Week of 3 Advent - B - 12/11 - 17/2011

Week of 3 Advent - B

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:

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To get the most from these studies, it is suggested that you first read the scripture texts for the entry, and then the paraphrase and commentary. It is also recommended that you look up the scripture references, unless you recognize and recall them from memory.

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 Download: Week of 3 Advent B
Sunday 3 Advent B
First Posted 12/14/2008;
Podcast: Sunday 3 Advent B

Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11  -  The Lord's Servant;
Luke 1:46b-55  -  Magnificat;
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24  -  Christian Living;
John 1:6-8, 19-28  -  Testimony of John;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor"... (Isaiah 61:1-2a), and the day of God's vengeance.

The Lord's servant comes to comfort all who mourn; to give the mourners in Zion (the temple mount; Jerusalem; the people of God), instead of the ashes of mourning, a garland of celebration; instead of sorrow, the oil of gladness, instead of a weak spirit, the cloak of praise, so that they may be known as the oaks of righteousness, planted by the Lord for his glory. The Lord my God has clothed me with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom or a bride is adorned in finery. So I shall greatly rejoice in the Lord and exalt him in my soul.

The Lord will cause righteousness and praise to come forth in the sight of all nations and people, like shoots come forth from the earth and as a garden causes what is sown it it sprout and grow.

Luke Paraphrase:

When the angel of the Lord had announced Mary's pregnancy he told her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, was already six months pregnant Luke 1:36-37) with the future John, the Baptizer. Mary went to visit Elizabeth and remained about three months (Luke 1:56).

When Mary arrived they greeted one another, and Mary began a song of praise to the Lord, saying that she "magnifies" or exalts the greatness of the Lord, and her spirit rejoices in God, her savior. Although Mary was an insignificant Jewish girl, God had exalted her and as a result she would be called blessed by all future generations. God who is mighty had done great things for Mary, and she reverenced his name.

She declared that God's mercy is on those in every generation who fear (have the appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) God. God has revealed his arm of power. He scatters those who exalt themselves in their own imagination. He pulls the mighty from their thrones, and exalts the poor and humble. He satisfies the hungry with good things but sends the rich away empty. God has helped Israel, his servant, by his mercy in remembrance of the promise of his Word to the patriarchs, to Abraham and his offspring forever.

1 Thessalonians:

Paul taught the Thessalonian Christians to rejoice and give thanks to God in all circumstances, because that is the will of God for us. Let us not quench the Spirit or disregard prophesying, but test everything so that we can accept what is good and avoid everything evil.

May the God of peace bring us to complete sanctification (consecration; purification from sin; spiritual maturity) at the day of Christ's return. God is able and faithful to do this.

John Paraphrase:

God sent a man named John to testify and bear witness to the "light" (of God's righteousness, revealed in Jesus Christ), so that all could believe through him. John wasn't himself the light, but the witness bearing testimony to the light.

This is the testimony John came to bring. When the Pharisees (John 1:24) heard about John's activity, they sent priests and Levites (members of the tribe of Levi; assistants to the priests) to ask John who he was. Right away John told them that he was not the Christ, so they asked him if he were Elijah, who was prophesied to return to announce the coming of the Messiah, but John said no. Was he a prophet, they asked and again John said no. So they asked John to tell them who he was and who had sent him. John replied quoting Isaiah 40:3, prophesying the voice of God's herald in the wilderness calling the people to repent and prepare for the coming Messiah.

So the Pharisee's delegation asked John why then he was baptizing, if he weren't Christ or Elijah or a prophet. John replied that he was baptizing with water (for repentance for forgiveness of sins; Luke 3:3) in preparation for the one who was among them unrecognized, who was going to be revealed after John's ministry. John acknowledged that the one who was coming was so much greater than John that John was not worthy to be his most menial servant. This took place at Bethany (Bethabara; on the Jordan River at a shallow crossing).

