Week
of 1 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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Podcast Download: Week of 1
Advent - B
Sunday
1 Advent - B
First Posted
November 30, 2008;
Podcast: Sunday 1 Advent - B
Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1-8 -- Prayer for the Lord's Coming;
Psalm 80:1-7 -- Restoration;
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 -- Shepherd of Israel;
Mark 13:33-37 -- Savior and Sustainer;
Mark 11:1-10 -- Triumphal Entry;
Isaiah 63 Paraphrase:
The Lord is our Father and our Redeemer from long ago. Why does
the Lord allow us to stray from his ways, and allow our hearts to
be hardened so that we no longer fear him? Lord, return to us for
the sake of your servants and your heritage.
Isaiah 64 Paraphrase:
Oh that the Lord would part the heavens and come down and cause
the mountains to shake at his presence, like brushwood is thrown
on a fire and causes the kettle to boil, to make the name of the
Lord known to his enemies and the nations and cause them to
tremble. When the Lord came down upon the mountain and did awesome
things which we did not expect, the mountain trembled at his
presence (Exodus 19:16-18). From the very beginning there has
never been a God except the Lord, “who works for those who wait
for him” (Isaiah 64:4). The Lord comes to those who do what is
right according to God’s Word and do what he teaches.
We have (all) sinned and have been sinning for a long time, and
the Lord is right to be angry. Can we yet be saved? We have all
become spiritually unclean, like spiritual lepers, and our
righteous deeds are like filthy garments. We all fade like leaves
in the fall, and our iniquities sweep us away like dry leaves in a
wind. No one bothers to call upon the Lord, no one bothers to seek
and lay hold of the Lord, because the Lord has hid his presence
from us and has delivered us into the consequences of our sins.
Psalm Paraphrase:
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel who leads Joseph (favorite son of
Jacob/Israel by Rachael). Let the Lord who is enthroned on
Cherubim shine forth upon Ephraim, Manasseh (sons of Joseph, born
in Egypt) and Benjamin (Joseph’s brother; beloved youngest son of
Israel; by Rachael). May the Lord gather his might and come to
save us.
“Restore us, O God; let thy face shine, that we may be saved”
(Psalm 80:3, 7).
How long will the Lord be angry with the prayers of his people? He
has given them tears to eat and drink until they are full. The
Lord has allowed the enemies of the Lord’s people to scorn them
and laugh at them among themselves.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Paul was the first Christian missionary to preach the Gospel in
Europe and the first to preach the Gospel in Corinth where he
founded the Church. Paul kept in touch with the young church by
letter.
Grace and Peace are only possible from God the Father, through
Jesus Christ. Paul let the Corinthian Christians know that he gave
thanks to God for the grace of God which the Corinthians had
received through Jesus Christ, and for the spiritual growth in
wisdom, eloquence, and divine knowledge, which they received by
the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The testimony to Jesus was confirmed among them by their changed
lives and by the presence of the Holy Spirit within them. Through
the Holy Spirit they would not lack any spiritual gift. They knew
that they were to await the revealing of Jesus Christ at his
Second Coming on the Day of Judgment, and they could be sure that
Jesus would sustain them and keep them free of guilt through his
Holy Spirit until the Day of Christ’s return. God had called them
to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ, and God is entirely
faithful and able to do what he has promised.
Mark 13 Paraphrase:
Jesus warned his disciples that we must pay attention, be alert
and watchful for the Day of Christ’s return, because no one knows
when that will be. Jesus said that it will be like a master who
went on a journey and left his servants in charge of his house. He
told his doorkeeper to be watchful. No one knows when the master
will return; he may come at any hour of the day or night, so we
must remain watchful and not be caught sleeping. Likewise we all
must remain alert for the Lord’s return.
Mark 11 Paraphrase:
Jesus was on his way with his disciples to Jerusalem, where he
knew he would be crucified, as he had told them three times (Mark
8:31, 9:31; 10:32-34). As they got near to Jerusalem, at Bethphage
and Bethany (both on the Mount of Olives; about 2 miles from
Jerusalem), Jesus told two disciples into the village, where they
would find, tied up, a colt which had never been ridden. They were
to untie it, and if anyone questioned them they were to say that
the Lord needed it.
They went and found everything exactly as Jesus had said; and they
brought the animal to Jesus. They put their cloaks upon it and
Jesus sat on it. Many spread their garments and tree branches on
the road for the Lord to ride over. Groups of people went ahead
and followed behind Jesus shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our
father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!
