing voice of God like Moses and the ancient Israelites did. They saw a man who they liked, who was righteous, who did miracles - and they sat with him. And they would look back on that moment and be in awe: “We sat with God!”
But that God - Jesus - is still the one who is in charge of everything. And he still comes to relate to people by the words that Matthew and the other disciples recorded. When we come to these words of Jesus, we are coming to more than a religious document, a self-help manual, a list of rules, or a historical writing. We are coming to God himself, just as Jesus’ students were.
But unlike the disciples we can know it now. Jesus came and announced a new Kingdom. He announced the forgiveness of our apathy towards God and the breaking of his laws. He showed what that kingdom would be like by reversing suffering in the world. And he promised to be with us forever.
If you have turned to him as God, away from yourself, he is with you. When you sit down with his word, depending on him to hear from him, God himself, is sitting down with you, to talk to you. And one day, you will be in the physical presence of Jesus. You’ll actually hear his voice, and you’ll actually see his kindness as he listens to you.
Things you may want to pray about:
1. It’s very easy to forget that the greatest gift God gives to people is the experience of knowing him... so thank him for stooping down in love to us so that we could know him, because of Christ.
2. Think of people in your life: friends, family, people in your church, people around the world. Think of places in the world where God isn’t known. Ask God to make himself known to those people and in those places so that they can know him.
3. Think about the things on earth that you trust in to make you happy that aren’t God. Tell God you’re sorry for turning to those things instead of trusting him for joy. Ask him for help.
4. Ask God to deepen your knowledge of him and your love for him. He’ll do this by showing you more and more of his own glory.
Grace and Peace,
Onesimus
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Bible speaks on inflation?
As I sit here thinking about what just happened in my house I see God answering my prayer to help my wife & I react supernaturally instead of fleshly when “bad” things happen. Just after praying before laying it down for the night my wife noticed a dripping sound but couldn’t find where it originated. We eventually found that the ceiling of the lower level of our house had water spots that we had never noticed any other time. Upon further inspection we found that the ceiling was wet & that the water was coming from our furnace & water heater closet on the upper level. We came to see that the overflow pan & pipe going from it to the drain wasn’t sealed properly so the water had made a puddle & was seeping through the floor down to the ceiling of the lower level. You may be wondering how this has anything to do with inflation in the Bible right.
When this first happened my mind went reeling about the fact that due to the economic troubles in our nation my company hasn’t given management a raise in more than four years… & you guessed it I’m in lower management. So in essence I’ve received a pay cut because the cost of benefits has more than doubled & that has nothing to do with the cost of living pertaining to groceries, fuel, utilities, insurance, living expenses… etc. I began to think how difficult it is to save money & the issues we have that constantly arise.
Rev. 6 is about the seals being broken on the scroll that Christ took from the right hand (right hand symbolic of having all dominion, power & authority) of the One who is seated on the throne in heaven. Once read we see that each of the first four seals has to do with judgments authorized by the Lamb (Christ) upon those who dwell on the earth that DO NOT worship the Lamb. These earth dwellers are in stark contrast to those who live on earth & worship the Lamb. Everything in the book of Rev. is black & white, bad vs. good, light vs. darkness, the righteous kingdom of the Lamb vs. the wicked kingdom of the dragon… etc. (I think you get the picture). What is of major significance is what’s said in Rev 6:5-6…
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” (Revelation 6:5-6 ESV)
And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand…
What we notice here is the rider on the black horse having a pair of scales in his hand. These scales would be likened to a pair of scales used in biblical times during a season of scarcity/famine. These scales are not to be confused with the scales of justice. The point here is that a source of measurement is needed to ration out resources due to shortages. Shortages cause inflation & that goes for perceived shortages as well.
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying…
The voice coming from the midst of the four living creatures would be none other than the voice of the Lamb that just appeared there in Rev. 5:6. According to the text this Lamb is now ruling over all inhabitants of heaven & earth... He has all glory & dominion. (Rev. 1:5-6; Rev. 5)
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius,
So the Lamb states that a quart of wheat will be sold for a denarius. A person would work one day’s labor to receive one denarius (our equivalent to an eight hour shift). One quart of wheat was our equivalent to one meal. In normal circumstances it would cost 1/8 to 1/10 of a denarius to purchase one meal. What the voice from the midst of the four living creatures stated drove the price of one meal to a whole day’s wage. This is the price of one meal (one quart of wheat) inflated 800 to 1000%!! The same concept applies to the three quarts of barley. So we see inflation is used by the Lamb as an act of preliminary judgment on the inhabitants of the earth.
and do not harm the oil and wine!”
Now we see that this judgment of famine and or inflation (that can actually be triggered by any one of the first three “seal” judgments) is limited by the Lamb as well. These are preliminary judgments that keep reoccurring at different times & places on the earth until the 6th seal/final judgment is executed. These judgments aren’t comprehensive because of the following reasons:
1. It’s not all of the earth being conquered by military conquest (seal #1)
2. It’s not all of the people on the earth slaying (killing) one another (seal #2)
3. It’s not all resources/places (foods, fuels, countries, classes) effected simultaneously (seal #3)
4. It’s not all people that will die by being violently killed, famine, disease & killed by wild beast... it’s just a fourth of the earth (seal # 4)
We also see in Rev. 6:9-11 & chapter 7 the reason why these judgments are limited (subject to parameters) & are set as precursors to the final wrath to come. It’s for the sake of those who are and will become followers of Christ. We see that while these preliminary judgments are being executed by the Lamb the people that were purchased by Him for God (Rev. 5) are living on the earth as well. So Christ holds back the severity of His wrath for the sake of His people who are still on earth. This is why Peter says:
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(2 Peter 3:1-13 ESV)
Christ hasn’t come back to execute the full wrath of God because the number of those set apart to be martyred for the Faith (Rev 6:9-11) & also the number of those who will come to repentance have yet to do so.
