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Week of 16 Pentecost – Sunday

Posted August 31, 2008


Ezekiel 33:7-9 -- The Watchman;
Psalm 119:33-40 -- Understanding God’s Word;
Romans 13:1-10 -- Governments’ Authority;
Matthew 18:15-20 -- Church Authority;

Ezekiel:

The prophet is the watchman over Israel (the people of God; the Church). The prophet has the responsibility to receive God’s Word and proclaim it fully and accurately, giving warnings. If God warns the prophet that the wicked will surely die, and the prophet does not speak that warning to the wicked, exhorting them to turn from their wicked ways, the wicked will die, but God will hold the prophet accountable for their death. But if the prophet warns the wicked and they do not listen and turn from wickedness, the wicked will die in their sin, but the prophet will have saved his own life.

Let us ask the Lord to teach us how to live according to his ways and follow his instruction from now on. Lord, help us understand your Word so that we can apply it in every area of our lives. Help us be obedient to your Word for we delight in it. Let us focus on your way, rather than on worldly riches. Help us turn from vain things and give us what is truly life according to your ways. “Confirm to thy servant thy promise, which is for those who fear (have appropriate awe and respect of the power and authority of) God” (Psalm 119:38). Let us long to live according to God’s Word, so that we can have true, eternal life as a gift, by the goodness of God.

Romans:

Paul was “discipling” believers by letter to the Church in Rome, the Capital of the Roman Empire. Paul taught that Christians are to submit to governmental authority, because God is the source of all authority and has given authority to governments by the will and purpose of God. So those who resist government will suffer God’s judgment for opposing what God has established. Governmental authority is not a threat to those who do what is right, but a restraint against those who do evil. As long as we do what is right we will have the approval of government. Rulers are servants of God for our benefit. But if we do what is wrong then we should be afraid of that authority, because rulers are servants of God and have been given the authority to punish wrongdoers and carry out the wrath of God upon them. So we must submit to governmental authority not only to avoid God’s wrath but for the sake of our own conscience.

The same thing is true of governmental taxes. Authorities are agents of God who have received authority from God to collect taxes to run the government. So Christians are to give everything the government requires; taxes, fees, respect, and honor.

Let us be in debt to no one, except to love one another, because love is the fulfillment of God’s law. The commandments against adultery, killing, stealing, coveting and any other commandment are fulfilled by treating others with the same love we have for ourselves (Mark 12:31). If we truly love others, we will not do them any wrong, so love is the fulfillment of the law.

Matthew:

Jesus taught his disciples how to administer discipline within the group of his followers (the Church). If a member of the congregation sins against another, the victim should first go the other member alone, and explain his fault. If the member accepts correction the relationship is restored. If the member at fault is not willing to listen, the aggrieved should take two or three others and with him to talk the member, so that every word can be confirmed by the testimony of the witnesses. If the member still refuses to accept correction, he should be brought before the full congregation, and if he refuses to hear the judgment of the congregation he should be regarded as a heathen and a tax collector.

Commentary:

Jesus has given the Church the authority to control what is allowed and what is not permitted within the Church and it will have eternal consequences. Regardless of the size of the membership, as few as two or three, if the Church agrees on anything, they can ask God and it will be done for them. Wherever two or three believers are gathered in his name, Jesus will be present among them.

God’s Word contains both wonderful promises and ominous warnings. Prophets are those who hear, know and understand God’s Word and proclaim it fully and accurately. The test of prophecy is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22) God’s Word is always fulfilled, and it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

Before the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the dispensation of the Holy Spirit upon the Church on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), only a few individuals were called by God to proclaim God’s Word,  and had a personal relationship with God. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for his disciples to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (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). The Holy Spirit is the confirmation within us of God’s promise of eternal life. 

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), every truly “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian has a personal relationship with the Lord, and is guided and empowered to know and proclaim the Gospel.

