3 Advent - Sunday
Posted December 14, 2008
2 Samuel 7:(1-7) 8-11, 16, Eternal Kingdom;
Psalm 89:1-4, 14-18, God's Covenant with David;
Romans 16:25-27, Benediction;
Luke 1:26-38, Announcement;
Samuel:
After David had become king of all Israel, he built a palace, in Jerusalem, on the hill of Zion, the site of a Jebusite fortress, and it became known as the "City of David." Since he was settled into his house, and had peace from his enemies, David told his prophet, Nathan, that David wanted to build a house for the Lord, a temple, instead of the tabernacle, which was a tent, a portable temple. Nathan told David to do what David desired, because God (God's favor) was with David.
But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and gave him God's Word to David. God said that he had not lived in a house, but in a tent, since he had led Israel out of Egypt. Why would David want to build God a house to dwell in? God had never asked Israel to build God a house.
God told Nathan to tell David that God had taken David from tending sheep to be a prince over God's people. God had been with David wherever David went, and had given David victory over all his enemies. God declared that he would make David's name great throughout the world. God promised to give his people, Israel, a permanent place where they could dwell securely, where they would no longer be disturbed by violent people. God declared that he would make David a house. And David's house, his kingdom and his throne would endure forever.
Psalm:
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; I will proclaim his faithfulness to all generations. His steadfast love will endure forever; his faithfulness is as unchanging as the heavens.
God has said: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your descendants for ever and build your throne for all generations.
That eternal throne is founded on God's righteousness and justice, and is characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness. "Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, who exalt in thy name all the day, and and extol thy righteousness" (Psalm 89:15-16). We glory in the strength of the Lord; we are strengthened by God's favor. Our allegiance belongs to our king, the Holy One of Israel.
Romans:
At the end of the letter to the Roman Church, Paul invoked a blessing on them, that the Lord would strengthen them by Paul's preaching of the Gospel and his proclamation of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose which was unknown from the beginning of Creation until Christ's advent (coming). "But now [it] is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings (the Bible) is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). Glory be to the only eternal and wise God through Jesus Christ. Amen!
Luke:
In the sixth month (Elul: August-September) God sent an angel, Gabriel, to Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David (the great shepherd-king of Israel). The angel greeted Mary saying that she was favored by God, and that the Lord was with her. Mary was worried about the sort of greeting it might be, but the angel told her not to be afraid, because she had God's approval. The angel told Mary that she would conceive and give birth to a son whom she was to call Jesus.
The angel said, "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High (God); and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father (ancestor) David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
Mary asked the angel how this could be, since she was unmarried. The angel told her that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Thus the child she bore would be called holy, the Son of God.
The angel told her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was barren and past the age of childbearing, was six months pregnant with a son, and that nothing would be impossible for God. Mary acknowledged that she was God's servant, and accepted God's Word and will for her. Then the angel left her.
Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth in Galilee, when the angel announced to Mary the impending birth of Jesus, but Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the "City of David" (David's birthplace), because the Roman government required the Jews to return to their city of birth, to register, for tax purposes, and Joseph was a descendant of David.
After David had become king of all the tribes of Israel, he built a house for himself in the former Jebusite fortress on Zion, a high place in Jerusalem, surrounded on three sides by valleys, and that became known as the City of David. Since David had a permanent house, he thought he should build a permanent house (temple) for God also, instead of the portable tent called the tabernacle.
When David told Nathan, the prophet, his plan, Nathan at first told him to do as his heart desired, because God's favor was with David. But that night God spoke to Nathan and told him to tell David that God did not need David to build him a house, and did not need to dwell in a house.
God had raised up a humble shepherd boy to be the prince over the tribes of Israel. God had given David success and victory over his enemies. God promised to give his people, Israel, a permanent dwelling where they would be safe and undisturbed by violent people. God promised that he would make David a house (dynasty), and David's house, kingdom and throne would endure forever.
The psalmist recalls the promise of God to David to establish his descendants and his throne for ever. That eternal throne of David is founded on God's righteousness and justice and characterized by steadfast love and faithfulness.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant, his promise, to David. Jesus is the son of David and heir to the eternal throne of David. Through Jesus, God has established a permanent place for his people where we can dwell securely where we will not fear our enemies or violent people. That permanent place is God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are the spiritual descendants of David.
Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose which has been unknown to us since the beginning of Creation, until Jesus' coming (advent).
God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey Jesus. Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14)
God has designed creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, and so we can learn by trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable, and our best interest (Romans 12:2). But God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, and not at all in his heavenly kingdom or it wouldn't be heaven. This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.
The reason and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find, and know God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to us in human flesh. Jesus is God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Genesis 1:3; Mark 4:41). Those who have "seen" and "know" Jesus have "seen" and "known" God (John 14:9). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God to us individually and personally.
We have all been born physically alive, but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to be "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to true, eternal life. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is the indwelling Holy Spirit within us which gives us spiritual life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, through which God has been progressively revealing his purpose for Creation. David is the forerunner and illustration of the Christ. David was the shepherd boy whom God exalted to prince (earthly king; only the Lord is the eternal heavenly king) of Israel. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is God's "anointed" eternal heavenly King of God's kingdom of God's people.
God promised to make David's name great and he fulfilled that promise. David's name is mentioned as the ancestor of Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament and throughout the Church year, notably at Christmas and on Palm Sunday.
The Bible scripture and the earthly advent of Jesus have been revealed to all nations, so that all can come to obedient trust in God's Word.
Elizabeth, the kinswoman of Mary had been barren and had passed the time of childbearing. Her barrenness was a source of shame in her society because it was understood as God's disfavor. When she became pregnant she was exalted because it was a sign of God's favor.
Pregnancy of a unmarried, betrothed, girl was a mark of shame in the society, but Mary believed the Word of God told to her by the angel Gabriel and accepted God's will. The name of this obscure young girl became famous throughout the world as the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:48).
There is a lesson for us to learn in the comparison of God's favor on David, and on Mary. David had God's favor because David trusted and obeyed God's Word. David thought he would be doing God a favor by building a fancy house for God. It is tempting to think that since we're member's of God's family we can and should do what seems right to us, because we have God's favor.
What we perceive as God's favor or disfavor is not necessarily so. Barrenness is not necessarily a sign of God's disfavor, nor is fertility necessarily a sign of God's favor. Neither is wealth and success necessarily a sign of God's favor, nor poverty a sign of God's disfavor.
Until Jesus' advent only a few select individuals had personal fellowship with the Lord by his Holy Spirit. David was a prophet, but perhaps didn't have the same relationship with God which we can through Jesus. Nathan served as a spiritual mediator to David. Nathan's first response was for David to do what seemed right to David, since God's favor was with David.
But that wasn't the right answer. That night the Lord spoke to Nathan and revealed his will for David, which Nathan was to convey. We don't need a "Nathan" if we are "born-again" and filled with the Holy Spirit, but we do need to have a "quiet time" with the Lord, perhaps at bedtime, when we can listen to the Lord and hear what he's really saying, along with scripture reading and prayer.
Note, though, that if we are not yet "reborn," seeking God's will through a spiritual adviser is only acceptable as one is "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, only until they have been "born-again. God wants us to seek him personally, and he wants to reveal his will for us personally, only as we are committed to do it.
In contrast to Elizabeth, God revealed his will to Mary and she accepted God's Word and saw God's blessing for her, even though it was not her heart's desire to be pregnant out-of-wedlock.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesusﾒ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
3 Advent- Monday
Posted December 15, 2008
Psalm 97 The Lord Reigns
Let the earth rejoice, for the Lord reigns! Rejoice all coastlands! The Lord conceals himself as in thick clouds and darkness. His throne is founded upon righteousness and justice. Fire precedes him and burns up his adversaries. His lightening bolts light the whole sky and the earth trembles. "The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, the Lord of all the earth" (Psalm 97:5).
The universe proclaims his righteousness, and his glory is revealed to all people. Those who worship and trust worthless idols will be put to shame. All other "gods" bow before the Lord. Zion (the people of God) rejoice in the Lord's judgments. The Lord is high above all earthly rulers, and exalted far above all other "gods."
Those who love the Lord hate evil. The Lord preserves the lives of his saints (those consecrated to God's service) and delivers them from the wicked.
"Light dawns for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name" (Psalm 97:11-12)!
