A member of our church asked me "What is TULIP."
TULIP is an acronym for five doctrines of the reformed (calvinist and Presbyterian) church. It is a summary of Biblical teaching on several subjects including Sin, God's sovereignty, Grace, and salvation.
TULIP stands for:
Total Depravity- Human beings are totally lost and incapable of doing anything to aid in their own salvation. We are sin Dead, not merely weak or sick. No good that we do is good enough to earn God's favor and therefore we are in need of a savior. Whatever we choose to do with our "free will" we can do nothing to be "good enough for salvation.
Unconditional election- With no merit of our own God none the less chose a people for himself to demonstrate his grace and glory. This is first demonstrated in God choosing Noah, then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all of Israel, and then electing both Jews and gentiles for salvation in Jesus Christ. God does this not out of consideration for anything we have done but only by His own free grace. Nothing we do forces God's hand to make him save us.
Limited atonement- This is where most people stumble if they haven't already. The benefit of Christ's death on the cross was only for the elect (saved) not for all. Consider the alternatives Jesus died for all and not just the elect. Then either All are saved which would deny any teaching of the Bible on Hell, or All are not saved and God is unjust exacting from some the same penalty twice (once on Christ and once on the person himself) and a person's salvation is left in their own hands not in God's But that would make us only partially depraved and not "sin dead".
Irresistible grace- The elect are incapable of doing anything to ultimately resist God's power to save them should God elect them. The effect of this is we can be sure that since we contributed nothing to our salvation we can do nothing to lose it.
Perseverance of the saints- Our final assurance is found in the truth that since we did nothing to earn grace, and can do nothing to lose it, that all who are truly elect will persevere in faith to the end and beyond, and will do such works including obedience to God, by the power given to us by the Holy Spirit that demonstrate that we are in fact the elect people of God.
Why this matters. Belief in TULIP has several effects. Remember this is a doctrine to help us understand biblical teaching and for the assurance of the elect, not a means to bar anyone from entering the church. We are to proclaim the good news of salvation to all, that the elect may come to know the joy of knowing their security in Christ. Effects of TULIP include.
Security- A believer may not fear that he will not merit salvation because she or he doesn't. It is a free gift to be received. A believer may not fear that he or she will lose salvation since grace is irresistible and in Christ we persevere. We also can experience forgiveness for mistakes, knowing we are secure in God.
Evangelism- Opponents of TULIP say if we believe these things we will not evangelize since salvation is in God's power of election or (often incorrectly called and understood) predestination and it matters not what we do. This is false for two reasons. First, Means. God uses certain means to call the elect to himself. The ordinary means God has chosen of a sinner coming to know he or she is an elect saint of God is through the preaching of the gospel. God has power to use other means certainly, but the bible has revealed that the ordinary means is from one believer to another. Second, Obedience. Jesus told us to proclaim the gospel. Who are we to say no, even if we believe it is all in God's hands.
Worship- If salvation is entirely ultimately in God's hands then our worship is magnified. We are more grateful and give more glory to God alone for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. There is no smugness or superiority that has us looking at the lost and saying "I'm glad I was smarter than them and came to Jesus." There is only pity for those outside and the compassionate hope that they too will come to receive what we have since we were once like them. Our worship is then focused on God and his Glory and especially His grace.
Boldness. Since the salvation of others is in God's hand and not ours we can share the good news boldly without fear that a person will be lost for our stumbling words, lack of skill or creativity or inability to be there for them all. The lost (Called the reprobate) will be lost for their sin alone and the saved (elect) will be won by the Holy Spirit working through our words and example, no matter how feeble.
Hope this helps.
In Christ,
Mark
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Have we got something worth doing?
Last Month I wrote to you about keeping our eyes focused on the “main thing”. Recently I've been reading in both the Gospel of John as well as some of Johns Letters. What I discovered this morning sheds some light on who we are as a church and some of the vision to which we are called. Look at 1st John 1: 1-7
The Word of Life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our[a] joy complete.
Walking in the light
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
These are the words of John, the Apostle, but also John the beloved disciple who walked with Jesus. John, who was with Jesus at the cross and was given the task of caring for Mark Jesus' mother as Jesus was dying. A side note: John was not simply needed to care for Mary as Jesus was dying, since he would rise again, but also in preparation for Jesus ascension when he as Mary's son could not be there to take care of his widowed mother.
Anyway, this John, writes the words you just read to the early church, giving them his thoughtful summary years after the fact of what it meant to have walked with Jesus. No talk of miracles or sublime moments of prayer. No words about epiphanies hearing Jesus teach the Word to them. Just a simple summary of what Jesus means to the World.
Go back and read his words again...
He gives his account that this is what he saw, felt and experienced. Not academic theology but experience of walking with Jesus, and yet this walk leads him to conclude that Jesus is Life. He also says that he is sharing it with them for a purpose. Not to make them “get right with God.” Not to “make the world a better place.” Not to “save sinners”. Even though all of these things are wonderful side effects.
He shares his account so that The joy of the believers might be complete, seeing those outside now “have fellowship” with us joining with us in the fellowship we have with God the Father and with Jesus the Son. Surely we are forgiven. Surely we live better lives. Surely we make the world a better place. But best of all we walk with God and invite others to ENJOY that too.
Now, do we have something worth doing?
In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
The Word of Life
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our[a] joy complete.
Walking in the light
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
These are the words of John, the Apostle, but also John the beloved disciple who walked with Jesus. John, who was with Jesus at the cross and was given the task of caring for Mark Jesus' mother as Jesus was dying. A side note: John was not simply needed to care for Mary as Jesus was dying, since he would rise again, but also in preparation for Jesus ascension when he as Mary's son could not be there to take care of his widowed mother.
Anyway, this John, writes the words you just read to the early church, giving them his thoughtful summary years after the fact of what it meant to have walked with Jesus. No talk of miracles or sublime moments of prayer. No words about epiphanies hearing Jesus teach the Word to them. Just a simple summary of what Jesus means to the World.
Go back and read his words again...
He gives his account that this is what he saw, felt and experienced. Not academic theology but experience of walking with Jesus, and yet this walk leads him to conclude that Jesus is Life. He also says that he is sharing it with them for a purpose. Not to make them “get right with God.” Not to “make the world a better place.” Not to “save sinners”. Even though all of these things are wonderful side effects.
He shares his account so that The joy of the believers might be complete, seeing those outside now “have fellowship” with us joining with us in the fellowship we have with God the Father and with Jesus the Son. Surely we are forgiven. Surely we live better lives. Surely we make the world a better place. But best of all we walk with God and invite others to ENJOY that too.
