Randy Green's Blog, page 480
May 4, 2012
I Forgive You – Part 1
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, “I repent,” forgive him [Luke 17:3-4].
There is this concept which is habitually proclaimed from the pulpits, that it is incumbent on every Christian to forgive those who wrong them. In and of itself the concept is Biblical, and I heartily give my “Amen!” to it. Thus far we hear nothing which is to be gainsaid.
But then in ignorance the leaven of false teaching is smuggled in unawares. An addendum is added to the effect that it matters not whether the person doing the wrong is sorry for his wrongdoing. If he doesn’t think it is wrong, no matter. We are obligated to forgive him!
Various proof-texts are summoned to the witness stand to testify to the validity of this addendum. One example is to quote, “Thou shalt not judge!” If we accept such an interpretation of those Biblical words, we are left with the inability to share the Gospel because the Gospel by definition judges sinners. So I think we’ll pass on such an interpretation.
Consider another example. In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asked the Lord Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus instructed Peter to forgive him not just up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times. This teaching is held up as proof that Jesus didn’t require repentance first, before a child of God can forgive anyone.
If all we had to go by was the Matthew 18 account, we would not know the context accurately. We might well reach the interpretation just given, apart from a context. However, we have the same subject addressed by Jesus in Luke 17, which we quoted at the start of this study.
In Matthew 18 Peter asked the Lord for clarification on how often to forgive someone. Peter asked nothing about whether or not the person was sorry. That issue isn’t addressed in Matthew 18. Don’t take my word for it. Read the account in your Bible and see for yourself.
To conclude from the Matthew 18 account that Jesus didn’t answer a question Peter failed to ask, this is circular reasoning. It has a formal title in Logic 101: argumentum e silentio or the argument from silence. Someone didn’t refer to Topic X, so Topic X must be okay, or Topic X must not apply, etc. The argument is recognized as invalid and false by all logical persons!
In the case of Matthew 18 this argument states that Jesus didn’t require repentance on the part of the wrongdoer, so repentance isn’t required for forgiveness. But as we noted already, Peter didn’t ask about the wrongdoer’s part in the equation. He only asked about the part of the person wronged. Hence Jesus only taught him the part required of the person wronged.
Let’s call it a day and take our leave at this time. Converse with the Lord Jesus about the subject before going to sleep. We’ll meet together again 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...
There is this concept which is habitually proclaimed from the pulpits, that it is incumbent on every Christian to forgive those who wrong them. In and of itself the concept is Biblical, and I heartily give my “Amen!” to it. Thus far we hear nothing which is to be gainsaid.
But then in ignorance the leaven of false teaching is smuggled in unawares. An addendum is added to the effect that it matters not whether the person doing the wrong is sorry for his wrongdoing. If he doesn’t think it is wrong, no matter. We are obligated to forgive him!
Various proof-texts are summoned to the witness stand to testify to the validity of this addendum. One example is to quote, “Thou shalt not judge!” If we accept such an interpretation of those Biblical words, we are left with the inability to share the Gospel because the Gospel by definition judges sinners. So I think we’ll pass on such an interpretation.
Consider another example. In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asked the Lord Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus instructed Peter to forgive him not just up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times. This teaching is held up as proof that Jesus didn’t require repentance first, before a child of God can forgive anyone.
If all we had to go by was the Matthew 18 account, we would not know the context accurately. We might well reach the interpretation just given, apart from a context. However, we have the same subject addressed by Jesus in Luke 17, which we quoted at the start of this study.
In Matthew 18 Peter asked the Lord for clarification on how often to forgive someone. Peter asked nothing about whether or not the person was sorry. That issue isn’t addressed in Matthew 18. Don’t take my word for it. Read the account in your Bible and see for yourself.
To conclude from the Matthew 18 account that Jesus didn’t answer a question Peter failed to ask, this is circular reasoning. It has a formal title in Logic 101: argumentum e silentio or the argument from silence. Someone didn’t refer to Topic X, so Topic X must be okay, or Topic X must not apply, etc. The argument is recognized as invalid and false by all logical persons!
In the case of Matthew 18 this argument states that Jesus didn’t require repentance on the part of the wrongdoer, so repentance isn’t required for forgiveness. But as we noted already, Peter didn’t ask about the wrongdoer’s part in the equation. He only asked about the part of the person wronged. Hence Jesus only taught him the part required of the person wronged.
Let’s call it a day and take our leave at this time. Converse with the Lord Jesus about the subject before going to sleep. We’ll meet together again 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 3, 2012
Missouri, the Show Me State – Part 2
If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead [Luke 16:31].
Yesterday we paused in Hades, where the rich man wanted Lazarus to return to earth and warn his five brothers to repent. Abraham denied the rich man’s request, noting that the five brothers could read the Word of God and learn of their need to repent. Let’s continue from there now.
Hades was so unbearable that the rich man was truly worried sick about his five brothers’. So he pleaded with Abraham, “They won’t listen to the Word of God, Father Abraham. But if someone were to return from the dead, then they’d listen!”
Isn’t that what all of us believe deep down? If the secrets of our hearts were laid bear for all to see, the truth would express itself something like this: “Show me a mighty miracle, and then I’ll believe whatever it is you’re selling, God! But some of the things in the Bible, well, it’s expecting a little much to hold me to them, don’t you think?”
This is where the conclusion to Jesus’ story comes into play, dear friends. We quoted it at the start of this study. What did Abraham answer the rich man? Just this: if your five brothers won’t listen to the written Word of God, they won’t be convinced by someone rising from the dead either.
Do you hear Father Abraham, dear friends? Do his words ring in your ears and descend into the depths of your heart? The written Word of God takes priority over miracles any day of the week, even such an astounding miracle as the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
The purpose of miracles was never to convince people to repent and be saved. Miracles never did achieve such a result. Miracles served to confirm that a prophet was truly sent from God. Miracles also confirmed that what was written by prophets and apostles was the inspired written Word of God.
