Randy Green's Blog, page 441
May 29, 2013
My Enemies Are Three – Part 2
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest [Ephesians 2:1-3].
The children of God are daily confronted with three categories of enemies. The first three verses of Ephesians 2 reveal them. Let’s dissect these verses and see for ourselves. But before identifying the enemies, let’s not overlook the two categories which comprise the children of God.
The first two verses depict one type, while verse 3 portrays the other. We recognize the first type by the words “you were dead in your trespasses and sins”. The other type is revealed by the words “we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh”. Do you see the significant difference? I’ll give you a hint. Notice the two pronouns “you” and “we”.
We know both of these categories of persons belong to God’s family because of the concomitant descriptions. The “you” folks are described this way:
• you were dead in trespasses and sins
• you formerly walked
Those words depict children of the devil, yes. But notice the words no longer applied to those whom Paul was addressing. The verbs are past tense. Those qualities once were true of these people, but no more. They were no longer children of the devil, though they once were. This means they were born again into the family of God.
The “we” folk are described this way:
• we too all formerly lived
• we were by nature children of wrath
You will observe how the same applied to the “we” folks as applied to the “you” folks. They once upon a time were children of the devil, but no more. The verbs are past tense. Now they belonged to God’s family.
So then, who were the “you” folks and who were the “we” ones? Well, Paul did the writing, so the language means he was one of the “we” folks. Paul was writing to the Christians in the city of Ephesus, so they were the “you” folks. So what distinguished Paul from the Ephesian Christians?
It’s really quite simple, dear friends. Paul was a Jew by ethnicity, the Ephesian Christians predominantly Gentiles. The first two verses of Ephesians 2 note how the Gentile Ephesian Christians used to belong to the devil’s family. In the third verse Paul added that the Jewish Christians were in the same boat. They too once belonged to the devil’s family, even though they had the Law and the Temple.
In fine, Paul lumped all mankind, Jew and Gentile alike, into the same lump of clay. Every person, regardless of ethnicity or any other distinction, is conceived in sin and born in iniquity. Every person is born dead to God and by nature a child of the devil. Every person must be born again, if he would see the Kingdom of God.
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. For now we have plenty on our plate on which to feed.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The children of God are daily confronted with three categories of enemies. The first three verses of Ephesians 2 reveal them. Let’s dissect these verses and see for ourselves. But before identifying the enemies, let’s not overlook the two categories which comprise the children of God.
The first two verses depict one type, while verse 3 portrays the other. We recognize the first type by the words “you were dead in your trespasses and sins”. The other type is revealed by the words “we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh”. Do you see the significant difference? I’ll give you a hint. Notice the two pronouns “you” and “we”.
We know both of these categories of persons belong to God’s family because of the concomitant descriptions. The “you” folks are described this way:
• you were dead in trespasses and sins
• you formerly walked
Those words depict children of the devil, yes. But notice the words no longer applied to those whom Paul was addressing. The verbs are past tense. Those qualities once were true of these people, but no more. They were no longer children of the devil, though they once were. This means they were born again into the family of God.
The “we” folk are described this way:
• we too all formerly lived
• we were by nature children of wrath
You will observe how the same applied to the “we” folks as applied to the “you” folks. They once upon a time were children of the devil, but no more. The verbs are past tense. Now they belonged to God’s family.
So then, who were the “you” folks and who were the “we” ones? Well, Paul did the writing, so the language means he was one of the “we” folks. Paul was writing to the Christians in the city of Ephesus, so they were the “you” folks. So what distinguished Paul from the Ephesian Christians?
It’s really quite simple, dear friends. Paul was a Jew by ethnicity, the Ephesian Christians predominantly Gentiles. The first two verses of Ephesians 2 note how the Gentile Ephesian Christians used to belong to the devil’s family. In the third verse Paul added that the Jewish Christians were in the same boat. They too once belonged to the devil’s family, even though they had the Law and the Temple.
In fine, Paul lumped all mankind, Jew and Gentile alike, into the same lump of clay. Every person, regardless of ethnicity or any other distinction, is conceived in sin and born in iniquity. Every person is born dead to God and by nature a child of the devil. Every person must be born again, if he would see the Kingdom of God.
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. For now we have plenty on our plate on which to feed.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 28, 2013
My Enemies Are Three – Part 1
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest [Ephesians 2:1-3].
In 1 Kings 21 the story is told of evil King Ahab of Israel and his wicked wife Jezebel. King Ahab wanted an Israelite named Naboth to sell his vineyard to the king. Trouble was, the Law of Moses interdicted the sale because ownership of tribal land had to remain within the tribe. If Naboth sold the vineyard to King Ahab, the land would pass from Naboth’s tribe to Ahab’s tribe.
Being the mighty king he was, Ahab went home and moped about it. Wicked Jezebel crooned him into telling her the tale, and was she irked! So she hired some wretched lowlifes to falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God. Here was Naboth upholding the Law, and there was Ahab/Jezebel perverting it. Naboth paid with his life, as did his entire family. Ahab went in and took over the vineyard.
The Lord was none to pleased with this state of affairs. All authority is established by God. He established it to represent Him. Ahab blasphemed God’s character by his crime, and he was the king of Israel! So the Lord took action against Ahab. He sent the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab and pronounce the Lord’s verdict on him and his family.
Elijah went to Jezreel, the city where Naboth’s vineyard was situated. When Ahab saw Elijah, he knew his crime was exposed. He knew the Lord dispatched Elijah to pronounce judgment against him because he had a predilection for sinning and had experienced the Lord’s pronouncements many times already. Let’s read verse 20 of 1 Kings 21 and hear what Ahab had to say to Elijah.
Ahab said to Elijah, “ Have you found me, O my enemy?”