Now, do we have something worth doing?
In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
Saturday, February 7, 2009
When All seems Lost
Acts 12: 1-18 Exposition
* It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
These arrests occurred as the persecution increased following Stephen's death. Jesus had spoken of the enmity the church would experience with the world. Persecution is not in itself a sign of being the true church as some sects would argue. The Latter Day Saints (Mormons) assert that they are the true church and give as partial evidence the persecution they have received. Yet a religious group can simply be wrong in its belief or conduct and find itself subject to rebuke, distrust, and even depending on the law in place in a time or place, arrest and punishment. This is not persecution. Yet believers at the same time should not be surprised when they are persecuted. See Matthew 5:10-12. Even if our doctrine and conduct are pure, we will find that the world that stands apart from God will only tolerate us so far as we please them and will seek to destroy us when we cease to amuse or serve their purposes.
* 2.
* He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
James, an important leader of the church at Jerusalem fell victim to this persecution. Just as believers are not immune to persecution, particularly important or exemplary leaders are especially targets.
* 3.
* When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Herod set out to please the Jews with whom he had little popularity. The Herods ruled by cruelty and by Roman mandate and were considered illegitimate kings by the Jews. In an attempt to boost his popularity he makes a sport of dealing in justice. The hand of the ruler is to be guided by justice and ultimately by God and not by what may bring pleasure to the people or an increase in power. Herod used human life to gain advantage for himself. He chose as the time for this the feast of unleavened bread, the Passover, the same feast in which Christ himself was arrested and executed before.
* 4.
* After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
Avoiding chaos during the feast he had Peter held over for trail after the feast. This important prisoner was placed under what seems a rather extensive guard for a non violent offender.
* 5.
* So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The turning point comes as Peter is held without any likelihood of escape, yet, as we are called to do, the church prays to God on Peter's behalf; "earnestly" so, not out of compulsion or in a cursory manner, but with sincerity and zeal.
* 6.
* The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
Again we see Peter under a guard that precludes any imagination of escape.
* 7.
* Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
Got often uses natural means in his work but yet will still when he desires, and for his own glory, use supernatural means for His Work. I hesitate to call Angels supernatural however, since they are, according to the Word of God, God messengers, created beings serving God's purposes and while certainly uncommon to our experience or perception, are not doing here anything other than that which God created them to do. Angelic work may be unusual, even seemingly rare, but it is "normal" in this sense. God's sovereign control over the order of things is established as while the angel speaks the chains fall off without so much as a touch, or so this account would indicate, one does not need this to be supernatural to Glorify God in that Peter, who is hopelessly bound is set free.
* 8.
* Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9.
* Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
As this experience was out of Peter's normal experience and expectation he believed it to be a vision, as this was something he had previously experienced. Yet as with a vision he obeyed and followed.
* 10.
* They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.* 11.
* Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
Having followed the Angel from the prison, past all of the guards and out of the locked gate, Peter, found himself truly released. He immediately Glorifies God (The Lord) having realized the true source of His freedom.
* 12.
* When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Now freed he proceeds to the house of some friends and fellow believers. All there had gathered to pray, presumably, among their prayers was the subject of Peter himself.
* 13.
* Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. * 14 * When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"* 15. * "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
It is funny that when we pray our expectation of God's answering is so weak that we will not comprehend when we are told that our prayer has been answered. We should be instructed by this to truly live in expectation of answered prayer, knowing that God is not merely able but willing to answer our prayers. Here the gathered believers leave Peter standing outside in their inability to believe in his deliverance from the prison. They even take to speculation regarding what the girl saw and heard rather than take the simplest answer to be the right one, that is, she is telling the truth.
* 16.
* But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
Peter persists until it is impossible for them to disbelieve and they admit him. Again, they are "astonished" to see their prayers answered. This is not to their condemnation but to the glory of God who can and will accomplish what is astonishing and even unbelievable to us.
* 17.
* Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
Peter shares the account as reported above, complete, since it has been recorded this way, with Peter's own disbelief and assumption that his experience was a vision to good to be real. In this way I believe we are assured that our struggles to believe point to both our own natural weakness and God's incredible greatness. We cannot marvel that we struggle to believe since the works of God are so staggering in their greatness. In the end we simply believe and stand in awe.
Peter instructs them to tell the account to James, Not John's brother of course, as mentioned in verse 2, but likely James the brother of Jesus, another of the leaders at Jerusalem.
* It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
These arrests occurred as the persecution increased following Stephen's death. Jesus had spoken of the enmity the church would experience with the world. Persecution is not in itself a sign of being the true church as some sects would argue. The Latter Day Saints (Mormons) assert that they are the true church and give as partial evidence the persecution they have received. Yet a religious group can simply be wrong in its belief or conduct and find itself subject to rebuke, distrust, and even depending on the law in place in a time or place, arrest and punishment. This is not persecution. Yet believers at the same time should not be surprised when they are persecuted. See Matthew 5:10-12. Even if our doctrine and conduct are pure, we will find that the world that stands apart from God will only tolerate us so far as we please them and will seek to destroy us when we cease to amuse or serve their purposes.
* 2.
* He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
James, an important leader of the church at Jerusalem fell victim to this persecution. Just as believers are not immune to persecution, particularly important or exemplary leaders are especially targets.
* 3.
* When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Herod set out to please the Jews with whom he had little popularity. The Herods ruled by cruelty and by Roman mandate and were considered illegitimate kings by the Jews. In an attempt to boost his popularity he makes a sport of dealing in justice. The hand of the ruler is to be guided by justice and ultimately by God and not by what may bring pleasure to the people or an increase in power. Herod used human life to gain advantage for himself. He chose as the time for this the feast of unleavened bread, the Passover, the same feast in which Christ himself was arrested and executed before.
* 4.
* After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
Avoiding chaos during the feast he had Peter held over for trail after the feast. This important prisoner was placed under what seems a rather extensive guard for a non violent offender.
* 5.
* So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The turning point comes as Peter is held without any likelihood of escape, yet, as we are called to do, the church prays to God on Peter's behalf; "earnestly" so, not out of compulsion or in a cursory manner, but with sincerity and zeal.
* 6.
* The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
Again we see Peter under a guard that precludes any imagination of escape.
* 7.
* Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
Got often uses natural means in his work but yet will still when he desires, and for his own glory, use supernatural means for His Work. I hesitate to call Angels supernatural however, since they are, according to the Word of God, God messengers, created beings serving God's purposes and while certainly uncommon to our experience or perception, are not doing here anything other than that which God created them to do. Angelic work may be unusual, even seemingly rare, but it is "normal" in this sense. God's sovereign control over the order of things is established as while the angel speaks the chains fall off without so much as a touch, or so this account would indicate, one does not need this to be supernatural to Glorify God in that Peter, who is hopelessly bound is set free.
