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4th
Advent
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Sunday |
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first posted
12/20/03 |
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| Genesis
3:8-15 The fall of mankind Revelation 12:1-10 The woman, the child, and the dragon John 3:16-21 “The Gospel in miniature” After they had succumbed to temptation in the garden and had disobeyed God’s command, they hid themselves from God. Their sin brought awareness of their nakedness, which revealed their guilt. God called them to account. The man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the serpent. God therefore cursed the serpent, saying, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15) The Revelator John saw a vision of a woman, who represents God’s people (initially Israel; then the Church), from whom the child, Jesus Christ, was born, “who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron” ( Revelation 12:5b; see Psalm 2.9, “the Lord’s anointed”: Psalm 2:2), and the dragon, “that ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…” ( Revelation 12:9; “the accuser”, Revelation 12:10: see Job 1:9-11). The imagery of the description of the dragon suggests his power. The dragon wanted to destroy the child (by having him crucified), “but her child was caught up to God and to his throne (by Jesus’ resurrection; Revelation 12:5c). Satan and his angels (demons) have been defeated in heaven, but they are still temporarily in power on the earth. Believers overcome Satan by “the blood of the Lamb” ( Revelation 12:11); by trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross for our sins. The Apostle John taught that God loved the world and he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in the Son will not be condemned to eternal death with the wicked, but will have eternal life. God sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but to save it through him. “He who believes in him (Jesus Christ, God’s Son) is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). Jesus is the judge and judgment of the world. Jesus is the light of the world, the light of life (John 8:12), but mankind loves darkness, because their deeds are evil. Those who do evil hate the light, because the light exposes their evil, but those who are righteous, who do what is right, come to the light so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds are in accord with God’s will. Mankind has been sinful from the beginning. All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God’s judgment on sin is death (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23) God has had a plan for the redemption of creation from the beginning. The whole Bible, from beginning to end, is the narrative record of God’s working out of that plan for our redemption from sin and death. In the Garden, when the first man and woman disobeyed God’s command and committed the first sin, when God pronounced his judgment on sin, he announced that his provision for our salvation would come from a child, born of a woman, who would defeat the power of the serpent, Satan (Genesis 3:15). Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross. Jesus’ resurrection is the proof that Jesus is the Son of God, and that Satan could not destroy him. We can be freed from Satan’s power to deceive and destroy by trusting and obeying Jesus. Only through Jesus are we able to be freed from our bondage to sin and death. Jesus is God’s only plan for our salvation (Acts 4:12). We will all have to give an accounting before the Lord (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29), as Adam and Eve had to in the Garden (Genesis 3:9, 11, 13). We won’t be able to hide from that Day of Judgment even though many may want to (Genesis 3:8; Revelation 6:15-16). Those who have trusted in Jesus and have obeyed his teaching will not be condemned. Believers need not fear examination; it will be clearly seen that we belong to Jesus. Will you come to Jesus and receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life, or will you try to hide in the darkness? |
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4th
Advent-
Monday |
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first posted
12/21/03 |
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Zephaniah
3:14-20 The glorious gospel of salvation Paul
sets forth the standards for
the office of elder or bishop, which was that of a steward over God’s
household: “… a bishop must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or
quick-tempered, or a drunkard, or violent, or greedy for gain, but
hospitable,
a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy and self
controlled; he
must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to
give
instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict
it” (Titus1:7-9).
There
were false teachers in the church, which Paul instructed Titus to
rebuke
sharply, so that the Cretan members might be strong in the faith,
rather than
listening to Jewish myths and the teaching of those who reject the
truth. The
pure see purity, but the corrupt cannot recognize purity, because their
minds
and consciences are corrupted. The corrupt profess to know God, but
their deeds
deny him. The corrupt are “detestable, disobedient; unfit for any good
deed” (Titus1:16).
