Randy Green's Blog, page 448
March 21, 2013
Stuff and Nonsense
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” [Psalm 14:1; 53:1]
Perhaps you’ve heard the commonplace, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” The meaning is that, when a person stares death in the face, he suddenly out of thin air believes in God, or at least in a god of some kind. The implication is that sinful man cannot in truth disbelief the existence of God.
Nothing could be farther from the truth, dear friends! Let the Lord teach us, rather than man with his fanciful imagination. Let’s eat from the life tree, not from the kogae tree. So what does the Word of God teach us? Read the verse quoted at the commencement of this study and see.
A person who truly doesn’t believe God exists is a “fool”. We might define a “fool”, then, by reversing this: A fool is a person who truly doesn’t believe God exists. Voilà! a Biblical fool.
Now consider how a Biblical fool thinks and what he spouts off: “There is no God.” See! He truly doesn’t believe that God exists.
“Oh, no, teacher,” a fervid gainsayer interrupts. “He does too believe in God. He only says he doesn’t behind academia’s ivory towers, where all is well in his world. But put him in a foxhole, and you’ll hear him call upon God pronto!”
Oh, really, my good man? Is that what you think? Well, what you think is about as relevant as the price of tea in China. It’s not what you or I think. Such poppycock comes from the kogae tree, and its fruit is insalubrious, let me assure you. It’s what God knows, and He shares it with us in His Word.
Let me ask you, where did the fool come to the conclusion that God doesn’t exist? Answer: “in his heart”. The fool doesn’t spout idle words. He believes it. He doesn’t believe it just in his head, as an intellectual exercise which he can discard like a cheap suit when it’s convenient to do so. He believes it in his heart.
In order to be born again, a person must confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in his heart that God has raised him from the dead (cf., Romans 10:9-10). It isn’t enough, you see, to talk the talk, to have certain thoughts about Jesus in the head. A person’s heart must be truly converted, if he is truly born again.
So too is it with the fool talking the talk about God not existing. If that’s all he does, then in the foxhole he might very well sing a different tune! But if his words begin in his heart, then that by definition is his true nature. He really does believe there is no God.
Consequently, he won’t somehow out of the clear blue come to a belief in God because his world is lacking. Oh, he might utter the words, “Oh, my God!” But that is simply a common enough exclamation, one which is heard on every street corner from here to Timbuktu.
Our atheist is doing no more than spouting what to him is an expletive, when he exclaims using that phrase. He is a parrot repeating what he’s heard countless times before. But his heart isn’t speaking those words. He isn’t calling upon God; he’s using God’s name in vain.
Let this be a lesson to us. We cannot choose God anytime we find it convenient to do so. Oh, we can say His name and use words, but He will turn a deaf ear to us should we do so. God chooses us; we don’t choose Him. When He calls us, if we turn a deaf ear to Him, don’t be surprised if He returns the favor!
Call upon the Lord while He may be found. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Heed the call, lest you be sealed in the condition known as the Biblical fool who says in his heart, “There is not God.” Go to Jesus now and throw yourself on His mercy. He won’t refuse you.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
Perhaps you’ve heard the commonplace, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” The meaning is that, when a person stares death in the face, he suddenly out of thin air believes in God, or at least in a god of some kind. The implication is that sinful man cannot in truth disbelief the existence of God.
Nothing could be farther from the truth, dear friends! Let the Lord teach us, rather than man with his fanciful imagination. Let’s eat from the life tree, not from the kogae tree. So what does the Word of God teach us? Read the verse quoted at the commencement of this study and see.
A person who truly doesn’t believe God exists is a “fool”. We might define a “fool”, then, by reversing this: A fool is a person who truly doesn’t believe God exists. Voilà! a Biblical fool.
Now consider how a Biblical fool thinks and what he spouts off: “There is no God.” See! He truly doesn’t believe that God exists.
“Oh, no, teacher,” a fervid gainsayer interrupts. “He does too believe in God. He only says he doesn’t behind academia’s ivory towers, where all is well in his world. But put him in a foxhole, and you’ll hear him call upon God pronto!”
Oh, really, my good man? Is that what you think? Well, what you think is about as relevant as the price of tea in China. It’s not what you or I think. Such poppycock comes from the kogae tree, and its fruit is insalubrious, let me assure you. It’s what God knows, and He shares it with us in His Word.
Let me ask you, where did the fool come to the conclusion that God doesn’t exist? Answer: “in his heart”. The fool doesn’t spout idle words. He believes it. He doesn’t believe it just in his head, as an intellectual exercise which he can discard like a cheap suit when it’s convenient to do so. He believes it in his heart.
In order to be born again, a person must confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in his heart that God has raised him from the dead (cf., Romans 10:9-10). It isn’t enough, you see, to talk the talk, to have certain thoughts about Jesus in the head. A person’s heart must be truly converted, if he is truly born again.
So too is it with the fool talking the talk about God not existing. If that’s all he does, then in the foxhole he might very well sing a different tune! But if his words begin in his heart, then that by definition is his true nature. He really does believe there is no God.
Consequently, he won’t somehow out of the clear blue come to a belief in God because his world is lacking. Oh, he might utter the words, “Oh, my God!” But that is simply a common enough exclamation, one which is heard on every street corner from here to Timbuktu.
Our atheist is doing no more than spouting what to him is an expletive, when he exclaims using that phrase. He is a parrot repeating what he’s heard countless times before. But his heart isn’t speaking those words. He isn’t calling upon God; he’s using God’s name in vain.
Let this be a lesson to us. We cannot choose God anytime we find it convenient to do so. Oh, we can say His name and use words, but He will turn a deaf ear to us should we do so. God chooses us; we don’t choose Him. When He calls us, if we turn a deaf ear to Him, don’t be surprised if He returns the favor!
Call upon the Lord while He may be found. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Heed the call, lest you be sealed in the condition known as the Biblical fool who says in his heart, “There is not God.” Go to Jesus now and throw yourself on His mercy. He won’t refuse you.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 19, 2013
Narcissus Returns!
I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: there is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin [Psalm 36:1-2, NIV].
Egocentrism vs. theocentrism. Big words which express a lot. Oftentimes we use a lot of words to say nothing. On rare occasions we hear a lot of meaningful teaching in a few scant words. The second case applies to our big words here.
“Centrism” refers to what is at the center of attention, what is being focused upon. “Ego” is the Greek 1st person singular personal pronoun “I”. “Theo” is the Greek word for “God”. So “egocentrism” means “I” am at the center of the universe: everything revolves around me. “Theocentrism” means “God” is the center of my universe: my life and everything else revolves around Him.
God created man to be theocentric. He made us to desire fellowship with Him, as He does with us. Sin marred man’s makeup, leaving us in opposition to God. We want nothing to do with the real God, only with a god made in our own image. Consequently I want to be in control. I want to be the center of the universe and have everyone and everything revolve around me.
