Where Does God Live? - Revelation 20-22

In these closing images of the Book we see that the infamous Dragon Is Destroyed (20:1–10) and the People of God, the Church stand in the New Creation (21:1–22:5). The End of Time and the Beginning of Eternity ring with Covenant consummation.  We read in Revelation 21:3 (NLT)

³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

This is the culmination of a great plan. "One concept that runs through scripture from Genesis to Revelation is God dwelling or being present with his people. We see God being present with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:8-9). We see it in Moses’ days when the presence of God was represented in the tabernacle, specifically the ark. Once the temple was built it represented the presence of God among the community (1 Kings 8:13), even though they realized it could not contain Him (1 Kings 8:27)." [1]  Even among fickle and failing Israel God said, “I will live among you, and I will not despise you. I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.” (Leviticus 26:11–12, NLT)

With great glory, God in Christ came to dwell with us.  “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” (John 1:14, NLT)

When Christ ascended He promised the coming of the Holy Spirit.  We learn why in John 14:17–18 (NLT)

¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. ¹⁸ No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

Now when time is complete so is the pursuit of God to be with His people. “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” (Revelation 21:3, NLT) "God's dwelling (skene) among his people (v. 3) is a fulfilment of Leviticus 26:11-13, a promise given to the old Jerusalem but forfeited because of apostasy. As a backdrop for the scene, consider Genesis 3, when man lost his fellowship with God (cf. Exod 25:8; Ezek 37:26-27)." [2]

Lord as this post is published on December 31st 2013, the end of a Year, I know I am one step closer to being at home with You.  Perhaps in 2014 I will be forever caught up into Your Presence.  I long for the day that You will make Your Home with Your People.  Forever things will change.  All things will be new.  Our hearts and minds cannot conceive of the the glory to be realized on that day.  Save your people, Lord Jesus.  Save my family.  Bring them to repentance and faith.   Prepare my loved one and I for that eternal home. 

____________________________________________

1. http://mattdabbs.com/2009/08/05/gods-desire-dwell-with-us/

2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Revelation/Exposition of Revelation/V. Vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5)/A. The New Jerusalem (21:1-27), Book Version: 4.0.2

Conquered But Forever the Conquerors - Revelation 12-19

Revelation 12:9–12 (NLT)

⁹ This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. ¹¹ And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. ¹² Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

"The dragon’s expulsion from heaven shows that Satan cannot press charges as the accuser of our brothers because the Lamb shed his blood for them and they maintain their testimony of trust even unto death. Although “conquered” by the beast physically in death (11:7; 13:7), in fact the martyrs have conquered both the beast (15:2) and the dragon that empowers it. They have conquered him is set in ironic and beautiful contrast to 13:7." [1] [Emphasis mine!]

___________________________
1.  Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2480). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Praying for Judgement - Revelation 8:6 - 11

"After the interlude of chap. 7, the seventh seal is opened and judgment continues. Seven angels receive seven trumpets that signal further wrath when blown. Four of the trumpets in chap. 8 affect nature. The remaining three trumpets, which signal wrath against sinful humanity, come later." [1]

Revelation 8:3–5 (NLT)

"³ Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. ⁵ Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake."

Is it not intriguing that the outpouring of God's judgement on earth is" probably in response to the prayers of the saints in 6:10?" [2]   "Symbolically, this represents the answer to the prayers of the saints through the visitation on earth of God's righteous judgments." [3]

It's not socially correct to pray for God's judgment, but these prayers called imprecatory prayers  are thought to be contrary to New Testament passivity and charity.  But it seems clear that to pray for God's judgment to fall on the wicked and for His Kingdom to come is not only illustrated here but appropriate. John Piper [4] says,

Suppose the Gestapo or some contemporary form of it is sweeping through your neighborhood and, in the most brutal way, wiping people out. Killing people. I think you would pray, "God, stop them! Do whatever you have to do to stop them!" Or, when they're in prison, "God, this was so wrong!"

So I want to say that there may be a time when you're calling God's judgment on somebody

Although we proceed slowly, whenever we pray, "Thy Kingdom come" we essentially pray for judgment on God's enemies.