* 8.
* Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9.
* Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
As this experience was out of Peter's normal experience and expectation he believed it to be a vision, as this was something he had previously experienced. Yet as with a vision he obeyed and followed.
* 10.
* They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.* 11.
* Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
Having followed the Angel from the prison, past all of the guards and out of the locked gate, Peter, found himself truly released. He immediately Glorifies God (The Lord) having realized the true source of His freedom.
* 12.
* When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Now freed he proceeds to the house of some friends and fellow believers. All there had gathered to pray, presumably, among their prayers was the subject of Peter himself.
* 13.
* Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. * 14 * When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"* 15. * "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
It is funny that when we pray our expectation of God's answering is so weak that we will not comprehend when we are told that our prayer has been answered. We should be instructed by this to truly live in expectation of answered prayer, knowing that God is not merely able but willing to answer our prayers. Here the gathered believers leave Peter standing outside in their inability to believe in his deliverance from the prison. They even take to speculation regarding what the girl saw and heard rather than take the simplest answer to be the right one, that is, she is telling the truth.
* 16.
* But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
Peter persists until it is impossible for them to disbelieve and they admit him. Again, they are "astonished" to see their prayers answered. This is not to their condemnation but to the glory of God who can and will accomplish what is astonishing and even unbelievable to us.
* 17.
* Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
Peter shares the account as reported above, complete, since it has been recorded this way, with Peter's own disbelief and assumption that his experience was a vision to good to be real. In this way I believe we are assured that our struggles to believe point to both our own natural weakness and God's incredible greatness. We cannot marvel that we struggle to believe since the works of God are so staggering in their greatness. In the end we simply believe and stand in awe.
Peter instructs them to tell the account to James, Not John's brother of course, as mentioned in verse 2, but likely James the brother of Jesus, another of the leaders at Jerusalem.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Mark 1:4-11
Mark 1:4-11
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9 The Baptism of Jesus
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
NASU
Mark 1:4-11 Exposition
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Before Jesus Began his public ministry, John the baptist was preaching an baptizing in the wilderness. His purpose, as the text tells us in the verse previous, Mark 1:2 and 3 is to fulfill prophesy,
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'"
NASU
His baptism was similar to the Jewish practice contemporary with his ministry of the mikvah bath which was a ceremonial washing by immersion. Johns baptism was an act done by those who heard his message and call for repentance in preparation for the coming messiah. John called the people to repentance, reminding them that they were unprepared for the “day of the Lord” and needed the forgiveness that God offered. Baptism was a sign of ones acceptance of this promise.
It is important to note that John's baptism was one of repentance where baptism either “in Jesus Name” (Acts 19:5) or “in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”(Matthew 28:19) is a baptism not of preparation to receive the promise but a sign of identification with Jesus as Messiah and Lord.. (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3, and by contrast 1 Corinthians 1:13.)
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Certainly we are not to believe that everyone came to him for baptism but that seemingly everyone, a great number of people, sought out John to hear his message and were baptized by him after confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
Johns unique calling as well as his reliance on God in his ministry was marked by his strange and at the same time, simple, attire, and diet. He lived in the wilderness and wore coarse clothing rather than the finer showier vestments of the religious leaders of the day. People came out to him. He did not have to try to attract his audience. His diet of locusts and wild honey was a part of his reliance on God while in the wilderness, eating the food God in nature had provided, as given and not going out with plans and provisions. Johns ministry was one that was ordained by God and directed by God's leading and not John's calculated efforts to win the masses. Jesus would later contrast His style of ministry with John's, not to elevate one over the other but to show that no matter how one lived in obeying God those who oppose God's agenda will always criticize and ignore the message for their offense at the messenger. (Matthew 11:16-19)
7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
John knew his place as the herald of the Messiah. He knew that even as his reputation was growing he would worthy of no praise when compared with the Messiah to come. John Himself would attempt to refuse to baptize Jesus because of this, but Jesus would encourage Him to do it, affirming Johns message by submitting to Baptism by John. (Matthew 3:14 and 15)
8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Jesus superiority to John was no only in rank as Son of God compared with anointed messenger, but also in the gift he could give. John gave a sign of the promise of forgiveness. Jesus would give new life, a transformed nature, the indwelling Spirit of God, and the Spirit's own gifts and fruit equipping each recipient to live life as God intends. John's baptism, while important, pales by contrast; a fact that John readily admits.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Leaving out John's refusal as I highlighted before. Mark simply related that Jesus came and was baptized. This sentence leads to the next and highlights Mark's purpose in demonstrating that Jesus is the one John had spoken about.
10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;
Whether other witnesses saw this or not, it is clear that John did and it fulfilled a promise that God had communicated to John, namely it showed to John that Jesus was the promised one. The Gospel of John (John 1:29-34) lets us know that this act was John's confirmation of Jesus' identity.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 "This is He on behalf of whom I said, ' After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' 31 "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." 32 John testified saying, " I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."
NASU
11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
The voice of God confirms the crux of our faith. Jesus is no mere teacher or good man or even superior prophet. He is the Son of God, worthy of our faith and worship. It is with this confirmation that Jesus begins his ministry.
NASU
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9 The Baptism of Jesus
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
NASU
Mark 1:4-11 Exposition
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Before Jesus Began his public ministry, John the baptist was preaching an baptizing in the wilderness. His purpose, as the text tells us in the verse previous, Mark 1:2 and 3 is to fulfill prophesy,
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
"BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'"
NASU
His baptism was similar to the Jewish practice contemporary with his ministry of the mikvah bath which was a ceremonial washing by immersion. Johns baptism was an act done by those who heard his message and call for repentance in preparation for the coming messiah. John called the people to repentance, reminding them that they were unprepared for the “day of the Lord” and needed the forgiveness that God offered. Baptism was a sign of ones acceptance of this promise.
It is important to note that John's baptism was one of repentance where baptism either “in Jesus Name” (Acts 19:5) or “in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”(Matthew 28:19) is a baptism not of preparation to receive the promise but a sign of identification with Jesus as Messiah and Lord.. (Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3, and by contrast 1 Corinthians 1:13.)
