Brian Stone

Plurality of Oneness

2010-03-01T13:28:00.001-06:00

I am now posting blogs at www.bstoneblog.com

Elohim

2010-02-22T10:56:00.002-06:00

Introduction

I have been praying about the lost connection between what we believe and how we live. Sometimes I feel the gap is based more on our lack of understanding on how we are to apply our theology than an unwillingness to obey. Having this conviction in my own life I decided to focus my devotion time on biblical theology with a focus on application. I am asking questions like, “How does this truth impact my heart and mind?” “How does this truth impact the actions of my life?” “How is this relevant to my day-to-day living?” What I have found is a deeper purpose for theology and a greater passion for application. This is my attempt at applied biblical theology. I plan to keep it short and to the point, often building on concepts over several days for the sake of a singular thought each day (actually each week...or so).

We begin with God. What you believe about God is of utmost importance because what you think about God will determine how you think about everything else in life. As Patrick Morley states, "There is a God we want, and there is a God who is—and they are not the same God. The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is."

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1

Moses uses the Hebrew name Elohim to introduce us to the Creator. Elohim literally means “the powerful ones” or possibly “most high ones”. This is the primary name used for God in the Old Testament and points to God as Creator, Sustainer, and Savior (Gen. 17:8, 24:7; Isa. 45:18; Ex. 3:6; Jer. 32:37). One of the overwhelming aspects of this name is that it refers to the one God in the plural, a “plural of majesty.” The first way scripture refers to God is in plural form and this name occurs approximately 2,570 times in the Old Testament. From the beginning God was revealing His divine nature as a community of more than one. God eternally exists in the power of Creator and in the community of the divine.

Wow! God is so overwhelming even a quick look at the first time He is mentioned in the Bible sends you into a deep awe and appreciation for who He is. I want to walk in the confidence of God who is Creator. I want to live in community with Him, participating in the Divine nature (2 Pt. 1:4). Reflecting on the plurality of God’s oneness brings me to a renewed sense of reverence and humility before Him. Our God is a big God!

The Purpose and Work of Ministry

2009-05-11T13:55:00.003-05:00

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson Six: The Purpose and Work of Ministry

Last lesson we looked at Colossians 1:24-27 and learned that ministry involves suffering. Paul began to explain how the mystery that now has been revealed, namely, the person of Christ and Him living in all believers, gives us the certain hope of a holy and glorious presentation at the judgment seat of Christ (cf. vs. 22-23). The key is to have a steadfast faith which is produced by maintaining a focus on the hope of the gospel of grace (vs. 1:5).

We were also reminded that in our service to others, our life of ministry, we are identifying with Christ, serving for the benefit of others, and living out our calling from God. This is the only way we can experience joy through the times of suffering in ministry.

In this lesson we will see Paul’s purpose and strategy in ministry and realize the hard work it requires.

Ministry aims at maturity (1:28)

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Paul taught people about Christ. This seems elementary or that it should go without saying, but think about it. How many times have you been to a ministry gathering where the person of Christ or His word was not the focus of the teaching? Paul was concerned with what people believed because it significantly impacts our spiritual lives. This is what chapter two will be all about, correcting heresy about spiritual growth, then chapter three Paul will teach the true way we grow up in Christ.

Why did Paul focus on Christ and His truth when teaching? Because his goal was to present every man complete or mature in Christ (cf. John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Wisdom refers to truth with application. The ministry God gave Paul was a ministry of sanctification, an inner change because of Christ and His dwelling in believers (vs. 1:27, 2:2) that is manifested in our lives through the things we do.

So we see Paul’s purpose- to equip believers toward spiritual maturity

We also see Paul’s strategy- to proclaim Christ with the truth of application

Ministry aims at maturity.

Serving others is hard work (1:29-2:3)

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Ministry is not easy. Notice Paul considers it “labor” and “struggling” (cf. vs. 1:24). Working toward people living in victory over sin with a knowledge and wisdom of the scripture is no easy task. But now that Christ lives in us, the only way to be certain of success is to rely on the power He provides. If you serve in your own power you will be disappointed and in failure. The only way to experience the ministry of serving others the way God intends is to rely on the power He provides. We will see how to do this in chapter three. Here, we see Paul’s heart for serving others toward spiritual growth.

Vs. 2:1-3

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Paul was concerned for the Colossians, the people in Laodicea, which was a city about 11 miles away, and all the people he had not even met face to face. Notice Paul is “struggling for them.” His concern, purpose, and goal for those he ministered to consists of three primary things:

Their hearts would be encouraged
They would be knit together in love
They would attain the wealth of the full assurance of understanding about the knowledge of the mystery of God

Here again we see the importance of believers being a community of encouragement and love (cf. vs. 1:4). The absence of love is the presence of criticism and conflict. The first thing we must have in order to experience the encouragement that Paul is suffering and working for is to be a community of believers that is bound together in love.

Paul also desired that believers experience the blessing and riches of God that come from proper understanding of the mystery. Many false teachers were teaching heresy regarding spiritual growth. Paul is setting the record strait and saying that in order to grow spiritually you must experience the mystery of God, which is the person of Christ and Him living in you.

It is in Christ that we find all the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge. If we want to benefit from Christ being in us we must maintain our focus on Him. Not just in word, but in action.

Notice that Paul already had this understanding. His ministry wasn’t about him; it was about others receiving the knowledge he had, the understanding of proper spiritual growth.

Ministry is about serving and suffering for others. It’s about putting other people before you and working toward people being encouraged, knit together in love, and having the proper knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Our lives should reflect this in the way we serve others and realize the joy of suffering, the goal of maturity, and the hard work of encouraging and loving others to understand the beauty of Christ. Although it requires suffering and hard work, helping someone to live their life more focused on Christ and to experience the glory of Christ living in them is the greatest impact you could ever have on anyone!

Israel Day Seven- Living Set Apart to God

2009-05-05T09:29:00.000-05:00

Megiddo

Our first stop was Megiddo. This was another tough place to visit due to the pagan Ba’al worship that was practiced here. Throughout the scripture Megiddo is mentioned several times.

Joseph defeated the king of Megiddo during his conquest (Joshua 12:7, 21). During the time of the Judges God allotted this city to the tribe of Manasseh, who failed to drive out all the Canaanites (No.33:52; Judges 1:27). Solomon fortified this city as a place of defense (1 Kings 9:15, 10:26). Probably the most popular thing Megiddo is known for is the battle of Armageddon. This is when last great gathering of armies (good vs evil) will take place at the end of the tribulation, just before Christ returns to establish His kingdom (Rev. 16:13-16). In Hebrew, Har Megiddo, often translated Armageddon, means the “Hill of Megiddo.”

When we visited we focused on the Canaanite practice of Ba’al worship which revolved around the cycles of nature necessary for survival and prosperity, namely, growing crops, raising livestock, and the growth of human populations. There are so many gross practices of this pagan worship that I can’t recount them all there. Some of the worst parts are the practice were unnatural orgies and infant sacrifice, both led by the priests and priestesses.

Ba’al had a mistress named Ashora, in Greek she is called Ischtar, and in English she is called Easter. She was considered the goddess of fertility and her ancient symbol was a rabbit and an egg. Makes you think twice about the Easter egg hunt, especially if you have been there and realize its origins. It is perhaps one more way we as Christians could be set apart (sanctified) from one of the seemingly innocent practices of the world. We should celebrate the true reason for the season, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We learned that Easter day would be better referred to as Resurrection Day! Amen?

Mount Carmel

Interestingly, our next step of Mount Carmel, which was considered Ba’al country and the place associated with its practice in Israel. We climbed to the top and saton the cliff and studied how when Ahab was king over Israel he had no problem dishonoring God and even strived to provoke Him to anger (1 Kings 16:29-33). He even went as far as to marry a foreign woman named Jezebel and allow her to worship her pagan god Ba’al (this is the exact reason God forbid Jews marrying foreign women). Ahab even set up an alter and a Temple to Ba’al and Easter (aka. Ashora or Ischtar) in Samaria.

The greatest thing about our visit here is when God proved Himself as true and Baal as false. This is where the prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven when the prophects of Ba’al could not. I would encourage you to read the biblical account in 1 Kings 18:16-45, esp. vs. 39 where the people fall prostrate and cried out the Lord of Elijah, “the Lord-he is God’” referring to the God of Israel as the true God! Read and celebrate God’s victory over pagan worship and pagan practice. Then think about how we can bring the light of Christ to a dark world. Not by imitating them in ignorance but showing how the One we worship is the only true being worthy of worship and how we celebrate Him alone. How has God called me to reflect the truth of Christ in a dark world of paganism?

Olive Grove

At the bottom of Mt. Carmel is one of the oldest working olive groves in Israel. In Romans 11 Paul used the olive tree as an illustrative picture of the union between the two people’s of God, Israel and the Church (Romans 11:17-24). Basically, the nation of Israel is the root of our faith and the Church is an olive shoot that has been grafted in due to Israel’s unfaithfulness. However, we must never forget God’s original chosen people and the promises He has made to them. He has not forgotten the nation of Israel! We honor the nation of Israel as we participate in some of the blessings promised to her as a result of being grafted in as the new chosen people of God, the Church. The Bible Knowledge Commentary and the Nelson’s Commentary have great explanations of this passage.