The Holy Spirit opens the minds of Jesus’ disciples to understand the Bible scriptures, and teaches them all spiritual truth (John 14:17, 26). Christians are to stay within the Church (New Jerusalem) until they have been “born-again” before going into the world with the Gospel message (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). The “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20), which Jesus gave to his disciples cannot be accomplished except by the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

Born-again disciples of Jesus Christ have experienced the truth and fulfillment of God’s Word, and have a responsibility to proclaim God’s Word fully and accurately, not just the parts which make us feel good, but also the ominous warnings. We must warn worldly people who are living according to the desires of their flesh, that unless they repent, confess their sin (disobedience of God’s Word), change their way of life, and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they will die in eternal destruction in hell with all evil.

God has given us his Word in the Bible, and in the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:1-5, 14), so that we can learn to live according to God’s will and purpose and can enter eternal life in his eternal kingdom in paradise restored in heaven. The meaning and purpose of life in this present world is the opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator Acts 17:26-27) and receive spiritual rebirth to eternal life, and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, John 14:6).

If we live according to God’s Word, we will have nothing to fear from worldly rulers. There have been and are evil rulers, and there are times when Christians must follow God’s Word rather than worldly rulers. Peter and John are an example of disciples in that situation (Acts 4:18-20). At least Christians have the assurance and certainty of eternal life by the Holy Spirit within them. We should try so far as possible to comply with government authority.

Jesus has given the Church the authority to discipline its members. The Church must proclaim the full Word of God, and require the members to live in obedience to God’s Word. In too many cases today, the Church proclaims only the parts of God’s Word that make us feel good. People don’t want to hear about sin, and eternal damnation, but the Church is not fulfilling its responsibility to warn the wicked, nor doing its members any favor by failing to administer Church discipline.

Jesus warned that we are not to have fellowship with those who are living contrary to God’s Word. One example is the issue of homosexuality* in the Church. Another is the false teaching of “Cheap Grace:”** salvation by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), without the obligation of discipleship and obedient trust; (see Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:17-24; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:9-20; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right). If they refuse to listen, they should be excommunicated in the hope that they may come to realize their “lost” condition and repent (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). As long as they are members in good standing they will falsely believe that they are saved and have no reason to repent.

One cannot truly believe in Jesus and not do what he teaches. Calling ourselves “Christians” and calling Jesus our Lord doesn’t make it so, unless we trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).

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)?

*Homosexuality (See 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Romans 1:24-27; from two Greek words meaning “men bedding (or conceiving) with men” (Strong’s #730 & 2845; see Strong’s #733); i.e., “sodomites,” after the city of Sodom, destroyed by God for its homosexual practice (Genesis 19:4-5 (24-25); men who have unnatural sexual relations with men (and, by extension, women who have unnatural sexual relations with women). The KJV translates as: “men defiling themselves with men”).

**See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6

Week of 16 Pentecost – Monday 

Posted September 1, 2008

Psalm 103:1-13 -- Bless the Lord;

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name" (Psalm 103:1)! Let me remember all his benefits: he forgives all my sin, he heals my diseases, he redeems my life from the grave. He anoints me with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies me with good things as long as I live. He renews my youth like the eagle's.

The Lord provides justice and vindication for the oppressed. The Lord revealed his ways to Moses and Israel witnessed his works. "The Lord is merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love" (Psalm 103:8). The Lord doesn't constantly criticize, and he doesn't hold grudges. His punishment for our sin is less than we deserve. His great steadfast love for us is higher and wider than the heavens. He removes our transgressions from us as far as east is from west. He has pity for us like a father for his children.

Commentary:

This psalm is attributed to David, the great shepherd-king of Israel. David was the forerunner and illustration of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, the "son" (descendant) of David (by his earthly father; Matthew 1:20b; 21:9b), and Son of God (by the Holy Spirit; Matthew 1:20c). He was a man after God's heart who would do all God's will (Acts 13:22c; Psalm 89:20; 1 Samuel 13:14), and yet David sinned greatly by adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2-5) and murder of her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11:6-27).