Elijah was the Lord’s prophet, not his own person. What Elijah had to say to Ahab or anyone else was the Word of God, not the words of Elijah. Accordingly, if Elijah was Ahab’s enemy, then the Lord was Ahab’s enemy first. If the Lord was Ahab’s enemy, then Ahab was sinning and not repenting of his sins. These are the straightforward facts of spiritual life, dear people.
Well, I’ll leave the rest of the story to your imagination. Better yet, go to your Bible and read the story. It’s better and safer that way, rather than depending on the imagination.
What I want us to take from the story is how Ahab recognized Elijah as his enemy. Ahab was a child of the devil, Elijah a child of God. So Ahab rightly discerned this truth about Elijah.
I thought of this connection when I began reading the second chapter of Ephesians. God has His enemies and His family shares these enemies with God. There are three broad categories of enemies generally associated with the Lord and His people.
Oh, but time demands we cease our investigation. We will continue it on the morrow. Jesus summons us into His presence for personal time with Him now. Don’t keep Him waiting!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In 1 Kings 21 the story is told of evil King Ahab of Israel and his wicked wife Jezebel. King Ahab wanted an Israelite named Naboth to sell his vineyard to the king. Trouble was, the Law of Moses interdicted the sale because ownership of tribal land had to remain within the tribe. If Naboth sold the vineyard to King Ahab, the land would pass from Naboth’s tribe to Ahab’s tribe.
Being the mighty king he was, Ahab went home and moped about it. Wicked Jezebel crooned him into telling her the tale, and was she irked! So she hired some wretched lowlifes to falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God. Here was Naboth upholding the Law, and there was Ahab/Jezebel perverting it. Naboth paid with his life, as did his entire family. Ahab went in and took over the vineyard.
The Lord was none to pleased with this state of affairs. All authority is established by God. He established it to represent Him. Ahab blasphemed God’s character by his crime, and he was the king of Israel! So the Lord took action against Ahab. He sent the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab and pronounce the Lord’s verdict on him and his family.
Elijah went to Jezreel, the city where Naboth’s vineyard was situated. When Ahab saw Elijah, he knew his crime was exposed. He knew the Lord dispatched Elijah to pronounce judgment against him because he had a predilection for sinning and had experienced the Lord’s pronouncements many times already. Let’s read verse 20 of 1 Kings 21 and hear what Ahab had to say to Elijah.
Ahab said to Elijah, “ Have you found me, O my enemy?”
Elijah was the Lord’s prophet, not his own person. What Elijah had to say to Ahab or anyone else was the Word of God, not the words of Elijah. Accordingly, if Elijah was Ahab’s enemy, then the Lord was Ahab’s enemy first. If the Lord was Ahab’s enemy, then Ahab was sinning and not repenting of his sins. These are the straightforward facts of spiritual life, dear people.
Well, I’ll leave the rest of the story to your imagination. Better yet, go to your Bible and read the story. It’s better and safer that way, rather than depending on the imagination.
What I want us to take from the story is how Ahab recognized Elijah as his enemy. Ahab was a child of the devil, Elijah a child of God. So Ahab rightly discerned this truth about Elijah.
I thought of this connection when I began reading the second chapter of Ephesians. God has His enemies and His family shares these enemies with God. There are three broad categories of enemies generally associated with the Lord and His people.
Oh, but time demands we cease our investigation. We will continue it on the morrow. Jesus summons us into His presence for personal time with Him now. Don’t keep Him waiting!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 27, 2013
Familial Ties – Part 3
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation [Galatians 6:15].
The circumcision had the job of representing the one true God to the uncircumcision. Alas, but the circumcision wound up mimicking the uncircumcision, leaving the one true God without His witness in the world . The devil was the only god anyone recognized!
So circa 30 A.D. the Lord decided to temporarily set aside His chosen people, the Israelites (aka the circumcision), and create a whole new people of His own to fulfill the ministry the Israelites failed to accomplish. The Messiah Jesus died on the cross for mankind’s sins and rose out of death for mankind’s justification. This was circa 30 A.D. He ascended into heaven forty days later.
Ten days after ascending into heaven—which was fifty days after He rose out of death—Messiah Jesus (aka Christ Jesus) sent the Holy Spirit to fill His disciples and indwell them eternally. This took place in Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday Shavuot (aka Pentecost). The event marked the birth of the Church.
The Church is the Body of Christ Jesus on earth. The Church is the “new creation” we have referenced several times already. Jesus no longer walks the earth in His physical body as God in a human body. Jesus created a new people, the Church, to indwell on the earth. The Church has the ministry to represent the Lord Jesus to all of mankind, including both Jews and Gentiles (aka circumcision and uncircumcision).
The time from the birth of the Church on Pentecost circa 30 A.D., until the Lord Jesus sounds the trumpet to call the Christians to meet Him in the clouds (aka the Rapture), is known as the Church Age. During this time the circumcision is temporarily set aside as a nation, not serving the Lord as His witness to the Gentiles.
But this is only a temporary situation. At a time of the Lord's choosing, the Church Age will come to a close. The Lord Jesus will descend from heaven in the clouds, sound the trumpet call to His new creation (aka the Church), and the Christians (both Jews and Gentiles) will rise to meet Him in the clouds. We will return to heaven with our blessed Lord to celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The next seven years on earth will be the time of Jacob’s trouble (aka the Tribulation Period). The Lord will allow the antichrist to persecute His chosen people Israel, sifting them and purifying them in preparation for His return to earth. At the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, the Lord will descend from heaven.
When Messiah Jesus returns in the clouds, the Jews will look upon Him and recognize their Messiah whom they rejected circa 30 A.D. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son. The nation of Israel (aka the circumcision) as a nation will then receive their Messiah. The Lord will take the nation up again as His chosen people to be His witness to the Gentiles on the earth. This ministry will last for a thousand years (aka the Millennium).
