Week of 1 Lent C -02/21-27/2010

Week of 1 Lent C

This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html

The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.

The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:

http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com(Please bookmark this link)

Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival Text-to-speech are available at:

Daily Walk 2: 3-Year C Weekly Lectionary

Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.


Podcast: Week of 1 Lent C

1 Lent - Sunday C
First Posted February 21, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Sunday C

Deuteronomy 26:5-10 – Offering of First Fruits;
Psalm 91 – The Lord, Our Refuge;
Romans 10:8b-13 – Justified and Saved;
Luke 4:1-13 – Jesus' Temptation;

Deuteronomy:

The people of Israel were descendants of Abraham (Abram), his son Isaac and grandson Jacob (Israel). Abraham had originally come from Aram (present-day Syria). The patriarchs had been promised the land of Canaan, but lived in it as nomads. Jacob's family fled to Egypt because of a famine, and eventually became enslaved to the Egyptians. During their sojourn, they became a populous group. The Israelites prayed to God and he heard their prayers and saw their affliction and oppression. God led them out of Egypt with great power and terrifying signs and wonders. God gave them the Promised Land, which seemed to be lush, “flowing with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 26:9b) in comparison to the wilderness.

Pentecost, meaning “fifty days,” is the Greek name for the Festival of Weeks, which was also known as the festival of the “first fruits” of the spring barley harvest, seven weeks after Passover. They were to present a tithe (ten percent) of the first fruits of the ground in worship to the Lord, and to recall the great deliverance from slavery to sin and death in Egypt.

Psalm:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust'” (Psalm 91:1-2). The Lord will deliver us from the traps that have been set for us by our spiritual enemy, and from deadly plague. He will cover us with his wings and will provide us with refuge. His faithfulness will be our shield and armor. We will not fear ambush and destruction by day or terror and pestilence by night.

“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked” (Psalm 91:7-8)

No evil will come upon us nor affliction enter our tent, because we have made the Lord Most High our refuge and dwelling.

“For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12). We will prevail over lions and poisonous snakes, and trample them under our feet.

The Lord will deliver those who cling to him in love. Because we know the name of the Lord he will protect us. He will hear and answer when we call to him. He will be with us in times of trial; he will rescue and give us honor. He will give us long life and reveal to us his salvation.

Romans:

The Word of faith (the Gospel) is near to us, on our lips and in our hearts. If we confess with our voices and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, whom God raised from the dead, we will be saved (from eternal condemnation). Those who believe in their hearts will be justified (judged not guilty; the opposite of condemned), and confess with their voices will be saved (delivered from punishment). God's Word declares that no one who believes in him will be put to shame. The same Lord is Lord of all, and all who call upon him (in faith, i.e., obedient trust) will receive his abundant blessings, because he makes no distinction between Jew and Greek (Gentile). For “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Luke:

After being baptized by John the baptizer, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and at the end of forty days he was hungry. Satan tempted him saying that if Jesus were the Son of God, he should command a stone to become bread. Jesus answered, “It is written (in God's Word, the Bible) 'Man shall not live by bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of earth in a vision, and told him that if Jesus would worship Satan he would give all the power and glory of those kingdoms to Jesus, because they were under Satan's control. Jesus replied that “it is written 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” (Luke 4:8).

Satan took Jesus to the roof of the temple in Jerusalem and told him that if Jesus was the Son of God he should jump off the roof, because God's Word promised, “He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone” (Luke 4:10-11; Psalm 91:11-12). Jesus replied that it is said (in God's Word), “You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Luke 4:12; Deuteronomy 6:16).

Commentary:

God has always, from the very beginning of Creation, intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word. This world is a temporary Creation designed to allow us the opportunity to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word and to learn by trial-and-error that God's way is good, possible, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2).

Sin is disobedience of God's Word, (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God has designed the one and only provision for our forgiveness of sin and our salvation from eternal destruction, Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). God has designed this temporary Creation with Jesus “built in” (John 1:1-5, 14; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The history of God's dealing with Israel is also intended to be a parable, a metaphor, for life in this world. In a sense, we are all born into bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of the present world government, and Satan is “Pharaoh.” Jesus is the “New Moses” who frees us from slavery, leads us out of Egypt through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus Christ, through the wilderness of this lifetime, by the Holy Spirit who is the “pillar of cloud and fire” (Exodus 13:21-22). Jesus is the “New Joshua” who leads us through the “river” of physical death and into the eternal “Promised Land” of God's eternal kingdom in heaven.