David experienced the the Lord's chastisement for his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-12), but also the forgiveness, when David truly repented. The Lord's punishment of David was less than he deserved. David was forgiven, but at the cost of his son (2 Samuel 12:13-14).

David experienced the steadfast love and mercy of the Lord, and his power to heal and preserve David's life, and this psalm bears testimony to that.

This is what the Lord God has done for us in Jesus Christ. God forgives all our sins, not at the cost of our own sons, but of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Jesus has already died for our sins, and we receive that forgiveness and salvation through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who forgives our sins, heals our spiritual diseases and redeems (pays the price to free) us from eternal death.

We are all born physically alive but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) so that we can live eternally with the Lord in God's kingdom in heaven, and this rebirth is by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (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).

Through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we have a personal knowledge of, and fellowship with, God the Father and Jesus Christ. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the steadfast love of the Lord. Through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we are healed spiritually, our souls are "renewed," and we experience true, eternal life, which begins now in this lifetime. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the eternal kingdom of God which is present all around us now.

God has always intended, from the beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to know God (Acts 17:26-27) and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus Christ has been God's plan from the beginning of Creation and has been designed into its very structure (John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

This Creation was created good, but with the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we would have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable, and our very best interest. God did not create the evil in this world; evil is the result of human sin.

God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation, first from the goodness and intricacy of Creation itself, then in his call to Abraham to be the "father" of God's people. The Bible, God's Word, is the record of God's dealing with his people in fulfillment of his purpose. God began to give his Word to Moses, and he began to reveal his purpose to Israel, in leading them out of bondage to Egypt. They are the witnesses to God's great works of redemption and salvation.

The Exodus, God's leading of Israel out of bondage to sin and death in Egypt, is intended to be a parable and metaphor for life in this world. Jesus is the "New Moses" who leads God's people out of the bondage to sin and death in the "Egypt" of this world. Satan is "pharaoh," the present world ruler. Jesus leads us out of "Egypt" through the "sea" of baptism into Jesus Christ, through the "wilderness" of this lifetime, through the "river" of physical death (without getting our "feet wet;" Joshua 3:14-17), and into the eternal "Promised Land" of God's kingdom in heaven. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the "pillar of fire" (Exodus 13:21-22) which leads God's people through the spiritual "night" of sin and death in this world.

Christians are "born-again" disciples (students; Acts 11:26c) and apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Christians are the "New Israel" and the true Church is the "New Jerusalem" on earth. "Born-again" Christians are the witnesses who testify to the world the great saving acts of the Lord which they have personally experienced. We have personally experienced God's forgiveness, steadfast love and mercy, by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Lord chastises us like a good father chastises his children, to lead us to repent and return to obedient trust in God the Father so we will live according to what is good, right and true according to God's Word. God loves us and wants us to live eternally in his heavenly kingdom (John 3:16). God sent Jesus into the world not to condemn us but to save us (John 3:17). We will condemn ourselves if we refuse to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior by faith (obedient trust) in him (John 3:18).

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)?

Week of 16 Pentecost – Tuesday

Posted September 2, 2008


Genesis 50:15-21

Jacob (Israel) was the father of the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, including Joseph, who his brothers had sold into slavery in Egypt.  Joseph became a powerful administrator in Pharaoh's government. Later the whole family went to Egypt to survive a famine.

Jacob (Israel) died in Egypt, and the brothers feared that Joseph would take revenge upon them for having sold him into slavery in Egypt. So his brothers sent a message to Joseph, and came before him, saying that, before he died, their father had commanded them to ask forgiveness from Joseph for the wrong their brothers had done him. They declared that they were the servants of the God of their father. Joseph wept when he heard them, and the brothers bowed before Joseph and vowed to be his servants.

"But Joseph said to them, 'Fear not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today'" (Genesis 50:19-20). Joseph reassured and comforted them telling them not to be afraid, and promising that he would provide for their households.