Thus during the Church Age the circumcision is not God’s family. The new creation (aka Christians/the Church) is. The circumcision was, and the circumcision will once again be, God’s family. But for now the Church represents God on the earth. The Church includes both Jewish individuals and Gentile individuals—but neither the nation of Israel nor any other nation or ethnic group comprises God’s family during the Church Age.
I trust this dissipates the fog and brings in the bright morning sunlight, as it relates to Paul’s three classifications of human beings during the Church Age. Allow me to list them one more time in closing:
1. circumcision
2. uncircumcision
3. new creation
Oh, I am sorry for being so careless. I almost forgot to ask, “To which classification do you belong?”
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The circumcision had the job of representing the one true God to the uncircumcision. Alas, but the circumcision wound up mimicking the uncircumcision, leaving the one true God without His witness in the world . The devil was the only god anyone recognized!
So circa 30 A.D. the Lord decided to temporarily set aside His chosen people, the Israelites (aka the circumcision), and create a whole new people of His own to fulfill the ministry the Israelites failed to accomplish. The Messiah Jesus died on the cross for mankind’s sins and rose out of death for mankind’s justification. This was circa 30 A.D. He ascended into heaven forty days later.
Ten days after ascending into heaven—which was fifty days after He rose out of death—Messiah Jesus (aka Christ Jesus) sent the Holy Spirit to fill His disciples and indwell them eternally. This took place in Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday Shavuot (aka Pentecost). The event marked the birth of the Church.
The Church is the Body of Christ Jesus on earth. The Church is the “new creation” we have referenced several times already. Jesus no longer walks the earth in His physical body as God in a human body. Jesus created a new people, the Church, to indwell on the earth. The Church has the ministry to represent the Lord Jesus to all of mankind, including both Jews and Gentiles (aka circumcision and uncircumcision).
The time from the birth of the Church on Pentecost circa 30 A.D., until the Lord Jesus sounds the trumpet to call the Christians to meet Him in the clouds (aka the Rapture), is known as the Church Age. During this time the circumcision is temporarily set aside as a nation, not serving the Lord as His witness to the Gentiles.
But this is only a temporary situation. At a time of the Lord's choosing, the Church Age will come to a close. The Lord Jesus will descend from heaven in the clouds, sound the trumpet call to His new creation (aka the Church), and the Christians (both Jews and Gentiles) will rise to meet Him in the clouds. We will return to heaven with our blessed Lord to celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The next seven years on earth will be the time of Jacob’s trouble (aka the Tribulation Period). The Lord will allow the antichrist to persecute His chosen people Israel, sifting them and purifying them in preparation for His return to earth. At the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period, the Lord will descend from heaven.
When Messiah Jesus returns in the clouds, the Jews will look upon Him and recognize their Messiah whom they rejected circa 30 A.D. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son. The nation of Israel (aka the circumcision) as a nation will then receive their Messiah. The Lord will take the nation up again as His chosen people to be His witness to the Gentiles on the earth. This ministry will last for a thousand years (aka the Millennium).
Thus during the Church Age the circumcision is not God’s family. The new creation (aka Christians/the Church) is. The circumcision was, and the circumcision will once again be, God’s family. But for now the Church represents God on the earth. The Church includes both Jewish individuals and Gentile individuals—but neither the nation of Israel nor any other nation or ethnic group comprises God’s family during the Church Age.
I trust this dissipates the fog and brings in the bright morning sunlight, as it relates to Paul’s three classifications of human beings during the Church Age. Allow me to list them one more time in closing:
1. circumcision
2. uncircumcision
3. new creation
Oh, I am sorry for being so careless. I almost forgot to ask, “To which classification do you belong?”
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 26, 2013
Familial Ties – Part 2
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation [Galatians 6:15].
We paused our last study with three questions:
1. What is a “new creation”?
2. What happened circa 30 A.D. to give birth to a “new creation”?
3. Does a “new creation” belong to God’s family or Satan’s?
Let’s tackle those questions now, shall we? In doing so we will begin with the third question, “Does a new creation belong to God’s family or Satan’s?”
In answer to the question, the new creation belongs to God’s family. There. I said it. The suspense is over! Now you can relax. The new creation belongs to God’s family, not Satan’s by any stretch of the imagination.
“Whoa, Nellie!” I just heard a flustered fellow fret. “I thought the ‘seed of the woman’ and then the ‘circumcision’ was God’s family. How then is the ‘new creation’ God’s family? I don’t get it.”
Chill, brother. You’ll have a stroke if you keep up the agitation. Take it down a notch and I’ll explain it to you. The answer to your question is to be found in the answers to the first and second questions about the “new creation”. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work answering those two questions. Bet you’ll have the answer to your question then.
The devil’s family was known as the ‘seed of the serpent’, and then as the ‘uncircumcision’ after the Abrahamic Covenant came into play. God’s family, in distinction, was known as the ‘seed of the woman’, and then as the ‘circumcision’.
Trouble was, the circumcision (i.e., the Israelites) didn’t do their job—or more correctly, they didn’t do the Lord’s job. The job (aka ministry) which the Lord called the Israelites (aka the circumcision) to do was to be His witness to the rest of the world (aka the Gentiles). To do the job effectively, the Israelites needed to learn and obey the Law of Moses. In that way they would reflect the truth of the one true God to the Gentiles, who were seduced by idolatry.
Alas, but the Israelites lost interest in the Lord and His Word, and they went to shacking up with the false gods of the Gentiles. This was anything but being the Lord’s witness to the Gentiles. Rather, they were being the Gentiles’ witness to the Lord!
What to do? The Lord wanted to call mankind back into relationship with Himself, but they were steeped in idolatry and living for the devil. And even His own people, the Israelites, His supposed witness to the Gentiles, were reflecting lies about God instead of the truth.