My Lord and God.  You are the King.  You reign today in the midst of your enemies.  You will reign until all your enemies are made your footstool and every tongue will confess you as Lord.  I pray for Your glory.  I pray that the you come Lord Jesus.  I pray that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done.  I pray that the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdoms of You my God and King. Save Your elect.  Call the number of the Gentiles in. Revive Israel in these last days and come Lord Jesus come.  


__________________________________
1.  Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 8:1–13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. Ibid, (Re 8:5)
3. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Revelation/Exposition of Revelation/III. Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Signs, and the Seven Bowls (4:1-19:10)/B. The Seven Trumpets (8:2-11:19)/1. Preparatory: the angel and the golden censer (8:2-5), Book Version: 4.0.2
4. http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/ask-pastor-john/do-christians-have-permission-to-pray-imprecatory-prayers

The Elect Among the Elect - Revelation 6-8:5

The seals of the scroll which only the Lamb can open (6:1) bring political domination, death, devastation and disease.  This is all developing as time flows purposely toward the great day of God's wrath (6:17).  But wait! What of God's people?

 “And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.”” (Revelation 7:2–3, NLT)

Prior to the seventh seal the Apostle sees again the scene in the throne room.  Included now he sees some clothed in white.  Who are they?“And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.” (Revelation 7:14, NLT).    They are now forever in the Presence of God and “. . . And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”” (Revelation 7:17b, NLT).

Prior to that during the outpouring of the fifth seal, John saw a group under the altar calling.  These are martyrs.  The full number were not there yet. “Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.” (Revelation 6:11, NLT).

The Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate hand behind all events that take place on the earth.  Even the number of martyrs is numbered.  There is an elect among the Elect.  Yet through this whole scene from the first seal through to the coming wrath, there is worship and praise in Heaven.  God's people martyred in the Tribulation are safe with Him.

Lord I find the events confusing.  It is hard to read these events and have it all clear in my mind.  Are they in the future?  Are we within the midst of them?  This I know that none of these events take place without Your sovereign permission.  And through all this, Your people are preserved.  Even the the martyred heads are ultimately not touched.  

 

"Silence is appropriate in anticipation of the Lord’s coming judgment (Zeph. 1:7–10; Zech. 2:13)." [1]

_________________________________________

1.  Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2474). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

 

 

Then They All Fall Down! Revelation 4-5

What an 'other-worldly' scene depicted by John in Revelation 4 & 5!  I note that:

“Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). . . . ..” (Revelation 4:9–10, NLT).

And again ...

   “And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:8–9, NLT)

The 24 elders fall in worship when the supremacy of God is lifted in praise. They also fall when the Lamb of God enters and takes the scroll.  What is that scroll? I think the scroll is the unfolding and opening of God timetable. "In a broader sense, the scroll contains God’s purposes for history, but its seven seals prevent the full disclosure and enactment of its contents."[1] The Church sings praises to the redemption of the Son among all peoples.

There is, I think, a relationship between the unfolding of history and the salvation of the elect.  Could it not be that our sovereign God has ordained all the events of this world, both small and great to show His majesty and power and to redeem His people?  What the people of God recognize now will be eventually recognized by all. "Eventually, every knee “in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” will bow and “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11)." [2]

Lord you deserve my worship.  You are the sovereign, creator -- God of all gods.  You rule and majesty and glory.  Your Church knows this.  We also know that all the events of this life are ultimately ordained to save Your elect and bring all people to recognize the righteous rule of Your Son, my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  All events ... contribute the the redemption of Your Church and the submission of all peoples everywhere.  

"He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,

and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation." [3]

__________________________________

1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2470). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Ibid, (2471).

3. Heidelberg Catechism

 

Do You Know What I Am Saying? Revelation 1-3

““Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”” (Revelation 3:22, NLT)  

Christ is radiantly glorious and victorious.  He is sovereign and supreme over all.   His Spirit has a message to the churches.  We live amongst false doctrine and persecution.   We also live with dedicated and faithful Christians.  We live with cold and casual Christianity.  We are called to repent, remain faithful.

The picture is radically normal! It is earth-shakenly average.  It's a picture of the 21st Century.  Nothing the Spirit says is a surprise. This is Christianity in the midst of a world where Christ rules in the midst of His enemies.  The message is "deal with it."   Deal with the false; deal with the nominal Christians; deal with the opposition; deal with the encouragement.  How?  Persevere and remain faithful.

Accept the world as it is and not as you wish it was.  Christ is on the throne.  Deal with it. 

