HOSEA'S WORK WAS DONE SOON AFTER THAT OF AMOS. AMOS WAS A CITIZEN OF JUDAH AND CROSSED THE BORDER INTO THE NORTHERN KINGDOM TO DELIVER HIS ORACLES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ROYAL SHRINE AT BETHEL.HOSEA ALSO DIRECTED HIS MESSAGE AGAINST ISRAEL, BUT WAS HIMSELF A CITIZEN OF THAT REALM. HE IS THE ONLY NORTHERN PROPHET WHOSE WRITINGS HAVE COME DOWN TO US. HIS NAME MEANS "SALVATION" OR "DELIVERANCE." THOUGH IT IS A HAZARDOUS TASK TO TRY TO RECONSTRUCT HOSEA'S PERSONALITY THROUGH HIS WRITINGS, ORACLES REVEAL A SENSITIVE EMOTIONAL INDIVIDUAL WHO COULD FEEL AND EXPRESS EVERYTHING FROM BURNING ANGER TO TENDER YEARNING. HIS MESSAGE PIVOTS AROUND HIS MARRIAGE TO GOMER AND THE LORD'S LOVE AFFAIR.WITH ISRAEL.THE PAIN AND GRIEF HIS MARRIAGE CAUSED HIM EQUIPPED HIM BETTER TO UNDERSTAND THE HURT ADULTEROUS ISRAEL WAS INFLICTING ON THE LORD. THE POLITICAL SCENE IN ISRAEL OF HOSEA'S DAY WERE VERY .DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF AMOS' DAY. AMOS SPOKE TO ISRAEL AT A TIME WHEN POLITICAL CONDITIONS WERE STABLE AND PEACE PREVAILED, WHEN ISRAEL WAS ENJOYING PROSPERITY SUCH AS SHE HAD NEVER KNOWN BEFORE--- ROTTING IN THAT PROSPERITY. HOSEA DID HIS WORK WHEN ASSYRIA WAS SINKING HER CLAWS INTO ISRAEL FROM WITHOUT, AND WHEN POLITICAL ANARCHY WAS RAVAGING HER WITHIN. JEROBOAM DIED IN 746 B.C. IN 735 B.C. TIGLATH- PILESER III SEIZED THE ASSYRIAN THRONE. IMMEDIATELY HE SHOOK. A LETHARGIC ASSYRIA AND SET THE NATION'S MILITARY MACHINE ON THE MARCH. TO TRANSLATE INTO REALITY A DREAM ASSYRIAN KINGS HAD LONG CHERISHED: TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE WHOLE FERTILE CRESCENT, THE BREADBASKET OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST THIS MEANT DANGER FOR ISRAEL AND EGYPT. IT CREATED FEAR IN THOSE WHO HEARD ABOUT IT. ASSYRIA'S MODE OF DEALING WITH CONQUERED PEOPLE SHE DESTROYED ANY VESTIGES OF NATIONALISM AND GAVE RISE TO SOCIAL ANARCHY. AMOS LASHED OUT AT SOCIAL INJUSTICES. HOSEA'S CENTRAL THRUST WAS DIFFERENT. HE PROBED THE VERY HEART OF THE CONDITION THAT PLAGUING ISRAEL. SHE WAS SICK UNTO DEATH WITH.UNFAITHFULNESS. EVEN SO, HOSEA SOUNDS A NOT OF HOPE--- NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE SEES IN ISRAEL, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE SEES IN GOD'S HEART. GOD'S LOVE FOR UNDESERVING PEOPLE. WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW AND ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE THE MATERIALS TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPHETS MESSAGE. WE START OUT WITH HOSEA'S MARRIAGE WITH GOMER AND IT TAKES UP THREE CHAPTERS OF HOSEA TO TELL US ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROPHET'S LIFE. THEY CENTER ON THE PROPHET'S MARRIAGE WHICH SERVES AS A SYMBOL OF GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE. A MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP INVOLVES A UNION OF WILLS, WITH EACH PARTY UNDERTAKING TO SERVE THE OTHER. THOUGH THE LORD REMAINED TRUE TO HIS COVENANT PROMISES TO HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL WAS CONSISTENTLY GUILTY OF FORGETFULNESS AND GROSS WICKEDNESS. THE INTERPRETATION OF HOSEA 1-3 POSES NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. DO THESE CHAPTERS REPORT A REAL MARRIAGE EVENT, OR ARE THEY ALLEGORICAL FICTION? IF THEY ARE MERELY THE LATTER, WE WOULD EXPECT THE NAME GOMER AND THE SEXES OF THE CHILDREN TO HAVE SPECIAL MEANING, BUT THEY DO NOT. THE INTENSITY
OF HOSEA'S DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE POINTS TO EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN ALLEGORY. ON THE SURFACE, HOSEA 1-3 SPEAKS OF MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN, DIVORCE, AND REMARRIAGE. DOES CH.3 DESCRIBED HOSEA'S MARRIAGE TO GOMER (A PARALLEL TO CH1?), OR DOES IT REFER TO AN ENTIRELY NEW MARRIAGE? THE FORMER SEEMS LIKELY. DOES CHAPTER 2 REFER TO HOSEA DIVORCING GOMER, OR IS IT TALKING ABOUT THE LORD'S RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL? WHY REFER TO GOMER AS A "HARLOT" (1:2) IF THE REAL CONCERN IS HER "ADULTERY?" THOUGH "ADULTERY" CAN REFER TO UNCHASTITY OR UNFAITHFULNESS, IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO DEPICT ISRAEL'S CONDUCT IN RELATION TO GOD; SEE ALSO 3:1. FOR THAT MATTER, GOMER MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN INVOLVED HERSELF IN THE SEXUAL RITES AT THE BAAL SHRINES; SHE MIGHT EVEN HAVE BEEN A SACRED PROSTITUTE IN ONE OF THEM.DID HOSEA KNOW SHE WAS A HARLOT BEFORE HE MARRIED HER, OR DID HE FIND OUT THIS ONLY AFTER MARRIAGE? ARGUMENTS RAGE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THIS QUESTION. IN SUPPORT OF THE FORMER IS THE NOTION THAT SUCH AN ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN IN KEEPING WITH THE SHOCKING REALISM OF MANY OF THE PROPHETS' SYMBOLIC ACTIONS ( ISAIAH 20; EZEKIEL 5.) A COMMONLY HELD VIEW IS THE FOLLOWING. HOSEA MARRIED THE PROSTITUTE GOMER. SHE BORE HIM THREE CHILDREN, AT LEAST TWO OF WHOM WERE NOT FATHERED BY HOSEA, AND THEN DESERTED HIM. BUT HOSEA SOUGHT HER OUT AND BROUGHT HER BACK AND RESTORED HER TO HIMSELF. AS HOSEA'S LOVE COULD NOT LET GOMER GO, SO GOD'S LOVE COULD NOT LET ISRAEL GO FROM HIM. HOSEA'S PERSONAL LIFE REFLECTS GOD'S EXPERIENCE AND WAYS WITH HIS OWN PEOPLE. GOMER BORE THREE CHILDREN, THE FIRST OF WHOM GOD NAMED "JEZREEL," 1:4. THE WORD MEANS LITERALLY "GOD SOWS." JEZREEL WAS THE NAME OF THE LOCALITY IN WHICH JEHU ASSASSINATED JEHORAM OF ISRAEL AND AHAZIAH OF JUDAH, 2 KINGS 9. THE NAME WAS A SIGN THAT IN "A LITTLE WHILE" THE LORD WOULD VENT HIS WRATH ON THE HOUSE OF JEHU ( JEROBOAM II WAS THE FOURTH MEMBER OF THE DYNASTY) FOR THE HORRIBLE CRIMES IT HAD PERPETRATED IN ISRAEL.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD WERE NOT HOSEA'S; THE TEXT SAYS, " "BORE A DAUGHTER,SON,"-- NOT BORE HIM A DAUGHTER, SON," 1:6:8,9. THE SECOND CHILD WAS GIVEN THE NAME "NOT" PITIED." TO STATE THAT THE LORD WAS DEVOID OF PITY FOR ISRAEL. (NOTE: THE HEBREW STEM FOR" PITY" CARRIES OVERTONES OF PARENTAL LOVE")-- HENCE, " THE THIRD CHILD, A SON WAS NAMED "NOT MY PEOPLE" TO DECLARE THAT THE LORD'S COVENANT BOND WITH ISRAEL WAS BROKEN. ISRAEL WAS NO LONGER THE PEOPLE OF GOD! THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE
OF THOUGHT RUNS THROUGH HOSEA 1:1-8: ISRAEL'S IDOLATRY (1;2b) AND A SPECIFIC SIN (1:4). HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF GOD'S MERCY (1:6), BROUGHT AN END TO THE COVENANT TO AN END (1:9).
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Monday, October 29, 2018
JUGGLING THE JIGSAW
SYLVESTER THE SAINT IS OUR MAIN CHARACTER, IN OUR STORY AND IS A LITTLE PUZZLED AT THE MOMENT, HE'S VERY INTERESTED IN RELIGION, BUT HE'S CONFUSED. HE'S NOT TOO SURE HOW TO FITS TOGETHER ALL THE BITS AND PIECES THE CHURCH HAS TAUGHT HIM OVER THE YEARS. ONE THING HE IS SURE ABOUT IS THAT, IN CHRIST, HE IS A SAINT. HE KNOWS AND BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST DID FOR HIM HE HAS BEEN MADE RIGHT WITH GOD. HE HAS BEEN FORGIVEN. HE BELONGS TO THE SAVIORS FAMILY., 1 COR.1:2,3. EVEN SO, AT TIMES SYLVESTER FINDS IT HARD TO FIT THE BIBLICAL PICTURE TOGETHER FOR HIMSELF.
AND TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS HIS FRIENDS ASK HIM ABOUT HIS FAITH AND CHURCH LIFE. TO BEGIN WITH, THERE IS THE BIBLE. ALL CHURCHES AGREE IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT BOOK. THEY PREACH FROM IT IT, QUOTE IT, USE SEVERAL TRANSLATIONS OF IT, AND THEY TELL YOU TO READ IT. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT EASY TO READ. WE BEGIN TO READ IT WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, BUT SOON FIND IT TO BE HEAVY GOING. WE WONDER WHAT MUCH OF IT IS ALL ABOUT, AND HOW IT FITS TOGETHER. JUST HOW DO WE READ IT AND MAKE IT ALL FIT? IT WOULD BE GREAT IF ONE COULD DEVOTE ALL OF LIFE TO SERVING GOD. HOWEVER, DOES THAT MEAN ONE HAS TO BECOMES A PASTOR "REVEREND" MINISTER, PRIEST- OR WHATEVER THEY CALL HIM? WHAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE SO SPECIAL? ARE THEY REALLY DIFFERENT FROM YOU AND ME? WELL, MAYBE IF ONE CAN'T BECOME A FULL--TIME PREACHER, MAYBE ONE CAN SERVE GOD BY SINGING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR. THAT'S AT LEAST SOMETHING! JUST WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG THESE DAYS? HOW MANY COMMANDMENTS ARE THERE? MOST AGREE THERE ARE TEN, BUT THEY NUMBER THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME SAY THERE ARE ONLY TWO, AND SOME ONLY ONE. SOME SAY THEY GET THEIR COMMANDMENTS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. SOME SAY THEY GET THEIRS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT, OR ONLY FROM JESUS. SOME SAY OUR CONSCIENCES SHOULD GUIDE US, AND NOTHING ELSE. HOW CAN A PERSON BE SURE? WHO OR WHAT ARE ANGELS? HOW MANY ARE THERE? DOES EACH ONE OF US HAVE ONE OF HIS OWN. WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? DOES EACH OF US HAVE ONE OF HIS OWN? WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? CAN A PERSON SEE THEM?
HOW DO THEY TRAVEL? WHY DOES THE CHURCH TALK SO MUCH ABOUT MONEY?
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE PUT IT IN ENVELOPES WHEN THEY GIVE IT IN CHURCH? WHO GETS IT? THE MINISTER? WHAT HAS MONEY TO DO WITH RELIGION ANYWAY? WHY DO PREACHERS TALK SUCH A LOT ABOUT DYING? DEATH SEEMS SO GLOOMY AND FRIGHTENING! SOME SAY WE CAN BE HAPPY ABOUT DYING. HOW? FUNERALS ARE OFTEN SAD AND DEPRESSING. JUST WHAT IS RELIGION ALL ABOUT? IT OFTEN SEEMS LIKE ONE BIG JIGSAW PUZZLE? SYLVESTER NOT ONLY HAS PROBLEMS FITTING TOGETHER WHAT GOES ON WITHIN THE CHURCH, BUT ALSO WITH RELATING "CHURCH" THINGS TO "OUTSIDE" THINGS. HIS PROBLEM IS TWOFOLD. HOW IMPORTANT IS CHRISTIANITY IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES IN LIFE?
DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW WE THINK AND ACT IN SPHERES OF DAILY ACTIVITY? ACCORDING TO MANY PEOPLE CHRISTIANITY SHOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN "ALL OF LIFE?"
LIFE AS "THE TOTAL PIE." GOVERNMENT ON A LOCAL, INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
EDUCATION. A PERSON NEEDS TO OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE TO DEVELOP SKILLS TO USE IN MEANINGFUL AND SATISFYING WAY.
MONEY. WE ARE ALL FASCINATED BY MONEY; THEY LIVE AS THOUGH IT IS ALL THAT MATTERS. THOUGH IT IS HARD TO GET BY WITHOUT IT.
LEISURE: WE ALL NEED LEISURE TIME TO 'RE--CREATE OUR BODIES AND MIND.
WORK: SOME LIVE TO WORK. OTHERS WORK TO LIVE. THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THEIR HEART IN WHAT THEY DO.
RELIGION: SOME THINK "RELIGION " OR "CHRISTIANITY" IS ONLY A PART OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD FROM OTHER THINGS THEY DO.
MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT A PERSON NEEDS AT LEAST SOME RELIGION....... OTHERS LIVE AS THOUGH ALL THAT MATTERS IS RELIGION--THEY ARE SO HEAVENLY MINDED THEY ARE OF NO EARTHLY USE. HOW DOES IT ALL FIT TOGETHER?
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND LIFE. HE HAS MET PEOPLE
WHO SEE LIFE IN BITS AND PIECES,
WHO DIVIDE LIFE INTO COMPARTMENTS,
WHO TALK ABOUT THEIR "POLITICAL INTERESTS,"
" LEISURE" INTERESTS"
" BUSINESS INTERESTS"
" CHRISTIAN INTERESTS" AND SO FORTH.
SYLVESTER FEELS MUCH HAPPIER THESE DAYS BECAUSE HE IS LEARNING TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
THE WRONG QUESTION IS: HOW DO I FIT CHRISTIANITY INTO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS?
THE RIGHT QUESTION IS: "HOW DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS FIT INTO CHRISTIANITY?" SYLVESTER HAS PLACED THE WORD OF GOD AT THE CENTER OF HIS WORLD. TAKE CARE! THE BIBLE IS GOD'S VEHICLE FOR REVEALING HIMSELF.
AT THE CENTER OF THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE, THEN, IS SECONDARILY A BOOK, BUT PRIMARILY A PERSON, GOD HIMSELF.
AND TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS HIS FRIENDS ASK HIM ABOUT HIS FAITH AND CHURCH LIFE. TO BEGIN WITH, THERE IS THE BIBLE. ALL CHURCHES AGREE IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT BOOK. THEY PREACH FROM IT IT, QUOTE IT, USE SEVERAL TRANSLATIONS OF IT, AND THEY TELL YOU TO READ IT. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT EASY TO READ. WE BEGIN TO READ IT WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, BUT SOON FIND IT TO BE HEAVY GOING. WE WONDER WHAT MUCH OF IT IS ALL ABOUT, AND HOW IT FITS TOGETHER. JUST HOW DO WE READ IT AND MAKE IT ALL FIT? IT WOULD BE GREAT IF ONE COULD DEVOTE ALL OF LIFE TO SERVING GOD. HOWEVER, DOES THAT MEAN ONE HAS TO BECOMES A PASTOR "REVEREND" MINISTER, PRIEST- OR WHATEVER THEY CALL HIM? WHAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE SO SPECIAL? ARE THEY REALLY DIFFERENT FROM YOU AND ME? WELL, MAYBE IF ONE CAN'T BECOME A FULL--TIME PREACHER, MAYBE ONE CAN SERVE GOD BY SINGING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR. THAT'S AT LEAST SOMETHING! JUST WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG THESE DAYS? HOW MANY COMMANDMENTS ARE THERE? MOST AGREE THERE ARE TEN, BUT THEY NUMBER THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME SAY THERE ARE ONLY TWO, AND SOME ONLY ONE. SOME SAY THEY GET THEIR COMMANDMENTS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. SOME SAY THEY GET THEIRS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT, OR ONLY FROM JESUS. SOME SAY OUR CONSCIENCES SHOULD GUIDE US, AND NOTHING ELSE. HOW CAN A PERSON BE SURE? WHO OR WHAT ARE ANGELS? HOW MANY ARE THERE? DOES EACH ONE OF US HAVE ONE OF HIS OWN. WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? DOES EACH OF US HAVE ONE OF HIS OWN? WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF? CAN A PERSON SEE THEM?
HOW DO THEY TRAVEL? WHY DOES THE CHURCH TALK SO MUCH ABOUT MONEY?
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE PUT IT IN ENVELOPES WHEN THEY GIVE IT IN CHURCH? WHO GETS IT? THE MINISTER? WHAT HAS MONEY TO DO WITH RELIGION ANYWAY? WHY DO PREACHERS TALK SUCH A LOT ABOUT DYING? DEATH SEEMS SO GLOOMY AND FRIGHTENING! SOME SAY WE CAN BE HAPPY ABOUT DYING. HOW? FUNERALS ARE OFTEN SAD AND DEPRESSING. JUST WHAT IS RELIGION ALL ABOUT? IT OFTEN SEEMS LIKE ONE BIG JIGSAW PUZZLE? SYLVESTER NOT ONLY HAS PROBLEMS FITTING TOGETHER WHAT GOES ON WITHIN THE CHURCH, BUT ALSO WITH RELATING "CHURCH" THINGS TO "OUTSIDE" THINGS. HIS PROBLEM IS TWOFOLD. HOW IMPORTANT IS CHRISTIANITY IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES IN LIFE?
DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW WE THINK AND ACT IN SPHERES OF DAILY ACTIVITY? ACCORDING TO MANY PEOPLE CHRISTIANITY SHOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN "ALL OF LIFE?"
LIFE AS "THE TOTAL PIE." GOVERNMENT ON A LOCAL, INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.
EDUCATION. A PERSON NEEDS TO OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE TO DEVELOP SKILLS TO USE IN MEANINGFUL AND SATISFYING WAY.
MONEY. WE ARE ALL FASCINATED BY MONEY; THEY LIVE AS THOUGH IT IS ALL THAT MATTERS. THOUGH IT IS HARD TO GET BY WITHOUT IT.
LEISURE: WE ALL NEED LEISURE TIME TO 'RE--CREATE OUR BODIES AND MIND.
WORK: SOME LIVE TO WORK. OTHERS WORK TO LIVE. THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THEIR HEART IN WHAT THEY DO.
RELIGION: SOME THINK "RELIGION " OR "CHRISTIANITY" IS ONLY A PART OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD FROM OTHER THINGS THEY DO.
MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT A PERSON NEEDS AT LEAST SOME RELIGION....... OTHERS LIVE AS THOUGH ALL THAT MATTERS IS RELIGION--THEY ARE SO HEAVENLY MINDED THEY ARE OF NO EARTHLY USE. HOW DOES IT ALL FIT TOGETHER?
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND LIFE. HE HAS MET PEOPLE
WHO SEE LIFE IN BITS AND PIECES,
WHO DIVIDE LIFE INTO COMPARTMENTS,
WHO TALK ABOUT THEIR "POLITICAL INTERESTS,"
" LEISURE" INTERESTS"
" BUSINESS INTERESTS"
" CHRISTIAN INTERESTS" AND SO FORTH.
SYLVESTER FEELS MUCH HAPPIER THESE DAYS BECAUSE HE IS LEARNING TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
THE WRONG QUESTION IS: HOW DO I FIT CHRISTIANITY INTO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS?
THE RIGHT QUESTION IS: "HOW DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS FIT INTO CHRISTIANITY?" SYLVESTER HAS PLACED THE WORD OF GOD AT THE CENTER OF HIS WORLD. TAKE CARE! THE BIBLE IS GOD'S VEHICLE FOR REVEALING HIMSELF.
AT THE CENTER OF THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE, THEN, IS SECONDARILY A BOOK, BUT PRIMARILY A PERSON, GOD HIMSELF.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
PROPHETS.
THE WORD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT COMMONLY USES FOR "PROPHET" DESCRIBES ONE WHO CALLS, SPEAKS, NAMES, AND PROCLAIMS FOR ANOTHER. AN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET WAS ONE WHO SPOKE FOR GOD AND MADE KNOWN THE DIVINE WILL. TWO PASSAGES WHICH EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF A PROPHET ARE EXODUS 4: 14-16 AND 7:1. ACCORDING TO THESE PASSAGES, MOSES WAS TO BE AS "GOD." TO Aaron, AND Aaron WAS TO BE "MOSES PROPHET." IN OTHER WORDS, MOSES WAS TO TELL Aaron WHAT TO SAY, AND Aaron WAS TO BE MOSES PROPHET AND SPEAK ON MOSES BEHALF. A PROPHET, THEN, WAS ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE. THOUGH THE PEOPLE. THOUGH THE PROPHET SOMETIMES SPOKE OF FUTURE EVENTS, HIS ROLE WAS THAT OF A FORTH-TELLER, RATHER THAN FORE-TELLER.THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF WRITINGS REFERRED AS THE PROPHETIC BOOKS THAN DO CHRISTIANS. THEY CLASSIFY JOSHUA, JUDGES,1 AND 2 SAMUEL, AND 1 AND 2 KINGS AS THE FORMER PROPHETS, AND ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, EZEKIEL, AND HOSEA TO MALACHI AS THE "LATTER PROPHETS"
THEY DO NOT CLASSIFY LAMENTATIONS OR DANIEL AS PROPHETIC WRITINGS. SOME ALSO PLACE DANIEL AMONG THE PROPHETS. THE BOOKS CHRISTIANS DEFINE AS PROPHETIC MAKE UP ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WHOLE BIBLE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORK AND MESSAGES OF THE PROPHETS, WHICH GIVES SOME INSIGHTS INTO THE SUBJECT. THE PROPHETS REPEATEDLY ATTACHED THE NATION FOR ITS SINFULNESS. THEY SAID IT WAS IGNORING, PERVERTING, AND FORGETTING THE COVENANT GOD HAD MADE WITH THEM AT SINAI. MICAH 6:1-8. THE COVENANT CURSES WERE ABOUT TO COME INTO EFFECT! THE PROPHETS DELIVERED THEIR MESSAGES ABOUT THIS IN FIERY AND VIVID LANGUAGE ( JEREMIAH 4: 5-31) AND SOMETIMES USED HERE "ACTED WORDS."
TO REINFORCE THEIR SPOKEN WORDS, EZEKIEL 4:5). VERY FEW--IF ANY--WITHIN THE NATION LISTENED TO THEM.. THEY LOOKED ON THEM AS LITTLE MORE THAN QUAINT ENTERTAINERS, EZEKIEL 33:0-33. SOME ABUSED AND HARASSED THE PROPHETS, JEREMIAH 20:1-2. SOME PUT THEM TO DEATH, JEREMIAH 26:23. HOW DID THE PROPHETS HOW DID THE PROPHETS SUGGEST GOD WOULD DISCIPLINE HIS PEOPLE? HE WOULD USE THE ARMIES OF SURROUNDING NATIONS AS HIS INSTRUMENTS. GOD HAD ONCE MARCHED AT THE HEAD OF ISRAEL'S ARMIES IN THE CLOUD CALLED THE (SHEKIAH) AND GIVE HER VICTORIES OVER HER FOES, SO HE WOULD LEAD THEM INTO BATTLE AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE, ISAIAH (7: 18-20). WAS GOD REALLY BEING HARSH? REMEMBER THE SWEEP OF TIME INVOLVED. GOD MADE HIS COVENANT WITH ISRAEL AT SINAI ABOUT 1250 B.C. HE WAITED FOR ABOUT 525 YEARS BEFORE HE DESTROYED THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, ISRAEL.
HE WAITED ANOTHER (125 YEARS) BEFORE HE LED THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM, JUDAH INTO EXILE. HE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH HIS PEOPLE. EVEN SO, HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THE COVENANT HE HAD MADE WITH HIS PEOPLE. HE WANTED THEM TO ADOPT A SIMILAR ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT, IF THEY DID NOT, THERE WOULD BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. HE USED HIS PROPHETS TO MAKE THAT POINT VERY CLEAR TO HIS PEOPLE-- BUT THEY REMAINED INDIFFERENT TO HIM!
HE ATTACK THE NATION BECAUSE BASED ON THE CHARGE THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BROKEN THE COVENANT. HE INSISTS THAT THOUGH SURROUNDING NATIONS ATTACKED ISRAEL, IT IS REALLY "GOD HIMSELF" WHO IS ATTACKING THEM THROUGH THESE NATIONS.
THEY DO NOT CLASSIFY LAMENTATIONS OR DANIEL AS PROPHETIC WRITINGS. SOME ALSO PLACE DANIEL AMONG THE PROPHETS. THE BOOKS CHRISTIANS DEFINE AS PROPHETIC MAKE UP ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WHOLE BIBLE. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORK AND MESSAGES OF THE PROPHETS, WHICH GIVES SOME INSIGHTS INTO THE SUBJECT. THE PROPHETS REPEATEDLY ATTACHED THE NATION FOR ITS SINFULNESS. THEY SAID IT WAS IGNORING, PERVERTING, AND FORGETTING THE COVENANT GOD HAD MADE WITH THEM AT SINAI. MICAH 6:1-8. THE COVENANT CURSES WERE ABOUT TO COME INTO EFFECT! THE PROPHETS DELIVERED THEIR MESSAGES ABOUT THIS IN FIERY AND VIVID LANGUAGE ( JEREMIAH 4: 5-31) AND SOMETIMES USED HERE "ACTED WORDS."
TO REINFORCE THEIR SPOKEN WORDS, EZEKIEL 4:5). VERY FEW--IF ANY--WITHIN THE NATION LISTENED TO THEM.. THEY LOOKED ON THEM AS LITTLE MORE THAN QUAINT ENTERTAINERS, EZEKIEL 33:0-33. SOME ABUSED AND HARASSED THE PROPHETS, JEREMIAH 20:1-2. SOME PUT THEM TO DEATH, JEREMIAH 26:23. HOW DID THE PROPHETS HOW DID THE PROPHETS SUGGEST GOD WOULD DISCIPLINE HIS PEOPLE? HE WOULD USE THE ARMIES OF SURROUNDING NATIONS AS HIS INSTRUMENTS. GOD HAD ONCE MARCHED AT THE HEAD OF ISRAEL'S ARMIES IN THE CLOUD CALLED THE (SHEKIAH) AND GIVE HER VICTORIES OVER HER FOES, SO HE WOULD LEAD THEM INTO BATTLE AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE, ISAIAH (7: 18-20). WAS GOD REALLY BEING HARSH? REMEMBER THE SWEEP OF TIME INVOLVED. GOD MADE HIS COVENANT WITH ISRAEL AT SINAI ABOUT 1250 B.C. HE WAITED FOR ABOUT 525 YEARS BEFORE HE DESTROYED THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, ISRAEL.
HE WAITED ANOTHER (125 YEARS) BEFORE HE LED THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM, JUDAH INTO EXILE. HE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH HIS PEOPLE. EVEN SO, HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THE COVENANT HE HAD MADE WITH HIS PEOPLE. HE WANTED THEM TO ADOPT A SIMILAR ATTITUDE TOWARDS IT, IF THEY DID NOT, THERE WOULD BE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. HE USED HIS PROPHETS TO MAKE THAT POINT VERY CLEAR TO HIS PEOPLE-- BUT THEY REMAINED INDIFFERENT TO HIM!
HE ATTACK THE NATION BECAUSE BASED ON THE CHARGE THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BROKEN THE COVENANT. HE INSISTS THAT THOUGH SURROUNDING NATIONS ATTACKED ISRAEL, IT IS REALLY "GOD HIMSELF" WHO IS ATTACKING THEM THROUGH THESE NATIONS.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
IN THE BEGINNING. (MAKING OUR BEGINNING)
" IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, " GENESIS 1:1. A FAMILIAR SENTENCE! TAKE HOLD OF YOUR BIBLE AND PLACE BETWEEN THE FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND THE PAGES THAT OUTLINE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE ABRAHAM APPEARED ON THE BIBLICAL STAGE (THAT'S GENESIS 1:1-11:26). NOW HOLD BETWEEN THE FINGERS OF YOUR RIGHT HAND THE PAGES THAT REPORT WHAT HAPPENED BEYOND THAT POINT. THAT'S THE REST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT AS WELL. YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT TEN PAGES IN YOUR LEFT HAND, AND ABOUT A THOUSAND IN YOUR RIGHT. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS LITTLE EXERCISE? ABRAHAM WAS THE FIRST OLD TESTAMENT "CHOSEN PEOPLE."