But miracles never have, don’t now, and never will serve to convert anyone to salvation. The Word of God is required to do that, along with the Holy Spirit to impress the Word of God on the person, so that he is convicted of his sins and brought repentance.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man foretold the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what would follow. Those who believed before the resurrection continued to believe after the resurrection. Unbelievers before the resurrection continued in their unbelief after the resurrection.
The purpose of the resurrection was not to convince anyone of the truth. The resurrection was the necessary outcome of the crucifixion. By means of the resurrection Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power (cf., Romans 1:4). He died, yes, but death could not keep its hold on the Author of life.
By means of the crucifixion Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind. By means of the resurrection Jesus’ death was proven to be accepted by the Father as payment for the sins of all mankind.
But no one present at the crucifixion could see with the visible eye that the penalty for his sins was paid. Nor could they view the empty tomb and see with the naked eye that the Father accepted this payment. Only the eye of faith can see these and all spiritual truths. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God, not from observing miracles.
There is this saying, “I’m from Missouri. You got to show me.” No offense intended for any of our Missouri friends, but let’s not take such an approach!
Let’s put our faith in the trustworthy Word of God, rather than in visible things like sign gifts and miracles, dear friends. By grace are we saved through faith.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Yesterday we paused in Hades, where the rich man wanted Lazarus to return to earth and warn his five brothers to repent. Abraham denied the rich man’s request, noting that the five brothers could read the Word of God and learn of their need to repent. Let’s continue from there now.
Hades was so unbearable that the rich man was truly worried sick about his five brothers’. So he pleaded with Abraham, “They won’t listen to the Word of God, Father Abraham. But if someone were to return from the dead, then they’d listen!”
Isn’t that what all of us believe deep down? If the secrets of our hearts were laid bear for all to see, the truth would express itself something like this: “Show me a mighty miracle, and then I’ll believe whatever it is you’re selling, God! But some of the things in the Bible, well, it’s expecting a little much to hold me to them, don’t you think?”
This is where the conclusion to Jesus’ story comes into play, dear friends. We quoted it at the start of this study. What did Abraham answer the rich man? Just this: if your five brothers won’t listen to the written Word of God, they won’t be convinced by someone rising from the dead either.
Do you hear Father Abraham, dear friends? Do his words ring in your ears and descend into the depths of your heart? The written Word of God takes priority over miracles any day of the week, even such an astounding miracle as the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
The purpose of miracles was never to convince people to repent and be saved. Miracles never did achieve such a result. Miracles served to confirm that a prophet was truly sent from God. Miracles also confirmed that what was written by prophets and apostles was the inspired written Word of God.
But miracles never have, don’t now, and never will serve to convert anyone to salvation. The Word of God is required to do that, along with the Holy Spirit to impress the Word of God on the person, so that he is convicted of his sins and brought repentance.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man foretold the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what would follow. Those who believed before the resurrection continued to believe after the resurrection. Unbelievers before the resurrection continued in their unbelief after the resurrection.
The purpose of the resurrection was not to convince anyone of the truth. The resurrection was the necessary outcome of the crucifixion. By means of the resurrection Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power (cf., Romans 1:4). He died, yes, but death could not keep its hold on the Author of life.
By means of the crucifixion Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind. By means of the resurrection Jesus’ death was proven to be accepted by the Father as payment for the sins of all mankind.
But no one present at the crucifixion could see with the visible eye that the penalty for his sins was paid. Nor could they view the empty tomb and see with the naked eye that the Father accepted this payment. Only the eye of faith can see these and all spiritual truths. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God, not from observing miracles.
There is this saying, “I’m from Missouri. You got to show me.” No offense intended for any of our Missouri friends, but let’s not take such an approach!
Let’s put our faith in the trustworthy Word of God, rather than in visible things like sign gifts and miracles, dear friends. By grace are we saved through faith.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 2, 2012
Missouri, the Show Me State – Part 1
If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead [Luke 16:31].
I’ve had occasion over the years to hear it all, or at least most of it! One common statement coming from folks who stepped in it goes like this, “If only I had known, I wouldn’t have done what I did.” Perhaps not. Just perhaps. But then again…
It is troubling to hear suchlike talk, mainly because the words usually amount to no more than rationalization. The person speaking wants to explain away his guilt and make himself innocent without ever being sorry for his wrong. He is attempting to induce sympathy.
Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus, at least partially so. I refer to it as Jesus’ story and not His parable because I don’t believe it to be a parable at all. It was a true story by the telling of it, not containing the usual phraseology of a parable. Jesus usually began His parables by stating something to this effect, “The kingdom of God is like…”
In addition, the story could only be told by someone from eternity, seeing how it reveals events from eternity. This detail adds proof to Jesus’ claim to be God. Let’s review the story, shall we?
There was this rich man and there was this poor man, Larazus by name. The rich man was filthy rich and the poor man suffered from abject poverty. What’s more, the poor man was sickly—small wonder!—not having the means to pay medical expenses to care for himself.
Without money for food Larazus had to sit at the rich man’s door, in hopes of receiving some small token of charity from the rich man. Larazus served as the Lord’s opportunity for the rich man to do a righteous act.
Alas, but Larazus went unnoticed day after day, until one day he no longer sat at the rich man’s door. The Lord saw fit to promote Larazus to eternity, where at last he enjoyed his good things in Abraham’s bosom.
Then one day the rich man ceased to pass back and forth through his front door, the same door where Larazus once upon a time used to sit daily. The rich man’s hour glass ran out of sand, and the day of salvation ended for him. The Lord dispatched him to Hades, a place we should never wish upon anyone.
In Hades the rich man was in torment. He was able to see Lazarus enjoying himself in comfort and spiritual contentment. And there was Abraham right there with Lazarus.
Calling out to Abraham the erstwhile rich man pleaded, “Father Abraham, I am parched and suffer the most intense and searing pain. Please have Lazarus dip his finger in some water and come here to touch my tongue with a drop of the moisture.”
Abraham explained that no one was permitted to travel between the two locations. To this the rich man responded, “Then please send Larzarus to my five brothers who are still alive, with a message to warn them of what’s in store for them if they don’t repent.”
“Oh no,” Abraham rejoined. “Can’t do that either. They can read the Word of God and learn that information.”
