Holy Trinity A Year

Holy Trinity - Sunday

May 11, 2008

Genesis 1:1-2:3 -- God the Creator;
Psalm 29 -- God of the Storm;
Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 -- No Other God;
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 -- Benediction;
Matthew 28:16-20 -- The Great Commission;

Genesis:

This Universe has been created from watery chaos by the Word of God. God’s first act was to call light into existence. “God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4). God called the light, “Day,” and the darkness, “Night.” Morning became evening, the end of the first day (Jews considered the day to begin at evening).

God called forth the firmament (the heavens were considered to be a dome) in the midst of waters to separate the waters above from the waters below. God called the firmament Heaven, and the second day ended.

God commanded the waters below to be gathered together and for land to appear, and it happened. God called the land, “Earth,” and the waters, “Seas.” God examined his work and found that it was good. God commanded the land to bring forth all sorts of plants, yielding all kinds of seed and fruits according to their kind. God saw that the results were good, and the third day ended.

God commanded there to be lights in the heavens to separate Day from Night, and as signs for direction, to indicate seasons, days, and years, to give light on earth, and to separate light from darkness, and it happened as God had commanded. God created two main lights, the Sun to rule the day, and the Moon to rule the night. God also created the stars. God found the result good, and the fourth day ended.

God commanded the waters to bring forth swarms of living creatures, and winged creatures to fly in the air above. God created every living creature great and small. The result was good in God’s judgment, and he blessed the creatures he had made and told them to multiply and fill the earth. The fifth day ended. On the sixth day God commanded the land to bring forth every kind of land animal, and the result was good.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). “So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). God blessed mankind and commanded them to multiply and fill and subdue the earth and have dominion over all the creatures God had made. God gave mankind and all creatures every kind of plant, seed, and fruit, according to their kind, for food. “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). The sixth day ended.

All the work of Creation was ended and God rested on the seventh day from the work of Creation. “So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed” (made holy; set apart for God’s purpose) the seventh day (Genesis 2:3).

Psalm:

Let all beings in heaven and on earth acknowledge the glory and strength of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord and worship him in holiness.

The voice of the Lord is like thunder upon the waters. The Lord’s voice is powerful and majestic. His voice shatters cedars of Lebanon. He makes the mountains of Lebanon and Sirion (Mt. Hermon) leap like frisky young wild animals. The voice of the Lord flashes forth like lightening bolts, and shakes the wilderness.

The voice of the Lord is like a mighty windstorm, which causes mighty oaks to bend and whirl and strips the trees of the forest. In his temple his people give him glory.

The Lord is enthroned and reigns eternally above the flood. Pray that the Lord will bless his people with strength and peace!

Deuteronomy:

Has there ever at any time in history been a people whose god has done such great things for them as God has done for his people, Israel? Has any other people ever heard the voice of God speak to them out of the midst of fire as the Israelites heard, and lived to tell about it (Ex 20:18-26)? Has the god of any other nation ever brought his nation out from domination by another nation, with great and terrifying supernatural demonstrations of power, as the Lord did for the Israelites in Egypt, as they had witnessed? Therefore know, acknowledge and remember always, that the Lord is God in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. Therefore we must keep his commandments so that we and our children can thrive and prosper and enjoy long life in the land the Lord has given us for eternity.

2 Corinthians:

At the end of Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth, he urged them to heed his teaching and change their ways, and to live peacefully with one another, so that the God of peace will be with them. Christians should greet one another with love as family members. Paul prayed that by the grace of Jesus Christ they would experience the fellowship and love of God the Father, through their sharing in the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The eleven disciples (minus Judas Iscariot, the betrayer) went to the mountain in Galilee as Jesus had commanded them (Matthew 28:10). There the disciples saw Jesus and worshiped him, although some had doubts. Jesus came to them and told them that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 11:27a; Luke 10:22a; Ephesians 1:20-22). Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples (of Jesus Christ) in all nations, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (the Holy Trinity), and teaching them observe (i.e. obey) all that Jesus had commanded his disciples, and as they did so, Jesus promised to be with them always, “to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:20b; the “Second Coming,” the Day of Judgment).

