tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96042272024-03-07T00:37:59.460-05:00Bill's BlogginsNow these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, <u>upon whom the ends of the ages have come</u>.
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1 Corinthians 10:11Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-13605360797081554052009-03-13T00:15:00.002-04:002009-03-22T23:46:28.468-04:00Marti's Story<b><b>Her eyes popped wide open. To four-year old Marti, the hastily torn wrapping paper revealed the most beautiful doll house she could imagine. She had asked for a doll house for Christmas, but the picture on the box was far better than anything she had seen in the stores. It was more like a doll mansion, complete with ornate decorations and rooms full of antique furniture. She couldn't wait to get the box open.<br /><br />When she finally did get it open, her joy faded somewhat as she saw it was filled only with doll house pieces. She would have to put it together before she could start playing. Oh well, she thought, I can do it and it will be so much fun when I'm finished I don't mind at all. So, with a determined look on her face, she dumped out all the pieces and began.<br /><br />Now from my vantage point, looking down from the couch, Marti's wonderful Christmas looked like it would soon turn into a disaster. When I bought the doll house I was worried that even I wouldn't be able to put it together without wrecking it. Now Marti was hard at work assembling the delicate parts and I knew I would soon have to interfere before things got out of hand.<br /><br />"Hey Marti," I said hopefully, "That looks kind of complicated, would you like some help?" "Oh no, Dad, "she replied, "I can do it myself." So, feeling rejected, I resigned myself to watching from afar as she went about her task.<br /><br />Well, you can guess what happened next. Marti became frustrated and began to complain to everyone about the now stupid doll house. Exhausted from the festivities and her efforts, she gave up on the doll house and went to her room pouting. I went in to offer her some consolation but she was fast asleep.<br /><br />I felt sad because the present I thought would be the big hit of this year's Christmas turned out to be a big flop. I was also upset because I knew how hard Marti had wanted to please me by assembling the doll house herself and I admit I would have been pretty impressed. For Marti, though, it was important to show that she could do it herself. She wanted to prove that she was a "big girl", a contributing member of the family.<br /><br />It would have been so easy for her to sit back and watch me put together the doll house for her and she knew that she would be able to play with it much sooner that way. I would have loved nothing more than to complete the doll house for her so that she could begin enjoying it. Instead the day was a failure and we both ended up unhappy.<br /><br />As you may have guessed this isn't really a story about Marti and me. It's a parable about the principles and attitudes in God's family. Marti represents what the Bible refers to as the flesh or the sin nature. This principle has warred against the spirit throughout the history of God's people.</b></b>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-7188083835655559612009-01-31T00:11:00.004-05:002009-02-14T22:43:27.352-05:00My Ideal Church GatheringHave you ever read something and wanted to share it with everyone right away. I had this experience when reading Rob Bell's, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians." My daughter, Lauren, gave me the book for Christmas. Since she is the one person who incarnates my idea of what the church should be, I wanted to read it right away.<br /><br /> For most of my Christian life I've been searching for my Holy Grail of the Ideal Church Gathering. I've looked for it in existing churches and I've tried to begin one myself. Each time I met with disappointment. I'm still searching. My hope has been rekindled after reading Rob Bell's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">description</span> of what he calls, "the new humanity." As soon as I read this I rushed to my wife, Lisa, and read the passage to her. Bell perfectly describes my ideal church gathering. My eyes teared up as I read to her because I realized that someone else shared my vision and there was hope. Isn't that what coming together as a body is all about?<br /><br />What follows is from "Jesus Wants to Save Christians", pages 154-157. It has become one of my favorite books.<br /><br />Peace has been made.<br /><br />A church is where peace has been made.<br /><br />Because in the Eucharist, in Jesus' body and blood, everything has been reconciled to God. Paul calls this the "new humanity."<br /><br />People who previously had nothing in common discover <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">that</span> the only thing they now have in common is the one thing that matters.<br /><br />People who had previously found themselves on opposite sides of a wall find out that the wall has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">been destroyed</span>.<br /><br />People who had fought over an endless array of issues realize that peace has been made and there is nothing left to fight about.<br /><br />In the new humanity,<br /><br />you hear perspectives you wouldn't normally hear,<br /><br />you walk in someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">else's</span> shoes,<br /><br />you find out that the judgments you had previously made about that group of people or that kind of men or that kind of women or all of those kids simply don't hold up because now you're getting to know one of "those" and it's changing everything.<br /><br />You learn that your labels for different people are insufficient, because people are far more complex and unpredictable and intelligent and creative.<br /><br />You used to have a rigid stance on a particular issue, but now you've heard the other side and it's impossible anymore to categorize them all as stupid and uninformed and heartless, because you realize that they have thought about their position and they have weighed the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">consequences</span> and they have some good points that you must consider.<br /><br />In the new humanity our world gets bigger, our perspective goes from black-and-white to color, our sensitivities are heightened, we're rescued from sameness and uniformity, because the wall has come down and peace has been made.<br /><br />A church is the new humanity on display.<br /><br />She's in graduate school, and he's in his nineties;<br /><br />and one couple has a million dollars, and another doesn't have enough money for dinner;<br /><br />and he arrived in this country three years ago with a small suitcase, and they've never been out of the country;<br /><br />and they have a son fighting in the war, and they're going to a war protest later today;<br /><br />and he's got serious doubts about what he was taught growing up, and she's just decided that God might even exist.<br /><br />All of these people-who are divided, who never sit down and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">listen</span> to each other-in the new humanity, in the church, they meet, they engage, they interact, they begin to feel what the other feels, and the dividing wall of hostility crumbles.<br /><br />In the new humanity,<br /><br />them becomes us,<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">they</span> becomes we,<br /><br />and those become ours.<br /><br />This is why it is very dangerous when a church becomes known for being hip, cool, and trendy.<br /><br />The new humanity is not a trend.<br /><br />Or when a church is known for attracting one particular kind of demographic, like people of a particular age and education level, or that particular <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">social</span> class or personality type. There's obviously nothing wrong with the powerful bonds that are shared when you meet up with your own tribe, and hear things in a language you understand, and cultural references are made that you are familiar <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">with</span>, but when <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">sameness</span> takes over,<br /><br />when everybody shares the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">same</span> story,<br /><br />when there is no listening to other perspectives,<br /><br />no stretching and expanding and opening up-that's when the new humanity is in trouble.<br /><br />The beautiful thing is to join with a church that has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">gathered</span> and find yourself looking around thinking, "What could this group of people possibly have in common?"<br /><br />The answer, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">of</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">course</span>, would be the new humanity.<br /><br />A church is where the two people groups with blue hair-young men and older women-sit <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">together</span> and somehow it all fits together in a Eucharistic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">sort</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">of</span> way.<br /><br />Try marketing that.<br /><br />Try branding that.<br /><br />The new humanity deifies trends and demographics and the latest market research.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-9213971428512968822008-09-01T09:50:00.011-04:002008-09-07T22:36:32.525-04:00The Importance of Being Married<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Marriage is the absolutely most important theme found in both the Old and New Testaments. It is found in the first chapters of Genesis and the final chapters of Revelation.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > In this article I will examine why marriage is so important.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > L</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">et's</span> begin with the book of beginnings and see where the concept of marriage starts.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" ><br /><br />Genesis 1:26-31</span><br /><br />Then God said, "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Let Us make man in Our image</span>, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">in the image of God He created him; male and female</span> He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so. <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good</span>. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">In this passage we see that God created man in His image. Being created in God's image has two aspects. Immediately following the declaration that man is created in His image it is stated that this image contains both the concept of male and female and the concept of subjugation and rule. God then declares that these concepts are very good.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Man as male or man as female cannot, alone, bear the image of God. The image of God requires both male and female. I maintain that the image of God involves the two "opposite" sexes reconciling their differences in order to reflect the love that exists in God.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The concept of subjugation and rule is also inherent in the image of God. As the male rules over the female and as the female subjects herself to the male the love of God is reflected. Of course, this ruling is in the sense of caring for her as a king cares for his kingdom or as our heavenly King cares for us.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Since, as we have seen, marriage reflects the love of God it is important to bear in mind that the story of Genesis 2 is a reflection of God.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Genesis 2:18-24</span></span><br /><br />Then the LORD God said, "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It is not good for the man to be alone</span>; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.<br /><br />The man said,<br /> "This is now bone of my bones,<br /> And flesh of my flesh;<br /> She shall be called Woman,<br /> Because she was taken out of Man."<br /><br />For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">and they shall become one flesh</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">First, we see that it is not good for man to be alone. On the sixth day, when male and female were already created, everything was good. When we have just male we have "not good". This tells us that it is not good for man to be alone because man, alone, cannot reflect the image of God's love.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">We also see that it is not good for God to be alone. He desires to have his own Eve to love and care for.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">As we move on to the New Covenant we will see that God desires to "become one flesh" with His Eve, the church.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >Ephesians 5:22-32</span><br /><br />Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.<span id="en-NASB-29328" class="sup"> </span>For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.<span id="en-NASB-29329" class="sup"> </span>But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.<span id="en-NASB-29330" class="sup"> </span>Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,<span id="en-NASB-29331" class="sup"> </span>so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,<span id="en-NASB-29332" class="sup"> </span>that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.<span id="en-NASB-29333" class="sup"> </span>So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">He who loves his own wife loves himself;</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" id="en-NASB-29334" class="sup"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" id="en-NASB-29335" class="sup"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">because we are members of His body</span>.<span id="en-NASB-29336" class="sup"><br /><br /></span>FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. <p> This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Just as Adam and Eve became members of one body, so also Christ and the church form one body. God nourishes and cherishes the church and the church subjects herself to the loving care of God.</span><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Revelation 19:7,8</span></p><p>"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">His bride has made herself ready</span>."<span id="en-NASB-31027" class="sup"> </span>It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Finally, at the consummation of covenant history we see the joining together of the Lamb and His bride.</span><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Revelation 21:2</span></p><p>And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">as a bride adorned for her husband</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The new covenant community, the new Jerusalem, is the bride of Christ.</span><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Revelation 21:9</span></p>Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, " Come here, I will show you <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">the bride, the wife of the Lamb</span>.<br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-24923733578839433822008-05-20T20:37:00.006-04:002008-05-22T17:47:29.585-04:00Gospelthemes.comI came across this site while googling the other day. I was immediately struck by the following quote. I also found the four articles, linked below, to be very helpful as well.<br /><br />Here's the quote:<br /><br />"We do not start our Christian lives by working out our faith for ourselves; it is mediated to us by Christian tradition, in the form of sermons, books and established patterns of church life and fellowship. We read our Bibles in the light of what we have learned from these sources; we approach Scripture with minds already formed by the mass of accepted opinions and viewpoints with which we have come into contact, in both the Church and the world.�It is easy to be unaware that it has happened; it is hard even to begin to realize how profoundly tradition in this sense has moulded us. But we are forbidden to become enslaved to human tradition, either secular or Christian, whether it be �catholic� tradition, or �critical� tradition, or �ecumenical� tradition. We may never assume the complete rightness of our own established ways of thought and practice and excuse ourselves the duty of testing and reforming them by Scriptures."<br /><br />(J. I. Packer, �Fundamentalism� and the Word of God [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1958], pp. 69-70.)<br /><br />And here are the links:<br /><br /><B><A href="http://gospelthemes.com/hell.htm" target="_blank">Jesus' Teaching on Hell</A><br><I>It might surprise you!</i></B><br /><br /><B><A href="http://gospelthemes.com/res.htm" target="_blank">The Resurrection of Israel</A><BR><I>in I Corinthians 15</I></B><br /><br /><B><A href="http://gospelthemes.com/Mt24.htm" target="_blank">Matthew 24-25:</A><BR><I>Destruction of Jerusalem vs. Final Judgment</I></B><br /><br /><B><A href="http://gospelthemes.com/e-petty-pretintro.htm" target="_blank">The Second Coming of Christ, the Resurrection,<br />and the Judgment</A><BR><I>Their Timing and Nature<br />A Brief Introduction</I></B><br /><Br></Br>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-66452939800212520182008-05-15T07:44:00.003-04:002008-05-15T07:45:48.936-04:00Christian History: End of the Jewish Age<object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oeBSdty_T6E&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oeBSdty_T6E&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-14999795879944022992008-04-27T20:43:00.007-04:002008-04-27T21:37:42.083-04:00PowerpointsHere are links to a couple of Powerpoint presentations I have made.<br /><br />You can download a viewer here: <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=048dc840-14e1-467d-8dca-19d2a8fd7485&displaylang=en"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Powerpoint viewer</span><br /><br /></span></a><a href="http://ragnar724.googlepages.com/TheParousia.ppt"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">The Parousia</span></span></a> - This is a presentation I have used to present Preterism.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://ragnar724.googlepages.com/clouds.ppt"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Clouds</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>- This is a presentation of the uses of clouds in the Bible, such as Jesus coming on the clouds.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-86377240634814252412008-04-24T23:54:00.002-04:002008-04-24T23:56:45.111-04:00Mr. Deity<p><strong>Mr. Deity and the Help Meet (Season 2, Episode 9)</strong></p><br /><p> <br /></p><embed src="http://www.crackle.com/p/Moving_Targets/Mr._Deity_and_the_Help_Meet_-_Season_2_Ep_9.swf" bgcolor="#869ca7" name="mtgPlayer" play="false" loop="false" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="id=2192557&mu=0&ap=0&ml=o%3D12%26fpl%3D68726%26fx%3D" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="325" width="400"></embed><br /><p></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-26035657675528572792007-05-27T17:50:00.000-04:002007-07-30T08:35:59.347-04:00Repent of What?<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Repentance is mentioned 53 times in the New Testament. Many Christians consider it to be a requirement for salvation. Obviously it is an important concept to understand. So, what exactly is repentance as it is used in the New Testament?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Here is the definition of the word <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">repent</span> from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">1 : to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">2 a : to feel regret or contrition </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">b : to change one's mind</span><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>These three definitions are given in the order of usage. I would say that this order is similar to Christian usage. Most Christians would give definition one or two. </strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>The third definition is the literal meaning of the Greek word for repentance, metanoia, which means to change one's mind.</strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>I would like to consider each passage that speaks of repentance and see how "to change one's mind" would fit in the context.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 3:1-12</span><br /><br />Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repent</span>, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'" Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span>; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "As for me, I baptize you with water for <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span>, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"Change your mind, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." What is John asking them to change their minds about? Since the kingdom of heaven is near, they need to change their minds to prepare themselves for the coming new covenant kingdom. The old kingdom of Israel was governed by the old covenant. The new kingdom of heaven is to be governed by the new covenant. John is asking them to change their minds about the old covenant so that they will accept the new.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This change of mind is to result in a change of behavior (fruit). The old covenant failed to produce godly behavior. They must relinquish the old in order to embrace the new.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The new covenant produces fruit by cleansing our consciences from dead works. Baptism is a visual picture of the cleansing that comes with the new covenant. John baptised those who had changed their minds and accepted the new covenant cleansing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 11:1-20</span><br /><br />When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me." As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. "This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.' "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repent</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">They did not change their minds about the gospel which was preached to them. This gospel is the gospel of peace with God that accompanies the new covenant cleansing.</span><br /><br /><br /><p style="font-weight: bold;">Mark 1:1-15</p>The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:<br />"BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,<br />WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;<br />THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,<br />'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,<br />MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'"<br /><p>John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span> for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repent</span> and believe in the gospel.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">John's baptism was to show that they had changed their minds from relying on the old covenant to cleanse their sins and were now relying on the new covenant message that their sins had been forgiven in Christ. Because the old covenant was soon to be fulfilled in Christ the new covenant kingdom was at hand. Jesus was preaching that they should change their minds by believing the gospel message. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Notice how the first definition (to turn from sin) would not fit here. Turn from sin and believe in the gospel. Believing in the gospel is what enables us to turn from sin. </span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Luke 5:27-39</p><p style="font-weight: bold;">After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">repentance</span>." And they said to Him, "The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink." And Jesus said to them, "You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? "But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days." And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. "But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. "And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'"</p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Jesus is being very ironic here. He is addressing the Pharisees who wrongly consider themselves righteous in regard to the old covenant law. They were questioning Jesus because he was associating with those who would be condemned for not following the law of Moses. </span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In Jesus' eyes, the Pharisees were the actual sinners because they were relying on the old covenant and their own righteousness derived from following the law of Moses for salvation. Jesus came to bring the new covenant of righteousness through Him to those who felt the failure of the old covenant.</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The big reception with eating and drinking at Levi's house was a picture of the joy of the new covenant. The Pharisees rightly pointed out that this celebration was inappropriate under the old covenant. Jesus responds with the parable of the wineskins. The wineskins represent the two covenants. The wine represents life under each covenant. The new covenant wine of joy is incompatible with the old covenant wineskins.</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Jesus is calling those who have failed under the old covenant (sinners) to repent or change their minds and enjoy the wine of the new covenant.</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Luke 13:1-5</p><p>Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? "I tell you, no, but unless you <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">repent</span>, you will all likewise perish. "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no, but unless you <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repent</span>, you will all likewise perish."</p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Jesus is comparing the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the entire old covenant system to the destruction of these Galileans. He is calling His listeners to repent of relying on the old covenant and to flee from Jerusalem and the temple system or they will perish with the destruction of the city and those who continue to follow the old system instead of embracing Jesus.</span><br /></strong><br />Luke 24:44-47<br /><p>Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span> for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>We are to leave behind the old covenant and embrace the new because our sins have been forgiven once for all in Christ.</strong></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Acts 2:36-38</p><p>Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Repent</span>, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>Peter preaches the same gospel as John the Baptist.</strong></span> </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acts 3:12-21</span><br /><br />But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. "Therefore <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repent </span>and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Peter calls them to repent and return to the presence of the Lord. They are to repent of how they treated Jesus who is the Lord. They are to change their minds about who Jesus is. Jesus is the fulfillment of the old covenant and He, Himself is the new covenant. Peter is calling on them to move from the shadows of the old covenant into the light of the new.</span><br /><br /><strong>Acts 13:23-39</strong></p><p>"From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span> to all the people of Israel. "And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. "For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. "And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. "When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. "But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, 'YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.' "As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY and SURE blessings OF DAVID.' "Therefore He also says in another Psalm, 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.' "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>In this speech, Paul, preaches the gospel preached earlier by John and Peter. He is asking them to switch their belief from for the Law of Moses to the grace of Jesus.</strong></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Acts 20:18-27</p><p>And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span> toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. "And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. "And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><strong>Paul was testifying that they should change their mind toward God concerning their rejection of the new covenant in Jesus' blood. They should believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of the old covenant.</strong></span></p><p><strong>Acts 26:6-23</strong><br /><br /></p><p>"And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. "Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead? "So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. "And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. "While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' "And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' "So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repent</span> and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span>. "For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."</p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Paul repeats his earlier gospel message and encourages them to perform deeds appropriate to changing their mind about Jesus.</span></strong> </p><p><strong>John 6:39</strong></p><p>Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."<br /><br /><strong>Romans 2:1-5</strong></p><p>Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">repentance</span>? But because of your stubbornness and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">unrepentant</span> heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,</p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Paul's readers were still holding on to the law of Moses. They were using the law to judge one another instead of accepting one another and being gracious as God had been gracious to them. God's kindness toward them should have led them to be kind to one another and not judgmental. God's kindness should have made them change their minds about the law. Instead they clung to the law and would suffer the consequences when the city of Jerusalem felt the wrath of God. </span></strong></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-11181195715316151492007-05-23T20:42:00.000-04:002007-05-26T20:37:21.676-04:00"All in All"<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">This article is an attempt to understand what is meant by the phrase, "All in all". This phrase is used only two times in the Bible. It is found in Ephesians and 1 Corinthians. In both places the meaning is unclear. By comparing the two passages and looking at the broader context I hope to come to an understanding of this phrase.<br /></span><br /><strong>Ephesians 1:18-23</strong><br /><br />18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,<br />19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might<br />20 which He brought about in Christ, when <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">He raised Him</span> from the dead </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places</span>,<br />21 <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">far above</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">all rule and authority and power and dominion</span>, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.<br />22 And <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He put all things in subjection under His feet</span>, and gave Him as <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">head over all things</span> to the church,<br />23 which is His body, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">the fullness of Him who fills all in all</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">In the first chapter of Ephesians Paul prays that the Ephesians will understand what God has done for them. Paul describes what God has done by telling us about Christ's victory over death. Notice the repetition of the word all throughout this prayer; all rule, all things, and all in all. Christ has subjugated all things. He rules over all things. He fills all things.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">But what does He fill all things with? We must look at the next passage in Ephesians to find out.<br /></span><br /><strong>Ephesians 3:14-19<br /></strong><br />14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,<br />15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,<br />16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,<br />17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,<br />18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,<br />19 and <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">to know the love of Christ</span> which surpasses knowledge,<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">This passage elaborates on the filling of all things from chapter one. We are filled up with the love of God as demonstrated by Christ. The love of God described in chapter three has replaced the fear which filled the world under the previous rulers described in chapter one.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hebrews 12:14,15</span><br /><br /></span>Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29993"></span>and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Galatians 2:12</span><br /><br /></span>For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Romans 8:15</span><br /><br /></span>For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, " Abba! Father!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 John 4:18</span><br /><br />There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.<br /><br /><strong>1 Corinthians 15:24-28</strong><br /><br />24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">all rule and all authority and power</span>.<br />25 For He must reign until He has put <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">all His enemies under His feet</span>.<br />26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.<br />27 For <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET</span> But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.