Commentary:

The definitive characteristic of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word is always fulfilled, and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of the Lord's "anointed" ("Messiah;" Christ;" both mean "anointed"). At Jesus' birth, angels announced to shepherds the "good news" of great joy for all people, through the coming of the promised Messiah, the eternal Savior and King. Jesus came to bring the Gospel, the "Good News" of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word), of salvation from eternal destruction, which is the penalty for sin; (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home), and of spiritual healing and rebirth, as a free gift from God to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

We are all born physically alive but spiritually dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually "reborn." This is only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to be restored to fellowship with God, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to receive true, eternal life.

Spiritual rebirth is only by the "baptism" ("anointing;" gift") 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). We must be spiritually "born-again" by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to see God's kingdom now all around us, and ultimately, in eternity (John 3:3, 5-8). 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 indwelling Holy Spirit is the "garment of salvation" and the "robe of righteousness;" not our own righteousness but the righteousness of Jesus Christ attributed to us by God by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Philippians 3:9). The Holy Spirit is the "wedding garment" without which we cannot get into the "marriage feast of the Lamb," Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Church, in heaven.

The Holy Spirit is the comforter (the Paraclete: our advocate, intercessor; consoler; comforter; Strong's Greek #3875). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the joy of of our salvation. The Holy Spirit is the "anointing" with the "oil of gladness." The Holy Spirit is the mantle of praise. The Holy Spirit gives us the power, resources and guidance to proclaim the Gospel boldly.

This Creation is God's spiritual garden. His purpose has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God's Word, fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). He causes righteousness and praise to spring forth from the mustard seed of faith (obedient trust) by the Holy Spirit, to sprout and grow into "oaks of righteousness."

Mary's song of praise was inspired by the song of Hanna, a barren woman too old for childbearing, who had prayed for a son and had given birth to Samuel, who became a priest, prophet and judge (political leader) of Israel (1 Samuel 2:1-10). Elizabeth's circumstances were similar to Hannah's; both were barren, and beyond childbearing age. Mary wasn't too old; she just didn't have a husband at that point (Luke 1:34-37).

Both Hanna and Elizabeth were stigmatized in their society because of their infertility. Mary was also stigmatized because she was pregnant and unmarried. They are examples of how the Lord exalts the poor and humble who fear, trust and obey God's Word, and blesses them with good things.

Jesus is the right hand of God: God's power revealed in this world in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus' word is the Word of God, with the creative force of God's Word (John 14:10, 24; Genesis 1:3; Mark 4:39-41). He is the fulfillment of the "year" of salvation, the messianic age of grace (God's unmerited favor) but he will also be the fulfillment of the "Day" of God's vengeance, when all who rejected Jesus as Lord and refused or failed 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). In that day the poor and humble who fear, trust and obey God will be exalted, but the arrogant and proud will be brought low.

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype and example of a "modern," "post-resurrection," "born-again" disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we all can be. He was confronted on the road to Damascus by the Holy Spirit of the risen and ascended Jesus (Romans 8:9), he repented, became obedient to Jesus as his Lord. He was discipled by a "born-again disciple, Ananias, until Paul was "born-again," and then, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, he began to proclaim the Gospel and make "born-again disciples of Jesus Christ, in obedience the the Great Commission Christ gave to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), on the condition that they wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the New Jerusalem) until they had been "born-again" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Paul had founded the Church in Thessalonica and he was continuing to disciple the new Christians by letter. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we can rejoice in any and all circumstances. If we are willing to know God's will for us with the commitment of doing it, he will reveal it to us. As long as we are where he wants us, doing what he wants, there is no circumstance he cannot bring us through. There is great joy in knowing that we are in the center of his will for us.

In order to abide in his will, we need to pray continually to maintain the bond with the Spirit. Let us count our blessings and give thanks in all circumstances because that is God's will for us. Let us not do anything to quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. We should seek the prophetic Word in the Church, and we should be willing to speak the prophetic Word as the Holy Spirit guides and empowers us.