The Lord is King of Creation, whether we acknowledge and accept him or not. The Lord reigns in the hearts of his people. His kingdom begins now in this world, and his people rejoice in his reign. Those who have trusted and obeyed the Lord know from experience that the Lord is righteous, just, faithful and loving in all his ways.
The Lord's manifestation is described in terms of the Lord's manifestation to Israel at the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Psalm 97:2-5; compare Exodus 19:16-22). The Lord is near at hand, but he conceals himself as in thick cloud and darkness (obscurity). Those who need to "see" in order to believe can't "see" him; but he reveals himself to those who trust and obey his Word (John 14:21, 23).
The Lord has been progressively revealing himself to the world, first in the goodness, orderliness, and intricacy of Creation. Then he called Abraham (Abram) to trust and obey God's Word, and the record of God's dealing with Abraham and his descendants is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world, in human form, in a non-threatening way. Jesus is the only way to come to know and have fellowship with God, the only way to know divine eternal truth, and the only way to have true spiritual eternal life (John 14:6).
Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we receive the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us individually and personally. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
The gift of the Holy Spirit is the dawn of the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5; John 8:12).
The Lord doesn't force his reign upon anyone. We have the freedom to accept or reject his reign, but if we are not ruled by the Lord we will be ruled by Satan, and will be slaves of sin and spiritual death (Luke 16:13).
There is a day coming, the Day of Jesus' Second Coming (advent), the Day of Judgment. In that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day his people will rejoice, and his enemies will be destroyed by fire in Hell with all evil.
Jesus is the eternal King and Righteous Judge whom God has "anointed" to judge Creation. Jesus is the standard by which everyone who has ever lived will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord will have been spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and spiritual eternal death in fire in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesusﾒ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
3 Advent - Tuesday
Posted December 16, 2008
Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful are the steps of those who cross mountains to bring good tidings, who publish peace and salvation, who declare to Zion (God's people; the Church) that their God reigns (compare Romans 10:15). Listen! The watchmen cry out with joy; they see eye-to-eye the return of the Lord to Zion. The waste places of Jerusalem sing together because the Lord has redeemed Jerusalem and comforted his people. The Lord has revealed his holy arm to all nations, and the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
Jesus is the mighty arm of God whom God has revealed to the whole world. Jesus is God's "anointed" Savior, the Messiah (Christ; both words mean God's "anointed"), whom God has revealed to the world. Jesus is God's only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12) from sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and eternal death (the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Jesus has redeemed his people, he has paid the price for our sin. He has comforted us. We need no longer fear physical death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He has given our lives meaning and purpose. Life isn't just a "rat-race;" not just a contest to accumulate the most "things" or indulge our senses.
\Jesus came physically as a baby, to grow up and die on the cross, as the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins. His resurrection from death to eternal life demonstrates that there is existence after physical death. Every truly "born-again" Christian testifies that Jesus is eternally alive.
Jesus came to give us true, spiritual, eternal life. Jesus declares that we must be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) spiritually, now, in this lifetime, in order to see God's eternal kingdom all around us now, and ultimately to enter it in eternity. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus has come once in human flesh. He comes to each believer spiritually and reveals himself to them personally and individually by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21; Romans 3:20). He has promised to come again, on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5), in both the physical and spiritual senses.
In a sense the Church and all "born-again" Christians are the watchmen who behold the coming of the Lord and cry out in joy, to alert the world of his coming. "Born-again" Christians have experienced the Lord's coming personally and individually. Our God reigns within us now.
s Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesusﾒ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
3 Advent - Wednesday
Posted December 176, 2008
Hebrews 1:1-9 – Christ, the “living Word”
From God's call to the patriarchs he has spoken in many ways, through his prophets. But at last he has spoken to us by his Son whom he “appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus is the reflection of God's glory, has God's identical nature (Colossians 2:8-9), and his word has the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus, having made the sacrifice on the cross that purifies us of sin (through faith: obedient trust), he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God (in the words of the Second Article of the Apostles Creed). He has become very much more superior to angels as his name is more excellent compared to theirs (Acts 4:12; Matthew 28:18).