So why is it important to understand & live according to what's just been covered? It’s all about the implications for our lives in this present age. The implications are many but here’s a few:
1. There’s a blessing for those that understand & keep/live according to what’s written in Rev… Rev. 1:3
2. Christ is in complete control of everything that is happening in our lives from the grandest to the minutest of details. He’s actually authorizing it.
3. Christ tells us that we are no longer considered slaves because slaves don’t know what the master’s doing. (John 15:15) The book of the Rev. of Jesus Christ is just that… it reveals what our Master is doing & through that it prepares us for all the things we’ll experience before His return.
4. Not only does this prepare us for what we’ll go through but it gives us a hope that unbelievers don’t have while we go through it. That all things work together for the good of those that love Him & are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) The Rev. keeps emphasizing persevering to the end while giving us a beautiful picture of the end found nowhere else in Scripture. This picture causes us to fix our hope completely on the grace that’s to be given to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 1:13)
5. We as believers experience all of the same trauma in life that unbelievers do… we get robbed, have cancer, experience death, accidents, birth mentally handicapped children & the list goes on & on… the difference between us & them is that we SHOULD (based off of Who we know & what we know of Him) react & live through it in a way that brings attention to the hope that we have in Christ therefore causing unbelievers to question what it is we have that they don’t.
So how did knowing that Christ from His throne is authorizing lack/inflation as a judgment help me not to jump into a self-indulged pity party?
1. It caused me to be thankful for the test because it made me to see that this is God keeping His promise to conform me to His image. My pastor has said that Honda doesn’t put their cars through rigorous testing to prove that they fail, Honda does it to prove that they don’t fail (Mark Vroegop; www.yourchurch.com)… in the same way God puts us through testing to prove to us He doesn’t fail therefore giving us a barometer for where we’re at spiritually. It helps me keep in mind that testing points out where my heart is in proximity to the heart of Christ. It helps me realign my focus back on the things that matter.
2. It helps me see the fruit of the Spirit at work in me in that He’s changing me & working out His will & Word in my life… causing me to trust that even though I can't physically see what I need He has already set aside all that I will need for what He knew was going to happen. (1 Pet 1:5-7)
3. That this trial is actually Him being faithful to me. (Ps 119:75)
4. That the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials & to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the Day of Judgment. (2 Pet 2:6-10)… all that to show how He takes care of His. (Matt 6:25-33)
Grace & Peace,
James Miles
When this first happened my mind went reeling about the fact that due to the economic troubles in our nation my company hasn’t given management a raise in more than four years… & you guessed it I’m in lower management. So in essence I’ve received a pay cut because the cost of benefits has more than doubled & that has nothing to do with the cost of living pertaining to groceries, fuel, utilities, insurance, living expenses… etc. I began to think how difficult it is to save money & the issues we have that constantly arise.
Rev. 6 is about the seals being broken on the scroll that Christ took from the right hand (right hand symbolic of having all dominion, power & authority) of the One who is seated on the throne in heaven. Once read we see that each of the first four seals has to do with judgments authorized by the Lamb (Christ) upon those who dwell on the earth that DO NOT worship the Lamb. These earth dwellers are in stark contrast to those who live on earth & worship the Lamb. Everything in the book of Rev. is black & white, bad vs. good, light vs. darkness, the righteous kingdom of the Lamb vs. the wicked kingdom of the dragon… etc. (I think you get the picture). What is of major significance is what’s said in Rev 6:5-6…
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” (Revelation 6:5-6 ESV)
And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand…
What we notice here is the rider on the black horse having a pair of scales in his hand. These scales would be likened to a pair of scales used in biblical times during a season of scarcity/famine. These scales are not to be confused with the scales of justice. The point here is that a source of measurement is needed to ration out resources due to shortages. Shortages cause inflation & that goes for perceived shortages as well.
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying…
The voice coming from the midst of the four living creatures would be none other than the voice of the Lamb that just appeared there in Rev. 5:6. According to the text this Lamb is now ruling over all inhabitants of heaven & earth... He has all glory & dominion. (Rev. 1:5-6; Rev. 5)
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius,
So the Lamb states that a quart of wheat will be sold for a denarius. A person would work one day’s labor to receive one denarius (our equivalent to an eight hour shift). One quart of wheat was our equivalent to one meal. In normal circumstances it would cost 1/8 to 1/10 of a denarius to purchase one meal. What the voice from the midst of the four living creatures stated drove the price of one meal to a whole day’s wage. This is the price of one meal (one quart of wheat) inflated 800 to 1000%!! The same concept applies to the three quarts of barley. So we see inflation is used by the Lamb as an act of preliminary judgment on the inhabitants of the earth.
and do not harm the oil and wine!”
Now we see that this judgment of famine and or inflation (that can actually be triggered by any one of the first three “seal” judgments) is limited by the Lamb as well. These are preliminary judgments that keep reoccurring at different times & places on the earth until the 6th seal/final judgment is executed. These judgments aren’t comprehensive because of the following reasons:
1. It’s not all of the earth being conquered by military conquest (seal #1)
2. It’s not all of the people on the earth slaying (killing) one another (seal #2)
3. It’s not all resources/places (foods, fuels, countries, classes) effected simultaneously (seal #3)
4. It’s not all people that will die by being violently killed, famine, disease & killed by wild beast... it’s just a fourth of the earth (seal # 4)
We also see in Rev. 6:9-11 & chapter 7 the reason why these judgments are limited (subject to parameters) & are set as precursors to the final wrath to come. It’s for the sake of those who are and will become followers of Christ. We see that while these preliminary judgments are being executed by the Lamb the people that were purchased by Him for God (Rev. 5) are living on the earth as well. So Christ holds back the severity of His wrath for the sake of His people who are still on earth. This is why Peter says:
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
(2 Peter 3:1-13 ESV)
Christ hasn’t come back to execute the full wrath of God because the number of those set apart to be martyred for the Faith (Rev 6:9-11) & also the number of those who will come to repentance have yet to do so.