Sometimes we picture the situation in extremes.  We make the Church appear to be too apostate or too triumphant.  We make the world to be the enemy instead of the false nominalism within the Church -- and vice versa.  Sometimes the enemy is neither -- its in me; in you.  This is the world -- a mixed bag of good and bad.  We are called to respond in faithfulness to the Voice of the Holy Spirit.

Lord help me face this very normal, average day, expecting that I will face all realms of possibility: some great, some horrid.  Lord help me face this day knowing that You are sovereign and supreme.  I can trust you to enable me to be faithful and persevere.   I can.  That's what you are saying to the Churches!

What Is Real About Reality TV?

I was recently listening to a podcast by The Gospel Coalition entitled "Going Deeper with TGC."  The topic was My Top 10 Theology Stories of2013 by Mark Mellinger, as interviewed by Colin Hansen. One of them asked an interesting question in the interview: "What is real about Reality TV?"  That grabbed my attention, because it was meant to be rhetorical.  The answer is nothing!    Reality TV is not real. 

Reality television is a type of program that attempts to show actual events and it seems to usually employ characters that aren't known to be movie stars (although that is not always true).   I read that it started in about the 1990s but by all accounts on my satellite provider's program listing, it is exploding!   In our home we watch such things as restaurant makeovers to Duck Dynasty.  From 'little people' to people with huge families, these shows seem to attract a huge audience – all on the pretense of reality!

So what is reality? The dictionary tells us it’s a noun that is:

1. The quality or state of being actual or true; or
2. That which exists objectively and in fact.

This hunger for reality is a tell-tale sign of the human frustration.  There is a sense where reality escapes all of us.  This quote is attributed to Heraclitus of Ephesus: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”  Everyone of us and everything in nature is in flux – changing.  There is only one being that is a true being.  As Dr. R.C. Sproul says, "God is being, not becoming, not changing. He is eternally the same. And so we say there’s one being."  We are becoming.  We are changing.  God is always the same.

In that sense there is but one reality in the universe: God. In Exodus 3:11-14 God reveals Himself to be “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh” (I Am who I Am).  "[He] replied, I AM THAT I AM, using the verb to be (Heb hāyāh). It means "I am the One who is" . . . This is also supported by LXX reading: egō ei’mi o‘ ōn. God expressed the unchanging, eternal, self-existence of His being." [1]

God is always "I am".  He is eternal.  He is unchanging.  He can never be better than He was yesterday.  He needs no improvement.  God is the ultimate Reality.

Perhaps the hunger for Reality TV is a hidden passion to find something that is actually true – actually the way it is.  Many today are longing for that reality but don't know where to find it.  The Apostle Paul makes it clear: It is “. . . the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God . . . Jesus Christ as Lord . . ..” (2 Corinthians 4:4–5, ESV)  


_____________________________________
1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (124). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

 

The Christmas Angels Were Calvinists!

Author and pastor, Anthony Carter writes, “Our world is fond of talking about peace. We hold peace summits and rallies. We establish peace accords and treaties. We even hand out peace prizes . . . Yet, for all of its summits, accords, and Nobel Prizes, the world has not achieved peace . . ..”[1]  Of course you don't need to be a pastor or author to know that.  The world knows that!  Yet 2000 years ago a message came to the world through angels to shepherds: 

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14, AV) (or so reads the King James Version.)

Paul identifies that this pronouncement of peace came at a great cost to our Savior.  In Colossians 1:19–20 (ESV).

¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Christ came as the Prince of Peace that through the Cross He might provide peace to men and women. But unlike the translation omission of the King James Version, this peace just doesn't naturally fall upon everyone.  The ESV like the NASB, translates the angel’s announcement this way: ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” (Luke 2:14, ESV).   The NIV renders the verse “. . . on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” (Luke 2:14, NIV).

