Reading Hosea 2-5. Mercy is a theme, ala Romans 9:25-26.
In Christ, the guilty go free. It's due to God's Mercy.
In Christ, the guilty flourish. It's due to God's Grace.
In Christ, the guilty live. It's due to God's Righteousness.
In Christ, the guilty remain. It's due to God's Faithfulness.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Parables, Part 1: The Teacher, the Teaching, the Taught
Matt. 13:1-9 teaches that those who hear Jesus' teaching need His wisdom to understand it. In this passage we see something about the Teacher in vv. 1-2; something about His Teaching in vv. 3-8; and something about the response of those Taught in v. 9.
1. The Teacher...initiating and engaging. Jesus, on the same day as the blasphemous accusations and the visit of His mother and brothers, went and sat by the sea. Large crowds gathered, He got in a boat and sat down, the crowd stood on the beach. Sitting was the posture of a teacher. It was an invitation to come and learn from Him. He initiated, they engaged. The crowd stood, showing respect for the Teacher.
2. The Teaching...mysterious to some & clear to others. He spoke many things to them in parables. Besides His authority, the most distinctive style of Jesus’ teaching was His use of parables. The word Parable comes from two words: to throw, & by the side of. It is a form of teaching in which one thing is thrown beside another to make a comparison. There are 8 parables in ch. 13: the Sower, Weeds, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Treasure, Pearl, Net, & Householder – all have to do with the Kingdom of God. The 1st sets the tone.
The parable of the Sower (Jesus explains it in Matt. 13:18-23), is about a man who sowed seeds in a field and the results of the seeds landing on different soils. The 4 kinds of soil on which the seed fell reflected the common experience of farmers back then, they did not place seed in a single place or a long furrow dug out - they practiced broadcast sowing— scattering seeds in all directions by hand as they walked up and down the stony paths that divided their fields. Some seed falls on “good soil”, it germinates, matures and yields a crop ranging from 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown, a good harvest blessed by God, like Isaac in Gen. 26:12, he planted crops and reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed Him.
Parables are...
One of the ways Jesus taught. Not the only way as some suggest but a very engaging way He often taught. 1/3 of His teaching in Matt, Mark and Luke was done using parables.
Stories from daily life designed to teach a spiritual truth. Jesus used parables to teach some powerful lesson about God and His will for our lives. Earthly stories with heavenly meanings.
A way to both hide and reveal truth. Hide it from those who reject Jesus and cannot handle further revelation, and reveal deeper truths to the believing. To one group a very clear illustration, to another a frustrating puzzle.
3. The Taught...some would understand, some would misunderstand. Jesus tells this parable with no explanation, just a word of challenge at the end: “He who has ears, let him hear.” He says, if you can understand it, understand it. He is challenging them to find the spiritual meaning in it. I see it as an invitation to seek Him and ask Him what it meant, if they dared.
What are the implications for us?
1. Jesus as Teacher is all-authoritative and we need to listen to Him. Failure to hear or acknowledge or respond favorably to what God says results in judgment. We need to submit rather than argue with what He has to say. That applies to everything in His Word. We are to reject man’s opinions, no matter how persuasive, and accept God’s verdicts on life and death, heaven and hell, marriage, family, singleness, business, pleasure and everything else.
2. Some things about the teaching are hard to understand and we need Christ’s wisdom even more. Each parable communicates one main point; everything in it serves that point. We need to engage in careful interpretation or we may miss or twist what He is saying. Parables may illustrate some point of theology, but don't build your theology from parables. When we come to the Book together, with our households, or alone, we submit ourselves to what it says.
3. Sometimes it is merciful for those taught that things are unexplained. Jesus veiling the truth from unbelievers showed both judgment & mercy. Judgment because it kept them in darkness they loved (John 3:19); mercy because for all who reject Jesus, exposure to more truth will only increase their guilt before a holy God. Those who hear Jesus' teaching need His wisdom to understand it. Only those who believe have Jesus' wisdom (1 Cor. 2:1-16). The key to understanding the parables (and making sense out of life) is knowing Jesus, which means being saved by grace, through faith in Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
1. The Teacher...initiating and engaging. Jesus, on the same day as the blasphemous accusations and the visit of His mother and brothers, went and sat by the sea. Large crowds gathered, He got in a boat and sat down, the crowd stood on the beach. Sitting was the posture of a teacher. It was an invitation to come and learn from Him. He initiated, they engaged. The crowd stood, showing respect for the Teacher.