Caesarea by the Sea

We traveled to the Mediterranean Sea and visited the ancient city of Caesarea. This city was founded by Harod the Great in 22_BC and was the place of Roman government for over five hundred years. Caesarea was the home of Roman procurators, included Pontius Pilate. It was really cool to visit because half the book of Acts takes place here. Philip took the gospel here (Acts 8:40), Peter took the gospel to Cornelius and the Gentiles (Acts 10), Paul sailed to Tarsus from here after his conversion (Acts 9:30) and all of Paul’s missionary journeys either began or ended here. Paul stopped here while traveling from Ephesus to Jerusalem (Acts 18:22), he was taken here by soldiers when the Jews sought to kill him (Acts 23:23-33), he was imprisoned in the palace here for about two years (Acts 23:35), and Paul’s three defenses were made here, before Felix (Acts 24), before Festus (Acts 25:1-12), and before King Agrippa (Acts 26).

This was a great place to visit and soak in the place where so much New Testament history happened as the church was being established.

Ministry Involves Suffering

2009-04-24T18:05:00.002-05:00

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson Five: Ministry Involves Suffering (1:24-27)

Vs. 24-26

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

“rejoice in what was suffered for you”

This statement seems like an oxymoron in the sense that suffering and rejoicing don’t usually go together and rejoicing is not usually a product of suffering. However Paul gives us the reality of ministry and the attitude we must have. Being a minister to the Gentiles Paul suffered severely for the sake of the gospel (cf. 2 Cor. 11:24-28).

How was Paul able to rejoice in suffering?

1. His suffering allowed him to identity with Jesus.

2. His concern was for the churches- his focus was on others rather than himself.

3. He was living out God’s calling (commission) on his life

“I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions”

Paul was enduring and serving on Christ’s behalf. Now that Jesus was gone, due to persecution till death, Paul was now receiving persecution because of his identity with Christ. Paul’s attitude was- Jesus suffered in His flesh for me, now I will suffer in my flesh for Him.

It’s important to understand that Paul is not meaning to imply that the sacrifice of Christ was not a sufficient payment for sin and now Paul was filling in where Christ fell short. This would be heresy and would go against everything Paul just taught about Christ in the previous section of chapter one.

Paul is saying that he is receiving in his flesh the continuing persecution people have toward Christ even though He is gone. Jesus was no longer around to be persecuted and Paul is receiving the persecution in His flesh that is meant for Christ (cf. Jn 15:18-21).

“for the sake of His body, which is the church”

Paul was suffering this persecution for the body of Christ, the Church, the believers. His service to others was focused on their spiritual maturity.

He sees this service as his ministry and allows him to rejoice in the suffering.

“servant by the commission God gave me”

Paul was living out God’s calling on his life and could do it for the joy set before him no matter what that entailed and no matter what trial that brought (cf. Heb. 12:2; Jm 1:2). Paul could rejoice because he was living out the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (cf., Ro. 12:1-2).

As servants of God we must keep our focus on our identity with Christ, the benefit of others, and the calling of God in order to avoid bitterness or burnout but instead rejoice in our service.

What was God’s commission to Paul?

“to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.”

What a calling- to present the word of God in its fullness! As servants we must be about the entire Bible and present all that God has said. In context Paul is referring primarily to the new revelation of a previous mystery of God, namely, the Spirit of Christ indwelling believers (1:26-27) and the person of Christ Himself (vs. 2:2).

The mystery has only been revealed to saints in the sense that they are the only one’s experiencing it. The next verse reveals one of the great blessings of this new revelation of God.

Vs. 27

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

A mystery in the Bible is usually referring to something previously unrevealed rather than something not understandable. It was (and still is) hard for people to understand that salvation is a free gift of God that comes by grace, through faith alone in Christ alone. We will see in our later studies they also struggled with sanctification being by grace, through faith alone in Christ alone. However, the false teachers around Colossae taught believers needed to work hard for sanctification and live by the Law and Paul will explain the mystery of our freedom from the Law and sanctification by the Spirit of Christ, how this is our only hope for true sanctification and victory over the flesh. Christ prophesied about this blessing (cf. John 14:16-26; 16:5-15) and Paul begins to explain it here and will does so more fully in chapters 2 and 3. This was a mystery in the Old Testament but essential in the new dispensation of grace or the church age.

So even though Paul’s ministry of fully preaching the word of God involved suffering this suffering was for believers to experience victorious living. Paul began to explain how the mystery that now has been revealed, namely, that Christ lives in all believers and this gives us the certain hope of a holy and glorious presentation at the judgment seat of Christ (cf. vs. 22-23).

As you suffer in your service to others, your life of ministry, remember that in the sacrifice you are identifying with Christ, serving for the benefit of others, and living out the calling of God for your life. In this way we can experience joy through the times of suffering.

Israel Day Six - Dedication

2009-04-20T10:25:00.002-05:00

Day Six - Dedication

We started day six climbing Mt. Gilboa, an extended ridge on the southeast side of the Jezreel Valley. This was a strategic site for Israel as the Valley was a route from Galilee to the north and Samaria to the south. This also made it a place of many battles. Amongst other things, this is where Hosea prophesied great blessing on Israel (Hosea 1:10-11), where the Philistines killed Saul and his sons (1 Sam. 28:4-5; 31:1-5), and Judges 7 records that Gideon camped and chose his 300 men at the spring of En Harod, which sits at the base of Mt. Gilboa (also called Mt. Gilead). It was interesting to learn some of how Gidean chose his men. He looked for men who were alert, cautious, and aware of their surroundings. The men who drank from the spring by lapping water with their hands and keeping their heads up and eyes on their surroundings make up the 300 men he chose. Fighting with just 300 men ensured God would be glorified through their impossible victory over the Midianites because it becomes unexplainable. Gideon trusted God and often lived an unexplainable life, expect for the power of God. We were challenged to live unexplainable lives for God. Trusting Him to provide, give victory, and get glory through obeying not only what He has called us to but also the way He called us to do it.

Our next stop was Beth She’an, the capitol of the Decapolis, the region occupied by the Pagans and practice of Hellenism. As we came over the hill, possibly where the Garden of Eden might have been located, it was impressive to look down on the remains at Beth She’an. Although God allotted this area to the tribe of Manasseh they could not drive out the Canannites and before the time of Christ the city was renamed Scythopolis and occupied by the Greeks.

It was interesting to learn the 5 key elements of Hellenistic society:

1. Gymnasium- the development of body and mind

2. Theater- the center of drama and entertainment

3. Arena- the place of sport and entertainment

4. Agora- the practice of upscale shopping

5. Temples- the worship of many different so-called Gods

In Hellenism the Heroes are athletes, entertainers, thinkers, and the wealthy. Humans are the focus and “I am a God and I want it all” is the motto they live by. It was not hard to see the parallel with our own culture. An earthquake destroyed this city in 7 seconds. We reflected on loving God and not the world knowing that the things of this world will soon pass away (1 Jn. 2:15-17). How can we influence a place like this to see the true God? What is it that we have that they don’t? Our story. We must tell our story. Many people know about Christ but not many realize what it means to their life to walk in a relationship with Him. Let us show and tell with our lives and words.

We then traveled to Susita, another city in the Decapolis and a great example to telling of what God has done in a place of Hellenism. This is where Jesus cast out the “legion” of demons from a man, cast them into about 2000 swine, then they jumped into the Sea of Galilee and drowned (Mark 5:1-20).

Afterwards the man who was possessed wanted to follow Jesus but Jesus did not let him go along and told him to“Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” The man went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed’ (Mark 5:19-20).

Sometimes Jesus leaves us right were we are to influence the place we know best, even a sinful, rebellious, seemingly impossible place. Our calling is to tell those around us what great things the Lord has done and how He had mercy on us. The cool thing is Jesus returned to this place and over 4000 people followed Him around listening to His teaching (Mat. 15:32-38) and 300 years later the city became a Christian center. One of the authors of the Nicene Creed would come from here. Amazing what the faithful testimony about the great things and mercy of God can do. It’s almost unexplainable!

Our Last stop of the day was the Jordan River. This river connects the Dead Sea in the south to the Sea of Galilee in the North (70 mile distance but 110 miles of winding river). So many things happened along this river and in connection to it. A few things include God identified this as the eastern border of Israel (Num. 34:10-12; Ezk. 48:47:18), large bronze objects of Solomon’s temple were cast (2 Chron. 4:16-17), Elijah and Elisha crossed over the Jordan on dry ground (2 Kings 2:7-14), Joshua and the nation of Israel crossed over into Canaan on dry ground with the Ark of the Covenant (Josh 3:13-17), John the Baptist baptized here (Matthew 3:5-6; Mark 1:5; John 1:28), and this is where Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9).

We focused on Joshua and the fact that the Priest had to trust God to stop the river after they stepped in while carrying the Ark (Josh. 3:14-17). Since all of us had already been baptized (and the water was low with a strong current) we chose to honor the Jewish custom of Mikveh and dedicated our head, heart, hands, and feet to the Lord by sprinkling water in all those places.

Mikveh is a ceremonial bath where a person immerses himself in living water to become ritually clean according to Jewish law and was done before entering the Temple or Synagogue. It is the background to Christian Baptism. For us, it was a meaningful time with God as we rededicated our whole selves to God. We want His truth in our heads to penetrate our hearts and be lived out in our hands and feet. May everything we do be done to reveal the heart and actions of our great God!

Colossians: Three Truths about Jesus

2009-04-15T15:30:00.005-05:00

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson four: Three Truths about Jesus Christ

The preeminence of Christ (1:15-23)

The false teachers attacking the church at Colossae were undermining the supremacy of Christ. They were not denying that Christ was important but they were incorporating other things into their worship and compromising the place of Christ.