God said of Jesus, not angels, that he was God's Son, whom God had begotten (Psalm 2:7). God said of Jesus that God would be his Father, and he would be God's son ( 2 Samuel 7:14). When God brought his first-born Son into the world he commanded the angels to worship him (Deuteronomy 32:43; compare Psalm 97:7). God says in Psalm 104:4 that his angels are spirits (winds), and his servants tongues of fire (filled with the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:3; Luke 3:16). About Jesus, God's Word says that Jesus' throne is forever and that he is God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Righteousness is the scepter of his kingdom. Jesus has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (sin, which is disobedience of God's Word). Therefore God has anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness above his peers (“Christ” and “Messiah” each mean God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King of God's eternal kingdom, in Greek and Hebrew, respectively).
Commentary:
The Old Testament of the Bible is the record of God's speaking through his prophets. The Old Testament scriptures are deliberately intended to be a series of parables to convey spiritual truth about life in this Creation. God's purpose has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. This Creation has been deliberately designed by God to be a “seedbed” to raise God's obedient and trusting people. God has designed Creation so that everyone is guilty of sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). God has designed a Savior, Jesus Christ into the structure of Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the “living Word” of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified. Salvation from God's eternal condemnation is available to all as a free gift, unmerited favor, to be received by faith (obedient trust in Jesus Christ).
God intentionally created the understanding of a “Promised Land” and of inheritance of that land in the Law of the Old Covenant. The first-born received a double share of the inheritance. Jesus is the first-born, and inherits a double portion of the inheritance, the new eternal Promised Land but he shares the inheritance with his disciples.
At the right time, at the very center of history, Jesus, the promised Savior and eternal King, the only begotten Son of God, came into the world to become the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins, our salvation from God's eternal condemnation of us to eternal destruction, to restore us to fellowship with God which was broken by our sin, and to give us eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
3 Advent - Thursday
Posted December 18, 2009
John 1:1-14 – The “Living Word”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
John (the baptizer) was sent by God to testify to the coming of the true light. John came to announce the coming of the light, so that everyone would believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light was coming into the world to enlighten everyone. He was the Creator of the world and everything in it, but the world did not recognize him. He came to his own people, the Jews (Matthew 23:37-39), and his fellow residents of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-31), and even his own family (John 7:2-5;10), and they did not receive him. “But to all who received him, who believed on his name (his total person and character) he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (i.e. God the Father; John 1:14).
Commentary:
Notice that the opening sentence is deliberately intended to recall the Book of Genesis (Genesis 1:1). Everything in this universe has been created by the Word of God; he spoke, and it came into existence (Genesis 1:3). God's Word has creative power.
God has designed a Savior and eternal King (Messiah; Christ; both mean “anointed”) into Creation from the very beginning. God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey Jesus.
Now that the promised Messiah has come we have a new understanding of God and a new perspective of the Creation through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word living in this world in human flesh. Jesus is the “living Word.” Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:9).
Jesus is what God looks and acts like in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Only Jesus knows God the Father, and only Jesus can reveal the Father to whomever Jesus chooses (Matthew 11:27). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (John 14:6). This is only possible through the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus is the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21), the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and the light of eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).
John, the Baptizer, called people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, by water baptism for repentance and forgiveness of their sins (Mark1:4). I believe that the Church has inherited the role of the water baptism of John. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34). We don't have to understand how that happens, any more than we need to understand what makes the wind blow; but we can see the effect (John 3:8). Spiritual rebirth is a discernible ongoing event; if one is uncertain, one hasn't been.
Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warns us that we must be “born-again” (John 3:7)
The true Church is led by “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ, who are commanded to go into the world and make (by preparing them to seek and receive the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit), “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:19-20), after they have received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5; 8). Sadly, in too many instances, this isn't happening in the nominal “Church.”
Mainline denominations today are not making disciples, but rather “members,” fair-weather Christians” who participate in the Churches program if it suits them. These nominal Churches discourage members from seeking spiritual rebirth, by teaching that it is automatically received by some Church ritual such as water baptism. Some also actually discourage members from obedience to Jesus' teachings, by the false teaching of “Cheap Grace” (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).
The place to begin change is to commit oneself to become a disciple of Jesus and seek spiritual rebirth. To those who welcome Jesus into their hearts to be their Lord (Revelation 3:20) he gives the power to become God's children (John 1:12), but we must use that power to receive what is promised.