Circa 30 A.D. God decided it was time to temporarily set aside His chosen people, the Israelites, as His witness to the world. Instead of one solitary nation, one ethnic people with their own laws and their own country, to serve as His witness—instead of this approach, the Lord decided to create a new people comprised of individuals from every tribe and nation and people and tongue throughout the world.
We will finish our analysis of the “new creation” on the morrow. For today let’s relish the opportunity to spend time alone with the Lord Jesus, and allow Him to minister to our hearts and minds.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We paused our last study with three questions:
1. What is a “new creation”?
2. What happened circa 30 A.D. to give birth to a “new creation”?
3. Does a “new creation” belong to God’s family or Satan’s?
Let’s tackle those questions now, shall we? In doing so we will begin with the third question, “Does a new creation belong to God’s family or Satan’s?”
In answer to the question, the new creation belongs to God’s family. There. I said it. The suspense is over! Now you can relax. The new creation belongs to God’s family, not Satan’s by any stretch of the imagination.
“Whoa, Nellie!” I just heard a flustered fellow fret. “I thought the ‘seed of the woman’ and then the ‘circumcision’ was God’s family. How then is the ‘new creation’ God’s family? I don’t get it.”
Chill, brother. You’ll have a stroke if you keep up the agitation. Take it down a notch and I’ll explain it to you. The answer to your question is to be found in the answers to the first and second questions about the “new creation”. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work answering those two questions. Bet you’ll have the answer to your question then.
The devil’s family was known as the ‘seed of the serpent’, and then as the ‘uncircumcision’ after the Abrahamic Covenant came into play. God’s family, in distinction, was known as the ‘seed of the woman’, and then as the ‘circumcision’.
Trouble was, the circumcision (i.e., the Israelites) didn’t do their job—or more correctly, they didn’t do the Lord’s job. The job (aka ministry) which the Lord called the Israelites (aka the circumcision) to do was to be His witness to the rest of the world (aka the Gentiles). To do the job effectively, the Israelites needed to learn and obey the Law of Moses. In that way they would reflect the truth of the one true God to the Gentiles, who were seduced by idolatry.
Alas, but the Israelites lost interest in the Lord and His Word, and they went to shacking up with the false gods of the Gentiles. This was anything but being the Lord’s witness to the Gentiles. Rather, they were being the Gentiles’ witness to the Lord!
What to do? The Lord wanted to call mankind back into relationship with Himself, but they were steeped in idolatry and living for the devil. And even His own people, the Israelites, His supposed witness to the Gentiles, were reflecting lies about God instead of the truth.
Circa 30 A.D. God decided it was time to temporarily set aside His chosen people, the Israelites, as His witness to the world. Instead of one solitary nation, one ethnic people with their own laws and their own country, to serve as His witness—instead of this approach, the Lord decided to create a new people comprised of individuals from every tribe and nation and people and tongue throughout the world.
We will finish our analysis of the “new creation” on the morrow. For today let’s relish the opportunity to spend time alone with the Lord Jesus, and allow Him to minister to our hearts and minds.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 25, 2013
Familial Ties – Part 1
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation [Galatians 6:15].
At the beginning of time God created man and woman. We know them as Adam and Eve. They once upon a time lived in this garden somewhere in the east.
Anyway, they were the original two humans. Every other human being is descended from Mr. & Mrs. Adam. In this sense all humans are the same. We have the same flesh and blood because we are related.
In the idyllic garden all mankind—all two of them!—comprised one family, the family of God. The Lord came to the garden to visit with them. Their relationship was great. Ah, all mankind as the one family of God. Talk about sharing irenic relationships with everyone.
One not so sunny afternoon a sinister snake in the grass slithered into Mr. & Mrs. Adam’s garden, and everything changed. Suddenly there were two families of mankind. There was the seed of the serpent and there was the seed of the woman.
From that day until circa 30 A.D.—a few millennia of time—those two families comprised all mankind. The seed of the serpent consisted of everyone who listened to the serpent’s idea, while the seed of the woman was composed of those who thought rather to heed the words of the Lord.
In time the Lord chose this fellow named Abram and made a covenant with him. The Lord later renamed him to Abraham. Anyway, from the time of Abe’s call until circa 30 A.D., the seed of the woman passed through Abe’s lineage. As the sign of His covenant with Abe, the Lord required that every male in His family be circumcised at 8 days of age. This is known as the Abrahamic Covenant.
The distinction between the two families of mankind came to be expressed by the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. In our text for today which is quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul identifies three families of mankind. They are,
1. circumcision
2. uncircumcision
3. new creation
From the time of the garden of Eden until the Abrahamic Covenant, the two families of mankind were known as “seed of the woman” and “seed of the serpent”. From the time of the Abrahamic Covenant until circa 30 A.D. the two families of mankind were known as “circumcision” and “uncircumcision”. This explains points #1 and #2 in our numbered list.
But looky there at point #3. What is a “new creation”? What happened circa 30 A.D. to give birth to a new family of human beings? And lastly, if “circumcision” refers to the seed of the woman and “uncircumcision” refers to the seed of the serpent, to which seed does “new creation” belong?
Those are excellent questions. The answers are easy enough to come by, so we needn’t fret. We will tackle the questions in our next study. Meditate on today’s study while sitting at the feet of Jesus. You will be glad you did. See you tomorrow!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
At the beginning of time God created man and woman. We know them as Adam and Eve. They once upon a time lived in this garden somewhere in the east.
Anyway, they were the original two humans. Every other human being is descended from Mr. & Mrs. Adam. In this sense all humans are the same. We have the same flesh and blood because we are related.
In the idyllic garden all mankind—all two of them!—comprised one family, the family of God. The Lord came to the garden to visit with them. Their relationship was great. Ah, all mankind as the one family of God. Talk about sharing irenic relationships with everyone.
