One Day, Oh Glorious Day!

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest - Part 1

Zechariah 3 contains the fourth vision of the prophet.  "The fourth vision concerns Joshua, the high priest (Ezra 3:2), and deals particularly with the problem of an impure priesthood. It begins by showing God’s solution to the problem (vv. 4, 5) and ends by showing how God wipes away the sin of all His people (vv. 8, 9)." [1]

The vision includes three principles: Joshua the High Priest, Satan and the LORD/the Angel of the LORD. “Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.” (Zechariah 3:3, NIV).  Satan is standing to accuse Joshua of sin and the LORD says to him:

“The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”” (Zechariah 3:2, NIV).

The LORD says to others that are present (presumably angels) to removed Joshua's filthy clothes and put "fine" garments on him.  All this representing that his sins have been taken away.  Joshua is then commanded to live in obedience to the LORD and if so, would enjoy a lasting reign among God's people and access to the heavenly courts.  Then the LORD makes this amazing promise:

““ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:8–9, NIV) 

Again, we learn that all those present were types, types of one that would come: God's servant, the Branch. "This coming one was called "my servant, the Branch"—two well-known OT appellations for the Messiah. As Servant, the Messiah came into the world to do the will of the Father. Through his work, Israel will yet be redeemed and restored as a priestly nation, which Joshua and his associate priests typified." [2] 

The "Branch" would ultimately “. . . remove the sin of this land in a single day.” (Zechariah 3:9b, NIV).  "God will take away His people’s sin through the BRANCH. The priestly system in the Old Testament was not intended actually to cover sin but only to prefigure the One who would truly deal with man’s sin (Heb. 10:1–18)." [1]  This would occur in one day.  "The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:30; 23:28) was an annual reminder of sin (Heb. 9:7–10), but Christ on a single day (Good Friday) once for all made atonement for the sins of God’s people (Heb. 9:11–14)." [1]

Woven through this vision is the reality that all mankind (represented by Israel) are branches prepared and very near the fire.  Our sin has condemned us.  But the God of Israel who does all things according to His will and predestined us for salvation.  The demands of holiness exceed our ability, but One would come and in "one day" cleanse all His Elect from sin.  This is great news.  The priesthood is abrogated; and the Great High Priest exalted -- in "one day."

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
  One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;
  Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He. [3]

Father, You know how desperate I need to hear the Gospel this morning.  Oh the joy of sins forgiven. Oh what a Savior! Oh the wonder of standing before You today with the sure and certain knowledge that I was condemned.  And even today the imperfect obedience and the downright sinfulness of my life is worthy of death.  Yet I hear the voice of Christ, 'Satan I rebuke you.  This is a chosen one. This is one of My Elect. And in One Day, I have removed all his transgressions.'  Amazing love, how can it be?  My heart overflows with such undeserved mercy.  Grant, Father, in Your providence, a Gospel-driven, Gospel-centered obedience in my life today.  Empower me with Your Spirit.  Amen and amen!

__________________________________________
1. 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 (Zec 3:1). Nashville: T. Nelson.
2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/II. A Series of Eight Night Visions (1:7-6:8)/D. The Fourth Vision: The Cleansing and Restoration of Israel (3:1-10), Book Version: 4.0.2
3. Charles Howard Marsh | John Wilbur Chapman, © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain

 

The Road to Thanksgiving (An Exposition of Psalm 116) - Pt.5

This great personal psalm of thanksgiving was used in the congregational liturgy of the Jewish church.  It was part of the Egyptian Hallel.   I have already suggested that the form and structure of the psalm transmitted the core message.  That message was this: When we reflect on the mercies of God it results in a life-changing contemplation of His works and a commitment to live in loyalty to Him.  We see that pattern in the first half of the psalm and it is repeated in the second.  Note:

The Circumstance

¹⁰ I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; ¹¹ in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” 

In the midst of the trial, the psalmist still trusted, still believed.  He was able to see through the men that harassed him and saw them for who they are: vain, empty and liars.

The Contemplation

¹² What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? 

Based upon the goodness of God and His faithfulness, the psalmist then goes into his own thoughts and asks this important question: "What shall I return to the Lord?"   Or, "How can I repay the Lord?" Of course the question is rhetorical and there is no answer.  In fact there should not be an answer.  It is a vain thing to try to pay back God (see Romans 11:35-36),   As we see in verse 17 below, gratitude is often expressed in asking God for more!

At this point we need to be careful.  The psalmist is not suggesting that a committed lifestyle is a means of repaying God for His goodness. To repay grace annuls grace. But there is a pious response that is normal. True gratitude does promote holy living. It's the result of, not in payment for God's goodness.  

The Commitment

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 

¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. 

¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. 

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. 

¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, ¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

"As a token of his thanksgiving, the psalmist brings "a thank offering" (v.17) together with a drink offering (cf. Num 28:7), which he calls "the cup of salvation" (v.13). At the time of the thank offering, he called again "on the name of the LORD" (cf. vv.2, 17); but this time, not to ask for deliverance, but to thank the Lord and praise his holy name for his fidelity to his promises." [1] All this adds up to one word: worship!   We say thank you by worshiping. 

In tomorrow's blog we will look more closely at this "commitment" that the psalmist makes.

Father, in Your deliverance You help us see things more clearly.  Your deliverance also gives discernment.  We start to see people for who they really are by seeing You for who You really are. When You hear and respond to our need there is something within our independent, self-sufficient, merit-seeking, pride that wants to pay you back.  How foolish!  We cannot.  Your grace simply brings us to our knees in humble, thankful worship.  Your mercies cause us to value You, honor You, love You more and more.  Your precious promises make You more precious.  Thank you, Father, for Your grace to us this day.  May this day resound in worshipful living and Christ-centered loving.  Amen!

__________________________________

1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Psalms/Exposition of Psalms/BOOK V: Psalms 107-150/Psalm 116: Be at Rest, for the Lord Is Good/VI. Vows of Thanksgiving (116:12-14), Book Version: 4.0.2

NOTE:

A. Part 1 of this article is found HERE.

B. Part 2 of this article is found HERE.

C. Part 3 of this article is found HERE.

D. Part 4 of this article is found HERE.

You Cannot Compromise the Gospel

Galatians 5:7–12 (NIV),

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Paul encourages them and admonishes them at the same time.  They were running well as long as they were obeying the truth. "They believed and lived rightly: but now they did not so, since they were misled by the false apostles." [1]  "Who cut in on you?"  They were running a race so well but another runner cut into their lane pushing them off course; slowing up their progress.  The appeal of the "judaizers" is not from God.  I cannot be.

Now here we come to an insightful statement: "A little yeast works through the whole batch."  How many times do we entertain alliances with those who have "just a little yeast."  Roman Catholicism, which is modern day Judaism in its priesthood and sacraments is touted as Christians as just a little wrong!  Paul gives no room for those who do not believe in justification by faith alone to be in the same camp as those who do.  Giving in on this one little area opens up multitudes of more error.

Verse 10 shows Paul's confidence that those who are truly in Christ will come to their senses and that those who are seeking to lead them astray will receive retribution from the Lord.  These people may have been accusing Paul of preaching circumcision to the Jews and otherwise to the Gentiles. But he responds to say that if he was preaching circumcision, why are the Jews persecuting him? No, there is one message, the message of the Cross.  "The Cross uproots the doctrine of salvation by human merit. Salvation is by grace alone, and justification is by faith alone; there can be no compromise." [2]

Then Paul makes this scathing condemnation: “I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.” (Galatians 5:12, NLT). "All the ancient Greek interpreters and most modern scholars apply this to the self-mutilation practiced by the heathen priests of Cybele. Paul speaks with satire."  [2]

Again, we mustn't escape the truth that false doctrine infects our lives; those that promote false doctrine neither care for our soul or care for the Cross.  It seems unseemly for Christians to speak with such vehemence but strong words carry with it the passion of intolerance.  Intolerance is necessary when it comes to matters of the Gospel.

Father, the infiltration of culture and postmodern thought causes us to bristle at Paul's caustic and sarcastic comments. Yet it shows the response of the righteous to those who mess with Your Good News.  Grant me such an inward grace and persuasion that I will not compromise the Truth by saying what is wrong, or not saying what is wrong.  May the power of the Cross pervade my convictions.  Yet, in Paul here, I see a man who had confidence in You and in those whom You have called.  Praise God that those truly bought with Your blood are kept by Your Power.  You are the Victor.  You are the King.  You reign.  Amen!

______________________________________

1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:7). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2397). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

You Obey The Law By Not Doing The Law!

Galatians 3:10 (NIV),

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

We enter into what might be one of the most significant and important "contradictions" and arguments in this Book.  Paul has established that Christians are justified by faith in Christ, not in the Law.  “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16, NIV).

Now in this part of the discussion he appeals to Moses in Deuteronomy 27:26 (NIV),

²⁶ “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Paul has established that "the blessing was given to faithful Abraham before the law and without the law. Now like as Abraham believed in Christ which was to come, the giver of the blessing: so and by the same faith we believe in Christ which is come and present, and so are we now justified by faith, as Abraham was then justified by faith. They therefore which are under the law, are not blessed, but remain under the curse." [1] But then he goes on to say "that all men which are under the law, or under the works of the law, are accursed, or under the curse; that is to say, under sin, the wrath of God, and everlasting death." [1]  Paul and Moses seem to be at odds with each other.  Paul says if you do the works of the Law you will be cursed (i.e. you don't have faith in Christ alone) and Moses says if you don't do the works of the Law you are cursed.  