Commentary:

Joseph could have been bitter about the evil his brothers had done him. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers. As a slave he was falsely accused by the wife of his master and thrown into prison. But Joseph trusted in the Lord and the Lord was able to bring good from it for Joseph and for his father and brothers through Joseph.

The Lord blessed Joseph in prison by giving him the ability to interpret dreams,  providing the way for Joseph to be released from prison and to become Pharaoh's chief administrator. Joseph foretold a world-wide famine, and was able to oversee the storage of food to save many people including his father's household from starvation.

The Lord doesn't cause evil. Evil is the result of human sin (disobedience of God's Word). God's Creation is very good (Genesis 1:31), but God designed Creation with the possibility of sin, so that we would be free to choose whether or not to trust and obey God's Word, and would have the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2).

In a sense we have all come into slavery in the "Egypt" of this present world order because of spiritual famine, and Satan is "Pharaoh." Jesus is our "brother" who we "sold into slavery." In a sense we have all crucified Jesus because we have all sinned and made his crucifixion necessary for our forgiveness and salvation.

Through his crucifixion and resurrection, he has become the only source of spiritual sustenance, forgiveness and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). We need not fear that he will hold a grudge against us and seek to punish us for betraying him. We were motivated by evil, but God raised Jesus up to highest authority and brought about good from it for us and for all who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

We need to realize and acknowledge that Jesus is the only source of spiritual sustenance, forgiveness and salvation. We need to come to him and confess our sinfulness, and declare our intention to serve him and the God of our spiritual father, Israel. He alone can sustain us and keep us from dying eternally from spiritual starvation.

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)?

Week of 16 Pentecost – Wednesday

Posted September 3, 2008


Romans 14:5-9 -- Lord of All;

Some believers choose to observe feast and fasting days of the Church calendar, while others do not. In matters like these the believer is free to follow his conscience. The one who observes a holy day observes it in honor of the Lord, and the one who feasts or fasts does so in honor of the Lord. No one lives entirely for oneself. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord, and everything we do should be for the Lord's honor and glory. Jesus came to die and live again in this world so that he could be the Lord of the living and of the dead.

Life is more than physical existence and more than gratifying our physical natures. Jesus came to show us how to live in this world in obedient trust in God's Word, and to demonstrate by his resurrection that there is existence beyond physical death.

Observing and participating in Church ritual doesn't save us, and lack of participation doesn't condemn us. What matters is that we honor and glorify the Lord in whatever we do.

Doing "good works" won't "save" us, but "good works" are evidence that we are "saved" (from God's eternal condemnation; Ephesians 2:8-10). One who truly believes in Jesus will do what Jesus teaches (Matthew 7:21-27).

There are two major false teachings in the nominal "Church" today that were present in the first-century Church and are refuted in the New Testament. One is teaching "salvation by (doing good) works," and the other is "cheap grace,"* which is teaching salvation by grace (which is true) without the obligation of discipleship and obedient trust (which is false; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

Salvation is a free gift from God, but we must claim and receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation from our eternal condemnation by God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). 

Faith is not getting whatever we believe, if we believe "hard enough." Faith is not like "wishing on a star," or making a wish before we blow out birthday cake candles. Saving faith is obedient trust in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's  Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

We are all born physically alive but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and to be spiritually "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, to be restored to fellowship with our Creator which was broken by sin, and to receive true, eternal life (John 14:6). Jesus is the only one who gives the gift of ("baptizes" with; "anoints" with) the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (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).

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)?

Week of 16 Pentecost – Thursday

Posted August 4, 2008


 Matthew 18:21-35 -- Forgiveness;

Peter, one of the Twelve original disciples,  asked Jesus how often one must forgive one's brother; as many as seven times? Jesus told him that one must forgive seventy times seven times (as often as necessary, without counting).