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Certainly we are not to believe that everyone came to him for baptism but that seemingly everyone, a great number of people, sought out John to hear his message and were baptized by him after confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
Johns unique calling as well as his reliance on God in his ministry was marked by his strange and at the same time, simple, attire, and diet. He lived in the wilderness and wore coarse clothing rather than the finer showier vestments of the religious leaders of the day. People came out to him. He did not have to try to attract his audience. His diet of locusts and wild honey was a part of his reliance on God while in the wilderness, eating the food God in nature had provided, as given and not going out with plans and provisions. Johns ministry was one that was ordained by God and directed by God's leading and not John's calculated efforts to win the masses. Jesus would later contrast His style of ministry with John's, not to elevate one over the other but to show that no matter how one lived in obeying God those who oppose God's agenda will always criticize and ignore the message for their offense at the messenger. (Matthew 11:16-19)
7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
John knew his place as the herald of the Messiah. He knew that even as his reputation was growing he would worthy of no praise when compared with the Messiah to come. John Himself would attempt to refuse to baptize Jesus because of this, but Jesus would encourage Him to do it, affirming Johns message by submitting to Baptism by John. (Matthew 3:14 and 15)
8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Jesus superiority to John was no only in rank as Son of God compared with anointed messenger, but also in the gift he could give. John gave a sign of the promise of forgiveness. Jesus would give new life, a transformed nature, the indwelling Spirit of God, and the Spirit's own gifts and fruit equipping each recipient to live life as God intends. John's baptism, while important, pales by contrast; a fact that John readily admits.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Leaving out John's refusal as I highlighted before. Mark simply related that Jesus came and was baptized. This sentence leads to the next and highlights Mark's purpose in demonstrating that Jesus is the one John had spoken about.
10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;
Whether other witnesses saw this or not, it is clear that John did and it fulfilled a promise that God had communicated to John, namely it showed to John that Jesus was the promised one. The Gospel of John (John 1:29-34) lets us know that this act was John's confirmation of Jesus' identity.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 "This is He on behalf of whom I said, ' After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' 31 "I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." 32 John testified saying, " I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."
NASU
11 and a voice came out of the heavens: " You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
The voice of God confirms the crux of our faith. Jesus is no mere teacher or good man or even superior prophet. He is the Son of God, worthy of our faith and worship. It is with this confirmation that Jesus begins his ministry.
NASU
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy New Year!
This Morning as I was reading Scripture the Lectionary Passage was John 2:1-11. The story of the Miracle of the Wedding at Cana. The first and seemingly ridiculous miracle that Jesus performed.
While it may seem inappropriate to call a miracle of Jesus ridiculous, I only say it to show how it appears to our eyes. After all, isn't God about eradicating drunkenness and even (some might believe) eliminating fun? Yet here is Jesus turning water into wine. More so he seems to do so reluctantly, at his mother's request, when the wine for the wedding party has run out. Yet his mother doesn't badger or nag him into it but simply turns to the stewards and says. "do whatever he tells you."
What can we learn from this? I encourage you if this story is unfamiliar open your Bibles and re-read it. First I think we learn something about what it means to have faith in Jesus. For the participants in this feast things were not going well. Now, mind you this is not on par with a Cancer diagnosis or a financial collapse. But it certainly was a big deal in a culture that valued extravagant hospitality torun out of wine for your INVITED guests. These weren't passers by who would still merit a good meal and sheltering, these were invited wedding guests. You don't stop halfway through the party and say "sorry folks, we're out of wine, would you like some tea?" Mary seeing the trouble for a friend? a family member?, she goes to Jesus. When he tries to avoid the attention that a miracle would bring, (she wasn't asking him to make a wine run to the state store.) She simply says to the stewards, "do whatever he tells you." Do you need an answer to a problem? This is the place to begin. Trusting that Jesus has the ability to fix things, DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU TO. Don't assume you have to figure it all out on you own. Go back to the basics. Do what God makes clear that you are to do Pray (Philippians 4:6), Worship (Hebrews 14:15), Work as you are able (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). Don't do anything he would not want you to do. Don't knowingly sin because you don't seem to have a better option. This takes faith, but we learn from what follows that Jesus acts.
Next, we learn that Jesus transforms our mediocre repetitive attempts to take care of ourselves into completion and celebration. The striking thing here is that the transformed wine is drawn out of water jars used for ritual cleansing. What was used for a repetitive religious ceremony, done again and again and never able to make them truly clean or happy, was now used for celebration. The wine also prefigures the wine of the New Covenant.Where before continued washing with water only served as a reminder of sin and their need to be made clean to approach God. Jesus invites His disciples to dine with Him at His Table offering them "the cup of the New Covenant"in His blood; that blood which gave true forgiveness of Sins.
As you worship and live think about these things. Jesus came to transform our mediocre striving and religious ritual into real forgiveness and celebration. Happy New Year!
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
While it may seem inappropriate to call a miracle of Jesus ridiculous, I only say it to show how it appears to our eyes. After all, isn't God about eradicating drunkenness and even (some might believe) eliminating fun? Yet here is Jesus turning water into wine. More so he seems to do so reluctantly, at his mother's request, when the wine for the wedding party has run out. Yet his mother doesn't badger or nag him into it but simply turns to the stewards and says. "do whatever he tells you."
What can we learn from this? I encourage you if this story is unfamiliar open your Bibles and re-read it. First I think we learn something about what it means to have faith in Jesus. For the participants in this feast things were not going well. Now, mind you this is not on par with a Cancer diagnosis or a financial collapse. But it certainly was a big deal in a culture that valued extravagant hospitality torun out of wine for your INVITED guests. These weren't passers by who would still merit a good meal and sheltering, these were invited wedding guests. You don't stop halfway through the party and say "sorry folks, we're out of wine, would you like some tea?" Mary seeing the trouble for a friend? a family member?, she goes to Jesus. When he tries to avoid the attention that a miracle would bring, (she wasn't asking him to make a wine run to the state store.) She simply says to the stewards, "do whatever he tells you." Do you need an answer to a problem? This is the place to begin. Trusting that Jesus has the ability to fix things, DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU TO. Don't assume you have to figure it all out on you own. Go back to the basics. Do what God makes clear that you are to do Pray (Philippians 4:6), Worship (Hebrews 14:15), Work as you are able (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). Don't do anything he would not want you to do. Don't knowingly sin because you don't seem to have a better option. This takes faith, but we learn from what follows that Jesus acts.
Next, we learn that Jesus transforms our mediocre repetitive attempts to take care of ourselves into completion and celebration. The striking thing here is that the transformed wine is drawn out of water jars used for ritual cleansing. What was used for a repetitive religious ceremony, done again and again and never able to make them truly clean or happy, was now used for celebration. The wine also prefigures the wine of the New Covenant.Where before continued washing with water only served as a reminder of sin and their need to be made clean to approach God. Jesus invites His disciples to dine with Him at His Table offering them "the cup of the New Covenant"in His blood; that blood which gave true forgiveness of Sins.