Luther argues that to "do the Law" is to obey the Law both externally and internally and do it perfectly. Then he asks, "But where shall we find him that will so accomplish the law?" [1]  Of course that man is Jesus Christ.  "Wherefore Moses together with Paul doth necessarily drive us to Christ, through whom we are made doers of the law, and are not accounted guilty of any transgression. How so? First by forgiveness of sins and imputation of righteousness, because of our faith in Christ. Secondly, by the gift [of God] and the Holy Ghost, which bringeth forth a new life and new motions in us, so that we may also do the law effectually."

We do the Law by first not doing the Law!  "For Christians are not made righteous in doing righteous things, but being now made righteous by faith in Christ, they do righteous things." [1] "It is impossible therefore, to accomplish the law without the promise, which is the preaching of Christ who was promised to Abraham, that through him the world should be blessed." [1]

In contemporary discussions this debate and "seeming contradiction" is posed to us from Catholics, legalists and often by well-meaning fundamentalists.  Some would argue that to expect salvation simply by faith alone will produce antinomian lifestyles.  But that is to misunderstand Law and Gospel.  For as Luther has rightly stated, the person that truly repents and turns to Christ for forgiveness of sin is made righteous and granted the Holy Spirit's help to live out this new life.  If there is no new life, one can argue that there has been no justification.

Father You do not grade our lives on a curve.  There is but one standard and that is perfect perfection.  I along with the entire human race have not lived one millisecond of perfection.  Your standards condemn us all, yet none of us can enter into an eternal relationship with You apart from perfection.  With Luther we ask, "Where can we find a man who can do this?"  Thanks be to You, Father, for the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the Man.  He is the Perfect Man.  Jesus lived a perfect life and You Father have freely given to all who believe His perfection.  He died fully and completely for every millisecond of transgression: past, present and future.  He gave to those who have faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to obey the Law, not to save us, but because we are saved. I am truly overwhelmed by Your grace.  Truly there is none like You.  To rest in the Law condemns us.  To rest in Jesus saves us and fulfills the Law.  That is truly amazing.  May I show today by my love and obedience to You that I have and am resting in Jesus.  Amen!

_________________________________

1.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

 

Marks of a True Disciple

Bunyan, through his allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, gives to us great insight as to one’s assurance of salvation. Christianity can be a very deceptive thing.  Not unlike the character Talkative, there can be some who speak of “of prayer, of repentance, of faith, and of the new birth; but he knows but only to talk of them.” The Pilgrim engages such a one and in the process gives us good insight into the nature of saving faith.

First he speaks of evil. There are those that willingly jump on the bandwagon against evil in all its deadly forms, but “a man may cry out against sin, of policy; but he cannot abhor it but by virtue of a godly antipathy against it.”  Do we speak against sin or do we loathe it in ourselves?  Saving faith introduces a character that is repulsed by sin.

Secondly, what of the knowledge of the Truth?   Are we not often aware of our own level of Christian comprehension yet we find ourselves so inept in obedience? “For there is a knowledge that is not attended with doing: “He that knoweth his Master’s will, and doeth it not.” A man may know like an angel, and yet be no Christian: therefore your sign of it is not true.”  Saving faith produces a desire to obey.  “There are, therefore, two sorts of knowledge, knowledge that resteth in the bare speculation of things, and knowledge that is accompanied with the grace of faith and love, which puts a man upon doing even the will of God from the heart: the first of these will serve the talker; but without the other, the true Christian is not content.”

Thirdly, what of Jesus Christ?  The true Christian “. . . findeth, moreover, revealed in him the Saviour of the world, and the absolute necessity of closing with him for life; at the which he findeth hungerings and thirstings after him; to which hungerings, etc., the promise is made.” What a difference to know about Jesus, and to love and delight in Him? 

“Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.”  ― John Piper, God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself

Bunyan goes on through the conversation with Faithful and Talkative to say this:

“To others it is thus discovered:

1. By an experimental confession of his faith in Christ.

2. By a life answerable to that confession; to wit, a life of holiness-heart-holiness, family-holiness, (if he hath a family,) and by conversation-holiness in the world; which in the general teacheth him inwardly to abhor his sin, and himself for that, in secret; to suppress it in his family, and to promote holiness in the world: not by talk only, as a hypocrite or talkative person may do, but by a practical subjection in faith and love to the power of the word.”

Oh that these things: heart-felt love for Christ; an inner passion for holiness and obedience, would be my testimony.  Anything else short of that is of no avail.