To illustrate forgiveness, Jesus told his disciples the parable of the wicked servant. A king called his servants to settle their accounts. One of his servants who owed ten thousand talents (each worth a thousand dollars). He was unable to repay, so the king ordered the servant, his family, and all his possessions be sold to repay the debt. The servant begged the king for patience, promising to repay. Out of compassion, the Lord released the servant and forgave his entire debt. As the servant left the kings presence, he encountered a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii (each worth about twenty cents). The forgiven servant grabbed his fellow servant by the throat and demanded repayment. The fellow servant fell down and begged for patience, but the forgiven servant refused and had the debtor thrown in prison until he could repay.

The rest of the kings servants were distressed at what had happened, and reported it to the King. The King had the forgiven servant brought before him. The King called him wicked because, having been forgiven such a great debt by the king, the servant didn't show the same compassion for his fellow servant. The king had the wicked servant imprisoned until his debt was repaid. Jesus told his disciples that God the Father will do the same to everyone who does not truly forgive his brethren.


Commentary:


We are all "debtors" to the Lord. We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and have fallen short of God's righteousness (doing what is good, right, and true, according to God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally, but to live eternally in his kingdom in paradise (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-18). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction  (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

We've all been forgiven. All we have to do is to accept and receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Our sin against God is great beyond calculating. The condition for our forgiveness is that we must forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15).

No one of our fellow humans needs our forgiveness more that we need God's. When we realize how much God has forgiven us we will be glad to forgive our brothers and sisters. The fact of our unwillingness to forgive others testifies that we have not accepted and appreciated God's forgiveness of us through Jesus Christ. God has already forgiven us. But God can and will hold us accountable for our unforgiveness of others.

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)?

Week of 16 Pentecost – Friday

Posted September 5, 2008


Deuteronomy 32:39-40
1 Corinthians 15:21-28

Deuteronomy:

God is the one and only true, eternal God. There is no other god, except God. He is sovereign over all things, including life and death. God has the power and authority to kill and to make alive, and the power to wound and to heal. God affirms that this is the truth.

1 Corinthians:

Death came into the world through one man, Adam, but also resurrection came into the world through one man, Jesus Christ. We are all born into death through Adam, but we can be made alive through Christ. Christ's resurrection to eternal life is the "first fruits." Then when Christ returns those who belong to Christ will be raised to eternal life. At the end of the age Christ will condemn and destroy every (worldly) power, authority, and rule, and then will present the eternal kingdom to God the Father. Jesus must reign until he has conquered all his enemies. God has given Jesus all power and authority to subjugate everything to Jesus, so that Jesus can present himself and his kingdom to God the Father in perfect submission. Then God the Father will be sovereign over everything and every one.

Commentary:

We are all born physically alive but spiritually dead. God has always intended from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. In order to give us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God and to  learn by trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable and our best interest, God has designed this Creation with the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word). God knew that the freedom to choose would lead us to disobedience and sin, but God is not willing to tolerate disobedience and sin forever, and not at all in his eternal kingdom. So this Creation and we individually are limited by time.

Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus came and died on the cross to be the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sin, and to make it possible for us to be restored to fellowship with God that was broken by our sin. Jesus is going to return, at the end of time, on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living and dead, in both the physical and spiritual senses. That day will come for all of us at the end of our lives, and no one knows when that will be.

God is the one true God, who has given us physical life and who will determine how long our individual physical lives will be. Jesus is the only "begotten" Son of God. He is the fullness of God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 14:8-11). God has given Jesus the power to judge the earth, and to kill or to make alive spiritually.

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8), by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (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).

Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) and will receive eternal life on the Day of Judgment. But those who have refused to accept Jesus as Lord and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death; to eternal destruction in hell, with all evil.

We all share Adam's sinful nature because of our human flesh. All of us have sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is (eternal) death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want any to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus came into the world to show us by word and example to live in obedient trust in God's Word. Jesus' miracles of raising the dead, like Lazarus (John 11:1-44), and Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:22-24, 35-43) were intended to reveal that Jesus has the power and authority to give life to the dead, and Jesus' own resurrection demonstrates the reality of existence beyond physical death. Every truly "born-again" Christian attests to the fact that Jesus lives, having been raised from death to eternal life.