Not wanting to stop the horse in the middle of the stream, nonetheless our time is up. The horse can drink his fill and we can spend time with the Lord while he drinks. We’ll continue this study tomorrow.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’ve had occasion over the years to hear it all, or at least most of it! One common statement coming from folks who stepped in it goes like this, “If only I had known, I wouldn’t have done what I did.” Perhaps not. Just perhaps. But then again…
It is troubling to hear suchlike talk, mainly because the words usually amount to no more than rationalization. The person speaking wants to explain away his guilt and make himself innocent without ever being sorry for his wrong. He is attempting to induce sympathy.
Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus, at least partially so. I refer to it as Jesus’ story and not His parable because I don’t believe it to be a parable at all. It was a true story by the telling of it, not containing the usual phraseology of a parable. Jesus usually began His parables by stating something to this effect, “The kingdom of God is like…”
In addition, the story could only be told by someone from eternity, seeing how it reveals events from eternity. This detail adds proof to Jesus’ claim to be God. Let’s review the story, shall we?
There was this rich man and there was this poor man, Larazus by name. The rich man was filthy rich and the poor man suffered from abject poverty. What’s more, the poor man was sickly—small wonder!—not having the means to pay medical expenses to care for himself.
Without money for food Larazus had to sit at the rich man’s door, in hopes of receiving some small token of charity from the rich man. Larazus served as the Lord’s opportunity for the rich man to do a righteous act.
Alas, but Larazus went unnoticed day after day, until one day he no longer sat at the rich man’s door. The Lord saw fit to promote Larazus to eternity, where at last he enjoyed his good things in Abraham’s bosom.
Then one day the rich man ceased to pass back and forth through his front door, the same door where Larazus once upon a time used to sit daily. The rich man’s hour glass ran out of sand, and the day of salvation ended for him. The Lord dispatched him to Hades, a place we should never wish upon anyone.
In Hades the rich man was in torment. He was able to see Lazarus enjoying himself in comfort and spiritual contentment. And there was Abraham right there with Lazarus.
Calling out to Abraham the erstwhile rich man pleaded, “Father Abraham, I am parched and suffer the most intense and searing pain. Please have Lazarus dip his finger in some water and come here to touch my tongue with a drop of the moisture.”
Abraham explained that no one was permitted to travel between the two locations. To this the rich man responded, “Then please send Larzarus to my five brothers who are still alive, with a message to warn them of what’s in store for them if they don’t repent.”
“Oh no,” Abraham rejoined. “Can’t do that either. They can read the Word of God and learn that information.”
Not wanting to stop the horse in the middle of the stream, nonetheless our time is up. The horse can drink his fill and we can spend time with the Lord while he drinks. We’ll continue this study tomorrow.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
May 1, 2012
Counting When It Counts – Part 3
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
Let’s present the additional proof of our interpretation now, as we promised at the close of yesterday’s study. The proof is in the pudding, dear friends. As we noted earlier, Jesus provided two examples for interpreting verses 26-27. These two examples are recorded in Luke 14:28-33. Let me summarize the two for you.
No one starts constructing a building, without first counting his money to see if he can afford to build it. He needs to do the counting when it counts. Otherwise he might get the foundation laid and the framework built atop the foundation, but haven’t the money to add the roof and walls and floors and windows. He’d be the laughingstock of the entire town!
Again, no one decides to rush over to his neighbor’s house and kick his rear end, unless he first knows whether the neighbor is a wuss or a warrior. Otherwise he might kick the door down and rush inside, only to find himself staring down barrel of a shotgun! His family won’t find it funny at his funeral, though the rest of the town might!
Jesus concluded those two illustrations with the words, So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions (v.33). In the example of constructing a building, the person had to count his money to see if he had enough to finish building. He couldn’t start off building unless he was willing, if necessary, to spend all he had to finish.
In the example of going to a fight, the person first had to be totally committed, even at the cost of paying with his very life. In both cases total sacrifice to the job he undertook had to be recognized and agreed to beforehand.
No one can be a disciple of Jesus, so long as he expects affluent living in country club church settings. To be a disciple of Jesus each of us is required to want the job so badly, that we no longer receive pleasure from the things of the world. The only pleasure we can receive from the things of the old life must come from serving Jesus and placing Him first and foremost.
We can and should use the things of the world to serve Jesus. This is what Jesus meant by His parable of the unjust steward (cf., Luke 16:1-9). But we cannot desire anything the world offers, including family, except in the context of serving Jesus first and foremost.
That, dear friends, is the definition of Jesus’ words “his own cross”. Our cross is Jesus, His death on the cross and His resurrection life. We take up our own cross by dying to our life of self-living, substituting in its place the new life of the resurrection Christ who lives in us.
I have a fantastic idea. Let’s take up our own cross. I’ll bet you it’s the cross of Christ.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Let’s present the additional proof of our interpretation now, as we promised at the close of yesterday’s study. The proof is in the pudding, dear friends. As we noted earlier, Jesus provided two examples for interpreting verses 26-27. These two examples are recorded in Luke 14:28-33. Let me summarize the two for you.
No one starts constructing a building, without first counting his money to see if he can afford to build it. He needs to do the counting when it counts. Otherwise he might get the foundation laid and the framework built atop the foundation, but haven’t the money to add the roof and walls and floors and windows. He’d be the laughingstock of the entire town!
Again, no one decides to rush over to his neighbor’s house and kick his rear end, unless he first knows whether the neighbor is a wuss or a warrior. Otherwise he might kick the door down and rush inside, only to find himself staring down barrel of a shotgun! His family won’t find it funny at his funeral, though the rest of the town might!
Jesus concluded those two illustrations with the words, So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions (v.33). In the example of constructing a building, the person had to count his money to see if he had enough to finish building. He couldn’t start off building unless he was willing, if necessary, to spend all he had to finish.
In the example of going to a fight, the person first had to be totally committed, even at the cost of paying with his very life. In both cases total sacrifice to the job he undertook had to be recognized and agreed to beforehand.