Commentary:

God is Spirit, and God’s Spirit was above and in authority over the storm of watery chaos (Genesis 1:2). This Universe has been created by the Word of God, for God’s specific purpose. God has always intended, from the beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey his Word.

When God speaks, what he commands happens. He could command us to trust and obey him, and we would have no choice but to comply. But God wants us to have the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey him, and whether or not to live in his eternal kingdom.

God is God of heaven and earth, whether we acknowledge him or not. But God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever. This Universe and we individually are limited by time. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God, and to learn by trial and error to trust and obey him.

This World was created by God and was very good as created. The evil and sin that mar Creation are the result of disobedience of God’s Word and doing what is bad in God’s judgment, as a result of giving us free will.

God knew that if he gave us freedom to choose whether or not to obey him we would choose to do our will rather than his. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God has designed this Creation to provide for our salvation from sin and eternal condemnation, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; See God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus has been designed and “built into” Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

God’s Spirit reigned over the watery chaos at Creation and he reigns over the Universe now. God’s Word thundered over the watery chaos at Creation and wrought his will, which was very good, and God’s Word reigns now over the Universe created by the Word of God. God reigns over the storms of life, and is able to give his people strength and peace in the midst of the “storm and flood” of this life.

The Bible, the Word of God, is the history of God’s purpose of Creation and his dealing with his people. God’s Word reveals that he is good, faithful, and powerful.

The history of God’s deliverance of Israel from bondage to sin and death in Egypt is deliberately intended to be a parable, a metaphor for life in this temporal world. Jesus is the “New Moses” who frees us from slavery to sin and death, through the “Sea” of our baptism into Christ, and leads us through the “wilderness of this lifetime, through the “River” of physical death, and into the eternal “Promised Land” of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven.

God has revealed himself in the Biblical history as the one and only true God of heaven and earth. God is Spirit. Jesus Christ is the revelation of God in human flesh. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God’s Word lived out in human flesh in this world in perfect obedience (John 1:1-5, 14).

The Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God the Father, and Jesus Christ, to us personally and individually. 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). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.

The Bible records the great things God has done for his people in the past, and the great things God has promised to do for his people in the future. The characteristic which identifies God’s Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22); God’s Word always is fulfilled, and because it is eternal it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

As we begin to trust and obey God’s Word in Jesus Christ, we will personally experience the great things God has done, is doing, and will do in the future for us. We must learn and remember what God has done for us, as recorded in the Bible, and what we have experienced personally. We must learn and remember his commandments in his Word, so that we and our children can thrive and prosper spiritually now and for ever in God’s heavenly kingdom.

Paul was “discipling” the Corinthian congregation. He was teaching them to know and apply the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. Paul was teaching them that if they wanted the promises of God they had to trust and obey God’s Word. If they wanted God’s peace, they must live peaceably with one another. Paul’s prayer for them was that by the grace (unmerited favor) we can receive through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we might experience the fellowship and love of God the Father, through participation (sharing) in the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Paul’s benediction manifests the Trinitarian doctrine (the Holy Trinity). God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit; one God in three persons (expressions). Salvation is not deserved or earned; it is the free gift of God to all who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). If we receive God’s grace through Jesus Christ by obedient trust, we will receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, through whom Jesus will manifest himself to us personally and individually (John 14:21), and through whom we will experience the love and fellowship of God the Father. “Born-again” Christians personally experience and testify to the truth and reality of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples, before he ascended into heaven, was to wait in Jerusalem until they had been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then to make disciples, teaching them to trust and obey Jesus, and baptizing them in the name of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Holy Trinity.

Today is the day the Church celebrates the doctrine of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; one God in three persons (expressions). The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but the doctrine is found throughout the Old and New Testaments. It was taught by Jesus to his disciples (John 14:15-17; Matthew 28:19), and by his disciples to the Church, as recorded in the New Testament (Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Appropriately, Trinity Sunday follows the Day of Pentecost, which commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, since “born-again” Christians personally experience God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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)?

Holy Trinity - Monday

May 12, 2008

Psalm 31:1-5 (6-18) 19-24 -- Trust in the Lord;

I seek refuge in the Lord; may I never be put to shame. Because the Lord is righteous he will deliver me. He will hear me and quickly rescue me. Please, Lord, be my refuge and strong fortress to save me.