One not so sunny afternoon a sinister snake in the grass slithered into Mr. & Mrs. Adam’s garden, and everything changed. Suddenly there were two families of mankind. There was the seed of the serpent and there was the seed of the woman.
From that day until circa 30 A.D.—a few millennia of time—those two families comprised all mankind. The seed of the serpent consisted of everyone who listened to the serpent’s idea, while the seed of the woman was composed of those who thought rather to heed the words of the Lord.
In time the Lord chose this fellow named Abram and made a covenant with him. The Lord later renamed him to Abraham. Anyway, from the time of Abe’s call until circa 30 A.D., the seed of the woman passed through Abe’s lineage. As the sign of His covenant with Abe, the Lord required that every male in His family be circumcised at 8 days of age. This is known as the Abrahamic Covenant.
The distinction between the two families of mankind came to be expressed by the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. In our text for today which is quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul identifies three families of mankind. They are,
1. circumcision
2. uncircumcision
3. new creation
From the time of the garden of Eden until the Abrahamic Covenant, the two families of mankind were known as “seed of the woman” and “seed of the serpent”. From the time of the Abrahamic Covenant until circa 30 A.D. the two families of mankind were known as “circumcision” and “uncircumcision”. This explains points #1 and #2 in our numbered list.
But looky there at point #3. What is a “new creation”? What happened circa 30 A.D. to give birth to a new family of human beings? And lastly, if “circumcision” refers to the seed of the woman and “uncircumcision” refers to the seed of the serpent, to which seed does “new creation” belong?
Those are excellent questions. The answers are easy enough to come by, so we needn’t fret. We will tackle the questions in our next study. Meditate on today’s study while sitting at the feet of Jesus. You will be glad you did. See you tomorrow!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 24, 2013
Philosophy Class at the Ball Park – Part 3
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called [Ephesians 4:1].
The first half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians follows the Gentile approach. The second half moves out of the classroom and off to the ball park, presenting the Hebrew approach. In the first half Paul taught abstractions like “grace”, “faith”, “salvation”, “covenant”—abstractions in that the concepts are really from eternity and not from time and space. The Book of Hebrews sheds light on this issue.
But then suddenly at chapter 4 and verse 1, Paul came back down to earth and put wear and tear on his sandals. Paul’s message in the second half (chapters 4-6) goes something like this:
You guys are Christians. You didn’t use to be Christians, but now you are. We Jews were the people of God and you weren’t. Now some of us are Christians and some of you Gentiles are too. We’re in the same boat, you see. It’s called the Church, the Body of Christ. I explained all about this in chapters 1-3, remember?
Now that we understand who we are, let me tell you how it translates into daily living. Because we are children of God, this is how we are to live…
Paul then wrote chapters 4-6 to teach various specifics of practical Christianity, Christian living while on this earth.
In terms of James and the practical Hebrew approach, chapters 4-6 are right up the same alley. In terms of the theoretical Gentile approach, chapters 1-3 hit the nail on the head. Paul, you see, employed both approaches in his letter to the Ephesian Christians. Yea, he followed this form in pretty much all his letters.
Notice the phrase in the quoted text which began this study: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Two concepts are involved in those words,
1. the calling with which you have been called
2. walk in a manner worthy
Ephesians 1-3 are all about Point #1. Ephesians 4-6 are about Point #2. Having expatiated on the Christian’s calling from God—a call to come out of the darkness and into the kingdom of light—Paul proceeded to explain how this calling looked in shoe leather.
We would do well to grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus and in our understanding of salvation. But if we keep it in our heads, we will rightly receive James’ rebuke: faith without works is dead. James employed the word “faith” to depict intellectual knowledge, as contrasted with truth which enters the head and transforms the heart into a new creation.
Do we enjoy being rebuked? We needn’t find out. Let’s learn Ephesians 1-3, and then let us put it into practice as per Ephesians 4-6. Works for me. How about for you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The first half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians follows the Gentile approach. The second half moves out of the classroom and off to the ball park, presenting the Hebrew approach. In the first half Paul taught abstractions like “grace”, “faith”, “salvation”, “covenant”—abstractions in that the concepts are really from eternity and not from time and space. The Book of Hebrews sheds light on this issue.
But then suddenly at chapter 4 and verse 1, Paul came back down to earth and put wear and tear on his sandals. Paul’s message in the second half (chapters 4-6) goes something like this:
You guys are Christians. You didn’t use to be Christians, but now you are. We Jews were the people of God and you weren’t. Now some of us are Christians and some of you Gentiles are too. We’re in the same boat, you see. It’s called the Church, the Body of Christ. I explained all about this in chapters 1-3, remember?
Now that we understand who we are, let me tell you how it translates into daily living. Because we are children of God, this is how we are to live…
Paul then wrote chapters 4-6 to teach various specifics of practical Christianity, Christian living while on this earth.
In terms of James and the practical Hebrew approach, chapters 4-6 are right up the same alley. In terms of the theoretical Gentile approach, chapters 1-3 hit the nail on the head. Paul, you see, employed both approaches in his letter to the Ephesian Christians. Yea, he followed this form in pretty much all his letters.
Notice the phrase in the quoted text which began this study: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Two concepts are involved in those words,
1. the calling with which you have been called
2. walk in a manner worthy
Ephesians 1-3 are all about Point #1. Ephesians 4-6 are about Point #2. Having expatiated on the Christian’s calling from God—a call to come out of the darkness and into the kingdom of light—Paul proceeded to explain how this calling looked in shoe leather.
We would do well to grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus and in our understanding of salvation. But if we keep it in our heads, we will rightly receive James’ rebuke: faith without works is dead. James employed the word “faith” to depict intellectual knowledge, as contrasted with truth which enters the head and transforms the heart into a new creation.