HE LIVED AROUND 1850-1750 B.C. THE BIBLE DEVOTES ONLY ONE PERCENT OF ITS PAGES TO WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE ABRAHAM'S CALL, SHOWING WHERE ITS MAJOR INTEREST LIES. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO TO CONCLUDE FROM THIS THAT THE BIBLE IS NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD PRIOR TO ABRAHAM. THOUGH THE PRE-ABRAHAM HISTORY IS WRITTEN UP ONLY IN A SKETCHY AND CURSORY WAY, IT IS NEVERTHELESS WRITTEN UP IN A CAREFULLY STRUCTURED WAY. MANY OF BIBLICAL SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST ELEVEN
CHAPTERS OF GENESIS CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THEOLOGICAL STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE READER THE PURPOSE GOD HAD IN MIND WHEN HE CALLED ABRAHAM AND BROUGHT THE CHOSEN PEOPLE INTO BEING. THE OLD TESTAMENT TELLS OF GOD MAKING COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM (GEN 12:1-3), DAVID (2 SAMUEL 7), AND WITH ISRAEL AR SINAI, EXODUS 19-20. THESE COVENANTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE NARRATIVE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, GENESIS 1-11 STS OUT TO SHOW THAT THE GOD WHO MADE THESE COVENANTS IS THE CREATOR HIMSELF! FURTHERMORE,, IT EXPLAINS WHY GOD INVOLVED HIMSELF IN THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE.
WHAT LIES BEHIND GENESIS 1:1-2:4a? HOW LONG DID CREATION TAKE PLACE? HOW LONG WAS THE DAYS REFERRED TO IN GENESIS 1 DOES NOT SET OUT TO ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS, THEY SUGGEST THAT, WE STAY AWAY FROM CLOCKS AND CALENDARS, FOR THE WRITER'S CONCERN WAS THEOLOGY RATHER THAN CHRONOLOGY. THE BASIS CONCERNS STATES CLEARLY AND MAJESTICALLY ISRAEL'S FAITH IN THE ONE TRUE GOD, THEE MODE OF CREATION, AND THE CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND HIS CREATION. SECONDLY, IT SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT THE CREATOR HIMSELF MADE COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM, ISRAEL, AND DAVID. FINALLY, IT STATES ISRAEL'S ATTITUDE TO THE BELIEFS OF NEIGHBOR NATIONS IN HE ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN WORLD
HE LIVED AROUND 1850-1750 B.C. THE BIBLE DEVOTES ONLY ONE PERCENT OF ITS PAGES TO WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE ABRAHAM'S CALL, SHOWING WHERE ITS MAJOR INTEREST LIES. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO TO CONCLUDE FROM THIS THAT THE BIBLE IS NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD PRIOR TO ABRAHAM. THOUGH THE PRE-ABRAHAM HISTORY IS WRITTEN UP ONLY IN A SKETCHY AND CURSORY WAY, IT IS NEVERTHELESS WRITTEN UP IN A CAREFULLY STRUCTURED WAY. MANY OF BIBLICAL SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST ELEVEN
CHAPTERS OF GENESIS CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THEOLOGICAL STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE READER THE PURPOSE GOD HAD IN MIND WHEN HE CALLED ABRAHAM AND BROUGHT THE CHOSEN PEOPLE INTO BEING. THE OLD TESTAMENT TELLS OF GOD MAKING COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM (GEN 12:1-3), DAVID (2 SAMUEL 7), AND WITH ISRAEL AR SINAI, EXODUS 19-20. THESE COVENANTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE NARRATIVE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, GENESIS 1-11 STS OUT TO SHOW THAT THE GOD WHO MADE THESE COVENANTS IS THE CREATOR HIMSELF! FURTHERMORE,, IT EXPLAINS WHY GOD INVOLVED HIMSELF IN THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN RACE.
WHAT LIES BEHIND GENESIS 1:1-2:4a? HOW LONG DID CREATION TAKE PLACE? HOW LONG WAS THE DAYS REFERRED TO IN GENESIS 1 DOES NOT SET OUT TO ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS, THEY SUGGEST THAT, WE STAY AWAY FROM CLOCKS AND CALENDARS, FOR THE WRITER'S CONCERN WAS THEOLOGY RATHER THAN CHRONOLOGY. THE BASIS CONCERNS STATES CLEARLY AND MAJESTICALLY ISRAEL'S FAITH IN THE ONE TRUE GOD, THEE MODE OF CREATION, AND THE CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND HIS CREATION. SECONDLY, IT SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT THE CREATOR HIMSELF MADE COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM, ISRAEL, AND DAVID. FINALLY, IT STATES ISRAEL'S ATTITUDE TO THE BELIEFS OF NEIGHBOR NATIONS IN HE ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN WORLD
Friday, October 26, 2018
BIBLICAL STAGE, (THE FIRST QUESTIONS).
IS THERE God? HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT HIM? WHAT ARE HIS PLANS FOR THE UNIVERSE, THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, AND OUR PERSONAL LIFE? THE BIBLE NEVER DEBATES THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, BUT ACCEPTS IT AS A GIVEN. GENESIS 1:1 ASSERTS WITH MAJESTIC DIGNITY, " IN THE BEGINNING, GOD...", AND ALL THAT FOLLOWS PROCEEDS FROM THAT PREMISE. A SPATE OF QUESTIONS NOW PRESENT THEMSELVES: WHAT IS GOD LIKE? WHERE DOES HE OPERATE? HOW DOES ONE FIND OUT ABOUT HIM, MAKE CONTACT WITH HIM? A LITTLE BIT LATER WE SPEAK OF THESE QUESTIONS. HE WHO SCANS THE HEAVENS WITH A TELESCOPE DOES INDEED SEE EVIDENCE WHICH POINTS TO GOD'S EXISTENCE. WE MIGHT CALL THIS EVIDENCE HIS "FOOT PRINTS IN CREATION", PSALM 19:1. THESE FOOTPRINTS POINT TO HIS POWER, HIS WISDOM, HIS DESIGN AND ORDER, AND HIS KNOWLEDGE. THOUGH THE BIBLE INSISTS THAT GOD CREATED ALL THINGS, ITS GREATER PURPOSE IS TO SET FORTH CREATIONS PURPOSE. GENESIS 1:1 STATES THAT CREATION AND HISTORY HAD A BEGINNING AND THAT GOD WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE BIBLE INSISTS THAT GOD DID NOT SIMPLY CREATE THE WORLD, AND THEN WITHDRAW--LEAVING IT TO STUMBLE ALONG ALONE ON ITS OWN. NO! HE SUSTAINS WHAT HE HAS MADE, AND INVOLVES HIMSELF INTIMATELY IN ITS HISTORY. THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE STATES THAT GOD HAS SEEN FIT TO MAKE PLANET EARTH THE SPECIAL STAGE FOR HIS ACTIVITIES AND HAVE LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS ALL OVER ITS HISTORY. WE LEARN HOW GOD IS INVOLVED IN OUR HISTORY BY STUDYING WHAT HE SOUGHT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLD AND NEW ISRAEL. THE CHALLENGE, THEN IS TO STUDY THE UNFOLDING DRAMA THAT UNFOLDS WITHIN THE SWEEP OF THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE IN THE LIGHT OF IT. THE SETTING FOR OUR DRAMA IS THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. THOUGH WE WERE NOT THERE TO WATCH THE EVENTS AS THEY ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE, THE SCRIPT (THE BIBLE) RUNS THEM BEFORE OUR EYES. AFTER GOD RESCUED HIS PEOPLE FROM EGYPT, HE LED THEM TO SINAI WHERE HE MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM. THOUGH HE DESCENDED TO THE TOP OF SINAI, HE DID NOT ASCEND AFTER THE EVENT. HE TOOK UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN TABERNACLE/ TENT OF MEETING. THE OLD TESTAMENT NARRATIVE WHICH FOLLOWS THE OUTLINES OF HISTORY OF A PEOPLE LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF. FURTHERMORE, THE LAW CODES GIVEN AT SINAI WERE NOT GIVEN TO ISRAEL TO TEACH HER HOW TO BECOME GOD'S PEOPLE, FOR SHE ALREADY WAS.
THEY WERE TO SERVE AS GUIDELINES TO HELP EACH PERSON WITHIN THE COMMUNITY COPY GOD'S BEHAVIOR. THEY WERE GUIDELINES FOR RESTORING GOD'S ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE HUMAN RACE.THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF THE SAVING EVENT OF JESUS LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION AS AN " exodus." BOTH THE OLD AND NEW EXODUS, SOMETIMES TRANSLATED AS "DEPARTURE" IS THE
CONSISTENT THEME: RESCUE. THE KEY WORD THROUGHOUT IS GRACE, MEANING UNDESERVING MERCY AND FAVOR OF GOD. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTIANS TO REMEMBER THAT THEY LIVE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSON, NOT A BODY OF DOCTRINE: THE LATTER MUST POINT TO, AND ENHANCE THE FORMER. THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO GOD'S SAVING GRACE IN CHRIST IS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO COPY CHRIST. MATTHEW 11:29; EPHESIANS 5:1; PETER 2:21. IT REMINDS US THAT HISTORY IS NOT JUST ONE FOOL THING AFTER ANOTHER.IT DOES NOT GO AROUND IN MEANINGLESS CIRCLES (CYCLICAL), REPEATING ITSELF ( AS THE BABYLONIAN BELIEVED) EVERY 3,6OO YEARS. HISTORY IS LINEAR IT HAD A BEGINNING, AND HAS A GOAL AND AN END. GOD BEGAN IT, AND INVOLVES HIMSELF IN ALL HISTORY POWERFULLY AND MEANINGFULLY. BY STUDYING HOW GOD ACTED IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO OLD AND NEW ISRAEL (JESUS), WE LEARN TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW AND WHY HE ACTS AS HE DOES AND WHAT HE PURPOSES ARE IN OUR HISTORY. AND LIVES. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT IN GOD "WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING," ACTS 17:28. GOD LIVES IN AN 'ETERNAL NOW"; IN HIM THERE IS NO PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE- ONLY AM, EXODUS 3:14. YET THERE HAVE BEEN PARTICULAR TIMES WHEN HE ACTED OBVIOUSLY AND POWERFULLY, AND THE BIBLE OUTLINES THESE MIGHTY AND GRACIOUS ACTS.
FOR THIS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE BIBLE INSISTS THAT GOD DID NOT SIMPLY CREATE THE WORLD, AND THEN WITHDRAW--LEAVING IT TO STUMBLE ALONG ALONE ON ITS OWN. NO! HE SUSTAINS WHAT HE HAS MADE, AND INVOLVES HIMSELF INTIMATELY IN ITS HISTORY. THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE STATES THAT GOD HAS SEEN FIT TO MAKE PLANET EARTH THE SPECIAL STAGE FOR HIS ACTIVITIES AND HAVE LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS ALL OVER ITS HISTORY. WE LEARN HOW GOD IS INVOLVED IN OUR HISTORY BY STUDYING WHAT HE SOUGHT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLD AND NEW ISRAEL. THE CHALLENGE, THEN IS TO STUDY THE UNFOLDING DRAMA THAT UNFOLDS WITHIN THE SWEEP OF THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE IN THE LIGHT OF IT. THE SETTING FOR OUR DRAMA IS THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. THOUGH WE WERE NOT THERE TO WATCH THE EVENTS AS THEY ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE, THE SCRIPT (THE BIBLE) RUNS THEM BEFORE OUR EYES. AFTER GOD RESCUED HIS PEOPLE FROM EGYPT, HE LED THEM TO SINAI WHERE HE MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM. THOUGH HE DESCENDED TO THE TOP OF SINAI, HE DID NOT ASCEND AFTER THE EVENT. HE TOOK UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN TABERNACLE/ TENT OF MEETING. THE OLD TESTAMENT NARRATIVE WHICH FOLLOWS THE OUTLINES OF HISTORY OF A PEOPLE LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF. FURTHERMORE, THE LAW CODES GIVEN AT SINAI WERE NOT GIVEN TO ISRAEL TO TEACH HER HOW TO BECOME GOD'S PEOPLE, FOR SHE ALREADY WAS.
THEY WERE TO SERVE AS GUIDELINES TO HELP EACH PERSON WITHIN THE COMMUNITY COPY GOD'S BEHAVIOR. THEY WERE GUIDELINES FOR RESTORING GOD'S ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE HUMAN RACE.THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF THE SAVING EVENT OF JESUS LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION AS AN " exodus." BOTH THE OLD AND NEW EXODUS, SOMETIMES TRANSLATED AS "DEPARTURE" IS THE
CONSISTENT THEME: RESCUE. THE KEY WORD THROUGHOUT IS GRACE, MEANING UNDESERVING MERCY AND FAVOR OF GOD. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTIANS TO REMEMBER THAT THEY LIVE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSON, NOT A BODY OF DOCTRINE: THE LATTER MUST POINT TO, AND ENHANCE THE FORMER. THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO GOD'S SAVING GRACE IN CHRIST IS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO COPY CHRIST. MATTHEW 11:29; EPHESIANS 5:1; PETER 2:21. IT REMINDS US THAT HISTORY IS NOT JUST ONE FOOL THING AFTER ANOTHER.IT DOES NOT GO AROUND IN MEANINGLESS CIRCLES (CYCLICAL), REPEATING ITSELF ( AS THE BABYLONIAN BELIEVED) EVERY 3,6OO YEARS. HISTORY IS LINEAR IT HAD A BEGINNING, AND HAS A GOAL AND AN END. GOD BEGAN IT, AND INVOLVES HIMSELF IN ALL HISTORY POWERFULLY AND MEANINGFULLY. BY STUDYING HOW GOD ACTED IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO OLD AND NEW ISRAEL (JESUS), WE LEARN TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW AND WHY HE ACTS AS HE DOES AND WHAT HE PURPOSES ARE IN OUR HISTORY. AND LIVES. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT IN GOD "WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING," ACTS 17:28. GOD LIVES IN AN 'ETERNAL NOW"; IN HIM THERE IS NO PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE- ONLY AM, EXODUS 3:14. YET THERE HAVE BEEN PARTICULAR TIMES WHEN HE ACTED OBVIOUSLY AND POWERFULLY, AND THE BIBLE OUTLINES THESE MIGHTY AND GRACIOUS ACTS.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
THE IMAGE AND THE OPTIONS
IN THE PERSON OF HIS INCARNATE SON, JESUS CHRIST, GOD ONCE WORE A CROWN OF THORNS. THE APPROXIMATE SHAPE OF A CROWN OF THORNS IS CIRCULAR. THORNS PROTRUDE FROM IT. IF WE WERE TO CONSTRUCT A SYMBOL FOR GOD. THE SYMBOL WOULD CONSISTS OF A CIRCLE WITH FOUR ARROWS PROTRUDING FROM IT. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH HAS LONGED USED A CIRCLE AS A SYMBOL FOR GOD.
THE CHURCH HAS LONGED USED A CIRCLE AS A SYMBOL FOR GOD. THE CIRCLE EXPRESSES THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS ONE, AND THAT HE HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ARROWS GOING OUT FROM HIM IS THAT GOD IS ALWAYS ONE WHO ACTS, AND HIS ACTIONS GO OUT FROM HIMSELF. GOD DOES NOT SIT UP IN HEAVEN STUDYING HIS OWN NAVEL LIKE SOME CONTEMPLATIVE BUDDHA. HE ACTS CONSISTENTLY IN LOVE, KINDNESS AND MERCY., AND THESE ALWAYS FLOW OUT FROM HIMSELF. GOD IS LIKE A GREAT TANK FULL OF THESE QUALITIES- A TANK WHOSE FAWCETT IS ALWAYS TURNED ON. TO ENABLE THE CONTENT TO FLOW OUT. GOD MADE MAN TO BE A CREATURE WHO LOVES. MAN'S LOVE WAS TO FLOW OUT FROM HIMSELF TO GOD AND OTHERS. THE OLD TESTAMENT SPELLS OUT THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IN DEUTERONOMY 6: 4,5 " YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS. IT AND TRUST IN GOD MEANS? WE SHOULD FEAR, LOVE, AND THE SECOND COMMANDMENT IN LEVITICUS 19:18. JESUS WELDS THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS INTO ONE, MARK 12:28-34; MATTHEW 22:34-40; LUKE IO:25-28; JOHN 13:34, " AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"; SEE ALSO EPH. 5:1. THOUGH SOME EXPLANATION OF THE COMMANDMENTS SPEAK OF THEM AS TEN, AND OTHER S AS TWO, JESUS REALLY REDUCES THEM ALL TO A SINGLE COMMAND WITH TWO ARMS- THAT WHICH REACHES UP TO GOD IS CONNECTED TO ANOTHER WHICH REACHES OUT TO NEIGHBOR. SOME JEWS DEBATED WHO ONE'S NEIGHBOR REALLY IS, AND HOW MUCH ONE SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN HELPING HIM JESUS SAYS THE QUESTION IS, "TO WHOM AM I TO BE A NEIGHBOR, AND TO WHAT DEGREE AM I TO PLACE MY LIFE ON THE LINE IN SERVING HIM? ( LUKE 10:29-37). HE DOES AWAY WITH ALL LIMITATIONS (GOOD SAMARITAN). PLACED ON WHO THE NEIGHBOR IS AND THE SERVICE TO BE RENDERED TO HIM. PAUL REDUCES GOD'S WILL FOR HUMANITY TO ONE WORD "LOVE", ROMANS 13:8-10. THE WORD LOVE MEANS "SERVE!"
HUMANITY'S SIN IS THE REFUSAL TO SERVE GOD AND OTHERS. PEOPLE IN THEIR NATURAL STATE OF "FLESH" USE LIFE TO SERVE THEMSELVES, ROMANS 7;5 ( SHOWS OUR SIN). IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR AN ANCIENT KING TO PLACE IMAGES THROUGHOUT HIS REALM, TO REMIND HIS SUBJECTS WHAT HE WAS LIKE. GOD HAS NO NEED FOR IMAGES OF WOOD AND STONE. HE MADE HUMANITY TO BE A WALKING, LIVING IMAGE, LIKENESS AND REFLECTION OF HIS CHARACTER . HAND AND HAND WITH BEING IN GOD'S IMAGE WENT A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY: TO EXERCISE DOMINION OVER THE CREATED ORDER, TO CARE FOR IT FOR GOD, AND USE IT TO GLORIFY GOD BY SERVING PEOPLE. ( NOTE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN "IMAGE" AND "DOMINION" IN GENESIS 1:26, AND ADAM NAMING THE CATTLE, BIRDS AND BEASTS IN GENESIS 2 :20). WHAT'S " LOVE?" WHAT' THE WORD "LOVE IS SOMETIMES CONFUSED WITH THE WORD "LIKE." ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS ONLY ONE WORD "LIKE." ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS ONLY ONE WORD, "LOVE" TO EXPRESS A NUMBER OF IDEAS. THE GREEK LANGUAGE USES A NUMBER OF TERMS: HERE ARE 4 OF THEM:
1.) EROS ACTS IN RESPONSE TO AN ATTRACTION IN ANOTHER PERSON; IT USUALLY INVOLVES PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL APPEAL. IT IS AN ACT OF EMOTIONS, AND CANNOT BE COMMANDED.
2). PHILIA HAS TO DO WITH COMPANIONSHIP. WHILE IT SHOULD FIND A PLACE IN A MATURE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP., IT DOES NOT HAVE SEXUAL OVERTONES.
3). AGAPE (AH-GAH-PAY) ACTS IN RESPONSE TO A NEED IN ANOTHER PERSON. IT IS AN ACT OF THE WILL, AND CAN BE COMMANDED. THE WORD IS USED TO DESCRIBE GOD'S LOVE FOR MANKIND, AND THE LOVE OF A FATHER FOR HIS DAUGHTER, OR THE LOVE OF A SON FOR HIS MOTHER. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE SEXUAL FEELINGS.
4). STORGE- (STORE-GAY) REFERS TO THE AFFECTION WITHIN THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE, GIVE AND TAKE, OF FAMILY LIFE. THE GREEKS SPOKE ALSO OF PHILADELPHIA, "LOVE OF BROTHER" , AND PHILANTHROPIA, " LOVE OF HUMANITY."
THE CHURCH HAS LONGED USED A CIRCLE AS A SYMBOL FOR GOD. THE CIRCLE EXPRESSES THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS ONE, AND THAT HE HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ARROWS GOING OUT FROM HIM IS THAT GOD IS ALWAYS ONE WHO ACTS, AND HIS ACTIONS GO OUT FROM HIMSELF. GOD DOES NOT SIT UP IN HEAVEN STUDYING HIS OWN NAVEL LIKE SOME CONTEMPLATIVE BUDDHA. HE ACTS CONSISTENTLY IN LOVE, KINDNESS AND MERCY., AND THESE ALWAYS FLOW OUT FROM HIMSELF. GOD IS LIKE A GREAT TANK FULL OF THESE QUALITIES- A TANK WHOSE FAWCETT IS ALWAYS TURNED ON. TO ENABLE THE CONTENT TO FLOW OUT. GOD MADE MAN TO BE A CREATURE WHO LOVES. MAN'S LOVE WAS TO FLOW OUT FROM HIMSELF TO GOD AND OTHERS. THE OLD TESTAMENT SPELLS OUT THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IN DEUTERONOMY 6: 4,5 " YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS. IT AND TRUST IN GOD MEANS? WE SHOULD FEAR, LOVE, AND THE SECOND COMMANDMENT IN LEVITICUS 19:18. JESUS WELDS THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS INTO ONE, MARK 12:28-34; MATTHEW 22:34-40; LUKE IO:25-28; JOHN 13:34, " AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"; SEE ALSO EPH. 5:1. THOUGH SOME EXPLANATION OF THE COMMANDMENTS SPEAK OF THEM AS TEN, AND OTHER S AS TWO, JESUS REALLY REDUCES THEM ALL TO A SINGLE COMMAND WITH TWO ARMS- THAT WHICH REACHES UP TO GOD IS CONNECTED TO ANOTHER WHICH REACHES OUT TO NEIGHBOR. SOME JEWS DEBATED WHO ONE'S NEIGHBOR REALLY IS, AND HOW MUCH ONE SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN HELPING HIM JESUS SAYS THE QUESTION IS, "TO WHOM AM I TO BE A NEIGHBOR, AND TO WHAT DEGREE AM I TO PLACE MY LIFE ON THE LINE IN SERVING HIM? ( LUKE 10:29-37). HE DOES AWAY WITH ALL LIMITATIONS (GOOD SAMARITAN). PLACED ON WHO THE NEIGHBOR IS AND THE SERVICE TO BE RENDERED TO HIM. PAUL REDUCES GOD'S WILL FOR HUMANITY TO ONE WORD "LOVE", ROMANS 13:8-10. THE WORD LOVE MEANS "SERVE!"
HUMANITY'S SIN IS THE REFUSAL TO SERVE GOD AND OTHERS. PEOPLE IN THEIR NATURAL STATE OF "FLESH" USE LIFE TO SERVE THEMSELVES, ROMANS 7;5 ( SHOWS OUR SIN). IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR AN ANCIENT KING TO PLACE IMAGES THROUGHOUT HIS REALM, TO REMIND HIS SUBJECTS WHAT HE WAS LIKE. GOD HAS NO NEED FOR IMAGES OF WOOD AND STONE. HE MADE HUMANITY TO BE A WALKING, LIVING IMAGE, LIKENESS AND REFLECTION OF HIS CHARACTER . HAND AND HAND WITH BEING IN GOD'S IMAGE WENT A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY: TO EXERCISE DOMINION OVER THE CREATED ORDER, TO CARE FOR IT FOR GOD, AND USE IT TO GLORIFY GOD BY SERVING PEOPLE. ( NOTE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN "IMAGE" AND "DOMINION" IN GENESIS 1:26, AND ADAM NAMING THE CATTLE, BIRDS AND BEASTS IN GENESIS 2 :20). WHAT'S " LOVE?" WHAT' THE WORD "LOVE IS SOMETIMES CONFUSED WITH THE WORD "LIKE." ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS ONLY ONE WORD "LIKE." ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS THAT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS ONLY ONE WORD, "LOVE" TO EXPRESS A NUMBER OF IDEAS. THE GREEK LANGUAGE USES A NUMBER OF TERMS: HERE ARE 4 OF THEM:
1.) EROS ACTS IN RESPONSE TO AN ATTRACTION IN ANOTHER PERSON; IT USUALLY INVOLVES PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL APPEAL. IT IS AN ACT OF EMOTIONS, AND CANNOT BE COMMANDED.
2). PHILIA HAS TO DO WITH COMPANIONSHIP. WHILE IT SHOULD FIND A PLACE IN A MATURE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP., IT DOES NOT HAVE SEXUAL OVERTONES.
3). AGAPE (AH-GAH-PAY) ACTS IN RESPONSE TO A NEED IN ANOTHER PERSON. IT IS AN ACT OF THE WILL, AND CAN BE COMMANDED. THE WORD IS USED TO DESCRIBE GOD'S LOVE FOR MANKIND, AND THE LOVE OF A FATHER FOR HIS DAUGHTER, OR THE LOVE OF A SON FOR HIS MOTHER. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE SEXUAL FEELINGS.
4). STORGE- (STORE-GAY) REFERS TO THE AFFECTION WITHIN THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE, GIVE AND TAKE, OF FAMILY LIFE. THE GREEKS SPOKE ALSO OF PHILADELPHIA, "LOVE OF BROTHER" , AND PHILANTHROPIA, " LOVE OF HUMANITY."
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
THE END! PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY
AFTER PAUL HAD WRITTEN HIS FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY, HE CONTINUED HIS APOSTOLIC LABOR. IN MACEDONIA AND THE ORIENT, ALTHOUGH IT IS PROBABLE, FROM CERTAIN HISTORICAL TRADITIONS THAT HE ALSO VISITED SPAIN. BUT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON HIS MINISTRY WAS SUDDENLY INTERRUPTED BY HIS ARREST AND SUBSEQUENT TRANSPORTATION TO ROME. THE SITUATION OF THE APOSTLE DURING THE LAST IMPRISONMENT WAS WHOLLY CHANGED FROM THAT OF THE PREVIOUS STAY IN ROME. HE WAS IN BONDS, CHAP 1, 8,16; HE HAD NO LONGER EXPECTATION, AS BEFORE, OF BEING RELEASED. IT IS TRUE THAT HE HAD, FOR THE MOMENT ESCAPED FROM GREAT DANGER, CHAP 4, 17; YET HE IS STRONGLY CONVINCED THAT THE TIME OF HIS DEPARTURE IS AT HAND. HIS LAST LETTER, THEREFORE, BEARS A UNIQUE CHARACTER, SO THAT IT HAS BEEN CALLED, " THE TESTAMENT OF THE DYING APOSTLE" TO HIS SPIRITUAL SON AND TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE EPISTLE WAS WRITTEN NOT LONG AFTER HIS IMPRISONMENT AND IN VIEW OF HIS CERTAINLY APPROACHING DEATH EITHER IN 66 OR 67, THE LATTER YEAR BEING MENTION BY TRADITION. THE FAMILIAR TONE WHICH IS EVIDENT IN THE FIRST LETTER IS BROUGHT OUT HERE WITH EVEN GREATER FORCE.
THE EPISTLE IS A CONFIDENTIAL TALK OF THE APOSTLE WITH THE MAN TO WHOM HE HAD GIVEN THE LOVE OF A FATHER FROM THE TIME OF HIS CONVERSION. AFTER THE ADDRESS AND GREETING THERE IS AN ADMONITION TO CONTINUE IN THE BOLD CONFESSION OF THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD. THEN THE APOSTLE SPEAKS AT LENGTH OF THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE WITH REFERENCE TO VARIOUS DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST TO TIMOTHY MY BELOVED SON, PURPOSELY PLACING THE STRESS ON THE OFFICE OF CHRIST, THROUGH WHICH THE APOSTOLIC
OFFICE IS EFFECTIVE. PAUL BELONGED TO THOSE FIRST TEACHERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN ALL THE WORLD, AND IT WASN'T HIS CHOICE AND DESIRE, BUT BY THE WILL OF GOD WHO HAD CHOSEN HIM AND GIVEN HIS ENTIRE LIFE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THROUGH HIS CONVERSION AND SUBSEQUENT CALL. HE HELD THIS OFFICE AND PERFORMED ITS WORK NOT FOR ANY REASON OF SELF- AGGRANDIZEMENT, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF OF PROCLAIMING, ANNOUNCING
THE TRUE LIFE IN CHRIST, AND IS DEPENDENT UPON THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GRACE. THE LIFE WHICH GOD INTENDED FOR MEN FROM ETERNITY, THE LIFE WHICH WAS BROUGHT DOWN UPON THE EARTH BY THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JOHN 1, 4; 1 JOHN 1,2, THE LIFE WHICH WE SHALL ENJOY IN RICHEST, MEASURE IN ETERNITY, COL,3,34; GAL. 6,8; ROM 5,17, THAT IS THE LIFE THAT IS PROCLAIMED IN THE WORD, THAT IS THE CONTENT OF ALL APOSTOLIC PREACHING. IT IS THE LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, FOR WITHOUT HIM THERE CAN BE NO TRUE LIFE. PAUL ADDRESSES TIMOTHY AS HIS BELOVED SON, WITH WHOM HE IS UNITED IN THE BONDS OF MOST CORDIAL AND FATHERLY LOVE. PAUL'S HEART WAS FILLED WITH LONGING TO SEE HIS YOUNG FRIEND, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE COULD NOT GET RID OF THE MEMORY OF THE TEARS THAT TIMOTHY SHED AT THEIR LAST MEETING ACTS 20,37. THE FIELD ON WHICH TIMOTHY WAS WORKING WAS TO MUCH FOR HIM BECAUSE OF HIS INEXPERIENCE, IN CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH HE HAD BEEN BOTHERED WITH FAINT-HEARTEDNESS, HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE TIMOTHY. PAUL NOW MENTIONS THE REASON FOR HIS PRAYERS OF THANKFULNESS: FOR I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED FAITH WHICH DWELT IN MY GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; PAUL HAD PROBABLY BEEN REMINDED WITH GREAT FORCE OF ALL THESE FACTS BY A LETTER OR BY A MESSENGER FROM TIMOTHY.