2. The Teaching...mysterious to some & clear to others. He spoke many things to them in parables. Besides His authority, the most distinctive style of Jesus’ teaching was His use of parables. The word Parable comes from two words: to throw, & by the side of. It is a form of teaching in which one thing is thrown beside another to make a comparison. There are 8 parables in ch. 13: the Sower, Weeds, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Treasure, Pearl, Net, & Householder – all have to do with the Kingdom of God. The 1st sets the tone.
The parable of the Sower (Jesus explains it in Matt. 13:18-23), is about a man who sowed seeds in a field and the results of the seeds landing on different soils. The 4 kinds of soil on which the seed fell reflected the common experience of farmers back then, they did not place seed in a single place or a long furrow dug out - they practiced broadcast sowing— scattering seeds in all directions by hand as they walked up and down the stony paths that divided their fields. Some seed falls on “good soil”, it germinates, matures and yields a crop ranging from 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown, a good harvest blessed by God, like Isaac in Gen. 26:12, he planted crops and reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed Him.
Parables are...
One of the ways Jesus taught. Not the only way as some suggest but a very engaging way He often taught. 1/3 of His teaching in Matt, Mark and Luke was done using parables.
Stories from daily life designed to teach a spiritual truth. Jesus used parables to teach some powerful lesson about God and His will for our lives. Earthly stories with heavenly meanings.
A way to both hide and reveal truth. Hide it from those who reject Jesus and cannot handle further revelation, and reveal deeper truths to the believing. To one group a very clear illustration, to another a frustrating puzzle.
3. The Taught...some would understand, some would misunderstand. Jesus tells this parable with no explanation, just a word of challenge at the end: “He who has ears, let him hear.” He says, if you can understand it, understand it. He is challenging them to find the spiritual meaning in it. I see it as an invitation to seek Him and ask Him what it meant, if they dared.
What are the implications for us?
1. Jesus as Teacher is all-authoritative and we need to listen to Him. Failure to hear or acknowledge or respond favorably to what God says results in judgment. We need to submit rather than argue with what He has to say. That applies to everything in His Word. We are to reject man’s opinions, no matter how persuasive, and accept God’s verdicts on life and death, heaven and hell, marriage, family, singleness, business, pleasure and everything else.
2. Some things about the teaching are hard to understand and we need Christ’s wisdom even more. Each parable communicates one main point; everything in it serves that point. We need to engage in careful interpretation or we may miss or twist what He is saying. Parables may illustrate some point of theology, but don't build your theology from parables. When we come to the Book together, with our households, or alone, we submit ourselves to what it says.
3. Sometimes it is merciful for those taught that things are unexplained. Jesus veiling the truth from unbelievers showed both judgment & mercy. Judgment because it kept them in darkness they loved (John 3:19); mercy because for all who reject Jesus, exposure to more truth will only increase their guilt before a holy God. Those who hear Jesus' teaching need His wisdom to understand it. Only those who believe have Jesus' wisdom (1 Cor. 2:1-16). The key to understanding the parables (and making sense out of life) is knowing Jesus, which means being saved by grace, through faith in Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Blood is Necessary
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. In other words, we can experience the reality of sins forgiven only because of Christ's shed blood. The redeemed are redeemed not with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Christ.Christ died for our sins. All who believe love the blood shed because of God's love. We exist because of Jesus and we remain because of His blood.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Jesus Wins, Plain and Simple
The Cross is central. "...we preach Christ crucified..." (1 Cor. 1:23). "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2)
Reading Rob Bell's book "Love Wins" on Kindle was, needless to say, a frustrating, maddening, saddening exercise. One that intensified my desire to "Preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2) and engage in "rightly handling the Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). Imposters and deceivers will be exposed in the light of day, one day. Bottom line is this...some truth + much error + scripture twisting + engaging writing + persuasive arguments + arrogant assumptions + leading questions + truth undeclared = deceptive heresy.
The true Jesus wins.
Jesus is True, Truth, Truthful.
Jesus is Savior, Lord, King.