Our English Bibles seem to struggle with this announcement.  How do we properly communicate it?  As I study the text it seems as if the translators go around the issue.  So how should we understand what the angels are communicating?  Well Luke uses the same phrase in chapter 10. The NIV seems to capture the idea so well.  Notice what it says,

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Luke 10:21, NIV)

Now that phrase "what you were pleased to do" is the same phrase used by the angels.  Matthew also uses this phrase (the only other time it is used in the Gospels).  Notice what he writes (Again I'm using the NIV): “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Matthew 11:25–26, NIV)

Consistently again the idea being conveyed by this word "what you were pleased to do." So if we were going to maintain our consistency, we must conclude that the angels' announcement conveys the idea that God peace is given to those whom "He is pleased to give to."  Daryll Bock, who has written an exceptional commentary on Luke and Acts notes:

"The praise of the heavenly host offers honor to God and peace to men on whom his favor rests. This last phrase is not a declaration of universal salvation but refers to those who are the special objects of God's grace . . . They are the "saved" or the "elect," those on whom God has bestowed the favor of his grace."[2]

This is supported by the original text as noted by the NET Bible notation.  I quote:

"'Most witnesses (א² B² L Θ Ξ Ψ Ë^1,13 Ï sy bo) have ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία (en anqrwpoi" eudokia, “good will among people”) instead of ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας (en anqrwpoi" eudokia", “among people with whom he is pleased”), a reading attested by א* A B* D W pc (sa). Most of the Itala witnesses and some other versional witnesses reflect a Greek text which has the genitive εὐδοκίας but drops the preposition ἐν. Not only is the genitive reading better attested, but it is more difficult than the nominative.' The meaning seems to be, not that divine peace can be bestowed only where human good will is already present, but that at the birth of the Saviour God’s peace rests on those whom he has chosen in accord with his good pleasure” (TCGNT 111)."[3]

The point is that God’s peace is not something people, earn, it is gift – a gift given according to the delights of His own good pleasure of God’s will. When we truly experience God’s peace we learn that it is all of grace.  It is a gift.  John MacArthur notes: "The verb form of the same word is used in 3:22; 12:32. In each case, it refers to God’s sovereign good pleasure. So a better rendering here might be “peace toward men on whom God’s sovereign pleasure rests.”^[4]

A faithful rendering of the text this Christmas will not avoid the notion that peace and reconciliation are gracious gifts of the Father, bestowed upon those whom He has sovereignly and freely chosen.  “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Ephesians 1:7–10, ESV).

The Christmas angels believed in the sovereign, merciful electing love of God in Christ. 

 

 

---

[1] Carter; Anthony (2013-03-19). Blood Work (p. 61). Reformation Trust Publishing. Kindle Edition.

[2] http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Luke/Birth-Jesus

[3] http://classic.net.bible.org/passage.php?passage=Luk%202:8-14#n22

^[4] The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1515). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

How Do You Apologize?

The current news out of Toronto involving Mayor Rob Ford raises the question, "How do you apologize?"  Back in 2006, Marvin Olasky, made some interesting statements about this.  For instance he wrote:

• "Requests for human forgiveness should be directed straightforwardly to the individuals sinned against.
• "Those who are caught should not plea bargain." (Some of what I said was true.)
• "It's not adequate to say, when criticized, I was just kidding."
• "It's also too bad when people to preserve their political or job status have to pretend they didn't mean what they meant."
• "Nor do two wrongs make a right."

The origin of the word 'apology' tended to lean toward self-justification, but today's cultural expectation lands more in the category of "saying your sorry." Marvin Olasky poignantly and brilliantly summarizes the best response to wrongdoing by a simple statement "to the offended human party and to God as well. 'I was wrong. Please forgive me.'"

My mother's sage wisdom taught me that when you say you are sorry, you are intent on not repeating it. Does this go without saying? She got that, I believe, from 2 Corinthians 7:10 [1]. In that passage, Paul, commended the Corinthians for their apologetic behaviour.  This is what he wrote:

“Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.” (2 Corinthians 7:11, NLT) 

Did you see that?  "Do everything necessary to make things right."  That's a great standard for an apology.



  


_____________________________
1. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Not All Exaggerations Are Lies.

When the fish story is exaggerated; and the white-tail buck scores bigger in the narrative than on the tape, that's a lie.  But not all exaggerations are lies.  Some exaggerations are called hyperboles. A hyperbole is a means of speaking that is intended to make a strong impression.  It is never to be taken literally. An hyper, hyperbole is immediately recognized by that reality. A hyperbole is an overstatement as compared to a situation that is understated. When you are stuck in the mud, up to the floor boards and say, "I think I'm in trouble here;" that is understated.  To bring in the groceries for your wife and say, "This bag weighs a ton;" is overstated.