This is what the Psalmist taught in the verses we quoted at the outset of this study. How do we explain the sinfulness of the wicked? Left to ourselves we cannot. All we can do is theorize some psychobabble or whatnot. We need the omniscient God, man’s Creator, to explain us to us. Listen to His explanation of the sinfulness of the wicked.
• there is no fear of God before their eyes
• in their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin
Those two depictions go hand in glove. They are two peas in a pod, two sides of the same coin. Ask yourself the question, “Why do the wicked not fear God?” The answer is, “They flatter themselves to such an extent, that they are self-righteous. They can do no wrong. Whatever goes wrong is somebody else’s fault, including God’s. They are so full of themselves that even God must feel honored to know them!”
Isn’t it obvious that such a state of affairs leaves no room for God? How can anyone fear God when they are superior to God? If the entire universe and all it contains revolves around li’l ol’ me, how insignificant then is God? No wonder such a one cannot fear God. He is Narcissus! He is so in love with himself that he cannot even imagine he has need for improvement, much less recognize outright sin in his life.
Have you noticed in our contemporary anti-christ society how nearly universal it is to witness this mentality in people, at least to one extent or another? Relationships like marriage and family are in the gutter because communication barely exists between us anymore. All of us are busy seeking our own good, and we think we are without fault in doing so. We have our rights, you see, and no one had better dare infringe on them in any way. How inconvenient that would be!
Once upon a time not so long ago in a not faraway world, we used to regularly hear about our responsibilities. Meeting them was evidence of adulthood. It was honorable. My, my, but we’ve come a long way, baby! Nowadays talk about responsibilities is taboo and the person brash enough to do so is pilloried and ostracized.
Using the Word of God as our measuring stick for right and wrong, and specifically the quoted verses we are studying, what does this reveal about us and our society today? Hint, hint, it’s not good! The word “wicked” comes to mind, also “egocentric” and “self-flatterer”. Oh, and let’s not leave off the word “sin”.
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer with Bible now, asking Him to pinpoint any of these tendencies in us. Let’s learn under His tutelage to cultivate a penchant for analyzing our own motives and behaviors, rather than everybody else’s. We will be better people for it, more Christlike in every way as contrasted with more antichrist-like. Isn’t this what we should want?
So let’s not whine about our toes being stepped on or our fur rubbed the wrong way. By all means, dear Jesus, stomp and rub until we have had our fill of sin, then repent and turn to you for a new beginning. In Christ’s name.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Egocentrism vs. theocentrism. Big words which express a lot. Oftentimes we use a lot of words to say nothing. On rare occasions we hear a lot of meaningful teaching in a few scant words. The second case applies to our big words here.
“Centrism” refers to what is at the center of attention, what is being focused upon. “Ego” is the Greek 1st person singular personal pronoun “I”. “Theo” is the Greek word for “God”. So “egocentrism” means “I” am at the center of the universe: everything revolves around me. “Theocentrism” means “God” is the center of my universe: my life and everything else revolves around Him.
God created man to be theocentric. He made us to desire fellowship with Him, as He does with us. Sin marred man’s makeup, leaving us in opposition to God. We want nothing to do with the real God, only with a god made in our own image. Consequently I want to be in control. I want to be the center of the universe and have everyone and everything revolve around me.
This is what the Psalmist taught in the verses we quoted at the outset of this study. How do we explain the sinfulness of the wicked? Left to ourselves we cannot. All we can do is theorize some psychobabble or whatnot. We need the omniscient God, man’s Creator, to explain us to us. Listen to His explanation of the sinfulness of the wicked.
• there is no fear of God before their eyes
• in their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin
Those two depictions go hand in glove. They are two peas in a pod, two sides of the same coin. Ask yourself the question, “Why do the wicked not fear God?” The answer is, “They flatter themselves to such an extent, that they are self-righteous. They can do no wrong. Whatever goes wrong is somebody else’s fault, including God’s. They are so full of themselves that even God must feel honored to know them!”
Isn’t it obvious that such a state of affairs leaves no room for God? How can anyone fear God when they are superior to God? If the entire universe and all it contains revolves around li’l ol’ me, how insignificant then is God? No wonder such a one cannot fear God. He is Narcissus! He is so in love with himself that he cannot even imagine he has need for improvement, much less recognize outright sin in his life.
Have you noticed in our contemporary anti-christ society how nearly universal it is to witness this mentality in people, at least to one extent or another? Relationships like marriage and family are in the gutter because communication barely exists between us anymore. All of us are busy seeking our own good, and we think we are without fault in doing so. We have our rights, you see, and no one had better dare infringe on them in any way. How inconvenient that would be!
Once upon a time not so long ago in a not faraway world, we used to regularly hear about our responsibilities. Meeting them was evidence of adulthood. It was honorable. My, my, but we’ve come a long way, baby! Nowadays talk about responsibilities is taboo and the person brash enough to do so is pilloried and ostracized.
Using the Word of God as our measuring stick for right and wrong, and specifically the quoted verses we are studying, what does this reveal about us and our society today? Hint, hint, it’s not good! The word “wicked” comes to mind, also “egocentric” and “self-flatterer”. Oh, and let’s not leave off the word “sin”.
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer with Bible now, asking Him to pinpoint any of these tendencies in us. Let’s learn under His tutelage to cultivate a penchant for analyzing our own motives and behaviors, rather than everybody else’s. We will be better people for it, more Christlike in every way as contrasted with more antichrist-like. Isn’t this what we should want?
So let’s not whine about our toes being stepped on or our fur rubbed the wrong way. By all means, dear Jesus, stomp and rub until we have had our fill of sin, then repent and turn to you for a new beginning. In Christ’s name.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 18, 2013
Stand Still and Walk! – Part 2
But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” [Exodus 14:13-14]
In the text we quoted to start this study, the Israelites were standing on the shore of the Red Sea. The sea was in front of them to bar their advancement, and Pharaoh and his army were behind them to bar their retreat. The Israelites were in a state of discombobulation, fearing for their lives and panic-stricken.
Moses alone stood resolute because his eyes were on the Lord, while the other Israelites focused on the sea and the enemy soldiers. By faith Moses exhorted his compatriots, Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today.
Following today’s approach, Aaron should’ve run off to seclusion and written a fad book titled, “How To Escape All Your Troubles!” He could write down the account of how the Lord delivered the Israelites at the Red Sea. All of Egypt’s enemies would be sure to make a mad dash for the bookstores and get their copy. Then they could lure Pharaoh to the Red Sea and win the war the way the Israelites did!
Dear friends, on this occasion the Lord instructed the Israelites to stand still and watch Him deliver them from Pharaoh’s clutches. While they watched, the Lord parted the waters of the Red Sea and sent the Israelites across it on dry ground. Of course the Israelites had to do their part, viz., to stand still and trust Him while the waters were parted, and then to get a-marching across the dry seabed.