Yes, you are my rock and fortress. For your names’ sake (character and glory) you will lead me and guide me. Remove me from the hidden trap that has been set for me, for you are my protector. “Into thy hands I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God” (Psalm 31:5).

The Lord detests those who trust in vain idols; my trust is in the Lord. I will rejoice and celebrate your steadfast love; you know my afflictions and adversities, and have not let my enemies capture me; you have given me solid footing. Lord, be gracious to me; my soul and body are warn out with grief. “For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery and my bones waste away: (Psalm 31:10).

“I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, and object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the streets flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. Yea, I hear the whispering of many- terror on every side! -as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in thee, O Lord, I say, ‘Thou art my God.’ My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors” (Psalm 31:11-15). Look upon me with favor and, in steadfast love, save me! I call upon thee; let me not be put to shame.

It is the wicked who will be ashamed; they will die unable to justify their deeds. Their lies will be mute and their pride contempt and insolence against the righteous will be silenced.

Those who fear the Lord will discover his abundant goodness for those who take refuge in him. In his presence he hides them from the plots of men and verbal fighting.

May the Lord be blessed for his wondrous steadfast love for me, when I was under attack like a besieged city. I was afraid that I was far from the Lord’s help, but he heard and delivered me. All his saints love the Lord but he will adequately repay the haughty. May those who wait for the Lord be strong and take courage.

Commentary:

This psalm is attributed to David, the great shepherd-king of Israel. David was prophetic, and the Word of God in this psalm was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of David and eternal heir to David’s throne.

Jesus quoted and fulfilled Psalm 31:5 as he yielded up his spirit on the cross (Luke 23:46; see also Psalm 22; compare Matthew 27:46). On the cross Jesus’ body and soul, and his days and years, were spent with grief and sorrow. His physical strength failed, and his bones wasted away (Psalm 31:9-10).

Jesus had become the scorn of his adversaries. His disciples had fled from him in fear. Around the cross he heard the whispering of his enemies as they carried out their plot to kill him (Matthew 27:39-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-38).

Jesus came to reveal God’s steadfast love, faithfulness and power to save those who put their trust in the Lord. Jesus committed his spirit into the hand of God and God redeemed him from physical death to eternal life. Jesus came to show us by his example that we can entrust our lives and our eternal souls to the Lord and he will save and preserve us.

God’s Word contains great and precious promises which we can claim by faith (obedient trust). God’s Word is eternally true, and fulfilled over and over again as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Those who, like David, seek refuge and salvation in the Lord will testify to the Lord’s power, love and faithfulness to save and vindicate them over their enemies.

David experienced attack by powerful worldly enemies and learned from experience that the Lord hears and rescues us when we call upon him in faith (obedient trust) for help. Countless believers since then have trusted the promises in this text, experienced and testify to the power, love and faithfulness of God to deliver us from our enemies, including myself.

I have had times when I felt surrounded by enemies who plotted against me, and I found that there is true refuge and protection only in the Lord. When I have felt under attack I have learned to turn to the Psalms, and have been encouraged and strengthened to trust in the Lord and to wait for his deliverance.

Those who trust in their own resources and abilities will ultimately be defeated. Jesus’ enemies will go to eternal death in hell without a single word to defend them at the Day of Judgment. In that day, the lies and insolence of the enemies of Christ will be silenced forever.

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)?

Holy Trinity - Tuesday

May 13, 2008

Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 -- Truth or Consequences;

As Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land from the east, after the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses, who was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, reminded the people to keep the Covenant of Law which was established at Mt. Sinai, with the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses. God’s people were told to store up God’s Word in their hearts and souls. They were to bind the commandments on their hand (as we might tie a string around our finger) in order to be constantly reminded to remember and keep God’s Word. They were to bind them in a packet on a headband over and between their eyes so that God’s Word would be constantly in sight, so that they would remember to obey it.