Christians need to read and know the entire Bible, because the Bible is the standard by which we can test everything, and discern truth from error. There are many false teachings and false prophets in the world and in the nominal Church today (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right). We won't be deceived if we know what the Bible says. We don't need post-graduate degrees in Bible or theology. Any average reader can understand and remember the Bible if they truly want to, because the Lord can open our minds to understand the scripture (Luke 24:45), teach us all things, and call to our remembrance all that Jesus teaches (John 14:26).

Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth process. If we cooperate with the indwelling Holy Spirit he will guide us and give us the growth we need to be spiritually mature at the Day of the Lord.

John the Baptist is an example of a humble servant of God. He wasn't out to establish a cult to himself (John 3:26-30). John was the fulfillment of the promise of the coming of Elijah to announce the Messiah (Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:9-13), but John didn't consider himself equal to Elijah, or even compare himself to other Old Testament prophets.

John baptized with water for repentance for forgiveness to prepare the people to receive the Messiah, Jesus who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (and with fire; Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3-4). John's role is the example of the role of the Church, to preach repentance in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, to point them to Jesus, to disciple them in the Church awaiting the coming of Jesus personally and individually in the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit, and then to send them out into the world to proclaim the Gospel.

John didn't shy away from proclaiming the prophetic Word: he called the religious leaders of the day "poisonous snakes" to their faces and accused them of trying to escape their deserved punishment by God's wrath (Matthew 3:7-10). Would anyone dare to preach with such boldness in many of the Churches today? How many Church Leaders would tolerate their parishoners correcting them and calling them to repentance? Many church members don't want to hear about sin and Hell and eternal damnation. They want to hear messages that make them feel good (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Church leaders don't do their people any favors by failing to confront sin and call for repentance and reform.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Monday 3 Advent B
First Posted12/15/2008;
Podcast: Monday 3 Advent B

Psalm 89:1-4, 14-18  -  The Eternal Throne;

Paraphrase:

I will sing of the Lord's steadfast love forever; I will proclaim his faithfulness to all generations. He established his steadfast love for ever; it is as unchanging as the heavens. The Lord has made a covenant with his chosen one; with David he has sworn to establish his descendants for ever, and will establish his throne for all generations.

His throne will be founded on righteousness and justice. Steadfast love and faithfulness accompany him wherever he goes. Those who experience the festal shout, who walk in light of the Lord's countenance, who extol his name and his righteousness will be blessed. In the Lord's strength we glory; by his favor we are empowered and exalted. Our allegiance belongs to God our protector; our king is the Holy One of Israel.

Commentary:

God promised David, the great shepherd-king of Israel, that his descendants would reign on David's throne forever (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). Jesus is the "son" (descendant) of David (Matthew 1:1-17; 21-9), the Lord's "anointed" eternal Savior and King.

Jesus is the steadfast love and faithfulness of God made visible in this world in human flesh. Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Whoever has "seen" Jesus has seen God the Father (John 14:7-10).

The Bible record documents God's faithfulness in all his covenants. Jesus is the fulfillment not only of God's promise to David, but of all the promises of God's Word. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14).

Jesus' throne and the Word of God are founded on righteousness and justice. They reveal the Lord's essential character and nature, which is steadfast love and faithfulness.

Jesus is the standard of God's righteousness against which we will all be held individually accountable. We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word), and salvation (Acts 4:12) from eternal condemnation and eternal death (which is the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the only way to know God, to have spiritual enlightenment, and to have forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life (John 14:6). These are only possible through the gift ("anointing;" "baptism") of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), which only Jesus gives 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).

Those who accept Jesus as Lord, and trust and obey Jesus, will be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The infilling is a discernible ongoing event. One does not need to ask a religious authority whether one has been reborn; if one needs to ask, one hasn't been (Acts 19:2).

"Born-again" Christians are the ones who walk in the light of the Lord's "countenance" (his "smiling" face; his approval). That is how one becomes spiritually filled and "reborn." By the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the Lord's love and approval for us personally and individually. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the "festal shout;" the Holy Spirit makes our expression of the "festal shout" possible (1 John 4:1-3; Romans 8:15-16).