So Paul is going to remind and explain why Christ is the sole focus of our worship and our spiritual lives.

Jesus is the perfect image of God (1:15)

Colossians 1:15

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

“image of the invisible God”

The Greek word translated "image" (eikon) does not imply a weakening or a feeble copy of something (like a copy machine or picture). It implies the illumination of its inner core and essence.

The concept of "image" in the scripture seems to involve three things:

1. Likeness - Christ is the exact likeness of God, a mirror image (Heb. 1:3)

2. Representation - Christ represents God to us (Heb. 1:3)

3. Manifestation - Christ makes God known to us (John 1:18)

While God made man in His image (Gen. 1:27), Christ is the image of God (cf. John 1:18; 14:8-9; 2 Co. 4:4).

“the firstborn of all creation”

This refers to His place of rank and authority. In the Hebrew culture the son referred to as the firstborn was not always the first son in birth order but was a phrased used of the son of first priority. Paul is saying that Christ is the One who should be of first priority and be the first authority in our lives.

It is important to point out what this verse does not intend to say. It does not mean that Christ was the first thing God created. The Greek word for first-born and first-created are different. Second, the following verses show that Christ is the One who created, and that all things were created through Him and for Him.

Jesus is the eternal Creator (1:16-18)

1:16

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.

We see three things about Christ and creation in the verse:

1. Christ is the originator of creation – It is “by Him” all things originated.

2. Christ is the agent of creation – It is “through Him” that all things were created. He is the architect and the builder.

3. Christ is the goal of creation – Creation is “for Him”.

One day all of creation will glorify God through the worship of His Son Jesus Christ (cf. Phil 2:9-11).

1:17

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

“He is before all things”

In context Paul is pointing out that Christ is before all things in two ways:

1. Temporally in that He is preexistent and existed before creation

2. Authoritatively in that He is in a place of authority before anything created

These truths show that Christ is no creature. If He were created, He would have had to create Himself. To do that He would have had to exist before He existed, which is impossible.

“in Him all things consist”

Not only is Christ not subject to creation He is actually the sustainer of creation.

1:18

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

“He is the beginning”

Christ is the beginning of the Church because not only did He birth the Church, He is the “head” of the Church in authority and power, as well as the One who supplies it life and vitality.

“the firstborn from the dead”

This speaks to two things:

1. Of the few people who have been raised from the dead Christ is the first-born, meaning He is the one with highest authority and importance.

2. Christ is the first person to be resurrected from the dead and experience a glorified body, never to die again. Others could be viewed more as resuscitation than resurrection.

This resurrection and glorification is the basis of Him offering life to us. He promises that all who believe in Him will also be raised from the dead and glorified. Because of this truth about Him and His promise to us, He is given preeminence in all things within in the Church.

Jesus is Preeminent in Redemption and Rewards (1:19-1:23)

1:19-20

For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

It pleases God that His Son is supreme and that He is fully God and fully human on earth as a man. and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

“reconcile all things to Himself”

To reconcile means to have a change in relationship between two parties from hostility to harmony. The world is in disharmony with God because of sin. Christ, “through the blood of His cross,” made peace and harmony between God and man. Now, because Christ has paid for the sin of the entire world (1 Tim. 4:10), God can receive those who believe in Christ. Now that God and man are now in a state of harmony through the reconciliation of Christ man is now savable and can experience personal or individual reconciliation (cf. 2 Co. 5:18-21). Note- OT salvation was based on the yet future death of Christ that brings reconciliation- Ro. 3:23-25.

Paul uses the truth of reconciliation to look forward to the believer’s presentation at the judgment seat of Christ, the time just before he enters the Kingdom. All believers will stand before God and receive the inheritance of their rewards (1 Co. 4:5). As we will see, the end goal of reconciliation is not salvation but sanctification that results in a holy presentation at the judgment seat of Christ.

1:21-22

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

As unbelievers they were “alienated and enemies” is two ways:

1. In their mind – what the believed

2. In their wicked works – how they lived

We thought and lived in rebellion of God yet the blood and death of Christ still brought the peace of reconciliation. He did this…

“in the body of His flesh”

Paul probably pointed this out because the beginning of Gnostic heresy stated that to be alive spiritually one must come through a spiritual being, not a human being. They were basically denying the deity of Christ, something Paul established just prior to this verse.

The point is that we have been reconciled for a reason. Christ has reconciled us not only for salvation but also for a holy presentation at the judgment seat of Christ, which requires our faith and hope in the resurrected Christ.

“to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight”

The key word is “to present.” Paul is speaking about our presentation at the judgment seat of Christ. Not our position in Christ but our presentation by Christ. This presentation is about the rewards we will receive based on our life here and now (1 Co. 3:10-15; 2 Co. 5:9-10).

Last week we looked at verse 1:12 and learned that positionally we have been qualified to be partakers of the inheritance because we have been saved through faith in Christ. Here we learn this includes a holy presentation at the judgment seat.

1:23

if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

The word “if” is a first class condition in Greek which is used to speak of a situation the author assumes to be true for the sake of the argument and therefore carries the idea of confidence.

Paul was confident that they will “continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast” and since it’s assumed they will do this (indeed) it’s assumed they will have a holy presentation.

Although all believers will be presented holy in position not all believers will be presented holy in practice. If we want to have a holy presentation and receive an increased inheritance we must continue in the faith, not being moved away from the hope of the gospel. Again we see the importance of the “hope of the gospel,” the assurance of eternal life, as the foundation for sanctification (cf. 1:4-5 and blog lesson two in this series).

The hope we have in the gospel is the sure promise of eternal life to all those who believe in Christ for it (Jn. 3:16). If we do not have this promise of the gospel the gospel will not produce the fruit of sanctification the way God has designed. If we do not have this hope there is no way we can be grounded and steadfast, and therefore be in danger of moving away from the faith that results in a holy presentation.

Because of whom Christ is and His place of authority, He should be the sole focus of our lives. Let us live in submission to Him as our head, as our authority, as the supreme person in our life. And in this way receive a “holy presentation” by Christ when we stand before God.

LIfe of Christ: Our Response

2009-04-14T13:45:00.005-05:00

A study of the person and life of Jesus Christ

Lesson Three: Responding to Jesus as the Christ

Over the last two weeks we have looked at Jesus as the Son of God and as the Messiah and fulfillment of OT prophecy. Today we are still pre-birth in our study of Christ and we will look at how Mary, the one God chose to be the mother of Jesus, and her relative Elizabeth, the mother of John who is the forerunner of Christ, responded to God and to the coming of Jesus.

I did not get this lesson until my sophomore year in college. Once I realized that God wanted to use me in His story and the outworking of His plan on earth I was humbled and amazed. As Ro. 12:1-2 says, I desired to live as a living sacrifice of praise to God. I am still fumbling through that today, but the desire is there. Before this I lived almost 2 years as a Christian in selfishness and apathy in response to God sending Jesus. I lived for comfort and pleasure rather than realizing the joy of sacrificing the flesh to live out God’s truly fulfilling plan for my life.

Last lesson we read the angel Gabriel announce to Mary that she would be the mother of God’s Son…Luke 1:34-35 (notice the divine nature and human nature)…the angel also told her about Elizabeth…vs. 1:36-38 and John as the forerunner…vs. 1:13-17.

We see Mary’s first response in Luke 1:38

· She accepted God’s plan and chose to willingly participate.

This is where it all begins. We have to be willing to participate. We can get there like Mary or like Jonah but God will work to get us on board.

Luke 1:39-40

Mary went to see about the work God had done in the life of her cousin Elizabeth. This was no light task… the travel would be hard and would have taken several days. Mary was in Nazareth in the region of Galilee, which is in northern part of Israel. Elizabeth was down south in Judah probably in the west hills of Jerusalem. The trip would have been a sacrifice for Mary, but that was her response.

Mary- Vs. 41-45

We see in verse 45 what moved Mary to respond…she believed what had been spoken to her. Her faith in God’s word and God’s plan moved her to act. I find it challenging to really believe that God’s plan for my life is really real but knowing that it is, how could I do anything else?

We must believe God and trust His will for our life, participating in the way He wants to use us in His story.

Elizabeth- Vs. 41

Elizabeth knew that her son was the forerunner to prepare the way of the Messiah and this “leap” in her womb apparently signaled to her that Mary was with this child. They both were “filled with the Holy Spirit” which is to say she was in step with God’s revelation. This was God’s way of confirming the prophecy for Mary and Elizabeth.

Vs. 42

Elizabeth spoke blessing upon Mary and Jesus. “Blessed” literally means “well spoken of.” She proclaimed the blessing it would be to carry Jesus and how they both would be well spoken of by others.

We should celebrate the way God uses others in the outworking of His plan. Not only must I trust God’s plan for my life I should trust and celebrate God’s plan in other people’s lives as well. We are all working together to participate in what God is doing. It’s a community effort and I should better view myself, and my role, within the community of believers.

Vs. 43

Can you hear the sound of amazement and humility in her voice? She is humbled just to be in the presence of Jesus in the womb of his mother. She is amazed that she is a person that gets to participate in God’s story as bearing the forerunner.

Vs. 44

We see her confirmation. To be in the presence of Mary and Jesus who was in her womb led her to respond with joy, blessing, humility, amazement, and confirmation. How

Vs. 46-50

Mary praised God for the outworking of His plan and her participation. The praise is filled with amazement. She called God my Savior showing an intimate acquaintance with Him. She spoke of His faithfulness (v. 48), power (v. 49), holiness (v. 49), and mercy (v. 50). Realize this would also bring persecution, she didn’t know how Joseph would react, she didn’t know what this meant for her life but she was excited to be a part of God’s work.