But the Lord didn’t repeat this approach any other time, except forty years later when He also stopped the waters of the flooding Jordan River to allow Israel to cross on dry ground. The repetition of this approach was for reasons of typology.
On many occasions the Lord instructed the Israelites to take up arms and do the fighting themselves. He did defeat the enemy for them, to be sure, but they had to participate by actually fighting. So at the Red Sea the Lord forbade the Israelites to do the fighting, while against the Amalekites (as one example, cf., Exodus 17) He insisted they do the fighting.
Isn’t it clear that fad books about how to grow the church are only worldly ways? We have many a missions program which apes this approach. Such programs think bigger is better, rather than Biblical is spiritual. They wind up sending out family units on their own to do the work of the ministry, like isolated participants in guerrilla warfare.
What they should be doing is involving the entire Body of Christ in spiritual warfare. After all, every Christian is a prayer warrior in the Christian military. But Christians cannot effectively conduct spiritual warfare without personal involvement in the ministry. We need to know the missionaries and be kept up-to-date on their needs and goals, so we can offer up very specific prayers to the Lord.
In ministry the Lord has His part to do and we have ours. Those parts vary from ministry to ministry and sometimes from moment to moment. We need to maintain our relationship with the Lord daily and be in prayer about what He wants from us each day. That is how to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Isn’t this what you want for yourself? I know I do.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
In the text we quoted to start this study, the Israelites were standing on the shore of the Red Sea. The sea was in front of them to bar their advancement, and Pharaoh and his army were behind them to bar their retreat. The Israelites were in a state of discombobulation, fearing for their lives and panic-stricken.
Moses alone stood resolute because his eyes were on the Lord, while the other Israelites focused on the sea and the enemy soldiers. By faith Moses exhorted his compatriots, Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today.
Following today’s approach, Aaron should’ve run off to seclusion and written a fad book titled, “How To Escape All Your Troubles!” He could write down the account of how the Lord delivered the Israelites at the Red Sea. All of Egypt’s enemies would be sure to make a mad dash for the bookstores and get their copy. Then they could lure Pharaoh to the Red Sea and win the war the way the Israelites did!
Dear friends, on this occasion the Lord instructed the Israelites to stand still and watch Him deliver them from Pharaoh’s clutches. While they watched, the Lord parted the waters of the Red Sea and sent the Israelites across it on dry ground. Of course the Israelites had to do their part, viz., to stand still and trust Him while the waters were parted, and then to get a-marching across the dry seabed.
But the Lord didn’t repeat this approach any other time, except forty years later when He also stopped the waters of the flooding Jordan River to allow Israel to cross on dry ground. The repetition of this approach was for reasons of typology.
On many occasions the Lord instructed the Israelites to take up arms and do the fighting themselves. He did defeat the enemy for them, to be sure, but they had to participate by actually fighting. So at the Red Sea the Lord forbade the Israelites to do the fighting, while against the Amalekites (as one example, cf., Exodus 17) He insisted they do the fighting.
Isn’t it clear that fad books about how to grow the church are only worldly ways? We have many a missions program which apes this approach. Such programs think bigger is better, rather than Biblical is spiritual. They wind up sending out family units on their own to do the work of the ministry, like isolated participants in guerrilla warfare.
What they should be doing is involving the entire Body of Christ in spiritual warfare. After all, every Christian is a prayer warrior in the Christian military. But Christians cannot effectively conduct spiritual warfare without personal involvement in the ministry. We need to know the missionaries and be kept up-to-date on their needs and goals, so we can offer up very specific prayers to the Lord.
In ministry the Lord has His part to do and we have ours. Those parts vary from ministry to ministry and sometimes from moment to moment. We need to maintain our relationship with the Lord daily and be in prayer about what He wants from us each day. That is how to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Isn’t this what you want for yourself? I know I do.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 17, 2013
Stand Still and Walk! – Part 1
But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” [Exodus 14:13-14]
It is a commonplace in today’s churches to hie off to the nearest Christian bookstore in search of spiritual secrets. The latest fad book on “How to Make Your Church Grow from Seven Souls to Seven Thousand Overnight” is one of the best sellers. When we follow such an approach, we turn the church into a worldly organization. Truth be told, the Church is a spiritual organism, the Body of Christ on earth today.
There are no shortcuts in natural life, dear friends. To create a mature adult several steps need to take place, each of which takes years to blossom. Let’s itemize some of them:
1. consummation of a marriage
2. carrying to term
3. giving birth
4. baby years
5. toddler years
6. preschool years
7. elementary school years
8. high school years
9. college/trade school/apprenticeship years
10. young working adult years
11. middle age years
12. golden oldies years
The list is not all-inclusive to be sure, but it suffices to express the stages of natural life.
The same is true in spiritual life. Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God [John 3:3]. So in the spiritual life we also need points 1-3: consummation of a marriage, carrying to term, and giving birth.
A simple cursory glance at both Old and New Testaments reveals the Lord’s will for His people to become educated in the Word of God. Strict directions are given for parents to rear their children in the things of God, both by teaching them the Bible and by setting a Biblical example of Christian living for them. So in the spiritual life we also need points 4-9.
In 1 John 2:12-14 the Apostle John identifies three ages of spiritual maturity. He addresses the “little children” and the “young men” and the “fathers”. When we understand that John is writing spiritual truth to these folks, then we know to interpret these terms spiritually, i.e., as pertaining to spiritual life. So in the spiritual life we also need points 10-12.
Here’s the moral to this story, dear people. In the natural life things are not the same for each person. Your course in life and your natural gifts and abilities are not mine or your neighbors or your sisters. And what is applicable to you today might not be so in twenty years or twenty days or twenty minutes.
The same is true in the spiritual life too. How one person came to know the Lord is not the way everybody must come to know the Lord. What books and teachings attract one Christian is not what will appeal to another. What ministry I have is not the ministry you are supposed to have. There is no one-size-fits-all in spiritual life.
For that matter what is apposite for me today in ministry might very well not be tomorrow. I used to have a pulpit ministry: now I have a writing ministry. The Lord wants to rear us to walk by faith, which requires constant dependence on Him, not a predetermined plan on our part of what will be.
Until we get a handle on this spiritual truth that the Church is a spiritual organism and not a worldly organization, we will never accomplish for Christ anything to write home about. We need to study 1 Corinthians 12-14 until we thoroughly understand this.
Do you see how this affects Christian fad books about how to grow the church? What worked in one case is not a blueprint for every church—or perhaps even for any other church. Programs, fads, gadgets and gimmicks—suchlike gewgaws are not the work of a spiritual organism. They are the baubles of a worldly organization. They only serve to attract folks on the natural level, not the spiritual.
We will pursue this issue further in our next lesson. Spend some time alone with our blessed Lord now, why don’cha.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
It is a commonplace in today’s churches to hie off to the nearest Christian bookstore in search of spiritual secrets. The latest fad book on “How to Make Your Church Grow from Seven Souls to Seven Thousand Overnight” is one of the best sellers. When we follow such an approach, we turn the church into a worldly organization. Truth be told, the Church is a spiritual organism, the Body of Christ on earth today.