Commentary:
God’s purpose has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his
people who willingly choose to trust and obey the Lord. God has
designed this Creation to allow us the freedom for us to choose
whether to trust and obey God, and the opportunity to learn by trial
and error that God’s way is our best interest. God knew that freedom
to choose would lead to sin (disobedience of God’s Word; Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and eternal death (the penalty for sin; Romans
6:23), and he intentionally designed a Redeemer, the Messiah, Jesus
Christ, into the very structure of Creation from the beginning (John
1:1-5, 14; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts
17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust)
in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This lifetime is our only opportunity
to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life, which is only possible
by 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).
God manifested himself to Israel at Mount Sinai (Horeb) after he had
led them out of bondage to sin and death in Egypt; and the mountain
quaked at his presence. God reveals himself and his will to those
who are willing to wait for him. But we find waiting hard! We want
immediate action, and we are tempted to act on our own; to be
“self-sufficient!” We must trust in him and yield our personal
autonomy to him in order to receive what he promises. The Lord
manifests himself to those who trust and obey God’s Word (John
14:15-17).
God is the only “god,” from the beginning of Creation, who answers
prayer and manifests himself. There is no other god; all other
“gods” are the creation of mankind’s hands and imaginations.
God has promised to be the Shepherd of Israel, since the call of
Abraham. He led Abraham to the Promised Land, and he led Israel out
of slavery to sin and death in Egypt, through the wilderness and
into the Promised Land as a shepherd leads his flock.
Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word,
lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is
the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise of the Good Shepherd (John
10:11, 14). Jesus is the “New Moses” who leads God’s people out of
slavery 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.
Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the author of the Letters to the Corinthians,
is the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,”
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple (student) and apostle
(messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as all of us can be.
Paul was convicted by the Holy Spirit of the risen Christ on the
road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-4). He repented (Acts 9:9), accepted
Jesus as Lord (Acts 9:5), was “discipled” (Acts 9:17) by a
“born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-16), until Paul had
received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18), and then he
began making “born-again” disciples by the guidance and empowerment
of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:20-22; 2 Timothy 1:6), and teaching them
to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).
Paul was “discipling” the Corinthian Congregation he had founded by
preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:17-25). Paul
continued to disciple them by letter. Paul taught the Corinthian
Christians to await the manifestation of Jesus Christ at the Second
Coming, on the Day of Judgment. He assured them that Jesus was able
to sustain them in faith and salvation until that Day.
Paul had not known Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Yet he was
as much a disciple and apostle as the Eleven remaining original
apostles. Jesus warned his disciples to be alert and watchful for
the Day of Christ’s return, but this warning applies to all people,
not just to believers, disciples, and apostles. God has given us his
Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ and we will be accountable for
what we have done with God’s Word in this lifetime.
The New Testament, and every authentic “born-again” Christian,
testifies that what Jesus teaches is absolutely true and reliable.
As we begin to trust and obey Jesus’ teachings, first, as recorded
in the New Testament, and then by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we
will learn by experience that Jesus’ word is the Word of God (John
14:10, 24b), is completely true, and our best interest.
Every one who has trusted and obeyed Jesus has experienced the
spiritual reality of Jesus’ resurrection, and eternal life, through
the indwelling Holy Spirit. We have experienced the joy of his
presence, and long for him to “open” the heavens and come down, to
fill his church and his people with his glory until the church
windows and our “teeth” rattle.
By faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and
saved, no matter how long, great, or numerous our sins. When we
experience the complete forgiveness of our sins, we will be happy
and eager to pray, work for, and look forward to Christ’s return.
But watch out! Don’t assume that church membership, or some
“religious ritual” will save us. Jesus warns that it is not those
who call him “Lord” or who call themselves “Christians who are
saved, but only those who trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 7:21-24;
Luke 6:46). Only a personal relationship with Jesus by the gift of
his indwelling Holy Spirit will save us. 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).
There are many “church members” and nominal “Christians” who are
spiritual “lepers,” clothed in “filthy garments,” instead of the
righteousness of Jesus Christ, because they rely on their “good
works” rather than faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. There are many
nominal “Christians” who are dry leaves, who will be swept away by
sin as by a wind. There are many nominal “Churches” today where the
Spirit of the Lord has departed, and hid his presence from them and
they have not even noticed!