Vs. 50-56

Mary praised God for His special favor on Israel (v. 51-55). Through the Child that she was to bear, God was being merciful to Abraham and his descendants. Mary was aware that the birth of her Child was a fulfillment of the covenant promises to Abraham and his people. Israel and all the nations of the world will be blessed with the promised Savior of Israel.

Vs. 56

Mary probably stayed for the birth of John before returning to Nazareth.

Are you still amazed and living in response to who Jesus is?

My prayer is that we would be refreshed to the reality that as believers we can live in the presence of God, that He wants to use us in His story, and that our lives would be marked by amazement and faithfulness as we participate in the outworking of His plan.

Amazed with who He is, humbled to participate in His story,

my life as a living sacrifice to Him.

Israel Day Five- Jesus and the Pagans

2009-04-12T11:29:00.001-05:00

We began our day at Gamla. The Zealots were stationed here during the time of Jesus. It was a beautiful mountain range and a great hike. The first things we noticed were the Eagles. In Hebrew the eagle is called, Nesherim, and we saw “the shadow of his wings” as the Griffen Voucher flew overhead. It was a beautiful picture of the protection of God.

The Zealots were religious Jews who were extreme in the practice of devotion to God. They could be

considered terrorists as they used a curved knife to kill off their Roman enemies. Although Jesus was the most zealous person in all of history He was not a Zealot. He used love and personal sacrifice rather than a knife and torture to combat His enemies. It was a great place to learn of the love of Christ and to be inspired to live extreme lives for God.

This was also a place we saw the remains of a first century ritual bath and synagogue. We are 99% sure Jesusread and taught in what remains today. We stood in the bath, the place one washed before reading from the day’s assigned text. We saw the Moses Seat, the place the reader of the day sat. We stood on the Bema Stone, the place where Jesus would have stood as He read the assigned reading from the text.

It was incredible to be there, to stand where Jesus stood, the read what He possibly read in the same exact place He did. It was an experience you can only have in that spot in the world and God blessed us with the experience. It was incredible!

We spent the rest of the day at incredibly sad sites. Places of Paganism and rebellion of God. Places of sin and torture. Places of sexual immorality of the worst kind. Places of sinful and unnecessary murder sacrifices. It was a sick feeling to be there, to see the place where these things took place. However, even this evil enhances the beauty of God, the truth of Christ, and the justice of our Father.

Caesarea Philippi was in the northern part of Israel and borders Syria and Lebanon. The Paganism practiced here is called Pan worship and this was the most pagan place in all of Israel. In was in the midst of this sin referred to as the “gates of Hades” by Christ that Jesus visited this city, stood with His disciples, as asked, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-20).

We are all faced with this question as we stand in the place of sin. As we live in the world we must continually ask ourselves, “Who do you say Jesus is?” Who He is to you will determine how you live your life. If it doesn’t I ask you the question, “Who do you say Jesus is?” My friends, He must be more than a good thought, He must be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This should impact our lives because it us upon this confession that Christ is building His Church. Be a builder for Christ!Our last stop was Dan, practically speaking this is the northern most city in Israel. This city was also full of Paganism. Here is where the Tribe of Dan was not satisfied with their land and compromised by setting up altars of worship to others Gods (Judges 18). To be honest, after Caesarea Philippi it was hard to take more teaching on paganism. It made me wonder how numb I am to subtle compromises to pagan thought in our culture, it’s probably more than I realize. It made me want to study the text more practically and examine my life. I love to study for doctrine and theology but never want to compromise the practical. We have to believe right to live right but sometimes I focus more on the former. I want the practice of my life to reflect the text.

It was a heavy day in northern Galilee.

As I stand on the text in the face of secular pagan culture and say to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God and I will live as a builder of Your Church.” Amen?

Colossians: Pleasing God

2009-04-09T11:32:00.001-05:00

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson Three: Three Truths about Pleasing God- Vs. 1:9-14

Pleasing God is knowing His will (1:9)

Vs. 9a

“For this reason”

Paul was thankful for their clear understanding of the gospel and them living out their faith in love. Since the gospel was bearing these fruits Paul always prayed for them.

We too should pray and be thankful for other believers, especially those who are living out their faith in love.

Vs. 9b

Paul asked that they would be “filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”

This is important because the false teachers were spreading all kinds of false information about spiritual growth. He wanted them to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding according to the will of God, not the will of man. We will see this more in chapter 2.

Knowledge of God’s will is simply knowing God’s truth.

Wisdom is the application of this knowledge. This is the spiritual understanding we need. Finding God’s will comes through the knowledge of God but to “be filled” with God’s will refers to the application of that knowledge.

Paul’s prayer, as well as God’s will, is that we would live out the truths of scripture. God’s will is not some elusive hidden thing. God’s will refers to people’s salvation and sanctification. If you are a believer living out the truths of scripture you have found the will of God and have “spiritual wisdom and understanding.” As Prof. Hendricks used to say, “God’s will is found in God’s word!”

Pleasing God is walking in His will (1:10-11)

Vs. 10-11

“walk worthy of the Lord”

This refers to us living our lives as a representative of Jesus Christ. Remember that Paul thanked them for living as people of faith in Christ. Now he is praying that they would continue. He wanted them to…

“please Him in all respects”

This should be our goal, to fully please God with our lives. That God would look at our lives and be fully pleased with what He sees and how He is reflected to the world through us.

But how do we do this exactly? How do we live lives pleasing to God?

1. Be fruitful in every good work.

God is pleased when the fruit of good works characterizes our lives because this is why we were saved (created in Christ- Ephesians 2:10).

2. Increase in the knowledge of God

The knowledge that God wants us to know about Him has been revealed in the scripture. We need to know the scripture to obtain the knowledge of God. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

3. Be strengthened by the glorious power of God

We cannot fully please God in our own strength. We must rely on the strength He provides. (Gal. 5:16)

4. Being patient and enduring with joy

Life is often difficult. We often have no idea of God’s direction for our future. We must trust God and endure this time with patience.

In Romans 8:28 Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God...”

God desires what is good for us and our spiritual maturity. Whatever it is that we are going through, whatever decision you are trying to make, whatever concern you are holding onto…you must trust God and patently endure. It’s not easy and Paul doesn’t infer that it is. That’s why he says to “endure.”

The blessing is that if we will rely on the “glorious power” of God we can live content and with patience experiencing the joy God intends for us. This is when we are being “fully pleasing” to God.

Pleasing God is being grateful for salvation (1:12-14)

Vs. 12

“giving thanks”

Paul prays that the believers here in Colossae are thankful to God for their salvation. He says that these believers have been…

· Qualified to be partakers of the inheritance (eternal life and rewards)

· Will eternally be with other saints in the Light (presence of God or the sphere of where God is – cf. 1 Jn. 1)

· Delivered from the power of darkness

· Transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son

· Received redemption, the forgiveness of sins

If you cant show thankfulness for all of this than you just cannot show thankfulness. These are some of the greatest truths and promises found in scripture!

How do we show this thankfulness to God?

Keep the context:

1. Know God’s will by studying and learning the scripture

2. Walk in God’s will by living out these truths

3. Be fruitful in every good work

4. Increase in the knowledge of God

5. Be strengthened by the glorious power of God

6. Be patient and endure with joy

7. Live your life as a response of thankfulness to God for everything you have in Christ!

Life of Christ: Jesus is the Messiah

2009-04-06T09:00:00.007-05:00

A study of the person and life of Jesus Christ

Lesson Two: Jesus is the Messiah

Discover: Jesus is the fulfillment of OT prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.

Why should we look to prophecy to identify the Messiah?

Jesus used OT to show He was the Messiah

· Lk 24:27; 24:44

· Jn 5:46; 8:56

NT authors used OT to show that Jesus was the Messiah

· Acts 3:18

· Acts 17:2-3

· 1 Co. 15:3-4

In the OT there are over 60 major prophecies about the coming Messiah and over 270 variables that were fulfilled in one person, Jesus Christ.

Lineage to His birth

God began to show us who the Messiah would be, and through history, progressively narrowed it down to Jesus Christ.

It starts in Gen 3:15. We learn the Messiah will be the seed of woman. This is significant because all other people are born seed of man.

Gen. 9-10 – Noah had three sons, Messiah comes through the Line of Shem

· Gen. 12:3 – As a descendant of Abraham we learn He would be Jewish (Mat. 1:1)

· Gen. 17:19; 21-22 – Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael and God chose Isaac (Lk. 3:34)

· Gen. 28; 35:10-12 – Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau and God chose Jacob (Mat. 1:1; 2:2)

· Gen. 49 – Jacob had 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel, God chose the tribe of Judah (Lk. 3:33)

· Out of all of Judah’s family lines, God chose Jesse

· 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Jer. 23:5 – Jesse had eight children, God chose the house of David (Lk. 1:32-33)

Through the OT we learn that the Messiah will be the seed of a woman, the lineage of Sham, the race of the Jews in the line of Abraham, the line of Isaac, the line of Jacob, of the tribe of Judah, and be of the house of David. God progressively narrowed the identity of the Messiah.

His Birth

As the OT ends we have 400 years of silence but then God continues to speak prophecy through an angle in gospel of Luke 1:26-35 where we learn of the Messiah’s divine birth, its time, and who His earthly parents will be. This is more narrowing as God gives us signs and directions to the Messiah.