So why is it important to understand & live according to what's just been covered? It’s all about the implications for our lives in this present age. The implications are many but here’s a few:
1. There’s a blessing for those that understand & keep/live according to what’s written in Rev… Rev. 1:3
2. Christ is in complete control of everything that is happening in our lives from the grandest to the minutest of details. He’s actually authorizing it.
3. Christ tells us that we are no longer considered slaves because slaves don’t know what the master’s doing. (John 15:15) The book of the Rev. of Jesus Christ is just that… it reveals what our Master is doing & through that it prepares us for all the things we’ll experience before His return.
4. Not only does this prepare us for what we’ll go through but it gives us a hope that unbelievers don’t have while we go through it. That all things work together for the good of those that love Him & are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28) The Rev. keeps emphasizing persevering to the end while giving us a beautiful picture of the end found nowhere else in Scripture. This picture causes us to fix our hope completely on the grace that’s to be given to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 1:13)
5. We as believers experience all of the same trauma in life that unbelievers do… we get robbed, have cancer, experience death, accidents, birth mentally handicapped children & the list goes on & on… the difference between us & them is that we SHOULD (based off of Who we know & what we know of Him) react & live through it in a way that brings attention to the hope that we have in Christ therefore causing unbelievers to question what it is we have that they don’t.
So how did knowing that Christ from His throne is authorizing lack/inflation as a judgment help me not to jump into a self-indulged pity party?
1. It caused me to be thankful for the test because it made me to see that this is God keeping His promise to conform me to His image. My pastor has said that Honda doesn’t put their cars through rigorous testing to prove that they fail, Honda does it to prove that they don’t fail (Mark Vroegop; www.yourchurch.com)… in the same way God puts us through testing to prove to us He doesn’t fail therefore giving us a barometer for where we’re at spiritually. It helps me keep in mind that testing points out where my heart is in proximity to the heart of Christ. It helps me realign my focus back on the things that matter.
2. It helps me see the fruit of the Spirit at work in me in that He’s changing me & working out His will & Word in my life… causing me to trust that even though I can't physically see what I need He has already set aside all that I will need for what He knew was going to happen. (1 Pet 1:5-7)
3. That this trial is actually Him being faithful to me. (Ps 119:75)
4. That the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials & to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the Day of Judgment. (2 Pet 2:6-10)… all that to show how He takes care of His. (Matt 6:25-33)
Grace & Peace,
James Miles
Monday, February 22, 2010
God alone is good - so who's Jesus?
I recently received this question:
Jesus said only God is good. Doesn't that mean that he isn't God? (The question refers to Mark 10:18 and following.)
Here's the answer:
No - it means Jesus was asking his questioner who he thought he was. In other words, Jesus was saying something like, "Only God is good - so who do you think I am?"
Then, Jesus tells this guy that eternal life will be received by following him. Think about that. If you want to get to heaven, follow me, I'm on my way. Or in other words, if you want to get to heaven, you have to submit to my teaching.
He goes even further when he says that so many good things must be given up to have him when he says that everyone who has left things for his sake, and for the gospel's, gets eternal life.
So he's saying, if you count gaining me as worthy of losing everything, you'll get eternal life.
So Jesus is our reward, our treasure, the life-giver, and the one whose teaching is pure and good.
And this man was left with the question, "Who is he?"
This passage doesn't explicitly teach that Jesus is God. But it only works if he is.
And we're all left with the same question: who is Jesus? And is he worth following?
Jesus said only God is good. Doesn't that mean that he isn't God? (The question refers to Mark 10:18 and following.)
Here's the answer:
No - it means Jesus was asking his questioner who he thought he was. In other words, Jesus was saying something like, "Only God is good - so who do you think I am?"
Then, Jesus tells this guy that eternal life will be received by following him. Think about that. If you want to get to heaven, follow me, I'm on my way. Or in other words, if you want to get to heaven, you have to submit to my teaching.
He goes even further when he says that so many good things must be given up to have him when he says that everyone who has left things for his sake, and for the gospel's, gets eternal life.
So he's saying, if you count gaining me as worthy of losing everything, you'll get eternal life.
So Jesus is our reward, our treasure, the life-giver, and the one whose teaching is pure and good.
And this man was left with the question, "Who is he?"
This passage doesn't explicitly teach that Jesus is God. But it only works if he is.
And we're all left with the same question: who is Jesus? And is he worth following?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
He is risen! And I'm bored...
I don't know if you grew up in church, but I did, and so we celebrated Easter every year. And that's appropriate. But it wasn't a fun time of year for me: our family wasn't characterized by the character of Christ - his love - but by fear and dysfunction. So, to be honest, I don't really have good memories of Easter.
There's a huge upside to that, though. The cultural hang-ups of holidays - gifts, certain songs, food, family - were never in competition with my focus being on Christ. Those things are good, for sure, but our idols are very seldom intrinsically evil - it's that we, in our evil, replace God as the object of our delight with them.
And what was nice for me growing up - I didn't have those things to distract me from Jesus.