As you worship and live think about these things. Jesus came to transform our mediocre striving and religious ritual into real forgiveness and celebration. Happy New Year!
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
Sunday, January 4, 2009
How will we Receive Him?
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 The Witness John
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 The Word Made Flesh
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
NASU
John 1:1-18 Exposition
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The gospel According to John the Evangelist (as distinguished from John the Baptist who is the second subject mentioned in the gospel) begins with an attention grabbing sentence. In the beginning was the Word, with God and in fact God. Taking a philosophical idea of the day of the Logos the divine Word or the self revelation of God. God remains a mystery apart from God's own revelation of Himself. At the same time the Word is a personal being existing both beside the one God, but also being at the same time THE one God. John also adds that this same Word was not a later creation of God but existed in “the beginning” archae, before there was anything or any time to be measured. This concept is not offensive to the idea of one God, yet it becomes an offense, unless true, when one attributes the identity of the Word to a particular human being as John is preparing to do. To begin his gospel, “In the beginning,” he is paralleling Genesis rather intentionally. One has to be certain that he is either right or foolish and he leaves no room for a middle ground. Jesus, He is prepared to assert is in fact the personal revelation of God and in fact God himself.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
This sentence reinforces the first and prepares for the next as it places the Word personally present outside of any measurable time and before anything else existed.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
The Word, the self revelation of God is present in and working to accomplish the creation of all that exists apart from God. There is no doubt, as Scripture elsewhere asserts, that creation reveals God in such a way as to make clear and evident what would otherwise be pure inscrutable mystery. Take for example Rom 1:20-21
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
NASU
In addition it is asserted that there is no shared creation by one or more gods or demi-gods. The Word who is God created all leaving nothing to any other mind or being. One cannot assert that anything is a creation of the devil or that the creator God is a lesser God answerable to a higher being. Again the Word is not a lesser being compared with some greater God.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Here if I may write what comes to my mind, I would say that genuine life is only possible when it is enlightened so that one knows and is in proper relationship to Jesus Christ. For in Him as the second person of the triune God and as the co-creator we not only first receive life as created beings but receive genuine and eternal life when we receive “in Him” that life which is the “Light of men”. In simpler terms. Life is only worth living when we have the life that Jesus offers as the one who turns on the light so we can stop fumbling around in the dark.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Often this word translated “comprehend” means to take hold of, of to receive. It is as though light is present yet somehow must be revealed in order to be visible. We know that certain bands of light such as infrared can be shined in darkness but are not visible to the naked eye. The Light shined by Christ was similar to this, it is made visible yet it was rejected, as we will see in verse 11. Also this is made apparent regarding the light of Creation in Rom 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
NASU
and again in John 3:19
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
NASU
6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John the Baptist is an important figure, needing to be distinguished from the Christ but nonetheless “sent from God”
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
His purpose in being sent was “as a witness” one to give sure testimony from God concerning this “Light” so that by his message all might believe. This all speaks of the general nature of Johns message which did not target or discriminate in its presentation of God's call to repentance. Certainly all are in need of repentance. It is also certain that although he was sent to proclaim to all, all did not receive his message as we shall soon see. Yet God is not to be accused of failing to offer the means of salvation to “all”. For our purposes it will become clear with verse 13 that to receive Christ requires a birth that is “of God” and not merely of the will of any person. It suffices that the witness to John the baptist published to all the need for repentance without care for who might receive or reject it. Likewise we are to publish the gospel indiscriminately so that no one may say “I have not heard” and because we cannot know who will believe.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
John is to be distinguished from the “Light” just as The lamp may transmit the light to a room but is not the energy which makes visible what was invisible in a darkened room. John, we are to be sure was not the Word, the Light, or more pointedly, the Christ.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
Apart from John was the “true Light” which was the subject of John's witness, which was about to be made known, coming into the world, and who would enlighten “every man”. There is not other true light or source of genuine “enlightenment” apart from Christ. Prophets and teachers, religions and “spirituality” are merely witnesses, valuable only so far as they correctly point us to the Christ. Those that would steer us to some other source of light other than Jesus Christ are not the light and draw us away from the source of life. (recall verse 4)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
Here the Light, we are reminded is the same as the Word, which created the world, yet we who are his creations did not know him to be our creator and God.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
He even came to a special people who had been prepared through Covenant, Law, and Prophesy, God's chosen people Israel, or else and at the same time, human beings in general. He did not appear as an angel or bird or some other creature or being, but as an Israelite man whose life and actions fulfilled prophesies that pointed to his identity. Yet even coming as one of us and to a special people prepared to receive him, he was not received.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,
Yet for those who did receive him,they were given the right to become children of God. Important words here for they teach us how to receive what Christ was sent to give. To receive here means to welcome near or to associate with. More than an intellectual understanding of a system of behavior or philosophy to receive Christ is to welcome Him as part of your life, to make a companion of Him, or more accurately to become his companion and follow Him. Second it speaks of Him “giving” the right to become children of God. The status of “child of God is not a natural “right” but it is given to us in and through Christ. The word here translated “right” can also be “power” or “privilege” or “capacity”, to be made able, Were we naturally “children of God” we would not need to be given this. Yet it is through Christ that it is given.
even to those who believe in His name,
To receive Him is also to believe in or as the King James Version states “on” His Name. It means more than understanding or accepting the idea of Him, but to trust in and to place your faith and confidence in Him and in His Name. His name is mentioned so that our faith is once again attached to a person and not an abstraction. Jesus is a person, the person, God the Son, in whom we place our faith.
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Those who put their faith in Christ are assured that this was not their own doing that they may doubt the adequacy of their faith or fear they may lose it by misstep or neglect. The are assured that it came not of their own will, or by inheritance, but by the supreme will of God alone. So, even as Christ came to his own particular people and was rejected by many, all who trust in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile may know that they will be gifted with the privilege to become what we were not before: Children of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This thing which God purposed to accomplish happened when the Word of God, Jesus Christ, “The Light” became a human being, taking on human nature in every way possible and “dwelt”, more accurately “tented” or “camped”, giving the sense of the temporary nature of His earthly life and momentary placement in history, He did this so that those who saw him, even the evangelist who is writing, could say without doubt or hesitation that they saw with their eyes the Word of God, God Himself, in his Glory. His Glory is one and the same as the only begotten son of the Father. His resemblance to the Father is like that of an only natural son, like him without compare as there is no brother so we could say “the older looks more like his Father,” or “the Younger has more of his father's personality.” He is like the father, different only in his resemblance to his mother as well, being in human flesh (not a characteristic of the father), glorious, and filled with the Father's own grace and truth. John (the evangelist) beheld this glory uniquely (along with Peter and James) at the transfiguration of Jesus, yet this Glory that “we” (his contemporaries) all saw was enough that they could say they saw him resembling the Father and full of grace and truth. In fact the word rendered “saw” implies to see closely or examine or also as one might see someone closely when visiting. This was no mere glimpse of God as Moses saw, but a revelation of God in person.
