4 Easter Sunday

April 13, 2008

Psalm 23  --     The Good Shepherd
Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60   --   Stephen Martyred
1 Peter 2:19-25   --    Following Jesus
John 10:1-10   --    The Good Shepherd

Psalm:

Those who make the Lord their shepherd will  never be in want of any good, necessary thing. The Lord will provide us with green pastures and water which will restore our souls. He will lead us the way of righteousness  (doing what is right and good and true in God's judgment) for his name's (his person, character, power and authority's) sake.

Even though we travel through the valley of spiritual darkness and physical death, we will fear no evil, because his presence, power and protection will go with us.

Even though surrounded by our enemies, the Lord will provide lavishly for us and give us feasting and celebration by his presence, in our enemies' view. He will anoint us with his favor, and his generosity will overflow to us. We can be assured that goodness and mercy will accompany us through all the days of our lives and we will dwell in his house for eternity.

Acts:

In the days after the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), “when the disciples were [rapidly] increasing in number” (Acts 6:1), the Hellenists (Jews who spoke Greek, or had adopted Greek customs, before conversion to Christianity) complained that the Hellenist's widows among them were being neglected in the daily distribution. The Church in Jerusalem had adopted a communal style, sharing their resources among the group. The Apostles told the whole group to select seven individuals who were full of the indwelling Holy Spirit, knowledge of the faith and of the Bible scriptures, and of good reputation, to supervise the daily administration of the church, so that the original Apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) would be able to devote themselves to preaching the Gospel and prayer. The group chose two with Hebrew names, Stephen and Philip, and five with Greek names, Prochurous, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolaus. These were consecrated by the Apostles by prayer and the laying on of hands.

The Word of God, spread and the number of disciples increased rapidly in Jerusalem, and even many of the Jewish priesthood were converted.

Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and the grace (favor) and power of the Lord, and did many miracles among the people. But some of the members of the synagogue of freedmen (former Jewish or converted slaves) and foreign Jews or proselytes (converts)  from Cyrene, Alexander, Cilicia and Asia argued with Stephen, and brought him before the Sanhedrin, (the Jewish religious high court; Acts 6:9-12).

Stephen responded to the charges against him before the council. After reviewing the Biblical history of the Jews, Stephen charged them with being stiff-necked (proud and stubborn), with uncircumcised hearts and ears (as God's Word declares; Exodus 33:3-5; Jeremiah 9:26; Romans 2:29). Stephen charged them with following the behavior and example of their ancestors, persecuting and killing the prophets of God. Their ancestors  had killed the prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah, God's promised Savior and eternal King, and now they had persecuted the Messiah, Jesus, himself. The Jews had received the Word of God by divine messengers, but had not kept it.

At this the Jews were enraged, but Stephen  told them he was seeing a vision of the glory of God, in heaven, with Jesus at God's right hand. At this they refused to listen any longer, and they grabbed Stephen and dragged him out of the city, and they stoned him to death. Those who participated in the stoning removed their robes and piled them at the feet of Saul (of Tarsus; the later Apostle Paul). As they stoned Stephen, Stephen knelt and prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and also forgive those who were stoning him. Then he died.

1Peter:

The Apostle Peter discipled new believers, telling them that they will be rewarded by God if they suffer unjustly in accord with God's Word. But we're not going to be rewarded for suffering abuse with patience for doing what is unrighteous and deserving of punishment. But those who do what is right and suffer for it will have God's approval and favor. Christ is our example; he also suffered unjustly for righteousness' sake, and we have been called to follow his example.

Jesus was completely sinless, and free from deceit. When he was reviled he didn't respond with reviling; when suffering he didn't make threats. Instead he entrusted his cause to God, the just and righteous judge. Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins, so that we can be able to die to sin and live according to righteousness. He was wounded for our spiritual healing. We were all once like straying sheep, but now we have returned to the Shepherd who is able to guard our souls.

John:

Jesus taught in parables: stories of everyday experiences used to illustrate spiritual truth. He said that the kingdom of God is like a sheepfold. Those who enter by any other way than the door are thieves and robbers. The shepherd of the sheep enters by the door, and the door keeper knows the shepherd and lets him enter. The sheep know their shepherd's voice, and their shepherd calls his sheep by name and leads them in and out of the fold. They follow their shepherd and he leads them because they know his voice. They will not follow strangers because they do not know the strangers' voices.