<br />28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">so that God may be all in all</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Now that the previous rulers have been defeated there is nothing left of fear. Now the love of God fills all in all.</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">God's love is now filling everything!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Any thoughts?</span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-87341057609079372442007-05-12T15:39:00.001-04:002007-05-12T15:39:35.311-04:00Imagine<span style="color:#3333ff;">Imagine there's no Heaven</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Revelation 21:1,2</span><br /><br />Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">2 Peter 3:10-13</span><br /><br />But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">It's easy if you try</span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Matthew 11:30<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;">"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color:#009900;">Romans 5:4<br /></span><br /><p><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;">But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness</span><br /><br />No hell below us</span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Revelation 20:14</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire.</span></p><span style="color:#3333ff;"><p>Above us only sky</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Revelation 21:2</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.</span></p><p>Imagine all the people<br />Living for today</p><p></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Luke 19:9,10</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."<br /></span><br />Imagine there's no countries<br />It isn't hard to do</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Ephesians 2:11-16</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.</span></p><p>Nothing to kill or die for</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Matthew 5:21,22</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br />And no religion too</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Romans 6:14</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.</span></p><p>Imagine all the people<br />Living life in peace</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Colossians 1:19,20</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 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.</span></p><p>You may say that I'm a dreamer<br />But I'm not the only one<br />I hope someday you'll join us<br />And the world will be as one</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">John 17:20,21</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.<br /></span><br />Imagine no possessions<br />I wonder if you can<br />No need for greed or hunger<br />A brotherhood of man<br />Imagine all the people<br />Sharing all the world</p><p><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#009900;">Acts 2:44-46</span> </span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,<br /></span><br />You may say that I'm a dreamer<br />But I'm not the only one<br />I hope someday you'll join us<br />And the world will live as one</p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Philippians 2:9-11</span></p><p></span></p><span style="color:#000000;">For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-83296185493821754482007-05-02T07:26:00.001-04:002007-05-02T07:26:24.941-04:00So What Exactly Is Salvation?<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">There are three events that stand out in the history of salvation. They are the fall in Eden, the redemption from Egypt and the redemption at the cross. To understand the full meaning of salvation we will look at each of these events and trace the usage of words for salvation throughout the Bible.</span><br /><br />Matthew 1:21<br /><br />"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">save</span> His people from their sins."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Here at the beginning of the New Testament we see why Jesus came. This is Jesus' mission statement. Names were very important in this culture and the name describes His purpose. His people needed salvation from their sins.</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We must look back to the beginning of the Old Testament to begin to understand what salvation from sins means.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Genesis 2:15-17</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">There were two trees in the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. I believe these trees represent two ways of relating to God. One is bad and the other is good. These ways of relating to God will continue to be the theme throughout the entire salvation history recorded in the Bible.<br /><br />Notice that it is not called the tree of the knowledge of evil. If we wrote the story today I'm sure that is what we would name it. When Adam ate the fruit of the tree he is said to have fallen. So why is it also called the tree of the knowledge of good?</span></span><br /><br />Genesis 3:20-24<br /><br />Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Then the LORD God said, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Behold, the man has become like one of Us</span>, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"--therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The result of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was that man became like God. How was man like God? Was God ashamed of being naked. Did God sin? No, because he had eaten the fruit, man now knew good and evil just like God. Now in what sense is it bad to know good and evil just like God does? I can only think that it is because man has fallen from a state of innocence regarding good and evil to a state of responsibility regarding good and evil. Before the fall man was dependent on God. After the fall man is responsible before God.<br /><br />The two trees represent two ways of relating to God. The tree of knowledge of good and evil represents a relationship of performance in order to be pleasing to God. The tree of life represents a relationship of dependence in order to be pleasing to God.<br /><br /></span>Luke 1:67-79<br /><br />And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">redemption</span> for His people, and has raised up a horn of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">salvation</span> for us in the house of David His servant-- as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">salvation</span> FROM OUR ENEMIES, and FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us that we, being <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rescued</span> from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; to give to His people <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">the knowledge of</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">salvation</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">by the forgiveness of their sins</span>, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, to guide our feet into the way of peace."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Remember that earlier we said that Jesus' mission statement was to save His people from their sins? In this passage we add the words "redemption" and "rescue" to our list of salvation words. But before we look at these new words let's think about what the sin is that the people needed to be saved from. Think back to Adam in the garden. What was his sin? Wasn't it that he wanted to be like God, knowing both good and evil?<br /><br />Now, the word "redemption" literally means "buying back". It paints the picture of a person being bought back out of slavery. It is also being "rescued" out of slavery. When man ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil he fell into a kind of slavery. This was the slavery that comes from the responsibility to perform for God. Mankind lost the freedom of innocence in the garden. Jesus came to redeem, to save, and to rescue us from that slavery and to return us to the freedom we had before the fall.<br /><br />Also notice that this salvation is by the forgiveness of their sins. The word "forgiveness" literally means "sending away." Once the old slave master was paid off he was sent away forever. The price for our sins has been paid and sin is no longer our master. We have been rescued!<br /></span><br />John 3:16-18<br /><br />For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved</span> through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Here we see that the opposite of "saved" is "judged." We are judged by our master. If we are under our master, the Law, then we will be judged guilty. If we are under our master, Jesus, then we will be judged innocent since He has set us free from bondage to the Law.<br /><br />Do we believe that we have been set free? Does belief set us free or does Jesus? </span><br /><br />Acts 15:1-11<br /><br />Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved</span>." And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses." </span>The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">cleansing their hearts by faith</span>. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? "But we believe that we are <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">through the grace of the Lord Jesus</span>, in the same way as they also are."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The men from Judea claimed that salvation came through observing the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders made it clear that salvation comes through believing the word of the gospel. Peter describes salvation as "cleansing their hearts by faith." I think that Peter is saying that the Law of Moses was a way of cleansing their hearts or consciences through works of obedience. That is, if one keeps the Law then one's heart or conscience will never become dirty. The way of the new covenant is to cleanse our hearts through the work of believing Jesus.<br /><br />Notice also that salvation is through the grace of the Lord Jesus. This is in contrast to the "yoke" of the Law of Moses which was unbearable.<br /><br />Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil defiled the heart of man. He fell from innocence. He became ashamed and guilty before God. The Law of Moses heightened the sense of guilt before God as men failed to perfectly obey the Law which they so eagerly accepted from God.<br /><br />Through belief in Jesus as the new way to purity before God, mankind is restored to the innocent purity of the pre-fall Eden.<br /></span><br />Romans 5:8-10<br /><br />But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">justified by His blood</span>, we shall be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved</span> from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">reconciled to God</span> through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved</span> by His life.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Here we see that salvation is the result of being justified by His blood and being reconciled to God. Justification and reconciliation are presented as past events that precede a future salvation. </span><br /><br />Romans 6:4-7<br /><br />Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">so we too might walk in newness of life</span>. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection</span>, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">so that we would no longer be slaves to sin</span>; for he who has died is freed from sin.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">This passage speaks of the future salvation of Romans 5:8-10; "we shall be saved by His life." We are saved by His life as we walk in newness of life. This newness of life is to walk in the likeness of His resurrection. Walking in the likeness of His resurrection is further described as being no longer slaves to sin. Our post-cross salvation is accomplished as our minds transform from the old life of trying to please sin, our old slave master, to the new life of resting in the constant pleasure of our new master, Jesus.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Romans 12:1,2</span><br /><br />Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">acceptable</span> to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">conformed to this world</span>, but be <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">transformed by the renewing of your mind</span>, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">acceptable</span> and perfect.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">"Conformed to this world" refers to the Old Testament system of earning God's pleasure by our actions. We are to renew our minds to an attitude of resting in His pleasure with us. This resting in Christ's work is that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Christ is the sacrifice that is good and acceptable and perfect. As we rest in Him we, too, are good and acceptable and perfect in God's sight.<br /></span><br />Romans 10:1-13<br /><br />Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">salvation</span>. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">end of the law for righteousness</span> to everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down), or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">salvation</span>. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SAVED</span>."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">This passage clearly (to me) implies that the Law of Moses was the way to righteousness under the old covenant. Jesus came to show that the way to be righteous (right with God) was not through obedience to earn His love but rather through believing in His love for us as demonstrated on the cross. Righteousness is not through zeal for God (our obedience), but through the knowledge of God's unconditional love for us. Christ died for us while we were crucifying Him.<br /><br />Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Salvation is the end of the law for righteousness. Our salvation is the transforming of our minds from reliance on the law of Moses to reliance on the work of Christ. Salvation is being restored to fellowship with the Father. Our self-reliance (law-reliance) kept us from intimacy with God. Our guilt separated us from God. When our minds are transformed from self-reliance to Christ-reliance our relationship with God is healed and we again have the intimacy of innocence.</span><br /><br />1 Corinthians 1:18-21<br /><br />For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved</span> it is the power of God. For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">save</span> those who believe.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Unearned salvation is foolishness according to the world's wisdom. It is not only foolishness but it is hard for us to accept. We want to do something to earn our friendship with God.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The message that Christ has done everything for us is what saves. Believing that Christ has restored us to friendship with God transforms our minds. This knowledge enables us to rest in God's gentle care and transforms us into a people who are able to love as He has loved us. </span><br /><br />2 Timothy 2:3-6<br /><br />This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saved </span>and to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">come to the knowledge of the truth</span>. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation is the knowledge of the truth that Christ has ransomed all from slavery to the Law of sin and death.<br /></span><br />1 Peter 3:18-22<br /><br />For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saves</span> you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">an appeal to God for a good conscience</span>--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation is having a good conscience before God. This good conscience is the mind transformed from relying on the Law to gain access to God to relying on Christ. The wall of separation has been ripped open from above and now access is free to all.</span><br /><br />John 8:31-36<br /><br />So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.</span>"<br />They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">free</span>'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">slave of sin</span>. "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We were first born as slave to the law of sin and death. In the rebirth we are adopted into a heavenly family where we are free of sin. The son has set us free from the law of sin and death.<br />Knowledge of the truth of what Jesus has done is what makes us free. Once we realize that Jesus has provided us with unconditional access to the Father we are free from ever being separated again by our sins.</span><br /><br />Acts 13:38,39<br /><br />"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">forgiveness of sins</span> is proclaimed to you, and through Him <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">everyone who believes</span> is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">freed from all things</span>, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">This verse indicates that our salvation involves our freedom from the guilt of our sins. Notice that Paul says that "forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." He does not say forgiveness is available. He does not add any condition. Forgiveness has been accomplished.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The condition is that we believe, but belief does not create forgiveness. We believe that we are forgiven and then our minds are transformed from guilt to innocence and our lives are transformed from striving to rest, from battle to peace.</span><br /><br />Romans 6:22<br /><br />But now having been <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">freed from sin</span> and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.</p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation involves a change of masters. We were enslaved to sin and are now enslaved to God. We no longer live to please the law of sin and death. We have been freed from sin and death and are now under God's rule.<br /></span><br />Romans 7:3-6<br /><br />So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">die to the Law</span> through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">released from the Law</span>, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation involves being released from the Law. When were we released from the Law? We were released from the Law when Christ died on the cross. We were joined to the Law as in marriage and then we died with Christ on the cross. Now we have been raised with Christ and are joined in marriage to Him. </span><br /><br />Romans 8:2-4<br /><br />For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">free from the law of sin and of death</span>. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">He condemned sin in the flesh</span>, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Christ condemned our efforts to keep the Law in order to be pleasing to God. This passage is referring back to Adam's fall from grace (the tree of life) and into Law (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). Our salvation is being released from the slavery of trying to earn God's favor through the flesh and being given the freedom to enjoy God's constant presence.</span><br /><br />Galatians 5:1-6<br /><br />It was for freedom that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Christ set us free</span>; therefore keep standing firm and <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery</span>. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation is being set free from obligation to the Law and standing firm in the freedom of grace.</span><br /><br />Hebrews 2:14,15<br /><br />Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Fear of being separated from God gave the Law its power to enslave us. Salvation is resting in fellowship with God.</span><br /><br />John 15:1-3<br /><br />I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation also involves cleansing. The disciples were clean because of the words which Jesus spoke to them. How can words make one clean? What words were these that Jesus had spoken? It seems reasonable that they would be words found in the immediate context. Preferrably they would be found in the preceeding verses and in the following verses. </span><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Jesus' words are found sandwiched between John 14:21</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me <em><strong>will be loved by My Father</strong></em>, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and John 15:9,10</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">"Just as the Father has loved Me, <em><strong>I have also loved you</strong></em>; abide in My love. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The words that cleanse are "The Father loves you." The disciples had moved beyond the guilt produced by the futility of obedience to the Law of Moses and moved into the innocence produced by Christ's commandment to believe in his work.</span><br /><br />Acts 15:7-9<br /><br />After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">cleansing their hearts by faith</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Peter summarizes salvation as "cleansing their hearts by faith." Hearts is a metaphor for minds or, more specifically, consciences. Salvation is having a conscience freed from guilt before God.</span><br /><br />Ephesians 5:25-27<br /><br />Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">cleansed her by the washing of water with the word</span>, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">holy and blameless</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">God's word that He loves us unconditionally cleanses our consciences and restores us to the state of innocence where Adam was "holy and blameless" before God.</span><br /><br />Hebrews 9:13,14<br /><br />For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">without blemish</span> to God, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">cleanse your conscience from dead works</span> to serve the living God?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Our consciences are cleansed from the guilt resulting from trying to obey the Law of Moses. Works of the Law are dead because they are powerless to produce life or to earn God's love. The problem is not with the Law itself but with our inability to keep it. The Law came into play to convince us of our inability so that we would rely on a champion to keep the Law in our place.</span><br /><br />Hebrews 10:1,2<br /><br />For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">This cleansing removes the guilt from our minds so that we are no longer even conscious of sins.<br /></span><br />Hebrews 10:19-22<br /><br />Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience</span> and our bodies washed with pure water.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">An evil conscience is one that is enslaved to the guilt of the Law of Moses.</span><br /><br />Galatians 1:3,4<br /><br />Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rescue us from this present evil age</span>, according to the will of our God and Father,</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation involves rescue from the Law of Moses. The age of the Law was still present when Paul wrote to the Galatians. It was replaced by the age of grace when Jerusalem and it's temple were destroyed in 70ad.</span></p><p>Colossians 1:13,14<br /><br />For He <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rescued us from the domain of darkness</span>, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The age of Law is also referred to the domain of darkness because the Law was a forshadow of the grace to come. Darkness refers to the shadowy nature of the Law.</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Christ brought to light the unconditional love of God which was darkened by the conditional nature of the Law.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">John 1:13</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">who </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">were <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">born</span>, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the will of man, but <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">of God</span>.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation involves a new birth. When Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he fell from grace and life to law and death. Belief in Christ raises us up from the death of Adam to life in Christ. That is the rebirth. We are not reborn by following the Law. That is by blood or the will of the flesh or the will of man. We are reborn by following Christ and believing in Him. We are reborn by the work of God.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">John 3:3-8</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We describe salvation as being "born again". "Born again" is actually a translation of born from above. It does, of course, mean born again but the emphasis is on the nature of the new birth. We are born from above. It is a spiritual rebirth. It is a heavenly rebirth. It is a rebirth by the Spirit who comes down from heaven. It is a rebirth from the kingdom of Israel to the kingdom of heaven. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Salvation is a rebirth from the kingdom of the Law to the kingdom of the Spirit. We are born again into a new family with a new relationship to the Father. We no longer need to earn acceptance. Acceptance is guaranteed in the Son.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Galatians 4:1-7</span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Now I say, as</span> long</span> as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">born of a woman, born under the Law</span>, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" </span>Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We were all born under the Law since we were descended from Adam. Now we have died with Christ and have been reborn under His grace. Now God is our Father instead of Adam.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Galatians 4:21-29</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. </span>This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, "REJOICE</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND." And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit</span>, so it is now also.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The first birth is according to the flesh. That is, born into a world or struggling in the flesh to keep the Law in order to please God. The second birth is according to the promise or according to the Spirit. The Spirit and the promise are the same thing. We are born according to the word of God that we are unconditionally loved by Him.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1 Peter 1:23 </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">for <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you have been</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">born again</span> not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Peter says that we are born again through the word of God. This word is the promise and Spirit which tell us that we are unconditionally loved by God. Salvation is resting in this love.</span><br /><br />1 John 5:1-4</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God</span>, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.</span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We are born again when we believe the promise, the Spirit, and the word of God that we are loved unconditionally.</span> </span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-45123909448159868572007-02-21T00:32:00.000-05:002007-03-09T16:35:28.440-05:00Hymenaean Heresy? Some thoughts on resurrection and law.Is there a sense in which the resurrection had already taken place when Paul wrote the following words? What do you think?<br /><br />2 Timothy 2:16-18<br /><br />But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saying that the resurrection has already taken place</span>, and <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">they upset the faith of some.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">For me, this verse raises a few questions. What argument would these two men offer to demonstrate that the resurrection had already taken place? What kind of resurrection did they mean, spiritual or physical? If spiritual, then how would that upset the faith of some? If physical, then wouldn't that mean that their own resurrections had already taken place and wouldn't that upset their own faiths? If the physical resurrection had already taken place, then their physical bodies hadn't been raised, or maybe they had. I really don't understand this passage. It is fun to use against those evil Preterists though. It's easy to point out that the resurrection obviously hadn't taken place when this verse was written, around 67ad. It's easy because most people don't know that Preterists also believe that the resurrection hadn't happened at that time. Every Preterist that I've ever read or heard says that the resurrection took place in 70ad, some three years later. So this verse totally misses the Preterist target. It misses by a mile.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">It would be nice for those who like to say "Hyper-Preterism" if this verse were written after 70ad, but it wasn't. Sorry. This verse is moot.</span><br /></span><br />1 Corinthians 15:56,57<br /><br />The sting of death is sin, and the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">power of sin is the law</span>;<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28776"> </span>but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Bees sting and death stings. The sting of a bee is what hurts us. The sting of death is what hurts us. Sin is what hurts us. The power of sin is what makes it hurt. The law is what gives sin the power to hurt us. If there is no law, then sin doesn't hurt us any more.</span><br /><br />2 Corinthians 3:7,8<br /><br />But if the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones</span>, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28850"> </span>how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The law is described as a ministry of death. The law gives death the power to sting us. Without the law, death has no sting. Death is made powerless.</span><br /><br />2 Timothy 1:10<br /><br />but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">abolished<b style="font-weight: bold;"> </b>death</span> and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Christ abolished death by removing its sting. He made the sting of death powerless by freeing us from the law.</span><br /><br />Hebrews 2:9<br /><br />But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He might taste death for everyone</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Jesus tasted death and its sting, sin, for everyone. By taking on our sins, Jesus fulfilled the entire law on behalf of everyone. </span><br /><br />Romans 6:4<br /><br />Therefore <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">we have been buried with Him through baptism into death</span>, so that <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Resurrection is from death to life. Law brings death and grace brings life. Resurrection is from law to grace. We were raised from a life of dead works to a new life of grace.</span><br /><br />Romans 6:11-14<br /><br />Even so consider yourselves to be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">dead to sin</span>, but <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">alive to God in Christ Jesus</span>.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28081"> </span>Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28082"> </span>and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">alive from the dead</span>, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28083"> </span>For<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Resurrection is from death to life. It is both being dead to sin and alive to God. It is an attitude of living under God's grace and not under law.</span><br /><br />Romans 8:10<br /><br />If Christ is in you, though the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">body is dead because of sin</span>, yet the <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">spirit is alive because of righteousness</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Resurrection is not about the physical body. It is the spirit rising from the death of sin and law to the righteousness provided by God's grace.</span><br /><br />1 Peter 3:18<br /><br />For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">put to death in the flesh</span>, but <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">made alive in the spirit<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Notice how Peter's focus is not on our physical resurrection body. Peter focuses on our spirits being made alive.</span><br /></span><br />Ephesians 2:4-7<br /><br />But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">dead in our transgressions</span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">made us alive together with Christ</span> (by grace you have been saved),<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29236"> </span>and <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">raised us up with Him</span>, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29237"> </span>so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Resurrection is rising with Christ from the death brought about by sin and being made alive by grace.</span><br /><br />Colossians 2:12-15<br /><br />having been <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">buried with Him</span> in baptism, in which you were also <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">raised up with Him through faith in the working of God</span>, who raised Him from the dead.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29508"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh</span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">He made you alive together with Him</span>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">having forgiven us all our transgressions</span>,<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29509"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29510"> </span>When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Is there any difference between the words, "raised up with Him" and the words, "resurrected with Him." Is there any difference between "canceled out" and "abolished?" The law, itself, was not abolished, but our relationship with the law was abolished.</span><br /></span><br />Colossians 3:1<br /><br />Therefore if <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you have been raised up with Christ</span>, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We have been resurrected with Christ.