Under the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law, God was teaching Israel about God's standard of righteousness, and that we can't accomplish that in our own strength (“good deeds;” Galatians 2:16). He was teaching that sin can only be cleansed by blood sacrifice. God was preparing us for the New Covenant of grace (unmerited favor), when Jesus became the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for all time and all people, to be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), for the forgiveness of sin and restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin.

The Feast of Passover originally was observed in Egypt on the eve of the Exodus, when the final plague of the death of the firstborn was carried out by God's command. The blood of the sacrificial lamb marked the doorposts of the Israelites' houses to spare them from the destroying angel (Exodus 12:11-13).

Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples on the night of his betrayal and arrest, and initiated the New Covenant (Testament) of God with his people (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note “g;” Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 12:24). Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of Passover, who marks and spares believers from the plague of eternal destruction. Holy Communion (the Eucharist; the Lord's Supper) is the “New Passover” feast (Matthew 26:2, 26-29).

Pentecost became the “birthday” of the Christian Church. It provided the gift (baptism; anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the “first fruits” of the spiritual harvest of eternal life (Acts 2:1-13). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is our spiritual birthday; We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Jesus warns that one must be “born-again” to see the kingdom of God, all around us now, and to see and 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).

Lent is a period of forty days (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. It is a period of self-examination, penitence and spiritual fasting, to prepare believers for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We must receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to prepare for us before going into the world (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) with the Gospel and carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ of forgiveness and reconciliation (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus is the revelation of God to the world in human form (Colossians 2:8-9; John 14:9). God has revealed his salvation and eternally long life to us in Jesus' resurrection from physical death. Every truly “born-again” believer personally experiences and testifies that Jesus is risen and eternally alive.

God's salvation is freely available to everyone who is willing to accept Jesus as Lord by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. But Jesus' name is not a magical incantation. One cannot be saved by calling his name at the last moment. Jesus warns that if we claim him as Lord we must be willing and do what he teaches (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).

Following Jesus means going through the “wilderness” of temptations where we are led by the Holy Spirit and learn to trust and obey the Lord. The way to resist temptation is to apply God's Word. Satan knows God's Word and will use it to deceive us, if possible (Matthew 24:24). We need to have read the entire Bible in order for the Holy Spirit to recall the appropriate passage when we need it. We need to know God's Word at least as well as Satan. We can't claim the promises of God if we don't know God's Word.

When I began to seek the Lord in mid-life, I began by reading the entire Bible. Because the Old Testament is about twice as long as the New Testament, and because I wanted a balanced reading of law and grace I read ten chapters of OT and 5 chapters of NT each day. By the time I finished I was convinced that Jesus is the way, truth and life, as he has said (John 14:6), and I asked him to be my Lord and Savior.

As I began a daily practice of Bible-reading with prayer and meditation, the Lord began to “disciple” me. See my Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, particularly “Spiritual Growth,” when the Lord gave me Psalm 91 as a promise.

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)?

1 Lent - Monday C
First Posted February 22, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Monday C

Psalm 42:1-7 – My Soul Thirsts;

As the deer thirsts for flowing streams of water, my soul thirsts for the Lord, the living God. When shall I be able to see him face to face? My tears have become my daily fare both day and night, while worldly people taunt me, saying “Where is your God” (Psalm 42:3c)?

While I pour out my soul to the Lord, I remember how I led the procession of people to the house of the Lord with loud shouts and songs of thanksgiving, celebrating the festival with the multitude. Why is my soul downcast and disquieted within me? I will hope in the Lord, my help and my God; I will again have cause to praise him.

When I am sorrowful in my soul I remember the Lord from the land of Jordan (principle river of Israel), the land of Hermon (highest peak of northern Mt. Lebanon) and Mt. Mizar (lesser peak of Mt. Lebanon). “Deep calls to deep at the thunder of thy cataracts; all thy waves and thy billows have gone over me” (Psalm 42:7).