"Jesus used a hyperbole to impress His listeners with the gravity of sin. It would be better to sever a member of the body than to keep it and go to hell." [1]

 ““Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” (Mark 9:42–48, ESV)

Overstatements are not intended to minimize the situation, but to show its severity.  People who deny eternal suffering claiming that the Bible is just using metaphors fail to understand the role of the hyperbole.  But we who are Christians might also make a similar error.  Understanding grace and forgiveness may lead us to minimize the severity of sin.   "Jesus is not demanding the excision of our bodily members; he is demanding the cessation of the sinful activities of these members. Radical spiritual surgery is demanded. Nothing less is at stake than life, eternal life (cf. v. 47, where "kingdom of God" stands in parallel to "life" in vv. 43, 45)." (Expositor's Bible Commentary).

________________________________
1.  KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1988). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Unique Relationship of Prayer and Faith

“And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer”” (Mark 9:29, ESV).  So reads the NIV and NASB.  The King James Version reads: “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29, AV).  Matthew records the same narrative this way: “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”” (Matthew 17:20, ESV).

There is a direct connection between faith and prayer.  It likely is something like: prayerlessness equates to faithlessness. "Apparently they had taken for granted the power given them or had come to believe that it was inherent in themselves. So they no longer depended prayerfully on God for it, and their failure showed their lack of prayer."  (Expositor's Bible Commentary).    But the opposite might be true also.  Not only with faithlessness produce prayerlessness, but prayerlessness produces faithlessness.  But of course the positive is this: even the minute faith of a mustard seed will lead us to pray which in turn stimulates greater faith.

What Did The Pharisees And Herod Have In Common?

I've heard a lot about Pharisaism but never before did I notice it's connection with King Herod. It is recorded in Mark 8:11, "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."  As this Study Bible notes: "The Pharisees and Herod seem to be an odd combination."[1] What is the connection with Herod?  The KJV Bible Commentary continues with this reasonable explanation: "Matthew unites the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Matthew 16:6) with a common leaven, If Herod belonged to the Sadducee sect, as many scholars believe, the common denominator would be their attachment to a false religion." [1]  "They were the deists or sceptics of that age." [2] Jesus called them hypocrites, wicked and adulterous (Matthew 16:1–4; 22:23).  The did not believe in the doctrine of the resurrection.

I think another possibility is that Jesus did not equate the concept of Herod with him as a person, but with a group that are called Herodians.  They were a Jewish political party who sympathized with the Herodian rulers in their general policy of government, and in the social customs which they introduced from Rome. They were at one with the Sadducees in holding the duty of submission to Rome, and of supporting the Herods on the throne.[2]

Now the Pharisees were "noted for their self-righteousness and their pride (Matthew 9:11; Luke 7:39; 18:11, 12)." [2]  But if Christ meant to warn the disciples of a common "leaven" that existed between the Pharisees and Herodians it had to be that the both hated Christ and sought to obstruct His Messianic mission. “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” (Mark 3:6, ESV).

"What seems like an innocent, indeed legitimate request for a sign (on Herod’s desire for miracles, see Luke 23:8) is actually a rejection of His ministry and all His previous signs." [3] Could it be that self-righteous pride, hypocrisy and rationalism really obstruct the ministry and work of Christ? These attitudes lead us to being enemies of Christ rather than followers of Christ. Submission to rules or rulers apart from Christ position us as foes of Christ, not followers.

_________________________________________
1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1985). Nashville: Thomas Nelson
2. Easton, M. G. (1893). Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.
3. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Mk 8:15). Nashville: T. Nelson.

In A Single Moment

Revelation 18:1-4 is a vision of God's judgment on Babylon.  Babylon, not a particular place or city, but a religious system and worldview of massive proportions that is bent on power and wealth. The people of God are called to come out of such cultures.

“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;” (Revelation 18:4, ESV)

The demise of Babylon in God's judgment is emphasized:

• “Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day— death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”” (Revelation 18:8, NLT)
• “They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city! In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.”” (Revelation 18:10, NLT)
• “In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!” And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance.” (Revelation 18:17, NLT)
• “And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out, “How terrible, how terrible for that great city! The shipowners became wealthy by transporting her great wealth on the seas. In a single moment it is all gone.”” (Revelation 18:19, NLT)

 

This is how fast we can lose it all.  We need to distance ourselves from worldliness.  The things of the world can disappear in an instant.   