There are no shortcuts in natural life, dear friends. To create a mature adult several steps need to take place, each of which takes years to blossom. Let’s itemize some of them:
1. consummation of a marriage
2. carrying to term
3. giving birth
4. baby years
5. toddler years
6. preschool years
7. elementary school years
8. high school years
9. college/trade school/apprenticeship years
10. young working adult years
11. middle age years
12. golden oldies years
The list is not all-inclusive to be sure, but it suffices to express the stages of natural life.
The same is true in spiritual life. Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God [John 3:3]. So in the spiritual life we also need points 1-3: consummation of a marriage, carrying to term, and giving birth.
A simple cursory glance at both Old and New Testaments reveals the Lord’s will for His people to become educated in the Word of God. Strict directions are given for parents to rear their children in the things of God, both by teaching them the Bible and by setting a Biblical example of Christian living for them. So in the spiritual life we also need points 4-9.
In 1 John 2:12-14 the Apostle John identifies three ages of spiritual maturity. He addresses the “little children” and the “young men” and the “fathers”. When we understand that John is writing spiritual truth to these folks, then we know to interpret these terms spiritually, i.e., as pertaining to spiritual life. So in the spiritual life we also need points 10-12.
Here’s the moral to this story, dear people. In the natural life things are not the same for each person. Your course in life and your natural gifts and abilities are not mine or your neighbors or your sisters. And what is applicable to you today might not be so in twenty years or twenty days or twenty minutes.
The same is true in the spiritual life too. How one person came to know the Lord is not the way everybody must come to know the Lord. What books and teachings attract one Christian is not what will appeal to another. What ministry I have is not the ministry you are supposed to have. There is no one-size-fits-all in spiritual life.
For that matter what is apposite for me today in ministry might very well not be tomorrow. I used to have a pulpit ministry: now I have a writing ministry. The Lord wants to rear us to walk by faith, which requires constant dependence on Him, not a predetermined plan on our part of what will be.
Until we get a handle on this spiritual truth that the Church is a spiritual organism and not a worldly organization, we will never accomplish for Christ anything to write home about. We need to study 1 Corinthians 12-14 until we thoroughly understand this.
Do you see how this affects Christian fad books about how to grow the church? What worked in one case is not a blueprint for every church—or perhaps even for any other church. Programs, fads, gadgets and gimmicks—suchlike gewgaws are not the work of a spiritual organism. They are the baubles of a worldly organization. They only serve to attract folks on the natural level, not the spiritual.
We will pursue this issue further in our next lesson. Spend some time alone with our blessed Lord now, why don’cha.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 16, 2013
Of Covenants and Dispensations – Part 2
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! [1 Corinthians 10:11-12]
Let’s continue with our study from yesterday. A dear woman and her husband in one of my churches fell under the spell of the Seventh Day Adventists, a cult. This group is entangled in obeying the Law in order to be a Christian. They go so far as to insist that Saturday is the only true day to hold church services and reject Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Hence their name.
Before leaving one of the churches I was pastored, this elderly lady commenced to quarreling with me during Bible study about Christians no longer being under the Law. She wanted to win converts to her brand of legalism, you see, and take them with her to the Adventist Church. She challenged, “Well, if we are no longer under the Law, why do we still bother to study it? Why not remove it from our Bibles and just study the New Testament?”
She felt pretty good about herself, and it showed all over her face. To her she was the man and I was confronted with irrefutable argumentation. In actuality her argument was mere sophistry. It had the appearance of logic and validity, but it was specious reasoning par excellence.
If she knew her Bible as well as she thought she did, she would have known that the Apostle Paul fought ferociously against the Judaizers. The Judaizers were Pharisees, Jewish legalists, who supposedly converted to Christ. However, they insisted on attaching the Law to belief in Jesus. It was necessary to believe in Jesus, yes, but it was also necessary to continue to obey the Law.
Paul rebuked them scathingly, declaring, “We are no longer under Law but under grace!” This same Paul, notwithstanding, still taught the Old Testament to his converts to Jesus. The tenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is one such example. The Bible text we quoted to commence this study is Paul’s conclusion to his Old Testament teaching.
In the first ten verses of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reiterated multiple situations which occurred with the Israelites in the wilderness under Moses’ leadership. Then Paul penned the words quoted at the start of this lesson. Those words tell us why we still study the Old Testament, even though we are no longer under the Law.
God preserved His Word, including all of the Old Testament, to furnish us with examples. These examples serve as a good source of instruction. We are to learn from the past history of God’s people how NOT to serve the Lord, as well as HOW to serve the Lord. If we learn from Israel’s mistakes, we will be better able to avoid them ourselves.
Think about it, dear friends. I am not obligated to obey the legal code of the Roman Empire, but I still studied Roman history and in the process gleaned a good deal of learning which has relevance today.
We don’t study the Old Testament because we are under the Law. We study it because the Lord used visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. I want to know all of these truths. I don’t want to miss any of them. That’s why I study the Old Testament.
Another reason is that I love the Lord and love to learn how He has related to man through the centuries and millennia. The Bible is the only source for learning this. And the Bible is the only book which contains no errors or lies.
So let’s not attempt to obey the Law in order to be saved or to stay saved. But let’s study the Law to know the Lord all the better. This is an excellent time for us to grab our Bibles and go be with Jesus. He loves to teach us His Word, if only we want to learn it and obey it.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Let’s continue with our study from yesterday. A dear woman and her husband in one of my churches fell under the spell of the Seventh Day Adventists, a cult. This group is entangled in obeying the Law in order to be a Christian. They go so far as to insist that Saturday is the only true day to hold church services and reject Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Hence their name.
Before leaving one of the churches I was pastored, this elderly lady commenced to quarreling with me during Bible study about Christians no longer being under the Law. She wanted to win converts to her brand of legalism, you see, and take them with her to the Adventist Church. She challenged, “Well, if we are no longer under the Law, why do we still bother to study it? Why not remove it from our Bibles and just study the New Testament?”
She felt pretty good about herself, and it showed all over her face. To her she was the man and I was confronted with irrefutable argumentation. In actuality her argument was mere sophistry. It had the appearance of logic and validity, but it was specious reasoning par excellence.
If she knew her Bible as well as she thought she did, she would have known that the Apostle Paul fought ferociously against the Judaizers. The Judaizers were Pharisees, Jewish legalists, who supposedly converted to Christ. However, they insisted on attaching the Law to belief in Jesus. It was necessary to believe in Jesus, yes, but it was also necessary to continue to obey the Law.
Paul rebuked them scathingly, declaring, “We are no longer under Law but under grace!” This same Paul, notwithstanding, still taught the Old Testament to his converts to Jesus. The tenth chapter of 1 Corinthians is one such example. The Bible text we quoted to commence this study is Paul’s conclusion to his Old Testament teaching.