Only those who have experienced Jesus personally through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit can really exalt his name and extol his righteousness. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we personally experience the Lord's strength and rejoice in him. As we walk in obedient trust in the Holy Spirit we experience his empowerment and he will give us success, by which we will be exalted. As we give the Lord Jesus our allegiance and make him our King, we will experience his favor and protection.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Tuesday 3 Advent B
First Posted12/16/2008;
Podcast: Tuesday 3 Advent B

2 Samuel 7:(1-7), 8-11, 16     -   Everlasting Dynasty;

Paraphrase:

After David had become king of Israel, he built a palace on the hill of Zion in Jerusalem, previously a Jebusite fortress, which became known as the City of David.

When David settled into the palace and had peace from his enemies around him, he proposed building a house (temple) for the Lord, to replace the tabernacle (tent; portable temple). Nathan, the prophet, David's adviser, at first told David to do what he desired, because the Lord was with David, but that night the Lord spoke to Nathan. The Lord told Nathan to tell David that the Lord had dwelt in a tent since he had led Israel out of Egypt, and had never asked for a permanent house.

The Lord told Nathan to say to David that the Lord had taken David from the sheep-pasture and had made him prince (king) of God's people. David had the Lord's favor and power over his enemies, and the Lord promised to make David's name great throughout the world. The Lord promised to give Israel a place of their own, where they would not be disturbed by their enemies as they were, formerly, in the era of the Judges of  Israel.

The Lord declared that he would make David a house (dynasty). The Lord declared that David's house (dynasty), and his throne and kingdom will be established forever.

Commentary:

This text involves a play on the various meanings of the word "house." It can mean "palace," "temple," "dynasty," and "family."  David is the great shepherd-king of Israel. David had been a shepherd of his earthly father, Jesse's, sheep when God called him.

David is the forerunner and illustration of the Christ who was to come. Jesus is the fulfillment, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14), who is God's "anointed" (Christ and Messiah each mean "anointed") eternal King and heir to the throne of David.

David was a man after God's own heart whom God declared would do all God's will (Acts 13:22; Psalm 89:20; 1 Samuel 13:14), but David was not perfect. David sinned grievously with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25), but was forgiven. Jesus was the perfect, sinless, Son of God, who was completely obedient to God's Word, even to his death on the cross (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus' birth was announced first by angels to shepherds out in the fields watching over their sheep at night (Luke 2:8-20). They became the first evangelists (Luke 2:17). Note that they acted in obedient trust, on the Word of God, and came to experience Jesus personally. Then they were able to tell others what they had experienced.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the City (birthplace; Luke 2:4, 11) of David. Zion became the City of David, the king (2 Samuel 5:7). Zion becomes the symbol for the Church, the City of God on earth, and of the eternal City of God in heaven.

God fulfilled his promise to make an eternal temple, dynasty and family of David. Jesus is the son of David and Son of God through whom we are adopted into God's household and family.

God has established his house, the Church, through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to make it possible for us to be forgiven and cleansed so that we can individually become the temple of the Lord through the gift 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). We should desire to make ourselves available to be God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, we have a place we will inherit and possess where we will not be disturbed by our enemies, in the eternal kingdom of God in heaven (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

David's desire to build a temple is a lesson for us. Just because we desire to do something for the Lord, we should not assume that whatever we do is his will.  We should seek God's will by prayer and meditation on God's Word, and wait for an answer, before we act. When God answers we should "pray it back" to him to make sure we have understood. But note that God will never tell us to do anything contrary to God's Word (which is a good reason to read the entire Bible) or anything which will harm ourselves or others (see 1 John 4:1-3).

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Wednesday 3 Advent B
First Posted12/17/2008;
Podcast: Wednesday 3 Advent B

Romans 16:25-27    -    Benediction;
Isaiah 40:9-11   -     Herald of Good News;

Romans Paraphrase:

Paul concluded his letter to the Church at Rome with this invocation of blessing upon them.