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 1 Advent
- B
First
Posted December 1, 2008;
Podcast: Monday 1 Advent - B
Psalm 85 -- Prayer for Restoration;
Paraphrase:
The psalmist recalls earlier times
when the Lord was favorable toward Israel and restored their
fortunes. The Lord forgave and pardoned the sins of his people.
The Lord turned from hot anger and wrath.
O God our Savior, restore us again
and turn away your indignation from us. Don't be angry with us
forever. Will your anger extend to all generations? Will you not
revive us again so that we can rejoice in you? Let us see your
steadfast love and grant us your salvation.
Let us hear what our Lord God will
speak, because he will speak peace to his people, to his saints
(consecrated to God; holy to God by profession and covenant*), to
all who trust and obey God from their hearts. For those who fear
(have appropriate awe and respect for God's power and authority)
salvation is surely at hand, that our land would be filled with
[God's] glory.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will
be united; righteousness and peace will kiss. Righteousness will
look down from heaven and faithfulness will spring up from the
ground. The Lord will give us what is good; he will prosper our
land and crops. Righteousness will lead him, and his footsteps
will become our path.
Commentary:
Throughout the history of God's
dealing with Israel recorded in the Bible, when times were good
Israel would turn away from obedient trust and stray into
idolatry. The Lord would warn them through his Word and his
prophets. Often they refused to heed God's Word of warning, and
God would lift his favor and protection from them, like a good
father disciplines his children, in the hope that they would
return to obedient trust in God. This was true of the destruction
of the Northern Kingdom of Israel of the divided monarchy by the
Assyrians in 721 B.C., and it was true of the Babylonian exile of
the Southern Kingdom of Judah from 587-517B.C.
Judah, the remnant of Israel,
returned from Babylon a renewed people, but they forgot the
lessons learned in exile, and were unprepared for the coming of
Messiah, Jesus Christ (Christ is the Greek equivalent of Messiah;
both mean "anointed"). As the result, God removed his favor and
protection from Israel, and Jerusalem and the temple were
destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans. The Jews were scattered
throughout the world and Israel ceased to exist as a nation until
reestablished following World War II.
In a sense America and the Church are
each the "New Promised Land" and the "New People of God." Both are
in a very similar situation now as Israel and Judaism were at the
time of Jesus' first advent (coming). We think we are righteous
because of our own deeds, and we take our prosperity as a sign of
God's divine approval.
The Biblical record was written to
teach us not to make the same mistakes Israel made (1 Corinthians
10:11). Throughout the history of America, we have experienced
times of prosperity during which we turned from obedient trust in
God's Word and to idolatry. Then when times were difficult there
was a revival of obedient trust in God's Word and a return from
idolatry, and to the Lord, the Great Awakenings (revivals) of
1734***, and 1799-1800**
Often it is perverse human nature to
take credit ourselves for prosperity and success, and blame God
for the bad things that happen, so-called "acts of God." When
things are going well we should be careful to heed God's Word and
not stray into disobedience and idolatry as Israel did. When times
are difficult, we should recall the times in the past that the
Lord has favored us and blessed us, first in Biblical accounts,
and then, as we begin to follow Jesus in obedient trust, we will
personally experience his favor and providence.
Superficially we appear to be
prospering, but more and more work produces less and less. It used
to be possible for the average man to earn enough to support his
family. Now it takes the work both husband and wife to accomplish
the same result.
There has never been a time in
America when we have needed revival more urgently. The Lord can
revive and restore us personally and individually. God will speak
to us personally and individually as we read his Word. The Lord
will fill us individually with his indwelling Holy Spirit and
cause us to be spiritually "reborn" to true, eternal life.
All of us have sinned (disobeyed
God's Word (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Jesus is God's only
provision ( Acts 4:12) for the forgiveness of our sin
(disobedience of God's Word), and salvation (from eternal
destruction and eternal death, which is the penalty for sin;
Romans 6:23). Jesus is the righteousness of God who must lead us,
and his footsteps will be our only path to God's eternal kingdom
in heaven (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar top
right).
Are you ready for Christ's return? 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)?
*Easton’s Bible Dictionary, “Saint"
digital edition, freeware, SwordPROJECT BibleTime 1.6.4 (for Linux
KDE 3.5.7) http://www.bibletime.info
**Marshall, Peter, J., Jr. and
Manuel, David, The Light and the Glory, "Great Awakening"
Fleming H. Revell, Baker Books, P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, Mich.