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"
Here the evangelist, distinguishes Jesus from the Baptist further by reminding us that John (the Baptist) himself pointed to Jesus as the one superior to him so far as to make him, in his own estimation, unworthy of the status of a minor servant. The Baptist assures his audience that the younger relative (Jesus was in human relations a relative of John as His mother and John's were related.) was in fact “before” him, likely implying Jesus Preexistence as the Word and as the Uncreated Son of God.
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
Now speaking to his contemporary audience John (the evangelist) says to those who would hear that in seeing Christ they have received the fullness of God and more so, more “grace”, a gift given beyond what is due or could be expected that the grace they had already received by God's revelation in the Scripture of the Old Covenant.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
The Law was what made Jews, Jews, and what separated them from the gentiles. The chosen people were divided from the rest of the “Nations” by the Law which God had given them through Moses. Yet the fullness of God's grace and truth are given to all who receive Him through Jesus Christ. Here for the first time John makes clear that the person who he has been writing about, The “Word” and the “Light” and the “Only begotten Son” are in fact the man Jesus Christ. At the beginning I said that these ideas of Word and Light are not offensive to our natural minds if they are not attached to a living person. Yet John boldly claims that this person is in fact none other than Jesus of Nazareth who he calls the Christ, the Messiah or Anointed one. Jesus, is the dividing line between those who receive the gospel and those who are offended by it. In the end, we are told, it matters an eternity how we receive Him.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
For God to be more than an invisible mystery, or a philosophical abstraction, we must meet Him in the Person of Jesus Christ, for only in Him is the mystery explained.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 The Witness John
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 The Word Made Flesh
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
NASU
John 1:1-18 Exposition
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The gospel According to John the Evangelist (as distinguished from John the Baptist who is the second subject mentioned in the gospel) begins with an attention grabbing sentence. In the beginning was the Word, with God and in fact God. Taking a philosophical idea of the day of the Logos the divine Word or the self revelation of God. God remains a mystery apart from God's own revelation of Himself. At the same time the Word is a personal being existing both beside the one God, but also being at the same time THE one God. John also adds that this same Word was not a later creation of God but existed in “the beginning” archae, before there was anything or any time to be measured. This concept is not offensive to the idea of one God, yet it becomes an offense, unless true, when one attributes the identity of the Word to a particular human being as John is preparing to do. To begin his gospel, “In the beginning,” he is paralleling Genesis rather intentionally. One has to be certain that he is either right or foolish and he leaves no room for a middle ground. Jesus, He is prepared to assert is in fact the personal revelation of God and in fact God himself.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
This sentence reinforces the first and prepares for the next as it places the Word personally present outside of any measurable time and before anything else existed.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
The Word, the self revelation of God is present in and working to accomplish the creation of all that exists apart from God. There is no doubt, as Scripture elsewhere asserts, that creation reveals God in such a way as to make clear and evident what would otherwise be pure inscrutable mystery. Take for example Rom 1:20-21
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
NASU
In addition it is asserted that there is no shared creation by one or more gods or demi-gods. The Word who is God created all leaving nothing to any other mind or being. One cannot assert that anything is a creation of the devil or that the creator God is a lesser God answerable to a higher being. Again the Word is not a lesser being compared with some greater God.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Here if I may write what comes to my mind, I would say that genuine life is only possible when it is enlightened so that one knows and is in proper relationship to Jesus Christ. For in Him as the second person of the triune God and as the co-creator we not only first receive life as created beings but receive genuine and eternal life when we receive “in Him” that life which is the “Light of men”. In simpler terms. Life is only worth living when we have the life that Jesus offers as the one who turns on the light so we can stop fumbling around in the dark.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Often this word translated “comprehend” means to take hold of, of to receive. It is as though light is present yet somehow must be revealed in order to be visible. We know that certain bands of light such as infrared can be shined in darkness but are not visible to the naked eye. The Light shined by Christ was similar to this, it is made visible yet it was rejected, as we will see in verse 11. Also this is made apparent regarding the light of Creation in Rom 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
NASU
and again in John 3:19
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
NASU
6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John the Baptist is an important figure, needing to be distinguished from the Christ but nonetheless “sent from God”
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
His purpose in being sent was “as a witness” one to give sure testimony from God concerning this “Light” so that by his message all might believe. This all speaks of the general nature of Johns message which did not target or discriminate in its presentation of God's call to repentance. Certainly all are in need of repentance. It is also certain that although he was sent to proclaim to all, all did not receive his message as we shall soon see. Yet God is not to be accused of failing to offer the means of salvation to “all”. For our purposes it will become clear with verse 13 that to receive Christ requires a birth that is “of God” and not merely of the will of any person. It suffices that the witness to John the baptist published to all the need for repentance without care for who might receive or reject it. Likewise we are to publish the gospel indiscriminately so that no one may say “I have not heard” and because we cannot know who will believe.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
John is to be distinguished from the “Light” just as The lamp may transmit the light to a room but is not the energy which makes visible what was invisible in a darkened room. John, we are to be sure was not the Word, the Light, or more pointedly, the Christ.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
Apart from John was the “true Light” which was the subject of John's witness, which was about to be made known, coming into the world, and who would enlighten “every man”. There is not other true light or source of genuine “enlightenment” apart from Christ. Prophets and teachers, religions and “spirituality” are merely witnesses, valuable only so far as they correctly point us to the Christ. Those that would steer us to some other source of light other than Jesus Christ are not the light and draw us away from the source of life. (recall verse 4)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
Here the Light, we are reminded is the same as the Word, which created the world, yet we who are his creations did not know him to be our creator and God.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
He even came to a special people who had been prepared through Covenant, Law, and Prophesy, God's chosen people Israel, or else and at the same time, human beings in general. He did not appear as an angel or bird or some other creature or being, but as an Israelite man whose life and actions fulfilled prophesies that pointed to his identity. Yet even coming as one of us and to a special people prepared to receive him, he was not received.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,
Yet for those who did receive him,they were given the right to become children of God. Important words here for they teach us how to receive what Christ was sent to give. To receive here means to welcome near or to associate with. More than an intellectual understanding of a system of behavior or philosophy to receive Christ is to welcome Him as part of your life, to make a companion of Him, or more accurately to become his companion and follow Him. Second it speaks of Him “giving” the right to become children of God. The status of “child of God is not a natural “right” but it is given to us in and through Christ. The word here translated “right” can also be “power” or “privilege” or “capacity”, to be made able, Were we naturally “children of God” we would not need to be given this. Yet it is through Christ that it is given.