Paul commended the Roman Christians to God, who is able to strengthen them through the Gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, proclaimed by Paul. God has revealed the mystery which was kept secret for long ages, but has now been revealed, and through the Bible has been made known to all nations, by the command of God who is eternal, to bring about obedience of faith. May God, who alone is wise (1 Corinthians 1:17-25), be glorified through Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah Paraphrase:

God calls his people to herald good news from the mountain tops. Let us lift our voices; let us not be afraid to speak boldly. Look and see our God.  Watch, for the Lord God comes with might. He rules by his mighty arm; he brings his recompense with him.

"He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those who are with young" (Isaiah 40:11).

Commentary:

God's plan for Creation was a mystery, unknown to the world, from the beginning. God has been gradually revealing his plan, first through the goodness of Creation, then through his call to Abraham to be the father of the nation of God's people. Through the Bible record of God's dealing with Israel he further revealed himself and his purpose.

At last God revealed himself and his purpose to the world in the fulfillment of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, the eternal Savior and King. Jesus is the fullest revelation of God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28; John 14:9).

Jesus came to make it possible for us to be forgiven and cleansed of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we could be restored to fellowship with God and to eternal life in his heavenly kingdom, which is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to find and know God, the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6).

We're all born into this world physically alive but spiritually dead. This Creation is God's "garden" for growing spiritually alive people who willingly trust and obey God's Word. Jesus says that in order to see the kingdom of God which is all around us, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity, we must be spiritually "born-again," (John 3:3, 5-8) which is only by 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). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ (John 14:23). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us personally and individually.

Jesus is the example of complete trust and obedience of God's Word. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment, and illustration of God's Word, lived out  in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus came to establish a New Covenant with God's people (Hebrews 8:6-10), of forgiveness, and salvation from the penalty for sin, which is eternal destruction, by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The New Covenant motivates our obedient trust in Jesus from love, rather than the fear of law and punishment (John 14:21).

Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been "reborn" by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are the New Israel. The Church is the New Jerusalem, God's "city" in this world. The true Church and individual Christians are called to be the heralds of the "Good News" (Gospel; which means "Good News") of Jesus Christ, boldly, from the mountain tops and rooftops in this world. We are to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples and teach them to trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20), which Jesus gave his disciples, to be carried out after they had been "reborn" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of the Good Shepherd (Isaiah 40:11; John 10:11, 14-15), who will lovingly care for God's "sheep," the people of God's "pasture."

The Church and Christians are to proclaim Christ's advent (coming). We proclaim that Christ has come in the flesh, has died for our sins and has risen again to eternal life. We proclaim that Jesus Christ comes to us personally and individually through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. We proclaim that Christ will come again, within the span of our individual lifetimes, to judge the living and dead in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter:4-5; John 5:28-29).

Jesus is the mighty arm of God, who is coming to reign. Jesus is bringing God's recompense with him.

Jesus is the standard by which all people will be accountable. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "reborn" during this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in God's eternal kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus, who have refused or failed 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 (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Thursday 3 Advent B
First Posted12/18/2008;

Podcast: Thursday 3 Advent B

Luke 1:26-38   -  Announcement;

Paraphrase:

In the sixth month (Elul; August-September) God sent an angel, Gabriel, to Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a descendant of David (the great shepherd-king) named Joseph. The angel appeared to Mary and greeted her saying "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). Mary was troubled and wondered what this greeting would mean for her. The angel told her not to be afraid because she was favored by God. The angel told her she would conceive and give birth to a son whom she was to name Jesus.

"He will be called great, and will be called the Son of the Most High (God); and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father (ancestor) David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob (inheritor of the birthright; Genesis 27) for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33). Mary asked how this would be possible, since she was an unmarried virgin. The angel told her that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and the power of God; thus the child would be holy, the Son of God.