41956-6287. ISBN 0-8007-5054-3 (paper).
***Marshall, Peter, J., Jr. and
Manuel, David, " From Sea to Shining Sea," p. 64, Fleming
H. Revell, Baker Books, P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, Mich.
41956-6287. ISBN 0-8007-5308-9 (paper).
Tuesday 1 Advent
- B
First
Posted December 2, 2008
Podcast:
Tuesday 1 Advent - B
Isaiah 40:1-1 -- Our Lord Comes;
Paraphrase:
The Lord speaks comfort to his
people. Tell Jerusalem tenderly that that her struggle is ended,
her sins are pardoned; she has received double for sins from the
hand of God. Prepare the way of the Lord, a voice cries in the
wilderness. In the desert make straight a highway for our God. The
valleys will be filled and the mountains leveled to make the
ground flat and the rough places smooth. The Lord's glory will be
revealed and every one will see it, for the Lord has spoken.
God's spirit tells the prophet to cry
out, and the prophet asks what the Lord wants him to say. Human
flesh is like grass and its beauty like wildflowers. Grass
withers; flowers fade, but God's Word is eternal.
Zion, the herald, is to go up upon
the mountaintop and proclaim good tidings. Fear not, Jerusalem,
speak up, fear not; herald good tidings. Say to Judah to look and
see that their Lord comes in great power. His right arm reigns for
him. Look, he is bringing his reward and his recompense.
Like a good shepherd he will feed his
flock; the young lambs he will gather in his arms and carry in his
bosom. He will gently lead those who are nursing their young.
God's Word comforts his people. He
declares to the Church, his New Jerusalem on earth, that their
struggle is at an end. Her sins have been pardoned. God is more
than satisfied by her penance.
Commentary:
We have all sinned (disobeyed God's
Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is
eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for the
forgiveness of our sins and for salvation from eternal destruction
(Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top
right, home).
God's people are to cry out in the
wilderness of this world, announcing the coming of the Lord. We
are to level mountains and fill in valleys, to make a smooth
highway for the coming of our Lord.
God promised to reveal his glory to
all people and he fulfilled that promise in the first advent
(coming) of Jesus Christ, and his resurrection from physical
death. John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy of heralding the
coming of Jesus and preparing the way by calling God's people to
straighten their ways (John 1:23; Matthew 3:1-3).
God's Word is eternal and is
fulfilled over and over again as the conditions for its
fulfillment are met. The Church is to be the herald of the Second
Coming of Jesus in great glory and power, to judge the living and
the dead (1 Peter 4:5) in the spiritual and physical senses. Every
eye will see his coming (Matthew 24:30). He will come with clouds
from heaven, the same way he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11).
People will be fainting with fear (Luke 21:26) but there will be
no escape from his judgment. Every knee will bow to him and
acknowledge him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
Jesus is the right arm (symbol of
righteous power; Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69) of God who reigns
eternally as King of kings and Lord of lords, by God's authority
(Matthew 28:18). He is bringing his reward, eternal life in
creation restored to paradise, for those who have accepted Jesus
as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus, and his recompense
(retribution; punishment) of eternal destruction for those who
have refused to accept him as Lord and have refused, or failed, to
trust and obey Jesus.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John
10:11, 14-15), the fulfillment of God's promise to be the shepherd
of his flock (Ezekiel 34:12, 23). He leads his flock through the
"wilderness" of this world, through the "river" of physical death,
and into green "pasture" in the eternal "promised land" of God's
heavenly kingdom (Psalm 23), by his indwelling Holy Spirit, which
only Jesus gives (John1:31-34), 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 coming of the Lord is good news
to his disciples, the fulfillment of the Angles' song on eve of
Christ's birth (Luke 2:8-14), but it will be bad news to the
enemies of the Lord who have rebelled against him and refused to
trust and obey him.
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 1 Advent
- B
First
Posted December 3, 2008;
Podcast: Wednesday 1 Advent - B
2 Peter 3:8-14 -- The Day of the
Lord;
Paraphrase:
One of the main themes of the Second
Letter of Peter is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Author
here quotes Psalm 90:4 to show that God's timing is different from
ours (because he is eternal and we are temporal). For him a
thousand years are like a day, and a day like a thousand years.
