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.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
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!
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