Zechariah’s
wife was barren and they
were
both advanced in years, but the angel told Zechariah that his wife
would bear a
son, to be called John, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit from
his
birth. John would go before the Lord the God of Israel, “in the spirit
and
power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17a), “to turn the disobedient to the wisdom
of the
just” (i.e. to righteousness; Luke
1:17c) and
“to make ready for the Lord a people prepared” (Luke 1:17d). Zechariah
asked,
“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in
years”
(Luke 1:18). Because Zechariah had not believed the angel
Gabriel, he was
rendered unable to speak, as a sign of the truth of the prophecy, until
the day
that John was named (Luke 1:64). Elizabeth
subsequently conceived, as the angel had said. John the
Baptist was the
“Elijah”
who was to come (see Matthew 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17, 76) to
prepare
the way for the coming of the Messiah. Note that Christians are
required to
hold firm to the sure word (truth) as taught (Titus 1:9). God is Truth.
Jesus
is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by
him
(John 14:6). Truth is
a Christian virtue; it is the corrupt and
unbelieving who do not know and cannot
recognize truth. (Satan is a liar
and the father of lies; John 8:44d). The angel Gabriel had spoken truth
to
Zechariah, but Zechariah doubted and asked for a sign (proof).
Zechariah
received his “proof”; he was unable to speak until he named his son
John, in
fulfillment of the prophecy. The Lord’s is truth; those word who refuse
to
believe will suffer the consequences.
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4th
Advent
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Tuesday |
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first posted
12/22/03 |
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| 1 Samuel 2:1b-10 The
song of Hannah Titus 2:1-10 Pastor and the flock Luke 1:26-38 Jesus birth foretold The song of Hannah is a poem commemorating the birth of Hannah’s son Samuel, in fulfillment of prayer. Hannah prayed to the Lord, exalting in his strength and rejoicing in his salvation. She acknowledges that there is none holy like the Lord, none to compare with him, no rock of security like our God. The Lord humbles the proud and arrogant by his wisdom and judgment. The Lord works for justice and equality; he humbles the mighty and exalts the lowly. Those who thought they were rich will face want and hunger, while those who were needy will be satisfied. The barren will bring forth offspring, while those with abundant progeny will be forlorn. The Lord rules over all of life: birth and death, blessing and calamity. He raises up the poor and needy. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will be cut off in darkness; not by might shall a man prevail” (1 Samuel 2:9). “The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces” (1 Samuel 2:10a). “The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed” (1 Samuel 2:10c, d). Paul exhorts Titus to preach what befits sound doctrine, and to teach the members of his flock conduct befitting their circumstances. The older men are to practice and model behavior that is “temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and steadfastness” (Titus 2:2). Older women are to be reverent, temperate, and not slanderous (Titus 2: 3); to teach the young women "to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands..."(Titus 2: 4-5). Young men are urged to practice self-control. Slaves are to be submissive and to give satisfactory service to their masters; to not be uncooperative, nor pilfer, but to be faithful to their master, so that God might be glorified (Titus 2: 9-10). In the sixth month (of Elizabeth’s pregnancy; see Luke 1:24, 36) the angel Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth in Galilee to a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. The angel told Mary that she had found favor with God, and that she would conceive and give birth to a son, to be called Jesus. The angel said that Jesus would be great, and would be called the Son of the Most High; the Lord would give him the throne of his forefather David, and that he would reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever. His Kingdom will be eternal. Mary asked how this would be since she was not married. The angel replied that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the child “will be called holy, the Son of God” (Luke 1:35c). The angel told Mary that her kinswoman Elizabeth, in her old age and considered barren, had also conceived. “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38). Hannah was barren, but she prayed in faith, and the Lord heard and answered her prayer 1 Samuel 1:19-20). Hannah’s song is in response to God’s answer to her prayer and the birth of her son Samuel. Hannah had endured discrimination and persecution because of her inability to bear children (1 Samuel 1:3-9). Her song declares what the Lord has done for her. Hannah is a model of the virtues Paul urges Titus to encourage in the members of the church in Crete. When she was in the temple praying for conception, she was accused of being drunk by Eli the priest (1 Samuel 1:12-16), but she was not. She was not slanderous, but kind, loving, sensible, chaste, domestic, submissive