The Lord is not slow in coming. We should realize that a delay is
because of his forbearance, his desire that all should come to
repentance so that none might perish (eternally). "But the day of
the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass
away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with
fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned
up" (2 Peter 3:10).
Since the things of this earth will
be destroyed, we should live lives of holiness and godliness as we
await the coming of the Day of the Lord. In that day the heavens
will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire. The
author cites God's promise of Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22 to create a
new heavens and a new earth, and the vision of Revelation 21:1-27
of the new Creation. Therefore as we await the new Creation we
should be zealous to be judged blameless and at peace at the
coming of the Lord.
God has always intended to create an
eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him.
This Creation is not intended to be eternal; it is a "nursery" to
grow "God's (eternal) people." This Creation, and we ourselves are
limited by time. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find
God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually
"born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. These goals are only
possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.
We have all sinned (disobeyed God's
Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is
eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for the
forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal condemnation
(Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth,
the only way to be restored to fellowship with God, our Creator,
which was broken by sin, and the only way to true, eternal life
(John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right,
home).
We must be "born-again" in order to
see the kingdom of God, all around us now in this present world,
and to ultimately see and enter it in eternity. That spiritual
"rebirth" is by 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 have all been created as eternal
beings in physical bodies (John 5:28-29). We have all been born
physically alive, but spiritually dead. Unless we are reborn
spiritually now in this world we will be eternally trapped in
physical bodies in the destruction of this present world.
The Day of the Lord is coming
suddenly and unexpectedly, whether we are physically living or
dead, and it will come for each of us by the end of our physical
lifetime. No one can be sure of living until tomorrow, and when we
die physically our eternal destiny will be fixed and unchangeable.
While we are still physically living in this world we have the
opportunity to be saved and spiritually reborn.
We will all be accountable to the
Lord for what we have done in this lifetime (Hebrews 9:27), and
the standard of judgment will be Jesus Christ. Those who have
accepted Jesus as Lord will trust and obey him and will be reborn
by the indwelling Holy Spirit; but those who have rejected Jesus
and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be
condemned to eternal destruction and spiritual death along with
the elements of this present Creation (Matthew 25:31-46).
The only way we can have God's
righteousness (Romans 3:22) and be blameless and at peace with God
(John 14:27; Philippians 4:7, 9) is by faith (obedient trust) in
Jesus Christ.
If we know that this present Creation
is passing away, why would we waste our time and effort pursuing
and accumulating the things of this world, and neglect pursuing
the things which are eternal? Why would we spend so much effort
and money trying to stay physically young and healthy, and neglect
our spiritual life and health? Jesus has warned us to seek first
God's eternal kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other
things (the physical necessities of life in this world) will be
ours as well (Matthew 6:33). On the other hand, if we seek worldly
security first, we will never possess it, because it will always
take "a little more" than we have.
Putting the Kingdom of God and his
righteousness first can and must be done on a daily basis. We
don't have to quit our jobs, give away all our possessions, and
wait until we are "born-again" before we do anything else.
The place to start is to make time
daily to read the Bible, meditate and pray. I prefer doing this in
the morning, and then I am prepared for the day, but doing it in
the evening is alright. In that case we should try to recall the
message the next morning, on arising. The important thing is to
seek God's will and guidance one day at a time (Matthew 6:11).
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 1 Advent
- B
First Posted December 4,
2008;
Podcast: Thursday 1 Advent - B
Mark 1:1-8 -- John the Baptizer;
Paraphrase:
The Gospel ("good news") of Jesus
Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, begins with the ministry of John
the Baptizer, the fulfillment of prophecy (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah
40:3) of a messenger, a voice crying in the wilderness, calling
people to repentance, to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
In the wilderness, John the Baptizer began preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All the people of
Jerusalem and Judea went to him for baptism by him in the Jordan
River, confessing their sins. John was dressed in a Camel-hair
garment with a leather belt around his waist and he ate locusts
and wild honey he foraged in the wilderness. John preached that
there was one coming after him who was greater than John; John was
unworthy even to untie that one's sandals. John had baptized with
water, but the one who was coming would baptize with the Holy
Spirit.
Commentary:
Five hundred years before, God's Word
foretold the herald of the Messiah who would prepare the people to
receive him and announce his coming. Malachi foretold the return
of Elijah as the herald (Malachi 4:5). John the Baptist was the
fulfillment of those prophecies. John was the voice crying in the
wilderness (John 1:23) and the fulfillment of the return of Elijah
(Matthew 17:10-13). John was the greatest of the Old Testament
prophets (Matthew 11:11).