In the first ten verses of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reiterated multiple situations which occurred with the Israelites in the wilderness under Moses’ leadership. Then Paul penned the words quoted at the start of this lesson. Those words tell us why we still study the Old Testament, even though we are no longer under the Law.
God preserved His Word, including all of the Old Testament, to furnish us with examples. These examples serve as a good source of instruction. We are to learn from the past history of God’s people how NOT to serve the Lord, as well as HOW to serve the Lord. If we learn from Israel’s mistakes, we will be better able to avoid them ourselves.
Think about it, dear friends. I am not obligated to obey the legal code of the Roman Empire, but I still studied Roman history and in the process gleaned a good deal of learning which has relevance today.
We don’t study the Old Testament because we are under the Law. We study it because the Lord used visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. I want to know all of these truths. I don’t want to miss any of them. That’s why I study the Old Testament.
Another reason is that I love the Lord and love to learn how He has related to man through the centuries and millennia. The Bible is the only source for learning this. And the Bible is the only book which contains no errors or lies.
So let’s not attempt to obey the Law in order to be saved or to stay saved. But let’s study the Law to know the Lord all the better. This is an excellent time for us to grab our Bibles and go be with Jesus. He loves to teach us His Word, if only we want to learn it and obey it.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 15, 2013
Of Covenants and Dispensations – Part 1
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! [1 Corinthians 10:11-12]
I incessantly teach that Christians are not under the Law. We are under grace. We are not required to obey the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the Israelites while they inhabited the Lord’s land, the Promised Land.
There have been occasions where folks have taken exception to this teaching. Some of them are covenantalists, as contrasted with dispensationalists. We won’t spend words on defining these two positions, dear friends. It is not the subject for today’s study.
Suffice it to say that covenantalism holds to the tenet that God is always the same throughout time and eternity, and so He always operates the same. This means that the way God interacted with Adam and Eve was the same way He interacted with Noah, with Abraham, and with the Church.
Dispensationalism, contrariwise, embraces the tenet that, yes, God is always the same. He never changes. However, mankind does, and God varies His approach at different times in order to effectively interact with man. For example, in Genesis 2 before man sinned, God came down to the Garden of Eden to spend time fellowshiping with man.
In Genesis 3 man sinned and God booted him out of the garden. It is obvious that God no longer related to man in the same way thereafter. Man was no longer in the garden! This fact precluded God from coming down to the garden to visit with man! Genesis 2 was one dispensation, one way in which God decided to interact with man. Genesis 3 was another dispensation entirely.
Some of the folks who’ve objected to me not teaching obedience to the Law were covenantalists. They believe God rejected Israel permanently and replaced Israel with the Church. God’s method of interacting with Israel, you see, now became God’s method of interacting with Christians. Christians, rather than Israel, are now obligated to keep the Law.
Belief in covenantalism does not in and of itself equate to not being a Christian. The two are not exclusive, the belief is just a wrong understanding of the Scriptures.
Some of the folks who took exception to me teaching that Christians are not obligated to obey the Law—well, they did so for other reasons. Some cults still insist on obedience to the Law.
A cult is a religious group which professes belief in the Bible and Jesus, but denies the Father and the Son (cf., 1 John). Or the group denies that Jesus has come in the flesh (cf., 1 John). They don’t accept that Jesus is literally God the Son, eternally and fully God. They don’t believe Jesus is the only way to be brought back to the Father. In one or more ways they reject the true, Biblical Jesus.
They are therefore not really Christians but wolves in sheep’s clothing, regardless of good intentions or anything else (cf., 1 John). Christianity is not a religious system or a set of doctrines. It is the Person and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The churches are full of folks who hold to a set of doctrines and practically never leave the church building. Alas, but they know not Jesus personally and, because of this, they are not Christians.
We must take our leave at this time. The day is far spent. The night falls fast. Let’s spend time with Jesus before we hit the pillow. He has much to teach us from our study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
I incessantly teach that Christians are not under the Law. We are under grace. We are not required to obey the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the Israelites while they inhabited the Lord’s land, the Promised Land.
There have been occasions where folks have taken exception to this teaching. Some of them are covenantalists, as contrasted with dispensationalists. We won’t spend words on defining these two positions, dear friends. It is not the subject for today’s study.
Suffice it to say that covenantalism holds to the tenet that God is always the same throughout time and eternity, and so He always operates the same. This means that the way God interacted with Adam and Eve was the same way He interacted with Noah, with Abraham, and with the Church.
Dispensationalism, contrariwise, embraces the tenet that, yes, God is always the same. He never changes. However, mankind does, and God varies His approach at different times in order to effectively interact with man. For example, in Genesis 2 before man sinned, God came down to the Garden of Eden to spend time fellowshiping with man.
In Genesis 3 man sinned and God booted him out of the garden. It is obvious that God no longer related to man in the same way thereafter. Man was no longer in the garden! This fact precluded God from coming down to the garden to visit with man! Genesis 2 was one dispensation, one way in which God decided to interact with man. Genesis 3 was another dispensation entirely.
Some of the folks who’ve objected to me not teaching obedience to the Law were covenantalists. They believe God rejected Israel permanently and replaced Israel with the Church. God’s method of interacting with Israel, you see, now became God’s method of interacting with Christians. Christians, rather than Israel, are now obligated to keep the Law.
Belief in covenantalism does not in and of itself equate to not being a Christian. The two are not exclusive, the belief is just a wrong understanding of the Scriptures.
Some of the folks who took exception to me teaching that Christians are not obligated to obey the Law—well, they did so for other reasons. Some cults still insist on obedience to the Law.
A cult is a religious group which professes belief in the Bible and Jesus, but denies the Father and the Son (cf., 1 John). Or the group denies that Jesus has come in the flesh (cf., 1 John). They don’t accept that Jesus is literally God the Son, eternally and fully God. They don’t believe Jesus is the only way to be brought back to the Father. In one or more ways they reject the true, Biblical Jesus.
They are therefore not really Christians but wolves in sheep’s clothing, regardless of good intentions or anything else (cf., 1 John). Christianity is not a religious system or a set of doctrines. It is the Person and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. The churches are full of folks who hold to a set of doctrines and practically never leave the church building. Alas, but they know not Jesus personally and, because of this, they are not Christians.
We must take our leave at this time. The day is far spent. The night falls fast. Let’s spend time with Jesus before we hit the pillow. He has much to teach us from our study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 14, 2013
Apples to Oranges – Part 2
We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ [2 Corinthians 3:13-14].
Moses would enter the tent outside the camp and visit with the Lord. When he exited the tent his face glowed with the glory of God. Moses covered his face with a veil because this glory came from the Covenant of Law, and the Law was a temporary expedient until the fullness of the times came and the Messiah brought with Him the Covenant of Grace.