FINAL ADVICE. DO YOUR BEST TO COME AND SEE ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN. AS IT IS, DEMAS HAS DESERTED ME FOR THE LOVE OF THIS LIFE AND GONE TO THESSALONIKA, CRESCENS HAS GONE TO GALATIA AND TITUS TO DALMATIA.
ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME. THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO PRESENT MY DEFENCE, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE WITNESS TO SUPPORT ME. EVERYONE OF THEM DESERTED ME.
MAY THEY NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT. BUT THE LORD STOOD BY ME. AND GAVE ME POWER, SO THROUGH ME THE WHOLE MESSAGE MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED FOR ALL PAGANS TO HEAR; AND SO I WAS RESCUED FROM THE LION'S MOUTH. GREETINGS TO PRISCA AND AQUILA, AND THE FAMILY OF ONESIPHORUS. DO YOUR BEST TO COME BEFORE WINTER.
THE EPISTLE IS A CONFIDENTIAL TALK OF THE APOSTLE WITH THE MAN TO WHOM HE HAD GIVEN THE LOVE OF A FATHER FROM THE TIME OF HIS CONVERSION. AFTER THE ADDRESS AND GREETING THERE IS AN ADMONITION TO CONTINUE IN THE BOLD CONFESSION OF THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD. THEN THE APOSTLE SPEAKS AT LENGTH OF THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THE MINISTERIAL OFFICE WITH REFERENCE TO VARIOUS DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.
PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST TO TIMOTHY MY BELOVED SON, PURPOSELY PLACING THE STRESS ON THE OFFICE OF CHRIST, THROUGH WHICH THE APOSTOLIC
OFFICE IS EFFECTIVE. PAUL BELONGED TO THOSE FIRST TEACHERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN ALL THE WORLD, AND IT WASN'T HIS CHOICE AND DESIRE, BUT BY THE WILL OF GOD WHO HAD CHOSEN HIM AND GIVEN HIS ENTIRE LIFE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THROUGH HIS CONVERSION AND SUBSEQUENT CALL. HE HELD THIS OFFICE AND PERFORMED ITS WORK NOT FOR ANY REASON OF SELF- AGGRANDIZEMENT, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF OF PROCLAIMING, ANNOUNCING
THE TRUE LIFE IN CHRIST, AND IS DEPENDENT UPON THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GRACE. THE LIFE WHICH GOD INTENDED FOR MEN FROM ETERNITY, THE LIFE WHICH WAS BROUGHT DOWN UPON THE EARTH BY THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JOHN 1, 4; 1 JOHN 1,2, THE LIFE WHICH WE SHALL ENJOY IN RICHEST, MEASURE IN ETERNITY, COL,3,34; GAL. 6,8; ROM 5,17, THAT IS THE LIFE THAT IS PROCLAIMED IN THE WORD, THAT IS THE CONTENT OF ALL APOSTOLIC PREACHING. IT IS THE LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, FOR WITHOUT HIM THERE CAN BE NO TRUE LIFE. PAUL ADDRESSES TIMOTHY AS HIS BELOVED SON, WITH WHOM HE IS UNITED IN THE BONDS OF MOST CORDIAL AND FATHERLY LOVE. PAUL'S HEART WAS FILLED WITH LONGING TO SEE HIS YOUNG FRIEND, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE COULD NOT GET RID OF THE MEMORY OF THE TEARS THAT TIMOTHY SHED AT THEIR LAST MEETING ACTS 20,37. THE FIELD ON WHICH TIMOTHY WAS WORKING WAS TO MUCH FOR HIM BECAUSE OF HIS INEXPERIENCE, IN CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH HE HAD BEEN BOTHERED WITH FAINT-HEARTEDNESS, HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE TIMOTHY. PAUL NOW MENTIONS THE REASON FOR HIS PRAYERS OF THANKFULNESS: FOR I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED FAITH WHICH DWELT IN MY GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; PAUL HAD PROBABLY BEEN REMINDED WITH GREAT FORCE OF ALL THESE FACTS BY A LETTER OR BY A MESSENGER FROM TIMOTHY.
FINAL ADVICE. DO YOUR BEST TO COME AND SEE ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN. AS IT IS, DEMAS HAS DESERTED ME FOR THE LOVE OF THIS LIFE AND GONE TO THESSALONIKA, CRESCENS HAS GONE TO GALATIA AND TITUS TO DALMATIA.
ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME. THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO PRESENT MY DEFENCE, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE WITNESS TO SUPPORT ME. EVERYONE OF THEM DESERTED ME.
MAY THEY NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT. BUT THE LORD STOOD BY ME. AND GAVE ME POWER, SO THROUGH ME THE WHOLE MESSAGE MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED FOR ALL PAGANS TO HEAR; AND SO I WAS RESCUED FROM THE LION'S MOUTH. GREETINGS TO PRISCA AND AQUILA, AND THE FAMILY OF ONESIPHORUS. DO YOUR BEST TO COME BEFORE WINTER.
Monday, October 22, 2018
" COMFORT THY BROTHER" THE SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY." MATT [18:15-20}
IN SPITE OF OUR BEST INTENTIONS, WE ALL SIN EVERY DAY, BUT WE HUMBLY CONFESS OUR SINS AND RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR JESUS SAKE. WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE SINCERELY TRY TO AMEN OUR SINFUL LIVES, TO GROW IN SANCTIFICATION., IN OTHER WORDS: "HOLINESS." AND WE REGULARLY ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WHEN WE WORSHIP TOGETHER AND WHEN WE HAVE DAILY CONTACTS WITH ONE ANOTHER. BUT ONCE IN AWHILE A FELLOW CHRISTIAN IS GUILTY OF A DELIBERATE SIN AND MAKES AMENDS FOR IT. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE NEED TO MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO BRING THAT FELLOW CHRISTIAN TO REPENTANCE. EVEN IF THAT PERSON'S SINS DOES NOT HARM YOU DIRECTLY, IT STILL CONCERNS YOU. IT IS STILL A SIN AGAINST YOU IN THE SENSE THAT IT DISRUPTS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT FELLOW, FOR YOU CANNOT IGNORE ANOTHER DELIBERATE SIN. IF YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, YOUR LORD WANTS YOU TO GO TO YOUR FELLOW CHRISTIAN IN PRIVATE AND DISCUSS THAT SIN. IF HE LISTENS TO YOU AND REPENTS OF HIS SIN, NO ONE ELSE NEEDS TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE MATTER IS SETTLED. YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE STRAYING SHEEP BACK INTO THE FOLD; THE CHURCH. IF YOU ARE UNSUCCESSFUL, HOWEVER, THEN THE LORD WANTS YOU TO TRY AGAIN, AND TAKE TWO OR THREE OTHERS WITH YOU.THEY SHOULD BE MATURE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE RESPECT OF YOUR ERRING BROTHER OR SISTER. PERHAPS TWO OR THREE OF YOU TOGETHER CAN SETTLE THE MATTER. IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE WITNESSES WHO CAN TESTIFY IN THE CASE. THE NEXT STEP IS TO TELL IT TO THE CHURCH.
THE EVENTS IN OUR WORLD TODAY ARE, TO SAY THE LEAST TROUBLING. WE HEAR NEWS OF CONFLICT, EVEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES, EVEN IN THE CHURCH, HAVE BECOME FACTS OF LIFE. IN THIS TIME AND AGE ALL HARD WORK HAS BEEN DONE FOR US, THE EARLY CHRISTIANS HAVE TAKEN OUR LASHES, OUR LEADER "JESUS CHRIST" HAS DIED FOR US, AND COMES BACK FOR US, YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR EACH GENERATION FOR 2,OOO YRS. WHEN WE THINK OF THE PROPHETS, WE TEND TO THINK OF PREDICTIONS OR "FORETELLING" THE FUTURE SOMETHING THEY CERTAINLY DID, HOWEVER THEIR PRIMARY AND ALSO OURS OBJECTIVE WAS TO "FOR-TELL" GOD'S WORDS TO HIS PEOPLE TO CORRECT AND INSTRUCT. THE PROPHETS CAME FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND SPOKE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, THEY CHALLENGED GOD'S PEOPLE AND US NOW TO FAITHFULLY BE,, WHO WE AND THEM AT THAT TIME HAD BEEN CALLED TO BE. TODAY WE LOOK AT THE SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY AND THIS WAS HIS STORY. IN TIMOTHY WE MEET AN UNUSUAL MAN. HE IS A MAN OF ABILITY, COURAGE, DECISION, FORCE, GRACE HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH AND VISION AN WISDOM. HOW DID HE GET THAT WAY? WE ARE INTRODUCED TO TIMOTHY'S FAMILY BY WAY OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS A JEWESS BUT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. IN WRITING TO TIMOTHY, PAUL LATER DECLARED THAT THEIR FAITH DWELT FIRST IN HIS GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THEN HIS MOTHER EUNICE AND FINALLY IN TIMOTHY. THESE WERE GODLY WOMEN WHOSE HEARTS WERE OPENED TO THE TRUTH AND WHO, WHEN THEY HEARD THE TRUTH, BELIEVED IT AND OBEYED IT. TIMOTHY'S FATHER WHO WAS A GREEK WHO HAD A "GOOD REPORT OF THE "BRETHREN." HIS HOME WAS IN LYSTRA IN ASIA MINOR. PAUL HAD VISITED THE CITY ON HIS FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY AND BECAUSE OF A MIRACLE WHICH HE AND BARNABAS HAD PERFORMED, WAS TAKEN FOR THE"god"
mercury. WHEN HE REPUDIATED THE WORSHIP OF THE PEOPLE, THERE WAS A REVULSION ON THEIR PART UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL PRIEST., AND HE WAS STONED AND DRAGGED OUT AND LEFT FOR DEAD; BUT THE LORD RESTORED HIM AND HE ENTERED INTO THE CITY., WHERE HE REMAINED THAT NIGHT. IT IS ALL TOGETHER THAT TIMOTHY HAD SEEN PAUL LYING IN HIS OWN BLOOD, OR BATTRED FROM THE ROCKS WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS LIFE.ON HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEY, PAUL WAS INTERESTED IN FINDING A YOUNG MAN TO ATTEND HIM AS A MINISTER AND HELPER, IN COMING TO LYSTRA, FOUND TIMOTHY WHO ALREADY A BELIEVER AND WHO HAD BEEN CONVERTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY HE INVITED HIM TO BE HIS COMPANION IN TRAVEL. TIMOTHY WAS EDUCATED IN JEWISH SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE A MAN WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS (2nd TIM 3;15). THUS HE WAS WELL EQUIPPED THROUGH A KNOWLEDGE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. AND THROUGH A CONVERTED EXPERIENCE TO BECOME A SERVANT OF THE LORD. TIMOTHY IS INTRODUCED TO US AS THE "CERTAIN DISCIPLE." PAUL LATER DESCRIBES HIM: MY OWN SON IN THE FAITH" THIS WE BELIEVE THAT TIMOTHY WAS CONVERTED AS A RESULT OF PAUL'S OWN PREACHING AND TESTIMONY. TIMOTHY'S KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAPPEN TO PAUL AT HIS HOME TOWN ON THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY LEFT NO ILLUSIONS AS TO WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN. HIS OWN PERSONAL SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IS NOT RECORDED, BUT WE CAN RECONSTRUCT IN IMAGINATION HIS EXPRESSION OF DESIRE TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN AND HIS INSTRUCTION IN THE WAY (FAITH).
BECAUSE TIMOTHY'S FATHER WAS A GREEK AND HIS MOTHER A JEWESS, PAUL HAD TIMOTHY CIRCUMCISED FOR THE SAKE OF THE JEWS WHO WERE IN THAT AREA, THAN HE CHOSE HIM TO TAKE JOHN MARK'S PLACE ON THE TEAM. WHEN TIMOTHY WAS SELECTED BY PAUL, HE IMMEDIATELY ASSENTED AND PREPARED TO GO WITH HIM. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS," ACCORDING TO (1 TIM.4:14), SAYS TIMOTHY WAS SET APART IN THE PRESBYTERY BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. TUS HE RECEIVED THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN HIS LIFE HE BEGAN HIS APOSTOLIC AND MISSIONARY JOURNEY WITH PAUL AND SILAS TRAVELING NORTHWARD TOWARD BITHYNIA THEN WESTWARD TOWARD TROAS, AND AFTER, RECEIVING THE VISION OF THE MAN IN MACEDONIA, WENT INTO PHILIPPI OF EUROPE. THERE HE WITNESS THE BEATING OF PAUL AND SILAS AND IMPRISONMENT ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY HE WAS SPARED THIS ORDEAL, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF HIS YOUTH. (ACTS 16: 23-24). IN THE MIDST OF THIS AND ALL SUBSEQUENT PERSECUTIONS THROUGH WHICH PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS PASSED, SOMETHING HELD TIMOTHY NEW STEADY IN HIS NEW FOUND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. HOW MANY OF OUR MODERN DAY CHRISTIANS WHO COULD ENDURE THE BEATINGS, TORTURES, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WAITING FOR THE NEXT SET PERSECUTIONS THAT YOU COULD EXPECT DAY AFTER DAY FOR THIS NEW FOUND RELIGION, AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IF YOU ENDURED. BUT, TIMOTHY WAS NOW READY FOR THE PRICE HE HAD TO PAY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS OF GOD" SO THAT HE BECAME PAUL'S RIGHT HAND MAN, WITH NO DOUBT'S. WHEN PAUL WROTE HIS LAST LETTER FROM THE PRISON IN ROME, HE URGED HIM TO "STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US." WHAT IS THIS MEANING OF THE GIFT OF GOD;" TIMOTHY WAS A DISCIPLE BEFORE PAUL LAID HANDS ON HIM IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMING INTO THE MINISTRY. HE WAS SAVED ACCORDING TO (ACTS 16), WHEN PAUL FOUND HIM AS THE FRUIT OF HIS PREVIOUS PREACHING ON THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN GREAT JOY TO PAUL. THE GIFT OF GOD THE GIFT OF GOD THAT WAS TOLD TO TIMOTHY BY PAUL, REFERS TO THE GIFT OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SENSE, AFTER PENTECOST BEING RECEIVED AT CONVERSION. THE ONES FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT ARE FULL OF POWER, OF LOVE, OF WISDOM, OF A JOY AS A RESULT OF THEM BEING FILLED. AND THEIR ARE THOSE BEING FILLED AT THEIR CALL TO CHRIST THROUGH THEIR FAITH
THE EVENTS IN OUR WORLD TODAY ARE, TO SAY THE LEAST TROUBLING. WE HEAR NEWS OF CONFLICT, EVEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES, EVEN IN THE CHURCH, HAVE BECOME FACTS OF LIFE. IN THIS TIME AND AGE ALL HARD WORK HAS BEEN DONE FOR US, THE EARLY CHRISTIANS HAVE TAKEN OUR LASHES, OUR LEADER "JESUS CHRIST" HAS DIED FOR US, AND COMES BACK FOR US, YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR EACH GENERATION FOR 2,OOO YRS. WHEN WE THINK OF THE PROPHETS, WE TEND TO THINK OF PREDICTIONS OR "FORETELLING" THE FUTURE SOMETHING THEY CERTAINLY DID, HOWEVER THEIR PRIMARY AND ALSO OURS OBJECTIVE WAS TO "FOR-TELL" GOD'S WORDS TO HIS PEOPLE TO CORRECT AND INSTRUCT. THE PROPHETS CAME FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND SPOKE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, THEY CHALLENGED GOD'S PEOPLE AND US NOW TO FAITHFULLY BE,, WHO WE AND THEM AT THAT TIME HAD BEEN CALLED TO BE. TODAY WE LOOK AT THE SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF TIMOTHY AND THIS WAS HIS STORY. IN TIMOTHY WE MEET AN UNUSUAL MAN. HE IS A MAN OF ABILITY, COURAGE, DECISION, FORCE, GRACE HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, JUSTICE, TRUTH AND VISION AN WISDOM. HOW DID HE GET THAT WAY? WE ARE INTRODUCED TO TIMOTHY'S FAMILY BY WAY OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS A JEWESS BUT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. IN WRITING TO TIMOTHY, PAUL LATER DECLARED THAT THEIR FAITH DWELT FIRST IN HIS GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THEN HIS MOTHER EUNICE AND FINALLY IN TIMOTHY. THESE WERE GODLY WOMEN WHOSE HEARTS WERE OPENED TO THE TRUTH AND WHO, WHEN THEY HEARD THE TRUTH, BELIEVED IT AND OBEYED IT. TIMOTHY'S FATHER WHO WAS A GREEK WHO HAD A "GOOD REPORT OF THE "BRETHREN." HIS HOME WAS IN LYSTRA IN ASIA MINOR. PAUL HAD VISITED THE CITY ON HIS FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY AND BECAUSE OF A MIRACLE WHICH HE AND BARNABAS HAD PERFORMED, WAS TAKEN FOR THE"god"
mercury. WHEN HE REPUDIATED THE WORSHIP OF THE PEOPLE, THERE WAS A REVULSION ON THEIR PART UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL PRIEST., AND HE WAS STONED AND DRAGGED OUT AND LEFT FOR DEAD; BUT THE LORD RESTORED HIM AND HE ENTERED INTO THE CITY., WHERE HE REMAINED THAT NIGHT. IT IS ALL TOGETHER THAT TIMOTHY HAD SEEN PAUL LYING IN HIS OWN BLOOD, OR BATTRED FROM THE ROCKS WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS LIFE.ON HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEY, PAUL WAS INTERESTED IN FINDING A YOUNG MAN TO ATTEND HIM AS A MINISTER AND HELPER, IN COMING TO LYSTRA, FOUND TIMOTHY WHO ALREADY A BELIEVER AND WHO HAD BEEN CONVERTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY HE INVITED HIM TO BE HIS COMPANION IN TRAVEL. TIMOTHY WAS EDUCATED IN JEWISH SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE A MAN WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS (2nd TIM 3;15). THUS HE WAS WELL EQUIPPED THROUGH A KNOWLEDGE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. AND THROUGH A CONVERTED EXPERIENCE TO BECOME A SERVANT OF THE LORD. TIMOTHY IS INTRODUCED TO US AS THE "CERTAIN DISCIPLE." PAUL LATER DESCRIBES HIM: MY OWN SON IN THE FAITH" THIS WE BELIEVE THAT TIMOTHY WAS CONVERTED AS A RESULT OF PAUL'S OWN PREACHING AND TESTIMONY. TIMOTHY'S KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HAPPEN TO PAUL AT HIS HOME TOWN ON THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY LEFT NO ILLUSIONS AS TO WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN. HIS OWN PERSONAL SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IS NOT RECORDED, BUT WE CAN RECONSTRUCT IN IMAGINATION HIS EXPRESSION OF DESIRE TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN AND HIS INSTRUCTION IN THE WAY (FAITH).
BECAUSE TIMOTHY'S FATHER WAS A GREEK AND HIS MOTHER A JEWESS, PAUL HAD TIMOTHY CIRCUMCISED FOR THE SAKE OF THE JEWS WHO WERE IN THAT AREA, THAN HE CHOSE HIM TO TAKE JOHN MARK'S PLACE ON THE TEAM. WHEN TIMOTHY WAS SELECTED BY PAUL, HE IMMEDIATELY ASSENTED AND PREPARED TO GO WITH HIM. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS," ACCORDING TO (1 TIM.4:14), SAYS TIMOTHY WAS SET APART IN THE PRESBYTERY BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. TUS HE RECEIVED THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AS A MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN HIS LIFE HE BEGAN HIS APOSTOLIC AND MISSIONARY JOURNEY WITH PAUL AND SILAS TRAVELING NORTHWARD TOWARD BITHYNIA THEN WESTWARD TOWARD TROAS, AND AFTER, RECEIVING THE VISION OF THE MAN IN MACEDONIA, WENT INTO PHILIPPI OF EUROPE. THERE HE WITNESS THE BEATING OF PAUL AND SILAS AND IMPRISONMENT ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY HE WAS SPARED THIS ORDEAL, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF HIS YOUTH. (ACTS 16: 23-24). IN THE MIDST OF THIS AND ALL SUBSEQUENT PERSECUTIONS THROUGH WHICH PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS PASSED, SOMETHING HELD TIMOTHY NEW STEADY IN HIS NEW FOUND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. HOW MANY OF OUR MODERN DAY CHRISTIANS WHO COULD ENDURE THE BEATINGS, TORTURES, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WAITING FOR THE NEXT SET PERSECUTIONS THAT YOU COULD EXPECT DAY AFTER DAY FOR THIS NEW FOUND RELIGION, AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IF YOU ENDURED. BUT, TIMOTHY WAS NOW READY FOR THE PRICE HE HAD TO PAY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS OF GOD" SO THAT HE BECAME PAUL'S RIGHT HAND MAN, WITH NO DOUBT'S. WHEN PAUL WROTE HIS LAST LETTER FROM THE PRISON IN ROME, HE URGED HIM TO "STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US." WHAT IS THIS MEANING OF THE GIFT OF GOD;" TIMOTHY WAS A DISCIPLE BEFORE PAUL LAID HANDS ON HIM IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMING INTO THE MINISTRY. HE WAS SAVED ACCORDING TO (ACTS 16), WHEN PAUL FOUND HIM AS THE FRUIT OF HIS PREVIOUS PREACHING ON THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN GREAT JOY TO PAUL. THE GIFT OF GOD THE GIFT OF GOD THAT WAS TOLD TO TIMOTHY BY PAUL, REFERS TO THE GIFT OF THE "HOLY SPIRIT" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SENSE, AFTER PENTECOST BEING RECEIVED AT CONVERSION. THE ONES FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT ARE FULL OF POWER, OF LOVE, OF WISDOM, OF A JOY AS A RESULT OF THEM BEING FILLED. AND THEIR ARE THOSE BEING FILLED AT THEIR CALL TO CHRIST THROUGH THEIR FAITH
Friday, October 19, 2018
THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED. JOHN 3:1-17
THE FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY, CELEBRATES THE MYSTERY OF GOD, BOTH TRANSCENDENT AND IMMINET, (ABOUT TO OCCUR). WE NOW LIVE AS WITNESSES TO GOD'S LOVE.). THOUGH THE NATURE OF GOD IS BEYOND OUR RATIONAL EXPLANATION, WE ASCRIBE GLORY TO THE ONE WHO IS HOLY, WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE EARTH. CHRISTIANS ARE BORN OF WATER AND SPIRIT, AND WHEN WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, WE REMEMBER OUR BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF THE TRIUNE GOD. BORN ANEW IN BAPTISM, AND NOURISHED AT THE LORD'S TABLE FOR US AND ALL THE WORLD. THERE WAS A MAN OF THE PHARISEES, NAMED NICODEMUS, A RULER OF THE JEWS. THE SAME CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT.
WHAT IS GOD LIKE? THIS QUESTION IS DIFFICULT, ONE THAT THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY ATTEMPTS TO ANSWER BY URGING US TO LOOK NOT AT WHAT GOD IS-ALL POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING, ALL-WISE BUT RATHER HOW GOD IS : IN CONSTANT RELATIONSHIP. THE HEART OF HE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
, SURELY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ELEMENTS OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, IS THAT GOD IS MOST FULLY UNDERSTOOD AS A RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE. FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT ARE JOINED IN RELATIONSHIP OF UNITY AND LOVE THAT ULTIMATELY SPILLS OUT INTO CREATION. ALL SIMILES LIMP, THEY TELLUS, AND THOSE WE USE FOR GOD LIMP THE MOST. GOD AS "FATHER" IS ONE OF THEM. THE IDEA OF FATHERHOOD IS A GOOD ONE, BUT THE REALITY WE SEE ON EARTH IS SOMETIMES QUITE DIFFERENT. SOME FATHERS ABANDON THEIR CHILDREN, BEAT THEM, OR RIDICULE THEM, DAMAGE THEM PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR LIFE. EVEN GOOD "FATHERS" HAVE THEIR LIMITS. THEY GET TIRED, THEY OFTEN GO AWAY, SOMETIMES THEY ARE HELPLESS AND FINALLY DIE. TO SOME PEOPLE, THEN, THE IDEA OF GOD AS "FATHER" IS BARREN., SO, FOR THAT MATTER, MAY BE THE NOTION OF "MOTHER." BUT JESUS CHOSE THAT WORD AS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE GOD.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, OBVIOUSLY, IS TO KEEP IN MIND ONLY THE POSITIVE QUALITIES OF FATHERHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD, AND FORGET ALL HUMAN LIMITATIONS. GOD IS A FATHER WHO WANTS CHILDREN MORE EAGERLY THAN ANY EARTHLY PARENTS EVER YEARNED TO SEE THEIR LOVE MADE VISIBLE IN A NEW PERSON ALL THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH PARENTHOOD IS INFINITE IN GOD: BEGETTING, POURING OUT, SUSTAINING AND PROTECTING, GUIDING, ENCOURAGING. GOD IS GENTLENESS, AND STRENGTH, PATIENCE, AND JUSTICE. HE GIVES BIRTH, NURSES, AND CARRIES, WAITS EXPLAINS, LETS GO AND WELCOMES BACK, FORGIVES AND HEALS. GOD IS CREATOR, REDEEMER, TO USE HEAVY WORDS OF THEOLOGY. BUT THE WORD IS STILL JESUS WORD: "ABBA". SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT IF HE COULD REMEMBER ONLY ONE VERSE OF THE BIBLE ON THAT MYTHICAL ISLAND OF SHIPWRECK, IT SHOULD BE THIS: GOD IS LOVE AND HE WHO
ABIDES IN LOVE ABIDES IN GOD AND GOD IN HIM (1 JOHN 4:16). THE PROPHETS OFTEN HAD TO WARN PEOPLE OF GOD'S INCOMPATIBILITY WITH EVIL: THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN WOULD OVERTAKE THEM AND THUS, GOD WOULD 'PUNISH' THEM. BUT THE LAST WORD ALWAYS ECHOED A PARENTS FORGIVENESS AND ENDLESS WELCOME. HOSEA SAYS IT WELL:
WHEN ISRAEL WAS A CHILD I LOVED HIM
OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON
THE MORE I CALLED THEM
THE FARTHER THEY WENT FROM ME.
YET IT WAS I WHO TAUGHT EPHRAIM TO WALK,
WHO TOOK THEM IN MY ARMS;
I DREW THEM WITH HUMAN CORDS.
WITH BANS OF LOVE;
I FOSTERED THEM LIKE ONE
WHO RAISES AN INFANT TO HIS CHEEKS;
YET, THOUGH I STOOPED TO FED MYCHILD,
THEY DID NOT KNOW I WAS THEIR HEALER. (11: 1-4).
SCIENCE HAS TAKEN ALL POETRY OUT OF CREATION, LEAVING ONLY AN INTRICATE PATTERN OF MOLECULES AS LIFELESS AS A CLOCK. GENESIS TELLS IT BETTER. THE STORY OF GOD'S INSPIRED PEOPLE COMPOSED TO HOLD HIS CREATION IN POETIC GRACE IS A MASTERPIECE. THE PURPOSE OF CREATION, IT AFFIRMS, IS THE SHARING OF GOD'S GLORY. WITH HUMAN BEINGS.-NOT AN ABSTRACT HUMAN RACE, BUT YOU AND ME AND YOUR UNCLE BILL AND OLD MRS KIM. TAKE TIME TO MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE TRUTHS CONTAINED IN THAT SIMPLE STORY: THE GOODNESS OF GOD, THE DIGNITY OF MAN AND WOMEN, THE BEAUTY OF CREATION, THE UNITY OF MARRIAGE, THE HOLINESS OF THE BODY, THE FREEDOM OF OUR WILL, THE CALL TO RESPONSIBILITY AND OBEDIENCE, THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
WHY DID GOD CREATE US, HE IS HAPPY IN "COMMUNITY" OF FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. ONE OF THINGS THAT MUST BE SAID; HE DOESN'T NEED US. IT MAY SEEM TO MAKE A SORT OF MINOR HOBBY OF GOD, LIKE A MILLION PEOPLE IN A STADIUM FOR A "SHOW" WHILE, HE DRIVES OFF TO SEEK HIS OWN DIVERSION IN FLORIDA. GOD DOES ALL HE CAN TO MAKE US FEEL THE WARMTH OF HIS LOVE. HE SENDS US PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNS AND SACRAMENTS OF HIS LOVE. GOD COULD NOT MAKE US ANY OTHER WAY EXCEPT WITH A BUILT-IN ORIENTATION TO HIM. AS A FISH IS MADE FOR WATER AND THE HEART MADE FOR LOVE, WE ARE MADE FOR GOD (IN HIS (IMAGE).