Believers need to read the Bible completely and then read portions of it daily with prayer and meditation, seeking God's guidance one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). An average reader can easily read the Bible in one year (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right). Unless one has read the entire Bible one is very vulnerable to False Teachings and Teachers (1 John 4:1-6).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
3 Advent - Friday
Posted December 19, 2008
Isaiah 9:2-7 The Messianic King
Titus 2:11-14 Grace and Salvation
Isaiah:
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The Lord has increased the nation (of Israel; God's people) and has given it great joy. They celebrate before the Lord as with a great harvest, and as victors rejoice in the spoils of conquest. The Lord has removed the yoke of involuntary servitude, the chastisement and punishment of the oppressor of his people, as on the day of Midian (the great victory of Gideon and his men at Midian; Judges 7:15-25). The boots of warriors who have engaged in the tumult of battle, and every bloody garment will be as fuel for the fire (of judgment and condemnation).
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace'” (Isaiah 9:6). His government and peace will increase and never end. Upon the throne of David he will establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and righteousness now and eternally. God's great desire will accomplish this.
Titus:
The grace (unmerited favor; free gift) of God for the salvation of all people has been revealed, to teach us to renounce ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live sober, upright, godly lives, as we wait for the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ in great glory. Jesus gave himself for us, to pay the price for our redemption from sin, and to purify us as his people, who are eager to do good deeds.
Commentary:
These passages in Isaiah are familiar to everyone who has ever gone to a Christian Christmas pageant.
This world is in the darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12a), the light of righteousness (John 1:5 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9) and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12b).
The Church is the New Israel, the new people of God. God has increased his nation with all the people who have believed (trusted and obeyed) Jesus. God's purpose for this Creation has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This world is God's “seedbed,” in which to “grow” citizens for his eternal kingdom.
God has designed this Creation to allow us freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, but God is not going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. So this Creation and we ourselves are limited by time. This is our only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and learn to trust and obey him. Jesus is the only way to be forgiven our sins (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
The Church is engaged in a spiritual harvest, by the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We will rejoice in heaven at the eternal treasures that belong to spiritual victors who persevere.
We are all born in slavery to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world. Jesus is the “New Moses” who can set us free from slavery and oppression. Satan is the “Pharaoh” of this world. Jesus came in human flesh to die physically, in order to free us from the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that there is existence after physical death.
There is a spiritual battle going on in this world between the forces of Satan and evil, and the forces of righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. Jesus has already won the victory at the cross. When Christ returns on the Day of Judgment, the enemies of God will be condemned to eternal destruction in the fires of Hell (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). We are spiritually reborn by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the Son of God, born as a tiny infant, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1, 20b; 21:9), who is the heir to the throne of David, the fulfillment of God's promise to David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).
God has designed Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God's anointed eternal Savior and King of God's kingdom, into this Creation from the beginning. God knew that by giving us freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word would all choose to disobey God's will to seek their own will. We're all guilty; none of us deserves mercy and forgiveness. God's forgiveness and salvation is a free gift, to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus came to make it possible for us to be freed from sin, so that we can learn to know and do God's will. Jesus paid the price of our sin on the cross, and his blood cleanses us spiritually so that we can be temples of the indwelling Holy Spirit. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we know God's love, and are eager to please him from love and gratitude, rather than from fear of punishment.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
4th Advent - Saturday
Posted December 20, 2008
Luke 2:-1-14 – Birth of Jesus;
1 John 4:7-16 – Abiding in Love;
Luke:
During the reign of Caesar Augustus (27 B.C. To 14 A.D.; *) he commanded a census of the Roman Empire (6-5 B.C.*), when Quirinius was governor of Syria (12-6 B.C.**). Everyone had to return to his birthplace to be recorded. Joseph went from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the city of David, since Joseph was a “son” (a descendant) of David. He took Mary, his betrothed, a virgin (Luke 1:34-35; Matthew 1:18-25) who was pregnant. While there she gave birth, her first-born son. According to common practice she swaddled him with cloths, and they used a manger for a cradle (which was unusual). They had to use a stable, since the inn was full because of the census.