No one can be a disciple of Jesus, so long as he expects affluent living in country club church settings. To be a disciple of Jesus each of us is required to want the job so badly, that we no longer receive pleasure from the things of the world. The only pleasure we can receive from the things of the old life must come from serving Jesus and placing Him first and foremost.
We can and should use the things of the world to serve Jesus. This is what Jesus meant by His parable of the unjust steward (cf., Luke 16:1-9). But we cannot desire anything the world offers, including family, except in the context of serving Jesus first and foremost.
That, dear friends, is the definition of Jesus’ words “his own cross”. Our cross is Jesus, His death on the cross and His resurrection life. We take up our own cross by dying to our life of self-living, substituting in its place the new life of the resurrection Christ who lives in us.
I have a fantastic idea. Let’s take up our own cross. I’ll bet you it’s the cross of Christ.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 30, 2012
Counting When It Counts – Part 2
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
We concluded yesterday’s study by noting the need to put Luke 14:27 into context, in order to understand it aright.So what is the context for Luke 14:27? Answer: verse 26. In fact Jesus provided two illustrations of what He meant in verses 28-33. First we will note the context from verse 26, and then we will briefly taste the proof in the pudding of verses 28-33.
In v.26 Jesus presented the one condition everyone must meet, if he would be Jesus’ disciple. Note the context, viz., discipleship. This in and of itself refutes 99.99% of the references to the phrase “my cross to bear”.
Seldom are those words used in the context of discipleship. They are almost always spoken during times of personal issues, not issues resulting from persecution and martyrdom because we are serving Jesus. Ergo, the phrase isn’t used vis-à-vis discipleship.
Consequently it is used out of context.
What was Jesus’ one condition everyone is required to meet, in order to be His disciple? Answer: we must die to our old life in every aspect, in order to live His new life in us. Read v.26 and see if this isn’t true. Even our most prized relationships must be put on the back burner, in order to give Jesus first place. Nothing, absolutely nothing, must be allowed to come between Jesus and His disciple.
In that context reread verse 27 now. Verses 26 and 27 are given in the style of Hebrew poetry. They are spoken as synonymous parallelism. Today we rhyme words at the end of lines and call it poetry. In the Bible the Hebrews rhymed ideas between lines to create their poetry. Jesus did this in verses 26-27.
Verse 26 is synonymous with verse 27. How do we carry our own cross? Read v.26 and see. We renounce our own life, in order to replace it with the life of Jesus in us. We stop living to please self, and we start living to please Jesus. We don’t allow our family relationships to dictate our lifestyle or our actions. Instead we allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to do so.
The Son of God took upon true humanity and lived in this very way. He willingly laid aside His prerogatives as Deity, and lived in the body by obeying the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. When He died on the cross, it wasn’t for His own sins. He didn’t have any sins. He died for our sins.
When I renounce my own life in favor of the life of Jesus in me, I am identifying myself on the cross of Christ with Him. I am dying to myself and all my family relationships, in order to rise out of death with Jesus to newness of life. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The old life is dead in Christ on His cross. The new life inside me rules me, so I live for Him as His disciple.
This is what it the phrase “cross of Christ” means to His disciples. And without first being born again no one can be His disciple. So when Jesus commands His disciple to take up his cross, He means for His disciple to renounce living for self by identifying how he died “in Christ” on the cross of Christ. The words “his own cross” in verse 27, when taken in context, mean the cross of Christ as it is recognized by the disciple to be his own cross because he was on that cross “in Christ”.
We will present further proof of this interpretation in tomorrow’s study. For now enjoy some quiet time alone with Jesus.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We concluded yesterday’s study by noting the need to put Luke 14:27 into context, in order to understand it aright.So what is the context for Luke 14:27? Answer: verse 26. In fact Jesus provided two illustrations of what He meant in verses 28-33. First we will note the context from verse 26, and then we will briefly taste the proof in the pudding of verses 28-33.
In v.26 Jesus presented the one condition everyone must meet, if he would be Jesus’ disciple. Note the context, viz., discipleship. This in and of itself refutes 99.99% of the references to the phrase “my cross to bear”.
Seldom are those words used in the context of discipleship. They are almost always spoken during times of personal issues, not issues resulting from persecution and martyrdom because we are serving Jesus. Ergo, the phrase isn’t used vis-à-vis discipleship.
Consequently it is used out of context.
What was Jesus’ one condition everyone is required to meet, in order to be His disciple? Answer: we must die to our old life in every aspect, in order to live His new life in us. Read v.26 and see if this isn’t true. Even our most prized relationships must be put on the back burner, in order to give Jesus first place. Nothing, absolutely nothing, must be allowed to come between Jesus and His disciple.
In that context reread verse 27 now. Verses 26 and 27 are given in the style of Hebrew poetry. They are spoken as synonymous parallelism. Today we rhyme words at the end of lines and call it poetry. In the Bible the Hebrews rhymed ideas between lines to create their poetry. Jesus did this in verses 26-27.
Verse 26 is synonymous with verse 27. How do we carry our own cross? Read v.26 and see. We renounce our own life, in order to replace it with the life of Jesus in us. We stop living to please self, and we start living to please Jesus. We don’t allow our family relationships to dictate our lifestyle or our actions. Instead we allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to do so.
The Son of God took upon true humanity and lived in this very way. He willingly laid aside His prerogatives as Deity, and lived in the body by obeying the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. When He died on the cross, it wasn’t for His own sins. He didn’t have any sins. He died for our sins.
When I renounce my own life in favor of the life of Jesus in me, I am identifying myself on the cross of Christ with Him. I am dying to myself and all my family relationships, in order to rise out of death with Jesus to newness of life. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The old life is dead in Christ on His cross. The new life inside me rules me, so I live for Him as His disciple.
This is what it the phrase “cross of Christ” means to His disciples. And without first being born again no one can be His disciple. So when Jesus commands His disciple to take up his cross, He means for His disciple to renounce living for self by identifying how he died “in Christ” on the cross of Christ. The words “his own cross” in verse 27, when taken in context, mean the cross of Christ as it is recognized by the disciple to be his own cross because he was on that cross “in Christ”.