</span><br /><br />Matthew 5:17<br /><br />"<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets</span>; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">What is the difference between "abolish" and "fulfill?" "Abolish" means to do away with. "Fulfill" means to complete or to bring to an end. The Law and the Prophets were not merely abolished. They were completed and, therefore, brought to their end. The Law and the Prophets were to lead us to Christ. Once we come to Christ, their purpose is complete and they are no longer needed.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Galatians 3:22-25</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But the Scripture has shut up everyone <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">under sin</span>, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. </span>But before faith came, we were kept in custody <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">under the law</span>, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">we are no longer under a tutor</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Notice the repetition of under. We were under sin, under law and under a tutor. The idea is that we were in bondage under the authority of sin, law, and a tutor. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />Galatians 4:1-5<br /><br />Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, </span>but he is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">under guardians and managers until the date set by the father</span>. So also we, while we were children, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world</span>. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He might redeem those who were under the Law</span>, that we might receive the adoption as sons.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Here again, we see that we were in bondage under the law, the elemental things of the world, the beginning principles, until the date set by the Father. Redemption speaks of paying the purchase price to release one from slavery to a master. The Law was our master but now grace is our master, thanks to Jesus paying the purchase price to redeem us out from under the authority of the Law.</span><br /><br />1 Corinthians 15:24-26<br /><br />then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">He has abolished all rule and all authority and power</span>.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28744"> </span>For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28745"> </span>The last enemy that will be abolished is death.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">The authority and power of the Law was abolished with the destruction of Jerusalem, its seat of governance in 70ad.</span><br /><br />Ephesians 2:14-16<br /><br />For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29245"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances</span>, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29246"> </span>and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">How could Paul be any clearer? The Law was abolished through the cross!</span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1147977531441946312006-05-18T14:37:00.000-04:002007-02-09T08:39:52.830-05:00Romans 6 - The Two Kingdoms - Law and Grace<span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28070">1</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">What shall we say then?</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Are we to continue in <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">sin</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">so that grace may increase</span>?<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">What shall we say then</span> - This is the obvious question raised by<br /><br />Romans 5:20, 21<br /><br />The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br /><br />Should we continue to live under the Law of Moses so that grace might abound all the more?<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Are we to continue in sin</span> - The word "continue" is a compound verb meaning to dwell in. Notice that Paul does not say "Are we to continue sinning?" The question is rather "Are we to continue living in the kingdom of sin?" The alternative is the kingdom of grace.<br /><br /><strong>Acts 13:43</strong><br /><br />Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to <strong>continue </strong>in the grace of God.<br /><br />Throughout this chapter Paul will personify sin as the ruler of a kingdom which opposes the grace of God.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">- In the Greek "sin" has the definite article and so should be translated "the sin". Paul is referring back to the sin of Adam in the garden which he has been speaking of in chapter 5. So, how could Paul's readers continue in the sin of Adam? It would be by sinning in the same manner as Adam sinned.<br /><br />Adam wasn't content to rest in God's pleasure. He wanted to please God through his actions. By eating of the tree of knowledge Adam thought that he would be able to contribute to God. This attitude of Adam's was the reason for the Law of Moses which is the Old Covenant. The theme of the entire Bible is to change one's attitude from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from trying to please God to resting in God's pleasure.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">so that grace may increase</span> - If our sin causes God to be glorified as He demonstrates His grace then we should continue living in the realm of sin ... right?<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28071"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup">2</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">May it never be</span>! <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">How shall we who died to sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">still live in it</span>?<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">May it never be</span> - Of course not! This is not a proper conclusion from<br /><br /><strong>Romans 5:20</strong><br /><br />The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more<br /><br />It seems reasonable that we should continue in the realm of Law and increasing sin so that God's grace might be glorified. The correct conclusion, though, is that God's grace increased so that we might learn to be gracious with ourselves and others, just as He has been gracious with us. Ous grace should abound all the more too. This graciousness is the new life we are to live.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">How shall we who died to sin</span> - When did we die to sin? Has Paul discussed this before? Yes he has. When Christ died He died on our behalf or in our place. When He died we died. He died in reference to the kingdom of sin where striving to keep the Law increases sin.<br /><br /><strong>Romans 5:6-8</strong><br /><br />For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">still live in it</span> - We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Let us live lives that are ruled by grace and not by law.<br /><br /><strong>Colossians 1:13</strong><br /><br />For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28072">3</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Or do you not know</span> that all of us who <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">have been baptized into Christ Jesus</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">have been baptized into His death</span>?</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Or do you not know</span> - Knowing who we are in Christ is the key to fruitfulness in the Christian life.</p><p><strong>Romans 10:3</strong></p><p>For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.</p><p><strong>John 15:4</strong></p><p>Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">have been baptized into Christ Jesus</span> - Physical baptism is a visual representation of the spiritual truth of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. Baptism just means total identification or immersion into another. What is true of Christ is now true of us also. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">have been baptized into His death</span> - Just as Christ died to the old system so also we have died to the Law as a way of life.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28073">4</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Therefore</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">we have been buried with Him</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">through baptism into death</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">so that as Christ was raised from the dead</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">through the glory of the Father</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">so we too might walk in newness of life</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Therefore</span> - Because we were identified with Christ's death.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">we have been buried with Him</span> - Our death with Christ included being buried or shut off from our old life.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">through baptism into death</span> - Through our identification with Christ's death the Law no longer holds dominion over us.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">so that as Christ was raised from the dead</span> - Because the Law had no claim on Christ He was able to rise up from the death required by the Law.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">through the glory of the Father</span> - Christ was raised from the dead to bring glory to the Father.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">so we too might walk in newness of life</span> - We are to no longer walk under the Law and under fear of death or separation from God's approval. We bring glory to the Father by accepting and living under His unmerited favor.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28074">5</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">For if</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">we have become united with Him</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">in the likeness of His death</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">certainly we shall also be</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">in the likeness of His resurrection</span>, </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">For if</span> - This is a logical "if" and doesn't imply doubt. It is more like our "since". Paul is saying since we have ... therefore ...</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">we have become united with Him</span> - Christ is our champion. He provided the victory for us and everything that He had gained is ours as well.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">in the likeness of His death</span> - Water baptism illustrates that we have died with Christ to the old covenant world.</p><p><strong>Colossians 2:20,21</strong></p><p>If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">certainly we shall also be</span> - If we participated in His death we shall also reap the benefits of His life.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">in the likeness of His resurrection</span> - Christ rose to a new abundant life. A life free from the yoke of the Law. Our baptism represents our new life under grace. Why go back to the Law?</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28075"><span style="font-size:180%;">6</span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">knowing this</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">that our old self</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">was crucified with Him</span>, in order that <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">our body of sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">might be done away with</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">so that we would no longer be slaves to sin</span>;</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">knowing this</span> - We rely on revelation for our knowledge of who we are in Christ. There is no experiential way to know. We must trust in His word and not in our experience.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">that our old self</span> - Our old self is who we were in Adam. In Adam we were subject to the demands of the Law which resulted in sin and death.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">was crucified with Him</span> - When were we crucified with Him? On the cross? When we were water baptized? When we believed? I would answer on the cross. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">our body of sin</span> - This is just our old self that was characterized by striving against sin. Our new self is resting in freedom from sin.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">might be done away with</span> - This is a word that means "made powerless". Sin has no power over those who have been crucified with Him.</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:24</p><p>Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">so that we would no longer be slaves to sin</span> - One who is striving to keep the Law is a slave to sin. One who is free from the Law is free from sin.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28076"><span style="font-size:180%;">7</span> </span>for <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">he who has died</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">is freed from sin</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">he who has died</span> - Death moves us from one kingdom to another.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">is freed from sin</span> - Dying frees us from the obligations of the kingdom which is ruled by sin. The word for "freed" is literally means "made righteous".</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28077"><span style="font-size:180%;">8 </span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Now if we have died with Christ</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">we believe</span> that <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">we shall also </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">live</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">with Him</span>,</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Now if we have died with Christ</span> - Once again, this means that we have died with Christ. There is no uncertainty.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">we believe</span> - Our death and life with Christ is a matter of faith. Neither is something we experience directly. We must rely on God's word.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">we shall also live</span> - This life is the new life under the kingdom of grace. When we come to understand the freedom we have under God's grace we experience the abundant life God has provided for us.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">with Him</span> - Just as Christ has been freed from obligation to the Law through death, we now live in the new kingdom of grace with Him.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28078">9</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">knowing that Christ, </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">having been raised from the dead</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is never to die again</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">death no longer is master over Him</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">knowing that Christ - </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Our knowledge of our position in Christ and His work enables us to experience the new life under grace.</span></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">having been raised from the dead</span> - Christ's resurrection is the proof that Christ was accepted by God as our champion and that we have been freed from the kingdom of death. </p><p><strong>Romans 1:4</strong></p><p>who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is never to die again</span> - Death was the penalty required by the kingdom of Law. Once the penalty has been paid it is satisfied.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">death no longer is master over Him</span> - Death is personified as the master of those living under the kingdom of Law. The old covenant is called the ministry of death. Its purpose was to bring us to death so that we could have new life in Christ.</p><p><strong>2 Corinthians 3:7</strong></p><p>But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28079">10</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">For the death that He died</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">He died to sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">once for all</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">but the life that He lives</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">, He lives to God.</span></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">For the death that He died</span> - Paul focuses in on Christ's experience because He is our representative. What is true of Him is now true of us also.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">He died to sin</span> - Sin was master of the old covenant kingdom. Christ's death released Him from obligation to that realm.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">once for all</span> - Death ends the master/slave relationship once for all.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">but the life that He lives, He lives to God</span> - Now that He is freed from the realm of sin, He is free to live in the realm of God's grace.</p><p><strong>Galatians 2:4</strong></p><p>But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. </p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28080"><span style="font-size:180%;">11</span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Even so</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">consider</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">yourselves to be dead to sin</span>, but <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">alive to God</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">in Christ Jesus</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Even so</span> - In the same way ... all that is true of Christ is now true of us as well.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">consider</span> - Another word for believe. Believe that you are dead to sin. Notice all of the words in the New Testament that are synonyms for consider; believe, receive, repent, trust, be confident, rely, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, set your mind.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">yourselves to be dead to sin</span> - We are dead to the sin of Adam, dead to the Law of Moses. Paul's exhortation is to rest in God's pleasure in us as demonstrated by Christ's death for us while we were yet sinners.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">alive to God</span> - We were separated from God in Adam. Now we are alive to God. It is just a matter of whether we believe that Christ's death demonstrates His pleasure in us.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">in Christ Jesus</span> - Christ died and rose in our place. We have been made alive to God through Him.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28081">12</span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Therefore</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">do not let sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">reign</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">in your mortal body</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">so that you obey its lusts</span>,</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Therefore</span> - Because we have die to the realm of sin.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">do not let sin</span> - This is the sin, the sin of Adam, the sin of trying to please God instead of resting in His pleasure.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">reign</span> - Sin reigns when we try to please God and separate ourselves from His pleasure in us.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">in your mortal body</span> - Our earthly body is subject to death or separation from God. We have been spiritually united with God forever.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">so that you obey its lusts</span> - Sin's desire is that we live under the Law instead of rest in Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28082">13</span></span> and <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">do not go on presenting</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">the members of your body</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">to sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">as instruments of unrighteousness</span>; but <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">present yourselves to God</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">as those alive from the dead</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and your members as instruments of righteousness to God</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">do not go on presenting</span> - Each day we choose whether to rest in God's acceptance or to try to earn His acceptance.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">the members of your body</span> - Will our actions express faith or works?<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">to sin</span> - To the sin of Adam. To the Law which aggravates sinfulness.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">as instruments of unrighteousness</span> - We are righteous in Christ. When we step outside of this righteousness and try to earn righteousness we express the sin of Adam. We are instruments or weapons of the Law.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">present yourselves to God</span> - Instead we are to present ourselves to God. I picture an knight kneeling before his king presenting his sword for his use. When we rest in Christ's righteousness we become servants of peace and grace. When we present ourselves to the Law we become judges, challenging one another and and ourselves. The Law separates us from God and from one another. Grace unites us to God and one another.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">as those alive from the dead</span> - We have been delievered from the kingdom of those separated from God to the kingdom of those who are united to Him in Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and your members as instruments of righteousness to God</span> - Now we are to serve one another in love as those who dwell in God's love.</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ephesians 5:31,32</p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29304"></span>Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.<br /><br /><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28083"><span style="font-size:180%;">14</span> </span>For <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">sin shall not be master over you</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">for</span> you are not under law but under grace</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">sin shall not be master over you</span> - The sin of Adam is depicted as a master over his slaves.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">you are not under law but under grace</span> - Under law means a slave to law. Under grace means a slave to grace. All of our thoughts and actions are to be directed by God's grace toward us.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28084">15</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">What then</span>? <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Shall we sin</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">because we are not under law but under grace</span>? <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">May it never be</span>!</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">What then</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">-</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Now we have the question that throws everybody, even today!</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Shall we sin</span> - Not shall we continue in the sin but shall we sin at all.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">because we are not under law but under grace</span> - Since law is no longer our master, what will keep us from sinning?<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">May it never be</span> - As odd as it may sound, grace, not law is the answer to the sin problem. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28085">16</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Do you not know</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">you are slaves of the one whom you obey</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">either of sin resulting in death</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">or of obedience resulting in righteousness</span>?</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Do you not know </span>-</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience</span> -</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:1</p><p>It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">you are slaves of the one whom you obey</span> -</p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:7</span><br /></p><p>You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)">either of sin resulting in death</span> -</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:3,4</p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29165"></span>Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29166"></span>And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">or of obedience resulting in righteousness</span> -<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:4-6</p><p>You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29168"></span>For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29169"></span>For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28086">17</span></span> But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 1:5</p><p>through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28087"><span style="font-size:180%;">18</span> </span>and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28088">19</span> </span>I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:18-21</p><p>But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29182"></span>Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29183"></span>idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29184"></span>envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:22,23</p><p>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29186"></span>gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.<br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28089">20</span></span> For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.</p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29425"></span><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29425"></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Philippians 3:3,4</span></p><p>for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29426"></span>although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: </p><p></p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28090"><span style="font-size:180%;">21</span> </span>Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:2</p><p>Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Philippians 3:5-8</p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29427"></span>circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29428"></span>as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29429"></span>But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ </p><p></p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28091"><span style="font-size:180%;">22</span> </span>But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Philippians 3:9</p><p>and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28092">23</span></span> For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.</p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Philippians 3:10,11</p><p>that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29433"></span>in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. </p><p></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1143030310313745162006-03-22T07:24:00.000-05:002006-07-29T11:29:20.486-04:00Revelation 21 - Future Hope or Present Reality<span style="font-size:180%;">1</span> Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The Jewish temple in Jerusalem was divided into three parts; the Holy of Holies, the Court of Israel, and the Court of the Gentiles. These three divisions correspond to the first heaven, the first earth, and the sea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 24:1,2,34,35<br /><br /></span>Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.<span class="sup" id="en-NASB-23960"> </span>And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."<br /><br />"Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">From these verses we see that the temple was completely demolished before Jesus' generation passed away. We also see the temple referred to as "Heaven and earth".</span><br /><br /><strong>Colossians 1:19,20</strong><br /><br />For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This is possibly another reference to the temple. "Things on earth or things in heaven" could mean the division between God and man was abolished at the cross as shown by the veil separating the Holy of Holies from the other courts being torn.</span><br /><br /><strong>Jonah 1:1-3</strong><br /><br />The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD So he went down to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joppa</span>, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Notice that when God called on Jonah to preach to the gentiles of Nineveh, Jonah went by sea. This is an example of the sea representing the gentiles.</span><br /><br /><strong>Acts 11:1-10</strong><br /><br />Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, "I was in the city of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joppa</span> praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like<span style="font-weight: bold;"> a great sheet</span> lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. "I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' "But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' "But a voice from heaven answered a second time, 'What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.' "This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Here we see a recreation of the Jonah story in the life of Peter. It takes place in the city of Joppa where Jonah left for Nineveh. Perhaps the sheets in Peter's vision are the billowing sails of the ships leaving for the gentile lands. Once again, the point is that for the Jews the sea represented the gentile nations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2</span> And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Has the new Jerusalem come down as the bride now?</span><br /><br /><strong>1 Kings 11:36</strong><br /><br />'But to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The old Jerusalem was the city that God chose to be His witness (or light) to the nations. Now the church, the new Jerusalem is that witness.</span><br /><br /><strong>2 Kings 23:27</strong><br /><br />The LORD said, "I will remove Judah also from My sight, as I have removed Israel. And I will cast off Jerusalem, this city which I have chosen, and the temple of which I said, 'My name shall be there."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The Lord predicted the He would cast off the old Jerusalem along with its temple.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew 24:23</span><br /><br />"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Jesus predicted that the kingdom of God would be taken away from fruitless Israel and given to others.</span><br /><br /><strong>John 4:20-24</strong><br /><br />"Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The new Jerusalem is where we worship in "spirit and truth" and not in type and shadow as in the old covenant.</span><br /><br /><strong>Galatians 4:22-26</strong><br /><br />For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The new Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above is the new covenant.</span><br /><br /><strong>Hebrews 12:22-24</strong><br /><br />But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the heavenly Jerusalem</span>, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and <span style="font-weight: bold;">church</span> of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a <span style="font-weight: bold;">new covenant</span>, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The reader of Hebrews had come to the heavenly Jerusalem which is described as the church and the new covenant.</span><br /><br /><strong>Ephesians 5:31,32</strong><br /><br />FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.<br /><br />This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The new Jerusalem is the church, the bride of Christ as we have seen in Revelation 21:2.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">3</span> And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Does God dwell (tabernacle) among His people now?</span><br /><br /><strong>1 Corinthians 3:16,16</strong><br /><br />Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?<br />If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">We are the temple (dwelling place) of God.</span><br /><br /><strong>Ephesians 2:19-22</strong><br /><br />So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">We are the holy temple where God dwells in the Spirit.</span><br /><br /><strong>Revelation 3:12</strong><br /><br />'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">We are pillars in the temple of God, the new Jerusalem.</span><br /><br /><strong>Acts 15:14-18</strong><br /><br />"Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. "With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,<br /><br />'AFTER THESE THINGS I will return,<br />AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN,<br />AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,<br />AND I WILL RESTORE IT,<br />SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,<br />AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,'<br />SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">James shows how the prophets have been fulfilled with the rebuilding of the temple in his day. This new temple is made up of "a people taken for His name among the Gentiles".