That is Paul’s point. The Law of Moses was the Word of God. It served as the legal code for the nation of Israel while they inhabited the Promised Land. But it was only a pedagogue, a school marm to teach the Israelites—and through them the Gentiles—of man’s inability to approach the Lord.
Every man is a sinner and God cannot tolerate sin. Man needs a Savior to pay the penalty for his sins and then provide him with a new, sin-free nature. Once man is cleansed of his sins and clothed in this new righteousness, then he is able to approach the Lord in covenantal relationship with Him.
The first man, that old sinner, required the Law to incessantly expose his sins and show him his need for a Savior. This was a temporary expedient for the simple fact that sooner or later each person dies for his sins or else accepts the Savior’s payment for his sins and receives His new life.
This confirms that the Covenant of Law, though glorious because it is God’s Word, possesses a fading glory. It also establishes the Covenant of Grace as possessing an eternal glory because it never ends. Once a person is born again, the new life in him never terminates. It is eternal and its glory never fades away.
So long as the Hebrews clung to the Law and rejected God’s grace, they had only a fading glory. The only way out was to recognize the true purpose of the Law, accept the Lord Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law on their behalf, and embrace Grace instead of Law.
Referring once more to our numbered list of six distinctions between Law and Grace, the Law was on stone tablets. This meant it was hard and cold, not warm and accepting and forgiving. It could not be altered. It condemned sinners without recourse.
Grace, contrariwise, lives in human hearts, motivating the saint to live for the Lord because he wants to do so. The Law could effect no such “want to”. It was on the outside of man, unable to get inside.
This is why Paul identified the Law as the ministry of death. It could only expose man’s sins, not effect a qualitative change in man’s nature. Grace, however, was inside in the heart. It not only was a qualitative change, a new nature, but it then brought out of man the life of the Spirit in his daily living.
The Law could not help but condemn man because the Law condemns sinners. That was the purpose of the Law. Grace cannot help but justify man because the Lord Jesus, though being without sin, died for the sins of all mankind and paid sins penalty.
To any sinner who approaches Him in repentance, Jesus freely provides carte blanche payment for the penalty of his sins, and then Jesus freely bestows His own righteous nature on this man. It is free on all counts, which is the definition of “grace”.
This brings each of us to the crossroads with a decision to make. Will we go left or will we go right? To the left is the Law and condemnation for our sins. To the right is the Covenant of Grace with payment for the penalty of our sins, and with God’s own righteous nature to live inside us and empower us to live the new life. What say ye? Will you go to the left or to the right?
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
Moses would enter the tent outside the camp and visit with the Lord. When he exited the tent his face glowed with the glory of God. Moses covered his face with a veil because this glory came from the Covenant of Law, and the Law was a temporary expedient until the fullness of the times came and the Messiah brought with Him the Covenant of Grace.
That is Paul’s point. The Law of Moses was the Word of God. It served as the legal code for the nation of Israel while they inhabited the Promised Land. But it was only a pedagogue, a school marm to teach the Israelites—and through them the Gentiles—of man’s inability to approach the Lord.
Every man is a sinner and God cannot tolerate sin. Man needs a Savior to pay the penalty for his sins and then provide him with a new, sin-free nature. Once man is cleansed of his sins and clothed in this new righteousness, then he is able to approach the Lord in covenantal relationship with Him.
The first man, that old sinner, required the Law to incessantly expose his sins and show him his need for a Savior. This was a temporary expedient for the simple fact that sooner or later each person dies for his sins or else accepts the Savior’s payment for his sins and receives His new life.
This confirms that the Covenant of Law, though glorious because it is God’s Word, possesses a fading glory. It also establishes the Covenant of Grace as possessing an eternal glory because it never ends. Once a person is born again, the new life in him never terminates. It is eternal and its glory never fades away.
So long as the Hebrews clung to the Law and rejected God’s grace, they had only a fading glory. The only way out was to recognize the true purpose of the Law, accept the Lord Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law on their behalf, and embrace Grace instead of Law.
Referring once more to our numbered list of six distinctions between Law and Grace, the Law was on stone tablets. This meant it was hard and cold, not warm and accepting and forgiving. It could not be altered. It condemned sinners without recourse.
Grace, contrariwise, lives in human hearts, motivating the saint to live for the Lord because he wants to do so. The Law could effect no such “want to”. It was on the outside of man, unable to get inside.
This is why Paul identified the Law as the ministry of death. It could only expose man’s sins, not effect a qualitative change in man’s nature. Grace, however, was inside in the heart. It not only was a qualitative change, a new nature, but it then brought out of man the life of the Spirit in his daily living.
The Law could not help but condemn man because the Law condemns sinners. That was the purpose of the Law. Grace cannot help but justify man because the Lord Jesus, though being without sin, died for the sins of all mankind and paid sins penalty.
To any sinner who approaches Him in repentance, Jesus freely provides carte blanche payment for the penalty of his sins, and then Jesus freely bestows His own righteous nature on this man. It is free on all counts, which is the definition of “grace”.
This brings each of us to the crossroads with a decision to make. Will we go left or will we go right? To the left is the Law and condemnation for our sins. To the right is the Covenant of Grace with payment for the penalty of our sins, and with God’s own righteous nature to live inside us and empower us to live the new life. What say ye? Will you go to the left or to the right?
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 13, 2013
Apples to Oranges – Part 1
We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ [2 Corinthians 3:13-14].
You’ve undoubtedly heard the aphorism, “Comparing apples to oranges”. The two are both fruit, but otherwise the dissimilarities are determinative. Each is a different species entirely, not having the same family “genes”.
The same is true of the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace. Much confusion abounds in theology today because intelligent Christians compare apples to oranges, er, I mean Law to Grace. They think they have a handle on the Bible, but they fail to recognize the context of the text. They lump it all together as “God’s Word” and figure that suffices.
Yes, the entire Bible is unqualifiedly the Word of God, inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts. But the entire Bible does not address the same social, political, economic, and spiritual situations. Nor was the entire Bible written to the same people. Neither was the entire Bible written to the same people facing the same conditions in each case.
To get the right meaning from the Bible, we must rightly divide the Word of truth (cf., 2 Timothy 2:15). Lumping it all together is like combining the sheep and the goats, under the guise that we see no difference. We’ll soon feel the difference, however. The sheep will follow, but the goats will head butt!
In the Bible text which we quoted to kick off this study, Paul based his teaching on this very concept. He wanted us to be sure we put into context each Bible text, to realize the fundamental difference between the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace.
In v.6 of 2 Corinthians 13 Paul makes reference to a “new covenant”. That, dear friends, refers to the Covenant of Grace. If there is a “new” covenant, then there perforce must be an “old” covenant too. Of course there is. It is the Covenant of Law. Let’s list the distinctions Paul makes, listing the “old” followed by the “new”.