I
WHAT IS GOD LIKE? THIS QUESTION IS DIFFICULT, ONE THAT THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY ATTEMPTS TO ANSWER BY URGING US TO LOOK NOT AT WHAT GOD IS-ALL POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING, ALL-WISE BUT RATHER HOW GOD IS : IN CONSTANT RELATIONSHIP. THE HEART OF HE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
, SURELY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ELEMENTS OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, IS THAT GOD IS MOST FULLY UNDERSTOOD AS A RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE. FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT ARE JOINED IN RELATIONSHIP OF UNITY AND LOVE THAT ULTIMATELY SPILLS OUT INTO CREATION. ALL SIMILES LIMP, THEY TELLUS, AND THOSE WE USE FOR GOD LIMP THE MOST. GOD AS "FATHER" IS ONE OF THEM. THE IDEA OF FATHERHOOD IS A GOOD ONE, BUT THE REALITY WE SEE ON EARTH IS SOMETIMES QUITE DIFFERENT. SOME FATHERS ABANDON THEIR CHILDREN, BEAT THEM, OR RIDICULE THEM, DAMAGE THEM PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR LIFE. EVEN GOOD "FATHERS" HAVE THEIR LIMITS. THEY GET TIRED, THEY OFTEN GO AWAY, SOMETIMES THEY ARE HELPLESS AND FINALLY DIE. TO SOME PEOPLE, THEN, THE IDEA OF GOD AS "FATHER" IS BARREN., SO, FOR THAT MATTER, MAY BE THE NOTION OF "MOTHER." BUT JESUS CHOSE THAT WORD AS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE GOD.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, OBVIOUSLY, IS TO KEEP IN MIND ONLY THE POSITIVE QUALITIES OF FATHERHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD, AND FORGET ALL HUMAN LIMITATIONS. GOD IS A FATHER WHO WANTS CHILDREN MORE EAGERLY THAN ANY EARTHLY PARENTS EVER YEARNED TO SEE THEIR LOVE MADE VISIBLE IN A NEW PERSON ALL THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH PARENTHOOD IS INFINITE IN GOD: BEGETTING, POURING OUT, SUSTAINING AND PROTECTING, GUIDING, ENCOURAGING. GOD IS GENTLENESS, AND STRENGTH, PATIENCE, AND JUSTICE. HE GIVES BIRTH, NURSES, AND CARRIES, WAITS EXPLAINS, LETS GO AND WELCOMES BACK, FORGIVES AND HEALS. GOD IS CREATOR, REDEEMER, TO USE HEAVY WORDS OF THEOLOGY. BUT THE WORD IS STILL JESUS WORD: "ABBA". SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT IF HE COULD REMEMBER ONLY ONE VERSE OF THE BIBLE ON THAT MYTHICAL ISLAND OF SHIPWRECK, IT SHOULD BE THIS: GOD IS LOVE AND HE WHO
ABIDES IN LOVE ABIDES IN GOD AND GOD IN HIM (1 JOHN 4:16). THE PROPHETS OFTEN HAD TO WARN PEOPLE OF GOD'S INCOMPATIBILITY WITH EVIL: THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN WOULD OVERTAKE THEM AND THUS, GOD WOULD 'PUNISH' THEM. BUT THE LAST WORD ALWAYS ECHOED A PARENTS FORGIVENESS AND ENDLESS WELCOME. HOSEA SAYS IT WELL:
WHEN ISRAEL WAS A CHILD I LOVED HIM
OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON
THE MORE I CALLED THEM
THE FARTHER THEY WENT FROM ME.
YET IT WAS I WHO TAUGHT EPHRAIM TO WALK,
WHO TOOK THEM IN MY ARMS;
I DREW THEM WITH HUMAN CORDS.
WITH BANS OF LOVE;
I FOSTERED THEM LIKE ONE
WHO RAISES AN INFANT TO HIS CHEEKS;
YET, THOUGH I STOOPED TO FED MYCHILD,
THEY DID NOT KNOW I WAS THEIR HEALER. (11: 1-4).
SCIENCE HAS TAKEN ALL POETRY OUT OF CREATION, LEAVING ONLY AN INTRICATE PATTERN OF MOLECULES AS LIFELESS AS A CLOCK. GENESIS TELLS IT BETTER. THE STORY OF GOD'S INSPIRED PEOPLE COMPOSED TO HOLD HIS CREATION IN POETIC GRACE IS A MASTERPIECE. THE PURPOSE OF CREATION, IT AFFIRMS, IS THE SHARING OF GOD'S GLORY. WITH HUMAN BEINGS.-NOT AN ABSTRACT HUMAN RACE, BUT YOU AND ME AND YOUR UNCLE BILL AND OLD MRS KIM. TAKE TIME TO MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE TRUTHS CONTAINED IN THAT SIMPLE STORY: THE GOODNESS OF GOD, THE DIGNITY OF MAN AND WOMEN, THE BEAUTY OF CREATION, THE UNITY OF MARRIAGE, THE HOLINESS OF THE BODY, THE FREEDOM OF OUR WILL, THE CALL TO RESPONSIBILITY AND OBEDIENCE, THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
WHY DID GOD CREATE US, HE IS HAPPY IN "COMMUNITY" OF FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. ONE OF THINGS THAT MUST BE SAID; HE DOESN'T NEED US. IT MAY SEEM TO MAKE A SORT OF MINOR HOBBY OF GOD, LIKE A MILLION PEOPLE IN A STADIUM FOR A "SHOW" WHILE, HE DRIVES OFF TO SEEK HIS OWN DIVERSION IN FLORIDA. GOD DOES ALL HE CAN TO MAKE US FEEL THE WARMTH OF HIS LOVE. HE SENDS US PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNS AND SACRAMENTS OF HIS LOVE. GOD COULD NOT MAKE US ANY OTHER WAY EXCEPT WITH A BUILT-IN ORIENTATION TO HIM. AS A FISH IS MADE FOR WATER AND THE HEART MADE FOR LOVE, WE ARE MADE FOR GOD (IN HIS (IMAGE).
I
Thursday, October 18, 2018
WISDOM IN THE (ANCIENT NEAR EAST)
THE WRITER OF KINGS REPORTS THAT THE LORD APPEARED TO SOLOMON IN A DREAM AND SAID, "ASK WHAT I SHALL GIVE YOU." SOLOMON ASKED, "GIVE THY SERVANT THEREFORE AN UNDERSTANDING MIND TO GOVERN THY PEOPLE, THAT I MAY DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL: FOR WHO IS ABLE TO GOVERN THIS THY GREAT PEOPLE.?" (1 KINGS 3:5,9). (1 KINGS 4:29-34) COMMENTS THAT THE LORD "GAVE" WISDOM TO SOLOMON. JUST AS HE GAVE TORAH TO THE PRIEST AND HIS WORD TO THE PROPHET, SO TOO, HE GAVE WISDOM TO THE WISE MAN THE PASSAGE INDICATES THAT AT THE TIME OF SOLOMON, WISDOM WAS AN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR. SOLOMON'S WISDOM SURPASSES THAT OF "ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST." AND ALL THAT "OF EGYPT. THE NEXT VERSE INDICATES THAT AT THE TIME OF SOLOMON, OTHER WISE MEN LIVED AT THE TIME OF SOLOMON, BUT THEY WERE LESS ENDOWED WITH WISDOM THAN WAS SOLOMON. SOLOMON GAVE CONCRETE
EXPRESSION TO HIS WISDOM IN THE WAY HE HANDLED DISPUTES AND RULED HIS REALM. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORMULATION OF PROVERBS AND THE WRITING OF SONGS, AND REFLECTED ON TREES, BEASTS, BIRDS, REPTILES, AND FISH.
SOLOMON'S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR WISDOM PERSUADED THE QUEEN OF SHEBA TO VISIT HIM TO HEAR AND SEE FOR HERSELF. SHE HEARD IT, FOR HE WAS ABLE TO ANSWER ALL OF HE QUESTIONS., 1 KINGS 10:3. SHE SAW ITS FRUITS DEMONSTRATED IN THE MAGNIFICENCE OF SOLOMONS COURT UNTIL "THERE WAS NO MORE SPIRIT IN HER " 1 KINGS 10:5. 1 KINGS 5. 1 KINGS 10 CONCENTRATES ON MATERIAL ASPECTS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN; CH.11 HINTS THAT SOLOMON WAS NOT AS WISE AS SOME THOUGHT HIM TO BE.
THE OLD TESTAMENT ASCRIBES PROVERBS AND ECCLESIASTES TO SOLOMON. THE OPENING VERSE OF SONG OF SOLOMON ASCRIBES THIS WORK ALSO TO SOLOMON,
POSSIBLY BECAUSE 1 KINGS 4:32 SAYS HE COMPOSED MANY PROVERBS AND SONGS.
HOWEVER, IT IS DOUBTFUL IF SOLOMON PRODUCED THIS COLLECTION OF LOVE SONGS, WHICH GOT INTO THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON ONLY BY MEANS OF A REINTERPRETATION. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD AS AN ALLEGORY DEPICTING THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS PEOPLE. NON-CANONICAL WRITINGS ARE ALSO ASCRIBED TO SOLOMON: THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON, THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON, AND THE ODES OF SOLOMON. ISRAEL ONCE LIVED IN EGYPT. SOLOMON WAS MARRIED TO AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, 1 KINGS 3:1. DEUTERONOMY 17: 4-17 HINTS AT A CONTINUING CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO REALMS. EGYPT HAD WISDOM MATERIALS KNOWN AS SEBAYIT, OR "TEACHINGS" WHICH SET OUT TO TRAIN RULERS, AND EQUIP OFFICIALS TO SERVE AT COURT, OFTEN WRITTEN IN THE STYLE OF "FATHER TO SON." THE OLD TESTAMENT WISDOM LITERATURE RESEMBLES THESE.
"NOTE:" THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF "WISDOM WRITINGS." THESE ADVISE A PERSON HOW TO LIVE IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST MEANING AND SATISFACTION IN LIFE.. THEY TEACH THAT EVERY PERSON WALKS IN EITHER THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUS OR THE WAY OF THE WICKED. THE WRITER OF ECCLESIASTES REJECTED THE IDEA THAT THE STUDY OF "WISDOM" COULD ENABLE ONE TO DISCOVER THE DIVINE PLAN BEHIND THE UNIVERSE. HE FELT THAT MUCH OF LIFE IS VANITY AND STRIVING AFTER THE WIND. ACCORDING TO HIM, THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN. THE BOOK OF JOB PROBES QUESTIONS OF MOTIVES AND SUFFERING. DO THE RIGHTEOUS OBEY GOD JUST BECAUSE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT ACCRUE AS A RESULT? HOW ARE THE RIGHTEOUS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR POSITION BEFORE GOD WHEN THE BURDEN IN LIFE BECOMES UNBEARABLE? IN THE WISDOM LITERATURE OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, THE "SAGE" SEEMS TO DETACH HIMSELF FROM THE LIMITS OF TIME AND CULTURE, HIS WRITINGS HAVE AN AGELESS QUALITY AS THEY ANALYZE HUMAN EXISTENCE. OLD TESTAMENT WISDOM LITERATURE MAKES LITTLE REFERENCE TO THE EXODUS, ELECTION, COVENANT, AND LAW, THE DAY OF THE LORD, THE TEMPLE, THE PRIESTHOOD, THE MESSIANIC HOPE, AND GREAT PERSONALITIES AND EVENTS. ITS CONCERN IS TO GIVE PRACTICAL ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO ATTAIN TO THE SUCCESSFUL AND GOOD LIFE, AND TO PROBE THE MEANING OF LIFE. THE APHORISMS IN PROVERBS SPEAK OF A PERSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.. " THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE," A SUMMONS TO "TRUST GOD." THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS THE WISE MIGHT BE EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LIFE. THE FOOL, NO MATTER HOW CLEVER HE MAY APPEAR ON THE SURFACE, WILL ALWAYS GROPE IN CONFUSION. PROVERBS SPEAKS ABOUT TWO WAYS, THE WISE AND FOOLISH, THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. BEHIND THE MAXIMS LIES THE DEUTERONOMIC DOCTRINE OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS. PROVERBS IS A COLLECTION OF COLLECTIONS OF WISDOM STATEMENTS PRODUCED OVER A CONSIDERABLE SPAN OF YEARS. ECCLESIASTES ON THE OTHER HAND, IS THE WORK OF ONE MAN WHO WROTE APPROXIMATELY 250-2OO B.C. IT CONTAINS STATEMENTS THAT CONSTITUTED A THREAT TO ORTHODOX JUDAISM. ACCORDING TO EARLIER JEWISH SAGES, WISDOM COULD SHOW THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION, AND HELP A PERSON UNDERSTAND THE DIVINE PLAN UNDERLYING CREATION. ECCLESIASTES THREW OUT A BOLD CHALLENGE TO THAT POSITION. IT INSISTS THAT "ALL IS VANITY" THAT A PERSON'S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING AMOUNTS TO NOTHING. FOR CHARACTER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO A PERSON'S LOT IN LIFE OR FATE AFTER DEATH. ( WHICH IS THE SAME AS THAT OF THE BEASTS!).
HUMANITY CANNOT CHANGE THE SITUATION. GOD'S WISDOM IS INSCRUTABLE . FROM THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASON FOR LIFE. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE A MATTER OF CHANCE. IF THERE IS A DIVINE PLAN HUMANITY IS LEFT IN THE DARK ABOUT IT. HISTORY IS A MATTER OF CAPRICE, WITHOUT MEANING OR PURPOSE, AND MOVES IN POINTLESS CIRCLES. THEREFORE, THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO ENJOY WHATEVER GOOD GIFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES GOD GRANTS BEFORE THE AGING PROCESS TAKES ITS TOLL AND DEATH PLUNGES ONE INTO OBLIVION 11:9-12:8. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHO WROTE ECCLESIASTES. THE SUGGESTION THAT SOLOMON WROTE IT (1:12,13; 2-4-11). IS NOT CONVINCING. HOWEVER, THE REFERENCES TO SOLOMONIC AUTHORSHIP, PLUS THE ORTHODOX "IMPROVEMENTS" MENTIONED ABOVE, GAINED IT A PLACE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON.THE RABBIS SERIOUSLY QUESTIONED THE RIGHT OF ECCLESIASTES, ESTHER, AND SONG OF SOLOMON TO A PLACE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES, EVEN AFTER THEY WERE OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED INTO IT. IN 1:1, THE WRITER REFERS TO HIMSELF AS "THE PREACHER;" THE HEBREW TERM IS QoHELETH, A WORD DESCRIBING A "FUNCTION-" NAMELY ONE WHO SPEAKS TO A CONGREGATION. THE THEME IS DECLARED IN 1:2, AND REPEATED IN 12:8, VANITY OF VANITIES, SAYS THE PREACHER; "
ALL IS VANITY AND STRIVING AFTER THE WIND," 2:17,26.
QoHELETH'S ADVICE IS TO ENJOY LIFE WHILE IT LASTS AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT,
BUT DO NOT PROBE OR PROVE THE FUTURE 2:24,25. THERE ARE MOMENTS OF OF OPPORTUNITY,3:2-9, A MAN SHOULD ENJOY LIFE WITH HIS WIFE AND FIND WHATEVER SATISFACTION HE CAN IN HIS DAILY WORK. FOR THERE IS NO WORK, OR THOUGHT OR KNOWLEDGE, OR WISDOM IN SHEOL TO WHICH YOU ARE GOING. LIFE IN SHEOL IS NOTHING BUT DUST AND SILENCE.
EXPRESSION TO HIS WISDOM IN THE WAY HE HANDLED DISPUTES AND RULED HIS REALM. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORMULATION OF PROVERBS AND THE WRITING OF SONGS, AND REFLECTED ON TREES, BEASTS, BIRDS, REPTILES, AND FISH.
SOLOMON'S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR WISDOM PERSUADED THE QUEEN OF SHEBA TO VISIT HIM TO HEAR AND SEE FOR HERSELF. SHE HEARD IT, FOR HE WAS ABLE TO ANSWER ALL OF HE QUESTIONS., 1 KINGS 10:3. SHE SAW ITS FRUITS DEMONSTRATED IN THE MAGNIFICENCE OF SOLOMONS COURT UNTIL "THERE WAS NO MORE SPIRIT IN HER " 1 KINGS 10:5. 1 KINGS 5. 1 KINGS 10 CONCENTRATES ON MATERIAL ASPECTS OF SOLOMON'S REIGN; CH.11 HINTS THAT SOLOMON WAS NOT AS WISE AS SOME THOUGHT HIM TO BE.
THE OLD TESTAMENT ASCRIBES PROVERBS AND ECCLESIASTES TO SOLOMON. THE OPENING VERSE OF SONG OF SOLOMON ASCRIBES THIS WORK ALSO TO SOLOMON,
POSSIBLY BECAUSE 1 KINGS 4:32 SAYS HE COMPOSED MANY PROVERBS AND SONGS.
HOWEVER, IT IS DOUBTFUL IF SOLOMON PRODUCED THIS COLLECTION OF LOVE SONGS, WHICH GOT INTO THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON ONLY BY MEANS OF A REINTERPRETATION. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD AS AN ALLEGORY DEPICTING THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS PEOPLE. NON-CANONICAL WRITINGS ARE ALSO ASCRIBED TO SOLOMON: THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON, THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON, AND THE ODES OF SOLOMON. ISRAEL ONCE LIVED IN EGYPT. SOLOMON WAS MARRIED TO AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, 1 KINGS 3:1. DEUTERONOMY 17: 4-17 HINTS AT A CONTINUING CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO REALMS. EGYPT HAD WISDOM MATERIALS KNOWN AS SEBAYIT, OR "TEACHINGS" WHICH SET OUT TO TRAIN RULERS, AND EQUIP OFFICIALS TO SERVE AT COURT, OFTEN WRITTEN IN THE STYLE OF "FATHER TO SON." THE OLD TESTAMENT WISDOM LITERATURE RESEMBLES THESE.
"NOTE:" THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF "WISDOM WRITINGS." THESE ADVISE A PERSON HOW TO LIVE IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST MEANING AND SATISFACTION IN LIFE.. THEY TEACH THAT EVERY PERSON WALKS IN EITHER THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUS OR THE WAY OF THE WICKED. THE WRITER OF ECCLESIASTES REJECTED THE IDEA THAT THE STUDY OF "WISDOM" COULD ENABLE ONE TO DISCOVER THE DIVINE PLAN BEHIND THE UNIVERSE. HE FELT THAT MUCH OF LIFE IS VANITY AND STRIVING AFTER THE WIND. ACCORDING TO HIM, THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN. THE BOOK OF JOB PROBES QUESTIONS OF MOTIVES AND SUFFERING. DO THE RIGHTEOUS OBEY GOD JUST BECAUSE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT ACCRUE AS A RESULT? HOW ARE THE RIGHTEOUS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR POSITION BEFORE GOD WHEN THE BURDEN IN LIFE BECOMES UNBEARABLE? IN THE WISDOM LITERATURE OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, THE "SAGE" SEEMS TO DETACH HIMSELF FROM THE LIMITS OF TIME AND CULTURE, HIS WRITINGS HAVE AN AGELESS QUALITY AS THEY ANALYZE HUMAN EXISTENCE. OLD TESTAMENT WISDOM LITERATURE MAKES LITTLE REFERENCE TO THE EXODUS, ELECTION, COVENANT, AND LAW, THE DAY OF THE LORD, THE TEMPLE, THE PRIESTHOOD, THE MESSIANIC HOPE, AND GREAT PERSONALITIES AND EVENTS. ITS CONCERN IS TO GIVE PRACTICAL ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO ATTAIN TO THE SUCCESSFUL AND GOOD LIFE, AND TO PROBE THE MEANING OF LIFE. THE APHORISMS IN PROVERBS SPEAK OF A PERSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.. " THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE," A SUMMONS TO "TRUST GOD." THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS THE WISE MIGHT BE EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LIFE. THE FOOL, NO MATTER HOW CLEVER HE MAY APPEAR ON THE SURFACE, WILL ALWAYS GROPE IN CONFUSION. PROVERBS SPEAKS ABOUT TWO WAYS, THE WISE AND FOOLISH, THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. BEHIND THE MAXIMS LIES THE DEUTERONOMIC DOCTRINE OF REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS. PROVERBS IS A COLLECTION OF COLLECTIONS OF WISDOM STATEMENTS PRODUCED OVER A CONSIDERABLE SPAN OF YEARS. ECCLESIASTES ON THE OTHER HAND, IS THE WORK OF ONE MAN WHO WROTE APPROXIMATELY 250-2OO B.C. IT CONTAINS STATEMENTS THAT CONSTITUTED A THREAT TO ORTHODOX JUDAISM. ACCORDING TO EARLIER JEWISH SAGES, WISDOM COULD SHOW THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION, AND HELP A PERSON UNDERSTAND THE DIVINE PLAN UNDERLYING CREATION. ECCLESIASTES THREW OUT A BOLD CHALLENGE TO THAT POSITION. IT INSISTS THAT "ALL IS VANITY" THAT A PERSON'S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING AMOUNTS TO NOTHING. FOR CHARACTER AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO A PERSON'S LOT IN LIFE OR FATE AFTER DEATH. ( WHICH IS THE SAME AS THAT OF THE BEASTS!).
HUMANITY CANNOT CHANGE THE SITUATION. GOD'S WISDOM IS INSCRUTABLE . FROM THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASON FOR LIFE. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE A MATTER OF CHANCE. IF THERE IS A DIVINE PLAN HUMANITY IS LEFT IN THE DARK ABOUT IT. HISTORY IS A MATTER OF CAPRICE, WITHOUT MEANING OR PURPOSE, AND MOVES IN POINTLESS CIRCLES. THEREFORE, THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO ENJOY WHATEVER GOOD GIFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES GOD GRANTS BEFORE THE AGING PROCESS TAKES ITS TOLL AND DEATH PLUNGES ONE INTO OBLIVION 11:9-12:8. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHO WROTE ECCLESIASTES. THE SUGGESTION THAT SOLOMON WROTE IT (1:12,13; 2-4-11). IS NOT CONVINCING. HOWEVER, THE REFERENCES TO SOLOMONIC AUTHORSHIP, PLUS THE ORTHODOX "IMPROVEMENTS" MENTIONED ABOVE, GAINED IT A PLACE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON.THE RABBIS SERIOUSLY QUESTIONED THE RIGHT OF ECCLESIASTES, ESTHER, AND SONG OF SOLOMON TO A PLACE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES, EVEN AFTER THEY WERE OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED INTO IT. IN 1:1, THE WRITER REFERS TO HIMSELF AS "THE PREACHER;" THE HEBREW TERM IS QoHELETH, A WORD DESCRIBING A "FUNCTION-" NAMELY ONE WHO SPEAKS TO A CONGREGATION. THE THEME IS DECLARED IN 1:2, AND REPEATED IN 12:8, VANITY OF VANITIES, SAYS THE PREACHER; "
ALL IS VANITY AND STRIVING AFTER THE WIND," 2:17,26.
QoHELETH'S ADVICE IS TO ENJOY LIFE WHILE IT LASTS AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT,
BUT DO NOT PROBE OR PROVE THE FUTURE 2:24,25. THERE ARE MOMENTS OF OF OPPORTUNITY,3:2-9, A MAN SHOULD ENJOY LIFE WITH HIS WIFE AND FIND WHATEVER SATISFACTION HE CAN IN HIS DAILY WORK. FOR THERE IS NO WORK, OR THOUGHT OR KNOWLEDGE, OR WISDOM IN SHEOL TO WHICH YOU ARE GOING. LIFE IN SHEOL IS NOTHING BUT DUST AND SILENCE.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD. JOHN 1:1-18
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD. THE WORD WAS IN GOD'S PRESENCE AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS PRESENT TO GOD. IN THE BEGINNING. THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS CAME INTO BEING. AND APART FROM HIM NOTHING CAME TO BE. WHATEVER CAME TO BE IN IM., FOUND LIFE. LIFE FOR THE LIGHT OF MEN. THE LIGHT SHINES ON THE DARKNESS. A DARKNESS THAT DID NOT OVERCOME. JOHN TESTIFIED TO HIM PROCLAIMING: " THIS IS HE OF WHOM I SAID, ' THE ONE WHO COMES AFTER ME RANKS AHEAD OF ME, FOR HE WAS BEFORE ME.'" FOR WHILE THE LAW WAS GIVEN THROUGH MOSES, THIS ENDURING LOVE CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD. IT IS GOD THE ONLY SON, EVER AT THE FATHER'S SIDE, WHO HAS REVEALED HIM.
FEW WORDS IN SCRIPTURE HAVE GRIPPED THE HUMAN MIND WITH THE POWER OF THE OPENING LINES OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL:
"IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD;
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD.
AND THE WORD WAS GOD."
NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD.
JESUS CHRIST HAS SOLVED THE RIDDLE OF GOD. RIDDLES ARE NOT SIMPLY CHILDISH JOKES. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN HUMANITY'S QUEST TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE RIDDLE OF THE SPINX?" THE ANCIENT GREEKS TOLD OF A MONSTER WHICH CAME TO THE CITY EACH YEAR WITH A RIDDLE. " WHAT SPEAKS WITH ONE VOICE, BUT WALKS ON FOUR LEGS, ON TWO LEGS AND ON THREE LEGS?" AND HOBBLES WITH A CANE WHEN OLD. BY ANSWERING THE RIDDLE HE SAVED THE CITY.
WE STILL USE THE IDEA OF RIDDLE IN THIS SERIOUS SENSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE "RIDDLE OF LIFE.". OR THE RIDDLE OF SUFFERING. FOR MANY PEOPLE GOD IS A RIDDLE. THEY WOULD POSE THE QUESTION LIKE THIS: IF THERE IS A GOD WHY, WHY DO THE INNOCENT SUFFER? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PAIN AND SORROW IN THE WORLD?; OR THEY ASK, "WHY DOES GOD ASK SO MUCH OF US, WHEN HE DIDN'T CREATE US PERFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE?" WE OUGHT TO TAKE THESE QUESTIONS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL, BECOMES AN ACUTE PROBLEM WHEN WE DARE TO TALK ABOUT A LOVING GOD. WE BARELY HAVE TIME TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING " ABOUT PEACE ON EARTH." BEFORE WE ARE MINDED THAT PEOPLE LIKE REPHEN WERE STONED FOR THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH, THAT A KING SO FEARED THE COMING OF CHRIST THAT HE TRIED TO KILL ALL THE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. FOR A CHRISTIAN, THEN, THE RIDDLE WOULD BE: " WHAT KIND OF A GOD WOULD LET HIMSELF AND HIS FOLLOWERS BE PUSHED AROUND BY A HARD CRUEL WORLD.?" WE ARE NOT THE FIRST ONES TO PUZZLE OVER THIS QUESTION. THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY REMINDS US THAT CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING HAVE CLOUDED THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD FROM THE BEGINNING. " HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT," SAYS OUR TEXT." HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOME, HIS OWN PEOPLE RECEIVED HIM NOT. THE REST OF THE BOOK OF JOHN REPEATEDLY CALLS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE MISUNDERSTOOD JESUS--FROM NICODEMUS ASKING " HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN WHEN HE IS OLD?" TO PILATE IMPATIENTLY SNAPPING, " WHAT IS TRUTH?" AND YET THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE WAS THERE. THAT IS THE WAY IT IS WITH GOOD RIDDLES. WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER. THE RIDDLE OF GOD IS A LOT LIKE THAT. ONCE WE GRASP THE KEYWORD, QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS POWER AND HIS WILL CAN BE ANSWERED THE TEXT FOR TODAY SAYS THAT JESUS IS THAT KEY WORD.; AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH. AND DWELT AMONG US. WHEN WE TRY TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD FROM ANY OTHER STARTING POINT, WE RUN INTO A DEAD END. THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID, " NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME." HOW DOES JESUS SOLVE THE RIDDLE? HE SHOWS HOW DOD'S POWER DIFFER FROM OUR USUAL CONCEPT OF POWER. JESUS RESURRECTION ILLUSTRATES HOW GOD'S POWER WORKS. IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE DEATH. IT SIMPLY TAKES AWAY FINALITY. JESUS SPENT MUCH OF HIS MINISTRY URGING PEOPLE TO SEE THAT SUFFERING DOES NOT GO UNOTICED. GOD MARKS THE FALL OF A SPARROW AND THE PLIGHT OF A LEPER.. GOD'S WAY OF DEALING WITH OUR SUFFERING IS TO ACCEPT IT, TO SHARE IT, AND THEN USE IT, IN THE CROSS, AS A MEANS OF BREAKING SIN'S HOLD ON THE WORLD. SO JESUS BECOMES THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT A LOVING GOD CAN DO FOR A SINFUL AND SUFFERING WORLD. FOR ALMOST 2,OOO YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE TRY TO DISPROVE THE RESURRECTION AND THEREBY DISCREDIT CHRISTIANITY, ALL HAVE FAILED. JAMES THE (HALF) BOTHER OF JESUS WENT FROM THINKING JESUS WAS CRAZY, TO PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AS THE HEAD OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE RISEN CHRIST. PAUL WENT FROM PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS TO MISSIONARY TO THE ROMAN WORLD FOR THE SAME REASON. ( FOR MORE SEE, 1 CORINTHIANS 15). IN THE MID--18TH CENTURY, TWO STUDENTS AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY BECAME PROMINENT LEADERS IN GREAT BRITAIN, SET OUT TO PROVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT JESUS NEVER ROSE FROM THE DEAD. THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS TRUE, AND BOTH BECAME CHRISTIANS.