</span><br /><br /><strong>1 Peter 2:9,10</strong><br /><br />But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Peter calls the church the people God has chosen to proclaim His excellencies just as He chose the temple of Israel under the old covenant.</span><br /><br /><strong>2 Corinthians 6:16</strong><br /><br />Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,<br />"I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;<br />AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Peter calls the church the temple of the living God which fulfills the prophesy that God will dwell among His people.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;">4</span> and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Have "the first things passed away"?</span><br /><br /><strong>1 Thessalonians 4:13</strong><br /><br />But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Death for the believers is now, under the new covenant, referred to as sleep.</span><br /><br /><strong>2 Timothy 1:10</strong><br /><br />but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The gospel of the new covenant has abolished death. The "mourning, crying, and pain" which accompany death have also been abolished with death.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">5</span> And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new " And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."<br /><br /><strong>Galatians 6:15</strong><br /><br />For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The old covenant consisted of fleshly shadow. The new covenant is a new creation in the Spirit and in truth.</span><br /><br /><strong>2 Corinthians 5:17</strong><br /><br />Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The old covenant of conditional righteousness has been replaced by the new covenant of God's unconditional love. We are now new creatures and all of the remnants of the old covenant have passed away.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">6</span> Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The phrase "Alpha and Omega" is only found in the book of Revelation. The words beginning and end are used a lot though; also first and last which are found in the following chapter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Colossians 1:18</span><br /><br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Christ, Himself, was the beginning of the church through His death and resurrection.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Corinthians 15:20</span><br /><br />But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>fruits of those who are asleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">He was the first fruits through His resurrection.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Corinthians 15:24</span><br /><br />then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The end was the destruction of the old covenant system in 70ad which destroyed the Law of Moses and the rulers and authorities and powers who tried to enforce the Law on those whom Christ had set free from the Law.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Romans 10:4</span><br /><br />For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Christ is the end of the law spiritually when we believe and this end was given physical manifestation in 70ad.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Peter 4:7</span><br /><br />The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">70ad was pretty near when Peter wrote this letter. It was less than 10 years away.</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This water is the same water spoken of in<br /></span></strong><br /><strong>John 4:13,14</strong><br /><br />Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">7</span> "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"These things" refers to all of the things that accompany eternal life that John has mentioned earlier in this chapter. These things are our inheritance which we receive when we become children of God.<br /></span></strong><br /><strong>John 1:12,13</strong><br /><br />But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,<br />who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.<br /><br /><strong>1 John 5:4</strong><br /><br />For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Our faith overcomes the world and makes us part of God's family. By faith we are transferred from the old covenant world to the new creation of the new covenant.<br /></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">8</span> "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This is similar to the language that Paul uses to describe those who cling to the old covenant. In 70ad the old covenant was destroyed once and for all when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and the dead were thrown into the garbage dump called gehenna which burned with fire and brimstone.<br /><br />The first death was the death of Christ on the cross which was the spiritual destruction of the old covenant system.<br /><br />The second death is the physical destruction of the old covenant system and the death of death and hades. With the old covenant law removed once and for all there is no more fear of death or of hades.</span></strong><br /><br /><strong>Galatians 5:19-21</strong><br /><br />Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The kingdom of God is life under the new covenant; the heavenly Jerusalem.<br /></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">9</span> Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."<br /><br /><strong>Ephesians 5:23-27</strong><br /><br />For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Those who believe make up the church which is the bride of the Lamb.<br /></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">10</span> And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,<br /><br /><strong>Galatians 4:21-28</strong><br /><br />Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND." And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The Jerusalem from above is the kingdom of the new covenant.</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">11</span> having the glory of God Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.<br /><br /><strong>Isaiah 60:1-5</strong><br /><br />"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The brilliance of the new Jerusalem, the new covenant community is the light revealing the glory of the Lord to the entire world; just as the old Jerusalem was supposed to be.<br /></span></strong><br /><strong>2 Corinthians 3:7-9</strong><br /><br />But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The ministry of the new covenant has greater brightness (glory) than the old covenant.</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">12</span> It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This is the fulfillment of </span><br /><br /><strong>Isaiah 54:10-13<br /><br /></strong>For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken, says the LORD who has compassion on you. O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, <span style="font-weight: bold;">behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones</span>. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">All your sons will be taught of the LORD</span>; and the well-being of your sons will be great.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">where God promises deliverence to His people. Notice the similarity between "</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">All your sons will be taught of the LORD" </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and the teaching on the new covenant in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hebrews 8:10-13</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL<br />AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:<br />I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,<br />AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.<br />AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,<br />AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.<br /><span id="en-NASB-30104" class="sup"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,</span><br />AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,'<br />FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,<br />FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.<br />FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,<br />AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE." <p><span id="en-NASB-30106" class="sup"></span>When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">These walls and gates are part of the new city which is the new covenant which is for spiritual Israel; those who believe in Jesus as Messiah.</span><br /></p><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">13</span> There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">These gates in the new Jerusalem correspond to the gates of the old Jerusalem.</span><br /><br /><strong>Ezekiel 48:30-35</strong><br /><br />"These are the exits of the city: on the north side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, shall be the gates of the city, named for the tribes of Israel, three gates toward the north: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one. On the east side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one. On the south side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, shall be three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one. On the west side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one. The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD is there.'"<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">14</span> And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Just as the gates of the new Jerusalem represent the truth that access to God came through Israel and its Messiah, in the same way the foundation represents the revelation of this access to God which was given through His apostles.</span><br /><br /><strong>Ephesians 2:19-22</strong><br /><br />So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">15</span> The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Here we have another reference back to the prophesy concerning the new covenant kingdom. John is showing that this kingdom is the fulfillment of the hope of Israel.</span><br /><br /><strong>Ezekiel 40:1-5</strong><br /><br />In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on that same day the hand of the LORD was upon me and He brought me there. In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was a structure like a city. So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. The man said to me, "Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you Declare to the house of Israel all that you see." And behold, there was a wall on the outside of the temple all around, and in the man's hand was a measuring rod of six cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. So he measured the thickness of the wall, one rod; and the height, one rod.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">16</span> The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It's length and width and height are equal just like the holy of holies in the physical temple. We are now in God's presence, the holy of holies where God dwells.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Kings 6:20</span><br /><br />The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in height, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid the altar with cedar.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Just as the Lord was to be present in His old covenant kingdom for all the world to see, so He is now present in His new covenant kingdom for all to see. The church is His body and His visible presence in the world.</span><br /><br /><strong>Ezekiel 48:35</strong><br /><br />"The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, '<span style="font-weight: bold;">The LORD is there</span>."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">17</span> And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">As far as I can tell, this is the only mention of the number seventy-two in the entire bible.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">18</span> The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Glass is only mentioned in Job, a book written before the nation of Israel was formed, and in Revelation. The smoothness of glass represents the stillness of the sea and the gentile nations which come to Israel from the sea.</span><br /><br /><strong>Job 28:12-19</strong><br /><br />"But where can wisdom be found?<br />And where is the place of understanding?<br />Man does not know its value,<br />Nor is it found in the land of the living.<br />The deep says, 'It is not in me';<br />And the sea says, 'It is not with me.'<br />Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,<br />Nor can silver be weighed as its price.<br />It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,<br />In precious onyx, or sapphire.<br />Gold or glass cannot equal it,<br />Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.<br />Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;<br />And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.<br />The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">19</span> The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">These stones correspond to the stones on the garment of Aaron, the High Priest of the Old Covenant. These stones are all from the land and represent the kingdom of Israel in the same way the pearls and glass represent the kingdom of the gentiles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">20</span> the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.<br /><br /><strong>Exodus 28:15-20</strong><br /><br />You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it.<br /><br /><strong>Ezekiel 28:13</strong><br /><br />"You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared."<br /><br /><strong>Exodus 28:16-20<br /></strong><br />"It shall be square and folded double, a span in length and a span in width. You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;<br />and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">21</span> And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Pearls come from the sea and so represent the gentile nations. Notice that they are mentioned only in Esther in the palace of the Persian king as well as in Job, a book written before the nation of Israel was formed.</span><br /><br /><strong>Esther 1:6<br /></strong><br />There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.<br /><br /><strong>Job 28:17,18</strong><br /><p>Gold or glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.<br />Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; and the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Each gate was a single pearl signifying that entrance into the new Jerusalem is no longer through Israel, but through the gentile nations.</span><br /></p> <p><span style="font-size:180%;">22</span> I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">The new Jerusalem is the body of Christ, the church.</span><br /></p> <p></p><p><strong>Matthew 12:36</strong></p><p>"But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here."<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">John 2:18-21</span><br /></p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-26114"></span>The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-26115"></span>Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-26116"></span>The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-26117"></span>But He was speaking of the temple of His body.<br /></p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28427"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Corinthians 3:16,17</span><br /></p><p>Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28428"></span>If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 Corinthians 6:16</span><br /></p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-28915"></span>Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. </p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ephesians 2:19-22</span><br /></p><p>So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29250"></span>having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29251"></span>in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, <span class="sup" id="en-NASB-29252"></span>in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">23</span> And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The sun and the moon were for the regulation of the holy days of Israel. Now that the glory of the sacrificial system has been replaced by the glory of God's own son there is no need for them in the new Jerusalem.</span><br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 Chronicles 8:12,13<br /></span></p><p>Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built before the porch; and did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts--the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.<br /></p><p><span class="sup" id="en-NASB-16004"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Psalm 119:105,106</span> </p><p>Your word is a lamp to my feet<br />And a light to my path.<br />I have sworn and I will confirm it,<br />That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The Law was the light of the old covenant and it has been replaced by Jesus, the light of the new covenant.</span><br /></p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">John 1:4,5</span><br /><p>In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.<br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acts 13:47</span><br /></p><p>"For so the Lord has commanded us,' I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH."<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acts 26:23</span><br /></p><p>that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." </p><p><strong>John 8:12</strong><br /><br />Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Romans 13:12</span><br /></p><p>The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 Corinthians 4:6</span><br /></p><p>For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">24</span> The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.</p><p><strong>Luke 2:30-32</strong><br /><br />For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Your people Israel."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">25</span> In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">There is no need for the protection of gates in the new Jerusalem because the enmity between Israel and the nations has been put to death in Christ.</span><br /></p> <p><strong>Ephesians 2:13-16</strong></p><p>But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. </p><p><strong>Ephesians 3:8-10</strong></p><p>To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;">26</span> and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The glory and honor of the nations is given to Jesus as He has included them in His new covenant kingdom. The gates are no longer to keep out the gentiles but are open to allow them to come into the new covenant kingdom.</span><br /></p> <p><strong>1 Peter 1:7</strong></p> <p>so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">27</span> and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Nothing unclean shall come into the new kingdom because, through the love of God as demonstrated on the cross no one is now unholy or unclean.</span><br /></p> <p><strong>Acts 10:25-28</strong></p><p>When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">I'm not sure exactly what the "Abomination of desolation" refers to but I suspect that it has something to do with Israel defiling the temple in some way which triggered God's final destruction of the entire city in 70ad.</span><br /></p> <p><strong>Matthew 24:15,16</strong></p><p>"Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This event was prefigured by Christ earlier in the temple.</span><br /></p> <p><strong>John 2:13-16</strong></p><p>The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business."<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Finally, there will be no more lying in the new covenant kingdom. The Law and all of its false righteousness and deception have been completely destroyed.</span><br /></p> <p><strong>Galatians 2:4</strong></p><p>But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.</p><p><strong>Revelation 3:9</strong></p><p>Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1140830618130362532006-02-24T20:23:00.000-05:002006-11-09T17:39:31.730-05:00The Two Gospels of Narnia<strong style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The wonderful movie, "The Chronicles of Narnia" starts out with the frightening scene of German bombers flying over London during World War II. The fear of the bombs and the hurry to find shelter creates conflict in the Pevensie family as they berate and belittle one another. This is a perfect introduction to the Christian gospel message which brings hope to God's dysfunctional family throughout the world.<br /><br /></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The movie's director, Andrew Adamson, himself has said, "So I've really tried to make the story about a family which is disenfranchised and disempowered in World War II, that on entering Narnia, through their unity as a family become empowered at the end of the story. It's really bringing the humanity of the characters into what is effectively a symbolic story."</span><strong style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></strong><br /><br /><strong style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The brunt of most of this conflict falls on Edmund, the younger brother. As the family is hurrying to get to the protection of the backyard bomb shelter, Edmund runs back into the house to save the framed photograph of his father who has left the family to fight in the war. During and after this heroic attempt to save the image of his father Edmund is criticized by his siblings.<br /></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: (grabs Edmund) Come on! To the shelter, now! </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Susan: (grabs things from next to her bed with a flashlight</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">, notices Lucy in bed): Lucy, come on! Lucy! (Pevensies are running to the shelter, we hear them shouting, Hurry up! and RUN!.) Edmund turns around, as if forgetting something. </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Edmund: Wait, dad! (Run inside, grabs picture gets blown against the wall)</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: Come on idiot (Throws Edmund onto the ground and starts shouting) Why do you always have to be so selfish! You only think about yourself. Why can't you ever do as you're told!</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">When Edmund reaches the photograph it has fallen to the floor and the glass has shattered, distorting the image of their Father. To me, and I hope to the producers of the movie as well, this shattered image represents the image of God, our Father in heaven. The bombs falling outside represent the cares of the world that are trying to distract us from loving one another as we reflect His image of love.<br /><br />With the Pevensie father gone off to the war, Peter is left in charge. I think that Peter represents the Law of Moses. The Law ruled Israel in God's stead. The Law was an expression of the character of God. Notice how Peter is consistently commanding and condemning until his "fatherhood" is replaced by Aslan.<br /><br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Edmund: If Dad were here, the war would be over, and we wouldn't have to go Peter: If dad wasn't fighting and the war was over we wouldn't have to go. Mrs. Pevensie: You will listen to your brother, won't you Edmund?</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Mrs. Pevensie (to Peter): Look after the others Peter: I will mum</span><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: Why don't you just stop it, you always have to make everything worse. Grow up! Edmund (gets angry): Shut up! You think you're dad, but you're not! (storms out)<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(The children are looking at the broken window and the suit of armor on the floor) </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: Well done, Ed!<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: You little liar!</span><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: Well I don't think the professor will mind. And if you think about it logically we are not even taking them out of the wardrobe. </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(Hands coat to Edmund) Edmund: But that's a girl's coat! Peter: I know.</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: Ed, time to go- Ed? (looks around the room) I'm going to kill him.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Susan: This is all your fault! None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me in the first place! </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: So you knew this would happen?</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> Susan: I didn't know what would happen... Lucy: Stop, this fighting isn't going to help Edmund Beaver: She's right. Only Aslan can save him now. </span><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Susan: Wait, maybe we should think about this. Peter: We don't have time. Susan: I was just trying to be realistic </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: No, you're trying to be smart...as usual!</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br />This theme of the shattered image is repeated later in the film when a framed picture of Tumnus' father is found shattered on the ground after his near betrayal of Lucy. Sin, throughout the movie, is the result of forgetting the Father's love, the shattered image. In London the children sin because of their father's absence and in Narnia sin is the result of Aslan's absence. With Aslan's return the eternal Winter finally melts into Spring. Aslan is the perfect representation of the Father's (Emperor's) love.</span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(Lucy looks at picture) Tumnus: Oh... That is my father. Lucy: He had a nice face. You look just like him. Tumnus: No, we're not alike at all really. Lucy: My father is fighting in the war. Tumnus: My father went away to war too... but that was a very long time ago... before this dreadful winter.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(They all run to Tumnus' house) </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Lucy: Who would do something like this? (Edmund steps on broken picture of Tumnus's dad)</span><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br />The theme of the return to God's love is portrayed through the transformation of Edmund. He is the only one who risks all to go back into the house to save the photograph of his father. The rest criticize him for this "selfish" act. Edmund has lost his father's love and is not loved by his brother and sisters. When he comes to Narnia, the land of redemption, he falls prey to the evil queen's temptation when she seems to provide Edmund with the love that he has lost.<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Eventually, the queen's love proves false and Edmund is lost in hopelessness. This despair is illustrated by his isolation and imprisonment in the queen's castle. Finally, Edmund is transformed by Aslan's declaration of love for him as demonstrated by his sacrificial death in Edmond's place. Aslan's love also transforms the other children as they warmly accept Edmond just as Aslan, himself, has accepted him.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></span></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Professor: Well then, if your sister isn't lying and isn't mad then logically we must assume that she is telling the truth.</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> She's your sister, isn't she? You're a family! It's high time you start acting like one!<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: It is my fault really. I was too hard on him. Susan: We all were.</span><strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Aslan: What's done is done. There is no reason to bring up the past with your brother. Edmund: Hello... Lucy: Oh, Edmund (Hugs him and Susan does too)</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Susan: How are you feeling? Edmund: I'm feeling kinda tired Peter: Get some rest...and Edmund try not to wander off again.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Edmund: Then you'll have to lead us. There's a whole army out there waiting to follow you. Peter: I can't Edmund: Aslan believed you could. And so do I.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">The triumph of grace over law is expressed in Narnia by the triumph of the Deeper Magic over the Deep Magic. This partially explained in the movie, but is especially clear in the book itself. The witch was only familiar with the Law and could not see the grace that the law was predicting. Law condemns and leads to failure. Grace believes accepts and leads to love for ourselves and each other.</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Peter: There is a Deep Magic that rules over Narnia. It defines right from wrong and helps us fulfill destinies, both yours and mine. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Jadis: You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan (Everyone gasps) Aslan: His offence was not against you. White Witch : Have you forgotten the Deep Magic ? Aslan : Do not cite the Deep Magic to me , Witch . I was there when it was made . White Witch : Then you will know that the boy belongs to me . ( turns to crowd ) That boy ( points to Edmund ) will die on the Stone Table . Peter : Come and take it then . White Witch : You think that a simple threat will deny me my right , little king ? Aslan knows that if I do not have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned, and perish, in fire and water . Aslan : Enough , I shall talk with you alone . (time passes and the Witch exits tent) Aslan: The Witch has denounced her claim on Edmund<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Aslan: If the Witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice, she might have interpreted the Deep Magic a little differently. For she would know that if a willing victim who had committed no treachery died in a traitor's stead, the Stone Table would crack and death itself would begin to unwind.<br /><br /></span> <div style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-align: center;"><strong>"But where is the forth?" asked Aslan.</strong><strong></strong><br /><strong>"He has tried to betray them and joined the White Witch, O Aslan," said Mr. Beaver.<br />And then something made Peter say, </strong><strong>"That was partly my fault, Aslan. I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong."</strong><strong>And Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him but merely stood looking at him with his great unchanging eyes. And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing to be said.<br /><br />p 128, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>"It means," said Aslan, "that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward."<br /><br />p162, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"</strong><strong></strong><br /></div> <strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /><br /></span></strong><strong></strong> <div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Zechariah 3:1</span></span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Revelation 12:10</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">John 8:44</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">" You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Luke 15:27-32</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.' </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; b</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ut when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' "</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. '</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'"<br /><br /></span></div> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Titus 3:3</span><br /></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Titus 3:4-5</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,</span><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><br /></div> <strong><br /></strong> <div style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><strong>James 2:13</strong><br /><br />For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.<br /><br /><strong>Matthew 5:48</strong><br /><br />"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.<br /><br /><strong>Luke 6:36</strong><br /><br />"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"The danger of our guilt, both personal and collective, is less that we won't take it to heart than that we'll take it to heart overmuch and let it fester there in ways that we ourselves often fail to recognize. We condemn in others the wrong we don't want to face in ourselves. We grow vindictive against the right for showing up our wrong as wrong. The sense of our own inner brokenness estranges us from the very ones who could help patch us together again. We steer clear of setting things right with the people we have wronged since their mere presence is a thorn in our flesh. Our desire to be clobbered for our guilt and thus rid of it tempts us to do things we will be clobbered for. The dismal variations are endless. More often than not, guilt is not merely the consequence of wrongdoing but the extension of it. " Pp 34-35, Wishful Thinking, A Theological ABC by Frederick Buechner.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Okay, so now you're probably wondering why I entitled this article, "The Two Gospels Of Narnia"? In the movie, the story should have been over when the family was restored by the love of Aslan. Instead, there is this huge battle that seems to go on forever. This battle even has an image of the eagles dropping rocks on the enemies of Narnia which calls to mind the Germans dropping bombs on London. This is the second gospel; the gospel of the world. Freedom and peace come from force. This is the Law. This is the Old Message. The New Way is that freedom and peace are the result of resting in God's love for us. </span><br /></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" class="pCo">Director Andrew Adamson said in this regard,</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> “The battle is a page and a half of retrospective. I remember this epic battle and when I went back and reread it, I was looking for it. C.S. Lewis wrote in a way that relied on your imagination. He created very evocative imagery but the only things he really described in great details were small details. He would talk about the food in great detail and then breeze over a huge battle."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">In the book there is one brief chapter devoted to the battle. It's almost as if Lewis is embarrassed by this warlike aspect of modern Christianity.