to her husband. Hannah proved to be reverent, sound in faith, and steadfast; she fulfilled her promise to “lend” Samuel to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:27-28). She was a faithful servant of the Lord, fulfilling the Christian virtues Paul urged Titus to teach to servants (slaves; see Titus 2:9-10). She was submissive; her goal was to serve her Lord to the best of her ability, to be entirely and truly faithful; not rebellious or untrustworthy. Her hope and trust was in the Lord. She foresaw the coming Messianic kingdom. In her words and her behavior she glorified the Lord. Mary was chosen by the Lord to be the mother of Jesus. She had found favor with the Lord. She, like Hannah, modeled the Christian virtues Paul extolled to Titus, not only those for women, but as of a servant toward her Lord. Her behavior and her words glorified the Lord. She wasn’t old and barren, as Hannah and Elizabeth had been, and she hadn’t asked for this child. She was engaged to be married, but she and her husband had not yet come together (Matthew 1:18. Being found to be pregnant in such circumstances was going to be difficult for her (Matthew 1:19), but she accepted the Lord’s will and was obedient to it. [Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55), called the “Magnificat” from the first word of the Latin translation, is largely based on the song of Hannah.]. An obscure Jewish woman became known for all time as the Mother of Jesus, and became a key instrument in the establishment of the Eternal Kingdom of God. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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4th
Advent
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Wednesday |
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first posted
12/23/03 |
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2 Samuel 7:1-17
The promise of an everlasting kingdom |
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4th
Advent
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Thursday |
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first posted
12/17/05 |
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2 Samuel 7:18-29, David’s eternal dynasty Galatians 3:1-14, Salvation by faith Luke 1:57-66 Birth of John the Baptist
David wanted to build a “house” of the Lord in Jerusalem, but God promised to build a “house” (a dynasty) for David. David responded, saying that he was unworthy of what God had done for him thus far, and yet the promise of the Lord to build him an eternal dynasty, though beyond expectation to David, was a small thing for Almighty God. God had allowed David to see future generations. What more can David say, because the Lord knows completely everything about David. The Lord has done great things for David, so that David might know God’s goodness. There is no one who can compare to God in greatness. What other nation has been redeemed to be God’s people, whom God has made to succeed over other nations and their gods (idols), and revealing God’s greatness? The Lord has established Israel to be his people forever, and has become their God.
David prayed that the Lord’s promise would be established forever, and that God’s name would be magnified forever as Lord of hosts (very large group; multitude; army), the God of Israel. David dared to pray to the Lord to receive what the Lord had promised. David believed that what the Lord promised the Lord would do, and so David accepted and prayed for God’s will to be done, that David’s house would continue forever in service to God, and that David would be blessed with God’s blessing forever.
The Galatian Church (in central Asia Minor; present-day Turkey) which Paul, the Apostle, had founded, had been confronted with false teaching of “Judaizers,” teaching that Gentile Christians must also keep the Laws of Moses. Paul was writing to refute that false doctrine. Paul reminded the Galatians that they had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit not by doing “works” (keeping the Law of Moses; “good deeds”). Having received the Holy Spirit (having been “born-again;” John 3:3-5-8), did they want to return to carnal life. Hopefully their spiritual experience had not been in vain. Paul asked the Galatians to consider their own experience of; “rebirth;” had they received the Holy Spirit by doing good deeds or by faith through the hearing of the Gospel?
The testimony of God’s dealing with Abraham demonstrates that it was Abraham’s faith (obedient trust) in God which made Abraham righteous in God’s judgment (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:16). The scripture prophesied that in Abraham all the nations (Gentiles) would be blessed, and the prophesy is fulfilled through faith (obedient trust).
Those who rely on “works” are under a curse; God’s word says that everyone under the law who does not keep all of the law is cursed (Deuteronomy 27:26). God’s word also declares that those who are righteous through faith shall live (Habakkuk 2:4). The law requires works, rather than faith. We are redeemed from the curse of the law by Christ, who took the curse upon himself for our sake at the cross (Deuteronomy 21:23). It is through Jesus Christ that the blessing of Abraham comes upon the Gentiles (through faith), so that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus.