God’s people were to teach God’s Word to their children at every opportunity; when sitting at home, or when walking to and fro; when going to bed in the evening, and when getting up in the morning. God’s people were to write God’s Word upon their doorposts and their gates, so that they would be reminded to keep God’s Word when they left their house, and when they returned.

God declared through Moses that God’s Word contains a blessing and a curse: A blessing if we learn, trust and obey God’s Word, and a curse if we do not learn, trust and obey God’s Word, but instead turn aside from the way of obedience to God’s Word and pursue other gods “which they have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:28d).

Commentary:

The condition for blessing and long life in the Promised Land was knowledge of and obedient trust in God’s Word. It was true for Israel and it is still true for us today. For us, the promise is eternal life in the “Promised Land” of God’s kingdom in heaven, and now is the time when we can and must enter that kingdom, if at all, by faith (obedient trust) in God’s Word, fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus is the only way to know divine Truth (John 14:15-17; ), the only way to come to knowledge of and fellowship with God, and the only way to receive forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and to receive eternal life in God’s kingdom in heaven (John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

We must 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). It is impossible to be “born-again” and not know it; if we have to ask someone else if we have been “reborn” we haven’t been (Acts 19:2)!

Christians are no longer under the Old Covenant of Law, but under the New Covenant of grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), provided that we trust and obey Jesus by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11). Christians are the “New Israel” the “New People of God.” If we are God’s people, we must learn to know, trust and obey God’s Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living” Word (John 1:14).

Jesus came to teach us by word and example how to trust and obey God’s Word. He came to give us the indwelling Holy Spirit, through whom we are able to remember and apply God’s Word, but in order for the Holy Spirit to remind us of God’s Word, we first have to read and heard it. We need to know God’s Word completely and to read it daily.

Weekly attendance at a church which proclaims the Word by the weekly readings from the Revised Common Lectionary (schedule of Scripture readings for the Church Year) is helpful, but doesn’t cover the entire Bible texts, and doesn’t replace personal daily Bible reading. Many “Churches” don’t even utilize the Lectionary, and too often the Sermon, if it is even based on a Bible text, may only be a verse or two.

Israel’s practice of binding God’s Word on their hands, their foreheads, their doorposts and gates, was intended by God to be a graphic illustration of the importance and practice of remembering and applying God’s Word. We must learn to know by practice and experience God’s Word and how to apply it in our daily lives, so that we can teach obedient trust in God’s Word by word and example to our children.

The responsibility to teach our children to know, trust and obey God’s Word is the primary responsibility of Christian families. Just sending our children to Sunday School one hour a week won’t fulfill our parental responsibility, and many nominally “Christian” families don’t even do that. We don’t have to look far in the culture in which we live to see the results of our failure to teach our children obedient trust in God’s Word.

God’s Word contains wonderful promises, but also terrible warnings of the consequences of disobedience. The promises are conditional upon our obedient trust. The warnings are intended to help us to avoid the consequences of indifference to and disobedience of God’s Word.

When we are not trusting and obeying God’s Word, we are pursuing “gods we have not known;” modern idols such as wealth, power, success, fame, pleasure, home, family, security, possessions. Idolatry is loving and serving anyone or any thing as much as or more than the Lord. These are “gods that we cannot know,” because they aren’t gods at all, and ultimately they can never satisfy. We can never obtain the “promises” they seem to offer.

God alone is the one true God. He is the one God that we can seek and come to know, and this is the reason and purpose for life in this temporal world (Acts 17:26-27). By trusting and obeying Jesus we will receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, through whom we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father, and Jesus Christ, his Son (John 14:21, 23).

God’s Word warns that there is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what we have individually done in this lifetime. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually reborn, and will live eternally in God’s heavenly kingdom; those who have rejected Jesus, and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Not having known God’s Word will not excuse us from failure to trust and obey it.

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)?

Holy Trinity - Wednesday

May 14, 2008

Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28 -- Justification by Faith:

Since the coming of Jesus Christ, God’s righteousness (doing what is right, good, and true) has been revealed apart from God’s Law, although attested to by the law and the prophets (the Jewish Scriptures; the Old Testament). The righteousness of God through faith (obedient trust) is attributed to all who believe. “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified (found not guilty) by his grace (unmerited favor) as a free gift, through the redemption (release from guilt) which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation (making amends for; extinguishing guilt) by his blood, to be received by faith (obedient trust)” (Romans 3:23-25).