IN THE 1930's, A JOURNALISTS NAMED FRANK MORRISON, WHO DOUBTED ANY OF THE MIRACULOUS ELEMENTS IN THE GOSPELS, SET OUT TO WRITE A BOOK STRIPPING THE LIFE OF JESUS OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT HE WAS MORE THAN A GOOD TEACHER. HE ENDED UP WRITING ONE OF THE MOST ABLE DEFENSES OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. "WHO MOVED THE STONE?" C.S. LEWIS, CAMBRIDGE SCHOLAR, AUTHOR AND AND ONE TIME ATHEIST WAS CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY ON THE BASIS OF WHAT HE CONSIDERED COMPELLING EVIDENCE. MERE "CHRISTIANITY" WAS THE RESULT. ON AND ON GOES THE CHALLENGE. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR: THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF THE LORD IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR FAITH. THE RESULT WAS TOLD BY JOHN (14:19)
"BECAUSE I LIVE, YOU WILL LIVE ALSO. " OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE THE SAME ACCLAMATION THAT PAUL MADE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57.... " BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.`
FEW WORDS IN SCRIPTURE HAVE GRIPPED THE HUMAN MIND WITH THE POWER OF THE OPENING LINES OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL:
"IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD;
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD.
AND THE WORD WAS GOD."
NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD.
JESUS CHRIST HAS SOLVED THE RIDDLE OF GOD. RIDDLES ARE NOT SIMPLY CHILDISH JOKES. THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN HUMANITY'S QUEST TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE RIDDLE OF THE SPINX?" THE ANCIENT GREEKS TOLD OF A MONSTER WHICH CAME TO THE CITY EACH YEAR WITH A RIDDLE. " WHAT SPEAKS WITH ONE VOICE, BUT WALKS ON FOUR LEGS, ON TWO LEGS AND ON THREE LEGS?" AND HOBBLES WITH A CANE WHEN OLD. BY ANSWERING THE RIDDLE HE SAVED THE CITY.
WE STILL USE THE IDEA OF RIDDLE IN THIS SERIOUS SENSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE "RIDDLE OF LIFE.". OR THE RIDDLE OF SUFFERING. FOR MANY PEOPLE GOD IS A RIDDLE. THEY WOULD POSE THE QUESTION LIKE THIS: IF THERE IS A GOD WHY, WHY DO THE INNOCENT SUFFER? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PAIN AND SORROW IN THE WORLD?; OR THEY ASK, "WHY DOES GOD ASK SO MUCH OF US, WHEN HE DIDN'T CREATE US PERFECT IN THE FIRST PLACE?" WE OUGHT TO TAKE THESE QUESTIONS SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE THEY REMIND US THAT THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL, BECOMES AN ACUTE PROBLEM WHEN WE DARE TO TALK ABOUT A LOVING GOD. WE BARELY HAVE TIME TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING " ABOUT PEACE ON EARTH." BEFORE WE ARE MINDED THAT PEOPLE LIKE REPHEN WERE STONED FOR THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH, THAT A KING SO FEARED THE COMING OF CHRIST THAT HE TRIED TO KILL ALL THE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. FOR A CHRISTIAN, THEN, THE RIDDLE WOULD BE: " WHAT KIND OF A GOD WOULD LET HIMSELF AND HIS FOLLOWERS BE PUSHED AROUND BY A HARD CRUEL WORLD.?" WE ARE NOT THE FIRST ONES TO PUZZLE OVER THIS QUESTION. THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY REMINDS US THAT CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING HAVE CLOUDED THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD FROM THE BEGINNING. " HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT," SAYS OUR TEXT." HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOME, HIS OWN PEOPLE RECEIVED HIM NOT. THE REST OF THE BOOK OF JOHN REPEATEDLY CALLS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE MISUNDERSTOOD JESUS--FROM NICODEMUS ASKING " HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN WHEN HE IS OLD?" TO PILATE IMPATIENTLY SNAPPING, " WHAT IS TRUTH?" AND YET THE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE WAS THERE. THAT IS THE WAY IT IS WITH GOOD RIDDLES. WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER. THE RIDDLE OF GOD IS A LOT LIKE THAT. ONCE WE GRASP THE KEYWORD, QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS POWER AND HIS WILL CAN BE ANSWERED THE TEXT FOR TODAY SAYS THAT JESUS IS THAT KEY WORD.; AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH. AND DWELT AMONG US. WHEN WE TRY TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF GOD FROM ANY OTHER STARTING POINT, WE RUN INTO A DEAD END. THAT'S WHAT JESUS MEANT WHEN HE SAID, " NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME." HOW DOES JESUS SOLVE THE RIDDLE? HE SHOWS HOW DOD'S POWER DIFFER FROM OUR USUAL CONCEPT OF POWER. JESUS RESURRECTION ILLUSTRATES HOW GOD'S POWER WORKS. IT DOES NOT ELIMINATE DEATH. IT SIMPLY TAKES AWAY FINALITY. JESUS SPENT MUCH OF HIS MINISTRY URGING PEOPLE TO SEE THAT SUFFERING DOES NOT GO UNOTICED. GOD MARKS THE FALL OF A SPARROW AND THE PLIGHT OF A LEPER.. GOD'S WAY OF DEALING WITH OUR SUFFERING IS TO ACCEPT IT, TO SHARE IT, AND THEN USE IT, IN THE CROSS, AS A MEANS OF BREAKING SIN'S HOLD ON THE WORLD. SO JESUS BECOMES THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT A LOVING GOD CAN DO FOR A SINFUL AND SUFFERING WORLD. FOR ALMOST 2,OOO YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE TRY TO DISPROVE THE RESURRECTION AND THEREBY DISCREDIT CHRISTIANITY, ALL HAVE FAILED. JAMES THE (HALF) BOTHER OF JESUS WENT FROM THINKING JESUS WAS CRAZY, TO PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL AS THE HEAD OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, AFTER ENCOUNTERING THE RISEN CHRIST. PAUL WENT FROM PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS TO MISSIONARY TO THE ROMAN WORLD FOR THE SAME REASON. ( FOR MORE SEE, 1 CORINTHIANS 15). IN THE MID--18TH CENTURY, TWO STUDENTS AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY BECAME PROMINENT LEADERS IN GREAT BRITAIN, SET OUT TO PROVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT JESUS NEVER ROSE FROM THE DEAD. THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS TRUE, AND BOTH BECAME CHRISTIANS.
IN THE 1930's, A JOURNALISTS NAMED FRANK MORRISON, WHO DOUBTED ANY OF THE MIRACULOUS ELEMENTS IN THE GOSPELS, SET OUT TO WRITE A BOOK STRIPPING THE LIFE OF JESUS OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT HE WAS MORE THAN A GOOD TEACHER. HE ENDED UP WRITING ONE OF THE MOST ABLE DEFENSES OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. "WHO MOVED THE STONE?" C.S. LEWIS, CAMBRIDGE SCHOLAR, AUTHOR AND AND ONE TIME ATHEIST WAS CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY ON THE BASIS OF WHAT HE CONSIDERED COMPELLING EVIDENCE. MERE "CHRISTIANITY" WAS THE RESULT. ON AND ON GOES THE CHALLENGE. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR: THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF THE LORD IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR FAITH. THE RESULT WAS TOLD BY JOHN (14:19)
"BECAUSE I LIVE, YOU WILL LIVE ALSO. " OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE THE SAME ACCLAMATION THAT PAUL MADE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57.... " BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.`
Monday, October 15, 2018
FINDING GOD.
NO! GOD IS NOT LOST!. HE NEVER HAS BEEN. FURTHERMORE, MAN DOES NOT FIND GOD. THE REVERSE IS TRUE--- GOD FINDS MAN. IT IS ALWAYS THAT WAY BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, GOD IS ALWAYS "THE HOUND OF HEAVEN" WHO SEARCHES, FOR MAN, TO RESTORE FELLOWSHIP. WITH HIM ONCE AGAIN, GENESIS 3:8,9; LUKE 15:1-10. MANY THINK OF GOD AS SOMEONE FAR OFF AMONG THE STARS--SOME ONE TO BE SOUGHT THROUGH THE LENS OF TELESCOPE, INDEED, GOD'S FOOTPRINTS ARE VISIBLE ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE, AND THEY CAN BE SEEN THROUGH TELESCOPE OR A MICROSCOPE . HOWEVER, HE DOES NOT RESIDE IN ANY PARTICULAR CORNER OF OUTER SPACE; HE FILLS THE UNIVERSE. NONE OF US NEEDS TO TRAVEL TO LOOK FOR HIM., FOR HE IS PRESENT WHEREVER WE ARE, AND KNOWS US THROUGH AND THROUGH, PSALM 139:1-18, LUKE 12:6,7. GOD'S FOOTPRINT THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE POINT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HIS POWER, HIS WISDOM, HIS KNOWLEDGE, AND HIS CONCERN FOR DESIGN AND ORDER. AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN NATURE OCCASIONALLY BARES HER TEETH ON LITTLE PLANET EARTH, THE RESULTS CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE MINDS OF SOME.---- ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS UNDER OBLIGATION TO GUARANTEE THEM HEALTH, WEALTH, SECURITY AND PLEASANT LIVING CONDITIONS. GOD IS CLOSE. HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT US AND HE CARES. HOWEVER, MANY FEEL HE IS VERY DISTANT FROM THEM. THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HIM, BUT HOW DO HUMANS MAKE CONTACT WITH AN INVISIBLE GOD? HOW CAN THEY EVEN KNOW WHAT HE IS LIKE? THE SIZE OF THE UNIVERSE, AND THE NUMBER OF SUNS, PLANETS AND STARS WITH IN IT BOGGLES THE MIND.
HUMANS ARE S SMALL! HOWEVER, THE BIBLE INSISTS THAT THE GOD WHO MADE AND FILLS THIS VAST UNIVERSE HAS MADE THIS SMALL, FRAGILE PLANET ON WHICH WE LIVE THE SPECIAL STAGE FOR HIS ACTIVITIES, ISAIAH 45;12, 18.
GOD, THEN, HAS LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS NOT ONLY ALL OVER CREATION, BUT THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY AS WELL. THE BIBLE REVEALS THE RECORD OF HIS FOOTPRINTS IN HISTORY SO WE EXAMINE THEM FOR OURSELVES AND THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR MESSAGE TO US; GOD DOES NOT SHOW US, FOR HE WANTS US TO. ASK SOME VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AS THE "DIVINE DRAMA" IN YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. THE SETTING IS THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. THE SCRIPT (THE BIBLE) RUNS THE EVENT BEFORE OUR EYES. THE EVENTS TAKES PLACE IN TWO ACTS, THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE PLOT IS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT. TO THE LEFT OF THE STAGE IS Mt. SINAI, COMPLETE AS IS DESCRIBED IN EXODUS 19. THERE DEPICTS THE COVENANT THAT GOD MADE WITH ISRAEL AT SINAI. TO THE RIGHT OF THE STAGE OVERSEEING EVERYTHING, IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. LET'S LOOK AT THE HIGH POINTS IN GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL. THE TWO HIGH POINTS WERE THE EXODUS/ SINAI EVENT, AND THE MINISTRY AND MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. AFTER GOD RESCUED HIS PEOPLE FROM EGYPT IN THE EXODUS EVENT, THAT LED THEM TO SINAI. THOUGH HE DESCENDED TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, HE DID NOT ASCEND AFTER THE EVENT. HE TOOK UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN THE TABERNACLE. WHAT FOLLOWS IN THE O.T. IS THE HISTORY OF A PEOPLE----LIVING AROUND THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF. THE LAW CODES GOD GAVE ISRAEL AT SINAI WERE NOT DESIGNED TO TEACH HER HOW TO "BECOME" HIS PEOPLE---- THEY ALREADY WERE THAT. RATHER THEY WERE GIVEN AS GUIDELINES TO SHOW ISRAEL HOW TO COPY THE BEHAVIOR OF GOD IN WHOSE PRESENCE SHE LIVED AND TOOK UP RESIDENCE AMONG THEM IN THE TABERNACLE, ENTERED INTO FLESH TO DWELL AMONG THEM IN THE FLESH AND BLOOD PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. IN HIM GOD "TENTED" AMONG THEM IN A HUMAN PERSON-----AND STILL DOES (JOHN 1:14). THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF THE SAVING EVENT OF JESUS' LIFE, DEATH,, AND RESURRECTION AS AN "EXODUS;" THE WORD IN LUKE (9:31) WHICH THE RSV TRANLATES AS "DEPARTURE" IS REALLY"EXODUS." GOD DWELLS AMONG HIS PEOPLE TO INSPIRE THEM TO COPY HIS BEHAVIOR IN DEALING WITH EACH OTHER. WE TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER. THE BABYLONIANS BELIEVED HISTORY HAD A BEGINNING AND REPEATS ITSELF EVERY 3,6OO YEARS. GOD HAS BEEN INVOLVED THROUGH ALL HISTORY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO MINE THE DEPTHS OF GOD'S WORD FIND THEMSELVES BREATHING SUBLIME, INVIGORATING AIR INDEED. THEY FIND WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY TO THEM IS A THING OF JOY. HOWEVER, THIS JOY IS NOT TO BE EXPERIENCED IN ISOLATION, BUT IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS. GOD HAS REDEEMED PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE TO THEMSELVES TO LIVE IN JOYOUS MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND OTHER PEOPLE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PRIVATE CHRISTIANITY. EITHER THE PRIVACY DESTROYS CHRISTIANITY, OR CHRISTIANITY DESTROYS THE PRIVACY
HUMANS ARE S SMALL! HOWEVER, THE BIBLE INSISTS THAT THE GOD WHO MADE AND FILLS THIS VAST UNIVERSE HAS MADE THIS SMALL, FRAGILE PLANET ON WHICH WE LIVE THE SPECIAL STAGE FOR HIS ACTIVITIES, ISAIAH 45;12, 18.
GOD, THEN, HAS LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS NOT ONLY ALL OVER CREATION, BUT THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY AS WELL. THE BIBLE REVEALS THE RECORD OF HIS FOOTPRINTS IN HISTORY SO WE EXAMINE THEM FOR OURSELVES AND THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THEIR MESSAGE TO US; GOD DOES NOT SHOW US, FOR HE WANTS US TO. ASK SOME VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AS THE "DIVINE DRAMA" IN YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. THE SETTING IS THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST. THE SCRIPT (THE BIBLE) RUNS THE EVENT BEFORE OUR EYES. THE EVENTS TAKES PLACE IN TWO ACTS, THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE PLOT IS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT. TO THE LEFT OF THE STAGE IS Mt. SINAI, COMPLETE AS IS DESCRIBED IN EXODUS 19. THERE DEPICTS THE COVENANT THAT GOD MADE WITH ISRAEL AT SINAI. TO THE RIGHT OF THE STAGE OVERSEEING EVERYTHING, IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. LET'S LOOK AT THE HIGH POINTS IN GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL. THE TWO HIGH POINTS WERE THE EXODUS/ SINAI EVENT, AND THE MINISTRY AND MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. AFTER GOD RESCUED HIS PEOPLE FROM EGYPT IN THE EXODUS EVENT, THAT LED THEM TO SINAI. THOUGH HE DESCENDED TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, HE DID NOT ASCEND AFTER THE EVENT. HE TOOK UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE IN THE TABERNACLE. WHAT FOLLOWS IN THE O.T. IS THE HISTORY OF A PEOPLE----LIVING AROUND THE PRESENCE OF GOD HIMSELF. THE LAW CODES GOD GAVE ISRAEL AT SINAI WERE NOT DESIGNED TO TEACH HER HOW TO "BECOME" HIS PEOPLE---- THEY ALREADY WERE THAT. RATHER THEY WERE GIVEN AS GUIDELINES TO SHOW ISRAEL HOW TO COPY THE BEHAVIOR OF GOD IN WHOSE PRESENCE SHE LIVED AND TOOK UP RESIDENCE AMONG THEM IN THE TABERNACLE, ENTERED INTO FLESH TO DWELL AMONG THEM IN THE FLESH AND BLOOD PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. IN HIM GOD "TENTED" AMONG THEM IN A HUMAN PERSON-----AND STILL DOES (JOHN 1:14). THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF THE SAVING EVENT OF JESUS' LIFE, DEATH,, AND RESURRECTION AS AN "EXODUS;" THE WORD IN LUKE (9:31) WHICH THE RSV TRANLATES AS "DEPARTURE" IS REALLY"EXODUS." GOD DWELLS AMONG HIS PEOPLE TO INSPIRE THEM TO COPY HIS BEHAVIOR IN DEALING WITH EACH OTHER. WE TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER. THE BABYLONIANS BELIEVED HISTORY HAD A BEGINNING AND REPEATS ITSELF EVERY 3,6OO YEARS. GOD HAS BEEN INVOLVED THROUGH ALL HISTORY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO MINE THE DEPTHS OF GOD'S WORD FIND THEMSELVES BREATHING SUBLIME, INVIGORATING AIR INDEED. THEY FIND WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY TO THEM IS A THING OF JOY. HOWEVER, THIS JOY IS NOT TO BE EXPERIENCED IN ISOLATION, BUT IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS. GOD HAS REDEEMED PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE TO THEMSELVES TO LIVE IN JOYOUS MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND OTHER PEOPLE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PRIVATE CHRISTIANITY. EITHER THE PRIVACY DESTROYS CHRISTIANITY, OR CHRISTIANITY DESTROYS THE PRIVACY
Saturday, October 13, 2018
THE SECOND LETTER OF PETER. JERUSALEM BIBLE.
THOUGH THE LETTER ASSERTS (1:1) AND SUGGESTS (1: 16-18) THAT THE APOSTLE WROTE IT, THAT CLAIM HS LONG BEEN DISPUTED. ORIGEN (185-225) A.D. AND JEROME (342-420A.D.) QUESTIONED IT. THE WORK WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON ONLY IN THE FIFTH CENTURY. THE MAIN REASON FOR QUESTIONING THE CLAIM OF PETRINE AUTHORSHIP WHAT THE LETTER HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE RETURN OF CHRIST. IN (3:1-13), IT DEALS WITH THE PROBLEMS MANY CHRISTIANS WERE HAVING ABOUT THE DELAY OF THE PAROUSIA (COMING). DAY OF THE LORD. MY FRIENDS, THIS IS MY SECOND LETTER TO YOU, AND IN BOTH OF THEM, I HAVE TRIED TO AWAKEN A TRUE UNDERSTANDING IN YOU BY GIVING YOU A REMINDER: RECALLING TO YOU WHAT WAS SAID IN THE PAST BY THE HOLY PROPHETS AND THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR WHICH YOU WERE GIVEN BY THE APOSTLES. WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO REMEMBER THAT DURING THE LAST DAYS THERE ARE BOUND TO BE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE SCORNFUL, THE KIND WHO ALWAYS PLEASE THEMSELVES WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY WILL MAKE FUN OF THE PROMISE AND ASK, "WELL, WHERE IS THIS COMING? EVERYTHING GOES ON AS IT HAS SINCE IT BEGAN AT CREATION. THEY ARE CHOOSING TO FORGET, THAT THERE WERE HEAVENS AT THE BEGINNING, AND THAT HE EARTH WAS FORMED BY THE WORD OF GOD OUT OF WATER AND BETWEEN THE WATERS, SO THAT THE WORLD AT THAT TIME WAS BEING DESTROYED BY BEING FLOODED BY WATER. BUT BY THE SAME WORD, THE PRESENT SKY AND EARTH ARE DESTINED FOR FIRE, AND ARE ONLY BEING RESERVED UNTIL JUDGEMENT DAY SO THAT ALL SINNERS MAY BE DESTROYED. BUT THERE IS ONE THING, MY FRIENDS, THAT YOU MUST NEVER FORGET: THAT WITH THE LORD " A DAY" CAN MEAN A THOUSAND YEARS, " AND A THOUSAND YEARS IS LIKE A DAY." THE LORD IS NOT BEING SLOW TO CARRY OUT HIS PRIMES, AS ANYBODY ELSE MIGHT BE CALLED SLOW; BUT HE IS BEING PATIENT WITH YOU ALL, WANTING NOBODY TO BE LOST AND EVERYBODY TO CHANGE HIS WAYS. ( GOD'S MERCY IS AN EXPLANATION FOR THE ALLEGED DELAY OF THE "PAROUSIA." THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF , AND THEN WITH A ROAR THE SKY WILL VANISH, THE ELEMENTS WILL CATCH FIRE AND FALL APART, THE EARTH AND ALL THAT IT CONTAINS WILL BE BURNT UP. SINCE EVERYTHING IS COMING TO AN END LIKE THIS, YOU SHOULD BE LIVING HOLY AND SAINTLY LIVES, WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE DAY OF GOD TO COME, WHEN THE SKY WILL DISSOLVE IN FLAMES AND THE ELEMENTS MELT IN THE HEAT. WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR IS WHAT HE PROMISED: THE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, THE PLACE WHERE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE AT HOME. SO THEN, MY FRIENDS, WHILE YOU ARE WAITING, DO YOUR BEST TO LIVES WITHOUT SPOT OR STAIN SO THAT HE WILL FIND YOU AT PEACE. THINK OF OUR LORD'S PATIENCE AS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED.: OUR BROTHER PAUL WHO IS SO DEAR TO US, TOLD YOU WHEN HE WROTE TO YOU WITH THE WISDOM THAT IS HIS SPECIAL GIFT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED MY FRIENDS;
BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE ERRORS OF UNPRINCIPLED PEOPLE, FROM THE FIRM GROUND YOU ARE STANDING ON. INSTEAD, GO ON GROWING IN THE GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. TO HIM BE GLORY, IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY. AMEN!
BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE ERRORS OF UNPRINCIPLED PEOPLE, FROM THE FIRM GROUND YOU ARE STANDING ON. INSTEAD, GO ON GROWING IN THE GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. TO HIM BE GLORY, IN TIME AND IN ETERNITY. AMEN!
Friday, October 12, 2018
THE PETRINE LETTERS (FIRST LETTER OF PETER.
THOUGH THE LETTER IS ASCRIBED TO PETER (1:1), THE ACTUAL WRITING WAS DONE BY SLVANUS (5:12), FORMERLY ONE OF PAUL'S TRAVELLING COMPANIONS, 1 THESS THESSALONIANS 1:1; 2 CORINTHIANS 1 :19 POSSIBLY. PETER DICTATED THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LETTER TO SILVANUS, BUT LEFT THE FINAL WORDING TO HIM.
THE LETTER APPARENTLY WAS WRITTEN IN ROME ABOUT 63-64 A.D., SHORTLY BEFORE PETER'S MARTYRDOM DURING THE NERONIC PERSECUTION. IT IS ADDRESSED TO "THE EXILES OF THE DISPERSION IN PONTUS, GALATIA, CAPPADOCIA, ASIA AND BITHYNIA," 1:1. THE REFERENCE IS TO GENTILE CHRISTIANS IN THE FIVE PROVINCES OF ASIA MINOR, 1:14; 2:9,10; 4:3,4. THE TERM "DISPERSION," ORIGINALLY USED OF JEWS SCATTERED AROUND THE MEDITERRANIAN WORLD, IS HERE USED FIGURATIVELY TO REFER TO THOSE NEW MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHO WERE SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD LIKE STRANGERS, BUT WHOSE
TRUE HOME IS HEAVEN. PETER WRITES TO STRENGTHEN HIS READERS IN THE NEW LIKE THEY ENTERED IN AT BAPTISM. THEY WERE SUFFERING SOME KIND OF PERSECUTION (3:16,17), THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY ONE ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE LETTER MAKES NO REFERENCE OF ANY DEMAND FOR EMPEROR WORSHIP, CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY, IMPRISONMENT, OR MARTY'S DEATH. (IT EXHORTS THE RECIPIENTS TO OBEY THE EMPEROR AND THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES, 2:13-17). MOST LIKELY THE READERS WERE SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF PAGAN NEIGHBORS WHO WERE ABUSING THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST. THE LETTER CONTAINS HINTS THAT MORE SEVERE PERSECUTION LAY JUST AROUND THE CORNER, 4: 12-19. WHAT MIGHT IT HAVE BEEN? PETER WROTE AT THE TIME WHEN RUMORS WERE ABROAD THAT NERO WAS PLANNING TO INSTIGATE ANTI- CHRISTIAN MEASURES. EVENTUALLY THESE MEASURES DEVELOPED INTO A "FIERY TRIAL." BECAUSE MOVEMENTS BEGAN IN ROME SOON SPREAD, PETER HAD REASON TO PREDICT THAT THE SUFFERING OF HIS EASTERN COLLEAGUES WOULD SOON INTENSIFY.
IN 5:13 PETER WRITES, " SHE WHO IS AT BABYLON, WHO IS LIKEWISE CHOSEN, SENDS YOU GREETINGS" BABYLON HAD DEVASTATED ANCIENT ISRAEL, BUT WAS HERSELF EVENTUALLY DESTROYED. CHRISTIANITY APPLIED THE NAME "BABYLON" TO ROME. PETER'S SENTENCE, THEN, WAS A GREETING FROM THE CHURCH AT ROME TO THE CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR-- BUT IT WAS MORE. IT HINTED THAT THOUGH THE HOSTILE WORLD ( BABYLON--ROME) WAS MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR--THE AWAY--
FROM--HOME PEOPLE OF GOD, GOD WOULD DESTROY IT.
"NOTE:" PETER WROTE HIS FIRST LETTER TO GENTILE CHRISTIANS IN ASIA MINOR. THEIR PAGAN NEIGHBORS WERE RIDICULING THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, AND THE THREAT OF A MORE ORGANIZED ROMAN PERSECUTION HOVERED ON THE HORIZON. PETER URGED HIS READERS TO STAND FIRM IN THEIR FAITH. NO MATTERS WHAT DIFFICULTIES CAME THEIR WAY, THEY WERE TO COPY CHRIST IN EVERY SITUATION. THE WORD TRANSLATED AS "EXAMPLE" (2:21). IS 'HYPOGRAMMOS," A WORD USED TO DESCRIBE THE LINE OF PERFECT WRITING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CHALK-BOARD WHICH A STUDENT COPIES TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILLS. UNTIL THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY, FEW QUESTIONS WERE RAISED ABOUT PETRINE AUTHORSHIP. SINCE THAT TIME, MANY HAVE QUESTIONED IT AND SUGGESTED THAT THE LETTER IS A PSEUDONYMOUS WORK. THOSE WHO ASCRIBE IT TO PETER POINT TO ITS REFERENCES TO JESUS SUFFERING (2:21-23; 3:18; 4:1). ITS RECOLLECTIONS OF JESUS SAYINGS (1:6-12). AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS TO PETER'S SPEECHES IN ACTS, 1:16:22; 2:14-36); 3: 12-26; 4: 8:12; ONLY THROUGH JESUS. WHENEVER PETER MENTIONS WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN CHRIST., HE CONTINUES WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT THE OBLIGATION GOD'S ACTION PUTS ON US. WE HAVE BEEN RANSOMED, NOT WITH SILVER OR GOLD, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. , THE LAMB WHO WITHOUT BLEMISH OR SPOT. THEREFORE WE MUST BE OBEDIENT CHILDREN, 1:13-21: 14, 20.WE HAVE TASTED THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD. WE MUST PUT AWAY ALL EVIL THINGS. 2:1-3. WE MUST LIVE AS HOLY PEOPLE, 2:9,1O. WE MUST LEAVE THE SINS OF THE PAST BEHIND 4:1-6. THE END IS NEAR. THEREFORE WE MUST DEMONSTRATE A LOVE WHICH BEFIT THOSE WHO ARE STEWARDS OF GOD'S GRACE.
4;7-11
1 PETER 1:3-4:11 CONTAINS SOME OF THE CLEAREST STATEMENTS ABOUT BAPTISM.
SOME BELIEVE THIS SECTION HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM AN EARLY BAPTISMAL LITURGY.
PRAISE GOD THAT IN MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW LIFE AND OPE. HIS GIFT IS BASED ON RESURRECTION OF JESUS. IT PROMISES NOT MERELY AN IMPERMANENT
EARTHLY LAND, BUT AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN. GOD GUARDS THOSE OF US WHO, THROUGH FAITH, ARE TO RECEIVE IT, AND WILL REVEAL IT TO US ON THE LAST DAY, (9 1:3-5). SUFFERING AND DEATH PRECEDED CHRIST'S RESURRECTION
SIMILARLY, TRIALS GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE WALK THE NEW LIFE OF FAITH BRINGS. WE WHO ARE TO RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OF SALVATION AT THE PAROUSIA MUST EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE SUFFERING IN THIS LIFE. (1:6-9). THE SPIRIT IN CHRIST WAS ACTIVE IN THE PROPHETS TO PREDICT THE SALVATION TO COME AND THE APOSTLES TO PROCLAIM IT. (1:10:12). YOU ONCE WALKED IN IGNORANCE OF GOD, AND THIS PRODUCED GODLESS BEHAVIOR. NOW YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN HOLINESS (14:17) A HIGH PRICE WAS PAID FOR YOUR SALVATION-- THE BLOOD OF CHRIST (18-21). NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE TRUTH IN CHRIST, LOVE ONE ANOTHER (22). YOUR "REBIRTH'" INTO THE NEW LIFE IS NOT THE RESULT OF NATURAL PROCESSES, NOR THE PRODUCT OF HUMAN SEED. THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT THROUGH THE "SEED" WHICH PRODUCED IT ( THE WORD OF GOD, (23-25).