John's baptism was with water for
repentance in preparation to receive Jesus. Jesus himself did not
baptize with water; only his disciples did (John 4:2). Jesus is
the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34),
only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
This is still true. In a sense, the
true Church is "Elijah," the "voice crying in the (spiritual)
wilderness" of this world, calling people to repentance and
forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word). The Church
baptizes with water for repentance in preparation for the coming
of Jesus in the Holy Spirit, and for his return on the Day of
Judgment.
The Holy Spirit is not automatically
conferred by Church ritual (consider John 1:12-13: "the 'power' to
become..."). The "baptism" ("anointing;" "infilling;" "gift") of
the Holy Spirit is the spiritual "rebirth" (John 3:3, 5-8) within
the person. The "infilling" is a discernible ongoing event; if one
must ask a religious authority or take their word on whether one
has been "born-again" by the indwelling Holy Spirit, one hasn't
been (consider Acts 19:2).
My understanding from Scripture and
from personal experience is that water baptism is a covenant
between God and the candidate, or in the case of minors, their
parents, on behalf of the candidate. God is absolutely faithful.
When the candidate fulfills his part of the covenant, by accepting
Jesus as Lord and trusting and obeying Jesus, he will be filled
with the "anointing" of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of
Christ, the Spirit of God, the Holy Trinity (Romans 8:9).
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 1 Advent
- B
First
Posted December 5, 2008;
Podcast: Friday 1 Advent - B
Malachi 4:1-6 -- Elijah's Return;
Romans 15:4-13 -- Hope of the Gentiles;
Malachi Paraphrase:
The day, which will be like a hot
oven, is coming, when all who are arrogant and all evildoers will
be burned up like stubble. The Lord of hosts (large multitudes;
armies) declares that neither root or branch will remain. But for
those who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and
authority of) the Lord's name (his person and character) , "the
sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings"
(Malachi 4:2). We will go forth like frisky calves released from
their stalls. In that day, the wicked will be like ashes under our
feet, to be trodden down.
Remember the Law which the Lord gave
to Moses to be obeyed by God's people. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes"
(Malachi 4:5). "And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their
children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come
and smite the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:6).
Romans Paraphrase:
What was written in earlier times (in
the Bible) was written for our instruction (compare 1 Corinthians
10:11), so that we might have hope through encouragement and
steadfast perseverance. God's nature is steadfastness and
encouragement; pray that he will grant us to live together in
harmony with one another and in accordance with Jesus, that
together we will glorify God in unison.
So let us welcome one another as
Christ has welcomed us, for God's glory. Jesus came from and for
the Jews, to confirm God's promise to the patriarchs and his Word
in scripture. And also that the Gentiles might glorify God for his
mercy (to them). Paul quotes scriptures to show that salvation was
given also for the Gentiles. "Therefore I will praise thee among
the Gentiles , and sing to thy name"(Psalm 18:49), "Rejoice, O
Gentiles, with his people (Deuteronomy 32:43), "Praise the Lord,
all Gentiles, and let all the people praise him" (Psalm 117:1),
and "The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the
Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope" (Isaiah 11:10).
Commentary:
The Day of the Lord is the Day of
Judgment of all who have ever lived in this Creation. It will be a
day like a hot oven for those who have not feared the Lord or
believed (trusted and obeyed) his Word. It is the height of human
arrogance to ignore and defy God's Word. Doing what is contrary to
God's Word is the definition of evil.
All of us have sinned (done what is
contrary to God's Word) and fall short of God's righteousness
(doing what is right, good and acceptable according to God's Word;
Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is (eternal)
death (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top
right, home). Jesus is the name of the Lord. Jesus is the image of
the invisible God made visible (Colossians 1:15; John 14:9). Jesus
is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in this
world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). The Holy Spirit is the
spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), the Holy
Trinity. Don't let anyone deceive you; Jesus is God in human flesh
(Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus is the sun (and Son) of
righteousness (characterized as light). Jesus is the sole source
of spiritual light and healing.
God's people have been confined in
this present Creation. When the Day of the Lord comes, we will be
released from our confinement. Our spiritual enemies will have
been eternally destroyed. The Bible is the Word of God,
recorded so that we could learn from it, to avoid the mistakes the
Israelites made, and to receive hope and encouragement, so that
God may be glorified through us by our obedient trust in Jesus.