The Deviation of Dispensationalism

The predominance and popularity of Dispensational theology is something that I am very aware of, but always surprised at.   Dr. John Gerstner describes the error of this philosophy in a very helpful way:

Dispensationalists see God as pursuing two distinct purposes throughout history, one related to an earthly goal and an earthly people (the Jews), the other to heavenly goals and a heavenly people (the church).Dispensationalists believe that in the Old Testament God promised the Jewish people an earthly kingdom ruled by Messiah ben David, and that when Christ came He offered this prophesied kingdom to the Jews. When the Jews of the time rejected Christ and the earthly kingdom, the promise was postponed, and the "mystery form" of the kingdom - the church - was established.

The church, according to dispensational doctrine, was unforeseen in the Old Testament and constitutes a "parenthesis" in God's plan for Israel. In the future, the distinction between Jew and Gentile will be re-established and will continue throughout all eternity.

What if a Jewish Apostle on trial before a Roman king testified in his hearing that the basic premise of dispensationalism was wrong?  What if the transcript of that trial made it into the inspired New Testament?   Paul states, “And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!” (Acts 26:6–7, ESV).

The Faith Study Bible makes a clarifying comment on Paul's answer to King Agrippa. 

In claiming this, the apostle establishes that he is no threat to the Jewish people. He proclaims that all the promises made to the Jewish people have come true. By preaching their hope in God’s covenantal promises, Paul supports the Jewish nation and affirms their place in God’s plan. The gospel is not antithetical to OT revelation but is the fulfillment of it.

When God Whistles

When I mention the Biblical doctrine of unconditional election it sparks an angry passion in many people.  How a Christian can respond negatively to such a profound truth is beyond me.  That emotional response is only seconded by another so-called 'Calvinstic' doctrine, namely irresistible grace.  Well meaning Christians can read such events as found in Matthew 9:9 (ESV):

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

and not blink!  Imagine the scene: Matthew sitting.  Jesus walking by.  Jesus says follow me.  Matthew follows.  Call it what you want but that invitation of Jesus was really a command and it was irresistible.   Matthew could no longer resist that command than the sun could refuse to shine, or Lazarus could refuse to come out of the tomb.

Jesus Himself said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:37–38, ESV).

Is this some bizarre, obscure teaching?  Absolutely not!  Even wicked nations cannot resist the effectual call of Almighty God. Listen to the prophet Isaiah:

“He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come! None is weary, none stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a waistband is loose, not a sandal strap broken; their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind. Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue. They will growl over it on that day, like the growling of the sea. And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.” (Isaiah 5:26–30, ESV).

When God whistles, you will come.

 

  

 

 

Grace Rules

Let's look at a verse together.  Notice Romans 5:17 (ESV):

¹⁷ For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Adam was the representative or federal head of the human race.  When he sinned he lost his position to be God's ruler over creation. Consequently sin and death ruled.  Adam is the representative of a culture destined to die.  We are all born into that relationship.   Christ came, in one sense, to become the new and last Adam.  He represents a new society that one must be "born-again" into.

For those who surrender their lives to Jesus Christ they become recipients of much grace. They receive a gift of righteousness.  They are considered right before Almighty God.  Paul then notes that in this new relationship they are destined to "reign in life through ... Jesus."

The New Living Translation helps us understand what that means.  This translation reads, ". . . for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17, NLT).   Paul picks up this theme in the next chapter where we read: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14, ESV).

 

God's grace doesn't turn a blind eye to sin, nor does it dismiss its implications.  God's grace is the enabling power to rule over sin -- in the now and the today.  We "reign in this life."  For a Christian to say that because of God's grace, he or she can sin even more is a serious misunderstanding of grace.  In Paul's view, Grace rules -- rules over sin.  “so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 5:21–6:1, ESV). 

 

Of course the answer to Paul's question is a resounding "No!" 

 

 

  








   

  

Then Final Chapter Is Not Read Yet!

As you read through the stories in Acts you encounter an amazing work of God in the life of a man called Stephen. “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8, ESV).  Stephen became the first martyr.  At his execution, Luke the historian writes these poignant words:

“And Saul approved of his execution . . ..” (Acts 8:1a, ESV).