Do we enjoy being rebuked? We needn’t find out. Let’s learn Ephesians 1-3, and then let us put it into practice as per Ephesians 4-6. Works for me. How about for you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 23, 2013
Philosophy Class at the Ball Park – Part 2
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called [Ephesians 4:1].
Paul insisted on grace, James on works. Are the two mutually exclusive? Let’s continue this analysis now.
Theologically, grace is a free gift, while works demands a paycheck earned. The two are mutually exclusive theologically.
Now consider the matter in practical terms of day-to-day living. If I plant some corn in the ground, what can I expect to happen? Would you believe a corn stalk should grow out of the ground and ears of corn then grow on the corn stalk? If nothing grows, what can we conclude? We conclude that the corn seed is dead. It is sterile.
It is simple practical reasoning, is it not? James—as well as the Hebrews in general—took such an approach. Should someone claim to know the Lord Jesus and be born again, yet they lived like the pagans, James challenged them, “Faith without works is dead.” And you know, he was right on. The fellow who made claims to salvation was all talk and no walk. He begged the question of his salvation.
Paul had a different approach, a Gentile approach, as I phrased it earlier. Paul noted how life comes from God. The corn can only grow if God gives it life. Man can only cooperate with God, as he attempts to live in God’s world. When God blesses man, it is His grace at work, not His obligation to pay man for his works.
In the case of the corn, God wasn’t obligated to make the corn grow. Man planted it, so did God owed him a living? Not so. Fact of the matter is, when the corn did grow, man owed God his gratitude for God’s gift to Him. Every good and perfect gift is from God. It’s not so practical, is it? No, it’s not. It is theoretical, abstract, theological.
Given this hypothetical example of the corn and James’ analysis as contrasted with Paul’s, we note how the two apostles talked apples and oranges. They didn’t speak on the same subject. It only appears like it.
James talked about how to live as a Christian, while Paul talked about how to become a Christian. Paul said, “Saved by grace through faith apart from the works of the Law.” James said, “Faith without works is dead.”
The two apostles weren’t arguing with each other. James talked Hebrew practicality: if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck… Paul talked Gentile abstraction: God’s unfathomable love, His mysterious dealings with man, and life as it exists in eternity.
Even after expounding on this distinction, however, we still miss out on the fullness of Paul’s letters. We began this study by quoting Ephesians 4:1. The verse is significant to our purposes in this study, in that it cuts Paul’s letter in half. I don’t mean in terms of size alone, with the first half comprising 50% and the second half the other 50%.
Oops! Out of time again. Not to worry. A little time with the Lord Jesus now, and tomorrow we will finish this topic. See you then!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Paul insisted on grace, James on works. Are the two mutually exclusive? Let’s continue this analysis now.
Theologically, grace is a free gift, while works demands a paycheck earned. The two are mutually exclusive theologically.
Now consider the matter in practical terms of day-to-day living. If I plant some corn in the ground, what can I expect to happen? Would you believe a corn stalk should grow out of the ground and ears of corn then grow on the corn stalk? If nothing grows, what can we conclude? We conclude that the corn seed is dead. It is sterile.
It is simple practical reasoning, is it not? James—as well as the Hebrews in general—took such an approach. Should someone claim to know the Lord Jesus and be born again, yet they lived like the pagans, James challenged them, “Faith without works is dead.” And you know, he was right on. The fellow who made claims to salvation was all talk and no walk. He begged the question of his salvation.
Paul had a different approach, a Gentile approach, as I phrased it earlier. Paul noted how life comes from God. The corn can only grow if God gives it life. Man can only cooperate with God, as he attempts to live in God’s world. When God blesses man, it is His grace at work, not His obligation to pay man for his works.
In the case of the corn, God wasn’t obligated to make the corn grow. Man planted it, so did God owed him a living? Not so. Fact of the matter is, when the corn did grow, man owed God his gratitude for God’s gift to Him. Every good and perfect gift is from God. It’s not so practical, is it? No, it’s not. It is theoretical, abstract, theological.
Given this hypothetical example of the corn and James’ analysis as contrasted with Paul’s, we note how the two apostles talked apples and oranges. They didn’t speak on the same subject. It only appears like it.
James talked about how to live as a Christian, while Paul talked about how to become a Christian. Paul said, “Saved by grace through faith apart from the works of the Law.” James said, “Faith without works is dead.”
The two apostles weren’t arguing with each other. James talked Hebrew practicality: if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck… Paul talked Gentile abstraction: God’s unfathomable love, His mysterious dealings with man, and life as it exists in eternity.
Even after expounding on this distinction, however, we still miss out on the fullness of Paul’s letters. We began this study by quoting Ephesians 4:1. The verse is significant to our purposes in this study, in that it cuts Paul’s letter in half. I don’t mean in terms of size alone, with the first half comprising 50% and the second half the other 50%.
Oops! Out of time again. Not to worry. A little time with the Lord Jesus now, and tomorrow we will finish this topic. See you then!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 22, 2013
Philosophy Class at the Ball Park – Part 1
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called [Ephesians 4:1].
When we watch sports we tend to express ourselves practically. For example, the wide receiver drops an easy pass in the end zone. It should be six points instead of the goose egg.
I’ve yet to hear a fan express his exacerbation with references to the wind velocity, or to geometry and theoretical calculus. The philosophy of football never gets mentioned either! Fans simply blurt out, “Catch the ball, you louse! Why do you think they pay you millions of dollars?” See. Their expression is practical, not theoretical. It is concrete, not abstract.
Inside the college classroom, contrariwise, no student would get by on such utterances. I mean, can you imagine the philosophy professor’s final exam question, which requiring essay input from his students to define Sartre’s existential atheism? One student writes, “It stinks!”