Commentary:

The psalmist feels overwhelmed with trouble, as one caught in the flood of a mighty river. He thirsts for the presence of the Lord as a deer pursued by a hunter longs for rest and gentle thirst-quenching streams of water.

Christians will experience troubles in this world, and worldly people will taunt them. Wealth and success are not necessarily signs of God's favor (Luke 16:20-25).

When we are going through trials, it is helpful for Christians to remember times of blessings, when we have felt the presence of the Lord. We can be sure that we will again be blessed and comforted by the Lord's presence!

I personally testify that when we are going through hard times, let us count our blessings, and let us wait three days! Jesus was crucified, and it seemed that the promise of the Gospel had been lost, but on the third day Jesus arose from physical death to eternal life. Every authentic “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple of Jesus Christ personally testifies that Jesus is risen and eternally alive.

God knows that when we're in trouble we have a problem remembering times of blessing and assurance. God instituted festivals in Judaism to help his people remember (Exodus 12:14).

I've found it useful to keep a journal of blessings, to remind me, in times of trouble, of the Lord's help and deliverance. I keep a log of the Lord's blessings each year, to remember on Thanksgiving Day.

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)?

1 Lent - Tuesday C
First Posted February 23, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Tuesday C

Jeremiah 26:8-15 – Jeremiah's Trial;

Jeremiah was tried for capital crime, for his prophecy against the Southern Kingdom, Judah, of the divided monarchy. Shiloh was a city of Ephraim ten miles north of Bethel. It was the original site of the tabernacle after the conquest (Joshua 18:1-10). Jeremiah referred to it, a shapeless ruin, 500 years after its destruction. Its location is uncertain to this day.

The princes were civic leaders. They assembled and heard the charges of the priests and prophets against Jeremiah, for prophesying against the city of Jerusalem, a capital crime. Jeremiah responded, saying that the Lord had sent him to prophesy against the temple and city. His hearers must change their ways and doings, and return to obedience of God's Word. Then the Lord will change his mind and not carry out his judgment against them.

But as for Jeremiah, the authorities had power over him. Let them do as they thought right and good. But if they killed Jeremiah they would be calling judgment upon themselves for spilling innocent blood, since Jeremiah had been sent by God to prophesy to them.

Commentary:

Those who prophesy against the status quo risk their physical lives, but ensure their eternal lives. The powerful and elite don't appreciate the Word of truth against them. But their only hope of healing and salvation is to hear and repent.

The Lord has a Word of judgment and condemnation against the rich and powerful of the American society and the American Church! The prophets' message is not intended to destroy them but to heal them.

Every truly “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple of Jesus Christ testifies that Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness (of sin; disobedience of God's Word) and salvation (from eternal condemnation and destruction).

The Gospel of forgiveness and salvation through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ is “good news” (gospel means “good news”) to those who are being saved, but bad news to the spiritually “lost” who are perishing eternally.

The worldly are no different today than they were in Jeremiah's time. They hate God's Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ. Killing the messenger because they hate the message won't save them from God's condemnation, nor will it prevent the messenger from entering paradise in God's eternal kingdom.

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)?

1 Lent - Wednesday C
First Posted February 24, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Wednesday C

Philippians 3:17-4:1 – Christian Lifestyle;

Paul exhorted the Christians at Philppi to follow the example of Paul and other disciples of Jesus Christ. Many, perhaps professing Christians as well as unbelievers, live as enemies of the cross of Christ, causing Paul and all disciples to mourn. Those peoples' minds are set on earthly things and their appetite is their “god.” But Christians are citizens of the eternal heavenly kingdom, and we await a Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. He will transform our earthly bodies to be like his glorious eternal body, by his power to subjugate all things to himself. So Paul pleads for the Philippian brethren, whom Paul loves, rejoices and longs for, his crown, to stand firm in the Lord.

Commentary:

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype of a modern, post-resurrection, “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we can become. He was confronted on the road to Damascus by the risen and ascended Jesus, as Paul was intending to persecute Christians. Paul repented (Acts 9:9), accepted Jesus as his Lord (Acts 9:35a) and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:5b-6). He was discipled by a “born-again” disciple named Ananias (Acts 9:10-12), until Paul received the gift (anointing; baptism) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18), and then Paul immediately began to fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), to proclaim the gospel and make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ, after they had received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Paul had been led by the Holy Spirit to change his travel plans and go across to Macedonia in Europe instead of further in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey; Acts 16:6-15). There he founded the congregation at Philippi, the first church on the European continent. Paul was continuing to “disciple” the congregation at Philippi by letter, urging them to follow the sound example of Paul and the other Apostles.

Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c), who have been “born-again” by the “baptism” (anointing; gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only 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).

Discipleship involves spiritual growth to Christian maturity. It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples. New believers are to stay within the Church (the New Jerusalem) until they have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, before going into the community and world with the Gospel.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the end but the beginning of spiritual growth. The Lord won't baptize anyone with the Holy Spirit unless they are seriously committed to trust and obey Jesus. Then there must be a period of time when the new Christian learns to listen, hear and obey “the still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12). As one begins to trust and obey Jesus he will learn from personal experience that what the Lord says is true and that Jesus is absolutely faithful and reliable.

Paul's conversion was remarkable for its quickness, but remember that Paul was already formally trained in Judaism and the Bible and loved God. He just needed to be pointed to Jesus. The original Twelve disciples were with Jesus night and day for three years, and still were not ready to carry out the Great Commission, until they had been filled with the Holy Spirit. The mission of Christ can only be carried out by the Holy Spirit working through born-again disciples.

Jesus' resurrection and his miracles of resurrection demonstrate that there is existence after physical death. Every truly born-again disciple has a personal daily relationship with Jesus and God the Father through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). Jesus has promised to reveal himself to his disciples (John 14:21). Because we know that Jesus has risen to eternal life, we can be sure that he will raise us also from physical death to eternal life (Romans 8:10-11; Hebrews 2:14-15).

Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24) , with the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Right now we are free to choose whether to trust and obey Jesus or not, but there is a Day of Judgment, within our individual lifetimes, when Jesus will return to judge the living (quickened) and dead in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5). In that day everyone will bow before him and confess that he is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). In that day it will be too late to change our eternal destinies.

Jesus will command and we will have no choice but to obey. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord now, and have learned to trust and obey him, in our physical lifetimes, will have been spiritually reborn now and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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)?

1 Lent - Thursday C
First Posted February 25, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Thursday C

Luke 13:31-35 – The End of the Age;

Jesus was traveling through Galilee (the northern Roman province of Israel, and Perea (the province east of the Jordan river, south of the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, governed by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great). Some Pharisees came to Jesus and told him to leave the area because Herod was seeking to kill him. Jesus had a message for those Pharisees to convey to Herod. Herod was cunningly shrewd, but was unable to keep Jesus from exorcising demons and perform healing miracles “today and tomorrow” (Luke 13:32) and finishing his course on the third day (a short while; also a reference to his resurrection on the third day). Besides that, Jesus would complete his ministry because it was so unlikely as to be impossible to perish any place other than Jerusalem. Jerusalem was where the religious leaders were, and the leaders of Israel had a long history of killing the prophets God sent to them.

Jesus mourned for Jerusalem; he longed to gather them together, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (compare Psalm 91:1-4), but they refused. Jesus declared that the house of Israel would be forsaken. “And I tell you, you will not see me again until you say 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'” (Luke 13:35).

Commentary:

No one had power over Jesus except in God's will and timing, to accomplish God's purpose. Jesus knew that he would be crucified in Jerusalem, but no one would take his life from him except as Jesus laid it down in God's will and timing (John 10:17-18).

Jesus only had a short time to continue his ministry of physical and spiritual healing (demonic possession is a spiritual illness). Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection were intended to show that he can also heal, feed, and resurrect spiritually.

Israel had a long history (recorded in the Old Testament) of ignoring and mistreating God's prophets. They had killed the prophets from Abel (Genesis 4:3-8) to Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-23; compare Matthew 23:35); from “A to Z”.

Jeremiah is the ultimate example. Jeremiah was a prophet of the Southern Kingdom, Judah, of the two tribes, the remnant of Israel. Jeremiah was persecuted because of his prophecies against Judah. Jeremiah warned that if Judah did not repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word they would be exiled in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12). The princes (leaders) of Judah imprisoned Jeremiah until the Chaldeans (of Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar) took Jerusalem in 588~587. Then the Chaldeans generously allowed Jeremiah to choose where to reside. The prophecy of seventy years of exile was fulfilled with the return of the exiles and re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem in 517 B.C..