The angel told Mary that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was barren and beyond childbearing age had conceived a son and was already six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God. Mary declared that she was the servant of God, and accepted the Word of God declared to her by Gabriel, and the angel departed.

Being betrothed but unmarried and becoming pregnant was stigmatized (a matter of great shame) in her culture. But Mary believed the angel, and accepted God's will for her. She trusted and obeyed God's Word. She had God's approval, although not society's.

In contrast, her relative, Elizabeth, had been stigmatized for being barren, since barrenness was interpreted as a sign of God's disfavor, and now Elizabeth's pregnancy was a sign of God's approval.
Joseph, under ordinary circumstances, would have broken the engagement, because he would have interpreted Mary's pregnancy as unfaithfulness. Joseph was considering how to break the engagement without causing Mary great public shame, when an angel of the Lord came to him. The angel told Joseph not the hesitate to marry Mary, because the child had been conceived by the Holy Spirit (and was therefore holy; Matthew 1:18-20 ). Joseph trusted and obeyed God's Word.

The angel told Joseph that the child was to be named Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21-22). The name "Jesus" is similar to the Hebrew and Aramaic forms of the name "Joshua" meaning "Jehovah the Savior." It is like naming him "Savior" because he will save.

All of us have sinned (disobeyed God's Word and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God doesn't want anyone to perish eternally but to have eternal life in his kingdom in heaven (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8). Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to provide a Savior to save us from sin and eternal death. Jesus is the only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the son of David, the fulfillment of God's promise to David of an eternal heir to the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). Jesus is the son of David by adoption through his earthly father, Joseph. We become the spiritual children of Abraham and thus are God's "adopted" children through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Romans 4:11-13; Galatians 3:6-7).

Jesus is called the Son of God (Mark 1:1). He is fully human through his mother, Mary, and fully God because of his conception by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. In Jesus the whole fullness of God dwells bodily (Colossians 2:8-9; Lk23:1, 38; John 1:34; John 20:28).

Jesus usually referred to himself as the Son of man, which is true, but which allows us to decide for ourselves who Jesus is (Matthew 16:13-16), and gives us a hint from Daniel 7:13). Jesus is God the Son of man. Not a man who became God, but God who became a man.

Who we decide that Jesus is is a matter of eternal consequences for us personally and individually. The entire New Testament is written to help us realize, accept and receive who Jesus is (John 20:30-31).
Jesus is God's "anointed" Savior and eternal King. Christ and Messiah each mean (God's) "anointed." Through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and King, Christians are the spiritual children of Abraham, of the house of Jacob, and the inheritors of the birthright of eternal life and citizenship in the eternal Kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:10-11; 1 Peter 1:3-4).

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Friday 3 Advent B
First Posted12/19/2008;
Podcast: Friday 3 Advent B

Deuteronomy 18:15-19    -   New Moses;
Philippians 4:4-7    -   The Lord is at Hand;

Deuteronomy Paraphrase:

God promised to raise up for his people, a prophet like Moses, from among them, whom they were to obey. On the day when the Lord manifested himself on Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai; Exodus 19:9-24) the people were terrified and asked that they no longer hear God's voice or see the great fire which accompanied God's manifestation, for fear of death (Exodus 20:18-20). The people asked that Moses be their mediator, to relay God's Word to them.

The Lord declared that he would raise up a prophet like Moses from among Israel. God would give him God's Word, and he would declare God's Word to his brethren as God commands him. Whoever doesn't heed God's Word which he declares in God's name, will receive the penalty from God.

Philippians Paraphrase:

Paul was "discipling" believers in his letter to the Philippians. In his closing remarks he urged them to rejoice always in the Lord, and he repeated it for emphasis. We are to be forbearing (patient; forgiving) with all people. The (second) advent (coming) of the Lord is at hand. Let us not be anxious for anything, but in everything we are to make our requests to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.  "And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Commentary:

Moses is the forerunner and illustration of Christ. Jesus is the "New Moses," who leads God's people out of bondage to sin and death in the "Egypt" of this world, through the "sea" of baptism, through the "wilderness" of this lifetime, through the "river" of physical death, and into the eternal "Promised Land" of God's kingdom in heaven. Jesus is the "prophet like Moses" whom God promised to raise up from the people of Israel to lead the people according to God's Word. Jesus word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24),  with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:41; Genesis 1:3) and God will hold accountable any one who doesn't trust and obey Jesus.

Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (Testament) of grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), instituted at the Last Supper, on the night of his betrayal (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note "g"; Hebrews 12:24), as Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant of Law. Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh, in this world (John 1:1-5, 14) manifested in a non-threatening way.

Jesus is God made visible in human flesh (John 14:9; Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus demonstrates God's love by sacrificing himself for our sins on the cross, so that we need not die eternally for our sins ourselves. Jesus has the almighty power of God, but he set that aside, and allowed himself to be crucified (Philippians 2:6-8; Matthew 26:53-54).

Christians are, by definition, "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). We have received the gift 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).

Christians are to grow in discipleship  to spiritual maturity as we await Christ's return on the Day of Judgment. We can rejoice in all things, because we have the encouragement of the Spirit, and the confidence that we are in God's will, and have eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the "Paraclete" (intercessor, consoler; advocate, comforter) our intercessor and advocate with God on our behalf, and our consoler and comforter in times of trial, as any "born-again" Christian can testify.

We can trust in the Lord's providence for what we truly need, and instead of worrying, we should commend our worries and needs to God in prayer, with thanksgiving. No matter what our circumstances, we can recall our blessings with thanksgiving. We can have the peace which only God can give, keeping our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We can believe and know from experience (John 6:69 RSV) that the Lord is able and faithful; that there is no circumstance that we can experience that the Lord can't bring us through and deliver us from.

Jesus has promised to return, on the Day of Judgment at the end of this temporal age. In that day everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this life with his teachings (John 5:28-29). Jesus is the standard by which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been "born-again" in this lifetime, and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction (second death; spiritual, eternal death) in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus' Second Coming will be within our individual lifetimes, and no one can be certain how long they will be. At the moment of death, time ceases for us, and our eternal destinies are fixed and unalterable. Today is the only day we can be sure of; today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?

Saturday 3 Advent B
First Posted12/20/2008;
Podcast: Saturday 3 Advent B

John 1:19-28  -  Testimony of John the Baptizer;

Paraphrase:

The Pharisees (legalistic religious authorities) sent priests and Levites (temple assistants) to John the Baptizer to ask him who he was. John told them he was not the Christ (Messiah; God's "anointed"), so they asked him if he were Elijah or a prophet (who was prophesied to come before the Messiah) John said, "No." So the delegation asked John to tell them who he was, so they could report to the Pharisees, who had sent them. John said that he was the voice in the wilderness, crying out for people to straighten the way of the Lord, as Isaiah had prophesied.

The delegation asked John why he was baptizing if he wasn't the Christ or Elijah? John replied that he baptized with water; but among them was one they did not know, the one who was to come after John, who was so much greater than John that John was unworthy to be his most menial servant. John was baptizing at "Bethany beyond Jordan" (not Bethany on the Mount of Olives; rather, at a shallow crossing of the Jordan River).

Commentary:

John was not trying to assume the role of the Messiah, and he didn't consider himself a great prophet like Elijah (although Jesus said that John was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Elijah's (Elias') return: Matthew 17:10-13). He didn't even claim to be a prophet at all. He was just the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: a voice crying in the wilderness, calling people to prepare for the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3).

A prophet isn't a great seer! A prophet simply declares God's Word fully and accurately. God's Word is not obscure. God wants us to know and understand his Word so that we can trust and obey it. The fact that God's Word is always fulfilled is not the result of the prophet's ability, but the evidence that it is truly God's Word. Fulfillment is the definition and test of God's Word (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

Israel had been anticipating the coming of the Messiah for a long time. They were expecting Elijah, the great prophet of Israel who had been carried up to heaven alive (2 Kings 2:11), to return, or a prophet like Elijah to arise, to announce the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5).