Jesus told this parable but the people did not understand what he was saying, so Jesus used another parable. Jesus told them that he is the true door of the sheepfold. Others who have come before Jesus are thieves and robbers. In order to enter the fold and be saved, and to go out and find pasture the sheep must pass through Jesus. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; Jesus has come to give us true life, abundantly (now and eternally).

Commentary:

God promised in his Word to be the shepherd of his people (Jeremiah 31:10). David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel was a prophet who had a close personal knowledge of and fellowship with the Lord, as only a few select individuals had, before the coming of Jesus Christ. David himself foreshadowed the Messiah by the will and purpose of God, and David prophesied the coming of the Good Shepherd, which was fulfilled in Jesus. David is the example of one who made the Lord his Shepherd.

Only the Lord can provide us with spiritual nurture and protection, spiritual food and water, and the safety provided by the Good Shepherd and the security of God's “sheepfold.”

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who can lead us in the way of righteousness and eternal life, by his teaching, example, and his indwelling Holy Spirit within us. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (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).

This world is a wilderness of spiritual darkness and death. Only Jesus can lead us and protect us through it and bring us safely through physical death to eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom.

In this world we are surrounded by our spiritual enemies, sin (disobedience of God's Word) and (eternal, spiritual) death which are consequences of sin (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Only the Lord can abundantly bless us in the midst of and in sight of our enemies. He is like a generous host, who provides a great feast, an overflowing cup of celebration, and the anointing of us by his favor and the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, in the midst of struggle of life in this world. By the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit we are assured of his presence and favor accompanying us throughout life, and the conviction that beyond physical death we have eternal life in his kingdom in heaven.

What God promised by the Old Testament prophets he began to fulfill with the physical coming of his promised Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus' first coming, in human flesh, made it possible for us to be spiritually cleansed by faith in Jesus, whose crucifixion is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sin. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, we are able to receive the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, through whom we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with the Lord that only a few, like David, had  before Jesus' coming.

The promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, and since then the spiritual birthday of every truly “born-again” Christian.

The First Century Church of the New Testament was the example of what the Church can and should be, by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within its leaders and members. The “born-again” disciples were fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission to his disciples to make disciples and teach them to trust and obey all Jesus has taught, as received directly by the original Apostles, and recorded in the Bible (Matthew 28:19-20). The gift (“anointing,” “baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit was the reason that new “disciples”  were increasing so rapidly, and the reason that the teachings and acts of spiritually mature “born-again” disciples, like Stephen, revealed evidence of the supernatural power of the Lord within and through them. No wonder that the number of disciples was increasing rapidly and daily. Many even of the “religious establishment,” who knew God's Word well, were being converted.

The Hellenists represent Gentile Christians, although preaching the  Gospel to the Gentiles for the first time didn't happen until later. The First Century Church illustrated the love for one another through their communal lifestyle, and their attention to the Hellenistic segment of their congregation. The Hellenists felt they were being slighted, so seven deacons were appointed to resolve the situation. Seven “laymen” (symbolizing the full number necessary) were appointed to rectify the situation, and to share in the work of ministry; and five of seven were “Hellenists.” The Church was “living” the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29; cf., Matthew 5:40-41).  They sought the consecration and empowerment of the Holy Spirit to accomplish their duties.

Stephen was a “layman,” but he had faith, knowledge of the Scriptures, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. He was being led and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. He encountered opposition and persecution from the “rival” “religion.”

Stephen proclaimed the Word of God to the Jewish supreme court. He said nothing beyond the accurate Word of God, but they were offended and enraged by it.

They proved to be the descendants of their ancestors who had murdered God's prophets, by murdering God's promised Messiah, and then by murdering Stephen for telling them the truth and convicting them of sin.

The Gospel of Jesus, proclaimed by their promised Messiah, was not “popular” with those who considered themselves the “chosen” people of God. The Gospel of Jesus proclaimed by Jesus' disciples wasn't received any better. Stephen was the first of many Christian disciples to be murdered for proclaiming the Gospel. But Stephen claimed victory through faith in Jesus and shared in Jesus' resurrection and eternal life. Stephen was the example of suffering unjustly for the Word of God.