THAT WHICH IS CONTRARY TO CHRIST, LIVE UP YO YOUR HIGH CALLING AND LONG FOR THE SPIRIT'S FOOD WHICH WILL ABLE YOU TO GROW IN CHRIST (2:1-30). CHRIST IS THE NEW CORNERSTONE OF GOD'S NEW TEMPLE. HE INCORPORATES THEM INTO "LIVING STONES " WHO ARE TO REFLECT THE SERVANT LIFE OF THE SERVANT. (2:1-8
OLD ISRAEL WAS ONCE CONSIDERED THE CHOSEN ELECT. YOU WHO FORMED THE NEW ISRAEL CAN NOW LAY CLAIM TO THOSE TITLES. " YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. " HOLY NATION" SET AP IF YOU HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF CHRIST, REJOICE! WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO SUFFER, EQUIP YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY AND A STRONG FAITH TO DEAL WITH SATAN WHO SEEKS TO DESTROY YOU.
MY SPIRITUAL SON MARK, GREET YOU, GREET ONE ANOTHER. PEACE TO ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST (512-14).
THE LETTER APPARENTLY WAS WRITTEN IN ROME ABOUT 63-64 A.D., SHORTLY BEFORE PETER'S MARTYRDOM DURING THE NERONIC PERSECUTION. IT IS ADDRESSED TO "THE EXILES OF THE DISPERSION IN PONTUS, GALATIA, CAPPADOCIA, ASIA AND BITHYNIA," 1:1. THE REFERENCE IS TO GENTILE CHRISTIANS IN THE FIVE PROVINCES OF ASIA MINOR, 1:14; 2:9,10; 4:3,4. THE TERM "DISPERSION," ORIGINALLY USED OF JEWS SCATTERED AROUND THE MEDITERRANIAN WORLD, IS HERE USED FIGURATIVELY TO REFER TO THOSE NEW MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHO WERE SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD LIKE STRANGERS, BUT WHOSE
TRUE HOME IS HEAVEN. PETER WRITES TO STRENGTHEN HIS READERS IN THE NEW LIKE THEY ENTERED IN AT BAPTISM. THEY WERE SUFFERING SOME KIND OF PERSECUTION (3:16,17), THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY ONE ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE LETTER MAKES NO REFERENCE OF ANY DEMAND FOR EMPEROR WORSHIP, CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY, IMPRISONMENT, OR MARTY'S DEATH. (IT EXHORTS THE RECIPIENTS TO OBEY THE EMPEROR AND THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES, 2:13-17). MOST LIKELY THE READERS WERE SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF PAGAN NEIGHBORS WHO WERE ABUSING THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST. THE LETTER CONTAINS HINTS THAT MORE SEVERE PERSECUTION LAY JUST AROUND THE CORNER, 4: 12-19. WHAT MIGHT IT HAVE BEEN? PETER WROTE AT THE TIME WHEN RUMORS WERE ABROAD THAT NERO WAS PLANNING TO INSTIGATE ANTI- CHRISTIAN MEASURES. EVENTUALLY THESE MEASURES DEVELOPED INTO A "FIERY TRIAL." BECAUSE MOVEMENTS BEGAN IN ROME SOON SPREAD, PETER HAD REASON TO PREDICT THAT THE SUFFERING OF HIS EASTERN COLLEAGUES WOULD SOON INTENSIFY.
IN 5:13 PETER WRITES, " SHE WHO IS AT BABYLON, WHO IS LIKEWISE CHOSEN, SENDS YOU GREETINGS" BABYLON HAD DEVASTATED ANCIENT ISRAEL, BUT WAS HERSELF EVENTUALLY DESTROYED. CHRISTIANITY APPLIED THE NAME "BABYLON" TO ROME. PETER'S SENTENCE, THEN, WAS A GREETING FROM THE CHURCH AT ROME TO THE CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR-- BUT IT WAS MORE. IT HINTED THAT THOUGH THE HOSTILE WORLD ( BABYLON--ROME) WAS MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR--THE AWAY--
FROM--HOME PEOPLE OF GOD, GOD WOULD DESTROY IT.
"NOTE:" PETER WROTE HIS FIRST LETTER TO GENTILE CHRISTIANS IN ASIA MINOR. THEIR PAGAN NEIGHBORS WERE RIDICULING THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, AND THE THREAT OF A MORE ORGANIZED ROMAN PERSECUTION HOVERED ON THE HORIZON. PETER URGED HIS READERS TO STAND FIRM IN THEIR FAITH. NO MATTERS WHAT DIFFICULTIES CAME THEIR WAY, THEY WERE TO COPY CHRIST IN EVERY SITUATION. THE WORD TRANSLATED AS "EXAMPLE" (2:21). IS 'HYPOGRAMMOS," A WORD USED TO DESCRIBE THE LINE OF PERFECT WRITING ACROSS THE TOP OF THE CHALK-BOARD WHICH A STUDENT COPIES TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILLS. UNTIL THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY, FEW QUESTIONS WERE RAISED ABOUT PETRINE AUTHORSHIP. SINCE THAT TIME, MANY HAVE QUESTIONED IT AND SUGGESTED THAT THE LETTER IS A PSEUDONYMOUS WORK. THOSE WHO ASCRIBE IT TO PETER POINT TO ITS REFERENCES TO JESUS SUFFERING (2:21-23; 3:18; 4:1). ITS RECOLLECTIONS OF JESUS SAYINGS (1:6-12). AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS TO PETER'S SPEECHES IN ACTS, 1:16:22; 2:14-36); 3: 12-26; 4: 8:12; ONLY THROUGH JESUS. WHENEVER PETER MENTIONS WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN CHRIST., HE CONTINUES WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT THE OBLIGATION GOD'S ACTION PUTS ON US. WE HAVE BEEN RANSOMED, NOT WITH SILVER OR GOLD, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. , THE LAMB WHO WITHOUT BLEMISH OR SPOT. THEREFORE WE MUST BE OBEDIENT CHILDREN, 1:13-21: 14, 20.WE HAVE TASTED THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD. WE MUST PUT AWAY ALL EVIL THINGS. 2:1-3. WE MUST LIVE AS HOLY PEOPLE, 2:9,1O. WE MUST LEAVE THE SINS OF THE PAST BEHIND 4:1-6. THE END IS NEAR. THEREFORE WE MUST DEMONSTRATE A LOVE WHICH BEFIT THOSE WHO ARE STEWARDS OF GOD'S GRACE.
4;7-11
1 PETER 1:3-4:11 CONTAINS SOME OF THE CLEAREST STATEMENTS ABOUT BAPTISM.
SOME BELIEVE THIS SECTION HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM AN EARLY BAPTISMAL LITURGY.
PRAISE GOD THAT IN MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW LIFE AND OPE. HIS GIFT IS BASED ON RESURRECTION OF JESUS. IT PROMISES NOT MERELY AN IMPERMANENT
EARTHLY LAND, BUT AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN. GOD GUARDS THOSE OF US WHO, THROUGH FAITH, ARE TO RECEIVE IT, AND WILL REVEAL IT TO US ON THE LAST DAY, (9 1:3-5). SUFFERING AND DEATH PRECEDED CHRIST'S RESURRECTION
SIMILARLY, TRIALS GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE WALK THE NEW LIFE OF FAITH BRINGS. WE WHO ARE TO RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OF SALVATION AT THE PAROUSIA MUST EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE SUFFERING IN THIS LIFE. (1:6-9). THE SPIRIT IN CHRIST WAS ACTIVE IN THE PROPHETS TO PREDICT THE SALVATION TO COME AND THE APOSTLES TO PROCLAIM IT. (1:10:12). YOU ONCE WALKED IN IGNORANCE OF GOD, AND THIS PRODUCED GODLESS BEHAVIOR. NOW YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN HOLINESS (14:17) A HIGH PRICE WAS PAID FOR YOUR SALVATION-- THE BLOOD OF CHRIST (18-21). NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE TRUTH IN CHRIST, LOVE ONE ANOTHER (22). YOUR "REBIRTH'" INTO THE NEW LIFE IS NOT THE RESULT OF NATURAL PROCESSES, NOR THE PRODUCT OF HUMAN SEED. THE CHANGE CAME ABOUT THROUGH THE "SEED" WHICH PRODUCED IT ( THE WORD OF GOD, (23-25).
THAT WHICH IS CONTRARY TO CHRIST, LIVE UP YO YOUR HIGH CALLING AND LONG FOR THE SPIRIT'S FOOD WHICH WILL ABLE YOU TO GROW IN CHRIST (2:1-30). CHRIST IS THE NEW CORNERSTONE OF GOD'S NEW TEMPLE. HE INCORPORATES THEM INTO "LIVING STONES " WHO ARE TO REFLECT THE SERVANT LIFE OF THE SERVANT. (2:1-8
OLD ISRAEL WAS ONCE CONSIDERED THE CHOSEN ELECT. YOU WHO FORMED THE NEW ISRAEL CAN NOW LAY CLAIM TO THOSE TITLES. " YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. " HOLY NATION" SET AP IF YOU HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF CHRIST, REJOICE! WHAT YOU MAY HAVE TO SUFFER, EQUIP YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY AND A STRONG FAITH TO DEAL WITH SATAN WHO SEEKS TO DESTROY YOU.
MY SPIRITUAL SON MARK, GREET YOU, GREET ONE ANOTHER. PEACE TO ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST (512-14).
Thursday, October 11, 2018
ASPECTS OF CHRIST'S WORK.
THE THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT CHRIST WORK, IS TO SPEAK OF THREE ASPECTS OF CHRIST'S WORK, NAMELY HIS ROLES AS; PROPHET, PRIEST, KING. ;HIS WORK AS "WISE MAN.".TO THESE WE SHALL ADD A FOURTH. CHRIST AS A PROPHET WITHIN THE LIFE OF ISRAEL. CHRIST'S WORK HAD A STRONGLY PROPHETIC CHARACTER. HE"FORETOLD," OR PROCLAIMED, THE MIND AND THE WILL OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER., JOHN 17:8. AS MOSES LED OLD ISRAEL OUT OF BONDAGE AND WAS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD MADE THE OLD COVENANT AT SINAI, SO CHRIST LED MANKIND OUT OF BONDAGE TO SIN, SATAN, JUDGMENT, AND DEATH, REVELATION 5:9. THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS. HE ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, HEBREWS 8:6-12; JEREMIAH 31; 31-34; READ FIRST " OLD COVENANT EXODUS 24:3:11; MARK 14:22-25.
CHRIST AS PRIEST : THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIEST CONDUCTED THE WORSHIP RITUALS AT VARIOUS SHRINES IN ISRAEL, AND OFFERED THE SPECIFIED SACRIFICES. HE WAS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. JESUS WAS AND IS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. HE ALSO IS MEDIATOR BETWEEN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND MANKIND. HE OFFERED UP IN SACRIFICE NOT SOME DUMB ANIMAL, BUT "HIMSELF" AS THE "LAMB OF GOD" WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD" JOHN 1 :29,36; HEBREWS 9:11-14. STILL TODAY HE BRINGS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE BEFORE THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER (ROMANS 8;34) , AND SERVES THEM THROUGH WORD AND SACRAMENTS!
CHRIST AS KING: THE NEW TESTAMENT USES A NUMBER OF TERMS TO DESCRIBE JESUS AUTHORITY IN THE UNIVERSE. THE NEW TESTAMENT ESPECIALLY THE GOSPELS, OFTEN REFERS TO JESUS ROLE AS "KING." (E.G.. JOHN 18:33-19:22. IT IS TRADITIONAL TO SPEAK OF JESUS RULING A THREE-FOLD KINGDOM:
. A KINGDOM OF POWER: HE RULES THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE (EPHESIANS 1:20,21).
A KINGDOM OF GRACE: HE RULES THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS 1:22).
A KINGDOM OF GLORY: HE RULES HEAVEN AND THE WORLD TO COME COLOSSIANS
1:15-20). (REV. 3:14).
CHRIST AS WISE MAN: THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A BODY OF LITERATURE KNOWN AS "WISDOM"--- PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, AND JOB. WISDOM WRITERS SOUGHT INSIGHTS INTO THE DIVE PLAN BEHIND THE UNIVERSE, AND DIRECTIONS FOR MEANINGFUL LIFE. TO POSSESS WISDOM WAS TO BE EQUIPPED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE CREATOR AND HIS CREATION. JESUS NOT ONLY TAUGHT TRUE WISDOM, BUT WAS THE LIVING DISPLAY OF WISDOM, 1 CORINTHIANS 1 :24. IT IS LITTLE WONDER THAT THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST PAID HOMAGE TO HIM AS THE GREATEST OF ALL WISDOM TEACHER, (MATTHEW 2:11-12), SEE ALSO (1: KINGS 4:34), SOLOMON .(10:23-25). DOING ALL THIS JESUS HAS TIME TO SHOW US THE VISIBLE FATHER. JOHN RECORDS A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES ( 14:7-11): PHILIP; " LORD SHOW US WHAT THE FATHER IS LIKE.
HE IS INVISIBLE. WE CANNOT SEE HIM. IF WE COULD SEE HIM AND KNOW WHAT HE IS LIKE, WE WOULD BE SATISFIED.
JESUS: HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU SUCH A LONG TIME, PHILIP, AND DO YOU STILL NOT KNOW WHO I AM? IF YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE INVISIBLE FATHER. I MAKE HIM VISIBLE THROUGH MY PERSON, WORDS, AND WORKS.
THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES ARE RELEVANT:
CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD," COLOSSIANS 1:15.
"NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD; THE ONLY SON, WHO IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER, HE HAS MADE HIM KNOWN. " JOHN 1:18 (PSALM 2:7) 1013: B.C) A.D).
"... the god OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVERS, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIKENESS OF GOD.," 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4) "HE CHRIST REFLECTS THE GLORY OF GOD AND BEARS THE VERY STAMP OF HIS NATURE," HEBREWS 1:3).
WE CAN DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR INVISIBLE GOD IS LIKE BY THINKING THROUGH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE PERSON OF THE VISIBLE SON. CONSIDER: THE MANNER IN WHICH JESUS DEALT WITH PEOPLE IN NEED. (MATTHEW 8:1-4 (MESSIANIC SECRET).
THE TONE OF VOICE HE USED WHEN SPEAKING TO THOSE FEELING CRUSHED BY THE BURDEN OF HEIR SIN. LUKE 7: 36-50; NOTE VERSE (48-50)
JESUS SITS AT THE RIGHT OF THE FATHER. IN EPHESIANS 1 :19-23 PAUL SAYS: GOD'S LIMITLESS POWER WAS AT WORK IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, 1:19-20. THAT SAME MIGHTY POWER IS AT WORK IN THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST. 1:19).
HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT, AFTER THE FATHER RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, " HE MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.,"1:20. WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY THIS STATEMENT? THESE WORDS HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, WHERE IT WAS A CUSTOM TO PORTRAY THE RULER OF THE REALM SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF "god" OF THE CITY OR NATION. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE KING RULED IN THe NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS "GOD;" HE HELD THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER. PAUL, THEN, IS SAYING THAT AFTER THE FATHER RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE GAVE HIM THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER IN THE UNIVERSE! HIS IS A SOURCE OF GREAT COMFORT TO CHRISTIANS. IT TELLS THEM HISTORY IS NOT "JUST ONE FOOL" THING AFTER ANOTHER" BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FATHER ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE CROSS. AND THE EMPTY TOMB, LIFE IS NO LONGER "A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT, FULL OF SOUND AND FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING," AS ONE OF SHAKESPEARE'S CHARACTERS SUGGESTS IN A WAY NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS TO HUMAN EYES, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS CONTRIBUTES TO GOD'S GRAND DESIGN FOR THE UNIVERSE.
JUST THINK! THROUGHOUT THE COUNTLESS GALAXIES OF OUR CREATED ORDER, WITH ITS BILLION OF SUNS AND PLANETS, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! OUR ELDER BROTHER (MATT:46-50) HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO RUN THE UNIVERSE AND THE WORLD IN PARTICULAR, ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN. WE KNOW THE ONE WHO IS IN CHARGE!
THOUGH AT TIMES WE KNOW MEN AT TIMES APPEAR TO BE IN CONTROL OF HISTORY, CHRIST IS IN CONTROL--- CHRIST, WHO LOVED US ENOUGH TO GIVE UP LIFE ITSELF. THEREFORE, WE CHRISTIANS HAVE A PRECIOUS SENSE OF SECURITY ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, AND ETERNITY. WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS ( IN ALL ,PLACES AND AT ALL TIMES, PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7).
CHRIST AS PRIEST : THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIEST CONDUCTED THE WORSHIP RITUALS AT VARIOUS SHRINES IN ISRAEL, AND OFFERED THE SPECIFIED SACRIFICES. HE WAS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. JESUS WAS AND IS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. HE ALSO IS MEDIATOR BETWEEN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND MANKIND. HE OFFERED UP IN SACRIFICE NOT SOME DUMB ANIMAL, BUT "HIMSELF" AS THE "LAMB OF GOD" WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD" JOHN 1 :29,36; HEBREWS 9:11-14. STILL TODAY HE BRINGS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE BEFORE THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER (ROMANS 8;34) , AND SERVES THEM THROUGH WORD AND SACRAMENTS!
CHRIST AS KING: THE NEW TESTAMENT USES A NUMBER OF TERMS TO DESCRIBE JESUS AUTHORITY IN THE UNIVERSE. THE NEW TESTAMENT ESPECIALLY THE GOSPELS, OFTEN REFERS TO JESUS ROLE AS "KING." (E.G.. JOHN 18:33-19:22. IT IS TRADITIONAL TO SPEAK OF JESUS RULING A THREE-FOLD KINGDOM:
. A KINGDOM OF POWER: HE RULES THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE (EPHESIANS 1:20,21).
A KINGDOM OF GRACE: HE RULES THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS 1:22).
A KINGDOM OF GLORY: HE RULES HEAVEN AND THE WORLD TO COME COLOSSIANS
1:15-20). (REV. 3:14).
CHRIST AS WISE MAN: THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A BODY OF LITERATURE KNOWN AS "WISDOM"--- PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, AND JOB. WISDOM WRITERS SOUGHT INSIGHTS INTO THE DIVE PLAN BEHIND THE UNIVERSE, AND DIRECTIONS FOR MEANINGFUL LIFE. TO POSSESS WISDOM WAS TO BE EQUIPPED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE CREATOR AND HIS CREATION. JESUS NOT ONLY TAUGHT TRUE WISDOM, BUT WAS THE LIVING DISPLAY OF WISDOM, 1 CORINTHIANS 1 :24. IT IS LITTLE WONDER THAT THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST PAID HOMAGE TO HIM AS THE GREATEST OF ALL WISDOM TEACHER, (MATTHEW 2:11-12), SEE ALSO (1: KINGS 4:34), SOLOMON .(10:23-25). DOING ALL THIS JESUS HAS TIME TO SHOW US THE VISIBLE FATHER. JOHN RECORDS A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES ( 14:7-11): PHILIP; " LORD SHOW US WHAT THE FATHER IS LIKE.
HE IS INVISIBLE. WE CANNOT SEE HIM. IF WE COULD SEE HIM AND KNOW WHAT HE IS LIKE, WE WOULD BE SATISFIED.
JESUS: HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU SUCH A LONG TIME, PHILIP, AND DO YOU STILL NOT KNOW WHO I AM? IF YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE INVISIBLE FATHER. I MAKE HIM VISIBLE THROUGH MY PERSON, WORDS, AND WORKS.
THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES ARE RELEVANT:
CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD," COLOSSIANS 1:15.
"NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD; THE ONLY SON, WHO IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER, HE HAS MADE HIM KNOWN. " JOHN 1:18 (PSALM 2:7) 1013: B.C) A.D).
"... the god OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVERS, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIKENESS OF GOD.," 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4) "HE CHRIST REFLECTS THE GLORY OF GOD AND BEARS THE VERY STAMP OF HIS NATURE," HEBREWS 1:3).
WE CAN DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR INVISIBLE GOD IS LIKE BY THINKING THROUGH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE PERSON OF THE VISIBLE SON. CONSIDER: THE MANNER IN WHICH JESUS DEALT WITH PEOPLE IN NEED. (MATTHEW 8:1-4 (MESSIANIC SECRET).
THE TONE OF VOICE HE USED WHEN SPEAKING TO THOSE FEELING CRUSHED BY THE BURDEN OF HEIR SIN. LUKE 7: 36-50; NOTE VERSE (48-50)
JESUS SITS AT THE RIGHT OF THE FATHER. IN EPHESIANS 1 :19-23 PAUL SAYS: GOD'S LIMITLESS POWER WAS AT WORK IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, 1:19-20. THAT SAME MIGHTY POWER IS AT WORK IN THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST. 1:19).
HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT, AFTER THE FATHER RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, " HE MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.,"1:20. WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY THIS STATEMENT? THESE WORDS HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, WHERE IT WAS A CUSTOM TO PORTRAY THE RULER OF THE REALM SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF "god" OF THE CITY OR NATION. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE KING RULED IN THe NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS "GOD;" HE HELD THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER. PAUL, THEN, IS SAYING THAT AFTER THE FATHER RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE GAVE HIM THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER IN THE UNIVERSE! HIS IS A SOURCE OF GREAT COMFORT TO CHRISTIANS. IT TELLS THEM HISTORY IS NOT "JUST ONE FOOL" THING AFTER ANOTHER" BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FATHER ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE CROSS. AND THE EMPTY TOMB, LIFE IS NO LONGER "A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT, FULL OF SOUND AND FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING," AS ONE OF SHAKESPEARE'S CHARACTERS SUGGESTS IN A WAY NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS TO HUMAN EYES, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS CONTRIBUTES TO GOD'S GRAND DESIGN FOR THE UNIVERSE.
JUST THINK! THROUGHOUT THE COUNTLESS GALAXIES OF OUR CREATED ORDER, WITH ITS BILLION OF SUNS AND PLANETS, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! OUR ELDER BROTHER (MATT:46-50) HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO RUN THE UNIVERSE AND THE WORLD IN PARTICULAR, ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN. WE KNOW THE ONE WHO IS IN CHARGE!
THOUGH AT TIMES WE KNOW MEN AT TIMES APPEAR TO BE IN CONTROL OF HISTORY, CHRIST IS IN CONTROL--- CHRIST, WHO LOVED US ENOUGH TO GIVE UP LIFE ITSELF. THEREFORE, WE CHRISTIANS HAVE A PRECIOUS SENSE OF SECURITY ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, AND ETERNITY. WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS ( IN ALL ,PLACES AND AT ALL TIMES, PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7).
Monday, October 8, 2018
AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER . EPHESIANS ( 1:19-23,)
PAUL SAYS: GOD'S LIMITLESS POWER WAS AT WORK IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, 1:19,20. THE SAME MIGHTY POWER IS AT WORK IN THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST, 1:19
HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT, AFTER THAT, AFTER THE FATHER RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, "HE MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES" WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY THIS STATEMENT? THESE WORDS HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, WHERE IT WAS THE CUSTOM TO PORTRAY THE RULER OF A REALM SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE "god" OF THE CITY OR NATION. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE KING RULED IN NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS god; HE HELD THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER. PAUL, THE, IS SAYING THAT AFTER THE FATHER RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE GAVE HIM THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER IN THE UNIVERSE! CHRIST RULES AND RUNS THE UNIVERSE FOR HIS FATHER, AND HE DOES WITH THE WELFARE OF HIS CHURCH IN MIND",... FOR THE CHURCH," EPHESIANS 1:22. CHRIST IN CHARGE OF THE UNIVERSE! THIS IS A SOURCE OF GREAT COMFORT O CHRISTIANS. IT TELLS THEM THAT HISTORY IS NOT JUST "JUST ONE FOOL THING AFTER ANOTHER". BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FATHER ACCOMPLISHED I CHRIST THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE CROSS AND THE EMPTY TOMB, LIFE IS NO LONGER " A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT, FULL OF SOUND AND FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING," AS ONE OF SHAKESPEARE'S CHARACTERS SUGGEST. IN A WAY NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS TO HUMAN EYES, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS CONTRIBUTES TO GOD'S GRAND DESIGN FOR THE UNIVERSE. JUST THINK! THROUGHOUT THE COUNT
LESS GALAXIES OF OUR CREATED ORDER, WITH ITS BILLIONS O SUNS AND PLANETS, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. IT BOGGLES THE MIND TO THINK OUR ELDER BROTHER (MATT 12:46-50) HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO RUN THE UNIVERSE, AND THE WORLD IN PARTICULAR, ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN. WE KNOW THE ONE WHO IS IN CHARGE! THOUGH AT TIMES MEN APPEAR TO BE IN CONTROL OF HISTORY. CHRIST IS IN CONTROL- CHRIST, WHO
HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT, AFTER THAT, AFTER THE FATHER RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, "HE MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES" WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY THIS STATEMENT? THESE WORDS HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST, WHERE IT WAS THE CUSTOM TO PORTRAY THE RULER OF A REALM SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE "god" OF THE CITY OR NATION. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE KING RULED IN NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS god; HE HELD THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER. PAUL, THE, IS SAYING THAT AFTER THE FATHER RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE GAVE HIM THE PLACE OF HONOR AND POWER IN THE UNIVERSE! CHRIST RULES AND RUNS THE UNIVERSE FOR HIS FATHER, AND HE DOES WITH THE WELFARE OF HIS CHURCH IN MIND",... FOR THE CHURCH," EPHESIANS 1:22. CHRIST IN CHARGE OF THE UNIVERSE! THIS IS A SOURCE OF GREAT COMFORT O CHRISTIANS. IT TELLS THEM THAT HISTORY IS NOT JUST "JUST ONE FOOL THING AFTER ANOTHER". BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FATHER ACCOMPLISHED I CHRIST THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE CROSS AND THE EMPTY TOMB, LIFE IS NO LONGER " A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT, FULL OF SOUND AND FURY, SIGNIFYING NOTHING," AS ONE OF SHAKESPEARE'S CHARACTERS SUGGEST. IN A WAY NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS TO HUMAN EYES, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS CONTRIBUTES TO GOD'S GRAND DESIGN FOR THE UNIVERSE. JUST THINK! THROUGHOUT THE COUNT
LESS GALAXIES OF OUR CREATED ORDER, WITH ITS BILLIONS O SUNS AND PLANETS, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. IT BOGGLES THE MIND TO THINK OUR ELDER BROTHER (MATT 12:46-50) HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE AUTHORITY TO RUN THE UNIVERSE, AND THE WORLD IN PARTICULAR, ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN. WE KNOW THE ONE WHO IS IN CHARGE! THOUGH AT TIMES MEN APPEAR TO BE IN CONTROL OF HISTORY. CHRIST IS IN CONTROL- CHRIST, WHO
LOVED US ENOUGH TO GIVE UP LIFE ITSELF. THEREFORE, WE CHRISTIANS HAVE A PRECIOUS SENSE OF SECURITY ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, AND ETERNITY. WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS, IN ALL PLACES AND AT ALL TIMES, PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7. REMEMBER GOD HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S FEET. IN EPHESIANS 1:22, PAUL WRITES"... AND HE HAS MADE HIM HEAD OVER ALL THINGS FOR THE CHURCH." ONCE AGAIN, ANCIENT PRACTICES UNDERLIE PAUL'S MEANING. IN ANCIENT NEAR EAST, A KING HAD THE FACES AND FIGURES OF ENEMIES HE HAD OVERCOME CARVED OR WOVEN ONTO HIS FOOT STOOL. THE VISUAL MESSAGE IN RESTING HIS FEET ON THE FOOTSTOOL WAS OBVIOUS - THOSE WHOSE IMAGES APPEARED ON THE FOOTSTOOL WERE UNDER HIS AUTHORITY. PAUL'S MESSAGE, THEN, IS THAT EVERY POWER, RULE, NAME AUTHORITY, AND PRINCIPALITY IN THE UNIVERSE- WHETHER PRESENT AND FUTURE IS UNDER CHRIST FEET." THE APOSTLE GOES ON TO STRESS CHRIST RULES ALL THINGS. " FOR THE CHURCH 1:22. CHRIST'S FEET ARE RESTING ON A FOOTSTOOL THE CROWN SUPERIMPOSED ON THE FEET POINTS TO CHRIST ROLE AS AUTHORITY AS KING OF THE UNIVERSE. THE SIX SYMBOLS ON THE SIDE OF THE FOOT STOOL, 1). THE POWER OF SIN: JESUS DID NOT SUBMIT TO IT ON ANY OCCASION, JOHN 8: 46. THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE HE WAS THE HUMBLE SERVANT WHO SOUGHT ONLY TO DO THE FATHER'S WILL., LUKE 2:42. HE BREAKS ITS HOLD ON US BY DECLARING US FORGIVEN, LUKE 7: 48-50. JESUS KEPT THE "LAW" PERFECTLY,AND DESTROYED ITS AUTHORITY OVER HUMANITY. IN COLOSSIANS 2:13-15, PAUL USES THE PICTURE OF A ROMAN GENERAL RETURNING IN TRIUMPHANT PROCESSION AFTER CONQUERING HIS FOES TO STATE THAT CHRIST CONQUERED THE LAW. IT "DIED" WITH HIM. NEXT FOLLOWS JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION. CHRIST VICTORY OVER THE LAW DESTROYED ITS AUTHORITY TO JUDGE AND CONDEMN THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM, ROMANS (8:1,2,33,34).
SATAN: CHRIST'S MINISTRY WAS A STRUGGLE TO OVER SATAN AND HIS REALM. CHRIST WON, (MARK 3 : 22-27.) 1 JOHN 3;8).