We will present further proof of this interpretation in tomorrow’s study. For now enjoy some quiet time alone with Jesus.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 29, 2012
Counting When It Counts – Part 1
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple [Luke 14:26-27].
Often in life we face excessive and overwhelming burdens or trials, requiring us to trudge through the thick marsh to reach deliverance on the other side. It is not uncommon when facing such dire straits to utter the phrase, “This is my cross to bear.” Have you ever heard it?
Seldom is the distress identified by those words truly the person’s cross…at least not in the Biblical sense. The idea of bearing or carrying or taking up the cross has become a meaningless platitude. It would be well worth the effort for us to delve into this issue a bit.
Scripturally speaking there is only one cross, just as there is only one Savior who died on the cross and one salvation resulting from His death on the cross. We are of course referencing the cross of Christ. Though countless people were subjected to crucifixion under Roman rule, still none of their crosses deserves mention from God’s standpoint. Each one died for his own sins. Only Jesus did not.
The cross of Christ is the symbol of the God-man, as He died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. The cross in and of itself holds no value. It was only some rough lumber, unfinished and unsightly. It was the Lord’s death which created eternal value. The cross was merely the instrument employed in putting Jesus to death. Hence the cross is the symbol of His death, but in and of itself the wood cross on which He died holds no value.
From this understanding we can deduce that a cross in and of itself has no merit or value. I mean, since the cross of Christ in and of itself merits no value, certainly any other “cross” you or I supposedly bear cannot have merit or value. Am I not right?
So then what good is it, to identify troubles we face by the phrase “my cross to bear”? Such rhetoric can only muddy the waters of spiritual truth by devaluing the Lord’s death. Each of us would be well served to refrain from rhetoric about crosses, and instead focus on only the cross of Christ with regard to its true meaning.
Someone will object, “Oh, but Jesus commanded us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Are you saying Jesus was wrong about us having our own personal crosses?”
You are indeed correct, dear friend, to recall Jesus’ words. It warms my heart that you know them. In fact we quoted one example of this in the verses which kicked off this study. You err, however, in your understanding of what Jesus meant. Let’s consider this issue and see what we can learn.
What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:27, when he stated, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple? To answer this we need to recall Rule #1 for Bible study: a text without a context is a pretext.
Oh, dear. Out of time again! Let’s spend some time alone with the Lord now and meet back here tomorrow, same time, same station.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Often in life we face excessive and overwhelming burdens or trials, requiring us to trudge through the thick marsh to reach deliverance on the other side. It is not uncommon when facing such dire straits to utter the phrase, “This is my cross to bear.” Have you ever heard it?
Seldom is the distress identified by those words truly the person’s cross…at least not in the Biblical sense. The idea of bearing or carrying or taking up the cross has become a meaningless platitude. It would be well worth the effort for us to delve into this issue a bit.
Scripturally speaking there is only one cross, just as there is only one Savior who died on the cross and one salvation resulting from His death on the cross. We are of course referencing the cross of Christ. Though countless people were subjected to crucifixion under Roman rule, still none of their crosses deserves mention from God’s standpoint. Each one died for his own sins. Only Jesus did not.
The cross of Christ is the symbol of the God-man, as He died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. The cross in and of itself holds no value. It was only some rough lumber, unfinished and unsightly. It was the Lord’s death which created eternal value. The cross was merely the instrument employed in putting Jesus to death. Hence the cross is the symbol of His death, but in and of itself the wood cross on which He died holds no value.
From this understanding we can deduce that a cross in and of itself has no merit or value. I mean, since the cross of Christ in and of itself merits no value, certainly any other “cross” you or I supposedly bear cannot have merit or value. Am I not right?
So then what good is it, to identify troubles we face by the phrase “my cross to bear”? Such rhetoric can only muddy the waters of spiritual truth by devaluing the Lord’s death. Each of us would be well served to refrain from rhetoric about crosses, and instead focus on only the cross of Christ with regard to its true meaning.
Someone will object, “Oh, but Jesus commanded us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Are you saying Jesus was wrong about us having our own personal crosses?”
You are indeed correct, dear friend, to recall Jesus’ words. It warms my heart that you know them. In fact we quoted one example of this in the verses which kicked off this study. You err, however, in your understanding of what Jesus meant. Let’s consider this issue and see what we can learn.
What did Jesus mean in Luke 14:27, when he stated, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple? To answer this we need to recall Rule #1 for Bible study: a text without a context is a pretext.
Oh, dear. Out of time again! Let’s spend some time alone with the Lord now and meet back here tomorrow, same time, same station.
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 28, 2012
Janus the Baptist? – Part 2
For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John [Matthew 11:13].
We concluded our last study by observing how the Roman god Janus signified the end of one thing and the start of another thing. This concept has great bearing on the text quoted to begin this study. The Covenant of Law lasted until John Baptist arrived on the scene. Suddenly the Covenant of Grace took center stage, whether it was evident to folks at the time or not. Can anyone say “Janus the Baptist”?
The period of time from John the Baptist until the day of Pentecost fifty days after Jesus rose out of death was a sort of transition period. God sent His Son Jesus into the world, Jesus the God-man, in fulfillment of His promise to provide mankind with the seed of the woman. Jesus is Israel’s promised Messiah. Jesus is the prophet like Moses (Deut.18:15). Jesus is the One who implemented the Covenant of Grace (John 1:17).
John the Baptist was the person sent from God to identify the Messiah. John baptized people as a sign of repentance, in order to prepare them for the Messiah when He appeared. Then John identified Jesus as the Messiah, after which he directed people to follow Jesus their Messiah.
This means John began his ministry while Israel was under the Covenant of Law, but he departed this earth after the Covenant of Grace was being proclaimed by Jesus. Ergo, the time of John the Baptist was a transition period between the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace. This made John the Baptist a sort of Janus. Janus the Baptist… Has a nice ring to it.
The transition period ended and the Covenant of Grace came in full force, when the Church was born on Pentecost. The birth of the Church signified the temporary setting aside of the nation of Israel as the people through whom God would carry out His plan for the earth. From that time until the Rapture of the Church at the end of the Church Age, the Church contains the people through whom God is carrying on His work on earth.