1. written on stone tablets vs. written on human hearts (v.3)
2. the letter vs. the Spirit (v.6)
3. the letter kills vs. the Spirit gives life (v.6)
4. ministry of death vs. ministry of the Spirit (vv.7-8)
5. ministry of condemnation vs. ministry of righteousness (v.9)
6. that which fades away vs. that which remains (v.11)
We find a true interpretation of our opening Bible text in the context of Law vs. Grace, as itemized by those six contrasting phrases. Now let’s assay those verses.
Before the tabernacle worship structure was constructed and set up at Mount Sinai, Moses set up another tent outside the camp. He would repair to this tent when he wanted to visit with the Lord for whatever reason. After communing with the Lord in said tent, Moses’ face shone with the glory of the Lord. When he exited the tent the Israelites were afraid, so Moses covered his face with a veil. You may wish to consult Exodus: Volume 2 for more information.
This is what Paul referenced in 2 Corinthians 3. Paul pointed out that Moses covered his face with a veil because the glory of the Lord which radiated on his face didn’t last long. It was a temporary glory, not a lasting or eternal glory. Moses, of course, brought the Word of God to the Israelites, and it is known as the Law of Moses, i.e., the Covenant of Law.
We will continue in our next study with this topic. Take the time now to enjoy fellowship with the Lord. Give Him His due and reap the blessings of His presence.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
You’ve undoubtedly heard the aphorism, “Comparing apples to oranges”. The two are both fruit, but otherwise the dissimilarities are determinative. Each is a different species entirely, not having the same family “genes”.
The same is true of the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace. Much confusion abounds in theology today because intelligent Christians compare apples to oranges, er, I mean Law to Grace. They think they have a handle on the Bible, but they fail to recognize the context of the text. They lump it all together as “God’s Word” and figure that suffices.
Yes, the entire Bible is unqualifiedly the Word of God, inerrant and infallible in the original manuscripts. But the entire Bible does not address the same social, political, economic, and spiritual situations. Nor was the entire Bible written to the same people. Neither was the entire Bible written to the same people facing the same conditions in each case.
To get the right meaning from the Bible, we must rightly divide the Word of truth (cf., 2 Timothy 2:15). Lumping it all together is like combining the sheep and the goats, under the guise that we see no difference. We’ll soon feel the difference, however. The sheep will follow, but the goats will head butt!
In the Bible text which we quoted to kick off this study, Paul based his teaching on this very concept. He wanted us to be sure we put into context each Bible text, to realize the fundamental difference between the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace.
In v.6 of 2 Corinthians 13 Paul makes reference to a “new covenant”. That, dear friends, refers to the Covenant of Grace. If there is a “new” covenant, then there perforce must be an “old” covenant too. Of course there is. It is the Covenant of Law. Let’s list the distinctions Paul makes, listing the “old” followed by the “new”.
1. written on stone tablets vs. written on human hearts (v.3)
2. the letter vs. the Spirit (v.6)
3. the letter kills vs. the Spirit gives life (v.6)
4. ministry of death vs. ministry of the Spirit (vv.7-8)
5. ministry of condemnation vs. ministry of righteousness (v.9)
6. that which fades away vs. that which remains (v.11)
We find a true interpretation of our opening Bible text in the context of Law vs. Grace, as itemized by those six contrasting phrases. Now let’s assay those verses.
Before the tabernacle worship structure was constructed and set up at Mount Sinai, Moses set up another tent outside the camp. He would repair to this tent when he wanted to visit with the Lord for whatever reason. After communing with the Lord in said tent, Moses’ face shone with the glory of the Lord. When he exited the tent the Israelites were afraid, so Moses covered his face with a veil. You may wish to consult Exodus: Volume 2 for more information.
This is what Paul referenced in 2 Corinthians 3. Paul pointed out that Moses covered his face with a veil because the glory of the Lord which radiated on his face didn’t last long. It was a temporary glory, not a lasting or eternal glory. Moses, of course, brought the Word of God to the Israelites, and it is known as the Law of Moses, i.e., the Covenant of Law.
We will continue in our next study with this topic. Take the time now to enjoy fellowship with the Lord. Give Him His due and reap the blessings of His presence.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
Kettle & the Pot – Part 3
But he answered and said to his father, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.” [Luke 15:29-30]
The lesson of the prodigal son was the same as the lesson of the first two parables. However, it didn’t stop with that one lesson. The most important lesson occurred only in this parable. Let’s assay the parable and learn the lesson, shall we?
The father had two sons, not just one, though only one was lost, i.e., gone away from the home front. The other son never left home. He stayed and did what his father told him to do. When he heard the joyous celebration taking place inside the house, he asked a servant what it was about.
The servant reported to him how his brother had returned, and the family was celebrating. Big bro was irate! Dad had to go outside and attempt to coax him into joining the feast. Big bro resented dad and let him know it in no uncertain terms.
“I never ever left you. I stayed right here and did everything you told me to do. Still, you never threw a banquet for me and invited all my friends to celebrate with me. But this ragamuffin, this urchin, this tatterdemalion, he goes off to the brothels and wastes all his money, then comes crawling back for more—and you throw him a party! How dare you, dad!”
Remember the context now. There were two classes of people around Jesus. The tax collectors and sinners were represented by the prodigal son. They didn’t stick around the church building with Father God and “did everything He told them to do”. The other class of people consisted of the Pharisees and the scribes. They did hang around in the church building and consider themselves the prim and proper moral examples of society. They did everything Father God expected of them. This class was represented by big bro.
What did the father (aka Father God) have to say in response to big bro’s attitude toward his younger brother? “Son, you are always here and everything I have is yours.”
In terms of the Pharisees and scribes, this means they could have enjoyed Father God and celebrated with Him, but they were too stiff and formalistic to enjoy Him. They were too busy believing themselves to obey all His rules, when in fact they failed miserably. They did what he said only perfunctorily. They didn’t understand the need for their obedience to come from the heart, which would have made it a joyful thing, not an onerous burden they failed to enjoy.
Then the father (aka Father God) added, “This brother of yours was lost but now he is found, he was dead but now he lives.” In terms of the Pharisees and scribes, this was Jesus’ rebuke of them for wanting to keep the tax collectors and sinners separated from Father God by their sins. The tax collectors and sinners came to Jesus to be forgiven, and the religious leaders and teachers wanted Jesus to send them away, leaving them in their sins and destined for hell!
Can you believe that? Isn’t that about as outrageous an attitude as ever darkened the doors of the church building? Fie fie on those scribes and Pharisees! Right? But can we look in the mirror and feign innocence to the same charge, dear friends?
Let’s hie off to the Lord Jesus now and pour our hearts out to Him. He wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Are we wholeheartedly on board with this? Let’s not get off our knees before Jesus until we are.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
The lesson of the prodigal son was the same as the lesson of the first two parables. However, it didn’t stop with that one lesson. The most important lesson occurred only in this parable. Let’s assay the parable and learn the lesson, shall we?