Disciples of Jesus Christ are going to share Jesus' suffering for the Gospel. But isn't suffering for righteousness better than even an extravagantly indulgent worldly life, if only to be followed by eternal misery and suffering, separated forever from the source of life and every good thing?

Stephen is our example of a disciple living according to the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. He proclaimed God's Word without compromise, and he repaid evil with good, praying for his enemies' forgivenesses, and entrusted his cause to the Lord who is the righteous judge.

Jesus came to teach us by word and example to trust and obey God's Word. Jesus was willing to die physically so that we could live eternally. He suffered for our sins so that we could be forgiven and empowered to resist sin and live in obedience to God's Word. He was wounded so that we could be spiritually healed. We have all gone astray from God's will and purpose, and Jesus came to seek and find us and restore us to God who is able to restore, guard and preserve our souls.

There aren't “many” ways to God. There is only one: Jesus Christ. Other ways to God are conceived by mankind, as ways to manipulate God to do our will, instead of learning to know and do God's will. Those who seek and follow other ways are deceived and will be ultimately eternally destroyed.

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)?

4 Easter  - Monday

April 14, 2008 

Psalm 33:1-11   --    The Divine Word

Let us rejoice in the Lord, all who love righteousness (doing what is right and good and true). It is fitting that all those who are upright  (doing what is ethically and morally right) should praise the Lord. Let us praise the Lord with stringed instruments. Let us sing to him a new song accompanied by instruments and loud shouts.

Commentary:

The Word of the Lord is upright, and his deeds are done in faithfulness. The Lord loves righteousness and justice, and his steadfast love fills the earth.

By the Word of the Lord the heavens were created; everything in them was created by his breath. He gathered the waters of the sea and contained them as within a bottle. The waters of the deep (under the earth) he stored up as in warehouses.

May all the earth fear the Lord and be in awe of him! For everything came to be by the Word of God; at his command everything appeared.

The wise advice of nations amounts to nothing, and the plans of mankind are frustrated by the Word of God. The Lord's counsel is eternal and his desires are for all generations.

The Lord is righteous and upright in all his ways, and those who love righteousness and those who are upright will recognize the Lord's righteousness and uprightness. Let us sing a new song of rejoicing and praise  to the Lord, with all our skill and fervor. As we learn to know the Lord's character and works we will have a new song of praise and joy to sing.

God's Word is not like mankind's word. God's Word is eternal truth and completely dependable. What God declares, happens. God's Word has creative power. God's Word is the standard of righteousness and uprightness, against which we are judged.

Jesus is the”living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh, in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24). Jesus word has the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus' word is the Word of eternal life (John 6:68). Jesus is the steadfast love of God made visible to all the people of the Earth (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17).

God breathed into mankind at Creation and gave us “the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). We came into existence as physical beings, but also spiritual beings. We have all been created with a soul which is eternal (John 5:28-29).

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), to learn that he is righteous and upright in all his ways and that his Word is true and dependable and our very best interest. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God's Word, and to be forgiven of our sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), saved from eternal condemnation and destruction along with all evil by God, and restored to fellowship and eternal life with God in paradise that mankind lost through sin (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top  right).

Human wisdom and plans are worthless, compared to the counsel of God's Word (1 Corinthians 1:17-25) and God's eternal plan for his Creation through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God's only plan for our eternal salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6), and has been “built into” the structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14).

Worldly wisdom will pass away. Worldly knowledge will not give us true, eternal life. The plans of mankind end at physical death. The Word of God is eternal. We should make time to learn to know, trust and obey God's Word our first priority; not our last.

We are all eternal beings in physical bodies. Now is the opportunity for us to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (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).

Jesus' resurrection from the dead demonstrates that there is “existence” beyond physical death. The fact that Jesus is spiritually alive in his disciples is testified to by every truly “born-again”  Christian. The question is, where will we choose to spend eternity? Those who accept Jesus as their Savior and trust and obey Jesus will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven; those who reject Jesus and refuse to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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)?