Elizabeth was pregnant with John the
Baptist, when
her
kinswoman, Mary was told she would give birth to Jesus. When Elizabeth
gave
birth, her friends and
neighbors rejoiced because they knew the Lord had blessed her (because
she and
her husband, Zechariah, were apparently beyond child-bearing age; Luke
1:18).
Zechariah had been struck mute by the angel who announced the
conception to
Zechariah, because he had doubted the angel’s word.
David was a shepherd boy who the Lord raised up to be king over Israel. David had been walking in faith in the Lord for a long time. He had faced Goliath and survived King Saul’s jealous rivalry. God had already done great things for David, and this promise was greater than David could imagine or expect, but David believed God’s word, and so he accepted and prayed for God’s promise and will to be done.
The Lord had done great things for Israel, leading them out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land, where he gave Israel victory over the native people and drove them out by God’s help. The Lord wants to do good things for us, to show us his goodness, faithfulness, and power. In order to do that we have to trust and obey his word. David is an example of discipleship and spiritual growth, which applies to nations and individuals. Israel as a nation failed to learn the lessons of discipleship and did not grow to spiritual maturity; did not come to know and accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. But David did believe in God’s promise of a Savior, although the fulfillment of God’s promise was in the future. David did learn the lessons of discipleship and did grow to spiritual maturity. David did have a personal relationship with the Lord.
Since the very beginning of the Church, there have been false teachers, and two major heresies attacking the Church. One is the represented by the false doctrine of “Legalism,” the “Judaisers,” the “Circumcision Party,” who asserted that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses. The other false doctrine is called “Cheap Grace,* which is the assertion that salvation (from eternal condemnation) is by grace (unmerited favor; free gift) without the requirement of discipleship or obedience to God’s word. Both these false doctrines are refuted in the New Testament.
Paul was dealing with “Legalism” in the Galatian Church. The Galatian Christians had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit when they first truly believed in the Gospel. As long as they were walking in obedient trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ within them, they were not under the Covenant of Law (Galatians 5:18; Romans 8:1-11). Since they had received the “re-birth” into the freedom and grace in the Spirit, why would they choose to go back to the slavery to the Law (Galatians 5:1-4)? No one is righteous under the Law; we are humanly unable to fulfill the requirements of the Law. The Law doesn’t make anyone righteous; it only reveals our sinfulness (Romans 3:19-20). But the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ does not mean that we can do things which violate God’s Law; instead, only through the Holy Spirit we are able to fulfill the requirements of the Law.
Faith is not “pixie dust;” faith is not “wishing on a star;” faith isn’t getting whatever we want, if we believe “hard” enough. Faith is obedient trust! Abraham and David believed God’s promises and acted on them. When God called Abraham to take his family to an unknown land, Abraham went in obedient trust. When God told David he was going to build David an eternal dynasty, David said, “Yes, Lord, Amen” (so be it). One cannot believe in Jesus and yet not do what he says.
When Zechariah was told by an angel that he and his wife would have a son, Zechariah didn’t believe him. He asked the angel to prove it, so the angel told Zechariah he would be mute until the day the promise was fulfilled. When the child was born, Zechariah obeyed the angel’s instruction to name the child John, and as he did so his voice was restored. His friends and neighbors recognized that the Lord’s hand was upon the child and his parents. They were too old to have children, and they knew Zechariah’s impediment was healed.
From the very beginning of Creation, God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who will voluntarily trust and obey him. Jesus Christ has been God’s Plan of Salvation from the very beginning, and has been built into Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). God made disobedience possible in this creation so that we would have free will to obey God or not. The meaning and purpose of this life is to seek and come to personal fellowship with the Lord (Acts 17:26-27), and this life is our only opportunity. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s word), salvation (from eternal condemnation and destruction) and restoration to fellowship with the Lord through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 4:12; John 14:6, see God’s Plan of Salvation).