Unfortunately, that vacuum wasn't really filled with God and what he said about Easter when I was a child. I mean, I knew Jesus had risen. But so what? Maybe it was because I wasn't paying attention, but I had no idea why it was significant that Jesus had come back to life after dying.
Maybe you can connect with some of this. Maybe things you associate with the Easter holiday distract you from what the Bible says about it. Maybe bad experiences with family have left you emotionless in the face of the holiday. Maybe you just don't know what the Bible says about Jesus' resurrection.
But we should be happy about it, and we should worship God as a result.
Let me summarize a few reasons - then we'll look at some Scripture to really hammer them home.
1) Has your love for God got... emotionless? The resurrection shows off Jesus' glory.
2) Do you feel like your world - your family, relationships, finances - our out of control? The resurrection shows off Jesus' position and role and activity as Ruler.
3) Are you just living day to day? Maybe not really enjoying life? Hoping for things that may or may not happen - and that ultimately won't result in lasting happiness? The resurrection guarantees a future for us where we'll enjoy Jesus forever without hindrance.
4) Do you feel like you just can't live for Jesus at all? The resurrection has resulted in our having a new nature which obeys Jesus.
5) Do you feel guilty before God? Condemned? Like he's angry at you? The resurrection secures all of this previously mentioned goodness - because it shows that our rebellion has already been punished and can never be punished again.
Let's delve into this stuff about the resurrection.
1) It demonstrated the glory of Jesus' authority. He told Martha, "I am the resurrection"(John 11:25) - meaning that resurrection from the dead for all people was completely tied to himself. He also said, "I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again"(John 10:18).
Jesus is he who has authority over life and death - and he deserves to be worshiped for it. We don't, governments don't, armies don't, doctors don't - Jesus does.
2) Jesus' right to govern the universe for his pleasure was sealed by his resurrection. In other words, Jesus got a new title - a new position. He didn't 'become a god' or something weird like that - but his actions and role changed. God had this written: "[Jesus] was declared to be THE SON OF GOD IN POWER, according to the Spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead."
His new title is 'The Son of God in Power.' That means that he has begun to reign - to do all his will. That's why the Scriptures make such a big deal about Jesus sitting down at God's 'right hand' after he rose.
But Jesus has a new role as of his resurrection - and he has begun a new era - remaking the world into what it's supposed to be.
Look around. The world's broken. Heck, your world is broken. Jesus has begun to fix this broken world by his resurrection. We need to credit him as such. He's the sovereign fixer - both in title and action. And he'll finish the job.
3) Not only is Jesus the Divine Fixer of the world - but his resurrection itself is what is fixing the world. God has it written: "He (Jesus) is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead"(Col. 1:18).
'Firstborn' indicates the happening that secures the rest. Or in other words, if there's a 'firstborn,' the couple isn't infertile. They can have more kids. Here, that means that Jesus was the one whose resurrection from the dead secured the resurrection from the dead of those who are connected to him through trusting him.
This might seem a little bit vague. Let me get specific. Jesus' resurrection did two things. First, it secured the physical resurrection of all who obey him. Death is certainly not the end. When Jesus comes back, every Christian will physically rise from the dead in a new, immortal body.
Second, when that happens, this world will be released from its bondage to sin and resulting suffering.
In sum - new bodies without any remnant or iota of rebellion against God or its effects. New universe that bears no stain of the effects of our sins.
No suffering, no pain, no sin - but all creation governed by the glorious love of God. Christ's resurrection secured that. See Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15.
And by the way, don't skim Scripture. It's God's words. Every last one. Treat it as such.
4) Now that's all future, right? Seems like it in a way - but it's really not all future. Jesus' bringing new life has already begun. He's given us new hearts and minds and souls - a new nature. God said through the Apostle Peter, "[God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"(1 Peter 1:3).
And in Ephesians 2:5, Paul speaks from God, writing that He "made us alive together with Christ."
What's the result of that? He tells us a few verses later in v. 10: "For we are his workmanship, created (catch that! we're new creations! we're part of the new world!) in Christ Jesus for good works..."
A lot of times people read that and say, "Aha! See! You're forgiven as a gift - but now you should do works!" That is completely missing the point - and actually, contradicting the point. The point is that God recreated us - resurrected us - so that we'd do good works. Or in other words, he had an end in mind when he raised us spiritually - obedience to him.
He's not sitting up in heaven, wringing his hands, just HOPING that we'll actually obey for once. No. He's reprogrammed us TO obey. Yeah, our obedience isn't perfect. But it's present. And it's present because Jesus rose from the dead and brought our souls from the grave with him. He gave us faith and gave us the desire and ability to obey him. And so we do, imperfectly now, perfectly when he returns.
We need to thank him for that and grab a hold of the fact that he's the one at work in our lives. We obey because he's at work. If we obey because we think it depends on us - we're acting like Jesus didn't rise. But he did. And so did we. And so we do obey. So let's obey.
5) Jesus' resurrection shows that he's dealt with our guilt - and we'll never have to. Romans 4:25 says this: "[Jesus] was delivered up (killed) on account of our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Because we disobeyed - and continue to disobey - what God's commanded - Jesus took our death penalty. He stood in for us. He died in our places. He was punished instead of us. You deserve to suffer the infinite wrath, anger, fury of your Creator; and Jesus, who never sinned, did it in your stead.
But if he'd stayed dead, he'd have continued to bear the penalty for your sins. It wouldn't have been finished. But it was - and so death backfired. Death died. Death happened completely, and so its existence was completed - and over. And Jesus rose.
His resurrection shows that the punishment for sin is over. None awaits us. None. The entirety of your guilt, if you are a Christian, is GONE. Jesus lived a perfect life in your place - he died by God's wrath in your place - and he lives because your justification - your acquittal in his law court - has been completely, unalterably, unchangeably, irrevocably, permanently, eternally, gloriously secured.