Jesus is God, Sovereign, over all.
Jesus is our Substitute, payment for sin, our Deliverer.
Jesus is the Word, God incarnate, Lover of my soul.
Jesus is my only hope, the anchor of my soul, the Author and Perfector of faith.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Bright Morning Star, Faithful.
Why do people insist on discrediting Jesus and His followers? Pride.
Why the need to try to be seen as the one with the definitive questions and answers? Pride.
Why the need to be "cool" and not with the "establishment"? Pride.
Why the need for "new", "hidden", "secret" knowledge that refutes Scripture's clear teaching? Pride.
Someone asked me in 1983 what I would do if I could do anything. My answer? "Tell people about Jesus".
Tonight I was thinking, what do I want to do more than anything? Call people to Jesus.
Hear the words of 2 Tim. 2:8, "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead."
Reading Rob Bell's book "Love Wins" on Kindle was, needless to say, a frustrating, maddening, saddening exercise. One that intensified my desire to "Preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2) and engage in "rightly handling the Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). Imposters and deceivers will be exposed in the light of day, one day. Bottom line is this...some truth + much error + scripture twisting + engaging writing + persuasive arguments + arrogant assumptions + leading questions + truth undeclared = deceptive heresy.
The true Jesus wins.
Jesus is True, Truth, Truthful.
Jesus is Savior, Lord, King.
Jesus is God, Sovereign, over all.
Jesus is our Substitute, payment for sin, our Deliverer.
Jesus is the Word, God incarnate, Lover of my soul.
Jesus is my only hope, the anchor of my soul, the Author and Perfector of faith.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Bright Morning Star, Faithful.
Why do people insist on discrediting Jesus and His followers? Pride.
Why the need to try to be seen as the one with the definitive questions and answers? Pride.
Why the need to be "cool" and not with the "establishment"? Pride.
Why the need for "new", "hidden", "secret" knowledge that refutes Scripture's clear teaching? Pride.
Someone asked me in 1983 what I would do if I could do anything. My answer? "Tell people about Jesus".
Tonight I was thinking, what do I want to do more than anything? Call people to Jesus.
Hear the words of 2 Tim. 2:8, "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead."
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Hope in the Midst of Failure
For you who have failed and feel like rejects consider this...the Bible is full of people who believed but messed up royally at times as they tried to figure out the will of God for their life—Jacob took advantage of his brother and deceived his father; Moses killed a man; David numbered the people; Peter refused to sit at table with Gentile Christians. If God restored David after his adultery with Bathsheba and set up of the murder of Uriah, if Jesus recommissioned Peter after he denied Him three times, then He can and will and wants to restore you when you admit you have sinned and failed badly in missing, or neglecting to obey or discern His will.
View the will of God like He views His will...it is His heart desire for people near to His heart...not a commodity to pursue and attain, but a state of being in conformity to His desires, dwelling in Him, as God draws you deeper into relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
View the will of God like He views His will...it is His heart desire for people near to His heart...not a commodity to pursue and attain, but a state of being in conformity to His desires, dwelling in Him, as God draws you deeper into relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Knowing the Will of God
Col. 1:9-12 is a prayer that believers would know God's will. Paul wrote to a church in danger due to false teaching that had sprung up. A mixture of gnosticism, which said you needed secret, hidden knowledge above scripture in order to be saved and please God; and Jewish legalism which said you had to follow their set list of do's and dont's. Paul and Timothy had heard of their love in the Spirit, and they knew of the spiritual dangers present in that church, so they prayed. What did they pray for? Things that can't happen unless God does it and we cooperate.
How do you know what God wants you to do? How do you know who to marry, where to move, what career to choose? Col. 1:9 shows three things God does so His people can know, and do, His will.
1. God fills us with knowledge of what He wants. Knowledge is knowing what to do. To know exactly, to recognize. Knowing what to do. 2 Pet.3:18 grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. God gives us ability to know how to do what He wants. In all spiritual wisdom. The Greek word is Sophia, skill, awareness coupled with ability, given by God's Spirit. Wisdom is knowing how to do what we are called to do. James 1:5 God gives wisdom.