Why would the inspired writer insert this comment here? This is not just a moot statement.  This Saul would be converted and become Paul.  He would be transformed and be used of God to transform multitudes.  To those observing Saul that day they would never had imagined what God had in mind for this zealot.  Circumstances may look hopeless. But God may have plans that will absolutely amaze you.

Whether that hopelessness is an unsaved friend, a prodigal child, or an antagonistic spouse, God has not revealed the last chapter yet.

 

A Different Take on Spiritual Warfare

Look at the following two verses.  How do they compare?  How do they contrast with each other?

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11, ESV)

 

AND

 

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14, ESV)

 

The armor of God is a metaphor of Christ.  To do battle in the Christian life is to "put on" Christ.  It is to live showing the character of Christ on the outside.    If these two verses are parallel thoughts then the schemes, the strategy of Satan is revealed in our fleshly desires that lead to sin.

 

Every Christian is in a spiritual battle and the primary battleground is our desires that are ungodly. Living in the power of Christ trusting His graces is the only hope of standing.

 

 

Surprise!

The Bible ought to surprise us from time to time.  If God's thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) then we is should come as no surprise that we are surprised!   Take for example Acts 4:28.  While the disciples were praying after the release of Peter and John and acknowledging the crucifixion of Christ they acknowledged that what took place actually had “to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”


Now you don't have to be a Calvinist to give assent to the truth that the atonement was part of God's plan from the beginning (Genesis 3:15).  You might need some encouragement to see that it was, however, not according to God's perfect omniscience, but in fact, as the Greek bears witness, something He actually ordained.  The word used here is προορίζω [pro·or·id·zo] which means "appoint beforehand. So this isn't God "rubber-stamping" man's will.  This is God ordaining what He wanted to occur.
   
But that's not the surprise ....

The disciples also prayed that "God's hand" also did it!   The Greek New Testament (ποιῆσαι ὅσα ἡ χείρ σου καὶ ἡ βουλὴ προώρισεν γενέσθαι) reads that these wicked men did what God's hand did.  Peter had called these men to repent (see 2:38; 3:19) therefore God was holding them morally culpable for their crime.

Now the human mind would love to reconcile these seemingly contradictory statements. You cannot. These wicked men did what God did and He held them accountable.   That ought to surprise you.  Surprise you enough to worship in awe of the majesty and glory of almighty God. 

Warning:  If you try to rationalize this you will fall headlong into heresy.  Be surprised!




  

  

Sometimes Silence is Golden

I have a book on my shelf entitled "Well-Intentioned Dragons."  Of the same ilk many of us are well-intentioned encouragers.  But a hole we all can fall into is the "pit of pat sayings."   They are theologically sound and often shared with the hope of comfort and encouragement.  But they are empty clouds with no showers of blessings.   Job felt that way about his comforters:“Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.” (Job 13:12, ESV).

a. "Well, there's always tomorrow!"
b. "God is in control."
c. "Just look to Jesus."
d. "The pain will pass in time."

And so on; and so on!   Yes, I've used them too and they are theologically sound but practically meaningless.  Perhaps some people would like to say to us once and awhile, "Your maxims are proverbs of ashes."

Sometimes silence is golden and your presence is profound!

  

What Are You Spending Your Money On?

Subtitle: The Gospel According to Isaiah

Isaiah 55:1 (ESV) “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."  

The metaphor is that we are invited to enter the marketplace and purchase anything we want, even if we are penniless.  Not only are we invited to come and buy without money, we are encouraged to buy what is the very finest. “. . . Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” (Isaiah 55:2b, ESV). 

To those who buy well, they will enter into an eternal covenant of grace with Christ Jesus (55:3). The redemption of God is beyond human comprehension, but those that seek Christ will find Him; and His promises are sure (55:6 & 10ff).  To those that buy well there is the promise of ultimate joy (55:12).  This salvation is for Jew and Gentile alike; all who seek the Lord (56:8).

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15, ESV)

  

  

You will die ... but not a hair will be touched.

Is this double-talk?   "Some will be put to death."  "Not a hair of your head will perish."  There is only one logical response to this if we hold to the inerrancy and the inspiration of Scripture. God cannot lie.  God cannot contradict Himself.