The father had two sons, not just one, though only one was lost, i.e., gone away from the home front. The other son never left home. He stayed and did what his father told him to do. When he heard the joyous celebration taking place inside the house, he asked a servant what it was about.
The servant reported to him how his brother had returned, and the family was celebrating. Big bro was irate! Dad had to go outside and attempt to coax him into joining the feast. Big bro resented dad and let him know it in no uncertain terms.
“I never ever left you. I stayed right here and did everything you told me to do. Still, you never threw a banquet for me and invited all my friends to celebrate with me. But this ragamuffin, this urchin, this tatterdemalion, he goes off to the brothels and wastes all his money, then comes crawling back for more—and you throw him a party! How dare you, dad!”
Remember the context now. There were two classes of people around Jesus. The tax collectors and sinners were represented by the prodigal son. They didn’t stick around the church building with Father God and “did everything He told them to do”. The other class of people consisted of the Pharisees and the scribes. They did hang around in the church building and consider themselves the prim and proper moral examples of society. They did everything Father God expected of them. This class was represented by big bro.
What did the father (aka Father God) have to say in response to big bro’s attitude toward his younger brother? “Son, you are always here and everything I have is yours.”
In terms of the Pharisees and scribes, this means they could have enjoyed Father God and celebrated with Him, but they were too stiff and formalistic to enjoy Him. They were too busy believing themselves to obey all His rules, when in fact they failed miserably. They did what he said only perfunctorily. They didn’t understand the need for their obedience to come from the heart, which would have made it a joyful thing, not an onerous burden they failed to enjoy.
Then the father (aka Father God) added, “This brother of yours was lost but now he is found, he was dead but now he lives.” In terms of the Pharisees and scribes, this was Jesus’ rebuke of them for wanting to keep the tax collectors and sinners separated from Father God by their sins. The tax collectors and sinners came to Jesus to be forgiven, and the religious leaders and teachers wanted Jesus to send them away, leaving them in their sins and destined for hell!
Can you believe that? Isn’t that about as outrageous an attitude as ever darkened the doors of the church building? Fie fie on those scribes and Pharisees! Right? But can we look in the mirror and feign innocence to the same charge, dear friends?
Let’s hie off to the Lord Jesus now and pour our hearts out to Him. He wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Are we wholeheartedly on board with this? Let’s not get off our knees before Jesus until we are.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
March 11, 2013
Kettle & the Pot – Part 2
But he answered and said to his father, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.” [Luke 15:29-30]
Jesus told three parables to teach an important spiritual truth to those listening to Him. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus made the point that there were 100 sheep and one was lost. In response the shepherd left the 99 in the sheepfold and went searching for the one lost sheep until he found it.
In the parable of the lost coin there were 10 coins and one was lost. The owner of the coins lit the lamps in the house and swept through the entire dwelling, not giving up until she found it. In both cases the shepherd and the woman rejoiced ecstatically over recovering the one lost piece of property.
In the parable of the prodigal son the same lesson was taught. This father had two sons. The younger insisted his father give him his inheritance now. After receiving it, the younger son went off to a far country because he wanted to live contrary to the way his father raised him. So he went far away where his father wouldn’t witness it.
To make a long story short, he squandered all his inheritance and needed a job. The only job offer he received was to feed some pigs. This son was so impoverished and destitute, that he actually wanted to eat the pig food!
Suddenly he remembered good old dad and life as it once was. Living for the devil lost its appeal. Living for dad jumped to the forefront of his desire. So he headed back home, intent on begging his father just to let him be one of the servants. He wasn’t fit to be dad’s son anymore, he reasoned.
That, by the way, is the definition of true Biblical repentance. More often than I care to remember, I’ve heard apologies that went like this, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt you, I’m sorry.” That’s fine and good, dear friends, but that’s not real repentance! What is being repented of? The person speaking in such a fashion isn’t even aware of what he/she did wrong, so how can the person ask forgiveness for doing it?
Anyway, the father saw the son coming way off yonder because he was watching expectantly for his son’s return. He wanted him back and wanted to forgive him, you see. So he ran down the road and, before his son could even repent, he threw his arms around the lad and gave him a bear hug. Then he had the servants put a ring on his finger and a robe around his torso. He followed this up with an order to kill the fatted calf and prepare a feast for his once-lost son.
The message is the same as that of the first two parables. Something was lost and the owner wouldn’t give up until he retrieved it. Of course the owner is God, and the lost items are sinful men and women. The tax collectors and sinners flocked to Jesus and He gladly received them. They had been lost, but now they were found.
This is where the twist occurs in the parable of the prodigal son. Oh, but it is time to stop once more. We will finish the saga 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/Randy-Green/e/B...
Jesus told three parables to teach an important spiritual truth to those listening to Him. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus made the point that there were 100 sheep and one was lost. In response the shepherd left the 99 in the sheepfold and went searching for the one lost sheep until he found it.
In the parable of the lost coin there were 10 coins and one was lost. The owner of the coins lit the lamps in the house and swept through the entire dwelling, not giving up until she found it. In both cases the shepherd and the woman rejoiced ecstatically over recovering the one lost piece of property.
In the parable of the prodigal son the same lesson was taught. This father had two sons. The younger insisted his father give him his inheritance now. After receiving it, the younger son went off to a far country because he wanted to live contrary to the way his father raised him. So he went far away where his father wouldn’t witness it.
To make a long story short, he squandered all his inheritance and needed a job. The only job offer he received was to feed some pigs. This son was so impoverished and destitute, that he actually wanted to eat the pig food!
Suddenly he remembered good old dad and life as it once was. Living for the devil lost its appeal. Living for dad jumped to the forefront of his desire. So he headed back home, intent on begging his father just to let him be one of the servants. He wasn’t fit to be dad’s son anymore, he reasoned.
That, by the way, is the definition of true Biblical repentance. More often than I care to remember, I’ve heard apologies that went like this, “If I’ve ever done anything to hurt you, I’m sorry.” That’s fine and good, dear friends, but that’s not real repentance! What is being repented of? The person speaking in such a fashion isn’t even aware of what he/she did wrong, so how can the person ask forgiveness for doing it?
Anyway, the father saw the son coming way off yonder because he was watching expectantly for his son’s return. He wanted him back and wanted to forgive him, you see. So he ran down the road and, before his son could even repent, he threw his arms around the lad and gave him a bear hug. Then he had the servants put a ring on his finger and a robe around his torso. He followed this up with an order to kill the fatted calf and prepare a feast for his once-lost son.
The message is the same as that of the first two parables. Something was lost and the owner wouldn’t give up until he retrieved it. Of course the owner is God, and the lost items are sinful men and women. The tax collectors and sinners flocked to Jesus and He gladly received them. They had been lost, but now they were found.
This is where the twist occurs in the parable of the prodigal son. Oh, but it is time to stop once more. We will finish the saga 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/Randy-Green/e/B...