God's people are defined and
characterized by obedient trust in God's Word. God is glorified by
our obedient trust in God's Word.
John the Baptizer is the fulfillment
of Malachi's prophecy of the return of Elijah (Matthew 17:10-13)
to herald the Day of the Lord (the first Advent of Jesus, the
Messiah; the Christ).
One interpretation of Malachi 4:6 is
that adults must become "childlike" (but not "childish") in trust
in their Father (God) and that we, as God's children, must become
obedient to our Father, God. Jesus is the one and only way to
accomplish those goals (John 14:6).
The Bible is the record of God's
dealing with his people. God has been progressively revealing
himself, first through Creation, then in the Bible, then in Jesus
Christ, and ultimately in the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Bible has been given to us so
that we can learn, from the example of Israel, the nature and
purpose of God's eternal plan. The Bible has been given to us to
encourage us to persevere in faith (obedient trust) in God's Word,
Jesus Christ. As we do so, God will be glorified in us!
God has always intended this Creation
to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust
and obey him. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find
God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually "reborn"
(John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life.
Jesus is God's one and only provision
for our forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and salvation (from eternal condemnation,
death, and destruction in hell with all evil; Acts 4:12; John
14:6). God's forgiveness and salvation came through the Jews, but
is intended for all people, all non-Jews, as well as Jews. When we
are "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8), we will welcome all people,
regardless of race, to the encouragement and hope in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's one and only "anointed" eternal Savior and Lord of
all people.
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 1 Advent - B
First Posted December 6, 2008;
Podcast: Saturday 1 Advent - B
Luke 21:25-33 - The End
of the Age;
Paraphrase:
Jesus said that there will be
astronomical signs in the sky, and disturbances of nature on the
earth preceding the Day of the Lord. Nations will be distressed
and individuals will be "fainting with fear and foreboding with
what is coming on the world" (Luke 21:26). Then all will see Jesus
"coming on a cloud with power and great glory" (Luke 21:27;
compare Acts 1:9-11). When believers see the signs Jesus described
they are to raise their heads and look upward, because their
redemption is coming soon.
Jesus used an example of deciduous
trees to illustrate signs of nature. When trees begin to put forth
leaves, one can know that summer is near. So we can also know that
the kingdom of God is near when we see the signs Jesus described.
Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass
away till all has taken place" (Luke 21:32). Jesus declared that
this Creation will pass away, but his word will endure for
eternity.
Commentary:
This world and everything in seems so
solid and unchanging but that is not so. Creation and we ourselves
are limited by time. God has given us the freedom to choose
whether to trust and obey him or not, and the opportunity to learn
by trial and error that his way is good, reasonable and our best
interest. But God is not going to tolerate rebellion and
disobedience forever.
There is a Day coming when each of us
will be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this
lifetime. Jesus has promised to return on that Day as the
righteous judge, and he is the standard by which we will all be
judged.
Those who have accepted Jesus as
their Lord and have trusted and obeyed him will have been
spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) by 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). The disciples of Jesus will enter eternal life in
God's kingdom in heaven, but those who have rejected Jesus and
have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned
to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46).
God has spoken through his prophets,
and the Day of Judgment and the accompanying signs have been
foretold in God's Word (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10; Zephaniah 1:15;
Revelation 6:12-13). Jesus is the righteous judge (2 Timothy 4:8;
Matthew 28:18) with the authority to judge the living and the dead
in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5).
But Christians are not to waste time
speculating on the timing of the end of the age (Acts 1:7). We can
be certain that it will come within our "generation," our
individual lifespans, because at the moment of our death we will
immediately be at the throne of judgment. At the moment of our
death our eternal destiny will be fixed and unchangeable.
God's Word is the only thing eternal
and unchangeable in this Creation. Jesus is the Word of God, the
fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word, lived in this
world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is eternally alive,
as any truly "born-again" Christian gladly testifies.
God's Word declares that we have all
sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of his righteousness
(doing what is good, right and true, according to God's Word
(Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death
(Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn't want any of us to perish
eternally (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ is God's one
and only provision for the forgiveness of our sin and our
salvation from eternal condemnation and destruction in hell (Acts
4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right,
home). It's God's way or the highway that leads to eternal
destruction (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 21:25-33).
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)?