<br /><br />I really loved this movie; up until the battle scene. The gospel of force of the final act completely negated the gospel of love which was so well portrayed in the first two acts. The time for war is over and now we are to live out the gospel of peace on earth.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Matthew 11:12</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span></span> " From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> <div> </div></span></div> <div> </div> </div> </div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1138155896592597562006-01-24T21:21:00.000-05:002006-02-08T19:25:23.753-05:00The Kingdom of God is Bigger than Just being Right<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" >Doug Reed has graciously given his permission to repost this article he posted on Planet Preterist. This is the best statement of the gracious essence of Preterism I have seen so far.</span><br /></div> <span style="color: rgb(80, 80, 80);font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Around six years ago I discovered the fulfilled view of eschatology. I remember eagerly reading every preterist book I could get my hands on, and still I wanted more. Shortly after that I met Tyrone Copper, and helped him establish his web site. Ty and I worked countless hours in hopes of providing the best preterist outreach possible. Yet, I must confess that increasingly what fascinates me most is no longer Preterism. It is the kingdom of God.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Preterism is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end. Fulfilled eschatology is the marvelous story of how God brought us into His kingdom through the finished works of His Son. Yet, to rejoice in Preterism alone is like a carpenter who glories in his hammer and nails rather in what they build. My hope and prayer is that we preterists would come to dwell firmly in the place fulfilled eschatology leads us and that is to the Kingdom of God.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">One thing I have noticed about we preterists. We are truth junkies. We have an insatiable desire to understand truth. We want to get it right. However, this great desire can actually cause us to miss the very goal we seek if we lose sight of some very simple things. First, truth is not just an idea. It ultimately is a Person. The Person of Jesus Christ. He defined Himself as such in John chapter fourteen. "I am the way, the truth, and the Life." Truth must never be separated from person of Jesus Christ, or it becomes vain. Second, we must realize that the kingdom of God is bigger than just being right. The kingdom of God is not about the dominance of one idea or point of view over another. Jesus did not come just to get our doctrine straight. His purpose is far far greater than that.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Around five hundred years ago we saw the emergence of what some would call the Modern Paradigm. Two characteristics of this way of thinking were rationalism and individuality. Rationalism in particular is not a bad thing. Enormous good came when Western Civilization began to change from the mystical mindset to the rational. However, rationalism alone leads to problems, some of them severe. With the Reformation came an increasing focus on hermeneutics and critical analysis as a way of understanding truth. In some respects this was humanity's attempt to grasp God with the rational mind.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">With this change in focus came an increasing emphasis on doctrine and ideas as the basis of unity among Christians. The rational mindset combined with the resulting individuality did not lead to a more unified church as its proponents believed. Some thought that as we grew closer to God as He really is, we would automatically draw closer to each other. However, it had the opposite effect. It did not bring God's people together as much as it began to tear them apart. This is the inevitable result when ideas and doctrine become the basis of unity. It is ironic that the modern mind's quest for God did not bring people together as a quest for God should, but it lead to countless denominations and church splits.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">We have five hundred years of history to prove that ideas and doctrines are not enough to make God's people one. Such ties are far too easily broken. Praise be to God that He has given us something much greater than doctrine to make us one.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In Jesus' day, as it is in ours, there was a great debate about who the real people of God were. In other words, they debated who really had God on their side. The various factions were too numerous to count. The Pharisees thought they had it right, so did the Sadducees and the Essenes. Although they did debate over doctrine, the emphasis was probably more on deeds and linage more than anything else. For example, the Essences thought they really had Sabbath keeping down, but others did not. They would not even put wool in dye over the Sabbath. Even though they would not be working, the dye would, and that would make God mad. Lineage was also very important. Who were the true children of Abraham? The Samaritans weren't, and the Gentiles were out for sure.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In our day we do not argue Sabbath keeping or race when we argue who is in and who is out with God. It is far more likely to be what a person believes. Does that person have the right eschatology or the right understanding of salvation? Self-righteousness makes brother hate brother. In some respects doctrine has become the self-righteousness of the modern paradigm. Jesus blew the world of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes apart. In one way or another He will do the same to ours.</span><br /><br /> <b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">A new proof of knowing God </b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Jesus brought a whole new definition of who was acceptable and who was not. In fact, He turned the world of the religious folks upside down. Those who the Pharisees thought God hated, Jesus loved. Those who the Pharisees thought God loved, Jesus came against.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The parable of the good Samaritan is a perfect example. The Samaritans were considered to be the bad guys in that day. They had intermarried with gentiles, and they had some pretty funny interpretations of Torah. Yet, in helping a man in need, the Samaritan proved himself to be the true neighbor not those had the right lineage or those who thought they kept Torah correctly. In God's eyes who really kept Torah in this parable? Who was truly right?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (I John 4:7-8)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In simplicity, John gives us the proof of knowing God. The greatest proof a person knows God and is of God is love. No other proof will suffice. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matt 5:43-47)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Jesus said we are to love those who wrong us. He could just have easily have said that we are to love those with whom we disagree. What good is it when we love only those that agree with us? Do not even atheists do the same? Perhaps the greatest proof that we know God is not that we have it right but how we treat those who are wrong.</span><br /><br /> <b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Who is near to God?</b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I once had the privilege of speaking to a group of thirty or forty Amish folks. There they sat, very plain. I was wearing a conservative coat and tie, yet compared to their simplicity, I felt I was wearing a sequined suit with a glow in the dark tie. The funny thing was that they did not move a muscle the whole time I spoke. I don't think I even saw anyone blink. After I was done, I thought they must have hated what I said. I was used to having some kind of response, a smile, a nod, a frown. Yet, no response at all was very unnerving.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">To my surprise, after everyone left the building, the Amish group became very warm and animated. They went on and on about how much they enjoyed what I said. It was apparent that these people loved the same Lord I serve. I thought "how could this be? How could the Lord be with a people who are so very different than me--that have such different ways and ideas?" Perhaps we can look to the first century once again to find some answers.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:28-29)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In Paul's day the big question was how could God accept the Gentiles? Who they were was wrong. They were not decedents of Abraham. What they did was wrong. They were uncircumcised, and they did not keep Sabbath and the festivals. Surely they had to become like Jews for God to approve them. Yet, the response given by the Holy Spirit was a resounding "no!" The gentiles did not need circumcision to be saved. How could this be so if the gentiles did so much that was wrong?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The answer was found in Christ Himself. What was important was not that the gentiles got it right, it was that God in Christ Jesus got it right at Calvary for them. It was who Jesus is and what He did that gave them God's approval. Making them acceptable was God's work. The righteousness of God had replaced the righteousness of man.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Herein we see the key to unity among believers. It is not doctrine or ideas. It is not us getting it right. It is the fact that the Lord got it right 2000 years ago on the cross. Making us one is God's work not ours. The cross was about reconciliation between God and humanity. Yet, it was just as much about our reconciliation to each other. God had forgiven, so we must forgive. God had accepted, so must we.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">There are those who say that we must have unity at any cost. Others say this is wrong, the price it too high. Both miss the point. A great cost has already been paid to make us one. It was the life of God's Son.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (I John 4:10-11)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Those who see the love of God in Christ Jesus love their brother even if they disagree with him. For they see it is not necessary for them to agree to be one. What was necessary already happened a long time ago.</span><br /><br /> <b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">What about Jesus and Paul?</b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (Matt. 23:33)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! (Phil. 3:2)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Some might protest. They say, "Didn't Jesus have harsh and unkind words for those who opposed Him? Surely, Paul did!" This is certainly true, but we must be careful in our interpretation of these events lest they become a license to hate our brother. Who exactly did Jesus and Paul reject? Jesus never called the tax collectors or the prostitutes a brood of vipers nor the gentiles or the Samaritans. Remember these were the very folks many expected the Messiah to condemn and destroy! Yet, both Jesus and Paul embraced them. It was the religious folks such as the Pharisees and later the Judaizers that earned such scathing rebukes. The question is why?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It seems that the grace of God was coming in that day, and there was one perilous thing a person could do. Stand in its way. Grace was coming in Christ Jesus, and if you were standing in His way, you were about to be flattened.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">(I must digress here for a moment. I know the mind of some of our readers. I am not saying that as long as you are not judgmental and you forgive, you need do nothing more. It is not suddenly OK to sin because we are under grace. However, repentance and changed behavior in people's lives often came in a different manner than we hear preached today. Under the New Covenant grace came first then right behavior.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">We see this pattern Paul's writings. For example, chapters four through six of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians tell us to do a great many things. Most sermons we hear from the book of Ephesians come from chapters four through six. However, Ephesians does not begin with chapter four does it? It begins with chapters one through three. In these chapters we don't see a single command. Instead, we see a glorious picture of who God's people are because of Who Jesus is and what He has done. First grace, then the appropriate response to grace.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">With that being said, we must also realize that for the most part it was not the worst sinners of the day the opposed Jesus or Paul. There was no tax collector's plot to do away with Jesus or Paul. It was the religious folks who came violently against both Jesus and Paul.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">By and large, there were basically two types of people who stood in the way of what God was doing. For one, it was those who would not let go of their own righteousness. They either rejected the righteousness of Christ outright, or they proposed a curious blend of the righteousness of God and the righteousness of man. Moreover, it was those who rejected their brother. Remember Jesus chilling words that as they judged, they would be judged. Recall that He said that those who would not forgive were in danger of their Master's wrath. This was not just a quaint saying. It literally dictated the fate of Old Covenant Israel.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Therefore, if we are to reject our brother, we must do so only with the greatest fear and trembling lest we disqualify ourselves and bring disgrace to the cross. I must see my brother through what happened at Calvary, because that is the way God sees me.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In the Old Testament the Jews celebrated seven feasts each year. Each was rich in symbolism concerning Who Jesus is and what He has done. The final feast was Tabernacles. In a sense it was the most joyous celebration of all. It showed forth the fact that the work of salvation was done. God has forgiven us and He is with us. He has removed every wall and made us one. Perhaps Preterism can give this immeasurable truth back to the God's people. This is my hope.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">------</span><br /><br /><i><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="mailto:DougReed@planetpreterist.com">Doug Reed</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> is a columnist for PlanetPreterist.com. Doug is the Pastor of Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Thorncrown Chapel can be found online at </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.thorncrown.com/" target="blank">http://www.thorncrown.com</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">.</span><br /></i></span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1136778329367252862006-01-08T22:44:00.000-05:002006-01-23T23:14:33.273-05:00The Rule of the Lamb<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span class="861254717-03112005">The lion became a lamb.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The blood shed was his own.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">Love poured from his wounds,</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">And covered all the world.<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The lion, the king of beasts.</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The lamb, so mild and meek.</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The king cast off his crown.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The servant took up his towel.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><span class="861254717-03112005">From looking down at those bowed at his feet,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><span class="861254717-03112005">He looked up at those whose feet he washed.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span> <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The lion, the king of beasts.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="861254717-03112005">The lamb, so mild and meek.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><span class="861254717-03112005">The judge became the judged.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><span class="861254717-03112005">The stone table crashed in two.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><span style=""><span class="861254717-03112005">The deeper magic overcame the deep,</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><span style=""><span class="861254717-03112005">Now mercy rules in judgment's place.</span></span></span></span></span></div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1121903587932768572005-11-18T19:49:00.000-05:002006-01-09T20:23:34.830-05:00James 2 - The Ethics of the New Creation<sup id="en-NASB-30295"><span style="font-size:180%;">1 </span></sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">My brethren</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">do not hold your faith</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">in our glorious</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Lord Jesus Christ</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">with an attitude of personal favoritism</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">My brethren</span> - James uses the word, brethren, 17 times in only 5 chapters. Since this is a letter about behavior he keeps encouraging his readers by reminding them that they are his brethren.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">do not hold your faith</span> - Hold your faith refers to how we respond to what we believe, how we respond to the message that we have been released from our debt to the Law of Moses.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">in our glorious</span> - The glory of the Law has been replaced by the glory of Jesus Christ.<br /><br /><strong>2 Corinthians 3:7-9</strong><br /><br />But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Lord Jesus Christ</span> - We have a new Lord, a new master. The bondage to the Law of Moses has been replaced by the Lordship of Jesus Christ.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">with an attitude of personal favoritism</span> - Since we have all been set free in Christ we should treat one another as being equally free from the Law. Under the Law of Moses people were to be treated differently because earthly blessing (riches) were a sign that they were obedient to the Law. Now that we are all freed from the Law of Moses blessing is based solely on being in Christ.<br /><br /><p><sup id="en-NASB-30296"><span style="font-size:180%;">2</span> </sup>Fo<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">r if a man comes into your assembly</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes</span>, </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For if a man comes into your assembly</span> - The Greek word for assembly is "synagoge". It's interesting that the word for the Hebrew assembly is the same used for gatherings of the church.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes</span> - Under the Law of Moses this would be a sign of God's blessing.</p><p><strong>Psalm 37:25</strong></p><p>I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes</span> - Under the Law of Moses this would be a sign of God's curse. Under the New Covenant we are all clothed with the righteousness of Christ.</p><p><strong>Galatians 3:27</strong></p><p>For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30297">3</sup> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and say, "You sit here in a good place,"</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"</span> </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes</span> - This brings to mind Jesus' description of the Pharisees.</p><p><strong>Matthew 26:5-12</strong></p><p>"They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and say, "You sit here in a good place,"</span> - Notice that James writes, "and say". Our tongues reveal our hearts and the standard of judgment we are holding.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"</span> - He is offering the lowest possible place. The feet are looked down on in Middle Eastern culture due to their being close to the dirty ground. "By my footstool" means by my dirty, smelly feet.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30298">4 </sup></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">have you not made distinctions among yourselves</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and become judges with evil motives</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">have you not made distinctions among yourselves</span> - Making distinctions denies the truth that we are one body in Christ.</p><p><strong>1 Corinthians 12:12-14</strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and become judges with evil motives</span> - They had become judges of who was favored by God with the motive of being better than others.</p><p><strong>Philippians 2:3</strong></p><p>Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; </p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30299"><span style="font-size:180%;">5</span> </sup>Listen, my beloved brethren: <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">did not God choose the poor of this world</span> to be <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rich in fa</span>ith</span> and <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">heirs of the kingdom</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">which He promised to those who love Him</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">did not God choose the poor of this world</span> - God's ways are the opposite of the world. He chooses the foolish, the weak, and the base. The world rewards the wise, the mighty, and the noble. Under grace rewards are based on the wisdom, might, and nobility of Christ as our champion. Just as all of Israel was included in David's victory over Goliath, the whole world was included in Christ's victory over Satan.</p><p><strong>1 Corinthians 1:26-29</strong></p><p>For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rich in faith</span> - Our faith enables us to see the riches that we have in Christ. Our blessings are in the heavenly places and can only be seen through the eyes of faith. Through Christ, we have been adopted as full members of God's family with all the blessings of being loved by our heavenly Father.</p><p><strong>Ephesians 1:18</strong></p><p>I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, </p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">heirs of the kingdom</span> - We are God's heirs. We inherit His kingdom on earth and we are His image as members of His family, just as children are the image of their parents. People look to us to see what God is like. </p><p><strong>Luke 6:20</strong></p><p>And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">which He promised to those who love Him</span> - This may be referring to God's promise to Solomon. Notice that the promise to Solomon is conditioned on Israel's obedience to the Law of Moses. The promise to us is conditioned on the obedience of Jesus and is given to us without condition. </p><p><strong>1 Kings 9:1-8</strong></p><p>Now it came about when Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all that Solomon desired to do, that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. The LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. "As for you, <strong><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'</span> </strong>"<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. "And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?'</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Israel failed to keep the commandments and the kingdom was taken away from them and the temple was reduced to ruins in 70ad.</span></p><p><strong>Matthew 21:43-44</strong></p><p>"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30300">6</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But you have dishonored the poor man</span>. Is it not the rich who <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">oppress you</span> and <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">personally drag you into court</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But you have dishonored the poor man</span> - You, the church, had brought dishonor to those whom God has chosen to honor and glorify with His Son.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">oppress you</span> - Oppress means to use authority to hold someone down. Here the authority is the power of the Sanhedrin.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">personally drag you into court</span> - This is hard to understand apart from the contempory culture. The court here refers to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling Jewish authority of the time. Matters pertaining to the Law of Moses were judged here. Those rich in the blessing of the Law, think Pharisees, were dragging those who were poor before those who were the official judges of the Law.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30301">7</sup> </span>Do they not <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">blaspheme the fair name</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">by which you have been called</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">blaspheme the fair name</span> - Those who call others into judgment under the Law of Moses are blaspheming the name of Jesus, who has saved us from the Law of Moses. Jesus means savior.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">by which you have been called</span> - We who have been called in the name of Jesus experience salvation from the Law.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30302">8</sup></span> If, however, you are <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">fulfilling the royal law</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,"</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">you are doing well</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">fulfilling the royal law</span> - Notice how James follows up on the idea of the courts by referring immediately to the royal law. This is in contrast to the Mosaic Law. The royal law is the law given by our new heavenly king of the new heavenly kingdom. James is showing the importance of the change in law which corresponds to the changing king and kingdom.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,"</span> - The old kingdom had over 600 laws. The new kingdom is characterized by only one.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">you are doing well</span> - Doing well in the new kingdom is just obeying one law. By loving our neighbor we are representing the character of our heavenly Father. This is the entire purpose of the new kingdom.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30303">9</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But if you show partiality</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you are committing sin</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and are convicted by the law as transgressors</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But if you show partiality</span> - Showing partiality means we are making distinctions based on the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you are committing sin</span> - This would not be sin under the old law. It is sin only under the royal law. James is addressing those who have added the Law of Moses to the royal law.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">an</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">d are convicted by the law as transgressors</span> - Under the new hybrid law, mixing Moses with Christ they are transgressors of the very law they are trying to uphold.</p><p>This is similar to the situation in Galatia where the Judaizers were trying to force the believers to live under the Law of Moses.</p><p><strong>Galatians 5:1-6</strong></p><p>It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30304">10</sup></span> For whoever <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">keeps the whole law</span> and yet <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">stumbles in one point</span>, he has become <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">guilty of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">all</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For whoever keeps the whole law</span> - This refers to the entire Mosaic Law with its 600 plus commandments.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">stumbles in one point</span> - The one point is just to favor one person over another. Keep in mind that James is addressing those who are bringing the principles of the Old Testament law into the New Covenant and are creating a hybrid law out of the teachings of Jesus and the commandments of Moses.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">guilty of all</span> - By breaking one commandment we become guilty of breaking them all. The Law is a whole and the purpose of the Law was to make it obvious to all that we cannot please God. The Law came in to show us that we need a champion to conquer sin on our behalf. In Jesus we have that champion and so when we rest in Jesus we no longer need the Law to show us our guilt.</p><p><strong>Romans 5:20</strong></p><p>The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30305">11</sup></span> For He who said, <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,"</span> also said, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"DO NOT COMMIT MURDER."</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,"</span> - There are two types of laws in the ten commandments. The first five cover the relationship between man and God. The second five cover interpersonal relationships. Adultery is mentioned first because it violates the image of faithfulness between the Father and the Son.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"DO NOT COMMIT MURDER."</span> - Murder is mentioned of next importance because if violates the image of God as the giver of life. The commandments were given so that we might reflect the character of God in our interpersonal relationships.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law</span> - James is not concerned with adultery or murder. He is concerned with showing partiality. He brings up adultery and murder to show the impossiblity of keeping the Law. If we fail in any aspect of Law keeping we are guilty of breaking the Law. This shows the absurdity of using it as a standard to judge those who have been made righteous in Christ. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30306">12</sup> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">So speak</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and so act</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">as those who are to be judged</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">by the law of liberty</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">So speak</span> - Speaking is how we express what we believe.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and so act</span> - Our actions are the works that flow from our belief.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">as those who are to be judged</span> - We were once judged by the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">by the law of liberty</span> - Now we are judged by the law of liberty. We have been set free and we are to act to set others free.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30307">13</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For judgment will be merc</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">iless</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">to one who has shown no mercy</span>; <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">mercy triumphs over judgment</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For judgment will be merciless</span> - This goes back to the judgment of the merciless slave who was set free.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">to one who has shown no mercy</span> - He was shown mercy but he did not show mercy to the one who owed him.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">mercy triumphs over judgment</span> - If we show mercy we will not be judged. The New Covenant age is characterized by mercy. The Old Covenant age was characterized by judgment.</p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30308">14</sup> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">What use is it</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">my brethren</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">if someone says he has faith</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">but he has no works</span>? <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Can that faith save him</span>?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">What use is it</span> - The benefit is salvation as we see at the end of the verse.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">my brethren</span> - Once again, James uses affirmation while challenging his readers.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">if someone says he has faith</span> - Works are an expression of our faith. A good tree bears good fruit. An apple tree bears apples. What we believe influences our actions. If we believe that we are free then we will give others freedom also. If we believe that we are under law then we will impose law on others.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">but he has no works</span> - In Jesus' parable of the freed debtor it makes no sense that the freed one demands that the one who owed him pay up. When we are shown grace we show grace towards others. When we are treated harshly we treat other harshly. If we are not gracious toward others then we have not understood or believed that God is gracious toward us.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Can that faith save him</span> - No, it is of no use. If we do not act graciously toward others then we have not appreciated the grace that has been shown to us. Only by appreciating God's grace toward us can we be freed from bondage to the law.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acts 13:39</span><br /><br />and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Salvation is an appreciation of the freedom we have from the Law of Moses or from any need to perform to earn God's acceptance. Salvation is rest from our works.