Think the student passed the class? Think again! Practicality has its place, like at the ball park. But practicality won’t fly in the philosophy classroom. Theory and abstraction rule inside those walls of academia. But theory and abstraction don’t grow well in the arid soil of football fans.
The Apostle Paul’s New Testament letters differ significantly in form, compared with the letters of other New Testament writers. Paul wrote using a “Gentile style”, while the others wrote using a “Hebrew style”. The Gentiles, more specifically the Greeks, were theoretical and philosophical. The Hebrews were more practical in their approach.
The letter to the Ephesian Christians affords an excellent example to illustrate the “Gentile style”, if I may be permitted to refer to the distinction by this phraseology. The Greeks enjoyed soaring to theoretical heights in outer space. Indeed, they never missed an opportunity to hear the latest ideas making the breakfast club circuit.
The Hebrews preferred to express themselves in practical expressions of day-to-day living, like, “Catch the ball, you pansy!” Considering the Hebrews provided the world with spiritual leadership rather than sports, this translated into, “Stop sinning!” or, “Pay your tithes!”
Because of the two different approaches—practical vs. theoretical—some folks over the centuries have drawn the conclusion that James and Paul contradicted each other. Paul insisted that Christians are saved by grace through faith apart from works of the Law. James insisted that faith without works is dead. Hmm. Paul insisted on grace, James on works. Mutually exclusive?
In theological terms (i.e., abstract theory) yes, grace and works are mutually exclusive. But once we put the shoe leather to theological doctrine, no, emphatically no!
We will pause here and continue the subject in our next study. In the interim let’s spend time alone with the Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
When we watch sports we tend to express ourselves practically. For example, the wide receiver drops an easy pass in the end zone. It should be six points instead of the goose egg.
I’ve yet to hear a fan express his exacerbation with references to the wind velocity, or to geometry and theoretical calculus. The philosophy of football never gets mentioned either! Fans simply blurt out, “Catch the ball, you louse! Why do you think they pay you millions of dollars?” See. Their expression is practical, not theoretical. It is concrete, not abstract.
Inside the college classroom, contrariwise, no student would get by on such utterances. I mean, can you imagine the philosophy professor’s final exam question, which requiring essay input from his students to define Sartre’s existential atheism? One student writes, “It stinks!”
Think the student passed the class? Think again! Practicality has its place, like at the ball park. But practicality won’t fly in the philosophy classroom. Theory and abstraction rule inside those walls of academia. But theory and abstraction don’t grow well in the arid soil of football fans.
The Apostle Paul’s New Testament letters differ significantly in form, compared with the letters of other New Testament writers. Paul wrote using a “Gentile style”, while the others wrote using a “Hebrew style”. The Gentiles, more specifically the Greeks, were theoretical and philosophical. The Hebrews were more practical in their approach.
The letter to the Ephesian Christians affords an excellent example to illustrate the “Gentile style”, if I may be permitted to refer to the distinction by this phraseology. The Greeks enjoyed soaring to theoretical heights in outer space. Indeed, they never missed an opportunity to hear the latest ideas making the breakfast club circuit.
The Hebrews preferred to express themselves in practical expressions of day-to-day living, like, “Catch the ball, you pansy!” Considering the Hebrews provided the world with spiritual leadership rather than sports, this translated into, “Stop sinning!” or, “Pay your tithes!”
Because of the two different approaches—practical vs. theoretical—some folks over the centuries have drawn the conclusion that James and Paul contradicted each other. Paul insisted that Christians are saved by grace through faith apart from works of the Law. James insisted that faith without works is dead. Hmm. Paul insisted on grace, James on works. Mutually exclusive?
In theological terms (i.e., abstract theory) yes, grace and works are mutually exclusive. But once we put the shoe leather to theological doctrine, no, emphatically no!
We will pause here and continue the subject in our next study. In the interim let’s spend time alone with the Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 21, 2013
If Only I Knew – Part 3
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints [Ephesians 1:17-18].
Law doesn’t inspire us or woo us to love. Law forces us to do so as to get something in return. The Apostle Paul wanted nothing to do with Law, and for a very good reason: he came to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
God’s grace gives us eternal life freely. Grace adopts us into the family of God. Grace gives us new birth into the eternal kingdom. Grace pulls us out of the pit, washes us off, and sits us at the banqueting table. Grace gives because grace comes from the love of God, and love by definition gives.
Paul prayed for God to give to the Christians of the city of Ephesus “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Wisdom may be defined as “knowing how to apply what we know to our daily living”. Revelation has to do with the Lord showing us what we don’t already know.
Paul wanted the Christians to receive the necessary information for daily living, and the ability to employ this information in their daily living, so they would grow in knowing and understanding the Lord Jesus. This comes first in the Christian’s relationship with God.
The blessings of God follow this, in fact flow out of knowing Jesus more and more. “Father God, give them what they need, so they will truly know Your Son Jesus!” That was Paul’s prayer and earnest desire for the Christians.
As this became a reality more and more, it followed that they would have their eyes opened to see the truth of God more clearly (v.18). Then their hope would kick in and they would receive their inheritance, the riches of His glory.
But first came the true personal relationship with the Lord Jesus (v.17). First we give our hearts to the Lord, love Him in spirit and truth, and require time alone with Him regularly. This promotes spiritual growth on our part, leading us to live with Jesus and for Jesus.
As we do so, we discover the vastness of our inheritance in Christ. It isn’t about what I get. It’s about what I give. I give my life to Jesus because He first gave His to me. I do so because I see how desirable He is and want to be like Him. What I’ll get in return doesn’t even enter the equation. Give, not take.
Is this what you want? Does it appeal to your inmost being? Let us arise and go to Jesus together. He will embrace us in His arms.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Law doesn’t inspire us or woo us to love. Law forces us to do so as to get something in return. The Apostle Paul wanted nothing to do with Law, and for a very good reason: he came to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
God’s grace gives us eternal life freely. Grace adopts us into the family of God. Grace gives us new birth into the eternal kingdom. Grace pulls us out of the pit, washes us off, and sits us at the banqueting table. Grace gives because grace comes from the love of God, and love by definition gives.