 

So what's the answer? The ESV Study Bible notes: "In light of the prediction that some disciples will be "put to death" (v. 16), it is best to take not a hair of your head will perish as a metaphorical way of saying that God’s people will suffer no eternal spiritual harm."  I think that this is the only answer that is reasonable.

 

But this leads to a deeper issue ....

 

It seems that when Jesus gave promises, He gave them in light of time and eternity.  So when we read promises like “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19, ESV), it is important to see this eschatologically -- encompassing all time.  Paul, when under Roman arrest could write confidently in Philippians 1:19 (ESV), ". . .

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance."  Whether through life or death it was all deliverance!  They Jewish captives in Babylon understood this too.  In Daniel 3:16–18 (ESV), we read: 

  

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

 

The three captives understood that God's care and deliverance encompassed all time and eternity.  So the deeper issue for Christians is to read the promises of God with that eye looking to the glorious future.   Christ does not promise your best life now!  He promises your best life now ... and forever.

  ,

 

.

OUR FAVORITE SPORT

The whistle had already blown and the game had started, then the referee in my head called for a "time out."   I was involved in what has become "a favorite sport."   By the way, I love watching UFC.  Of course I get to do it alone in my house because no one else appreciates or shares my passion.   But there is something about MMA fighting that is good.  When an opponent cannot defend themselves the ref calls the bout. 

Yesterday I got into a favorite sport.  It's called "criticize the church."   But guess what?  It's worse than the fights on Saturday night!  My opponent cannot defend herself.  Nope.  I can just beat her and pummel her into submission.  Thankfully the "Referee" jumped in and convicted me of my atrocity. 

I also was reading a book by an outstanding New Testament expositor, Dr. D.A. Carson.  I soon learned that my favorite sport was also the favorite sport of missionaries and those involved in cross-cultural work.  People actually travel to other lands and then enjoy the sport of beating up on the North American church.  Carson writes,

"This sort of disorientation also accounts, in part, for the frequency and intensity of the criticism of Western institutions and churches uttered by many “Third World” leaders. God knows there is enough to criticize in the West. Nevertheless, in my experience, very few “Third World” leaders spend much time criticizing the West and stressing the need for properly contextualized theology until they have spent a few years studying in the West. Many, many of them no longer quite fit back home. Meanwhile, where have they learned their criticisms of the West? In the West, of course! To criticize the West is an extremely Western thing to do. In fact, to criticize wherever we are is an extremely Western thing to do. Very few of these leaders, for whatever reason, actually engage in much contextualized theology. Instead, they make their reputations criticizing the West." [1]

Do you want to be known for criticizing the Church, or being the means of help and encouragement?

 

_____________________________

1.  Carson, D. A. (2004-02-01). Cross and Christian Ministry, The: An Exposition of Passages from 1 Corinthians (p. 133-144). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

How Should We Imitate Paul - Final

Again, let me remind you where we have been:  To live like Paul, or to imitate Paul is to live out the implications of the Gospel.   This is the final installment of a series of blogs on this subject.

1. Why I believe that statement to be true?  Click HERE.
2. What is the Gospel?  Click HERE.
3. Is it possible to imitate Paul?  Click HERE.
4. How should we imitate Paul?  Click HERE.

In this final blog on the subject we want to look at what that might look like.  Many people tend to go to 1 Corinthians 13 to talk about love (and that is certainly not wrong); but cross-shaped love -- the love that lives out the implications of the Gospel is better described for us in Philippians 2, in my opinion.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:1–11, ESV)

From this passage I find these 4 principles.  A cross-shaped love is:

a)      Humble, looking to the needs of others;
b)      Service oriented;
c)      Obedient, regardless of the cost; and
d)      Identifies with the guilty and the lost.

This latter point is the least understood.  The Bible is clear that Christ did not avoid sinners. Someone has rightly said that there can be no impact without contact.  But when contact with sinners is done in a Pharisaic, judgmental way, it can be destructive.  But when Christians understand that apart from God's grace they too would be lost; and when Christians never forget their roots of depravity -- it makes our contact with unbelievers graceful and kind.

The challenge for us who have believed and obeyed the Gospel, is summed up in the question, "Are we living out the implications of the Gospel in our lives."   The good news is that we can. Because of God's mercy toward us, He has poured out His love into our hearts thus making us capable of loving others in a cross-shaped way.   Secondly he has given us His Spirit to enable us to do that.