</span><br /></div><br /><strong>Hebrews 4:10</strong><br /><br />For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.<span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30309"><br /><br />15</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">If a brother or sister</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">is without clothing</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and in need of daily food</span>, <p></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">If a brother or sister</span> - James gives a gentle reminder that we are all part of God's family and that we should take care of one another. This goes back to the "Our Father" of the Lord's Prayer.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">is without clothing</span> - Clothing reminds us of being clothed with Christ's righteousness which He has provided for us. As we have been graciously clothed in Christ, we should physically clothe others as an expression of the love God has shown us.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and in need of daily food</span> - This goes back to the "daily bread' of the Lord's Prayer.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30310">16</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and one of you says to them</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,"</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">what use is that</span>? </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and one of you says to them</span> - Words without actions are of no use. The actions are what actually help people see the love of God for them.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,"</span> - Once again, these are earthly representation of the heavenly grace shown to us by God. We have peace with Him and are clothed with His righteousness and are fed with the bread of heaven.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body</span> - If we say that God loves them but do not express His love in our actions then we have done nothing to save them from the shame of failing to keep the law.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">what use is that</span> - How can words without actions lead them to salvation? We were created to reflect God's image to the world. As we reflect the image of God's loving provision we lead people to salvation.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30311">17</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Even so</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">faith, if it has no works</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">is dead, being by itself</span>. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Even so</span> - James is making a parallel between words and faith and actions and works.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">faith, if it has no works</span> - Just as words without deeds are empty, faith without works has no meaning. Belief expresses itself through actions. If you believe that the stove is hot you will not touch it. Faith and works are neccessarily connected.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Galatians 5:6 (NIV)</span><br /></p><p>For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>expressing itself through love.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">is dead, being by itself</span> - God's gives us faith in His provision so that we may be freed from providing for ourselves and free to help others. If we have to earn God's favor then all our efforts are consumed with following rules. Once we are freed from following rules to earn God's favor we are free to live as demonstrations of God's freeing love.<br /></p><p>Faith, by itself, is dead because faith is like a tree that is to give forth the fruit of love. Love is the work that expresses faith. Without works of love for others faith is like a dead apple tree that was meant to bear apples but is barren.<br /></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30312"><span style="font-size:180%;">18</span> </sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But someone may well say</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"You have faith and I have works</span>; <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">show me your faith without the works</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and I will show you my faith by my works</span>." </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But someone may well say</span> - Here we have James presenting someone who does not agree that works are an expression of faith.<br /></p><p>This verse is extremely difficult in the NASB. I prefer the NLT translation.<br /></p><p>James 2:18 (NLT)<br /></p><p>Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds."</p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"You have faith and I have works</span> - The objector denies the connection between faith and works. He is saying that faith alone is good and works alone are good also. The truth is that faith is good because it produces works. Belief that God loves us produces love in us for others.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">show me your faith without the works</span> - James responds that there is no such thing as faith without works. Works are the evidence of faith. Only the fruit can show the nature of the tree.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and I will show you my faith by my works</span> - James counters that works are the expression of our faith.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30313">19</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You believe that God is one</span>. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">You do well</span>; <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">the demons also believe</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and shudder</span>. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You believe that God is one</span> - This is from the Shema. This would be recited daily by the Jews of James' day. Note that it was given in the context of the prosperity God promised to His people if they obeyed his commandments. This shows the mindset of James' objector; obedience produces blessing.<br /></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deuteronomy 6:1-4</span><br /></p><p>Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, s<sup id="en-NASB-5089"></sup>o that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. <sup id="en-NASB-5090"></sup>O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you and that you may multiply greatly, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.<br /></p> <div style="text-align: center;">Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!<br /></div> <p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">You do well</span> - James is being sarcastic. Their faith in the old way is no better than the lies of the devil.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">the demons also believe</span> - The law is the accuser under the old way and the Greek work translated devil literally means "accuser".<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Revelation 12:10</span><br /></p> <p>Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accu<b>s</b>er of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. </p> <p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and shudder</span> - Notice that their faith produces the work of shuddering.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30314">20</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But are you willing to recognize</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you foolish fellow</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">that faith without works is useless</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But are you willing to recognize</span> - Just as the Jews failed to recognize their Messiah because they failed to see their need for spiritual salvation. They felt they were God's people no matter what they did.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">you foolish fellow</span> - God demonstrating His love through His work on the cross is foolishness to those who see no need for salvation.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Corinthians 1:18</span><br /></p> <p>For the word of the cross is<b style="font-weight: bold;"> </b>foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">that faith without works is useless</span> - The Jews thought that they were not slaves to sin and they were in God's favor because they were children of Abraham and shared in his blessing.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">John 8:31-44</span><br /></p> So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.<br /><br /></span>I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." <span style="font-weight: bold;">They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father " Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father "</span> They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." <p></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30315">21</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Was not Abraham our father</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">justified by works</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar</span>? </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Was not Abraham our father</span> - James turns their argument back on them. He shows that their claim that Abraham was their father meant that they should act as he did.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">justified by works</span> - Because Abraham was justified by works they should work also.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar</span> - This act demonstrated what was in his heart. He believed that God would provide for Him. If he didn't believe then he wouldn't have offered up Isaac. Our works express our belief.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30316">22</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You see that faith was working with his works</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and as a result of the works, faith was perfected</span>; </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You see that faith was working with his works</span> - His belief that God would provide for him caused him to be able to stop providing for Isaac and let God take care of him.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and as a result of the works, faith was perfected</span> - Faith is incomplete without works. The works are the fruit of our faith.<br /></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30317"><span style="font-size:180%;">23 </span></sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and the Scripture was fulfilled</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,"</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and he was called the friend of God</span>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and the Scripture was fulfilled</span> - James appeals to the Jewish Scriptures as he appealed to Abraham earlier. He turns their own authorities against them just as his brother did years before.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD</span> - This quote is from Genesis 15:6. The sacrifice of Isaac doesn't happen until Genesis 22. Abraham's belief is all we have so far. There are no works.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,"</span> - Abraham was considered righteous by faith alone, before he had works.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">and he was called the friend of God</span> - This is what it means to be righteous. It means to be God's friend.<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our salvation is deliverance from striving for approval as under the Law of Moses to resting in the approval demonstrated by our Savior on the cross.</span><br /></p> <p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30318">24</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You see that a man is justified by works</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and not by faith alone</span>. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">You see that a man is justified by works</span> - Abraham was justified (called a friend of God) before he had any works.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and not by faith alone</span> - Abraham's justifying faith would later produce the work of offering Isaac. It was a faith that expressed itself through works, even though they came later.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30319">25</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In the same way</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">was not Rahab the harlot</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">also justified by works</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">when she received the messengers</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">and sent them out by another way</span>?</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In the same way</span> - In the same way as Abraham's faith was accompanied by works.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">was not Rahab the harlot</span> - Isn't it great that James isn't ashamed to serve alongside someone known as Rahab the harlot? Today we would probably rename her Rahab the faithful or Rahab the spy-saver. God chooses those who are weak in the Law to be His representatives so that His grace might be glorified.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">also justified by works</span> - Just like Abraham before her, Rahab believed that God would provide for her.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">when she received the messengers</span> - She gave shelter to Joshua and Caleb because she believed that God would shelter her from His enemies in Jerecho.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">and sent them out by another way</span> - She delivered God's people from harm believing that God would deliver her also.<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our salvation is God delivering us from fear of the Law of Moses into rest inHis gracious approval.</span><br /></p> <p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30320">26</sup></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For just as the body without the spirit is dead</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">so also faith without works is dead</span>. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For just as the body without the spirit is dead</span> - The spirit refers to the breath. Breath shows that the body is alive.<br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">so also faith without works is dead</span> - Works show that our faith is alive.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1130926153707088452005-11-02T04:55:00.000-05:002006-07-24T23:08:57.503-04:00The Lion Becomes A Lamb<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Revelation 5:5,6</span><br /><br />and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah</span>, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." </div> <p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders <span style="font-weight: bold;">a Lamb standing, as if slain</span>, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This article, from one of my favorite websites, pointed me to a new direction for study. I have thought for a while that the essential fact of Preterism is that the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses has been replaced by the New Covenant of the grace of Christ Jesus. This article points out that in the book of Revelation the Lion of Judah, (the image of God of the Old Covenant) has been replaced by the Lamb who was slain, (the image of God in the New Covenant). I look forward to reading the book of Revelation with this theme in mind.<br /><br />Here's the <a href="http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/archives/rossing.html">link</a>.<br /></span></div> <p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="title"><b><i>The Wittenburg Door</i> Interview</b></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> <span class="author">by Amy C. Thoren</span><br /><span class="issue">Issue #202, November/December 2005</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&camp=1789&amp;amp;tag=thedoormagazi-20&creative=9325&path=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813343143?v=glance%26n=283155%26s=books%26v=glance" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/images/rossing00.jpg" alt="" align="right" border="0" height="389" width="261" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thedoormagazi-20&l=ur2&o=1" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> Not that we flaunt it, but we've got inside information on the wonderful world of Lutheran biblical interpretation (after all, we're pretty sure Martin Luther taught in Wittenberg). Dr. Barbara Rossing teaches New Testament at the esteemed Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago—located in Chicago for those few who may not be familiar with it. An ordained Lutheran minister, Rossing holds a doctorate from Harvard University Divinity School and a Master of Divinity from Yale University Divinity School.<br /> The release of Rossing's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&camp=1789&amp;amp;tag=thedoormagazi-20&creative=9325&path=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813343143?v=glance%26n=283155%26s=books%26v=glance" target="_blank"><i>The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation</i></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thedoormagazi-20&l=ur2&o=1" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> (Westview Press, 2004), was timely, matched as it was with the release of the 12th book of the thrilling and spooky <i>Left Behind</i> series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The media picked up on the simultaneous publication of works of such opposite persuasions. Morley Safer called and told us to get our butts out there to interview Dr. Rossing after she was on <i>60 Minutes</i>. We were embarrassed we didn't get to her sooner, so we tried hard to catch her between teaching Greek, leading tours through the Holy Land, and defending good biblical scholarship. Um, <i>she</i> was doing all of that—not us. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> <img style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" src="http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/images/rossing02.jpg" alt="" align="right" border="0" height="736" width="362" /> <b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">WITTENBURG DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> We know what all these technical terms mean of course, but for the sake of our simpleminded readers, could you briefly explain some of the following: dispensationalism, rapture, and exposure?</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">BARBARA ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> The first sentence of my book is, "The rapture is a racket," and I think it's important for your readers to know that the whole rapture is a fiction. It was invented by British preacher John Nelson Darby in the 1830s as part of his system of biblical interpretation called dispensationalism. The system of dispensationalism divides world history into periods of time, the second to the last of which will be, according to Darby, the so-called "seven-year period of tribulation," followed by the return of Christ and then the 1,000-year millennium. This is the basic system of premillenialism, but what proponents can't agree on is when the so-called rapture will happen, sucking naked born-again Christians out of their beds, cars, airplanes...</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Um, did you say </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">naked</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">??</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> The main way you'll know the rapture has happened, according to </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Left Behind</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">, is that people's clothes, glasses, false teeth, replacement knees, will all be left behind on their chairs and in their beds. One day, my students left all their clothes carefully arranged on their chairs to make me think they'd been raptured, but lo and behold, I found the students down in the cafeteria!</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Those rascally scamps! But aren't there indeed passages in the Bible about people getting sucked up into the air and stuff?</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> That's I Thessalonians 4:13-18, but the word rapture does not occur here or anywhere in the Bible. This is a passage about Jesus descending to earth from heaven and how Christians go out to meet him as part of that descent. The dispensationalists have to piece together numerous Bible verses, in what I call a "pick-and-choose" method of interpretation, in order to fabricate their notion of the rapture.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> On </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">60 Minutes</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> in April 2004, LaHaye and Jenkins claim to be totally biblical. Jenkins says, "I didn't make this stuff up. This comes straight out of the prophecy."</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Anyone who wants to take a Bible verse here and a Bible verse there and string them together can make the Bible say anything they want. Tim LaHaye uses the image of a prophetic clothesline, and he hangs Bible verses on it.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Martin Luther said Scripture has a wax nose. You can twist it any way you want.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> As we see in the story of Jesus' temptation, even the devil can quote Bible verses.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> What precisely are you trying to expose about the Book of Revelation?</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> The word revelation is the word apocalypse, which means unveiling or exposing. The Book of Revelation exposes the oppression and domination of the Roman Empire for first century Christians. The question for today is, "What needs exposing in our culture?" In my view, it is the violent and dangerous "gospel" of books like </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Left Behind</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> that leads to war and an eagerness for Armageddon.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> In your book, you speak of </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Left Behind</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> proponents who support Israel at the expense of the Palestinians. Do they want the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians to get worse?</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> It's a peculiar kind of support for Israel. They want Israel to take over all the land but in the end only Jews who convert to Christianity will be saved. Two prominent Israeli rabbis recently warned against accepting financial support from Christian fundamentalists. I read that one American fundamentalist Christian group raised $100 million for settlements in the occupied West Bank, so I'm delighted that finally some rabbis are speaking out against this. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Peace is bad, according to these Christians, because only the Antichrist signs peace treaties in the Middle East. They want the Jewish temple to be rebuilt and animal sacrifice to resume on the Temple Mount—only so that the Antichrist can desecrate it three and one-half years into their seven-year period of tribulation. Of course, to rebuild the temple would mean destroying the Dome of the Rock, Islam's third holiest site, which would undoubtedly precipitate a war. Christian Zionism is a theology that could be characterized the way Israeli peace activist Yehezkel Landau ironically says: "God so loved the world that He sent World War III."</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> We always found that camp song peculiar, "They'll know we are Christians by our love."</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> —</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> When we interviewed Jerry Jenkins hisownself (March/April 2005), he claimed that you haven't read his books, that there's nothing in the books that's political.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> I'm thrilled that he addressed my book! I have definitely read all 13 </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Left Behind</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> novels. Whether the books themselves are political, readers are certainly influenced by LaHaye's right-wing political messages regarding the Middle East and the United Nations.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> OK, enough of the easy stuff. Explain this whole Antichrist thing for us, please.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> The Antichrist has been extracted not only from the bar-codes of foods at the grocery store but also from the radio inventory, so Wal-mart could now be a candidate for the Antichrist. As for the identification of Antichrist with the United Nations, it's just further evidence that efforts toward peace in the Middle East are thwarted by rapture theology's unfaithful biblical interpretation.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Martin Luther didn't even think the Book of Revelation should have made the final canon cut.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> That was the first time Luther read the book of Revelation, but by the second, only some five years later, he figured out that it's a great book for trashing your opponents. And that's what many people do today. They "figure out" that Revelation's beasts, locusts and mutant animals are their opponents, whether it's the Catholic Church as it was for Luther, or Saddam Hussein or Ronald Reagan, or whomever you love to hate. Revelation almost didn't make it into the canon in the 4th century, but I believe it's a very important message of hope, especially for marginalized people. I use the work of Chilean Pablo Richard and his liberation perspective...</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> ...again for our not-so savvy readers...</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Well, it may shock some of your readers, but Pablo Richard draws an analogy between the Roman empire and American empire. Just as Revelation proclaimed that Rome's empire would soon end, so today, some people look to Revelation for encouragement to hope that the oppression they experience from globalization and the American empire will soon end. So the message of Revelation is like the book of Exodus. God hears our cries; Jesus, the Lamb, is a new Moses, and He leads God's people out of oppression into freedom—which is the new Jerusalem vision of chapters 21 and 22 of Revelation.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Shocking! </span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Twenty-seven times in Revelation Jesus is called a lamb, and when artists literally try to depict the Lamb marrying a bride, the scene looks like a wedding that would not be legal, not even in Massachusetts...</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Hey, we're supposed to be the funny guys here ...</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> The Lamb is a wonderful image for Jesus that resonates for most Christians, but it's not an image you can take literally. It echoes the Passover Lamb, the idea of vulnerability and sacrifice. This is the central image for Jesus in Revelation. It's why I call Revelation's theology "lamb power."</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Is this the "loving, wimpy Jesus" LaHaye says liberals have constructed?</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> It's a loving Jesus, but by no means a wimpy Jesus. Jesus the Lamb is introduced in the central scene of the throne room vision in Revelation 5 in a completely unexpected way as a replacement for the lion, and that reversal is key for the theology of Revelation. We are to conquer, but not with violence—just as Jesus conquers by being slain, not by killing anyone. At the very heart of God is a slain Lamb, and lamb power is the wonder-working power of God's vulnerable nonviolent love to change the world. It's exactly this power that rapture theology finds insufficient. Dispensationalists preach the saving power of the blood of the Lamb in Jesus' crucifixion, but it's not enough power. They need Christ to come back with some real power, not as a lamb but as a roaring lion, to finish the job of conquering.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Who reads the </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Left Behind</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> books? </span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Many millions of people are reading them. They're fun, they're thrilling, they're violent. It's fine to read them as long as you know that it's all fiction, not only the plot and the characters but also the theology. People read the novels because they're hungry to connect the dots and see how the Bible is coming to life in our world today.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Have mainline churches failed to understand Scripture as living and relevant?</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Yes. We need to do a much better job at helping people see how the Bible comes to life, not in a pre-scripted series of worldwide disasters but in a story of God's healing love for the world. It's not that we have to apply every little thing in Scripture to life. We need to apply every big thing in Scripture to life, big things like God so loved the world, loved it enough to send Jesus who comes to dwell with us in the events of our lives and who will never leave the world behind.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> You also suggest that rapture theology leaves ecology far behind.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> It presents an escapist rapture off planet earth as God's plan for Christians. It's no coincidence that Christians in </span><i style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Left Behind</i><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> first drive Range Rovers and then Hummers, the most gas-guzzling vehicles on earth. Gas mileage doesn't matter if you think the world has only seven more years. It's a use it or lose it theology—the very opposite of early Christian ethics, which taught that the urgency of Jesus' return means caring for the world as good stewards until He comes again. It's surprising to people, but I find the Book of Revelation one of the most down to earth books of Scripture. If anything, it's about a "rapture in reverse," because God and the Lamb come down from heaven to earth in the final vision, to which the whole book leads.</span><br /><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DOOR:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Who reads your book? </span><br /><img style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" src="http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/images/rossing07.jpg" alt="" align="right" border="0" height="321" width="357" /> <b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ROSSING:</b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> One segment of readers is people like Linda who grew up fundamentalist: "Even though I don't believe this theology anymore, a little part of me always worries that it's true. Your explanation of the Bible verses is a real blessing to me." Another audience would be Christians I meet in congregations who just want to believe what the Bible says but are confused because so much Christian radio and TV claim that it's all about the rapture. As I write in my introduction, the book is for young and old who are puzzled about the book of Revelation and its consequences for us today.</span><br /> <!-- end article or feature --> </p> <p><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1121897845440110352005-09-25T18:15:00.001-04:002008-09-13T21:36:48.051-04:00James 1 - The Wisdom of the New Creation<sup id="en-NASB-30268"><span style="font-size:180%;">1</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> </span></sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">James</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">a bond-servant</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad</span>: <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">Greetings</span>.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">James</span> - Notice that James leaves out the part about how he is the actual brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, he describes himself as His bond-servant.<br /><br />In the gospels, James is described as being skeptical toward Jesus. He didn't come to believe in Jesus as Messiah until after he had witnessed the risen Christ.<br /><br />In the book of Acts James is described as the leader of the believers in Jerusalem. His story is similar to that of Paul as the Lord changes him from being hostile toward Christ to being a leader of the church.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">a bond-servant</span> - In the seventh year all Hebrew slaves were released by their master. Some willingly chose to continue on as slaves. This is the picture James uses to describe himself. He has freely chosen to follow His Lord. There is no fear or obligation. He serves out of love for His master.<br /><br />A very good article on the Hebrew concept of bond-servant may be found <a href="http://www.hissheep.org/hebrew/the_law_of_the_bondservant.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ</span> - James, here, acknowledges that he serves both God and his brother, the Lord Jesus Christ and even suggests that his brother is God, Himself.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad</span> - The persecution, ironically led by Paul, forced the Jewish Christians to leave their beloved Jerusalem, the seat of the Law of Moses, to bring the gospel message (that we have been freed through Christ from slavery to the Law) to the entire region of Judea, and to the hated Samaritans, and even to the entire world of the despised Gentiles.<br /><br />The Law of Moses had commanded faithful Israel to separate themselves from the hated practices of the Samaritans and the Gentiles. Now, freed from the demands of the Law, they are free to love the Samaritans and Gentiles.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 8:1</span><br /><br />Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">scattered throughout</span> the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.