THE HEAVENLY POWERS: THE CROWN WITH THE ASTROLOGICAL REFERS TO THE TERMS PAUL USES, EPHESIANS 1:21; 6:12; COLOSSIANS 1:16; ROMANS 8:38 CHRIST HAS AUTHORITY OVER EVERY SO-CALLED POWER IN THE UNIVERSE. HE IS LORD OF ALL! FINALLY DEATH: CHRIST IS LORD OF DEATH AND THE GRAVE. IT MUST OBEY HIS COMMAND TO GIVE UP ITS VICTIMS. LUKE 7:11-17; JOHN 5:25-29; 11:25,26.
IN PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11, PAUL WRITES: " GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED CHRIST, AND BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
SATAN: CHRIST'S MINISTRY WAS A STRUGGLE TO OVER SATAN AND HIS REALM. CHRIST WON, (MARK 3 : 22-27.) 1 JOHN 3;8).
THE HEAVENLY POWERS: THE CROWN WITH THE ASTROLOGICAL REFERS TO THE TERMS PAUL USES, EPHESIANS 1:21; 6:12; COLOSSIANS 1:16; ROMANS 8:38 CHRIST HAS AUTHORITY OVER EVERY SO-CALLED POWER IN THE UNIVERSE. HE IS LORD OF ALL! FINALLY DEATH: CHRIST IS LORD OF DEATH AND THE GRAVE. IT MUST OBEY HIS COMMAND TO GIVE UP ITS VICTIMS. LUKE 7:11-17; JOHN 5:25-29; 11:25,26.
IN PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11, PAUL WRITES: " GOD HAS HIGHLY EXALTED CHRIST, AND BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
ASPECTS OF CHRIST WORK.
IT IS TRADITIONAL TO SPEAK OF THREE ASPECTS OF CHRIST'S WORK, NAMELY HIS ROLES AS:
1. PROPHET
2. PRIEST
3. KING.
TO THESE WE SHAL ADD A FOURTH: HIS WORK AS "WISE MAN."
CHRIST AS A PROPHET, WE WILL DISCUSS THE ROLE OF A PROPHET WITHIN THE LIFE OF ISRAEL. CHRIST WORK HAD A STRONGLY PROPHETIC CHARACTER (DEUT.18:18).
"FORETOLD," OR PROCLAIMED, THE MIND OR WILL OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER,
JOHN (17:8) AS MOSES LED OLD ISRAEL OUT OF BONDAGE, AND WAS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD MADE THE OLD COVENANT AT SINAI, SO CHRIST LED MANKIND OUT OF BONDAGE TO SIN, SATAN, JUDGEMENT AND DEATH, "REVELATION" (5:9). THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS., HE ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, HEBREWS ( 8:6-12) JEREMIAH (31:31-34) read first, EXODUS (24:3-11); MARK (14:22-25).
CHRIST AS PRIEST: THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIEST CONDUCTED THE WORSHIP RITUALS AT THE VARIOUS SHRINES IN ISRAEL, AND OFFERED THE SPECIFIED SACRIFICES. HE WAS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND MANKIND. HE OFFERED UP IN SACRIFICE NOT SOME "DUMB ANIMAL," "BUT HIMSELF" AS THE "LAMB OF GOD. THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD,"
(JOHN (1:29,36); HEBREWS (9:11-14). STILL TODAY HE BRINGS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE BEFORE THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER (ROMANS 8:34), AND SERVES THEM THROUGH HIS WORD AND SACRAMENTS.
"CHRIST AS KING" THE NEW TESTAMENT USES A NUMBER OF TERMS TO DESCRIBE JESUS AUTHORITY IN THE UNIVERSE; THE NEW TESTAMENT ESPECIALLY THE GOSPELS, OFTEN REFERS TO JESUS ROLE AS "KING"e.g. JOHN (18:33-19:22). IT IS TRADITIONAL TO SPEAK OF JESUS RULING A THREE- FOLD KINGDOM.:
A. KINGDOM OF POWER: HE RULES THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE (EPHESIANS 1:20,21).
B. KINGDOM OF GRACE: HE RULES THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS 1:22).
C. KINGDOM OF GLORY: HE RULES HEAVEN AND THE WORLD TO COME (COLOSSIANS 1;15-20).
CHRIST AS WISE MAN; THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A BODY OF LITERATURE KNOWN AS "WISDOM-" PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, AND JOB. WISDOM WRITERS SOUGHT INSIDES INTO THE DIVINE PLAN BEHIND THE UNIVERSE, AND DIRECTIONS FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE. TO POSSESS WISDOM WAS TO BE EQUIPPED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE CREATOR AND HIS CREATION. JESUS NOT ONLY TAUGHT TRUE WISDOM, BUT WAS THE LIVING DISPLAY OF WISDOM., 1 CORINTHIANS 1:24. IT IS LITTLE WONDER THAT THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST PAID HOMAGE TO HIM AS THE GREATEST OF ALL WISDOM TEACHERS, MATTHEW 2:1-12; SEE ALSO 1 KINGS
( 4:34), 10 :23-25). HE VISIBLE SON SHOWS US THE INVISIBLE FATHER. JOHN RECORDS A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES (14:7-11): PHILIP: "LORD SHOW US WHAT THE FATHER IS LIKE. HE IS INVISIBLE. WE CANNOT SEE HIM AND KNOW WHAT HE IS LIKE, WE WOULD BE SATISFIED."
JESUS: " I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU SUCH A LONG TIME, PHILIP, AND DO YOU STILL NOT KNOW WHO I AM? IF YOU SEE ME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE INVISIBLE FATHER. I MAKE HIM VISIBLE THROUGH MY PERSON, WORDS, AND WORKS.
THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES ARE RELEVANT: CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, " COLOSSIANS 1:15).
" NO ONE HAS SEEN GOD; THE ONLY SON, WHO IS IN THE BOSOM OF OF THE FATHER, HE HAS MADE HIM KNOWN," JOHN (1:18 2:7) PSALM (2:7). tHE "god OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIKENESS," 2 CORINTHIANS (1:4). " HE CHRIST REFLECTS THE GLORY OF GOD AND BEARS THE VERY STAMP OF HIS NATURE," HEBREWS 1:3). WE CAN DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR INVISIBLE GOD IS LIKE BY THINKING THROUGH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE PERSON OF THE VISIBLE SON. CONSIDER: THE MANNER JESUS DEALT WITH THE PEOPLE IN NEED, MATTHEW (8:1-4 MESSIANIC SECRET). THE TONE OF HIS VOICE HE USED WHEN SPEAKING TO THOSE FEELING CRUSHED BY THE BURDEN OF THEIR SIN, LUKE 7:36-50; NOTE VERSES (48-50) CLAIM TO BE GOD, (44) HOSPITALITY (GEN 18:4)
FOOT WASHING. THE BOLDNESS HE MANIFESTED WHEN CONFRONTING DEMONS AND AND THOSE WHO SET OUT TO TEAR HIS TEACHINGS TO SHREDS, MARK 1:25; JOHN 8:42-47). HIS READINESS TO SURRENDER HIMSELF INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH HIM, MARK 1O:17-22; JESUS FATE WAS SELF- CHOSEN. THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHES THAT AS JESUS WAS WHILE ON EARTH, THE FATHER IS NOW! AS JESUS TREATED PEOPLE THEN, SO THE FATHER TREATS US NOW.
AS JESUS DISPOSITION IS. AS JESUS WAS AND IS, THE FATHER IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
1. PROPHET
2. PRIEST
3. KING.
TO THESE WE SHAL ADD A FOURTH: HIS WORK AS "WISE MAN."
CHRIST AS A PROPHET, WE WILL DISCUSS THE ROLE OF A PROPHET WITHIN THE LIFE OF ISRAEL. CHRIST WORK HAD A STRONGLY PROPHETIC CHARACTER (DEUT.18:18).
"FORETOLD," OR PROCLAIMED, THE MIND OR WILL OF HIS HEAVENLY FATHER,
JOHN (17:8) AS MOSES LED OLD ISRAEL OUT OF BONDAGE, AND WAS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM GOD MADE THE OLD COVENANT AT SINAI, SO CHRIST LED MANKIND OUT OF BONDAGE TO SIN, SATAN, JUDGEMENT AND DEATH, "REVELATION" (5:9). THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS., HE ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, HEBREWS ( 8:6-12) JEREMIAH (31:31-34) read first, EXODUS (24:3-11); MARK (14:22-25).
CHRIST AS PRIEST: THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIEST CONDUCTED THE WORSHIP RITUALS AT THE VARIOUS SHRINES IN ISRAEL, AND OFFERED THE SPECIFIED SACRIFICES. HE WAS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER AND MANKIND. HE OFFERED UP IN SACRIFICE NOT SOME "DUMB ANIMAL," "BUT HIMSELF" AS THE "LAMB OF GOD. THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD,"
(JOHN (1:29,36); HEBREWS (9:11-14). STILL TODAY HE BRINGS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE BEFORE THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER (ROMANS 8:34), AND SERVES THEM THROUGH HIS WORD AND SACRAMENTS.
"CHRIST AS KING" THE NEW TESTAMENT USES A NUMBER OF TERMS TO DESCRIBE JESUS AUTHORITY IN THE UNIVERSE; THE NEW TESTAMENT ESPECIALLY THE GOSPELS, OFTEN REFERS TO JESUS ROLE AS "KING"e.g. JOHN (18:33-19:22). IT IS TRADITIONAL TO SPEAK OF JESUS RULING A THREE- FOLD KINGDOM.:
A. KINGDOM OF POWER: HE RULES THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE (EPHESIANS 1:20,21).
B. KINGDOM OF GRACE: HE RULES THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS 1:22).
C. KINGDOM OF GLORY: HE RULES HEAVEN AND THE WORLD TO COME (COLOSSIANS 1;15-20).
CHRIST AS WISE MAN; THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS A BODY OF LITERATURE KNOWN AS "WISDOM-" PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, AND JOB. WISDOM WRITERS SOUGHT INSIDES INTO THE DIVINE PLAN BEHIND THE UNIVERSE, AND DIRECTIONS FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE. TO POSSESS WISDOM WAS TO BE EQUIPPED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE CREATOR AND HIS CREATION. JESUS NOT ONLY TAUGHT TRUE WISDOM, BUT WAS THE LIVING DISPLAY OF WISDOM., 1 CORINTHIANS 1:24. IT IS LITTLE WONDER THAT THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST PAID HOMAGE TO HIM AS THE GREATEST OF ALL WISDOM TEACHERS, MATTHEW 2:1-12; SEE ALSO 1 KINGS
( 4:34), 10 :23-25). HE VISIBLE SON SHOWS US THE INVISIBLE FATHER. JOHN RECORDS A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES (14:7-11): PHILIP: "LORD SHOW US WHAT THE FATHER IS LIKE. HE IS INVISIBLE. WE CANNOT SEE HIM AND KNOW WHAT HE IS LIKE, WE WOULD BE SATISFIED."
JESUS: " I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU SUCH A LONG TIME, PHILIP, AND DO YOU STILL NOT KNOW WHO I AM? IF YOU SEE ME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE INVISIBLE FATHER. I MAKE HIM VISIBLE THROUGH MY PERSON, WORDS, AND WORKS.
THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES ARE RELEVANT: CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, " COLOSSIANS 1:15).
" NO ONE HAS SEEN GOD; THE ONLY SON, WHO IS IN THE BOSOM OF OF THE FATHER, HE HAS MADE HIM KNOWN," JOHN (1:18 2:7) PSALM (2:7). tHE "god OF THIS WORLD HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIKENESS," 2 CORINTHIANS (1:4). " HE CHRIST REFLECTS THE GLORY OF GOD AND BEARS THE VERY STAMP OF HIS NATURE," HEBREWS 1:3). WE CAN DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR INVISIBLE GOD IS LIKE BY THINKING THROUGH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE PERSON OF THE VISIBLE SON. CONSIDER: THE MANNER JESUS DEALT WITH THE PEOPLE IN NEED, MATTHEW (8:1-4 MESSIANIC SECRET). THE TONE OF HIS VOICE HE USED WHEN SPEAKING TO THOSE FEELING CRUSHED BY THE BURDEN OF THEIR SIN, LUKE 7:36-50; NOTE VERSES (48-50) CLAIM TO BE GOD, (44) HOSPITALITY (GEN 18:4)
FOOT WASHING. THE BOLDNESS HE MANIFESTED WHEN CONFRONTING DEMONS AND AND THOSE WHO SET OUT TO TEAR HIS TEACHINGS TO SHREDS, MARK 1:25; JOHN 8:42-47). HIS READINESS TO SURRENDER HIMSELF INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH HIM, MARK 1O:17-22; JESUS FATE WAS SELF- CHOSEN. THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHES THAT AS JESUS WAS WHILE ON EARTH, THE FATHER IS NOW! AS JESUS TREATED PEOPLE THEN, SO THE FATHER TREATS US NOW.
AS JESUS DISPOSITION IS. AS JESUS WAS AND IS, THE FATHER IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
COLOSSIAN HERESY COLOSSIANS.
WHILE PAUL WAS A PRISONER IN ROME, HE WAS VISITED BY EPAPHRAS FROM COLOSSAE, A CITY OF ASIA MINOR ABOUT 125 MILES EAST OF EPHESUS. EPAPHRAS BROUGHT NEWS ABOUT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THE GENTILE CHURCH. THERE; POSSIBLY HE HAD OVERSIGHT OF IT 1: 5-8. THOUGH HIS REPORT WAS POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING (1:6), HE FELT SOME ANXIETY. THE CHURCH IN COLOSSAE WAS UNDER THREAT.. A "NEW TEACHING" WAS GAINING A FOOTHOLD, AND ENDANGERING THE GOSPEL. EPAPHRAS SOUGHT PAUL'S HELP TO ANALYZE AND COMBAT IT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE PRECISELY WHAT THE HERESY WAS, FOR PAUL DOES NOT DEFINE IT, BUT CONFRONTS IT WITH THE GOSPEL: INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE HERESY INVOLVED THE FOLLOWING: IT ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO THE POWERS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD. IN REFERRING TO THESE, IT USED TERMS SUCH AS " THRONES, DOMINION, PRINCIPALITIES, NAMES, AUTHORITIES, POWERS." POSSIBLY IT ALSO INVOLVED ANGEL WORSHIP., 2:18. THE FALSE TEACHERS ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO RITUALISTIC OBSERVANCES IN RELATION TO FEASTS AND FASTS, FOOD AND DRINK, NEW MOONS AND SABBATHS, AND PROBABLY ALSO CIRCUMCISION, 2:11, 16ff. OF. THEY PROCLAIMED THEIR IDEAS AS THE TRUE WAY OF SELF- DISCIPLINE AND SUBJECTION OF THE FLESH., 2:20ff. AN ASCETIC ELEMENT WAS ALSO INVOLVED, "DO NOT HANDLE," "DO NOT TASTE," "DO NOT TOUCH (2 :21), " A RIGOR OF DEVOTION AND SELF-ABASEMENT AND SEVERITY TO THE BODY, " 2:23. THE FALSE TEACHERS DECLARED THAT THEY POSSESSED A HIGHER, MORE PROFOUND OCCULT KNOWLEDGE DERIVED FROM GOD., 2:4, 8, 18. WHEN PAUL USES TERMS SUCH AS KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM,UNDERSTANDING AND MYSTERY, MOST LIKELY HE IS USING WORDS THE HERETICS THEMSELVES USED, BUT INJECTING INTO THEM THEIR GOD-INTENDING MEANING. COLOSSIANS DOES NOT TELL US HOW THESE THREE ELEMENTS WERE RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER..
"PAUL HAS THE ANSWERS TO THE HERESY!" CHRIST IS THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE AND WHATEVER POWERS EXIST WITHIN IT. HE IS HE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, THE CONQUEROR OF EVERY EVIL FORCE OPPOSED TO GOD AND HUMANITY., 1:15ff; 2:9ff. ALL THE "FULLNESS" OF THE GODHEAD DWELLS IN HIM. ( MOST LIKELY THE TERM "FULNESS" WAS ONE OF THE FALSE TEACHERS USED; PAUL MAKES IT SERVE HIS OWN PURPOSES.) HE WHO EXALTS ANGELS, EMPHASIZING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GOOD SPIRITUAL POWERS AND THE FEAR OF THE EVIL " PRINCIPALITIES" IS MISGUIDED. CHRIST IS LORD OF ALL; ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN PLACED BENEATH IS FEET. THE WAY TO HOLINESS AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS NOT THROUGH ASCETICISM OR BY SELF-CENTERED EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE PASSIONS. THESE PRACTICES LEAD TO SPIRITUAL PRIDE. THE WAY TO HOLINESS AND FELLOWSHIP IS THROUGH PUTTING ON CHRIST., SETTING ONE'S WHOLE AFFECTION ON HIM, AND PUTTING OFF ALL THAT IS CONTRARY TO HIS WILL,
2:2O ff; 3:1ff. PAUL INSISTS THAT IT IS VAIN TO SUGGEST THAT ANY EARTHLY PHILOSOPHY CAN BE THE TRUE WISDOM, 2:8. TRUE WISDOM IS FOUND ONLY IN THAT MYSTERY, THAT "OPEN SECRET" WHICH IS CHRIST. HE DWELLS IN ALL WHO RECEIVE HIM AND MAKES NO DISTINCTION OF PERSONS, 1:27; 3:1ff. PAUL SAW THAT THE COLOSSIAN HERESY CALLED INTO QUESTION THE WAY OF SALVATION IN CHRIST.
IT OBSCURED HIS UNIQUE GREATNESS AND DENIED THE COMPLETE SUFFICIENCY OF HIS ATONEMENT. IT PROCLAIMED AND INVOKED OTHER POWERS AND PRACTICES
AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANITY. IT WAS ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CLAIMED NOT TO SUPPLANT, BUT TO SUPPLEMENT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. PAUL'S AWARENESS OF THIS LED, HIM TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THE COLOSSIANS WERE FULL AND COMPLETE IN THE GOSPEL THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT AND THAT THE TREASURES OF DIVINE WISDOM ARE TO BE FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE, 2:2,3,9, 1O. THE LETTER PROCLAIMS THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST REPEATEDLY, MAJESTICALLY AND TRIUMPHANTLY. NOTE: BECAUSE MANY PARALLELS EXIST BETWEEN EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS, NO FURTHER COMMENT IS OFFERED.
"PAUL HAS THE ANSWERS TO THE HERESY!" CHRIST IS THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE AND WHATEVER POWERS EXIST WITHIN IT. HE IS HE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, THE CONQUEROR OF EVERY EVIL FORCE OPPOSED TO GOD AND HUMANITY., 1:15ff; 2:9ff. ALL THE "FULLNESS" OF THE GODHEAD DWELLS IN HIM. ( MOST LIKELY THE TERM "FULNESS" WAS ONE OF THE FALSE TEACHERS USED; PAUL MAKES IT SERVE HIS OWN PURPOSES.) HE WHO EXALTS ANGELS, EMPHASIZING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GOOD SPIRITUAL POWERS AND THE FEAR OF THE EVIL " PRINCIPALITIES" IS MISGUIDED. CHRIST IS LORD OF ALL; ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN PLACED BENEATH IS FEET. THE WAY TO HOLINESS AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS NOT THROUGH ASCETICISM OR BY SELF-CENTERED EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE PASSIONS. THESE PRACTICES LEAD TO SPIRITUAL PRIDE. THE WAY TO HOLINESS AND FELLOWSHIP IS THROUGH PUTTING ON CHRIST., SETTING ONE'S WHOLE AFFECTION ON HIM, AND PUTTING OFF ALL THAT IS CONTRARY TO HIS WILL,
2:2O ff; 3:1ff. PAUL INSISTS THAT IT IS VAIN TO SUGGEST THAT ANY EARTHLY PHILOSOPHY CAN BE THE TRUE WISDOM, 2:8. TRUE WISDOM IS FOUND ONLY IN THAT MYSTERY, THAT "OPEN SECRET" WHICH IS CHRIST. HE DWELLS IN ALL WHO RECEIVE HIM AND MAKES NO DISTINCTION OF PERSONS, 1:27; 3:1ff. PAUL SAW THAT THE COLOSSIAN HERESY CALLED INTO QUESTION THE WAY OF SALVATION IN CHRIST.
IT OBSCURED HIS UNIQUE GREATNESS AND DENIED THE COMPLETE SUFFICIENCY OF HIS ATONEMENT. IT PROCLAIMED AND INVOKED OTHER POWERS AND PRACTICES
AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN GOD AND HUMANITY. IT WAS ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CLAIMED NOT TO SUPPLANT, BUT TO SUPPLEMENT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. PAUL'S AWARENESS OF THIS LED, HIM TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THE COLOSSIANS WERE FULL AND COMPLETE IN THE GOSPEL THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT AND THAT THE TREASURES OF DIVINE WISDOM ARE TO BE FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE, 2:2,3,9, 1O. THE LETTER PROCLAIMS THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST REPEATEDLY, MAJESTICALLY AND TRIUMPHANTLY. NOTE: BECAUSE MANY PARALLELS EXIST BETWEEN EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS, NO FURTHER COMMENT IS OFFERED.
EPHESIANS.
EPHESIANS WAS A LARGE SEAPORT ON THE WESTERN COAST OF ASIA MINOR, A ROMAN PROVINCE. PAUL SPENT TIME THERE DURING HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 18: 19-21), AND MADE IT HIS BASE DURING THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 19 1-20:1), SPENDING ABOUT THREE YEARS THERE. IT IS UNUSUAL THAT THE LETTER CONTAINS ONLY ONE PERSONAL REFERENCE-- TO TYCHICUS, 6;21;
SEE COLOSSIANS 4:7. INDICATIONS ARE THAT EPHESIANS WAS INITIALLY A CIRCULAR LETTER DESIGNED FOR A WIDER DISTRIBUTION; THE TITLE, "TO THE EPHESIANS," WAS PROBABLY NOT IN THE ORIGINAL LETTER--IT IS MISSING IN THE MOST RELIABLE MANUSCRIPTS. EPHESIANS IS A LETTER IN FORM ONLY. IT IS ACTUALLY A THEOLOGICAL TREATISE. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, AND OUTLINE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED AND DONE FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE UNIVERSE. THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH PRACTICE, AND INSTRUCT CHRISTIANS HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD'S INITIATIVE. THE STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT, FOR IT DECLARES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANKIND.
(NOTE: THE CHURCH TOOK OVER THE WORD FOR "CHURCH" (EKKLYSIA) FROM THE GREEK SECULAR WORLD, AND ENRICHED THE MEANING. IN GREEK COMMUNITIES, THE WORD REFERRED TO THE LOCAL "COUNCIL" WHICH MET TO DISCUSS LOCAL AFFAIRS). AFTER THE OPENING GREETING AND (1:1,2), chs, 1-3 SET FORTH GOD'S GREAT PLAN HIDDEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD, TO MAKE CHRIST THE HEAD OF A NEW FAMILY OF HUMANITY, ONE WHICH WILL EMBRACE BOTH JEW AND GENTILE.. IN CHAPTERS 3-6, PAUL OUTLINES THE GOOD WORKS GOD'S NEW CREATION, THE CHURCH IS TO PERFORM. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS HELP CRYSTALLIZE PAUL' MESSAGE. IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK 1:3-14 IS ONE LONG SENTENCE THAT NEVER REALLY STOPS TO CATCH ITS BREATH. ITS EXPRESSIONS LITERALLY TUMBLE OVER ONE ANOTHER AS THEY SUMMON THREADER TO JOIN IN
PRAISING HIM. " WHO ACCOMPLISHES ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL" 1:11. ( RSV HAS BROKEN THIS ONE GREEK SENTENCE INTO SIX ENGLISH SENTENCES.) THIS OPENING "OVERTURE" IS MADE UP OF THREE SECTIONS WHICH DEAL IN TURN WITH THE WORK OF THE FATHER (3-6), SON (7:12), AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (13,14). THE FATHER DESIGNED THE PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE. THE SON IS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM HE PUT IT INTO EFFECT. THE SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT GOD'S PEOPLE WILL FINALLY RECEIVE THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GOD'S WORK IN LIBERATING HUMANITY. EACH SECTION CONCLUDES WITH A SUMMONS TO PRAISE, 1:6, 12,14. EPHESIANS TAKES IN THE TOTAL SWEEP OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY. PAUL BEGINS HIS PRESENTATION WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT GOD'S DECISION "BEFORE" THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD(1:4), CARRIES IT FORWARD THROUGH THE FULNESS OF TIME." (1:1O) TO THAT MOMENT WHEN, AT THE END OF OUR PRESENT HISTORY, THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WILL EMBRACE ALL THINGS. IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, 1:22. THROUGHOUT HIS LETTER, PAUL BIDS HIS READERS BE ON GUARD AGAINST HAVING A GOD WHO IS TO SMALL. THE KEY THOUGHT THAT OCCURS IN 1:9,10. IN THESE TWO VERSES, THE APOSTLE DECLARES THAT THE UNIVERSE IS NOT SOME RAMSHACKLE STRUCTURE
STUMBLING ALONG ON ITS OWN, AND HISTORY IS NOT JUST ONE FOOL THING THING AFTER ANOTHER. GOD IS AT WORK IN THE UNIVERSE AND HISTORY ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE. HE HAS A PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT.
HIS PLAN IS NO SECRET, FOR HE MADE IT PUBLIC. HE IS AT WORK TO BRING ABOUT AN ULTIMATE UNITY AND HARMONY OF ALL CREATED THINGS IN CHRIST. GOD HAS NOT ONLY TOLD HUMANITY ABOUT HIS PLAN, BUT HAS INVOLVED THEM IN IT, FOR THE CHURCH IS THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH HE IS A WORK TO ACHIEVE HIS PLAN. THE CHURCH IS TO BE A MICROCOSM, A DISPLAY IN MINIATURE, OF GOD'S PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE. EVEN "THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES" ARE FINDING WHAT THIS PLAN IS BY LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CHURCH, 3:10. WHEN PAUL REFERS TO THE TRINITY (1:3-14), HE DOES NOT SIMPLY CONCERN HIMSELF WITH HOW THERE CAN BE THREE PERSONS IN ONE GODHEAD, BUT HE SUMMONS ALL CREATION TO PRAISE HIM WHO ACTED IN LOVE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANITY. GOD'S LOVE IS NOT MOTIVATED BY ANYTHING LOVABLE IN WHAT HE SEES. HE ACTS TO MAKE ALIVE THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS., 2:1. THIS DEATH DOES NOT HAVE TO DO WITH COLD, RIGID BODIES--- FOR HUMAN HEARTS, MINDS AND LIMBS ARE VERY MUCH ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, THIS "LIFE" ACTIVITY IS NOT IN RESPONSE TO GOD'S LOVE AND WILL, BUT IN RESPONSE TO " THE COURSE" OF THIS WORLD," AND "THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR" (2:2) AND THE PASSIONS OF THE "FLESH." BEFORE GOD INTERVENES IN OUR LIVES, WE HEED THE WHIMS OF THE BODY AND MIND, AND LIKE THE REST OF HUMANITY ARE SUBJECT TO GOD'S WRATH AND JUDGMENT, 2:2,3. WE ARE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST, NOT NUMBERED AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GOD. WITHOUT GOD, WITHOUT HOPE IN THE WORLD, " FAR OFF," 2:12,13.
GOD ACTED TO CHANGE ALL THAT. HE HAS BLESSED, CHOSEN RESCUED US, DESTINED US TO BE HIS CHILDREN, LAVISHED HIS GRACE ON US, REVEALED HIS GRACIOUS WILL TO US, AND APPOINTED US TO LIVE FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY, 1:3-14. HE HAS ENLIGHTENED OUR HEARTS (1:18) AND WORKED IN US WITH MIGHTY POWER., 1:19. HE HAS MADE US ALIVE IN CHRIST, 2:5-7. HE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THROUGH CHRIST, AND OFFERS ALL IN CHRIST. PAUL USES EXPRESSIONS LIKE "IN CHRIST" NINE TIMES IN 1: 3-14. HE WANTS TO BE SURE THAT NO ONE MISSES THE POINT! PAUL WANTS HIS READERS TO REMEMBER THAT PROCURING THEIR SALVATION WAS NO EASY AFFAIR, IT INVOLVED THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD., 1;7 THE ONLY WAY HUMANITY COULD BE SET FREE FROM HATRED OF GOD, AND ITS DEATH IN SIN, WAS BY THE SACRIFICE OF THE ONE DIVINE LIFE. WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD- THERE ARE NO "IF'S" OR "BUTS" ABOUT THIS "BLOOD LANGUAGE" BECAUSE IT FAILS TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE, AS THEY ARE BORN INTO THIS WORLD, ARE IN OPEN REVOLT AGAINST THE CREATOR. GOD SENT HIS SON TO CALVARY TO OFFER FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO COULD OFFER ONLY SIN TO HIM. GOD'S GREATEST REDEMPTIVE ACT TOOK PLACE WHEN HE RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. 1;18-20. THE ACT WAS THE PIVOTAL POINT OF HISTORY, AND A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S LIMITLESS POWER AND MIGHT. AFTER GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE "MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES," 1:20,21. THIS MEANS THAT THE FATHER HAS ENTRUSTED TO CHRIST THE TASK OF RUNNING THE UNIVERSE. THROUGHOUT ITS COUNTLESS GALAXIES, ITS MILLION OF SUNS AND PLANETS, CHRIST IS LORD. HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO RULE ALL THINGS. THE IMAGERY USED IN THIS VERSE,PROBABLY STEMS FROM THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF REPRESENTING A KING SEATED NEXT TO THE GOD OF A CITY OR NATION. TO OCCUPY THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD MEANT THAT THE RULER EXERCISED POWER IN THE NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS god. 1:22, PAUL WRITES, " HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER. HIS" FEET." THE IMAGERY OF PUTTING ONE'S ENEMIES IS UNDER ONE'S FEET IS DERIVED FROM THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF HAVING THE FACES OF FIGURES OF A NATION'S VANQUISHED OPPONENTS WOVEN OR ENGRAVED
ONTO THE FOOTSTOOL OF ITS CONQUERING KING. PAUL USES THIS PICTURE TO POINT OUT THAT CHRIST IS ALREADY LORD, THAT ALL HIS ENEMIES HAVE BEEN CONQUERED, AND THAT, AS HISTORY PROCEEDS, THEY ARE BEING MADE SUBJECT TO HIM. GOD APPOINTED CHRIST AS HEAD OVER ALL THINGS "FOR THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, " 1:22,23. PAUL USES THE TERM "BODY" TO DECLARE THAT IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY, THE CHURCH IS TO BE AN EXTENSION OF ITS LORD. IT IS TO CARRY ON HIS WORK. IT IS HIS INSTRUMENT TO CARRY OUT HIS MISSION OF GATHERING ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S LORDSHIP. THE CHURCH IS NOT SOMETHING SPIRITUAL AND INVISIBLE THAT HOVERS ABOVE LIFE AND SOCIETY. IT IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF CHRIST WHICH GOD HAS CREATED TO WORK AMONG PEOPLE, WITH ALL THEIR BURDENS, TRAGEDIES AND FRUSTRATIONS.