3. God enables us to cooperate with what He wants. In all spiritual understanding. Knowing the reason why, the purpose behind it. God wants to fill you with His understanding. Understanding is actually doing what you know to do. Applying it to life. 2 Tim.2:7 the Lord gives understanding.
Why does God want to fill us with the knowledge of His will? So that we might do His will and glorify Him. The process by which we discern the will of God is of utmost importance.
In order to know God's will...
1st, You need to Love Jesus above all. v. 10 says to "Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects." Walk means live. Worthy means you live in a way that is consistent with what you believe. Live in a way that identifies you as someone Jesus has saved.
2nd, Saturate yourself in God's Word. v. 10 speaks of "increasing in the knowledge of God." Marinate. Most people who claim to believe in Jesus aren't soaking in God's Word, they are not immersed, they are sprinkled, they have a little on them, enough to be dangerous, but they are not flavored by it. They expect God to speak but they won't listen to what He says in His Word.(Ps.119:130; 2 Tim. 3:16)
3rd, Devote yourself to prayer. v. 9 says "We have not ceased to pray for you." Be a prayer warrior. Talk with God. Epaphras prayed, Col. 4:12 that they would "stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God." Some people have no clear direction from God. Some can't see clearly spritually due to unconfessed sin in their life. There is direct connection between confessing sin and receiving direction from God. (Ps.25 and 32).
4th, Seek Godly counsel. v. 12 says God has "qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Know anyone you really trust, they are humble and gentle like Jesus,they humble-bold, gospel-changed, servant-leaders? Ask their advice. We are not independent contractors. We are a part of a body, a family. We need one another.
5th, Exercise wisdom. v. 11 speaks of being "Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience." As you walk in, or live by, wisdom, you will do what God requires...confess sin, repent, love, forgive, serve, show compassion. v. 10 says Bearing fruit in every good work. This is the result of being rightly aligned with God. Doing His will, doing the things He wants.
If you are doing the first 5, you can freely do the next thing. If not, don't even think about it, you can't handle the truth. You will use it for your own benefit and not the glory of God. If these things are true and real in your life, you can't go wrong.
6th, Do whatever you want. v. 12 says "Joyously giving thanks to the Father." Free in Christ to do God's will because you are not weighed down with stuff that blocks it. Clear reception. The Spirit of God will guide you in accordance with the Word of God to know and do the will of the Father. Psalm 37:4 delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Love God and do as you please. (Ps. 37:4)
Jim Elliot wrote, "wherever you are be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe is the will of a God." Prov. 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path, make your paths straight. Trust God every step of the way. God wants us to know His will so that we might do His will and glorify Him.
How do you know what God wants you to do? How do you know who to marry, where to move, what career to choose? Col. 1:9 shows three things God does so His people can know, and do, His will.
1. God fills us with knowledge of what He wants. Knowledge is knowing what to do. To know exactly, to recognize. Knowing what to do. 2 Pet.3:18 grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. God gives us ability to know how to do what He wants. In all spiritual wisdom. The Greek word is Sophia, skill, awareness coupled with ability, given by God's Spirit. Wisdom is knowing how to do what we are called to do. James 1:5 God gives wisdom.
3. God enables us to cooperate with what He wants. In all spiritual understanding. Knowing the reason why, the purpose behind it. God wants to fill you with His understanding. Understanding is actually doing what you know to do. Applying it to life. 2 Tim.2:7 the Lord gives understanding.
Why does God want to fill us with the knowledge of His will? So that we might do His will and glorify Him. The process by which we discern the will of God is of utmost importance.
In order to know God's will...
1st, You need to Love Jesus above all. v. 10 says to "Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects." Walk means live. Worthy means you live in a way that is consistent with what you believe. Live in a way that identifies you as someone Jesus has saved.
2nd, Saturate yourself in God's Word. v. 10 speaks of "increasing in the knowledge of God." Marinate. Most people who claim to believe in Jesus aren't soaking in God's Word, they are not immersed, they are sprinkled, they have a little on them, enough to be dangerous, but they are not flavored by it. They expect God to speak but they won't listen to what He says in His Word.(Ps.119:130; 2 Tim. 3:16)
3rd, Devote yourself to prayer. v. 9 says "We have not ceased to pray for you." Be a prayer warrior. Talk with God. Epaphras prayed, Col. 4:12 that they would "stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God." Some people have no clear direction from God. Some can't see clearly spritually due to unconfessed sin in their life. There is direct connection between confessing sin and receiving direction from God. (Ps.25 and 32).