And so because Jesus rose from the dead - you stand in God's sight - as if you'd obeyed. As if you'd lived Jesus' life and earned Jesus' reward.
When you feel guilty - and if you can't believe any of this stuff - look to the resurrected Jesus. All of this is yours - because he rose from the dead.
There's a huge upside to that, though. The cultural hang-ups of holidays - gifts, certain songs, food, family - were never in competition with my focus being on Christ. Those things are good, for sure, but our idols are very seldom intrinsically evil - it's that we, in our evil, replace God as the object of our delight with them.
And what was nice for me growing up - I didn't have those things to distract me from Jesus.
Unfortunately, that vacuum wasn't really filled with God and what he said about Easter when I was a child. I mean, I knew Jesus had risen. But so what? Maybe it was because I wasn't paying attention, but I had no idea why it was significant that Jesus had come back to life after dying.
Maybe you can connect with some of this. Maybe things you associate with the Easter holiday distract you from what the Bible says about it. Maybe bad experiences with family have left you emotionless in the face of the holiday. Maybe you just don't know what the Bible says about Jesus' resurrection.
But we should be happy about it, and we should worship God as a result.
Let me summarize a few reasons - then we'll look at some Scripture to really hammer them home.
1) Has your love for God got... emotionless? The resurrection shows off Jesus' glory.
2) Do you feel like your world - your family, relationships, finances - our out of control? The resurrection shows off Jesus' position and role and activity as Ruler.
3) Are you just living day to day? Maybe not really enjoying life? Hoping for things that may or may not happen - and that ultimately won't result in lasting happiness? The resurrection guarantees a future for us where we'll enjoy Jesus forever without hindrance.
4) Do you feel like you just can't live for Jesus at all? The resurrection has resulted in our having a new nature which obeys Jesus.
5) Do you feel guilty before God? Condemned? Like he's angry at you? The resurrection secures all of this previously mentioned goodness - because it shows that our rebellion has already been punished and can never be punished again.
Let's delve into this stuff about the resurrection.
1) It demonstrated the glory of Jesus' authority. He told Martha, "I am the resurrection"(John 11:25) - meaning that resurrection from the dead for all people was completely tied to himself. He also said, "I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again"(John 10:18).
Jesus is he who has authority over life and death - and he deserves to be worshiped for it. We don't, governments don't, armies don't, doctors don't - Jesus does.
2) Jesus' right to govern the universe for his pleasure was sealed by his resurrection. In other words, Jesus got a new title - a new position. He didn't 'become a god' or something weird like that - but his actions and role changed. God had this written: "[Jesus] was declared to be THE SON OF GOD IN POWER, according to the Spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead."
His new title is 'The Son of God in Power.' That means that he has begun to reign - to do all his will. That's why the Scriptures make such a big deal about Jesus sitting down at God's 'right hand' after he rose.
But Jesus has a new role as of his resurrection - and he has begun a new era - remaking the world into what it's supposed to be.
Look around. The world's broken. Heck, your world is broken. Jesus has begun to fix this broken world by his resurrection. We need to credit him as such. He's the sovereign fixer - both in title and action. And he'll finish the job.
3) Not only is Jesus the Divine Fixer of the world - but his resurrection itself is what is fixing the world. God has it written: "He (Jesus) is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead"(Col. 1:18).
'Firstborn' indicates the happening that secures the rest. Or in other words, if there's a 'firstborn,' the couple isn't infertile. They can have more kids. Here, that means that Jesus was the one whose resurrection from the dead secured the resurrection from the dead of those who are connected to him through trusting him.
This might seem a little bit vague. Let me get specific. Jesus' resurrection did two things. First, it secured the physical resurrection of all who obey him. Death is certainly not the end. When Jesus comes back, every Christian will physically rise from the dead in a new, immortal body.
Second, when that happens, this world will be released from its bondage to sin and resulting suffering.
In sum - new bodies without any remnant or iota of rebellion against God or its effects. New universe that bears no stain of the effects of our sins.
No suffering, no pain, no sin - but all creation governed by the glorious love of God. Christ's resurrection secured that. See Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15.
And by the way, don't skim Scripture. It's God's words. Every last one. Treat it as such.
4) Now that's all future, right? Seems like it in a way - but it's really not all future. Jesus' bringing new life has already begun. He's given us new hearts and minds and souls - a new nature. God said through the Apostle Peter, "[God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"(1 Peter 1:3).
And in Ephesians 2:5, Paul speaks from God, writing that He "made us alive together with Christ."
What's the result of that? He tells us a few verses later in v. 10: "For we are his workmanship, created (catch that! we're new creations! we're part of the new world!) in Christ Jesus for good works..."
A lot of times people read that and say, "Aha! See! You're forgiven as a gift - but now you should do works!" That is completely missing the point - and actually, contradicting the point. The point is that God recreated us - resurrected us - so that we'd do good works. Or in other words, he had an end in mind when he raised us spiritually - obedience to him.
He's not sitting up in heaven, wringing his hands, just HOPING that we'll actually obey for once. No. He's reprogrammed us TO obey. Yeah, our obedience isn't perfect. But it's present. And it's present because Jesus rose from the dead and brought our souls from the grave with him. He gave us faith and gave us the desire and ability to obey him. And so we do, imperfectly now, perfectly when he returns.
We need to thank him for that and grab a hold of the fact that he's the one at work in our lives. We obey because he's at work. If we obey because we think it depends on us - we're acting like Jesus didn't rise. But he did. And so did we. And so we do obey. So let's obey.