<br /><br />The key to understanding the book of James is to realize that it is specifically addressed to the twelve tribes. Like the book of Hebrews, the theme of James is remaining in Christ and not going back to the Law of Moses. With this key in mind we will be able to understand many verses that seem vague or difficult and we will be able to see how the verses tie together to illustrate this theme.<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">Greetings</span> - This is the same greeting that James used in his letter of commendation that he sent with Paul and Barnabus. This greeting is used only these two times to start a letter in the New Testament and is one reason the book of James is attributed to the James of Acts 15.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 15:23</span><br /><br />and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">greetings</span>.<br /><br />The word itself means to be joyful or to be well.<br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30269">2</sup></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> Consider</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">it all joy</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">my brethren</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">when you encounter various trials</span>,<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Consider</span> - So much of the Christian life is mental. Our attitude is what sets us apart from the world and demonstrates the powerful love of Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 6:11</span><br /></p><p>Even so <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">consider yourselves</span> to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.</p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 12:2</span><br /><br />And do not be conformed to this world, but<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> be transformed by the renewing of your mind</span>, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Philippians 4:8</span><br /><br />Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">dwell on</span> these things.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Colossians 3:1,2</span><br /><br />Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Set your mind</span> on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.<br /><br /><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">it all joy</span> - Joy is "chairo" which is the noun form of the word for "greetings" from verse one. The attitude of joy is what characterizes the Christian who has been set free from bondage to the Law of Moses and the Law of sin and death. If we have a joyful attitude our actions will be a loving expression of God's love for us.</p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 14:17</span><br /></p><p>for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and <strong>joy</strong> in the Holy Spirit.<br /></p><p>The kingdom of this world is all about keeping laws about eating and drinking and everything else pertaining to this world. The kingdom of God is all about the righteousness and peace and joy that are the result of abiding in the word of God's freedom.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Hebrews 12:11</span><br /></p><p>All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.<br /></p><p>Our progress in the Christian life begins with an understanding of our righteousness before God as provided by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Once we understand our righteousness before God we then have peace with our God who is no longer separated from us by our sins. The goal of the Christian walk is to have the lasting joy in all circumstances that results from having peace with God. Righteousness is the tree that produces peace.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Matthew 10:28-30</span><br /></p><p>"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."<br /></p><p>Jesus' yoke for us is easy and His burden is light. This is in contrast to the Law of Moses as interpreted by the Pharisees and Jewish leaders of James' day.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 15:10</span><br /></p><p>"Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?</p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Matthew 23:4</span><br /></p><p>"They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Hebrews 12:3</span><br /></p><p>fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.<br /></p><p>Jesus endured the shame reserved for those who rest in the joyous approval of God and not in the burden of the approval of men. As we separate ourselves from the righteousness of the Law and rest in the righteousness provided by Jesus, we will be persecuted by those who only know the Law of Moses and are ignorant of the righteousness established by Christ.<br /></p><p>Jesus was our example as He endured the persecution of the cross, despised the shame of not living up to men's standards of righteousness, and rested in the righteousness of God.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">my brethren</span> - James calls his hearers "my brethren" to begin his letter of admonition with a note of encouragement.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">when you encounter various trials</span> - Peter goes into more detail than James but says the same thing.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 Peter 1:6-9</span><br /></p><p>In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">the salvation of your souls</span>.<br /></p><p>It is of the utmost importance, at this point, to consider what these trials may be. Many read James in a general way and miss the particular message he brings to us. Is James merely referring to any sort of trials in general or is he referring to a particular sort of trial. I think that James is referring to the various trials that Hebrew Christians in particular would have faced. I suggest that these trials are those that test our faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of the Jews and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets..<br /></p><p>These various trials provide the proof of our faith in Christ's righteousness. These trials are the persecution of those resting in God's righteousness by those who are striving to attain the righteousness of the Law of Moses. These trials are a continuation of the persecution that scattered the new Christians throughout the world.<br /></p><p>These trials are the test to see whether we will fall away from faith in Jesus to fall back into law based righteousness. As we stand firm in the righteousness of Christ, we take our eyes off of the approval of the Law and rest in God's approval. This resting in God's approval results in joy inexpressible and full of glory. This joy results in the salvation of our souls or minds. This salvation is the healing of a mind alienated from God by the failure to establish a righteousness based on the Law of Moses. The joy of resting in God's approval saves our souls and heals our minds.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Colossians 1:24</span><br /></p><p>Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.<br /></p><p>Here we have Paul living out the words of James. He considers it all joy when he suffers because he is completing Christ's suffering as he is part of the body of Christ in this world.<br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30270">3</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">knowing</span> that <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">the testing</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"> of your faith</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">produces endurance</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">knowing</span> - Once again we see that the mind is an important part in salvation.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">the testing</span> - The Greek word is "dokimon". It can also be translated "approval" or "proof". I think it is probably better translated "proof" as in<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 Peter 1:7</span><br /></p><p>so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">your faith</span> - As I suggested with the word "trials", here I suggest that this is not "faith" in the general providence of God, but rather, our saving faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is our faith that the demands of the Law have been satisfied by Jesus and we are now eternally loved by God.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">produces endurance</span> - Our confidence in God's love enables us to remain outside the camp and stand firm in grace without falling away back into the Law.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Hebrews 13:10-13</span><br /></p><p>We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30271">4</sup></span> And <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">let endurance have its perfect result</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">so that you may be perfect</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and complete</span>,<span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"> lacking in nothing</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">let endurance have its perfect result</span> - The Greek for perfect result is "ergon teleion" with "ergon" meaning work and "teleion" meaning completed. The idea is that endurance has an final goal.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">so that you may be perfect</span> - Standing firm in the grace of Christ has the end goal that each of us should come to realize how we now have eternal fellowship with the Father through the work of the Son.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and complete</span> - This word is used only one other time in the New Testament.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 Thessalonians 5:23</span><br /></p><p>Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.<br /></p>Standing firm in Christ results in a complete confidence that we are without blame and we will have no fear when our Lord Jesus Christ comes to judge those who would rather rely on their ability to obey the Law instead of resting in the work of Christ on their behalf.<br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">lacking in nothing</span> -<br /><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30272">5</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But if any of you lacks wisdom</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">let him ask of God</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">who gives to all generously</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">and without reproach</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">and it will be given to him</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But if any of you lacks wisdom</span> - Notice that the final work of endurance is that we are to be lacking in nothing. That is that we are not to be lacking any wisdom.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 Corinthians 1:30</span><br /></p><p>But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,<br /></p><p>This final wisdom is the knowledge of who we are in Christ. We are righteous before God, we are sanctified in His sight, and we have received redemption from slavery to the Law.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ephesians 1:17</span><br /></p><p>that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of <b>wisdom</b> and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. </p><p>This wisdom is the revelation of the knowledge of Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Colossians 1:28</span><br /></p><p>We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all <b>wisdom</b>, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">let him ask of God</span> - God is the source of the wisdom of Christ. It will not be found in this world since it is in oppostion to all that the world teaches us.<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">John 14:27<br /></p><p>" Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 Corinthians 2:6</span><br /></p><p>Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">who gives to all generously</span> - Under the Old Covenant God gave to those who obeyed the Law. Under the New Covenant God gives generously to all who ask.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">and without reproach</span> - The meaning of reproach here, is that of making someone ashamed of their poverty. God gives generously to all without making us feel embarrased at our need.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">and it will be given to him</span> - All we have to do is humble ourselves enough to ask. If, on the other hand, we are strong in the wisdom of the world we will not ask and we will not receive.<br /></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30273"><span style="font-size:180%;">6</span> </sup>But <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">he must ask in faith</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">without any doubting</span>, for the one who doubts is<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"> like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">he must ask in faith</span> - If someone does not believe that the Old Covenant has ended and the New Covenant has begun then it will be impossible for him to understand all that he has in Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">without any doubting</span> - There must be no attempt to continue to abide by the Covenant of personal performance. We must stand firm in the New Covenant of Christ's performance on our behalf. We must not doubt that the work of Christ is sufficient.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">like the surf of the sea</span> - I picture a ship in a storm riding out huge waves in the ocean. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">driven and tossed by the wind</span> - The ship is at the mercy of the wind and has no control over its path. This is an image of one who tries to keep the Law of human performance. Our inability to perform causes us to lose control of our lives.</p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30274"><span style="font-size:180%;">7</span> </sup>For <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">that man</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">ought not to expect</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">that he will receive anything</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">from the Lord</span>,<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">that man</span> - The man who doubts the finality of the cross, the man who thinks that Christ was wrong when He said, "It is finished".<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">ought not to expect</span> - One must not expect God to reveal the meat of Christ while we are lusting after the milk of Moses.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">John 16:12</span><br /></p><p>I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.<br /></p><p>The disciples could not bear the fullness of the message of grace until the fullness of God's love had been demonstrated at Calvary. At the cross the temporary Law of human performance was replaced by the eternal grace of Christ's performance.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">that he will receive anything</span> - "Anything" refers back to that which was lacking, that is the wisdom of the completeness of the work of Jesus Christ.<br /></p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Colossians 2:9,10</span><br /><br /><p>For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">from the Lord</span> - The wisdom of Christ's fulness comes from the Lord. The wisdom of the way of human performance comes from searching the Law.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">John 1:17</span><br /></p><p>For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. </p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30275"><span style="font-size:180%;">8</span> </sup>being <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">a double-minded man</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">unstable in all his ways</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">being a double-minded man</span> - A man who places his faith in both the Law of Moses and the grace of Christ.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">unstable in all his ways</span> - Unstable as the ship on the ocean. He is unable to do what he wants, just like Paul before he understood the freedom of grace.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 7:15</span><br /></p><p>For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. </p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30276">9</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">the brother of humble circumstances</span> is to <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">glory in his high position</span>;<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But</span> - Instead of having one foot grounded in the Law and one foot in grace.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">the brother of humble circumstances</span> - One who has failed to receive the blessings that flow from obedience to the Law and instead has received the curse of humble circumstances. Wealth was considered to be a blessing that came from God as a result of living in accord with the Law of Moses. Humble circumstances were considered to be the curse of living a sinful life.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Deuteronomy 11:26-28</span><br /></p><p>"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">John 9:2</span><br /></p><p>And His disciples asked Him, " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">glory in his high position</span> - This brother has humble circumstances in relation to the Law but has high position in relation to Christ. He is to focus all of his attention on this high position and disregard the humble circumstances.<br /></p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Colossians 3:1-3</span><br /><br /><p>Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.<br /></p><p>We have been released from the low position of slavery to the Law of Moses and seated at the right hand of God the Father in the high position as sons of God with Christ.<br /></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30277"><span style="font-size:180%;">10</span> </sup>and <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">the rich man</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">is to glory</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">in his humiliation</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">because like flowering grass he will pass away.</span><br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">the rich man</span> - The rich man is one who has been blessed with the riches of this world as a reward for keeping the Law of Moses. He is similar to the Pharisees of Jesus' day who looked down on sinners who disregarded the letter of the Law.<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Luke 15:2<br /></p><p>Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">is to glory</span> - To glory means to place confidence in.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Philippians 3:2-4</span><br /></p><p>Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">in his humiliation</span> - Paul was rich in obedience to the Law but he gloried in his humiliation in respect to the Law of Moses. He left behind his accomplishments in the Law and focused his confidence on his high position in Christ.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">because like flowering grass he will pass away</span> - The beauty of the Law of Moses was temporary. The beauty of the grace and truth of Jesus Christ is eternal.<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Hebrews 8:13<br /></p><p>When He said, " A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.<br /></p><p>"Will pass away" is a translation of the Greek word "erchomai". Here are four passages where "erchomai" is used in regard to the "passing away" of the Old Covenant.<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Matthew 5:18<br /></p><p>"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">pass away</span>, not the smallest letter or stroke shall<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> pass</span> from the Law until all is accomplished.<br /></p><p>Heaven and earth is a Jewish idiom for the Old Covenant.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Isaiah 51:16</span><br /></p><p>"I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">to establish the heavens, to found the earth</span>, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"</p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Here's a link to an article that will explain in more detail. <a style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)" href="http://www.souldevice.org/pret_heavenandearth.html">Heaven and Earth</a><br /></div><p></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Matthew 24:34,35<br /></p><p>"Truly I say to you, this generation <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">will not pass away</span> until all these things take place. "Heaven and earth <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">will pass away</span>, but My words <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">will not pass away</span>.<br /></p><p>This generation is the last generation of the Old Covenant.<br /></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2 Corinthians 5:17<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">passed away</span>; behold, new things have come.<br /></span></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">The old creature is man under the Old Covenant. The new creature is man under the New Covenant.<br /></span></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2 Peter 3:10<br /></p><p>But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">will pass away</span> with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.<br /></p><p>The elements are the commands of the Law of Moses.<br /></p><p></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30278"><span style="font-size:180%;">11</span> </sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass</span> - Just as the Son came upon the city of Jerusalem in 70ad with the scorching wind of the Roman armies and withered the city and the temple and the whole Old Covenant system ...<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed</span> - and the beauty of the Old Covenant system and its temple were destroyed by the very Gentiles who were despised by the Law fearing Jews ...<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away</span> - so too the man who is rich in obedience to the Law of Moses will fade away with the passing away of the Old Covenant system of blessings and cursings.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30279">12</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">for once he has been approved</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">he will receive the crown of life</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">which the Lord has promised</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">to those who love Him</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial</span> - These trials were the persecution by the Old Covenant Jews against the New Covenant Jews who were being tempted to fall away from standing firm in the New Covenant and returning to the Old Covenant system.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">John 16:1-3</span><br /></p><p>"These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 8:1-4</span><br /></p><p></p><p>Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">for once he has been approved</span> - Once the trial is over God will declare that those who have stood firm in their belief in the New Covenant have won the race. They have not been disqualified. In the Greek, the word for approved is dokimos. The word for disqualified is adokimos. Those who are approved are those who have not stepped off of the New Covenant track and slipped back into the Old Covenant.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 Corinthians 9:25-27</span><br /></p><p>Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">wreath</span>, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">disqualified</span>. </p><p></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">he will receive the crown of life</span> - The word stepanos which is here translated "crown" is actually "wreath". It literally means "that which is twisted" as the leaves and branches of the laurel tree were twisted together to form the crowns awarded at Greek atheletic contests. This wreath is also called elsewhere the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of exultation. Those who are approved are those who have gloried and exulted in the righteousness of Christ and abandoned the false righteousness of the Law. This is not a literal crown, but rather a metaphor for the never-ending fellowship which we have with God.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Revelation 2:10<br /><br /></span>'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">which the Lord has promised</span> - I can't find any promise of a literal crown. I think the crown is a promise of the life we have in Jesus. We are also promised an inheritance which I think is also the life we have in Jesus. This life in Jesus is contrasted to the temporary life and inheritance of the land granted Israel through obedience to the Law of Moses.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2 Timothy 1:1</span><br /></p><p>Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">to those who love Him</span> - Those who are standing firm in the faith, looking ahead to Jesus coming in judgment on the Old Covenant system and not looking back to the temporary life given by that system.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2 Timothy 4:7,8</span><br /></p><p>I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. </p><p></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30280"><span style="font-size:130%;">13</span> </sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Let no one say when he is tempted</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">"I am being tempted by God"</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">for God cannot be tempted by evil</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">and He Himself does not tempt anyone</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Let no one say when he is tempted</span> - This passage makes little sense unless we keep in mind that the temptation is to drift back into the Law of Moses.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">"I am being tempted by God"</span> - Someone could well say that it is God who is tempts us to fall away into performance driven religion. After all, didn't God Himself give us the Law and the temple and the whole system of animal sacrifices.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">for God cannot be tempted by evil</span> - But God cannot be tempted to love us with a conditional love.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">and He Himself does not tempt anyone</span> - And He does not tempt us to try to perform to earn His love.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30281">14</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But each one is tempted</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">when he is carried away</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and enticed </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">by his own lust</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But each one is tempted</span> - The temptation to go back to the false security of the Law.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">when he is carried away</span> - "Carried away" is an unfortunate translation of a Greek word "exelko" which means dragged out. In English "carried away" is an idiom which means over excited. The Greek has no such connotation. "Exelko" is only used this one time in the New Testament so there are no other passages to help determine its meaning. I would translate this as drawn out as into a trap.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and enticed</span> - The Greek word for enticed carries the connotation of a trick or deception.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">by his own lust</span> - Lust does not only have a sexual connotation. It means any excessive desire. I think that it here refers to the boastful pride of life which is the desire to perform for God which is "drawn out" of us by the "deception" of the Law.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 John 2:16,17</span><br /></p><p>For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.<br /></p><p>James is comparing the Law to a harlot who uses our lust to perform for God to draw us away from our rest in Jesus and tricks us into trying to earn our salvation.<br /></p><p>This thought is also express by Peter in<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2 Peter 2:18-22</span><br /></p><p></p><p>For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."<br /></p><p>Here Peter is referring to the Law of Moses. Once the Hebrew Christians had escaped from slavery to the Law they fell away from the freedom they had in Christ back into slavery again.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30282">15</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Then when lust has conceive</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">d</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">it gives birth to sin</span>; <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and when sin is accomplished</span>,<span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"> it brings forth death</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Then when lust has conceived</span> - James continues the metaphor of the Law as a harlot by describing the illegitimate offspring of the illicit relationship between those who have been betrothed to Christ and yet have gone back to the harlot.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">it gives birth to sin</span> - This is the sin of returning to the Law of Moses. It is also the subject of the entire letter to the Hebrews.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Hebrews 12:1</span><br /></p><p>Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">the sin</span> which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,<br /></p><p>Notice that the author says "the sin". There is one particular sin in mind here, the sin of falling away from the grace of Christ to the works of the Law of Moses.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and when sin is accomplishe</span>d - The work of the Law was to lead us to Christ. Once we have embraced Christ, the Law can only draw us away from Him.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">it brings forth death</span> - This is spiritual death. The sin of going back to the performance based religion of the Law of Moses separates us from the unconditional love of Christ which is spiritual death.<br /></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30283"><span style="font-size:130%;">16</span> </sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Do not be deceived</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">my beloved brethren</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Do not be deceived</span> - Do not allow the Law to entice you away from Christ. The Law tries to trick us into believing that we must earn God's love through our own efforts.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">my beloved brethren</span> - This phrase is used three times in the first two chapters of the book of James. Here James is reminding his readers of God's love for them so they will be encouraged to resist the deceit of the Law's lie that God will only love us if we obey its demands.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30284">17</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Every good thing given</span> and <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">every perfect gift</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is from above</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">coming down from the Father of lights</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Every good thing given</span> - This word for good is also used in the book of Hebrews to speak of the New Covenant creation.</p><p><strong>Hebrews 9:11</strong></p><p>But when Christ appeared as a high priest of <strong>the good things to come</strong>, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; </p><p><strong>Hebrews 10:1</strong></p><p>For the Law, since it has only a shadow of <strong>the good things to come</strong> and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, <strong>make perfect</strong> those who draw near.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">every perfect gift</span> - Notice also that Hebrews 10:1 refers to those who are made perfect by the New Covenant.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is from above</span> - The Old Covenant is a temporary earthly representation of the heavenly reality.</p><p><strong>Hebrews 9:24</strong></p><p>For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of he true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">coming down from the Father of lights</span> - This is also language of the New Covenant. In Jesus the shadowy darkness of the Old Covenant was passing away. The light Jesus brings into the world dispels the shadows of the Law of Moses.</p><p><strong>1 John 2:8</strong></p><p>On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because <strong>the darkness is passing away</strong> and the true Light is already shining. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow</span> - The constant light of the New Covenant dispels the shadows of the Old Covenant forever.</p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30285"><span style="font-size:180%;">18</span> </sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">In the exercise of His will</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">He brought us forth</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">by the word of truth</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">so that we would be a kind of first fruits</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">among His creatures</span>.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">In the exercise of His will</span> - Under the Old Covenant our will determined our standing before God. Under the New Covenant it is His will that determines our standing.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">He brought us forth</span> - "Brought us forth" is the same word translated in verse 15 as "brings forth". James is contrasting the birth of death produced by the old creation with the birth of the new life of the first fruits produced by the new creation.