 4 Easter  - Tuesday

April 15, 2008

Acts 17:1-15   --    Paul Founds Thessalonian Church

On his second missionary  journey, Paul, with Silas and Timothy, came to Thessalonica in Macedonia. Paul went into the Jewish synagogue  and, for three Sabbaths, proclaimed the Gospel and proved from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah), and that it had been prophesied in scripture that the Messiah had to suffer and die and rise again on the third day.

Some of the Jews were persuaded to join Paul and Silas, and also many devout Greeks (proselytes) and prominent women. But out of jealousy the Jewish religious leaders stirred up hoodlums who caused an uproar and attacked the house of a resident named Jason (with whom the missionaries were staying). Not finding the missionaries there, they dragged Jason before the city officials. The mob accused the missionaries of “turning the world upside down” and acting against Caesar, claiming that Jesus is another king. Jason was required to post a security bond, and then was released.

The brethren (Christians) sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea (Berea) nearby. There they entered the synagogue and began teaching the Gospel again, as they had in Thessalonica. These Jews at Beroea were more “noble,” more open and eager to seek and hear the Gospel and truth, and they searched the scriptures to see if what Paul and Silas were preaching was accurate. As a result many believed, Jews and Greeks, including Greek women of high class.

But the Jewish authorities from Thessalonica heard that Paul and Silas were in Beroea, and they went there and again stirred up the people against the missionaries. The Christians again sent Paul off, by boat, to Athens, while Timothy and Silas remained, with instructions to join Paul in Athens as soon as possible.

Commentary:

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is opposed by the ways and standards of this world. People will either be open to hearing the truth, and willing to examine the Bible, to see if what the Gospel claims is true, or they will refuse to consider the Gospel and hate those who proclaim it.

When Jesus sent his disciples on a training mission to prepare them for missionary work, he told them to stay where they were welcome, and leave and go elsewhere if a place would not welcome them (Luke 10:1-12; Matthew 10:1-15). Afterward, Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going out into the world (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Matthew 28:19-20).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was the first “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul is the model of what we can and should be, by the power and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul was as much a disciple and apostle as the original ones who received training from Jesus directly, during his physical earthly ministry.

Everywhere Paul went he encountered resistance and opposition to the Gospel, but he was guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit. He went where the Spirit led him, and stayed away from places the Spirit told him not to go (Acts 16:7-10). He didn't let opposition intimidate him, and although his message was opposed, his preaching led to conversion of people to  Jesus and founding of churches.

Those who are willing to consider the claims of the Gospel in relationship to the Bible will be convinced. As they trust and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ they will experience the truth of the Gospel personally (“come to know;” John 6:68-69RSV).

Jesus is the Messiah, promised to the Jews, coming to the world through the Jews, and yet many of the Jews rejected him and refused to trust and obey Jesus. They had the Bible scriptures, but they were not eager to hear truth, and they weren't willing to search the scriptures.

Jesus is God's one and only provision (Acts 4:12; John 14:6) for forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), our salvation from our eternal condemnation and death by God, and our restoration to personal fellowship with God which was lost by sin (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The history of God's dealing with Israel has been recorded in the Bible for our instruction and warning (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).Many of the Jewish “religious leaders” and  “church members” in the days of Jesus' first coming were not open to hear God's Word, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In many ways, the “Christian” Church today is in the same position as Judaism at the time of Jesus' first coming. Many “religious authorities” and many Church “members” are not eager to hear the truth, the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). They're not willing to search the Bible to see if these things (the full Gospel) are true.

Only Jesus baptizes with the 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)?

4 Easter  - Wednesday

April 16, 2008

1 Peter 2:4-10  --   Living Stones

Come to Jesus, the “living stone,” who was rejected by mankind, but is chosen and precious in God's judgment, that we may, like living stones, be built into a spiritual house, where we are to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

God's Word declares that he is laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion (the temple mount; Jerusalem; the city of God; the Church), and those who believe in him will have no reason to be ashamed (Isaiah 28:16).  He is chosen and precious to those who believe in him; but those who do not believe fulfill  God's Word that Jesus is the cornerstone which the builders rejected, and a stumbling stone that will make people fall; they “stumble because they disobey the Word (of God), as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2:8; “stumbling” is the destiny of those who disobey God's Word).