The Lord wants to show us that his word is completely trustworthy, his promises are true, that his will is in our very best interest, and that he completely faithful and abundantly able to do what he says. He wants us to be his disciples who learn to trust and obey him, and grow to spiritual maturity as we experience his goodness, faithfulness and power in our lives.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
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4th
Advent
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Friday |
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first posted
12/17/05 |
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Jeremiah 31:10-14, Restoration of Israel Galatians 3:15-22, The true purpose of the Law of Moses Matthew 1:1-17, The Genealogy of Christ Luke 1:67-80, Zechariah’s prophecy
The people of Judah, the remnant of Israel had refused to heed the warning of Jeremiah, the prophet, to repent and forsake their idolatry and disobedience of God’s word, so God lifted his protection and providence from them and they were carried into exile in Babylon for seventy years. But the Lord promised to restore and return a remnant to the Promised Land. The prophet declared that “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock” (Jeremiah 31:10). Jeremiah foresaw the day when the Lord would ransom and redeem his people from an enemy too strong for them. They would return and rejoice again of the height of Zion (the hill on which Jerusalem was built); they will again rejoice in the goodness of the Lord, who will end their languishing and restore their prosperity. The people will rejoice in their deliverance. The Lord promised to turn their mourning into joy, and give gladness in place of sorrow. “I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the Lord” (Jeremiah, 31:14)
The Church in Galatia (in central Asia Minor; present-day Turkey), which Paul had founded, was being disturbed by false teachers, teaching that Gentiles must obey the Laws of Moses (the false doctrine of “Legalism;” “works-righteousness”). Paul was writing to refute this heresy. He used the common example of the law of inheritance. Once a will is signed it becomes binding and cannot be changed. God’s promise to Abraham of an inheritance in the Promised Land was made before the Covenant of Law was established some four hundred years later, so the Law does not annul God’s promise to Abraham. If the inheritance were by Law, it would not be dependant on God’s promise.
Paul said that the Law was given to restrain human sinfulness until the fulfillment of the promise. God’s Law was given through an intermediary (who administered it like a guardian of a small child). According to Jewish belief at the time of Paul, the Law was delivered by angels as intermediaries between God and mankind. I believe that the “intermediary” was Moses, who prefigures Jesus Christ, our mediator.
The Law does not contradict or oppose the Promise. The Law cannot make us righteous; it can only reveal our sinfulness. The scriptures declare that we are all sinners (compare Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:5-8), so that God’s promise can be received only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ by those who believe.
Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus through his earthly father, Joseph. From Christ back to King David, through whom the Christ was to come (see 2 Samuel 7:11b-16) it was twenty-eight generations, with the deportation of Judah, the remnant of Israel, to exile in Babylon in the exact middle of that span. From David the line goes back to the Patriarchs: Judah, the head of the tribe, by Jacob, by Isaac, by Abraham (in reverse chronological order).
Zechariah, a priest, was told by an angel that his wife, Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was pregnant with a son who would be a prophet like Elijah (Matthew 17:10-13), who would call Israel to repentance to prepare for the Lord (Luke 1:17). Zechariah and his wife had never had children and were now considered too old. The angel’s prophecy was fulfilled. The voice of Zechariah, who had been made temporarily mute, was restored when he confirmed the child’s name would be John, as the angel had instructed him.
When his voice was restored, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, blessing the Lord God of Israel. Zechariah foresaw that the Lord had visited and redeemed his people and had raised up for his people, in the dynasty of David, in fulfillment of God’s word declared by his prophets long before, a mighty salvation, from their (spiritual) enemies. The Savior would provide the mercy of God promised to the ancestors of Israel, and would fulfill the covenant which God vowed to Abraham to give to his descendants, so that they could serve God without fear, in righteousness and holiness, for all their lives.
Zechariah declared that his son, John, would be called the prophet of the Sovereign Lord (Matthew 17:10-12; Mark 9:11-13), and would go before the Lord to prepare his way. John would identify and announce the Savior and the salvation of God’s people (see John 1:32-34) through the forgiveness of their sins. Salvation (from eternal condemnation for our sins; sin is disobedience of God’s word), enlightenment in our spiritual darkness, and deliverance from the shadow of (physical and spiritual, eternal) death, and guidance (through his Word and Holy Spirit) in the right way to live, are provided us through God’s tender mercy.