5) Jesus' resurrection shows that he's dealt with our guilt - and we'll never have to. Romans 4:25 says this: "[Jesus] was delivered up (killed) on account of our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Because we disobeyed - and continue to disobey - what God's commanded - Jesus took our death penalty. He stood in for us. He died in our places. He was punished instead of us. You deserve to suffer the infinite wrath, anger, fury of your Creator; and Jesus, who never sinned, did it in your stead.
But if he'd stayed dead, he'd have continued to bear the penalty for your sins. It wouldn't have been finished. But it was - and so death backfired. Death died. Death happened completely, and so its existence was completed - and over. And Jesus rose.
His resurrection shows that the punishment for sin is over. None awaits us. None. The entirety of your guilt, if you are a Christian, is GONE. Jesus lived a perfect life in your place - he died by God's wrath in your place - and he lives because your justification - your acquittal in his law court - has been completely, unalterably, unchangeably, irrevocably, permanently, eternally, gloriously secured.
And so because Jesus rose from the dead - you stand in God's sight - as if you'd obeyed. As if you'd lived Jesus' life and earned Jesus' reward.
When you feel guilty - and if you can't believe any of this stuff - look to the resurrected Jesus. All of this is yours - because he rose from the dead.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Neo-Atheist Gets Owned by Stephen Colbert
If you haven't heard of Bart Ehrman... well, good. He's one of the neo-atheists whose made it his personal mission to dissuade as many people from believing in Jesus as possible.
He once was a Christian. Went to Moody, Wheaton, and studied New Testament under Bruce Metzger, one of the foremost Christian NT scholars, at Princeton. Then he left the faith. He's now the chairman of the religious studies department at UNC.
He's brilliant, but he's an apostate. He left the faith because he didn't like that our God decrees suffering, but argues against the faith using New Testament scholarship.
So it was with great pleasure to see him get ripped apart on this clip from the Colbert Report (thanks to Dr. James White).
Colbert certainly is no scholar, and he shredded Ehrman's arguments.
Now, one of the things that Ehrman said was that the Gospel of John is the only gospel which presents Jesus as Divine - as very God. The earliest gospels, according to him, do not.
Really? According to most scholars, Mark was written first. So, let's ignore the fact that several of the letters in the NT were written before Mark... and let's just look through Mark.
-The presence of Jesus is the same as the presence of God's Rule (God's Kingdom)
-Jesus has authority to forgive sins
-Jesus does miracles without directing credit away from himself
-Jesus says that people should do good things 'in his name' (to represent him for his glory)
-He says that people should leave their families for his sake
-He says that whoever receives him receives God Himself
-He points out that the Messiah, though David's Son, is someone that David calls 'Lord'
-He refers to himself as the cloud-riding Son of Man from Daniel 7 - God is spoken of in the rest of the OT as metaphorically riding on the clouds
-Mark 1:2 replaces a reference to God with a pronoun referring to Jesus in his quoting of Malachi 3:1
-He distinguishes himself from 'sinners' (Mark 14:41)
That's just from a quick reading. Of course Jesus isn't cited as coming right out and saying "I am God." Would we expect the Messiah to do so if he is not coming immediately to judge the world, but rather to start a movement which holds to his teachings? He'd have been executed within a day of ministry if he'd done that.
Furthermore, Ehrman was assuming that ancient Jews all would've assumed that the Messiah was not God.
My response:
First, it's pretty clear that some ancient Rabbis believed the Messiah was going to be God. Not all, but some.
And second, it's really hard to ignore the fact that there is one God presented in the Old Testament - and two persons (at least) of that God.
The thing is - Ehrman knows this stuff. So why is he battling against the faith?
"At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him'"(Matthew 11:25-27).
Answer: because God is glorifying himself.
He once was a Christian. Went to Moody, Wheaton, and studied New Testament under Bruce Metzger, one of the foremost Christian NT scholars, at Princeton. Then he left the faith. He's now the chairman of the religious studies department at UNC.
He's brilliant, but he's an apostate. He left the faith because he didn't like that our God decrees suffering, but argues against the faith using New Testament scholarship.
So it was with great pleasure to see him get ripped apart on this clip from the Colbert Report (thanks to Dr. James White).
Colbert certainly is no scholar, and he shredded Ehrman's arguments.
Now, one of the things that Ehrman said was that the Gospel of John is the only gospel which presents Jesus as Divine - as very God. The earliest gospels, according to him, do not.
Really? According to most scholars, Mark was written first. So, let's ignore the fact that several of the letters in the NT were written before Mark... and let's just look through Mark.
-The presence of Jesus is the same as the presence of God's Rule (God's Kingdom)
-Jesus has authority to forgive sins
-Jesus does miracles without directing credit away from himself
-Jesus says that people should do good things 'in his name' (to represent him for his glory)
-He says that people should leave their families for his sake
-He says that whoever receives him receives God Himself
-He points out that the Messiah, though David's Son, is someone that David calls 'Lord'
-He refers to himself as the cloud-riding Son of Man from Daniel 7 - God is spoken of in the rest of the OT as metaphorically riding on the clouds
-Mark 1:2 replaces a reference to God with a pronoun referring to Jesus in his quoting of Malachi 3:1
-He distinguishes himself from 'sinners' (Mark 14:41)
That's just from a quick reading. Of course Jesus isn't cited as coming right out and saying "I am God." Would we expect the Messiah to do so if he is not coming immediately to judge the world, but rather to start a movement which holds to his teachings? He'd have been executed within a day of ministry if he'd done that.
Furthermore, Ehrman was assuming that ancient Jews all would've assumed that the Messiah was not God.