There were shepherds in the fields nearby guarding their flocks, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the angel was radiant with the glory of God. The shepherds were afraid but the angel reassured them, and announced the good news of great joy for all people. That day in Bethlehem, the city of David, a child had been born who is Christ the Lord. As a sign of this birth the shepherds would find a babe swaddled with cloths, and lying in a manger. Suddenly the angel was joined by a great number of heavenly beings, praising God and glorifying God above all. The birth would result in peace among people and with God for those who pleased God.
1 John:
Believers should love one another, because God's nature is loving, and if we are born of God and know God we will love one another. Anyone who doesn't love others does not know God. We know that God loves us because he sent his only (begotten) Son to give us (eternal) life through him. God did this not because we loved him, but because he loved us (while we were yet sinners; I.e. Disobedient of God's Word; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17), and sent his Son to make atonement (restitution) for our sins. If we realize how much God has loved us, we should be glad to love one another.
Commentary:
God wasn't surprised that mankind chose to do their own will rather than God's. God designed Creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to obey God or not, and the opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's way is better than ours. God, knowing that we would all sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), built a Savior into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
The birth of Christ is verified in historical context. The birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy throughout the Old Testament scriptures, beginning in Genesis 3:15 at the fall of mankind to sin. He is Shiloh in Genesis 49:10. He is the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy in Numbers 24:19, the Branch from the stump of Jesse (David's father) in Isaiah11:1-2, the Lord our righteousness in Jeremiah 23:5-6, and 33:14-16. He's the Lord's “anointed” in Psalm 2:2, the seed of David in Psalm132:10-11, the holy arm of the Lord in Isaiah 52:9-15, the righteous servant in Isaiah 53-1-12.
God has also been revealing his Savior throughout the Old Testament, by a series of verbal images of forerunners to illustrate God's plan. Moses prefigures the Christ as God's Savior who leads God's people out of slavery to sin and death in “Egypt,” into God's “Promised Land,” and who mediates the new and better Covenant of grace (Hebrews 12:24). David, the shepherd who became the great king of Israel, prefigures the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14) and eternal King, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promised eternal king who would inherit the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:2-4, 20-29).
Christ and Messiah each mean (God's) “anointed.” Priests, prophets and kings were “anointed” with olive oil and consecrated for their offices. Jesus is God's “anointed” prophet, priest and king. The prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2), priest (Hebrews 2:17-3:1), like Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), who was priest, and king of righteousness and peace; and eternal, since Melchizedek has no birth or death recorded in the Bible (Hebrews 7:1-3). Jesus is the eternal heir to the throne of David.
The birth of the Christ was announced to shepherds nearby, humble people, rather than the powerful. In fact if they had told King Herod he would have killed the child as his rival, as he tried to do when informed by the Gentile wise men who followed the star. (Matthew 2:1-12). The Jewish religious leaders also saw the Christ as their rival, and ultimately had him killed. When the shepherds went to see, they found the Christ Child just as the angels had foretold.
Jesus was born to become the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God's Word), to save us from eternal condemnation, and to restore us to fellowship and eternal life with God which was broken by our sins (Matthew 14:6). Through faith in Jesus we have peace with God (Romans 5:1) and with one another (Ephesians 2:12-18).
God loved us when we were sinners, and gave his only Son to die for us, before we knew we needed a Savior. Salvation is a free gift for everyone who is willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
As in the physical ministry of Jesus, many people today do not realize and admit that they are sinners who need a savior, and until one does, Jesus can't help us (Matthew 9:12-13). Often, it takes a major disaster in our lives to cause us to examine our beliefs and to realize that we need Jesus.
God is like a loving parent with new infant. When we were born, we were only concerned about us; were we hungry, tired, or wet? Our parents gave us what we needed without requiring us to demonstrate love and concern for them. Then as we grew we learned that we needed our parents, and we learned to love them by the love we experienced from them. Of course some parents are not good and loving, but even if we haven't known loving parents, we should be able to imagine parents who were loving.
If we realize the love of God for us through Jesus Christ we should respond to him with love, and should love others as he has loved us, because we want to please our heavenly Father. Our relationship with other people reflects our spiritual condition.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Luke 2:1n, p. 1172, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
**Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, “Quirinius,” p. ll04, David Noel Freedman, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-2400-5
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