even to those who believe in His name,
To receive Him is also to believe in or as the King James Version states “on” His Name. It means more than understanding or accepting the idea of Him, but to trust in and to place your faith and confidence in Him and in His Name. His name is mentioned so that our faith is once again attached to a person and not an abstraction. Jesus is a person, the person, God the Son, in whom we place our faith.
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Those who put their faith in Christ are assured that this was not their own doing that they may doubt the adequacy of their faith or fear they may lose it by misstep or neglect. The are assured that it came not of their own will, or by inheritance, but by the supreme will of God alone. So, even as Christ came to his own particular people and was rejected by many, all who trust in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile may know that they will be gifted with the privilege to become what we were not before: Children of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This thing which God purposed to accomplish happened when the Word of God, Jesus Christ, “The Light” became a human being, taking on human nature in every way possible and “dwelt”, more accurately “tented” or “camped”, giving the sense of the temporary nature of His earthly life and momentary placement in history, He did this so that those who saw him, even the evangelist who is writing, could say without doubt or hesitation that they saw with their eyes the Word of God, God Himself, in his Glory. His Glory is one and the same as the only begotten son of the Father. His resemblance to the Father is like that of an only natural son, like him without compare as there is no brother so we could say “the older looks more like his Father,” or “the Younger has more of his father's personality.” He is like the father, different only in his resemblance to his mother as well, being in human flesh (not a characteristic of the father), glorious, and filled with the Father's own grace and truth. John (the evangelist) beheld this glory uniquely (along with Peter and James) at the transfiguration of Jesus, yet this Glory that “we” (his contemporaries) all saw was enough that they could say they saw him resembling the Father and full of grace and truth. In fact the word rendered “saw” implies to see closely or examine or also as one might see someone closely when visiting. This was no mere glimpse of God as Moses saw, but a revelation of God in person.
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"
Here the evangelist, distinguishes Jesus from the Baptist further by reminding us that John (the Baptist) himself pointed to Jesus as the one superior to him so far as to make him, in his own estimation, unworthy of the status of a minor servant. The Baptist assures his audience that the younger relative (Jesus was in human relations a relative of John as His mother and John's were related.) was in fact “before” him, likely implying Jesus Preexistence as the Word and as the Uncreated Son of God.
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
Now speaking to his contemporary audience John (the evangelist) says to those who would hear that in seeing Christ they have received the fullness of God and more so, more “grace”, a gift given beyond what is due or could be expected that the grace they had already received by God's revelation in the Scripture of the Old Covenant.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
The Law was what made Jews, Jews, and what separated them from the gentiles. The chosen people were divided from the rest of the “Nations” by the Law which God had given them through Moses. Yet the fullness of God's grace and truth are given to all who receive Him through Jesus Christ. Here for the first time John makes clear that the person who he has been writing about, The “Word” and the “Light” and the “Only begotten Son” are in fact the man Jesus Christ. At the beginning I said that these ideas of Word and Light are not offensive to our natural minds if they are not attached to a living person. Yet John boldly claims that this person is in fact none other than Jesus of Nazareth who he calls the Christ, the Messiah or Anointed one. Jesus, is the dividing line between those who receive the gospel and those who are offended by it. In the end, we are told, it matters an eternity how we receive Him.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
For God to be more than an invisible mystery, or a philosophical abstraction, we must meet Him in the Person of Jesus Christ, for only in Him is the mystery explained.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
Saturday, December 27, 2008
What did you get for Christmas
Eph 1:3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption ofGod's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
NASU
Eph 1:3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
We are often asked after Christmas “What did you get?” When you consider that the “Wondrous gift” given in Christ as He is called in the Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem, We should consider what gifts we have been given in Christ. The Apostle Paul here begins his letter with a word of praise to God as the Father of our Lord and draws our attention to the gift of God he calls “every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly places” The Christian should be ever aware that our treasure in Christ is stored up in heaven. Any gifts or riches we may have here are resources to be used here for the glory of God for this is the purpose of our salvation as we are told in Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. NASU
as well as in other places. Our real treasures which are ours to keep are those which are in heaven.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
Our first gift is that we are chosen. Not on our own merit or because of anything that we had done but before the foundation of the world for Gods own purposes and glory. Let those who are lost worry about what is is to be not chosen. If you are in Christ you have the assurance of God's own unimpeachable Word that you are chosen.
that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
The result of our having been chosen is that we are called by God “holy and blameless” this too is a status imputed to us by God's own decree, for if we are to examine our conduct we will not find that our actions merit such a title. We are in face holy and blameless “before him” that is, God the Father, as he has given us this status and see us us only as he calls us in that given quality of holiness. It is as though he has chosen to call his beloved “lovely” and she remains lovely in his sight regardless of how she appears to other men.
In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
It is no stretch to use the analogy of love as this next line says that it is in fact love which moves the almighty to predestine his church (that is the “us”), we believers, to adoption as sons. We have been adopted and are therefore doubly loved, for a child of birth is loved because it is our own, unless something is wrong with the parent, but an adopted child is not our own yet chosen to be loved when the parent is not compelled by any reason except love to do so. Women should not be offended at the phrase “as sons” for this is not an exclusion but a status. In the Apostle's time a daughter held a lesser place in the house than a son. So even women who are believers are afforded the same adoption as men and afforded the same benefits as would “sons”.
This adoption is accomplished through Jesus Christ so that we may be “sons” of the Father. We are not Children of God by nature as some have loved to proclaim. But only and at great cost, through Jesus Christ, or else this passage would be a lie and it give us no certain hope.
Finally again we are assured that it is the will of God, the “kind” will, or his “good pleasure,” which brought us all this. If we should ask God why this was done He would respond only that it pleased Him to do so.
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Knowing that it was His good pleasure and will drives us all the more to praise His grace. We do not merely praise his might or riches that He can generously reward the deserving like some philanthropist. But in His grace he chose to give such things to the undeserving. These things were given to us in “the Beloved” which is Christ. We know this because of what follows.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace8 which He lavished on us.