Paul prayed for God to give to the Christians of the city of Ephesus “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Wisdom may be defined as “knowing how to apply what we know to our daily living”. Revelation has to do with the Lord showing us what we don’t already know.
Paul wanted the Christians to receive the necessary information for daily living, and the ability to employ this information in their daily living, so they would grow in knowing and understanding the Lord Jesus. This comes first in the Christian’s relationship with God.
The blessings of God follow this, in fact flow out of knowing Jesus more and more. “Father God, give them what they need, so they will truly know Your Son Jesus!” That was Paul’s prayer and earnest desire for the Christians.
As this became a reality more and more, it followed that they would have their eyes opened to see the truth of God more clearly (v.18). Then their hope would kick in and they would receive their inheritance, the riches of His glory.
But first came the true personal relationship with the Lord Jesus (v.17). First we give our hearts to the Lord, love Him in spirit and truth, and require time alone with Him regularly. This promotes spiritual growth on our part, leading us to live with Jesus and for Jesus.
As we do so, we discover the vastness of our inheritance in Christ. It isn’t about what I get. It’s about what I give. I give my life to Jesus because He first gave His to me. I do so because I see how desirable He is and want to be like Him. What I’ll get in return doesn’t even enter the equation. Give, not take.
Is this what you want? Does it appeal to your inmost being? Let us arise and go to Jesus together. He will embrace us in His arms.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 20, 2013
If Only I Knew – Part 2
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints [Ephesians 1:17-18].
Contemporary Christianity has bit into the forbidden fruit. Christians nowadays determine for themselves what is right and what is wrong. We go by popular opinion, currying favor with others to win their support, like any modern politician. But we do it with regard to morality!
Alas, but this isn’t Biblical! God doesn’t agree. He needs no vote from us to make His determination for what is right and what is wrong. And He’s not the least bit impressed by any of our popularity contests either. It may surprise a great many Christians, but “American Idol” means zilch to God.
The Apostle Paul—you know, the guy who actually does have the heart of God—he had a different take on how the Lord views right and wrong. He had this thing about us sinners comparing ourselves with other sinners, so as to draw the conclusion that we’re not really so bad after all. Paul denounced it (cf., 2 Corinthians 10:12)!
In the two verses quoted at the commencement of today’s study, his intake affords us invaluable teaching vis-à-vis the mind of Christ. In the first verse he instructs Christians to know the Lord Jesus. Then in the second verse he points out how the Lord’s blessings follow from knowing the Lord.
If we’re out to get the blessings and bypass growing in our knowledge of the Lord, we’ll find ourselves up the proverbial creek without a paddle. The Lord blesses His kids like any good parent. The thing is, any good parent doesn’t shower affluence on his kids, while they live as inveterate urchins! Guess what? Neither does the Lord.
First we have to love Him enough to want to know Him. As we truly come to know Him, we discover how the Lord thinks, what He likes, what hurts Him, things of this sort. Hey! That’s basically how it is with our close earthly relationships too, isn’t it? Go figure.
Anyway, as we know the Lord more and more, our love for Him leads us to do the things which please Him. Simultaneously, our love encourages us to refrain from the things which hurt the Lord’s feelings. That is the definition of love. It comes from grace, not from Law.
Law leads us to do things for the Lord because He requires us to do them, else we won’t be blessed. This fits in well with middle class affluence and the “I-me-mine” mentality. We want to get something, so we grudgingly give something. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Quid pro quo and all.
So much for Law. We will move on to a consideration of grace in our next study. Hope to see you there!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Contemporary Christianity has bit into the forbidden fruit. Christians nowadays determine for themselves what is right and what is wrong. We go by popular opinion, currying favor with others to win their support, like any modern politician. But we do it with regard to morality!
Alas, but this isn’t Biblical! God doesn’t agree. He needs no vote from us to make His determination for what is right and what is wrong. And He’s not the least bit impressed by any of our popularity contests either. It may surprise a great many Christians, but “American Idol” means zilch to God.
The Apostle Paul—you know, the guy who actually does have the heart of God—he had a different take on how the Lord views right and wrong. He had this thing about us sinners comparing ourselves with other sinners, so as to draw the conclusion that we’re not really so bad after all. Paul denounced it (cf., 2 Corinthians 10:12)!
In the two verses quoted at the commencement of today’s study, his intake affords us invaluable teaching vis-à-vis the mind of Christ. In the first verse he instructs Christians to know the Lord Jesus. Then in the second verse he points out how the Lord’s blessings follow from knowing the Lord.
If we’re out to get the blessings and bypass growing in our knowledge of the Lord, we’ll find ourselves up the proverbial creek without a paddle. The Lord blesses His kids like any good parent. The thing is, any good parent doesn’t shower affluence on his kids, while they live as inveterate urchins! Guess what? Neither does the Lord.
First we have to love Him enough to want to know Him. As we truly come to know Him, we discover how the Lord thinks, what He likes, what hurts Him, things of this sort. Hey! That’s basically how it is with our close earthly relationships too, isn’t it? Go figure.
Anyway, as we know the Lord more and more, our love for Him leads us to do the things which please Him. Simultaneously, our love encourages us to refrain from the things which hurt the Lord’s feelings. That is the definition of love. It comes from grace, not from Law.
Law leads us to do things for the Lord because He requires us to do them, else we won’t be blessed. This fits in well with middle class affluence and the “I-me-mine” mentality. We want to get something, so we grudgingly give something. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Quid pro quo and all.
So much for Law. We will move on to a consideration of grace in our next study. Hope to see you there!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