“And the child (John) grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel” (Luke 1:80).
Judah, the southern kingdom of the divided monarchy and the remnant of Israel, had many opportunities to repent and forsake idolatry and disobedience of God’s word, through prophets of the Lord including Jeremiah, through scripture (the Bible), and through the example of the obliteration of the northern ten tribes of the Kingdom of Israel, but they refused to repent and return to obedience to the Lord, right up to the day the Chaldean army of Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) besieged Jerusalem (Jeremiah 38:19-23).
The Lord was able to discipline Judah for idolatry and disobedience and still fulfill his promise to preserve and restore a remnant of his people so that his eternal plan could be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, God’s anointed Savior and eternal heir to the throne of David. Seventy years exile is a virtual life sentence for those who went into exile as adults. Through the experience of exile, the remnant learned to trust and obey the Lord, and were a revived people when they returned to the Promised Land.
God’s word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Jeremiah foresaw a day when God would redeem his people and restore them to Zion, the Holy City, and his prophecy was fulfilled when Judah returned to the Promised Land of Israel after seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10; the seventy years are calculated from the destruction of the temple in 587-586* to its rededication in (516 B.C.**). The multiple of the number seven is a symbol of completeness). It was fulfilled again by the physical coming of Jesus Christ and his physical death on the Cross. It will be fulfilled ultimately by Christ’s Second Coming at the Day of Judgment, when his disciples will be returned and restored to the eternal Kingdom of God in heaven.
God’s deliverance of us from sin and eternal condemnation is only by grace (God’s unmerited favor; free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). We cannot earn, buy, or seize salvation and eternal life by force or deception.
John’s birth and destiny as a prophet comparable to Elijah was prophesied by an angel to John’s father, Zechariah (Luke 1:17, 76), and John fulfilled that prophecy (Matthew 17:11-12; Mark 9:13). John was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the “one crying in the wilderness” (Matthew 3:3; compare Isaiah 40:3), who would call God’s people to repent and prepare for the coming of the Lord (Matthew 3:3:c; Luke 3:2b-9). John was the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy that John would identify and announce the Savior (Luke 76b-77; John 1:29:34). John was filled and guided by the Holy Spirit of God.
In a sense Christians are God’s people in exile in the “Babylon” of this present world. Satan is the enemy who is too strong for us. Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s word to Abraham that the nations would be blessed through Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:1-8). Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s word to David, promising an everlasting dynasty and kingdom through David’s descendants (2 Samuel 7:11b-14a). Jesus is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy of a “Good Shepherd” (Jeremiah 31:10d; compare John 10:11-14). Jesus is the one who will lead us out of exile in the “Babylon” of this world into “Zion,” the Holy City, the Promised Land of God’s eternal kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the one who turns our mourning into joy; Jesus gives us gladness in place of sorrow.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, 2 Kings 24:20b-25:7n p, 492, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
** Ibid, Ezra 6:15n, p. 580. |
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4th
Advent
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Saturday |
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first posted
12/17/05 |
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Isaiah 60:1-6, Jerusalem’s glorious restoration Galatians 3:23-4:7, The purpose of the Law of Moses Matthew 1:18-25 Announcement of Jesus’ birth
The prophet foresaw the coming of the Messiah, the Lord’s anointed Savior and King. The Lord tells Israel to arise and shine, to reflect the light and the glory of the Lord who has come to her. Spiritual darkness covers the earth and the peoples of earth, but the light and glory of the Lord will be seen upon Israel, and nations and kings will come to her light. Israel is told to watch and see her sons and daughters return. The Lord will again prosper her “and the wealth of nations shall come to you” (Isaiah 60:5c). Camels will come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense, proclaiming the praise of the Lord (compare Matthew 2:1-12). The Galatian Church had been troubled by false teachers who taught that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and obey the Laws of Moses. Paul was addressing that false doctrine of “legalism” (“works-righteousness”). Paul taught that the Law was intended to be a guardian like that of a minor child, until the coming of Christ. At Jesus’ coming, righteousness is by faith (obedient trust) in him, rather than by obedience to Law, like children who have reached the legal age to receive their inheritance. By faith in Christ Jesus we are all sons and daughters of God. By baptism into Christ we have all been clothed in Christ, who is our new identity and our common unity superseding our individual differences of race, gender or social status. While a minor, a child is the owner of his inheritance, but is no better than a slave, because he is under the supervision of his guardian. Likewise, before we came to faith in Christ we were enslaved by worldly ways and thoughts. But in God’s perfect timing, he sent his son, “born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem (pay for the release from slavery) those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as children of God” (Galatians 4:4-5). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of his Son” (Galatians 4:6) bears witness that God truly is our Father. So, by God’s redemption we are no longer slaves, but (adopted) sons and daughters, and heirs of God’s promises. These are the circumstances of Christ Jesus’ birth. His mother was betrothed (“engaged”) to marry Joseph (a descendant of King David; Matthew 1:6), but they had not yet been united. She was found to be pregnant by “the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). Joseph didn’t want to publicly shame her, so he was considering ending their engagement discretely. While he was considering this the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, addressing him by name as the son of David, and told him not to hesitate to marry Mary, because the child had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. The child was a boy, and they were to name him Jesus (meaning “Savior”) “because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that a virgin will conceive and bear a son who would be called “Emmanuel,” meaning God with us. When Joseph awoke from the dream he did as the angel of the Lord had told him. He married Mary, but he did not sexually consummate his marriage until the child was born. He named him Jesus. God’s word is eternally true and is always fulfilled, over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Fulfillment is the test of the authentic word of God (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). It is to our advantage to learn to trust and obey God’s word now while it is possible to receive his promises.
This text from Isaiah was probably written between the fall of Babylon to King Cyrus of Persia (539 B.C.1) and the dedication of the rebuilt temple (the “second” temple) in Jerusalem (516 B.C.2). The first return of exiles was about 538 B.C.3. The return of the exiles was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah, made before the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 29:10). The author of this portion of Isaiah witnessed the restoration of the remnant of Israel to their Promised Land, and foretold the Lord’s ultimate restoration and blessing through the coming of the Messiah.
The prophet called God’s people to reflect the spiritual light and glory of the Lord which was coming upon them. His prophecy was relevant to Israel in his time and at the physical coming of Jesus Christ to Israel, and it is relevant to the Church and Christian nations, particularly America, today. The Church and America are each the “New Israel,” the New People of God. America is the “New Promised Land” and the Church is the “New Jerusalem,” the New Holy City on earth. The prophecy of nations and kings coming to Israel’s light, bringing gold and frankincense was fulfilled (Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11).
The baptism into Christ is the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit. From personal experience, I’m convinced that water baptism is a Covenant with God, containing the promise of spiritual re-birth through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we fulfill our part of the covenant, the Lord will fulfill his promise. We must seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit by obedient trust in God’s word. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:32-34, only his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
We are all under the Law of God, given to Moses, until we are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All of us have sinned (disobeyed God’s word, his Law; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and does not want anyone to die eternally (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness of sin, salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction, and fellowship with God. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Those who are in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9) are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness; we have been spiritually “re-born” to eternal life. It is possible for one to know with certainty whether or not one has received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). It is the testimony of the Holy Spirit within us that testifies that we have become God’s adopted children, and that God is our (spiritual) father. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s prophecy, through Isaiah, of a Savior and eternal King. God calls us to rise and shine with the reflection of the light and glory of God in Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ we are called to reflect God’s light in the spiritual darkness of this world. Jesus was conceived in a physical body within Mary by the Holy Spirit, and we can also be given spiritual life and filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God, by the creative power of God, the Holy Spirit. Joseph trusted and obeyed the word of God which was revealed to him by an angel, a Spirit of God, in a dream.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
2 Ibid, Ezra 7:6n, p. 580 3 Ibid, Introduction to Ezra,
p. 573.
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