The Law came through Moses and was given to the Israelites as the legal code for the Promised Land while Israel dwelt there. Grace came through Messiah Jesus and is given to the Church during the Church Age.
This is why Jesus declared that the the Old Covenant was preached until John the Baptist came on the scene. John introduced Jesus the Messiah to Israel under the Law. Jesus did several things as the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world (i.e., the seed of the woman). Here are some of them:
1. He fulfilled the Law for Israel
2. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for mankind’s sins
3. He rose out of death to provide forgiven sinners with new life
4. He ascended to heaven as the high priest for redeemed men
5. He sent the Holy Spirit to give birth to the Church
So why would anyone in his right mind want to put himself under bondage to the Law and the prophets again? That’s lunacy! Jesus freed us from bondage to the Law, enabling us to freely live for Him in holiness.
The Law and the prophets lasted until John the Baptist. John’s long been gone. Now is the day of grace. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved!
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We concluded our last study by observing how the Roman god Janus signified the end of one thing and the start of another thing. This concept has great bearing on the text quoted to begin this study. The Covenant of Law lasted until John Baptist arrived on the scene. Suddenly the Covenant of Grace took center stage, whether it was evident to folks at the time or not. Can anyone say “Janus the Baptist”?
The period of time from John the Baptist until the day of Pentecost fifty days after Jesus rose out of death was a sort of transition period. God sent His Son Jesus into the world, Jesus the God-man, in fulfillment of His promise to provide mankind with the seed of the woman. Jesus is Israel’s promised Messiah. Jesus is the prophet like Moses (Deut.18:15). Jesus is the One who implemented the Covenant of Grace (John 1:17).
John the Baptist was the person sent from God to identify the Messiah. John baptized people as a sign of repentance, in order to prepare them for the Messiah when He appeared. Then John identified Jesus as the Messiah, after which he directed people to follow Jesus their Messiah.
This means John began his ministry while Israel was under the Covenant of Law, but he departed this earth after the Covenant of Grace was being proclaimed by Jesus. Ergo, the time of John the Baptist was a transition period between the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace. This made John the Baptist a sort of Janus. Janus the Baptist… Has a nice ring to it.
The transition period ended and the Covenant of Grace came in full force, when the Church was born on Pentecost. The birth of the Church signified the temporary setting aside of the nation of Israel as the people through whom God would carry out His plan for the earth. From that time until the Rapture of the Church at the end of the Church Age, the Church contains the people through whom God is carrying on His work on earth.
The Law came through Moses and was given to the Israelites as the legal code for the Promised Land while Israel dwelt there. Grace came through Messiah Jesus and is given to the Church during the Church Age.
This is why Jesus declared that the the Old Covenant was preached until John the Baptist came on the scene. John introduced Jesus the Messiah to Israel under the Law. Jesus did several things as the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world (i.e., the seed of the woman). Here are some of them:
1. He fulfilled the Law for Israel
2. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for mankind’s sins
3. He rose out of death to provide forgiven sinners with new life
4. He ascended to heaven as the high priest for redeemed men
5. He sent the Holy Spirit to give birth to the Church
So why would anyone in his right mind want to put himself under bondage to the Law and the prophets again? That’s lunacy! Jesus freed us from bondage to the Law, enabling us to freely live for Him in holiness.
The Law and the prophets lasted until John the Baptist. John’s long been gone. Now is the day of grace. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved!
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 27, 2012
Janus the Baptist? – Part 1
For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John [Matthew 11:13].
It’s Final Four week, that time of the year when the four best men’s college basketball teams go at it to determine a national champion. Consider how men’s college basketball games are structured. There are two halves, with each consisting of twenty minutes, for a total of forty minutes per game.
Once a college player graduates, if he is fortunate enough to move on to the NBA, he discovers he must make some changes in his perception of the game. For one thing there are no more “halves”, and for another the game no longer lasts forty minutes. The NBA game is divided into quarters, with each consisting of twelve minutes, for a total of forty-eight minutes per game.
And then there is the matter of how many games are played in a season. For the college ranks the number hovers around thirty, but for the NBA it soars to eighty-two. Hmm. “30” versus “82”. That’s a lot of difference! So no longer are there around 30 games per year, each consisting of only forty minutes. Suddenly the one-time college player must play 82 games of forty-eight minutes each. Think those guys are worn down by the end of the regular season?
I thought about this when I read the quoted text which began our study today. College rules apply for a time, then suddenly new and entirely different rules apply for the NBA. So it was with the Covenant of Law versus the Covenant of Grace.
Jesus noted how long the Covenant of Law lasted when he declared, “all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John”. That would be the John of John Baptist fame. UNTIL JOHN, i.e., up until the time of John the Baptist, the Law and the prophets were in effect. The Old Covenant was God’s rule of Law for Israel.
Then suddenly the forty minute games became forty-eight minutes long, and the two halves transformed into four quarters. What once consisted of about 30 games suddenly metamorphosed into 82 games. Things were drastically different, you see, once John the Baptist came on the scene.
This calls to mind the Roman god Janus. Janus had two faces, with one facing behind and the other facing forward. The name “Janus” is where our month “January” derives its name. Janus looked to the past and to the future at the same time. Just as January 1 begins a new year by looking backward and then going forward, so to did the Roman god Janus. Janus signified the end of one thing and the start of another.
Oh, dear. We’ve come to the end of the line already. Let’s call it a day and begin afresh tomorrow. Some time alone with Jesus sounds about right just now. Won’t you join in?
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
It’s Final Four week, that time of the year when the four best men’s college basketball teams go at it to determine a national champion. Consider how men’s college basketball games are structured. There are two halves, with each consisting of twenty minutes, for a total of forty minutes per game.
Once a college player graduates, if he is fortunate enough to move on to the NBA, he discovers he must make some changes in his perception of the game. For one thing there are no more “halves”, and for another the game no longer lasts forty minutes. The NBA game is divided into quarters, with each consisting of twelve minutes, for a total of forty-eight minutes per game.