Thus, we have no grounds for boasting, because our justification (righteousness in God’s judgment) is not based on our deeds (keeping of the Law) but on faith (obedient trust). For we hold that a [person] is justified by faith apart from works (keeping) of law” (Romans 3:28).

The Old Covenant of Law was intended to show the righteousness of God (Deuteronomy 4:6-8), and reveal our sinfulness (disobedience of God’s Word; Romans 3:20). It was intended to restrain sinfulness until the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew respectively), God’s “anointed” eternal Savior and King. Jesus is the revelation of God to the world in human flesh. Jesus is the righteousness of God made visible.

Jesus is not the end of the Law but its fulfillment (Matthew 5:17-19). Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices had to be made continually for forgiveness of sin. The Law didn’t eliminate sin; it revealed sin. Jesus came to make it possible for us to satisfy the requirements of the Law by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-11), which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

God has always intended, from the beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. God knew that in giving us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey him, we would all disobey, and would need to learn by trial and error to trust and obey God. Jesus Christ, God’s promised, anointed Savior, has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

All of us have sinned (disobeyed God’s Word; Romans 3;23; 1 John 1:8-10 ). Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation from eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God, to know divine Truth (John 14:15-17; 16:13), and to receive spiritual eternal life (John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus’ blood shed on the cross is the only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people who are willing to receive it, for the forgiveness of sin through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; 9:25-28).

There are two false teachings in the nominal “Church” today, which were present in the first century Church and are refuted in the New Testament. One is “works-righteousness,” salvation by “works” (keeping) of the Law. The other is the opposite extreme: “Cheap Grace:”* teaching salvation by grace (a free gift; which is true) without the requirement of discipleship and obedience to Jesus’ teaching (which is false). The text for today clearly refutes both false teachings (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

Faith is not getting whatever we believe if we believe “hard enough.” Saving faith is truly believing in Jesus Christ, God’s only “anointed” Savior, enough to learn, trust and act in obedience upon what Jesus commands. How is Jesus our Lord in whom we believe if we do not do what he tells us (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-27).

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)?

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

Holy Trinity – Thursday

May 15, 2008

Matthew 7: (15-20) 21-29 -- Build on the Rock;

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). One can differentiate false prophets from true prophets by their deeds. Grapes are not produced by thorns, nor are figs produced from thistles. Good trees produce good fruit and bad trees bear evil fruit. It is impossible for them to produce fruit contrary to their nature. Every tree which does not produce good fruit will be cut down and burned. So be discerning, and notice their fruit.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). When that time comes (the Day of Judgment), many will claim Jesus as their Lord and claim that they had done many things, prophesying, healing, and doing great miracles, in Jesus’ name, but Jesus will deny knowing them, condemn them as evil doers, and send them away from him.

Every one who hears Jesus’ teaching and does what Jesus teaches is like a wise person who builds his house on a rock. No storm will destroy his house because it is on a solid foundation. But those who hear Jesus’ teachings and do not do what he teaches are like people who build a house on sand. The first storm that comes along will sweep them away to disaster because they have not built on a solid foundation.

The crowds were amazed by Jesus’ teaching, because they realized that he possessed authority which the scribes (teachers of the Law; the Bible) did not possess.

Commentary:

As soon as the Church was born, on the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), false teachers and false prophets arose. There are many false prophets in the world and in the Church today. Even Satan and his demons try to disguise themselves as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

One must be discerning to tell the true prophets and teachers from the false. One can tell by their deeds, but one must know the Bible in order to have a standard by which to discern truth from error, and good from evil.

There are many nominal “Christians” today who claim Jesus as their Lord, and claim to be doing good deeds in Jesus’ name, who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus and are not obedient to God’s will. The Church should be making “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches, but in too many instances, the nominal “Church” settles for making church “members.” New believers should be “discipled” by spiritually mature “born-again” disciples until the new believers have been “reborn” by the anointing (gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but it takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples.