My response:
First, it's pretty clear that some ancient Rabbis believed the Messiah was going to be God. Not all, but some.
And second, it's really hard to ignore the fact that there is one God presented in the Old Testament - and two persons (at least) of that God.
The thing is - Ehrman knows this stuff. So why is he battling against the faith?
"At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him'"(Matthew 11:25-27).
Answer: because God is glorifying himself.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Maybe some of you can identify with this; maybe you can't - but Christmas, because of dysfunctionality in my family, was always a really hard, sad time for me.
But God, in his sovereign grace, has redeemed my family.
He's also redeemed this time of year. Not because of his redemption of my family - but because of the way he's been renewing my mind.
So here's one reason why Christmas - the day we celebrate the fact that God the Son became a man - is a glorious, happy, necessity. There may be more forthcoming.
Jesus fully revealed God's glory. John 1:18 says this: No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side - He made him known.
We all long to know God, don't we? If you're a Christian, this is certainly true. If you're not, consider this: do you have a yearning for purpose? For right and wrong to be done? For truth? For knowledge? For beauty? For something more wondrous than yourself?
Look no further. God has been fully and completely revealed in Jesus. Don't look to other religious or spiritual practices to 'feel' God. Look to Jesus as he's revealed in the Scriptures. He is there!
And don't look to the glory of lesser things for your ultimate satisfaction. True glory, true beauty, true awesomeness, true delight, peace - are in Jesus. Cling to him. Don't cope with life - cling to the one who made it.
Merry Christmas!
But God, in his sovereign grace, has redeemed my family.
He's also redeemed this time of year. Not because of his redemption of my family - but because of the way he's been renewing my mind.
So here's one reason why Christmas - the day we celebrate the fact that God the Son became a man - is a glorious, happy, necessity. There may be more forthcoming.
Jesus fully revealed God's glory. John 1:18 says this: No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side - He made him known.
We all long to know God, don't we? If you're a Christian, this is certainly true. If you're not, consider this: do you have a yearning for purpose? For right and wrong to be done? For truth? For knowledge? For beauty? For something more wondrous than yourself?
Look no further. God has been fully and completely revealed in Jesus. Don't look to other religious or spiritual practices to 'feel' God. Look to Jesus as he's revealed in the Scriptures. He is there!
And don't look to the glory of lesser things for your ultimate satisfaction. True glory, true beauty, true awesomeness, true delight, peace - are in Jesus. Cling to him. Don't cope with life - cling to the one who made it.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 21, 2007
How Could a Just God Work for the Happiness of People Who Rebel Against Him?
Cross Training VII
I. God judges by works
A. Covenant of works (Cov = contract with blessings/curses from God) (Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:17) (they weren’t perfect!)
B. Law (Deut. 30:15-18)
C. Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:20-22)
D. Universal reality for people (Rom. 2:6-10)
E. Explains the existence of morality
F. Explains why we try to justify ourselves before God, compare to the sins of others – we know God will judge according to works!
G. We can agree with unbelievers! Good people DO go to heaven!
II. Adam’s sin enslaved the whole world
A. We are all considered guilty (Rom. 5:12-14)
B. We see this in the existence of universal suffering and death(!) (Rom. 5:12-14)
C. We are all by nature rebellious (Eph. 2:1-3)
D. We see this in our inability to really live for God (Rom. 8:7, 8)
E. Why we try to self-justify by saying ‘God is loving’ or ‘forgiving’ – because we know we have at least SOME things to be forgiven for!
F. Thus, the question about God’s love and suffering is moot – we are all worth eternal punishment
III. Judgment day was promised
A. God promised to right every wrong (Isaiah 11:1-9)
B. It means the destruction of the wicked (Is 34:1-8a)
C. That means the vindication of the righteous (Is 34:8b; 51:7, 8)
D. Problem – no one is righteous (Rom. 3:10-12)
E. This answers the question about God’s justice – every wrong WILL be righted
F. However, we are part of that wrong – do we really want everything fixed now? That’d mean our damnation! This is where unregenerate people have trouble – they don’t believe God is worth it(!) To believe it, they must be exposed to the gospel and the Spirit must act.
IV. A new representative (JESUS!)
A. Jesus obeyed God and was considered obedient (Heb 5:7-8)
B. God the Father punished Jesus for sin (Is. 53:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:21a; 1 Peter 3:18a)
V. What is true of believers
A. God does not credit, or count, our disobedience – he counted it to Jesus!
(1 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:19b, 21a)
B. God credits righteousness – or considers us as if we had obeyed – by considering Jesus in our place (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8, 9)
Conclusion – the end time judgment has begun in the person of Jesus. The vengeance of God against sin has been poured out on him completely for all believers – past, present, future. They are now, through faith, considered righteous, and one day will be vindicated and rewarded for Jesus’ righteousness – on the same day in which the rest of the world will be judged for its rebellion.
I. God judges by works
A. Covenant of works (Cov = contract with blessings/curses from God) (Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:17) (they weren’t perfect!)
B. Law (Deut. 30:15-18)
C. Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:20-22)
D. Universal reality for people (Rom. 2:6-10)
E. Explains the existence of morality
F. Explains why we try to justify ourselves before God, compare to the sins of others – we know God will judge according to works!
G. We can agree with unbelievers! Good people DO go to heaven!
II. Adam’s sin enslaved the whole world
A. We are all considered guilty (Rom. 5:12-14)
B. We see this in the existence of universal suffering and death(!) (Rom. 5:12-14)
C. We are all by nature rebellious (Eph. 2:1-3)
D. We see this in our inability to really live for God (Rom. 8:7, 8)
E. Why we try to self-justify by saying ‘God is loving’ or ‘forgiving’ – because we know we have at least SOME things to be forgiven for!