And then there is the matter of how many games are played in a season. For the college ranks the number hovers around thirty, but for the NBA it soars to eighty-two. Hmm. “30” versus “82”. That’s a lot of difference! So no longer are there around 30 games per year, each consisting of only forty minutes. Suddenly the one-time college player must play 82 games of forty-eight minutes each. Think those guys are worn down by the end of the regular season?
I thought about this when I read the quoted text which began our study today. College rules apply for a time, then suddenly new and entirely different rules apply for the NBA. So it was with the Covenant of Law versus the Covenant of Grace.
Jesus noted how long the Covenant of Law lasted when he declared, “all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John”. That would be the John of John Baptist fame. UNTIL JOHN, i.e., up until the time of John the Baptist, the Law and the prophets were in effect. The Old Covenant was God’s rule of Law for Israel.
Then suddenly the forty minute games became forty-eight minutes long, and the two halves transformed into four quarters. What once consisted of about 30 games suddenly metamorphosed into 82 games. Things were drastically different, you see, once John the Baptist came on the scene.
This calls to mind the Roman god Janus. Janus had two faces, with one facing behind and the other facing forward. The name “Janus” is where our month “January” derives its name. Janus looked to the past and to the future at the same time. Just as January 1 begins a new year by looking backward and then going forward, so to did the Roman god Janus. Janus signified the end of one thing and the start of another.
Oh, dear. We’ve come to the end of the line already. Let’s call it a day and begin afresh tomorrow. Some time alone with Jesus sounds about right just now. Won’t you join in?
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/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
April 26, 2012
Who Turned Out the Lights? – Part 3
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven [Matthew 5:16].
We concluded our study yesterday by noting how the kingdom of God on earth used to be located in Israel in the Temple in Jerusalem. Because of Israel’s idolatry the Lord vacated the Temple and returned to heaven. Thenceforth God’s kingdom was no longer on earth. It was in heaven.
This is why Matthew, in writing his gospel narrative to the Hebrews, makes reference to the “kingdom of heaven” and not to the “kingdom of God”. Once upon a time God’s kingdom on earth was Israel, but no longer. Back then the Hebrews referred to the kingdom of God, but no more. So neither did Matthew.
It was quite otherwise for the Gentiles, however. They were never a part of God’s kingdom. Only Israel was. Any Gentile who wanted to be a part of God’s kingdom back then had to convert to Judaism and become a full-fledged Jewish proselyte. He had to renounce being a Gentile of whatever nationality and become a Jew, period.
All peoples of the world, back then and still today, recognize a god or gods of some sort or other. Everyone knows their god has his kingdom. The phrase the “kingdom of God” is therefore universal. This is why the three gospel writers other than Matthew identify God’s kingdom by the phrase “kingdom of God”. They wrote to the Gentiles.
When Matthew recorded the Sermon on the Mount, he wrote how Jesus referred to the Father “in heaven”. God no longer was on earth. He now ruled from heaven because the time of the Gentiles was in full swing on the earth.
God’s people, the Israelites, were no longer a sovereign nation. At the time the Romans ruled them. King YHWH (the Lord) vacated His throne on earth as chastisement to His people for their idolatry. Until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, God’s kingdom will continue to be in heaven, not on the earth.
This doesn’t mean that God is no longer in control on the earth. It means His visible presence is no longer on the earth. It used to be so in the tent of meeting in the midst of Israel’s camp. Later His visible presence appeared in the Temple in Jerusalem.
But not until the end of the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth will God’s kingdom be on earth again. That time will signal the end of the time of the Gentiles. At that time the Lord Jesus will sit on His throne in Jerusalem and rule the earth with a rod of iron. He will take up His people Israel once again, and every promise to the Israelites not yet fulfilled will be fulfilled during the Millennium.
These are exciting realities taught in the Bible, dear friends. I trust your heart is palpitating from such revelations. I do hope you are excited for this to transpire and watching for it. May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised!
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...
We concluded our study yesterday by noting how the kingdom of God on earth used to be located in Israel in the Temple in Jerusalem. Because of Israel’s idolatry the Lord vacated the Temple and returned to heaven. Thenceforth God’s kingdom was no longer on earth. It was in heaven.
This is why Matthew, in writing his gospel narrative to the Hebrews, makes reference to the “kingdom of heaven” and not to the “kingdom of God”. Once upon a time God’s kingdom on earth was Israel, but no longer. Back then the Hebrews referred to the kingdom of God, but no more. So neither did Matthew.
It was quite otherwise for the Gentiles, however. They were never a part of God’s kingdom. Only Israel was. Any Gentile who wanted to be a part of God’s kingdom back then had to convert to Judaism and become a full-fledged Jewish proselyte. He had to renounce being a Gentile of whatever nationality and become a Jew, period.
All peoples of the world, back then and still today, recognize a god or gods of some sort or other. Everyone knows their god has his kingdom. The phrase the “kingdom of God” is therefore universal. This is why the three gospel writers other than Matthew identify God’s kingdom by the phrase “kingdom of God”. They wrote to the Gentiles.
When Matthew recorded the Sermon on the Mount, he wrote how Jesus referred to the Father “in heaven”. God no longer was on earth. He now ruled from heaven because the time of the Gentiles was in full swing on the earth.
God’s people, the Israelites, were no longer a sovereign nation. At the time the Romans ruled them. King YHWH (the Lord) vacated His throne on earth as chastisement to His people for their idolatry. Until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, God’s kingdom will continue to be in heaven, not on the earth.
This doesn’t mean that God is no longer in control on the earth. It means His visible presence is no longer on the earth. It used to be so in the tent of meeting in the midst of Israel’s camp. Later His visible presence appeared in the Temple in Jerusalem.
But not until the end of the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth will God’s kingdom be on earth again. That time will signal the end of the time of the Gentiles. At that time the Lord Jesus will sit on His throne in Jerusalem and rule the earth with a rod of iron. He will take up His people Israel once again, and every promise to the Israelites not yet fulfilled will be fulfilled during the Millennium.
These are exciting realities taught in the Bible, dear friends. I trust your heart is palpitating from such revelations. I do hope you are excited for this to transpire and watching for it. May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised!