Only Jesus “baptizes” with (“anoints;” gives the gift of) 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). One can know with certainty for oneself if one has been truly “reborn” (Acts 19:2).

Only by the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit can a disciple know God’s will for him personally and individually, and be guided and empowered to fulfill God’s will. In too many instances the nominal “Church” is led by “unregenerate” (not “born-again”) people who do not understand the difference, and can’t teach others what they haven’t experienced. Too often, “Christian” ministry is regarded as a “career choice” instead of a genuine calling by God’s will.

There are two major false teachings within the nominal “Church” today, which were present in the first century Church and are refuted in the New Testament. One is “works righteousness:” the teaching that salvation is by doing good deeds. The other is “Cheap Grace:”* teaching that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), without the requirement of discipleship and obedience to Jesus’ teaching. The scriptural (recorded in the Bible) apostolic (as taught by the apostles) doctrine is midway between those two extremes. (See False Teachings, sidebar, top right.) Knowledge of the Bible makes it possible to recognize and avoid false teachings and false teachers.

Jesus taught with authority which the “professional” teachers of the Old Testament scripture of Judaism did not possess. Jesus taught by the fullness of the Holy Spirit within him (John 1:33-34; Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus’ “born-again” disciples also teach the Bible with similar authority by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Jewish scribes had human authority as teachers of the Scriptures because they had been formally educated by other human teachers, but their teaching was false, because they taught against Jesus Christ. There are many leaders and teachers in the nominal “Church” today who have similar human authority, but who lack the divine authority of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and their teaching is faulty because not only aren’t they “born-again” but they also do not encourage, and even discourage, their members from seeking the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit. People who are familiar with the Bible should be able to tell the difference, if they are willing to hear and see.

Today’s text is the conclusion of the “Sermon on the Mount,” (Matthew 5:1-7:29) which is a representative summary of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus’ conclusion clearly teaches that discipleship and obedience to Jesus’ teaching is a requirement for salvation (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Church membership, singing in the choir, or teaching Sunday School won’t save us; only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will save us, and that is only possible through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which requires obedience to Jesus in order to be received John 14:15-17). “For by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) you have been saved through faith (obedient trust); and this is not your own doing, it is the work of God – not because of works (keeping the Law; good deeds), lest any [one] should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

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)?

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

Holy Trinity - Friday

May 16, 2008

Jeremiah 9:23-24 -- True Glory;
1 Timothy 6:6-19 -- True Riches;

Jeremiah:

Those who are wise in this world should not glory in their (worldly) wisdom; the powerful should not glory in their power; and the rich should not glory in their wealth. Instead, let the one who glories glory in understanding and knowing the Lord, who is steadfast in love, and just and righteous in all his ways, for he delights in these virtues.

1 Timothy:

Godliness with contentment is of great benefit. We are all born into the world with nothing and we cannot take anything with us when we leave this life, so let us be content with having food and clothing. Those who desire wealth fall into temptation, a trap, and into unreasonable and harmful desires which lead to (spiritual) ruin and destruction. “For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Those who desire to be God’s people must avoid these worldly temptations. We must focus on righteousness, godliness (emulating God’s nature and character), faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. “Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” 1 Timothy 6:12).

Paul, reminding Timothy that we are in the presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, charged him to keep the commandment (Jesus’ teachings) unstained and above reproach until Christ returns. Christ will return at the perfect time determined by the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He alone is immortal, invisible and dwells in unapproachable light. He is worthy of honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

The rich are to be instructed to not be haughty, nor to rely on wealth, which is uncertain. Instead they should rely on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. The rich should be rich in good deeds, liberality and generosity, storing up a solid foundation for the future, so that they may possess life which is truly and eternally life.

Commentary:

True wisdom is divine, eternal wisdom, not what the world falsely calls wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:2-8). True wisdom is personally knowing the Lord, and understanding his character and his purpose for us and for Creation. “The fear (awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it” (Psalm 111:10).

The Lord is just, righteous, and steadfast in love. He delights in these virtues, and if we want to please him we should emulate these virtues in our own lives. We should make righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness our aim.

Those who seek worldly goals, such as worldly wisdom, wealth, political power, physical health and strength, focus on those things, which never satisfy and don’t last, instead of what is eternally important and precious.