Believers are the chosen race, a holy nation, the New Israel, the New People of God. We have been called to leave the spiritual darkness of this world and walk in the glorious light (of righteousness: John 1:5; 3:19-21), of the enlightenment of divine, eternal truth: John 1:9, and true eternal life: John 1:4; 8:12; 14:6) of Jesus Christ, so that we can testify to the wonderful deeds of our Lord. Once we were “nobodies,” but now we are God's own people; once we were under condemnation, but now we have received mercy.

Commentary:

Jesus is the “living stone,” the spiritual rock, the “cornerstone” upon which the Church is built, which is that Jesus is “the Christ (Messiah),  the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16-18). Jesus is the rock on which we must build our lives, by faith (obedient trust), in order to have eternal life (Matthew 7:21-27).

Jesus is the rock with us in the wilderness of this world which give us the spiritual water of eternal life (1 Corinthians 10:4; Exodus 17:6). Jesus promised his disciples that he would give them an eternal source of the spiritual water of life, through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39), 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).

We are called to be “living stones” built into  the Church. The true Church of God is not buildings or institutions. It is built of individual “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8; spiritually “living”) disciples of Jesus Christ who are guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the mission of the Church.

Believers are called to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit within us. Believers are not called to be “church members” who expect to be served and entertained by the Church. Preaching the Gospel and evangelism are not the exclusive responsibility of the pastor; the ordained clergy. Believers are to be discipled by “born-again” disciples until they have become “born-again” disciples who trust and obey what Jesus teaches (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) and then they are to go into the world and make “born-again” disciples who trust and obey Jesus' teaching (Matthew 28:19-20), and repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

Jesus is the light of the world; the light of life (John 8:12). His indwelling Holy Spirit is the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21) which leads us through spiritual night in the wilderness in this world and into the glorious light of the eternal Promised Land of God's kingdom in heaven. We must leave spiritual darkness and walk in the light of Jesus' teachings in obedient trust in this lifetime on earth (Romans 8:1-9).

As we trust and obey Jesus we receive the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit to lead us and empower us to do God's will. As we live in obedience to Jesus we will experience his power and faithfulness personally and individually, and we will be willing and able to testify to the great things the Lord has done for us.
 
We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin, salvation from eternal condemnation, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23), and restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (John 14:6; 21, 23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus will either be the rock of our salvation, or he will be the stone that causes us to stumble and fall eternally into destruction and eternal death in Hell.

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)?

4 Easter - Friday

April 18, 2008 

Isaiah 12:1-6   --   Deliverance and Thanksgiving

In the day of salvation, I will give thanks to the Lord. Although the Lord was angry with me, he laid aside his anger and comforted me.

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song; and he has become my salvation” Isaiah 12:2).

I will rejoice to obtain salvation like water stored up in a well, and I will give thanks to the Lord and call upon him. I will tell the world the great things the Lord has done, and exalt his name.

Let us praise the Lord, and make his works known in all the world, for all his works are glorious. Let all God’s people shout and sing for joy, for the Holy One of Israel is great in our midst.

Commentary:

We are all sinners (disobedient of God’s Word) and fall short of God’s righteousness (doing what is right and good and true, according to God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). In a sense, we are all guilty of crucifying Jesus because we have all sinned and made his sacrificial death on the cross necessary.

The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God has good reason to be angry with us, but he set aside his anger and came in human flesh in Jesus Christ and died for us on the cross, so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally for our sins ourselves (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Isaiah foresaw the salvation God provided, which has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-3, 14). 

Through Jesus Christ, God gives us the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and empower us, and to comfort and reassure us. 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). Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

There is abundant salvation available to us through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of “living water” (John 4:10, 14) in the spiritual desert of this world. We don’t have to die of spiritual thirst; we can come to Jesus and draw the abundant “water” of salvation. As we trust and obey Jesus he gives us his indwelling Holy Spirit, who is a spring of saving water welling up to eternal life; a river of salvation flowing through us and out into the world (John 7:38-39). 

Those who have drawn “water” from the well of salvation will rejoice and thank the Lord for the great things he has done for us. We will exalt his name and tell the world about the salvation God has provided for all.

Those who have been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit testify that the indwelling Holy Spirit is our strength, and the reason we can rejoice and praise the Lord. We cannot truly rejoice and praise the Lord except by his indwelling Holy Spirit.

Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2); now is the opportunity to receive the salvation that God has provided for all who are willing to receive it through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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)?

4 Easter - Saturday

April 19, 2008 

2 Corinthians 5:14-21  -- Reconciliation
John 8:21-36   --    New Life

The love of Christ controls us. Since Christ died for all, we have all died. We live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and was raised for us.

So we no longer see anything from a human perspective. Even though we once regarded Jesus from a human perspective, we no longer do. Those who are in Christ are a new creation; our old nature has passed away, and we have become new creatures. This is all from God who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. God is restoring the world to himself, not holding their sins against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are God’s ambassadors for Christ. Through us God is urging the world to receive reconciliation through Christ. Although blameless, Christ bore our sin, so that we could share in the righteousness of God.

Commentary:

Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem, and he warned the Jews that Jesus would go away, where they could not follow, and they would seek him and die in their sin. The Jews thought Jesus might commit suicide, since that was the one place they wouldn’t want or be able to go. Jesus told them that they were of this world, but that Jesus is not of this world. He is from above; they are from below. Jesus warned them that they would die in their sin unless they believed Jesus is the Messiah.

They asked Jesus who he was, and Jesus said that he had told them from the start. Jesus said that he had much to say and judge about them; but Jesus had been sent by God to declare the (divine, eternal) truth which Jesus had received from the Father.

They didn’t understand that Jesus was referring to God, so Jesus said that when he had been lifted up (on the cross) then they would realize that Jesus was the one (Messiah), and that everything Jesus said and did was by the power and authority of God. Jesus claimed that God was with him because Jesus always did what was pleasing to God. Many people listening believed in Jesus.

Jesus told those who had believed that if they held on to, and applied Jesus’ teaching, they would truly be Jesus’ disciples, and would know truth, which would set them free.

The Jews replied that they had never been in bondage to anyone, so how could they be set free. Jesus replied that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. They are slaves in God’s house, and thus have no inheritance. The Son is the heir, and so if the Son sets us free we will share in the rights and privileges and inheritance of the Son.

Those who believe in Christ are motivated by love to do what Jesus says (John 14:23-24). Jesus died for us, so that we could live with and for him.

We no longer live just to please ourselves. We no longer live according to the standards and values of this world. We have been “re-born” (John 3:3, 5-8). We no longer live according to our old sinful nature, but by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-9).

We have all sinned (disobeyed God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and sin separates us from fellowship with God. God sent his Son, Jesus, the Savior, into the world to offer us the righteousness of God and to restore us to fellowship with God. When we have been reconciled and restored to fellowship with God, we are commissioned to carry on Christ’s ministry of reconciliation to others.

The Jews had been given the Word of God. They were aware that God promised to send the Messiah, and they were to be awaiting his appearance, but they refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Those who reject Jesus are going to die eternally for their sins, because God’s Word declares that eternal death is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus took our sins and their consequences upon himself so that we could receive his righteousness through faith (obedient trust) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are spiritually “reborn” through 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).

Those who have been spiritually “born” are aware of the spiritual dimension around us. We personally experience the risen Jesus, through his indwelling Holy Spirit. We are restored to personal knowledge of and fellowship with God, now, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. 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 born physically alive, but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually reborn, “born from above” (John 3:3 RSV note “e;” John 1:12-13), which is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

We are all born in bondage to sin and death. Only Jesus can set us free, by the guidance and power of his indwelling Holy Spirit within us. Jesus is the truth of God’s Word fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14; 14:6).

The Jews claimed that they had never been in bondage to anyone, but they forgot their own history and the Bible testimony. They had been in bondage in Egypt, and God set them free; they had been in bondage in Babylon and God set them free; and they were, at the time of Jesus, in bondage to the Roman Empire.

They were all also in bondage to sin and death, because only Jesus could set them free, and they refused him. They thought they were “righteous,” according to the Law of Moses, but their rejection and crucifixion of Jesus demonstrated that they were not righteous. The Covenant of Law demonstrated that it is impossible for us to keep all the Law all the time. Keeping the Law doesn’t make us righteous; it exposes our unrighteousness (Romans 3:19-26; 8:1-9; Galatians 2:16). Only Jesus can give us the righteousness of God, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

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)?