The Pharisees and their delegation wanted to know why he was baptizing (and who gave him the authority), if he wasn't the Messiah or Elijah. John told them he was baptizing with water (for repentance and purification from sin) to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

John's baptism was for spiritual cleansing, so that people could accept Jesus. The Messiah would baptize with the indwelling Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Jesus, by his sacrificial death, made it possible for us to be cleansed of all sin, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, so that the the Holy Spirit can abide within us. The prophecy of the baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3).

John identified Jesus as the Messiah, by the Holy Spirit. Even John didn't know who the Messiah was until God revealed it to John, by the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, as a dove which descended upon Jesus as he was baptized by John, the sign the Lord had given John (John 1:31-34). Once he had been revealed to John, John pointed people to Jesus so that they could follow Jesus, rather than John (John 1:35-37).

John's role is the role of the Church. The true Church (as distinct from the nominal Church) has the Word of God, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit within them, that Jesus is the Christ, God's anointed eternal Savior and King. The Church testifies that Jesus is the Christ, baptizes people with water for repentance to prepare them to receive Jesus, and points people to follow Jesus in discipleship.

The Church is to be a "disciple-making" organization, composed of "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples, who are discipling new believers (Matthew 28:19-20) until they have been "born-again" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), before sending them into the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It takes "born-again" disciples to make "born-again" disciples.

Only Jesus baptizes with the indwelling 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).

In too many instances the nominal "Church" today has failed to make disciples and build the kingdom of God, and has instead settled for building "buildings" and making "members;" "fair-weather" "Christians," who will "participate" in "Church" if it is convenient. There are lots of false teachings and false teachers in the "Church" and in the world today (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home). The Holy Spirit is not automatically conferred by the "Church" by some ritual such as (water) "baptism" or rite of membership.

There are many "disciples" of the "Church" (rather than of Jesus Christ), who know only "the baptism of John" (water baptism; Acts 19:2-5). The "baptism" ("anointing;" "gift," "infilling") is an ongoing, discernible event. If one has to rely on the word of some religious "authority" to determine if one has been filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit, one hasn't been!

The Jewish religious leaders, experts in the Bible Scriptures, failed to recognize John's fulfillment of prophecy. They were administering their office for their own status and benefit, rather than as stewards of God's house and shepherds of God's flock. They hadn't authorized John's ministry, and so they failed to heed the Baptizer's call to repent and be baptized to prepare for the coming Messiah. They were thus unprepared to receive and did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

In many ways the nominal Church today is in the same situation as Judaism at the time of Jesus' first coming. There are many "Church" leaders today who know a lot about God, but don't know God personally, because they haven't been baptized with the Holy Spirit. They have been formally educated in the Bible, but espouse and teach doctrines which are not supported by Scripture.

Many of the Jewish people had more knowledge of the Bible of their day than many "Christians" do today, and yet they failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. In some cases the nominal "Church" has actually discouraged the reading of the Bible by laymen (non-ordained members). That's the same attitude that the Pharisees had about John's authority to baptize and preach.

God wants us to know his Word and his will, and if we earnestly seek it with the commitment to trust and obey, he is abundantly able and willing to reveal his Word and his will for us personally. The Holy Spirit will open our minds to understand the Bible Scripture (Luke 24:45), teach us all things, call to our remembrance all that Jesus taught (John 14:26), and give us what to say in testimony at the moment it is needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). I, personally, and every truly "born-again" Christian, testify to these truths.

The Bible is the standard by which Church doctrine is to be judged. Unless and until we have read the entire Bible for ourselves, we have no standard by which to determine truth from error, and no protection from false teaching and false teachers. Reading the entire Bible is not difficult; the average reader can easily read it in one year, and there are numerous Bible-in-a-year programs (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home).

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?