Being God’s people requires commitment, effort and self-sacrifice. The Christian faith is in conflict with worldly values. We must be ready to face opposition; we must step forward with the Gospel and fight the good fight. We must claim the promise of eternal life by grasping and holding on to the promise, by commitment and by acting upon it.

The “good confession” is our acknowledgement and acceptance of Jesus as our Lord, with the commitment to trust and obey Jesus. The “commandment” is the sum of Jesus’ teachings. We are to live according to Jesus’ teachings, so that we don’t bring reproach upon or damage the acceptance of the Gospel by others.

Those who are rich, wise or powerful according to worldly standards must be willing to sacrifice those things and learn to rely instead upon God (Mark 10:17-22). That won’t be easy for those who have desired and pursued those worldly values (Mark 10:23-25). It will be hard for those with worldly power to submit to the Lord’s authority, and for those who have worldly wisdom it will be hard for them to accept the wisdom of God embodied in Jesus, crucified (1 Corinthians 1:22-25; 2:5, 7-8).

I’m convinced that the meaning and purpose of life in this world is the opportunity to seek and to come to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God’s Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually to eternal life, by the gift (“anointing;” “baptism”) 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). Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit are we able to know and have fellowship with the Lord personally, and understand his character and his will for Creation and for us individually.

The Lord God is the King of kings and Lord of lords, whether we acknowledge him or not. He is immortal, invisible and dwells in unapproachable light. Jesus is the only way to “see” God (Matthew 11:27; John 14:21, 23). Jesus is the only way to obtain and know divine eternal wisdom and truth. Jesus is the only way to receive eternal life. Jesus is the only way into God’s presence in his Kingdom of Light in heaven (John 14:6).

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)?

Holy Trinity - Saturday

May 17, 2008

Luke 12:13-21 -- The Rich Fool;

A man in the crowd which had gathered around Jesus told him to command the man’s brother to share his inheritance with the man. Jesus replied that he was not a judge and had not been appointed to arbitrate disputes. Jesus said to the crowd that we must beware of all covetousness (desire for wealth or for another’s possessions), because life is more than abundance of possessions.

Jesus used a parable to illustrate his point. The land of a rich man produced more crops than his barns could store. So the rich man decided to tear down his barns and build larger ones. Then the rich man thought he would be able to retire and eat, drink and be merry, since he had stored enough to live on for many years.

But God called him a fool and took his life that very night. The abundance the rich man had accumulated passed to someone else. So it is, with people who enrich themselves and are not rich toward God.

We weren’t “born to shop” and the one who dies with the most clothes isn’t the “winner,” although our society suggests that. God’s purpose for Creation has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This is only possible through Jesus Christ, 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). Jesus is the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (disobedience of God’s Word; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), the only way to salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23), and the only way to eternal life in God’s eternal kingdom in heaven (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

Many people today are working hard to accumulate enough wealth and possessions so that they can retire and live comfortably, but they give little or no thought to where and how they will spend eternity. We cannot know with certainty that we will live to see tomorrow, but we can all be certain that there is existence beyond physical death, because God’s Word says so and Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates it (John 5:28-29).

Many people think that they will go to heaven when they die, because they are “good people.” The only people who will go to heaven and live eternally with the Lord are those who have sought, trusted and obeyed the Lord in and through Jesus Christ now, in this lifetime, and have been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8).

We have all been born physically alive, but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our opportunity to be born spiritually by the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of 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).

It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether or not one has been “reborn” (Acts 19:2). If one is uncertain, one has not been reborn. If one has not been reborn, one should ask why. Has one sought the Lord? Has one been trusting and obeying God’s Word?

We can’t take any material resources with us but what we do now in this lifetime will determine our eternal destiny. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to know, trust and obey the Lord.

Jesus warned that we are to seek God’s kingdom first, before we worry about food, clothing, and shelter (Matthew 6:31-33). We have no assurance that tomorrow will come, and material resources only provide the illusion of security. No matter how much we accumulate, we’ll always need just a little more than we have. If we don’t seek God’s kingdom first, we’ll never get around to it.

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)