"NOTE": IF GOD IS NOT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE, SATAN IS-- TEMPTING PEOPLE TO USE THE CREATIVE ORDER AND EVERY SITUATION FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT, TO MAKE SELF THE GREAT NUMBER ONE . BOTH JEW AND GENTILE ( THAT IS ALL PEOPLE) ARE NOW TH LOOK FOR DIRECTION IN LIFE TO THE TEACHINGS AND EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. THROUGH CHRIST'S CROSS ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER ONLY IN CHRIST IS THERE HOPE OF PUTTING THE HUMAN RACE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.2"11-19. SATAN IS ON THE PROWL AGAIN ,6:10-18. A FIERCE STRUGGLE RAGES IN THE UNIVERSE BETWEEN SATAN AND HIS POWERS OF DARKNESS, AND THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. TRUE THE OUTCOME OF THE STRUGGLE HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED . CHRIST HAS CONQUERED, CHRIST IS LORD. BUT SATAN THE FATHER OF LIES, REMAINS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND WORKS TO DECEIVE PEOPLE INTO THINKING HE IS STILL LORD. "SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE," WAS ONCE MOVED TO CALL "EPHESIANS" "ONE OF THE SUBLIMEST "WONDERFUL" COMPOSITIONS OF MEN," HIS EVALUATION IS ENTIRELY ACCURATE.
SEE COLOSSIANS 4:7. INDICATIONS ARE THAT EPHESIANS WAS INITIALLY A CIRCULAR LETTER DESIGNED FOR A WIDER DISTRIBUTION; THE TITLE, "TO THE EPHESIANS," WAS PROBABLY NOT IN THE ORIGINAL LETTER--IT IS MISSING IN THE MOST RELIABLE MANUSCRIPTS. EPHESIANS IS A LETTER IN FORM ONLY. IT IS ACTUALLY A THEOLOGICAL TREATISE. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, AND OUTLINE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED AND DONE FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE UNIVERSE. THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH PRACTICE, AND INSTRUCT CHRISTIANS HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD'S INITIATIVE. THE STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT, FOR IT DECLARES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANKIND.
(NOTE: THE CHURCH TOOK OVER THE WORD FOR "CHURCH" (EKKLYSIA) FROM THE GREEK SECULAR WORLD, AND ENRICHED THE MEANING. IN GREEK COMMUNITIES, THE WORD REFERRED TO THE LOCAL "COUNCIL" WHICH MET TO DISCUSS LOCAL AFFAIRS). AFTER THE OPENING GREETING AND (1:1,2), chs, 1-3 SET FORTH GOD'S GREAT PLAN HIDDEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD, TO MAKE CHRIST THE HEAD OF A NEW FAMILY OF HUMANITY, ONE WHICH WILL EMBRACE BOTH JEW AND GENTILE.. IN CHAPTERS 3-6, PAUL OUTLINES THE GOOD WORKS GOD'S NEW CREATION, THE CHURCH IS TO PERFORM. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS HELP CRYSTALLIZE PAUL' MESSAGE. IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK 1:3-14 IS ONE LONG SENTENCE THAT NEVER REALLY STOPS TO CATCH ITS BREATH. ITS EXPRESSIONS LITERALLY TUMBLE OVER ONE ANOTHER AS THEY SUMMON THREADER TO JOIN IN
PRAISING HIM. " WHO ACCOMPLISHES ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL" 1:11. ( RSV HAS BROKEN THIS ONE GREEK SENTENCE INTO SIX ENGLISH SENTENCES.) THIS OPENING "OVERTURE" IS MADE UP OF THREE SECTIONS WHICH DEAL IN TURN WITH THE WORK OF THE FATHER (3-6), SON (7:12), AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (13,14). THE FATHER DESIGNED THE PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE. THE SON IS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM HE PUT IT INTO EFFECT. THE SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT GOD'S PEOPLE WILL FINALLY RECEIVE THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GOD'S WORK IN LIBERATING HUMANITY. EACH SECTION CONCLUDES WITH A SUMMONS TO PRAISE, 1:6, 12,14. EPHESIANS TAKES IN THE TOTAL SWEEP OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY. PAUL BEGINS HIS PRESENTATION WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT GOD'S DECISION "BEFORE" THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD(1:4), CARRIES IT FORWARD THROUGH THE FULNESS OF TIME." (1:1O) TO THAT MOMENT WHEN, AT THE END OF OUR PRESENT HISTORY, THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WILL EMBRACE ALL THINGS. IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, 1:22. THROUGHOUT HIS LETTER, PAUL BIDS HIS READERS BE ON GUARD AGAINST HAVING A GOD WHO IS TO SMALL. THE KEY THOUGHT THAT OCCURS IN 1:9,10. IN THESE TWO VERSES, THE APOSTLE DECLARES THAT THE UNIVERSE IS NOT SOME RAMSHACKLE STRUCTURE
STUMBLING ALONG ON ITS OWN, AND HISTORY IS NOT JUST ONE FOOL THING THING AFTER ANOTHER. GOD IS AT WORK IN THE UNIVERSE AND HISTORY ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE. HE HAS A PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT.
HIS PLAN IS NO SECRET, FOR HE MADE IT PUBLIC. HE IS AT WORK TO BRING ABOUT AN ULTIMATE UNITY AND HARMONY OF ALL CREATED THINGS IN CHRIST. GOD HAS NOT ONLY TOLD HUMANITY ABOUT HIS PLAN, BUT HAS INVOLVED THEM IN IT, FOR THE CHURCH IS THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH HE IS A WORK TO ACHIEVE HIS PLAN. THE CHURCH IS TO BE A MICROCOSM, A DISPLAY IN MINIATURE, OF GOD'S PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE. EVEN "THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES" ARE FINDING WHAT THIS PLAN IS BY LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CHURCH, 3:10. WHEN PAUL REFERS TO THE TRINITY (1:3-14), HE DOES NOT SIMPLY CONCERN HIMSELF WITH HOW THERE CAN BE THREE PERSONS IN ONE GODHEAD, BUT HE SUMMONS ALL CREATION TO PRAISE HIM WHO ACTED IN LOVE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANITY. GOD'S LOVE IS NOT MOTIVATED BY ANYTHING LOVABLE IN WHAT HE SEES. HE ACTS TO MAKE ALIVE THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS., 2:1. THIS DEATH DOES NOT HAVE TO DO WITH COLD, RIGID BODIES--- FOR HUMAN HEARTS, MINDS AND LIMBS ARE VERY MUCH ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, THIS "LIFE" ACTIVITY IS NOT IN RESPONSE TO GOD'S LOVE AND WILL, BUT IN RESPONSE TO " THE COURSE" OF THIS WORLD," AND "THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR" (2:2) AND THE PASSIONS OF THE "FLESH." BEFORE GOD INTERVENES IN OUR LIVES, WE HEED THE WHIMS OF THE BODY AND MIND, AND LIKE THE REST OF HUMANITY ARE SUBJECT TO GOD'S WRATH AND JUDGMENT, 2:2,3. WE ARE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST, NOT NUMBERED AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GOD. WITHOUT GOD, WITHOUT HOPE IN THE WORLD, " FAR OFF," 2:12,13.
GOD ACTED TO CHANGE ALL THAT. HE HAS BLESSED, CHOSEN RESCUED US, DESTINED US TO BE HIS CHILDREN, LAVISHED HIS GRACE ON US, REVEALED HIS GRACIOUS WILL TO US, AND APPOINTED US TO LIVE FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY, 1:3-14. HE HAS ENLIGHTENED OUR HEARTS (1:18) AND WORKED IN US WITH MIGHTY POWER., 1:19. HE HAS MADE US ALIVE IN CHRIST, 2:5-7. HE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THROUGH CHRIST, AND OFFERS ALL IN CHRIST. PAUL USES EXPRESSIONS LIKE "IN CHRIST" NINE TIMES IN 1: 3-14. HE WANTS TO BE SURE THAT NO ONE MISSES THE POINT! PAUL WANTS HIS READERS TO REMEMBER THAT PROCURING THEIR SALVATION WAS NO EASY AFFAIR, IT INVOLVED THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD., 1;7 THE ONLY WAY HUMANITY COULD BE SET FREE FROM HATRED OF GOD, AND ITS DEATH IN SIN, WAS BY THE SACRIFICE OF THE ONE DIVINE LIFE. WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD- THERE ARE NO "IF'S" OR "BUTS" ABOUT THIS "BLOOD LANGUAGE" BECAUSE IT FAILS TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE, AS THEY ARE BORN INTO THIS WORLD, ARE IN OPEN REVOLT AGAINST THE CREATOR. GOD SENT HIS SON TO CALVARY TO OFFER FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO COULD OFFER ONLY SIN TO HIM. GOD'S GREATEST REDEMPTIVE ACT TOOK PLACE WHEN HE RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. 1;18-20. THE ACT WAS THE PIVOTAL POINT OF HISTORY, AND A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S LIMITLESS POWER AND MIGHT. AFTER GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE "MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES," 1:20,21. THIS MEANS THAT THE FATHER HAS ENTRUSTED TO CHRIST THE TASK OF RUNNING THE UNIVERSE. THROUGHOUT ITS COUNTLESS GALAXIES, ITS MILLION OF SUNS AND PLANETS, CHRIST IS LORD. HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO RULE ALL THINGS. THE IMAGERY USED IN THIS VERSE,PROBABLY STEMS FROM THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF REPRESENTING A KING SEATED NEXT TO THE GOD OF A CITY OR NATION. TO OCCUPY THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD MEANT THAT THE RULER EXERCISED POWER IN THE NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS god. 1:22, PAUL WRITES, " HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER. HIS" FEET." THE IMAGERY OF PUTTING ONE'S ENEMIES IS UNDER ONE'S FEET IS DERIVED FROM THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF HAVING THE FACES OF FIGURES OF A NATION'S VANQUISHED OPPONENTS WOVEN OR ENGRAVED
ONTO THE FOOTSTOOL OF ITS CONQUERING KING. PAUL USES THIS PICTURE TO POINT OUT THAT CHRIST IS ALREADY LORD, THAT ALL HIS ENEMIES HAVE BEEN CONQUERED, AND THAT, AS HISTORY PROCEEDS, THEY ARE BEING MADE SUBJECT TO HIM. GOD APPOINTED CHRIST AS HEAD OVER ALL THINGS "FOR THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, " 1:22,23. PAUL USES THE TERM "BODY" TO DECLARE THAT IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY, THE CHURCH IS TO BE AN EXTENSION OF ITS LORD. IT IS TO CARRY ON HIS WORK. IT IS HIS INSTRUMENT TO CARRY OUT HIS MISSION OF GATHERING ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S LORDSHIP. THE CHURCH IS NOT SOMETHING SPIRITUAL AND INVISIBLE THAT HOVERS ABOVE LIFE AND SOCIETY. IT IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF CHRIST WHICH GOD HAS CREATED TO WORK AMONG PEOPLE, WITH ALL THEIR BURDENS, TRAGEDIES AND FRUSTRATIONS.
"NOTE": IF GOD IS NOT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE, SATAN IS-- TEMPTING PEOPLE TO USE THE CREATIVE ORDER AND EVERY SITUATION FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT, TO MAKE SELF THE GREAT NUMBER ONE . BOTH JEW AND GENTILE ( THAT IS ALL PEOPLE) ARE NOW TH LOOK FOR DIRECTION IN LIFE TO THE TEACHINGS AND EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. THROUGH CHRIST'S CROSS ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER ONLY IN CHRIST IS THERE HOPE OF PUTTING THE HUMAN RACE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.2"11-19. SATAN IS ON THE PROWL AGAIN ,6:10-18. A FIERCE STRUGGLE RAGES IN THE UNIVERSE BETWEEN SATAN AND HIS POWERS OF DARKNESS, AND THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. TRUE THE OUTCOME OF THE STRUGGLE HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED . CHRIST HAS CONQUERED, CHRIST IS LORD. BUT SATAN THE FATHER OF LIES, REMAINS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND WORKS TO DECEIVE PEOPLE INTO THINKING HE IS STILL LORD. "SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE," WAS ONCE MOVED TO CALL "EPHESIANS" "ONE OF THE SUBLIMEST "WONDERFUL" COMPOSITIONS OF MEN," HIS EVALUATION IS ENTIRELY ACCURATE.
Monday, October 1, 2018
THE CAPTIVITY LETTERS.
AFTER COMPLETING HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, PAUL FOLLOWED HIS USUAL PRACTICE OF VISITING JERUSALEM. WHEN A JEWISH MOB ATTACKED HIM, ROMAN AUTHORITIES TOOK HIM INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, AND TRANSFERRED HIM TO A PRISON IN CAESAREA. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS IN CONFINEMENT, PAUL APPEALED FOR HIS CASE TO BE HEARD BY CAESAR IN ROME. TO ROME AND CAESAR HE WENT.
DURING HIS TWO YEAR IMPRISONMENT IN ROME, HE WAS NOT REDUCED TO TOTAL INACTIVITY. HE HAD HIS OWN LODGINGS, AND HIS FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT HIM, ACTS 28:30. PAUL DID NOT LIMIT HIS WITNESS TO PERSONAL CONTACTS IN ROME. HE WROTE LETTERS TO MINISTER TO OTHERS FURTHER AFIELD. FOUR LETTERS, TRADITIONALLY REFERRED TO AS "THE CAPTIVITY LETTERS" ARE ASCRIBED TO THIS PERIOD. 1.) EPHESIANS, WHICH DEFINES THE NATURE AND LIFE OF THE CHURCH CHURCH). (2-COLOSSIANS, WHICH PROCLAIMS CHRIST OR COSMIC SIGNIFICANCE. (3. PHILIPPIANS, WHICH ENCOURAGES A SUFFERING CHURCH TO WAIT WITH EXPECTANT JOY. (4 PHILEMON, WHICH GIVES INSIGHTS INTO HOW THE GOSPEL CAN TRANSFORM A LIFE. SOME SUGGEST THAT ONE OR MORE OF THESE LETTERS WAS WRITTEN AT EPHESUS OR CAESAREA, BUT THESE SUGGESTIONS CREATE AS MANY PROBLEMS AS THEY SOLVE. THE BOOKS WERE NOT WRITTEN IN THE ORDER WRITTEN ABOVE. EPHESIANS WILL RECEIVE THE MOST ATTENTION, AND COLOSSIANS LESS; THESE TWO LETTERS ARE VERY SIMILAR-- COMMENTS MADE ABOUT EPHESIANS APPLY EQUALLY WELL TO MANY PASSAGES IN COLOSSIANS. EPHESUS WAS A LARGE SEAPORT ON THE WESTERN COAST OF ASIA MINOR, A ROMAN PROVINCE. PAUL SPENT TIME THERE DURING HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 19: 1-21), AND MADE IT HIS BASE DURING THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY ( ACTS 19:1-20:1), SPENDING THREE YEARS THERE. IT IS UNUSUAL THAT THE LETTER CONTAINS ONLY ONE PERSONAL REFERENCE- TO TYCHICUS 6:21; SEE COLOSSIANS 4;7. INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE EPHESIANS WAS INITIALLY A CIRCULAR LETTER DESIGNED FOR A WIDER DISTRIBUTION; THE TITLE, TO THE "EPHESIANS," WAS PROBABLY NOT IN THE ORIGINAL LETTER- IT IS MISSING IN THE MOST RELIABLE MANUSCRIPTS. EPHESIANS
IS A LETTER IN FORM ONLY. IT IS A THEOLOGICAL TREATISE. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, AND OUTLINE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED AND DONE FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE UNIVERSE. THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH PRACTICE, AND INSTRUCT CHRISTIANS HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD'S INITIATIVE. THIS STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT, FOR IT DECLARES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANKIND. THE "CHURCH" TOOK OVER THE WORD FOR "CHURCH" (EKKLYSIA) FROM THE GREEK SECULAR WORLD, AND ENRICHED ITS MEANING. IN GREEK COMMUNITIES, THE WORD REFERRED TO THE LOCAL "COUNCIL" WHEN THE WORD EKKLESIA IS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT IS WITH CONSCIOUS REFERENCE TO THIS OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPTION. ONE CAN HARDLY SAY, THEREFORE, THAT JESUS FOUNDED THE CHURCH. THE TRUTH RATHER IS THAT HE REDEEMED. FOR CENTURIES THERE HAD BEEN A PEOPLE WHO LOOKED UPON THEMSELVES AS SET APART FOR GOD. WHEN CHRISTIANS APPLIED THE TERM EKKLESIA TO THEMSELVES
THEY RE-DEFINED THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN TERMS OF THE NEW ACTS OF GOD FOR THEIR REDEMPTION. IT WAS NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH ISRAEL AFTER THE FLESH, BUT WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM EVERY TRIBE, NATION, PEOPLE, AND TONGUE (REV 7:9,etc). ITS ADHERENTS WERE NOT THOSE WHO WERE STRICTLY LOYAL TO TORAH, FOR CHRIST WAS THE END OF THE LAW(ROM. 1O:4). IT CENTER WAS NOT IN A TEMPLE WHERE SACRIFICES WERE CONTINUALLY OFFERED, BUT IN CHRIST WHO HAD DIED FOR THEIR SINS AND BEEN RAISED BY GOD FROM THE DEAD(1COR. 15:3ff).
THOUGH MEMBERSHIP IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD WAS DETERMINED BY A DIFFERENT CRITERIA, THE BASIC CONCEPTION OF A CHURCH GOES BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE TRUE REMNANT ABOUT WHICH THE PROPHETS HAD SPOKEN, HAD FOUND FULFILMENT IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THE GOSPELS CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF JESUS DID NOT DEAL WITH THE CHURCH. IT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE REPENTANCE WHICH WAS NECESSARY IF MEN SHOULD ENTER IT BY THE GRACIOUS MERCY OF GOD (MARK 1, 14-15). JESUS ANNOUNCED THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, A MESSAGE WHICH GAVE TREMENDOUS URGENCY TO HIS ETHICAL DEMANDS. A CRISIS WAS AT HAND; MAN MUST STAND READY TO PAY ANY PRICE TO ENTER GOD'S KINGDOM (LUKE 10:14, 25-33). COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON, EPHESIANS, AND PHILIPPIANS ARE TRADITIONALLY CALLED CAPTIVITY LETTERS. PAUL WROTE THEM WHILE IMPRISONED IN ROME. IN EPHESIANS ( WHICH PROBABLY WAS A CIRCULAR LETTER ), PAUL SPEAKS OF GOD'S PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE IN RELATION TO CHRIST. THE LETTER DEFINES THE NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
COLOSSIANS WAS WRITTEN TO COUNTER A THREAT BEING POSED BY FALSE TEACHERS WHO ATTACHED CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO POWERS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD, RITUALISTIC OBSERVANCES, AND THEIR OWN BRAND OF "KNOWLEDGE."
HEY OBSCURED CHRIST'S GREATNESS AND DENIED THE SUFFICIENCY OF HIS ATONEMENT PAUL CONTERED THE THREAT WITH PROFOUND TRUTHS ABOUT THE PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST. PAUL WROTE PHILIPPIANS TO THANK A CONGREGATION WHICH WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO HIM FOR THEIR CONTINUING INTEREST IN HIS WELFARE. HE ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE PATHS OF HIM WHO, THOUGH HE WAS GOD, HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH ON THE CROSS. PHILEMON WAS ADDRESSED TO THE OWNER OF A RUNAWAY SLAVE. ONESIMUS, WHO HAD COME TO FAITH THROUGH HIS ASSOCIATION WITH PAUL. PAUL ENCOURAGES PHILEMON TO RECEIVE HIS FORMER "USELESS" SLAVE AS A "USEFUL" BROTHER IN CHRIST.
PAUL INSISTS THAT PEOPLE EITHER LIVE, UNDER THE POWER OF THE "DEADLY"
TRIO" OF SATAN OF SATAN-WORLD FLESH OR UNDER THE POWER OF THE RISEN LORD WHO IS PRESENT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT AND SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD. THOSE WHO LIVE UNDER THE POWER OF THE "DEADLY TRIO" REJECT GOD AS KING AND MAKE THEIR OWN LITTLE MIND THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE LIFE'S MEANING OF A FORGIVING GOD.
DURING HIS TWO YEAR IMPRISONMENT IN ROME, HE WAS NOT REDUCED TO TOTAL INACTIVITY. HE HAD HIS OWN LODGINGS, AND HIS FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS WERE PERMITTED TO VISIT HIM, ACTS 28:30. PAUL DID NOT LIMIT HIS WITNESS TO PERSONAL CONTACTS IN ROME. HE WROTE LETTERS TO MINISTER TO OTHERS FURTHER AFIELD. FOUR LETTERS, TRADITIONALLY REFERRED TO AS "THE CAPTIVITY LETTERS" ARE ASCRIBED TO THIS PERIOD. 1.) EPHESIANS, WHICH DEFINES THE NATURE AND LIFE OF THE CHURCH CHURCH). (2-COLOSSIANS, WHICH PROCLAIMS CHRIST OR COSMIC SIGNIFICANCE. (3. PHILIPPIANS, WHICH ENCOURAGES A SUFFERING CHURCH TO WAIT WITH EXPECTANT JOY. (4 PHILEMON, WHICH GIVES INSIGHTS INTO HOW THE GOSPEL CAN TRANSFORM A LIFE. SOME SUGGEST THAT ONE OR MORE OF THESE LETTERS WAS WRITTEN AT EPHESUS OR CAESAREA, BUT THESE SUGGESTIONS CREATE AS MANY PROBLEMS AS THEY SOLVE. THE BOOKS WERE NOT WRITTEN IN THE ORDER WRITTEN ABOVE. EPHESIANS WILL RECEIVE THE MOST ATTENTION, AND COLOSSIANS LESS; THESE TWO LETTERS ARE VERY SIMILAR-- COMMENTS MADE ABOUT EPHESIANS APPLY EQUALLY WELL TO MANY PASSAGES IN COLOSSIANS. EPHESUS WAS A LARGE SEAPORT ON THE WESTERN COAST OF ASIA MINOR, A ROMAN PROVINCE. PAUL SPENT TIME THERE DURING HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 19: 1-21), AND MADE IT HIS BASE DURING THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY ( ACTS 19:1-20:1), SPENDING THREE YEARS THERE. IT IS UNUSUAL THAT THE LETTER CONTAINS ONLY ONE PERSONAL REFERENCE- TO TYCHICUS 6:21; SEE COLOSSIANS 4;7. INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE EPHESIANS WAS INITIALLY A CIRCULAR LETTER DESIGNED FOR A WIDER DISTRIBUTION; THE TITLE, TO THE "EPHESIANS," WAS PROBABLY NOT IN THE ORIGINAL LETTER- IT IS MISSING IN THE MOST RELIABLE MANUSCRIPTS. EPHESIANS
IS A LETTER IN FORM ONLY. IT IS A THEOLOGICAL TREATISE. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, AND OUTLINE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED AND DONE FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE UNIVERSE. THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH PRACTICE, AND INSTRUCT CHRISTIANS HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD'S INITIATIVE. THIS STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT, FOR IT DECLARES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANKIND. THE "CHURCH" TOOK OVER THE WORD FOR "CHURCH" (EKKLYSIA) FROM THE GREEK SECULAR WORLD, AND ENRICHED ITS MEANING. IN GREEK COMMUNITIES, THE WORD REFERRED TO THE LOCAL "COUNCIL" WHEN THE WORD EKKLESIA IS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT IS WITH CONSCIOUS REFERENCE TO THIS OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPTION. ONE CAN HARDLY SAY, THEREFORE, THAT JESUS FOUNDED THE CHURCH. THE TRUTH RATHER IS THAT HE REDEEMED. FOR CENTURIES THERE HAD BEEN A PEOPLE WHO LOOKED UPON THEMSELVES AS SET APART FOR GOD. WHEN CHRISTIANS APPLIED THE TERM EKKLESIA TO THEMSELVES
THEY RE-DEFINED THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN TERMS OF THE NEW ACTS OF GOD FOR THEIR REDEMPTION. IT WAS NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH ISRAEL AFTER THE FLESH, BUT WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM EVERY TRIBE, NATION, PEOPLE, AND TONGUE (REV 7:9,etc). ITS ADHERENTS WERE NOT THOSE WHO WERE STRICTLY LOYAL TO TORAH, FOR CHRIST WAS THE END OF THE LAW(ROM. 1O:4). IT CENTER WAS NOT IN A TEMPLE WHERE SACRIFICES WERE CONTINUALLY OFFERED, BUT IN CHRIST WHO HAD DIED FOR THEIR SINS AND BEEN RAISED BY GOD FROM THE DEAD(1COR. 15:3ff).
THOUGH MEMBERSHIP IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD WAS DETERMINED BY A DIFFERENT CRITERIA, THE BASIC CONCEPTION OF A CHURCH GOES BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE TRUE REMNANT ABOUT WHICH THE PROPHETS HAD SPOKEN, HAD FOUND FULFILMENT IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THE GOSPELS CLEARLY INDICATE THAT THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF JESUS DID NOT DEAL WITH THE CHURCH. IT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE REPENTANCE WHICH WAS NECESSARY IF MEN SHOULD ENTER IT BY THE GRACIOUS MERCY OF GOD (MARK 1, 14-15). JESUS ANNOUNCED THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, A MESSAGE WHICH GAVE TREMENDOUS URGENCY TO HIS ETHICAL DEMANDS. A CRISIS WAS AT HAND; MAN MUST STAND READY TO PAY ANY PRICE TO ENTER GOD'S KINGDOM (LUKE 10:14, 25-33). COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON, EPHESIANS, AND PHILIPPIANS ARE TRADITIONALLY CALLED CAPTIVITY LETTERS. PAUL WROTE THEM WHILE IMPRISONED IN ROME. IN EPHESIANS ( WHICH PROBABLY WAS A CIRCULAR LETTER ), PAUL SPEAKS OF GOD'S PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE IN RELATION TO CHRIST. THE LETTER DEFINES THE NATURE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
COLOSSIANS WAS WRITTEN TO COUNTER A THREAT BEING POSED BY FALSE TEACHERS WHO ATTACHED CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO POWERS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD, RITUALISTIC OBSERVANCES, AND THEIR OWN BRAND OF "KNOWLEDGE."
HEY OBSCURED CHRIST'S GREATNESS AND DENIED THE SUFFICIENCY OF HIS ATONEMENT PAUL CONTERED THE THREAT WITH PROFOUND TRUTHS ABOUT THE PRE-EMINENCE OF CHRIST. PAUL WROTE PHILIPPIANS TO THANK A CONGREGATION WHICH WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO HIM FOR THEIR CONTINUING INTEREST IN HIS WELFARE. HE ALSO ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE PATHS OF HIM WHO, THOUGH HE WAS GOD, HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH ON THE CROSS. PHILEMON WAS ADDRESSED TO THE OWNER OF A RUNAWAY SLAVE. ONESIMUS, WHO HAD COME TO FAITH THROUGH HIS ASSOCIATION WITH PAUL. PAUL ENCOURAGES PHILEMON TO RECEIVE HIS FORMER "USELESS" SLAVE AS A "USEFUL" BROTHER IN CHRIST.
PAUL INSISTS THAT PEOPLE EITHER LIVE, UNDER THE POWER OF THE "DEADLY"
TRIO" OF SATAN OF SATAN-WORLD FLESH OR UNDER THE POWER OF THE RISEN LORD WHO IS PRESENT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT AND SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD. THOSE WHO LIVE UNDER THE POWER OF THE "DEADLY TRIO" REJECT GOD AS KING AND MAKE THEIR OWN LITTLE MIND THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE LIFE'S MEANING OF A FORGIVING GOD.
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