Zechariah, grandson of Jehoiada , was prophet of Judah around 840 B.C.. After the death of Jehoiada, Zechariah condemned the king and the people for rebellion against God (2 Chronicles 24:20), and so much resentment was stirred up against Zechariah that they stoned him in the court of the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:21; compare Matthew 23:35).

Jesus mourned for Jerusalem (the Jews) because they refused to receive him as their Messiah. Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the prototype and example of a “modern, post-resurrection, born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ,” was following Jesus' example, and Paul also genuinely mourned for his fellow Jews, because he knew that they were the rightful heirs of the Messiah (Romans 9:1-5). All genuine “born-again” Christians feel the same way. The Gentiles have received salvation from the Jews. If the Jews' rejection of their Messiah has allowed our inclusion, how much more will the Jews' inclusion be (Romans 11:1-12)?

I believe that the Jews are not irrevocably lost spiritually and eternally, but that they will have to acknowledge Jesus as their Messiah before they can be saved (Luke 13:35; Philippians 2:10-11).

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)?

1 Lent - Friday C
First Posted February 26, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Friday C

1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 – Sanctification;

Paul besought the Thessalonians and all new Christians to follow the example of Paul and other spiritually mature Christians, learning to live and to please God. We are to remember the teachings of Paul and the other Apostles. It is God's will for us to be sanctified (purified; consecrated; set apart entirely for God's use), that we abstain from all immorality. Our marriages should be maintained in holiness and honor, rather than in passion and lust as do the heathen, who do not know God. Let us be careful not to sin against our brethren thus, damaging the holiness and honor of marriage, because the Lord will avenge these sins, as we have been forewarned. The call of God is for holiness (purity; blamelessness in God's judgment), not uncleanness.

Commentary:

A Christian is by definition a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the “baptism” (gift; anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the baptism of the 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). The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) is a personally discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was specifically intended by God to be the prototype and illustration of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can and should be. Paul was carrying out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which Jesus gave his disciples, to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:2, after they themselves had been spiritually “born-again” (2 Timothy 1:6; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Christian discipleship is not an optional category of “super-Christian.” “Born-again” disciples are the only genuine Christians there are. Jesus declared that one MUST be born-again (John 3:7) to see the kingdom of God all around us now, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity. Jesus asked Nicodemus how anyone could presume to be a teacher of God's people (John 3:10) without knowing spiritual rebirth by personal experience. What a great a question!

New Christians must be “discipled” by “born-again,” spiritually mature Christian disciples, until the new Christians have been spiritually reborn, before being sent out into the world to carry on Christ's mission of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and salvation (from eternal destruction, which is the consequence of sin; Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

There are a lot of false teachers in the world today. God's Word is eternal and unchanging, and the standard by which all spiritual teaching must be judged. Several false teachings were present in the first century Church, and are refuted in the New Testament of the Bible.

One false teaching in the “nominal” Church (any congregation of people who call themselves a “Christian” church) is “Works Righteousness:” “Legalism;” the “Circumcision Party;” the “Judaizers;” i.e., “earning” salvation by doing good deeds; see Galatians 2:12, 16, 21-3:14; 5:1-5, Ephesians 2:8-10.

Another is “Cheap Grace:” “Libertinism;” “Nicolaitanism;” false freedom from self-discipline; i.e., licentiousness; see Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 6:9-20 (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

The New Testament is the record of the scriptural (recorded in the Bible) apostolic (as taught by the original Apostles, as received directly from Jesus) doctrine taught in the first century Church. The antidote to false teaching is the New Testament standard.

As I write this, homosexuals and lesbians attempt to legalize same-sex marriages. This has already been legalized in California, and the state constitution must be altered by Proposition 8, on the November 4, 2008 ballot to prevent it from prevailing. God's Word is eternal and unchanging. God opposed same-sex practices in the Bible (Genesis 18:16-21; 19:1-11), and opposes them today. If California were able to obtain God's permission to legalize same-sex marriage, God would owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology!