F. Thus, the question about God’s love and suffering is moot – we are all worth eternal punishment
III. Judgment day was promised
A. God promised to right every wrong (Isaiah 11:1-9)
B. It means the destruction of the wicked (Is 34:1-8a)
C. That means the vindication of the righteous (Is 34:8b; 51:7, 8)
D. Problem – no one is righteous (Rom. 3:10-12)
E. This answers the question about God’s justice – every wrong WILL be righted
F. However, we are part of that wrong – do we really want everything fixed now? That’d mean our damnation! This is where unregenerate people have trouble – they don’t believe God is worth it(!) To believe it, they must be exposed to the gospel and the Spirit must act.
IV. A new representative (JESUS!)
A. Jesus obeyed God and was considered obedient (Heb 5:7-8)
B. God the Father punished Jesus for sin (Is. 53:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:21a; 1 Peter 3:18a)
V. What is true of believers
A. God does not credit, or count, our disobedience – he counted it to Jesus!
(1 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:19b, 21a)
B. God credits righteousness – or considers us as if we had obeyed – by considering Jesus in our place (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8, 9)
Conclusion – the end time judgment has begun in the person of Jesus. The vengeance of God against sin has been poured out on him completely for all believers – past, present, future. They are now, through faith, considered righteous, and one day will be vindicated and rewarded for Jesus’ righteousness – on the same day in which the rest of the world will be judged for its rebellion.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Who's Jesus?
Cross Training VI
I. Did Jesus claim to be God?
-note on the Son of God – Adam, Israel -> Jesus in a unique way
-Matt 10:32, 33 (awknowledge, deny)
-Matt 11:27 (HIS Father, exclusive relationship)
-Matt 12:6, 8 (better than the temple, the Sabbath)
-Matt. 13:41 (send his angels into HIS kingdom…)
-Matt. 22:42-45
-Matt. 24:29, 30
-Matt 26:64, 65 – Jesus seated at the right hand of God and coming on clouds
-Matt. 28:18 – all authority
-John 8:58
-John 14:9 – seen Jesus = seen the Father
-John 20:27, 28 – Thomas’ confession
-same activities: Creator, Judge, King, Light, Rock, Savior, Shepherd
II. Do the Scriptural writers claim that Jesus is God?
-Matt. 3:3 – prepare the way of the Lord
-John 1:1 –
-Col. 1:15-16
-Heb. 1:3, 8
-sidenote – the early post-apostolic writers are universal in their assent of Christ’s deity
III. What difference does it make?
-relationship – John 14:9
-revelation – Heb. 1:1-3; John 14
-authority of Scripture – Heb. 1:1-3; john 16:13-15
-finality of the NT – Heb. 1:1-3
-exercises God’s authority (though this is a change) – Heb. 1:3; Rom. 1:1-4; Matt. 28:18
-will judge the world in holiness – john 5:21-23
IV. The Bible emphasizes Jesus’ humanity
-1 John 4:2, 3
V. The Bible emphasizes Jesus’ humanity for these reasons
-salvation is by Jesus’ obedience to the Father as a perfect man – Rom. 5:19; Matt 3:17
-Jesus can identify with our suffering – heb 4:15
-Jesus can serve as the NC mediator(!) – heb 8:6-13
-Jesus secures our glorification -1 cor 15:12-22; Rom. 6:5
VI. What difference does our Christology make?
-salvation - -Col. 2:8-13; 1 John 4:2, 3; Rom. 4:22-25; Gal. 2:16
-how we read the Bible – John 14, Heb. 1 again
I. Did Jesus claim to be God?
-note on the Son of God – Adam, Israel -> Jesus in a unique way
-Matt 10:32, 33 (awknowledge, deny)
-Matt 11:27 (HIS Father, exclusive relationship)
-Matt 12:6, 8 (better than the temple, the Sabbath)
-Matt. 13:41 (send his angels into HIS kingdom…)
-Matt. 22:42-45
-Matt. 24:29, 30
-Matt 26:64, 65 – Jesus seated at the right hand of God and coming on clouds
-Matt. 28:18 – all authority
-John 8:58
-John 14:9 – seen Jesus = seen the Father
-John 20:27, 28 – Thomas’ confession
-same activities: Creator, Judge, King, Light, Rock, Savior, Shepherd
II. Do the Scriptural writers claim that Jesus is God?
-Matt. 3:3 – prepare the way of the Lord
-John 1:1 –
-Col. 1:15-16
-Heb. 1:3, 8
-sidenote – the early post-apostolic writers are universal in their assent of Christ’s deity
III. What difference does it make?
-relationship – John 14:9
-revelation – Heb. 1:1-3; John 14
-authority of Scripture – Heb. 1:1-3; john 16:13-15
-finality of the NT – Heb. 1:1-3
-exercises God’s authority (though this is a change) – Heb. 1:3; Rom. 1:1-4; Matt. 28:18
-will judge the world in holiness – john 5:21-23
IV. The Bible emphasizes Jesus’ humanity
-1 John 4:2, 3
V. The Bible emphasizes Jesus’ humanity for these reasons
-salvation is by Jesus’ obedience to the Father as a perfect man – Rom. 5:19; Matt 3:17
-Jesus can identify with our suffering – heb 4:15
-Jesus can serve as the NC mediator(!) – heb 8:6-13
-Jesus secures our glorification -1 cor 15:12-22; Rom. 6:5
VI. What difference does our Christology make?
-salvation - -Col. 2:8-13; 1 John 4:2, 3; Rom. 4:22-25; Gal. 2:16
-how we read the Bible – John 14, Heb. 1 again
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