4th, Seek Godly counsel. v. 12 says God has "qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Know anyone you really trust, they are humble and gentle like Jesus,they humble-bold, gospel-changed, servant-leaders? Ask their advice. We are not independent contractors. We are a part of a body, a family. We need one another.
5th, Exercise wisdom. v. 11 speaks of being "Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience." As you walk in, or live by, wisdom, you will do what God requires...confess sin, repent, love, forgive, serve, show compassion. v. 10 says Bearing fruit in every good work. This is the result of being rightly aligned with God. Doing His will, doing the things He wants.
If you are doing the first 5, you can freely do the next thing. If not, don't even think about it, you can't handle the truth. You will use it for your own benefit and not the glory of God. If these things are true and real in your life, you can't go wrong.
6th, Do whatever you want. v. 12 says "Joyously giving thanks to the Father." Free in Christ to do God's will because you are not weighed down with stuff that blocks it. Clear reception. The Spirit of God will guide you in accordance with the Word of God to know and do the will of the Father. Psalm 37:4 delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Love God and do as you please. (Ps. 37:4)
Jim Elliot wrote, "wherever you are be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe is the will of a God." Prov. 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path, make your paths straight. Trust God every step of the way. God wants us to know His will so that we might do His will and glorify Him.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Certain Certainties
There are things you can be sure of when you seek God's will with a pure heart: Certain certainties.
God will give you...Direction. He will lead you. Ps. 32:8 I will lead you in the way you are to go. J.I. Packer wrote, "The Holy Spirit is given to all Christians to transform them by his teaching, making them into God-focused thinkers and equipping them to discern his will and make decisions accordingly. They do this by rational reflection on their life-situation, helped by wise and godly advice, within the parameters that the Word of God establishes. The idea that the superior path in matters of guidance is to wait passively before God for direct promptings to action to come into one’s mind is a mistake. So is the superstitious notion that failure to discern the specifics of God’s vocational guidance sentences one irrevocably to a second-best life, with no restoration possible."
God will also give you...Confirmation. He will confirm it to you. Is. 32:21 your ears will hear a word behind you, this is the way walk in it, whenever you tuen to the right or left. You will have peace. Phil. 4:6-7.
God is also going to give you... Assurance. He will reassure you. If you doubt you should do something, don't do it. If you think you shouldn't do something, don't. How do you counteract doubt? Depend On Unchanging Biblical Truth. How do you really know you are supposed to do something? We always want to know the 'right' thing to do. Sometimes it is a toss-up, especially when you see sincere, intelligent, thinking, prayerful, Biblically- based, gospel-saturated Christians doing something other than we think is the 'right' thing? Trust God and act.
God wants us to know His will so that we might do His will and glorify Him.
God will give you...Direction. He will lead you. Ps. 32:8 I will lead you in the way you are to go. J.I. Packer wrote, "The Holy Spirit is given to all Christians to transform them by his teaching, making them into God-focused thinkers and equipping them to discern his will and make decisions accordingly. They do this by rational reflection on their life-situation, helped by wise and godly advice, within the parameters that the Word of God establishes. The idea that the superior path in matters of guidance is to wait passively before God for direct promptings to action to come into one’s mind is a mistake. So is the superstitious notion that failure to discern the specifics of God’s vocational guidance sentences one irrevocably to a second-best life, with no restoration possible."
God will also give you...Confirmation. He will confirm it to you. Is. 32:21 your ears will hear a word behind you, this is the way walk in it, whenever you tuen to the right or left. You will have peace. Phil. 4:6-7.
God is also going to give you... Assurance. He will reassure you. If you doubt you should do something, don't do it. If you think you shouldn't do something, don't. How do you counteract doubt? Depend On Unchanging Biblical Truth. How do you really know you are supposed to do something? We always want to know the 'right' thing to do. Sometimes it is a toss-up, especially when you see sincere, intelligent, thinking, prayerful, Biblically- based, gospel-saturated Christians doing something other than we think is the 'right' thing? Trust God and act.
God wants us to know His will so that we might do His will and glorify Him.
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