God's eternal kingdom is not a democracy, but a theocracy! God rules! No majority of people can overrule God's Word! Homosexuality is a perversion of marriage. Adult consent doesn't change anything; there are lots of things consenting adults may agree upon which do not conform to God's Word.

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)?

1 Lent - Saturday C
First Posted February 27, 2010
Podcast: 1 Lent Saturday C

Matthew 15:21-28 – The Canaanite Mother;

Jesus and his disciples went from Gennesaret (a town near Capernaum on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee) to the region of Tyre and Sidon (Phoenician cities northwest of the provinces of Syria and Galilee, on the Mediterranean coast). As Jesus was passing, a Canaanite woman living in that region (a Gentile) came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David” (Matthew 15:22; heir to the throne of Israel), saying that her daughter was possessed by a demon; but Jesus ignored her. Jesus' disciples wanted him to send her away because she was following and shouting for Jesus to hear her. Jesus said that he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). But the woman came to Jesus and knelt, begging, “Lord, help me” (Matthew 15:25). Jesus told her that it wasn't fair to give the children's bread to dogs, but she replied that dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall from their master's table. Jesus told the woman that she had great faith, and that her request had been granted, and immediately her daughter was healed.

Commentary:

Everywhere Jesus went in Israel people thronged to him for healing and the Pharisees and scribes (teachers of scripture) pestered him with criticism (Matthew 15:1). Jesus was going to the Phoenician region to spend some time away from the crowds. Canaanites were the original inhabitants of the land, who were driven out as Israel took possession of their “Promised Land.”

During his physical lifetime, Jesus' mission was to call the Jews to return to obedient trust in God. The Jews had gone astray, making religious tradition more important than God's Word. They kept the “letter” of the Law, but not its “spirit.”

Jesus called the religious authorities “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14). The religious leaders had forgotten their responsibility as stewards of God's people, and had turned Judaism into a “religion,” mankind's attempt to manipulate God's favor to their advantage. They were running Judaism as their personal “empire,” with the people serving their leaders, instead of God.

Isn't that what has happened in many instances in the nominal Church today? Aren't many Church people “members” rather than disciples, following human tradition, rather than God's Word? Isn't ministry in many instances a “career choice,” and the congregation a “personal empire” for the leaders (Matthew 21:13)?

The Jewish religious leaders regarded Jesus as a rival for their power and position with the people. This Gentile (heathen) woman recognized that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, although the Jews did not. The Jewish people were hindered from accepting Jesus as the Messiah by their leaders (John 7:51-52; Mark 15:9-11).

Jesus' answer to her plea seems quite harsh. Would she get mad and go away? She accepted Jesus' assessment of herself, but persisted in faith, believing that Jesus was the only one who could and would heal her daughter.

People today aren't willing to accept a frank assessment of their “lostness” apart from Jesus. They don't want to hear that they are sinners and are going to hell for eternity unless they accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. They want to hear messages that make them feel good (2 Timothy 4:3-4). They want to be entertained and served, rather than sacrificing their will to serve the Lord (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right).

The Jews had an overflowing banquet of rich spiritual “food” in Jesus Christ, but declined partaking, while Gentiles gladly settled for crumbs. I have personally experienced that it is harder to proclaim the Gospel to church “members” than the “unchurched.” In many instances members feel secure in their “tradition” and are unwilling to receive rebuke.

Demonic possession is a metaphor for spiritual illness. The Jewish people sought Jesus to heal and feed them physically, but didn't recognize him as their Messiah, did not acknowledge their spiritual illness, and failed to receive the spiritual healing that only Jesus provides.

Jesus' crucifixion is the center-point of history. The call of Abraham was about two thousand years before, and we are now about two thousand years past Christ's first coming. I believe that in many instances the nominal Church is in the same situation as Judaism at the time of Christ's first coming (Luke 18:8).

At the time of Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus was the last faithful Jew. Christians are the New Israel, the New People of God. The true Church is the New Jerusalem, the New City of God on earth.

Jesus had told his disciples that they would take the Gospel to the Gentiles after they had been “baptized” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). That promise was fulfilled (Acts 2:1-13; 8:1b).

Jesus will return to judge the living ("quick;" “quickened”) and the dead (1 Peter 4:5) in both physical and spiritual senses. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord, and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) and will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, or have refused or neglected to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil. (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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)?