The Lord taught Israel to make an offering of the first fruits of the harvest so that they could understand the concept of "first fruits." It's a sort of "security deposit" or "down payment" assuring the full harvest which will follow. Jesus' resurrection is the "first fruits" of eternal life. He is eternally alive now, and he will return to take his followers with him into eternal life at the ultimate spiritual harvest. The Holy Spirit is the "first fruits" within us securing and bearing witness to our eternal salvation.

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)? 

 

Week of 16 Pentecost – Saturday

Posted September 6, 2008;


John 11: 19-45 -- Lazarus Raised from the Dead;

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, of Bethany, a short distance from Jerusalem, had died. They were close friends of Jesus. Jews from Jerusalem had come to console them. When Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, she went out to meet him, while Mary stayed in the house (with the mourners). Martha said that if Jesus had come while Lazarus was alive, he could have prevented Lazarus' death, and even now, she was sure that God would do whatever Jesus asked. Jesus replied that Lazarus would rise again.  Martha said that she believed in the resurrection at the end of time on the Day of Judgment. Jesus told her that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Jesus, even if he dies, will yet live, and whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die. Jesus asked Martha if she believed this, and she said, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God; he who is coming into the world" (John 11:27).

Then Martha went to Mary and told her that "the Teacher," (Jesus) was asking for her. When Mary heard this she got up quickly and went to Jesus. Jesus had not yet entered the village. The mourners with Mary thought she was going to the tomb of Lazarus to mourn, so they got up and followed her. When Mary reached Jesus she fell at his feet, and said that if Jesus had been there, her brother would not have died. When Jesus saw Mary and the mourners weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit, and he asked where Lazarus was entombed. They invited the Lord to come and see.  Jesus grieved personally, so the Jews recognized his love for Lazarus. But others questioned why Jesus, who could heal the blind, had not prevented Lazarus from dying.

Jesus, deeply moved, came to the tomb, a cave with a stone upon the opening. Jesus asked that the stone be removed, but Martha said that, since Lazarus had been dead four days, there would be the smell of death. Jesus replied, saying that he had told her that if she believed, she would see the glory of God.

The stone was removed and Jesus looked to heaven and prayed to God his Father, thanking God for hearing him. Jesus knew that God always heard him, but he wanted the witnesses to know that also, and believe that God had sent (and empowered) Jesus. Then Jesus loudly called Lazarus to come forth from the tomb. Lazarus came out, still bound with the burial cloths. Jesus told the onlookers to unbind Lazarus. Many who were witnesses, who had come with Mary and seen what took place, believed in Jesus.


Commentary:


We are all born physically alive, but spiritually "unborn," This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Jesus’ miracles of raising the physically dead were intended to show that he is also able and faithful to raise us from spiritual death to eternal life. Only Jesus is able to raise us to spiritual, eternal, life, through faith (obedient trust) in him. 

We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true according to God’s Word; Romans 3:23: 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction in hell with all evil. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus has promised that he will return to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; John 5:28-29), in both physical and spiritual senses. Lazarus’ resurrection is a preview of the fulfillment of that promise.

Jesus has promised to return of the Day of Judgment at the end of time (Matthew 25:31-46). He is the righteous judge who has been given all power and authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Jesus trusted and obeyed God’s Word, even unto physical death on the cross. Jesus is the standard of obedient trust in God’s Word by which all will be judged.

God’s Word declares that humans die once, and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27; not “nothingness;” not “re-incarnation”). Jesus has promised that his disciples who trust and obey him will never die spiritually, even though they may die physically. The Day of Judgment is not far off. The day we die physically, time will cease, and we will immediately come to the throne of Judgment. So judgment will be within our lifespan, and no one can be certain to live until tomorrow.

The Jews wondered why Jesus had not prevented Lazarus from dying. Jesus had allowed Lazarus to die so that Jesus could demonstrate his power and willingness to raise the dead to life.

Jesus is the only one who can give us spiritual, eternal, life through his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (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).

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).