Then we see the circumstances surrounding the Messiah’s birth fulfilled by Jesus:

Prophecy	Old Testament Prediction	New Testament Fulfillment
The Savior would come as a child.	Isaiah 9:6	Luke 2:11
The Savior would be born in Bethlehem of Judea.	Micah 5:2-5	Matthew 2:1-6
The Savior would be born of a virgin.	Isaiah 7:13-14	Matthew 1:18-25
Kings would bring the Savior gifts and bow at His feet.	Psalm 72:10-11	Matthew 2:7-11
The Savior’s birth would trigger a king to slaughter children.	Jeremiah 31:15	Matthew 2:16-18

Do you realize how much this narrows Jesus of the NT to be the one and only possible fulfillment of the Messiah prophesied of in the OT?

Illustration – silver coins in Texas

Using the science of probability scholars of prophecy give the chance that even 8 of these prophecies being fulfilled from the beginning of time to the present age in only one man is 1 in 10^17.

To help us comprehend this number Peter W. Stoner gives an illustration.

· Take 10¹⁷ number of silver dollars – this would cover the state of TX two feet deep in silver dollars

· Mark one and mix it up with all the others, all over the state

· Blindfold a man and let him travel as far and deep as he wishes

· Let him chose any silver dollar and give it to you as the one of his choice

· What chance would he have of getting the silver dollar you marked?

· 10¹⁷– the same chance 8 of these OT prophecies could be fulfilled in one man. Remember that Jesus filled over 60 prophecies including over 270 variables necessary to do so.

This clearly shows not only the divine inspiration of the OT and its prophecies, but also the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and Savior sent by God.

His Death

This is one of my favorites and almost gives me the chills every time I study these passages. One of the most compelling prophecies concerning the coming Messiah fulfilled by Jesus is found in His death.

Psalm 22

Take a minute and read Matt. 27:33-46 and John 19:23-37, two passages that speak to the events surrounding the death and crucifixion of Jesus.

Compare this to Psalm 22

Ps. 22:1 – Matt. 27:46 – My God, My God

Ps. 22:2 – Matt. 27:45 – darkness

Ps. 22:6 – Matt. 27:39-44 – despised by people

Ps. 22:7-8, 13 – Matt. 27:39-44 - surrounded by enemies

Ps. 22:14, 16 – John 19:34, 37 – pierced hands and feet

Ps. 22:15 - Matt. 27:28-30 - thirsty

Ps. 22:17a – John 19:36 – no broken bones

Ps. 22:17b – Matt. 27:36 – look at Him

Ps. 22:18 – Matt. 27:35 – cast lots

Ps. 22:18 – John 19:23-24 – did not tear garment

Ps. 22: 21; 31:5 – John 19:30 – gave up His spirit

If you have taken the time to read through these passages you can probably relate to the chills I mentioned earlier. It validates our faith in Christ as Messiah and Savior. It reinforces the fact that Jesus fulfilled everything prophesied about the Messiah, and many outside of His control. It testifies to the magnificent timing and sovereignty of God working together with the freewill of man. It is an amazing blessing to have this revelation and confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior.

I hope you have been blessed.

Israel Day Four- Discipleship

2009-04-03T23:23:00.000-05:00

Today was one of my favorite days so far on our journey through Israel. It was a busy day but we saw and learned some amazing things as we began our tour of Galilee.

We started at Mt. Arbel, one of the places Jesus probably went to for a “solitary place to pray” (Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35-39). It was an amazing hike and an awesome view. We looked over the Sea of Galilee with a beautiful and peaceful view and again saw many of the places we read about in the Bible.

Hiking this mountain helped me to realize how much effort Jesus put into spending one-on-one time with the Father. In our hectic worlds Jesus demonstrated that we must find time to be alone with God.

We then went to Tabgha, the place where Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him (Luke 6:13-16; Mark 1:16-20). This is a place of calling people to follow Christ. This is also where he ate with the disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:36-49). It’s a place of calling to discipleship, and a place of glorification that is to come.

From there we climbed to the place were Jesus taught what we refer to as “the sermon the mount” found in Matthew 5—7 (cf. Luke 6:17-49) - (no picture). Jesus taught many things here and one of them was how we ought to pray, often referred to as the Lord’s prayer (Mat. 5:5-15). Holly and I took some time to reflect on Jesus’ teaching and then prayed the Lord’s Prayer in the spot Jesus most likely taught His followers to do so; another amazing opportunity to see and practice the text in real life. It was one of the meaningful times Holly and I grew together as the scripture came alive to us.

We then when to Korazin and leaned about family and community living. The 1^st century church had “Insula,” a family and community living arrangement that caused them to be mutually dependant on one another. The community scripture calls us to have with one another as believers was actually built into the way they lived. The challenge for us is to live life with Insula. We should design our lives so that we are mutually dependant on one another (Acts 2:42). This community is the way God desires for us to live.

Next we went to Capernaum, the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry (Mat. 4:13-16). Jesus performed many miracles and healings here. It is also the place where Jesus trained His disciples for ministry, both intellectually and practically.

The question to us is, Who are you discipling? Who are you training to live their life as a servant of Christ? As I thought through ministry and the guys I meet with I was challenged to do more and train harder. It was a real blessing to see the place where Jesus set up His ministry.

Finally, our last stop was at Bethsaida. This is where Jesus fed the 5 thousand (Luke 9:19-17), healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26), and the town where Philip, Andrew, and Peter grew up (John 1:44). To picture them on the hills and down in the Sea let your imagination run free, it made these people real and normal. Thinking of ministry and discipleship, Jesus used regular guys from a regular place. It was their faith that made them effective!

If we want to be people of the text, people with an meaningful life for Christ we must be people who live finding time to be alone with the Father, people who are committed to following Christ, people who live in genuine and dependant community with other believers, people who are equipping others to live as disciples of Christ, and people who live trusting Jesus and His word. We learned this today in living color!

Today was a big day…a big, big day!

The Gospel of Love

2009-04-02T09:38:00.006-05:00

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson Two: Three truths about the gospel

The gospel includes hope and is the truth (1:3-5)
The gospel includes grace and bears fruit (1:6)
The gospel grows all over the world (1:7-8)

The gospel includes hope and is the truth (1:3-5)

Vs. 3-4

Paul gives thanks as he prays for the Colossians because he heard of their “faith in Christ Jesus” and their “love for all the saints.”

Paul is not only thankful that they have believed in Christ but also that they are living out their faith and their faith is producing love for all the saints. The Greek as well as the thrust of this section suggests that this is not talking about Jesus as the object of their initial faith in Him as Savior but that Paul is addressing believers of faith in Christ. He is thankful that they are people of faith. People who are living out their faith “in Christ” and this life of faith in Christ is producing love for all the saints.

Paul echoes this in the book of Galatians, “the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal. 5:6).

Why do they have faith in Christ and love for the saints?

“because of the hope” they have in heaven

Remember biblical hope is not simply wishing for something you think may or may not happen. Biblical hope is having certainty and a confident expectation. Believers can have a certain and confident hope because their hope is based on the promises of God.

Where did the church at Colosse hear about this hope?

“…in the word of the truth of the gospel”

The gospel they received included the certainty of heaven. When we share the gospel we need to share the gospel message of Paul, the biblical gospel message includes the certainty of heaven to all those who believe in Jesus as Savior.

This is important not only because it’s the truth of the gospel but because this hope has what produces the one thing that matters most, a faith that expresses itself through actively and sacrificially loving other believers.

Notice what Paul is thankful for in these three verses: 1) their faith in Christ, 2) their love for the saints, and 3) their certain hope of heaven. These are three things Paul often looks for and praises in believers. Faith, hope and love. Faith, which includes hope, produces love. (1 Co. 13:13; see also Ro. 5:2-5; 1 Thes 1:3, 5:8; Gal. 5:5-6).

The gospel includes grace and bears fruit (1:6)

What is the fruit of the gospel?

First- it’s the salvation of those who hear and believe (knew) in Christ.

Second- it’s the love the hope of the gospel produces in believers.

When did this fruit begin to be produced among the believers in Colossae?

“since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth”

Grace in salvation is the unmerited favor of God to the undeserving sinner who believes. The truth that salvation is by grace, that it’s a free gift, is what produces the fruit of salvation and love. So not only must our gospel contain the certainty of heaven but also the freeness of the gift of salvation.

This is an important point. They did not doubt their salvation or fear loosing it, which are not healthy or biblical motivations that spur one to love. The Colossians were motivated to love others because they truly experienced the love, grace and promise of God in truth. His promise of eternal life to all those who believe in Christ as Savior gave the Colossians a certain hope of the future and the only effective producer of true love.

If we want to promote and encourage love we must take this gospel message to the world. This is what we see in the next verse in the example of Epaphras.

The gospel grows all over the world (1:7-8)

What message did Epaphras learn from Paul and take to the city of Colossae? The gospel of truth- salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ, with the certain hope of heaven.

This gospel is being spread all over the world to all people. This is something we should participate in. Epaphras was considered “a dear fellow servant” because he participated in not only taking the gospel of grace and hope to others but for proclaiming and defending this gospel among the false teachers.

My prayer is that we would first understand the true gospel that produces the fruit of salvation and love; the gospel of grace and hope. Second, I pray we would live out the example of Epaphras by defending and spreading this gospel all to all people all over the world. Third, I pray we would all refresh our understanding of God’s grace and promises and be motivated to live life sacrificially loving others.