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...
April 25, 2012
Who Turned Out the Lights? – Part 2
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven [Matthew 5:16].
Yesterday we noted the distinction in Matthew’s gospel narrative, when compared to the other three gospel accounts. Only Matthew makes reference to the “kingdom of heaven”. The other three accounts refer to the “kingdom of God”. Both expressions refer to God’s kingdom. The difference between them lies in the words “God” and “heaven”. Let’s continue our vetting of this topic now.
The context for Matthew is that he wrote to the Hebrew people, while the other three wrote to the Gentiles (i.e., everyone else). To understand why Matthew refers to God’s kingdom as the “kingdom of heaven”, we need to examine the understanding of the Hebrew people of the day. This is to be discovered in the Old Testament.
The Gentiles didn’t know or even have the Hebrew Scriptures, so they weren’t influenced by its theological instruction. The Hebrews were steeped in their Scriptures however. Consequently their entire comprehension of theology and anything spiritual was formed from the instruction found in the Old Testament. So let us betake ourselves to a brief overview of the Old Testament.
The Lord saw that all the peoples of the world walked away from Him to do their own thing. They twisted the truths He taught mankind about Himself and eternity, creating their own set of beliefs about gods and idols and religion. All mankind became idolaters and heathens, falling into the most despicable degradations imaginable.
So the Lord called one man out of all the peoples of the world, Abram by name, and created a new nation from him. That would be the Israelites, by the way. He served as their King and gave them His laws, the Law of Moses. He also gave them some real estate to serve as their national location, viz., the Promised Land.
This land was located smack dab in the middle of the two major empires back in the day, viz., Egypt and Mesopotamia. Israel was the Lord’s witness to the world about the truths of the one true God. The rest of the world’s peoples could have “read” the Israelites to learn the truth about God and what He expected of mankind.
Alas, but the Israelites were sinners just like all the Gentiles. It wasn’t long before they stopped reading their Scriptures and obeying the Word of God. Soon they were indistinguishable from the Gentiles, and God’s witness was as non-existent in Israel as it was in all the world.
So the Lord sent His people, the Israelites, into exile in Babylon. Before that time the tent of meeting and later the Temple served as the location of the Lord’s visible presence on earth. Of course this location was in the midst of the camp of Israel and later within the confines of Israel’s geographical borders. Its final site was in Jerusalem atop Mount Moriah (aka Mount Zion).
When the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, they sacked the city and burned the Temple. Ezekiel had a vision of the Lord leaving the Temple and returning to heaven. Thenceforth King Yahweh (aka the Lord) no longer dwelt on earth in His kingdom of Israel. The light of the world went out when the Shekinah glory returned to heaven.
Accordingly the Israelites no longer knew God’s kingdom as the kingdom of God on earth. Thereafter they recognized His kingdom as existing no longer on earth but in heaven because King YHWH exited His throne in the Temple and returned to heaven. Ergo, to the Hebrews back in the day, God’s kingdom was the “kingdom of heaven”.
We must desist now and take our rest. We will finish this topic on the morrow. Enjoy your time with Jesus now.
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...
Yesterday we noted the distinction in Matthew’s gospel narrative, when compared to the other three gospel accounts. Only Matthew makes reference to the “kingdom of heaven”. The other three accounts refer to the “kingdom of God”. Both expressions refer to God’s kingdom. The difference between them lies in the words “God” and “heaven”. Let’s continue our vetting of this topic now.
The context for Matthew is that he wrote to the Hebrew people, while the other three wrote to the Gentiles (i.e., everyone else). To understand why Matthew refers to God’s kingdom as the “kingdom of heaven”, we need to examine the understanding of the Hebrew people of the day. This is to be discovered in the Old Testament.
The Gentiles didn’t know or even have the Hebrew Scriptures, so they weren’t influenced by its theological instruction. The Hebrews were steeped in their Scriptures however. Consequently their entire comprehension of theology and anything spiritual was formed from the instruction found in the Old Testament. So let us betake ourselves to a brief overview of the Old Testament.
The Lord saw that all the peoples of the world walked away from Him to do their own thing. They twisted the truths He taught mankind about Himself and eternity, creating their own set of beliefs about gods and idols and religion. All mankind became idolaters and heathens, falling into the most despicable degradations imaginable.
So the Lord called one man out of all the peoples of the world, Abram by name, and created a new nation from him. That would be the Israelites, by the way. He served as their King and gave them His laws, the Law of Moses. He also gave them some real estate to serve as their national location, viz., the Promised Land.
This land was located smack dab in the middle of the two major empires back in the day, viz., Egypt and Mesopotamia. Israel was the Lord’s witness to the world about the truths of the one true God. The rest of the world’s peoples could have “read” the Israelites to learn the truth about God and what He expected of mankind.
Alas, but the Israelites were sinners just like all the Gentiles. It wasn’t long before they stopped reading their Scriptures and obeying the Word of God. Soon they were indistinguishable from the Gentiles, and God’s witness was as non-existent in Israel as it was in all the world.
So the Lord sent His people, the Israelites, into exile in Babylon. Before that time the tent of meeting and later the Temple served as the location of the Lord’s visible presence on earth. Of course this location was in the midst of the camp of Israel and later within the confines of Israel’s geographical borders. Its final site was in Jerusalem atop Mount Moriah (aka Mount Zion).
When the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, they sacked the city and burned the Temple. Ezekiel had a vision of the Lord leaving the Temple and returning to heaven. Thenceforth King Yahweh (aka the Lord) no longer dwelt on earth in His kingdom of Israel. The light of the world went out when the Shekinah glory returned to heaven.
Accordingly the Israelites no longer knew God’s kingdom as the kingdom of God on earth. Thereafter they recognized His kingdom as existing no longer on earth but in heaven because King YHWH exited His throne in the Temple and returned to heaven. Ergo, to the Hebrews back in the day, God’s kingdom was the “kingdom of heaven”.
We must desist now and take our rest. We will finish this topic on the morrow. Enjoy your time with Jesus now.
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...