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">by the word of truth</span> - The word of truth is the gospel message. This is the good news that we have been set free (or redeemed, bought again by a new master) from slavery to the Law of Moses.</p><p><strong>Colossians 1:5</strong></p><p>because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel</p><p><strong>John 8:31-36</strong></p><p>So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.</p><p><strong>Galatians 4:3-5</strong></p><p>So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage <strong>under the elemental things of the world</strong>. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">redeem</span> those who were <strong>under the Law</strong>, that we might receive adoption as sons.</p><p>The context of Galatians 4 shows that the elemental things of the world refers to the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">so that we would be a kind of first fruits</span> - The first fruits were the first produce of the harvest. The completion of the harvest was at the end of the Old Covenant age in 70ad. James is speaking of those who were the first produce of the harvest; those chosen out of the world to be witnesses of the image of God. These were those who believed up until the final harvest.</p><p><strong>Revelation 14:15</strong></p><p>And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, " Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe."</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">among His creatures</span> - These are the creatures of the new creation in Christ.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30286">19</sup></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">This you know</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">my beloved brethren</span>. <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">But everyone must be quick to hear</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">slow to speak</span> and <span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,204)">slow to anger</span>; </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">This you know</span> - We know the message of the gospel that we have been set free from the demands of the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">my beloved brethren</span> - James uses this phrase three times in chapters one and two. He is encouraging his readers to remember that they are loved by God and have been adopted into His family.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">But everyone must be quick to hear</span> - We know that we have been set free but we must be careful to keep listening to word of truth.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">slow to speak <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">- We must act as those who have been set free. We must not use our tongue to demand that others perform to our expectations.</span></span></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">and slow to anger</span> - We must also not get angry with those who do not meet our expectations.</p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30287"><span style="font-size:180%;">20</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> </span></sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">for the anger of man</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">does not achieve the righteousness of God</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">for the anger of man</span> - When we are performance oriented with ourselves we think that others will respond to our anger and perform for us.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">does not achieve the righteousness of God</span> - Our expectation for performance causes more sin instead of causing more righteousness.</p><p><strong>Romans 5:20</strong></p><p>The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, </p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30288"><span style="font-size:180%;">21</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> </span></sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Therefore</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">putting aside all filthiness</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and all that remains of wickedness,</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"> in humility <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">receive the word</span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">implanted</span></span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">which is able</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">to save</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">your souls</span></span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Therefore</span> - Refers back to anger not being effective in producing righteousness.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">putting aside all filthiness</span> - Acting in anger mars the image of God's love in us that same as dirt mars our faces.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">and all that remains of wickedness</span> - The word for wickedness refers to our mistreating of one another as we live as slaves to performance.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Titus 3:3</span><br /></p><p>For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">in humility</span> - Instead of the boastful pride of life which the Law engenders, we are to be humble receivers of God's love.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">receive the word</span> - James is reminding us to be quick to hear. Hearing tells us who we are under the New Covenant.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">implanted</span> - This refers back to the agricultural imagery of verse eighteen. The word planted in our minds will grow into the image of the new creation.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">which is able</span> - Hearing the word of our salvation and letting it take root in our minds is able to make us grow up into the image of God.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">to save</span> - James is speaking to believers who have already been saved in the sense of deliverance from the Law of Moses. Here salvation refers to the healing of our minds.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 5:10</span><br /></p><p>For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">shall be</span> saved by His life.</p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Romans 12:2</span><br /></p><p>And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">the renewing of your mind</span>, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">your souls</span> - The Greek word for soul is psyche which means mind and gives us our word psychology.<br /></p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30289"><span style="font-size:180%;">22</span> </sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But prove yourselves</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">doers of the word</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and not merely hearers</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">who delude themselves</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But prove yourselves doers of the word</span> - Here James begins the discussion of faith and works. Doers of the word are those whose works reflect the fact that they have been delivered from the Law. Doers are those who have works.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and not merely hearers</span> - Mere hearers are those who have been freed from the demands of the Law but obligate others to meet those same demands. Hearers are those who have faith.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">who delude themselves</span> - They are deluding themselves by not realizing that they have been set free so that they may set others free. We are loved so that we may love.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">1 John 4:19</span><br /></p><p>We love, because He first loved us. </p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30290"><span style="font-size:180%;">23</span> </sup>For if anyone is<span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> a hearer of the word</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and not a doer</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">he is like a man who looks</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">at his natural face</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">in a mirror</span>;<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">a hearer of the word</span> - We must let who we are in Christ transform our minds.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ephesians 4:23</span><br /></p><p>and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and not a doer</span> - We must let who we are in Christ transform our actions.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ephesians 4:24</span><br /></p><p>and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">he is like a man who looks</span> - Where we focus our minds determines our actions.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2 Corinthians 3:18</span><br /></p><p>But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">at his natural face</span> - Just as we look at our natural face to see what we are like we must look at our spiritual face to see what we are really like spiritually.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">in a mirror</span> - A mirror reveals what we look like. Our spiritual mirror reveals who we are in Christ, those who have been forgiven of the debt we owe to the Law of Moses.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ephesians 4:32</span><br /></p><p>Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. </p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30291"><span style="font-size:180%;">24</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> </span></sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">for once he has looked at himself and gone away</span>,<span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"> he has immediately forgotten</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">what kind of person he was</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">for once he has looked at himself and gone away</span> - We must continually keep in mind our heavenly position as beloved children adopted into God's family.</p><p><strong>Colossians 3:1-3</strong></p><p>Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">he has immediately forgotten</span> - When we cease to focus on what Christ has done for us we immediately forget who we are.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">what kind of person he was</span> - We are unconditionally loved by God in spite of our performance.</p><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><sup id="en-NASB-30292">25</sup></span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But one who looks intently</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">at the perfect law</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">the law of liberty</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">and abides by it</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">not having become a forgetful hearer</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">but an effectual doer</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">this man will be blessed</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"> in what he does</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">But one who looks intently</span> - We must look intently at who we are in Christ.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">at the perfect law</span> - The perfect law corresponds to the mirror which tells us what we are like. It is the perfect law in contrast to the Old Testament law which was imperfect and only led us to Christ. The perfect law tells us who we are in Christ and how we should act as those who are in Christ.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">the law of liberty</span> - The perfect law is that we should act as those who have been set free from the Law of Moses. A good illustration of this law is Jesus' parable found in </p><p><strong>Matthew 18:21-35</strong></p><p>Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.</p><p>"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.</p><p>"But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.</p><p>"So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."</p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"></span><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">and abides by it</span> - We must not only hear the law of liberty, we must also keep it constantly before our minds. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">not having become a forgetful hearer</span> - When we forget the grace God has shown to us in the New Covenant we don't treat others graciously.</p><p><strong>Ephesians 4:32</strong></p><p>Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">but an effectual doer</span> - Literally this is "a doer of work". </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">this man will be blessed</span> - One who is gracious with others as God has been gracious with him will be happy.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">in what he does</span> - Allowing others to be what God is making them instead of trying to get them to perform in certain ways will result in happiness in all we do.</p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30293"><span style="font-size:180%;">26 </span></sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">If anyone thinks himself to be religious</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and yet does not bridle his tongue</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">but deceives his own heart</span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">this man's religion <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">is worthless</span></span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">If anyone thinks himself to be religious</span> - James is contrasting the religion of the Old Covenant with the religion of the New Covenant. Salvation under the Old Covenant was through keeping the Law. Salvation under the New Covenant is through Christ's work on our behalf.<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 15:1-5</span><br /></p><p>Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, <strong>"Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."</strong> And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, <strong>"It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."<br /></strong></p><p>And Peter said,<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /></span></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 15:10,11</span><br /></p><p>"Now therefore why do you put God to the test by <strong>placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear</strong>? "But we believe that <strong>we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus</strong>, in the same way as they also are."<br /></p><p>And James said,<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Acts 15:19-21</span><br /></p><p>"Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. "For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."</p><p>James adds these last instructions so that the Gentile Christians don't unneccesarily offend the Jews. </p><p></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and yet does not bridle his tongue</span> - We use our tongues to get people to perform, both for God and for ourselves.</p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:13-15</span><br /></p><p>For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">but deceives his own heart</span> - Those who call on others to fulfill the Law have forgotten their own freedom from the Law.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">this man's religion</span> - He is still trying to live under the Old Covenant.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">is worthless</span> - The Old Covenant has become obsolete and worthless.</p><p><strong>Hebrews 8:13</strong></p><p>When He said, " A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. </p><p><sup id="en-NASB-30294"><span style="font-size:180%;">27</span> </sup><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Pure and undefiled religion</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"> in the sight of our God and Father</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is this</span>:<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">to visit orphans</span></span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">and widows <span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">in their distress</span></span>, <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and to keep oneself unstained by the world</span>.<br /></p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Pure and undefiled religion</span> - Pure grace undefiled by adding Law.</p><p><strong>Luke 5:36-39</strong></p><p>And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. "But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. "And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'" </p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">in the sight of our God and Father</span> - We must remember to live for God's approval and not be tempted to please men by going back to the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is this</span> - Living to serve one another instead of living for ourselves by trying to earn God's favor by keeping the Law of Moses.</p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 6:2</span><br /></p><p>Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">to visit orphans</span> - Those who are fatherless, those who cannot support themselves. Salvation itself is moving from being Fatherless slaves to becoming adopted sons with full inheritance.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">and widows</span> - Those who have no husband, those who cannot support themselves. Salvation itself is becoming the bride of Christ.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">in their distress</span> - The word for distress is also the word translated as tribulation.</p><p><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">and to keep oneself unstained by the world</span> - We must keep ourselves from being stained by going back to world of the Law of Moses<br /></p><p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Galatians 5:1</span><br /></p><p>It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.</p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1125055540850117182005-08-26T07:14:00.000-04:002007-05-12T15:44:12.508-04:00The Preterist Heresy?<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)font-size:180%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">"In doctrine, unity;<br /><br /></span></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)font-size:180%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">In opinion, liberty;<br /><br /></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255);font-size:180%;" ><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">In all things, love.</span><br /><br /></span></span><br /></div><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><br />I am getting very frustrated with so-called orthodox Christians calling Preterism a heresy. I don't understand how anyone can consider the following five verses and</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">still say that they are not saying that the second coming of Jesus Christ happened in the first century.<br /><br />Now keep in mind that I am fully aware that there are ways to get around the first century fulfillment of the individual verses. I have ways of getting around the verses that are post first century. My point is that the <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">plain meaning</span> of these five verses taken together argues for Preterism.<br /><br />I can also understand how someone with much greater intelligence than I have can understand how these verses teach that all are not saved by Christ's work on the cross, but I would much rather be called stupid than excluded from fellowship as a heretic.<br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">James 5:8,9</span><br /><br /></span>You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">the coming of the Lord is near</span>. <p><sup id="en-NASB-30364">9</sup>Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">the Judge is standing right at the door</span>. </p><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><br />Matthew 10:23</span><br /><br />"But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes</span>.<span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)"><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Matthew 16:28</span><br /><br /></span>"Truly I say to you, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom</span>."<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Matthew 24:29-34</span><br /><br />"But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. <p>"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING</span> ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. </p><p>"And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. </p>"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; <p>so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. </p><p>"<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place</span>. </p><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255)">Matthew 26:63,64</span><br /><br /></span>But Jesus kept silent And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." <p>Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"> I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN</span>."</p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1125016174498279612005-08-25T19:50:00.000-04:002006-03-10T12:44:59.406-05:00The Universalist Heresy?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">"In doctrine, unity;</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> In opinion, liberty;</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> In all things, love.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br />I am getting very frustrated with so-called orthodox Christians calling Universalism a heresy. I don't understand how anyone can consider the following five verses and</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">still say that they are not saying that the scope of Christ's salvation does not extend to all of mankind.<br /><br />Now keep in mind that I am fully aware that there are ways to get around the universal scope of the individual verses. I have ways of getting around the verses that are anti-universal. My point is that the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">plain meaning</span> of these five verses taken together argues for Universalism.<br /><br />I can also understand how someone with much greater intelligence than I have can understand how these verses teach that all are not saved by Christ's work on the cross, but I would much rather be called stupid than excluded from fellowship as a heretic.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br />2 Corinthians 5:18,19</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 Timothy 4:10</span><br /><br />For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">1 John 2:2</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and He Himself is</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Romans 5:18</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">1 Corinthians 15:22</span><br /><br /></span>For as in Adam all die, so also<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">in Christ all will be made alive</span></span>.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1123553267400004742005-08-11T21:47:00.000-04:002006-01-19T12:29:45.900-05:00Some Wonderful Quotes<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">These are some quotes I liked from the broadcast of Voice of Reason radio from clip two from the week of July 31, 2005. This clip featured questions and answers with Brian L. McLaren. You can access the broadcast </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.lighthouseproductionsllc.com/broadcast.htm">here</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I charge you before God that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">If God reveals anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as you were to receive any truth by my ministry, for I am verily persuaded<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of His Holy Word</span></span>.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of those reformed churches which <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">will go, at present, no further than the instruments of their reformation</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; whatever part of His will our God had revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace it; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This is a misery much to be lamented </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-John Robinson-<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">This first quote is from a pastor's comments to the pilgrims about to leave on the Mayflower to come to the new land in search of religious freedom. I love his comment about the progressive nature of revelation.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">"the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of His Holy Word"<br /><br /></span></span></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The modern church looks at the Lord's revelation as a static set of doctrines handed down to the church (whichever church that may be) and anyone who disagrees is considered a heretic. There is no room for individual understanding of God's word. Only the corporate church with its creeds and doctrinal statements can comprehend God's truth. No wonder those who were open to understanding God's word for themselves sought a new land where they could listen to His voice instead of the voices of the Scribes and Pharisees of their day.<br /><br />I also like his view that our understanding of revelation didn't come to an end with Luther or Calvin as those who revere the reformation would have you believe. No man has seen all things and neither has any body of men. Each of us is responsible to God to come to our own understanding of the Scriptures as we study with Him.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Acts 17:11</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Notice that these noble-minded folks were not examining creeds or commentaries or doctrinal statements. They were examining the Scriptures. Does anyone actually examine the Scriptures in our modern culture?</span><br /></div> </div> </div> </div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"The church is reformed and is reforming."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-John Calvin-<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Isn't this one great? The church is reforming. The great John Calvin, himself, thought of the doctrine of the church as a fluid body of thought that is constantly changing. To bad his followers don't follow him on this.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"We're united to one another based on the life of Christ within us; not based on our light in Christ, of what we understand.<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">-Anthony Norris Groves-<br /><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Mr. Groves was a member of the Plymouth Brethren churches and one of the early dispensationalists. I love his statement that our unity is not based on our doctrine or our understanding of God's word but, rather, on the common life of Christ within us. Wouldn't it be great to fellowship in a church that held up the life of Christ and not a particular understanding of our light in Christ. Maybe then the world would look at our churches and look beyond the hypocrisy of our lives and see the very life of Christ.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">John 13:35</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div> </div>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1123125875347736152005-08-10T22:53:00.000-04:002005-08-10T15:32:21.343-04:00Good thoughts on Repentance<dl style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> <dt>These are two posts I liked from <a href="http://http//blog.planetpreterist.com/index.php?itemid=408">Virgil's blog</a> at PlanetPreterist.</dt> </dl><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">I have highlighted the parts that I especially liked in </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">red</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">. The thrust of each post is that in the New Testament repentance refers to changing one's mind regarding one's ability to keep the Law of Moses. Repentance is inextricably linked to the Law of the Old Covenant. Repentance is mentally moving on from the requirements of the Old Covenant to the fulfillments of the New Covenant.<br /><br />My thanks to Ed and Barry for connecting these two concepts for me.</span><br /><br /><dl> <dt style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Ed Burley wrote:</dt><br /> <dd style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><p>David, et al,</p></dd><dd style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> <p>Herein lies the rub. American Christianity, Futurism, has so infiltrated our thinking that even as preterists, we continue to think like one. Let me explain:<br /><br />Repentance. We are taught by fundamentalists that we are supposed to "REPENT" (note the scream). But what does the bible mean when it calls for repentance? In Hebrews 6, we are told that one of the FOUNDATIONAL elements is "repentance from dead works." How would the Hebrew who reads this comment understand it? What are the "dead works" that he is supposed to "change his mind" about? <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Is it not the "keeping of the law for righteousness?" Isn't it human potential? Isn't it SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS? Of course it is. And so it is in the rest of the NT (and even the OT).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The message of Jesus was so radical, that Israel should change their thinking (repent) concerning the Law. The Law brought only condemnation upon God's people. It could not bring life, but death alone. God's people needed "salvation" from that condemnation/curse.</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">This began with being humble enough to "admit you are a sinner." What did that mean? It meant that no way, no how, never in a million years, could you keep the law - stop thinking that you can get God's favor by doing so. That's why Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount - to confront the self-righteous with the reality that they were failing. They committed adultery with their lust. They committed murder with their anger and name-calling. They needed SALVATION, and this was only accomplished by God's people REPENTING of DEAD WORKS of the LAW. These people needed to put their trust in Jesus to "save them from their sins."</span><br /><br />1Cor 15 says that the LAW was the power of SIN. People who "died in their sins" were those who still trusted in their own righteousness, and failed to trust Jesus for their salvation from the "wages of sin," which was DEATH, i.e., the destruction of the old covenant in AD70.<br /><br />I could write more, but this thing only allows for so many characters. I have written these things before, these are ALL SCRIPTURAL, even though so many here continue to ask for scriptural support. I give it, and it is ignored. When ignored, and re-demanded time and again, I get frustrated, and then I am condemned by those who refuse to even acknowledge that I have done what they have asked.<br /><br />IHIG,<br /><br />ed</p> </dd> <dd style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /></dd> <dd style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;"> <p>Barry wrote:</p> </dd> </dl> <dl style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><dd><p>good point Ed.</p></dd><dd> <p><br />The scriptural precedent of what repentance was implying at the time is quite clear.</p> </dd> <dd> <p><br />Mark 1:</p></dd><dd> <p>14) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD,<br />15) And saying, The TIME IS FULFILLED, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.<br /><br />Matt. 21:32<br /><br />For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, REPENTED NOT afterward THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE HIM.<br /><br />Matt. 3:2</p> </dd> <dd> <p>REPENT for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.</p> </dd> <dd> <p>Matt. 3:3</p> </dd> <dd> <p>For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.</p> </dd> <dd> <p>Matt. 3:8</p> </dd> <dd> <p>Bring forth therefore fruits meet for REPENTANCE:</p></dd><dd> <p>Matt. 3:9</p> </dd> <dd> <p>And THINK NOT to say WITHIN YOURSELVES, WE HAVE ABRAHAM TO OUR FATHER: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.<br /><br />Acts 3:19</p> </dd> <dd> <p>REPENT YE therefore, and BE CONVERTED<br /><br />In the interim period it is repentance often preceded belief. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">These folks had to change their mind about the system that was then valid and did give covenantal validity to human potential and so imposed itself first upon the Jews and also upon the Gentiles.</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">They had to change their minds about that system that then existed so that they could believe in the coming kingdom of God.</span></p></dd><dd> <p> That seems quite scriptural to me!<br /><br />blessings Barry</p> </dd> <dd><br /></dd> </dl>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9604227.post-1123558380006916462005-08-08T23:33:00.000-04:002005-08-08T23:55:11.856-04:00Book Review - "The Inescapable Love of God"<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/82/5332/1024/love.jpg"><img style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 2px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/82/5332/400/love.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I haven't read this book so I don't have much of a review for it yet.<br /><br />Just get it and read it and give it to all of your friends. The parts I have read are wonderful!<br /><br />Some excerpts can be found <a href="http://home.att.net/%7Et.b.talbott/">here</a>.<br /><br />And if you just have to have a more detailed review look <a href="http://www.geocities.com/kencallen/review.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /></span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09266772724632844591noreply@blogger.com0