What else we have received includes our purchase and redemption by the blood of Jesus, for he did more than come in the flesh, but also died willingly for us. We also receive the forgiveness of those things which we have done which would lead us to fear that we cannot receive the very gifts we have just been told are ours in Christ. This too is out of the “riches of His Grace”, “lavished” on us as one who loves gives extravagantly to the beloved.
In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
Not content merely to do these things in secret, God made known to us what could otherwise remain unknown to us. His will and plan are revealed again out of the good pleasure of God's purpose for Jesus Christ. Even if all were to be saved how pitiable would be our lives if we were left to grope and grovel under the slavery to sin and the fear of punishment when it was God's intention that we would be saved. Instead we are gifted with the joy of knowing that we have been forgiven and adopted as God's beloved Children.
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
This is to say that it is God's will that all tings be “set right” and ordered from the chaotic state which sin and death have thrown them, separating heaven and earth, God and man, and even our relations to one another. In Christ “peace on earth” is show to be God's final will and purpose, not merely absence of conflict, but true order and justice and righteousness.
In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
As sons we also receive an inheritance again assured to us by the unbreakability of God's Word and will.
12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
All of this not merely for our benefit, but certainly to our benefit, but for “the praise of His glory.” that is to bring about the deserved worship of God. We are introduced to God rightly in Christ so that we may respond with praise.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Lest we should say all receive the benefits of this we are assured that only those who have heard the Word of this “gospel”, (such good news!) have assurance of our inclusion in this promise. Some may have it and not yet know and as I said before that is a pitiable state, but we have the sign and seal of this promise when we have heard and believed the gospel.
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
The gift of God the Holy Spirit which dwells in each believer individually and is evident in the church as a body is the token like a receipt reminding us that all of these promises are ours. The purpose of this is again, our redemption to be included in God's own people and family to the ultimate end of inciting praise of His Glory. Worship is the end result of all of the gifts that we have been given in Christ.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption ofGod's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
NASU
Eph 1:3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
We are often asked after Christmas “What did you get?” When you consider that the “Wondrous gift” given in Christ as He is called in the Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem, We should consider what gifts we have been given in Christ. The Apostle Paul here begins his letter with a word of praise to God as the Father of our Lord and draws our attention to the gift of God he calls “every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly places” The Christian should be ever aware that our treasure in Christ is stored up in heaven. Any gifts or riches we may have here are resources to be used here for the glory of God for this is the purpose of our salvation as we are told in Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. NASU
as well as in other places. Our real treasures which are ours to keep are those which are in heaven.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
Our first gift is that we are chosen. Not on our own merit or because of anything that we had done but before the foundation of the world for Gods own purposes and glory. Let those who are lost worry about what is is to be not chosen. If you are in Christ you have the assurance of God's own unimpeachable Word that you are chosen.
that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
The result of our having been chosen is that we are called by God “holy and blameless” this too is a status imputed to us by God's own decree, for if we are to examine our conduct we will not find that our actions merit such a title. We are in face holy and blameless “before him” that is, God the Father, as he has given us this status and see us us only as he calls us in that given quality of holiness. It is as though he has chosen to call his beloved “lovely” and she remains lovely in his sight regardless of how she appears to other men.
In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
It is no stretch to use the analogy of love as this next line says that it is in fact love which moves the almighty to predestine his church (that is the “us”), we believers, to adoption as sons. We have been adopted and are therefore doubly loved, for a child of birth is loved because it is our own, unless something is wrong with the parent, but an adopted child is not our own yet chosen to be loved when the parent is not compelled by any reason except love to do so. Women should not be offended at the phrase “as sons” for this is not an exclusion but a status. In the Apostle's time a daughter held a lesser place in the house than a son. So even women who are believers are afforded the same adoption as men and afforded the same benefits as would “sons”.
This adoption is accomplished through Jesus Christ so that we may be “sons” of the Father. We are not Children of God by nature as some have loved to proclaim. But only and at great cost, through Jesus Christ, or else this passage would be a lie and it give us no certain hope.
Finally again we are assured that it is the will of God, the “kind” will, or his “good pleasure,” which brought us all this. If we should ask God why this was done He would respond only that it pleased Him to do so.
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Knowing that it was His good pleasure and will drives us all the more to praise His grace. We do not merely praise his might or riches that He can generously reward the deserving like some philanthropist. But in His grace he chose to give such things to the undeserving. These things were given to us in “the Beloved” which is Christ. We know this because of what follows.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace8 which He lavished on us.
What else we have received includes our purchase and redemption by the blood of Jesus, for he did more than come in the flesh, but also died willingly for us. We also receive the forgiveness of those things which we have done which would lead us to fear that we cannot receive the very gifts we have just been told are ours in Christ. This too is out of the “riches of His Grace”, “lavished” on us as one who loves gives extravagantly to the beloved.
In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
Not content merely to do these things in secret, God made known to us what could otherwise remain unknown to us. His will and plan are revealed again out of the good pleasure of God's purpose for Jesus Christ. Even if all were to be saved how pitiable would be our lives if we were left to grope and grovel under the slavery to sin and the fear of punishment when it was God's intention that we would be saved. Instead we are gifted with the joy of knowing that we have been forgiven and adopted as God's beloved Children.
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
This is to say that it is God's will that all tings be “set right” and ordered from the chaotic state which sin and death have thrown them, separating heaven and earth, God and man, and even our relations to one another. In Christ “peace on earth” is show to be God's final will and purpose, not merely absence of conflict, but true order and justice and righteousness.
In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
As sons we also receive an inheritance again assured to us by the unbreakability of God's Word and will.
12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
All of this not merely for our benefit, but certainly to our benefit, but for “the praise of His glory.” that is to bring about the deserved worship of God. We are introduced to God rightly in Christ so that we may respond with praise.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Lest we should say all receive the benefits of this we are assured that only those who have heard the Word of this “gospel”, (such good news!) have assurance of our inclusion in this promise. Some may have it and not yet know and as I said before that is a pitiable state, but we have the sign and seal of this promise when we have heard and believed the gospel.
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
The gift of God the Holy Spirit which dwells in each believer individually and is evident in the church as a body is the token like a receipt reminding us that all of these promises are ours. The purpose of this is again, our redemption to be included in God's own people and family to the ultimate end of inciting praise of His Glory. Worship is the end result of all of the gifts that we have been given in Christ.
In Christ and on the Shepherd's Path,
Mark
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