Life of Christ: Jesus is God

2009-03-30T15:37:00.006-05:00

A Study of the Person and Life of Jesus Christ

Lesson One: Jesus is God - John 1:1-18

Warning - You will need your Bible

Discover: Jesus is the Christ. He is the eternal God, Creator, Light of men, giver of Life, and the Savior.

Do: Realize who Jesus is, receive Him as Savior, and follow Him in awe.

The Word – Vs. 1:1-5, Realize who Jesus is

Vs. 1-2

These verse reminds me of creation. We realize by studying the whole passage that the Word (logos) is figurative for the person of Jesus (1:14, 17). John is showing the preexistence and full Deity of Jesus. He did not come into existence at His birth and He did not begin along with the rest of creation. Jesus was in the beginning with the Father and has always existed with Him. He is also equal in Deity and unity with the Father. Not only was Jesus with God at creation, He was God. The past tense is referring to the time of creation; Jesus is, always has been (eternity past) and always will be (eternally future) God.

Nature of Jesus

Jesus is 100% divine and 100% human. Theologians refer to this as the Hypostatic Union (cf. Luke 1:30-35, 2:11-20), the miraculous bringing together of humanity and divinity in the same person, Jesus Christ, such that He is fully God and fully man. The divine nature and human nature concur in the person of Jesus Christ with no intermingling or mixing of the two natures. The one person Jesus Christ exists with two natures in perfect unity yet without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.

Place in Trinity

This is an important lesson on the person of Christ and also to the doctrine of the Trinity. It’s important to understand as we consider the identity of Christ that God exists eternally as one in nature and being, yet as three distinct but equal and perfectly unified persons who even indwell one another yet without ever intermingling or confusing the distinct persons – The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. All three persons of the Trinity are God as they are divine and share the nature of God’s being, but they at not each other and exist as distinct and separate persons of the Godhead.

Jesus is eternally God.

Vs. 3

In the beginning is a reference to creation of earth and everything of it. Jesus was present and is the source of all things created. Paul reaffirms this truth in Col. 1:15-20.

Jesus is Creator.

Vs. 4-5

As God and Creator we learn that In Jesus is Life. This is speaking to spiritual life in relationship with God, not physical life in the flesh. In the Bible, if you do not have a relationship with God through Christ, if you have not been born again, if you do not have the regenerate life of God, you are considered a dead person, even though you are living physically (John 17:3; Eph. 2:1-10; Titus 3:4-8). We will see this more clearly in the next section.

Jesus is the Light – revelation of spiritual life

Jesus is the giver of life – regenerate, born again spiritual life in a relationship with the Father

Jesus is the light of men and the giver of life

The Witness – Vs. 1:6-13, Receive Jesus as Savior

Vs. 6-9

We see the ministry of John the Baptist. He came to give a testimony about Jesus as the Christ, the Savior of men, and tell all that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but receive eternal life (3:16).

Christ or the Spirit of Christ, the Light, enlightens every man to the truth that Jesus is the Savior. We learn in John 16:8-11 that the Holy Spirit convicts man of their need of a Savior and their sin of unbelief, the sole think keeping one from being born again and to receive eternal life (3:17-19). The acceptance or rejection of this revelation will be the basis of each mans judgment.

Similar to John, we are to be a witness to the Light that enlightens people to the truth that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior. Paul explains this in 2 Co. 5:18-20.

Vs. 10-13

The response required to the revelation of the Light is to receive Jesus as Savior by believing (being persuaded and convinced of this truth and to trust in or depend on) Him. We learned earlier that eternal life is defined by John as a life in relationship with God, to know Him. Here we have a deeper understanding of this relationship; it is a life lived as a “child of God.” Its not just knowing God but its being a very child of God and all its privileges of love, discipline, and security! Something we will see throughout our study.

Jesus is the Savior.

The Revelation – Vs. 1:14-18, Follow Jesus in awe

Since we have been enlightened to the truth and adopted as children of God we should live in light of this glory – in light of Jesus who came full of grace and truth, who came and poured out grace upon grace. We have been set free from the Law of Moses but are now bound to the person of Christ (see Ro. 3--4; Galatians3--5).

Christ, who is “the only begotten God,” has “explained” the Father to us through His life and teaching.

“Begotten” means to be of the same substance of the Father (Jn. 3:16). Jesus was begotten, not made (or created). Being begotten means Jesus shares the same Divine nature as the Father. He is of the same substance and essence of the Father. That which the Father begets shares the same nature as the Father. The Father is God and has a Divine nature; therefore, Jesus sharing the same nature with the Father, being begotten of Him, also has a Divine nature. The term “begotten” affirms and clarifies that Jesus is God. He shares the same substance, essence, and nature as the Father.

Illustration

As a human begets a human and a dog begets a dog, one begets that which is of the same nature as them. A human begets one with a human nature, they share the same human nature, a human cannot beget a dog. In the same way God the Father begets God the Son. God the Father begets that which has the same nature as Him. The Father is a divine nature and begets the Son with the same divine nature as Him.

What about the Holy Spirit?

As Light proceeds from a light bulb, the Holy Spirit proceeds from God. The light is of the same essence as the light in the bulb, yet it is distinct from it. The Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father and God the Son, all share the same essence and substance being God, yet they are distinct in person.

WOW!

This was a heavy lesson. If you are still with me we are to the main challenge I see in the text. Christ “explained” God, John “testified” of Christ…

We should imitate Christ and testify about Him through who we are and what we do. Let us be people who testify of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ with our whole lives. Let us follow Him in awe!

Israel Day Three: Committed to the Text

2009-03-27T10:19:00.008-05:00

Day Three – Committed to the Text

One of the most interesting things we did the whole trip happened on day two and I forgot to mention it. We visited a place called Tel Arad located in the desert of the Negev in southern Israel. Not far from here live the Bedouin people who are known for their hospitality. We walked three miles across the rocky desert to visit where they live, learned about their history, eat some bread and drank some tea they prepared for us. It was a really cool experience and a great example of hospitality. The lifestyle of the Bedouins was practiced in the Old Testament. "People in Old Testament times believed guests were sent to them from God. Abram and Sarah prepared a meal for their guests (Gen. 18:2-8). One of the first things a host did was to offer a guest something to drink (Gen. 24:17-18) and then a meal (Gen. 26:30)" (Omar Garcia). It was a blessing to experience this. It helps give a real picture of life and practice of the Patriarchs.

Day three we had three big stops. We first went to En Gedi where we hiked the Wadi Argot. Here again we saw the Bible come to life. This is where David hid from Saul, spared his life, and where David snuck up on him and cut the corner of his shawl. We see the heart of David and his passionate obedience to God. We also got to see first hand how God supplies water from a rock in the desert. Rather than relying on our supply of cistern water we should rely on the “Living Water” that God supplies.

We then went to one of Harod the Great’s fortresses at Masada. He built this palace of refuge on top of a rock plateau. It was crazy and impressive to see the engineering, supplies, strategy, and luxury of that place. It was a huge hike up but awesome to see what Harod had built.

Our last stop was at Qumran. This is the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We saw the cave where the book of Isaiah was found as well as many other caves. It was a challenging hike to the top but a great view. From the top we could see “Bethany beyond the Jordan” where John the Baptist taught about the coming Christ and where he baptized Jesus. On the other side we could see the Judean Wilderness and we were close to the spot where Jesus was led by the Spirit and tempted by Satan.

We learned about the Essences and their commitment to be people of the text. We too made this commitment, to be men and women of the scripture.

As I blog about our day it is hard to find what stood out to me most or describe the most significant thing God taught me. Its pretty overwhelming to see where the Bible took place and to learn the lesson God taught there. Probably the things I think of

most today have to do with people. The Bedouin people were a cool experience and it was a blessing to meet them and to learn from their hospitality. It was even more significant for Holly and I to be atop of the Qumran Mountain and commit to being people of the text. The moment, the hike, the history, the view, the Bible, the day, the scripture, and us together…it was great to commit to the text together in just that way.

As a people of God’s own possession, a people He desires to reveal Him, to glorify Him, to fulfill His purposes…we must be people committed to the text!

Colossians: An Introduction

2009-03-25T16:06:00.006-05:00

Be Grounded in Christ: A walk through the book of Colossians

Blog 1- Introduction to the letter (Vs. 1:1-2)

I am excited to blog about Colossians because of the focus on the supremacy of Christ. Paul shows how the believer is complete in Christ and needs nothing more than to be fully clothed in Him to grow spiritually and be protected from heresy.

I plan to give a summary explanation and challenge of the text covered rather than a full exegesis of the passage. However, if you are interested in a fully explanation I would be glad to post it or send it to you.

We begin where every good book study should, with the three A’s- Author, Audience, and their Association.

Author- Paul (and Timothy)

Not only does the scripture directly attribute this letter to Paul (vs. 1:1, 23; 4:18) the personal details the author gives of himself, his life, and his relationships fit perfectly with the apostle Paul. Although there are some 55 Greek words used in this letter that are not found in any of Paul’s other books, we know that Paul was well educated and had a wide vocabulary, plus this was a unique topic that would require words not needed elsewhere.

Audience- Believer’s in the city of Colossae

Colossae, once a powerful military and commercial city, was now a minor city on the decline and surrounded by cities that outgrew her. There was a very mixed audience of people in this city. Jews, Greeks, Romans, military families, and people from many differing ethnic backgrounds who settled there for commercial interests.

Association

Paul did not plant this church; in fact we have no written revelation that Paul even ever went to the city. However, while Paul was on his third missionary journey he spent about 3 years in the city of Ephesus that was located about 100 miles east of Colossae. While there it seems that he discipled a man named Epaphras (or at least Epaphras was saved by listening to Paul’s teaching). Epaphras then took Paul’s gospel of Christ to them as well as other neighboring cities. So Paul had their respect because he was the one whom discipled the man who brought them the gospel and could therefore write a letter they would appreciate and respond to. (1:7-8)

After Epaphras spread the gospel to these cities he went to visit Paul in his Roman imprisonment. Since Paul was only under house arrest he could have visitors and Epaphras reported to Paul everything he observed and experienced which then prompted Paul to write this letter of warning and encouragement to the Church in Colossae.

Date- _A.D.60-61

Paul wrote this letter during his first Roman imprisonment when he was under house arrest, the same time and place he wrote the other letters we often refer to as The Prison Epistles that include Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon.

Some say the since the theology of this book is more along the lines of John’s writing about Christ as the Logos in the gospel of John, which reveals Christ as God and Creator, that the author of this letter must have borrowed from it and been written after John’s gospel which was written near the end of the 1^st century about 90 A.D. However, we know that Paul had been given special revelation about who Christ was from both Galatians (1:12) as well as the book of Philippians (2:5-8). So Paul had no reason or need to “borrow” from any other NT author.

These people also say that one of the heresy’s Paul is refuting in the letter is the Gnosticism of the 2^nd century and therefore give it a very late date. However, heresies don’t just appear one day out of the blue they are developed over years, especially heresies popular enough to warrant a letter from God through the apostle Paul. So it can easily be seen that Paul is dealing with the early stages of a heresy that would later become full blown Gnosticism.

Paul’s Purpose for writing this Letter

To refute false teaching in and around the church and bring a new focus on Christ. We don’t have the false teachings directly stated but we can deduct from the truths that Paul so strongly emphasizes what he is arguing against. Some of the heresies the church faced include:

Secular philosophy- Human traditions based on the principles of this world
Jewish Legalism- Observance of dietary laws, religious festivals and celebrations, the Sabbath
Mystical teaching- Worship of angels and Personal visions
Asceticism- The body is evil and should be physically punished to discipline it to overcome sin

The primary thing all these heresies have in common is that they undermine the preeminence and sufficiency of Jesus Christ alone.

Some of what we learn about Christ

The head of all principalities and powers (2:10)
The Lord of creation (1:16-17)
The Author of reconciliation (1:20-22; 2:13-15)
The basis of the believer’s hope (1:5, 23, 27)
The source of the believer’s power to live the new life (1:11, 29)
The believer’s Redeemer and Reconciler (1:14, 20-22; 2:11-15)
The embodiment of full deity (1:15, 19; 2:9)
The Creator and Sustainer of all things (1:16-17)
The Head of the Church (1:18)
The resurrected God-man (1:18; 3:1)
The all-sufficient Savior (1:28; 2:3, 10; 3:1-4)

The Letter

The letter is neatly divided up into two main sections. The first half has to do with the doctrine of Christ; the second half has to do with us living our Life in Christ. We learn that the believer knowing of their secure position in Christ is the foundation of their successful growth in Christ. This again is Paul’s consistent philosophy of sanctification and spiritual growth, the believer’s position and freedom in Christ.

The thrust of this letter and the application Paul hopes for is based on a truth we must all realize, that in Christ we have everything we need for life and Godliness. There is no need for anything else and everything else actually hinders our spiritual growth by taking our attention away from Christ. Paul didn’t want the Colossians practicing both, it is Christ and Christ alone who is sufficient and therefore should have sole preeminence in our lives.

This is why “We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.” (Col. 1:27-28)

My prayer is that we would first understand the sufficiency of Christ and then live in submission to Him. I believe this book will help us to do just that and will result in us living in such away that the glory of Christ is better revealed through our lives and you would experience the joy and benefit that comes from focusing solely on Him for everything.

Israel Day 1-2: Smooth Stones

2009-03-19T17:38:00.004-05:00

This is a first in a series of blogs I plan to post about our trip to Israel. Check back each week for an update.

FYI, I also plan to start a weekly series on the Life of Christ and the book of Colossians. I am teaching both right now and plan to include a summary thought of the truth and challenge as a blog.

Smooth Stones

Today, our first full day touring and studying Israel, has been a great day. God is at work in my heart and mind. I am seeing places and touching things I only imagined existed from reading the Bible. As I write this blog I don’t even know where to start. Not only are we literally walking as fast as we can from place to place we are reading the scripture and seeing it “in context” like never before. It’s a fire hydrant of information that I will be processing for a long time.

It’s hard to choose the place that impacted me most so far. Last night we stoped at Gezer and learned about Cannanites and their dead stones of pagan worship. But today, weather it was Beth Shemeh where we learned about Sampson and his “slippage,” Lachish where we learned about Hezekiah and his passionate faithfulness to God, or taking a swim (more like a float, literally) in the Dead Sea, its hard to choose the place that impacted me most.

I have decided to share about a place where a very familiar story happened. It’s located in the Shephelah, in the Valley of Elah, in the city of Azekah. It’s the story of David and Goliath. As we sat on a hill looking over this valley, reading the story from the text…I saw the story come to life. I can’t share all that I learned but I understood in a new way how a young boy, full of trust in God, aware of his talents and how he was gifted, with the passion for God’s glory, and the motive to make God of Israel know in the world can have a huge impact. He was not focused on his own glory like Saul but focused on the glory of God and was used in a huge way.

Beyond the story that took place there was what we got to do after our study. As you know, this valley was a common place for battles between Israel and the Philistines and this

valley was naturally between two mountain ranges, Israel on one mountain and the Philistines on the other with the battles taking

place down in the valley. You remember how David killed Goliath. He took five smooth stones from the stream, put them in his pouch along with his sling, and aggressively approached the line of battle with Goliath. He took out a stone, slung it at Goliath hitting him in the forehead and killing him (2 Sam.17).

Here is where we come in. There is only one stream in this valley and it sits at the bottom of the mountain on the Israel side. This is the only stream for David to collect five smooth stones…Holly and I walked through this stream today. It’s crazy because this had to be where David came down the mountain to get his stones to fight Goliath…we were in this exact same spot! We even pick up stones from the dry steam bed. I can’t believe it…as we looked onto the valley where David killed Goliath Holly and I pick up stones from the exact same stream that David did. Totally cool!

There are many lessons I learned from all our studies today that I could share, but I am so blown away that God has given Holly and I this blessing that I can’t get it off my mind. The blessing of being in Israel and seeing where the Bible originally took place is unbelievable. I can’t wait for what we will see and do tomorrow!

Impact

2009-03-03T13:48:00.004-06:00

It’s been a while since my last blog about China. I am still processing everything God is showing me and transforming in me from that trip but also have not taken the time to get it down in writing and I feel its slipping away.

As I stated before, the last few mission trips I have taken have really impacted my life and heart. I feel really close to God, useful for the kingdom, filled with passion to be effective from mission trips. I have been thinking about why these last few trips have hit me this way and I realized a common thread - I have felt used by God in a meaningful way. I then realized something:

The times I am impacted the most are the times I feel I am making the most impact.

We all know that the best place in all the world is to be right in the center of God's will; to be used the way He desires and has planned; to be living out the very purpose of your existence and salvation. Ro. 12:2 tells us that God's will is good, pleasing, and perfect. Eph. 2:10 tells us that as believers we are the work of God's hands and we have been regenerated with spiritual life to live out the things God has planned for us. As we live our lives in His perfect will we then experience the pleasure God intends and desires for us to know. For me, this happens most when I feel used by God to make an impact in the life of another.

So I am thinking I need to find how I can be making a significant impact in the lives of people where God has me on a regular basis. I want to make sure this is what I am working towards because that is when I feel most impacted and transformed by God. Serv

ing others enhances and stimulates my personal sanctification, which is one of the primary goals of the Christian life.

It's magnificent to see God's design work in such perfect harmony. His greatest desire is for us to love Him and love others; He desires for us to grow in our reflection and glory of Him (sanctification). To be and do what God has saved us for works together in a divinely ordered way. We must serve others to know and love God deeper, we must love others to grow in our reflection and glory of Him, we must impact the lives of others to experience a greater impact from God. In God's system everyone wins. He is glorified, people are served, and believers are sanctified. Awesome!

I want to experience this on a daily basis. I want what I do everyday to make an impact in the life of another. Why? To experience and reflect the love of God, to grow in sanctification, to experience the perfect and pleasing will of God. These recent mission trips have show me that I might not be focused on that which is actually making an impact quite enough.

My goal today is to increase my productivity and have a greater focus in the areas that actually make an impact in the lives of others. I want to participate in my sanctification by cooperating with God's design and purpose. Love God, love others = be transformed!

Connecting with the Heart of God in China

2009-01-22T09:32:00.007-06:00

My hope is to communicate all that God showed me and transformed in me while I was in China. I don’t know if I can but I will attempt with a series of blogs about the trip. It was an awesome experience and the last few trips I have been on have really impacted me. The trip I took to Acuna, MX with college students from Countryside last summer impacted my heart for people in a humanitarian way. God showed me what “poor and hungry” really is. He showed me the growth in our students. He grew my compassion for those in physical and material need. All for the sake of communicating God’s love for them and looking to persuade them to trust in the Provider, Jesus Christ who gives hope in this life and the life to come.

This trip to China with college students from Kingsland was a little different. God showed me totally different things. I will blog about the fun touristy things we did thoughout this series of blogs (climbing the great wall was awesome) but I need to share about a few things in the first few blogs that really impacted me spiritually. God hit me with some eternal realities that have grown my compassion for people’s spiritual lives, both practically and eternally.
Our group went to minister on a university campus in China. We joined up with long term people living there and joined in their work. We went to teach about how American’s celebrate the tradition of Christmas. Through this we were able to communicate God’s love to them. We hosted apartment parties, on campus lectures, and met students one-on-one to build relationships. I can’t wait to tell you about some of the people I met and the opportunities God gave us.

Connecting with the Heart of God

From the time I got on the plan to Beijing I could tell things were different. Our group sat in the back of the plan in the middle rows. As I put my bag in the overhead I noticed the people, the smell, the sound…it was different. The time this hit me hardest is when we were taking a break for lunch on our third day in China and some of our students were shopping at a local market. I decided to walk down the strip a little bit by myself. As I got to the end I looked back and just paused to soak in my environment. Everyone was Chinese! I know this is silly but I was overwhelmed with the number of people in the market and the fact that they were all Chinese. Everyone. Everyone was Chinese. Then it hit me to consider how many of them have never heard of God’s love for them and how He demonstrated that love by giving His Son, Jesus (Jn. 3:16). I asked myself, How many of these people are unsaved? How many of them live apart from the love and grace of God? Then I realized a sad thing…Hell is going to be filled with lost Asian people. I also realized that this breaks the heart of God and it began to break mine as well.

God challenged me. Do you really believe in heaven and hell? Do you really believe in the reality of afterlife? Do you really believe this? As I thought about this I reassured myself of the trustworthiness of the scripture and how this was a clear truth (2 Tim. 3:16). People who do not receive life (relationship with God - Jn. 17:3) remain dead (separated from God – Eph. 2:1-10). Then I wondered if I have the same love for people that God does (1 Tim. 2:3-7; 2 Peter 3:8-9; 1 Tim. 2:3-4). Does my heart for the lost match the heart of God? I know God was changing my heart right there.

Then, if I have the same heart as God am I willing to demonstrate the same love in the same way (Mt. 16:24). Am I willing to lay down my life for the lost? Am I willing to do whatever that looks like in my life? I don’t think this is limited to physical death but is a broader concept. Am I willing to have less money? Am I willing to have less selfish time? Am I willing to make sacrifices that reflect a real concern for the lost in an effort to demonstrate and communicate the love of God to them? Not only for their benefit in this life and in eternity, but also for the glory and pleasure of God. To be a person who is living out the heart of God.

If my heart matches the heart of God and I have the willingness to sacrifice to live that out, what does this look like in my life? How do I live this out in and from Katy, TX. How do I stay connected with the heart and work of God, not only on a trip like this but every day?

I don’t know the answers to these questions yet. But God has given me a fresh realization of heaven and hell. He has given me a new perspective that there are millions of people who are living apart from the love and grace of God, and who may exist that way in eternity. He is transforming my heart to match His heart for those people. He is challenging me to imitate Him in response. He is challenging me to check my purpose, my priorities, and my focus on comfort rather selfless sacrifice for the ones He loves.

For Single Parents

2008-11-22T13:38:00.001-06:00

Being a single parent can be a tough responsibility. Of all the things you try to pass on to your children, nurturing them to have a sincere faith in Christ can be the most concerning. I know this especially concerns single moms with young boys. Being the primary faith trainer to a child of the opposite sex presents many challenges but as always, God does not allow challenges to come into our lives that we cannot handle in a way that brings Him glory (1 Co. 10:13).

One thing we emphasize in our ministry to single parents is that a single parent home does not have to be a broken home. Many single parent families feel they are in fact not a family. They feel they are not able to have a healthy home life. They feel they cannot effectively nurture their children to be godly.

I want to encourage you to know that a single parent can have a healthy home life and an effective ministry to their children. Although this is not the biblical model we do have biblical examples. One of the clearest is seen is Paul’s letter to young Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

The verse previous to this one states that Paul remembers Timothy in his prayers and with tears of joy as he reflects on the faith of young Timothy. Notice that Paul contributes the faithfulness of his young disciple to his mom and grandmother. They were faithful Jewish believers (Acts 16:1). His dad was not a part of his faith training. He was a Greek Gentile and probably an unbelievers, the very reason he is not mentioned here. So we see that single parents and specifically a single mom with boys can nurture a sincere faith in their child. You can be an effective faith trainer to your child as a single parent, even to the point of producing tears of joy on looking believers.

How did this single parent succeeded as the primary faith trainer through childhood?
2 Timothy 3:14-17 tells us:
14You [Timothy], however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Paul built upon the foundation laid by Timothy’s mom. Notice that she taught him “sacred writings”. Paul is referring to the scripture; this is plain from the verses 16-17. Scripture is what gives us “wisdom that leads to salvation and faith” and ultimately to a life with Jesus Christ. If you want to effectively pass on your faith to your children you have to make known to them the word of God. The scripture must be the focus, the authority, the guide. It must have priority over every other source of counsel or consideration when making decisions or developing our way of thinking. The scripture is the most profitable source of teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training one to live righteously in the sight of God. We want the next generation to be men and women who have been sanctified by the word of truth (John 17:17) and taught to think like the scripture because the scripture is what makes one “adequate, equipped for every good work”.

This is a great example of a single parent having a healthy home, passing on faith, and rearing children to love God, love others, and live out his Life in Christ. If you want to have a healthy single parent home, if you want to effectively pass on the faith to your children, if you want children who live righteously and are equipped for what God has planned for them you must nurture them in the word and pour it into their life. You must make the commitment to “teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Duet. 6:7). This is what defines a healthy home, a home where children are taught the word of God by a parent who lives as their primary faith trainer by modeling and teaching them the scripture.

Obama Wins

2008-11-04T20:58:00.005-06:00

I know that many Christians will be discouraged and confused about Obama winning the presidency. He does not have the view many evangelicals support concerning many issues. I have heard many people say, "Don't worry, whether you support Obama or not God is still in control. He will use this for His glory."

As I prayerfully reflected on these ideas and concerns I realized some encouraging truths:

Our purpose does not change. We are stewards of God and servants of Christ called to make disciples as we live our lives. We will continue to strive in our effort to love God, love others, and equip the generations to do the same.
We must now work more diligently. We should be more passionate and determined in the pursuit of living out our purpose. We should not feel like this hinders us but is God's way of placing more responsibility on us.
The church is the restrainer. We learn in 2 Thessalonians that during the time of the church age their is a restrainer of evil in the world. I believe that restrainer is the Holy Spirit working through the church. The responsibility to influence the culture toward Godliness and to restrain evil in the culture is on the church, not the government. This could be God holding us accountable to live up to our responsibility.
There is nothing to fear. Our faith is in the power and supremacy of God. God does not allow anything to happen that thwarts His ultimate plan of redemption of man and reestablishing His rule over creation through man (which will happen through the King in the future Kingdom).

No matter who you voted for. No matter how you see the issues whether social, moral, economical, etc. Know that our purpose is the same, our work is to be more diligent, our responsibility to restrain evil is ever more present, and we are not a people of fear but a people of faith in the power and supremacy of God.

Thoughts on God's Sovereignty

2008-10-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

The sovereignty of God can be confusing and is often misunderstood. We often have the view that everything that happens is the direct result of God preordaining it to happen; that He controls things as the agent of cause behind everything that happens. However, I have found that this simple view of sovereignty contradicts scripture and the place of responsibility. One example of something that happens yet is not preordained by God is temptation. James 1:13 states, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” We all experience temptation yet God is not the agent of cause for this experience and the responsibility is placed on man. However, we see God’s sovereignty in 1 Co. 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” God does not tempt us to sin although He does allow it while at the same time providing a way of escape. In doing so He demonstrates and exercises His sovereignty apart from predestination (human responsibility in sanctification is clear and God has given man many ways of escape- Ro. 6:12-14, 8:13; 1 Tim. 4:7, 15; 2 Tim. 2:2; Gal. 5:16, 6:2; etc.).

We must realize, as stated in the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, “divine sovereignty and human responsibility [seem to be] paradoxical and beyond human comprehension, [they are] not contradictory. Divine sovereignty and human sovereignty are certainly contradictory, but divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not. God uses human means in history to accomplish His purposes, yet such means do not involve coercion”.

To be certain, all things that happen fall under the sovereignty of God. Sovereignty simply means that God is supreme in all things. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, the sovereignty of God refers to “His absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15–23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).” God maintains sovereignty in all things because of the fact that He is supreme in all things, not because He necessarily preordains all things. Supremacy speaks to God’s right, authority, and power. Even though God allows things to happen it does not mean He ordained them to happen yet He still maintains sovereignty because He maintains supremacy. He is supreme in the fact that He will never allow something to happen that will thwart His overall plan in history (namely, to reestablish His rule over creation through man), He maintains the right, the authority, and the power to intervene as He wills because He is sovereign in all things (Eph. 1:11). As Charles Ryrie states, “How intricate must be the details of the plan of God who can govern all things, allow human choice, and yet get glory to Himself through people who are permitted to make choices…”

If it is valuing God’s sovereignty we are concerned about, this view, which incorporates human responsibility actually reveals the beauty and authority of God's sovereignty in the most powerful and moving way. It moves me into a deep love and appreciation for God. He brings about His will through persuasion rather than coercion. What a loving, graceful, patient and supremely sovereign God!