Week
of 4 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
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Podcast Download: Week of 4 Advent B
Sunday 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/18/11;
Podcast: Sunday 4 Advent B
2 Samuel 7:(1-7) 8-11, 16 - Eternal
Kingdom;
Psalm 89:1-4, 14-18 - God's
Covenant with David;
Romans 16:25-27 - Benediction;
Luke 1:26-38 - Announcement;
Samuel Paraphrase:
After David had become king of all Israel, he built a
palace, in Jerusalem, on the hill of Zion, the site of a
Jebusite fortress, and it became known as the "City of
David." Since he was settled into his house, and had peace
from his enemies, David told his prophet, Nathan, that David
wanted to build a house for the Lord, a temple, instead of
the tabernacle, which was a tent, a portable temple. Nathan
told David to do what David desired, because God (God's
favor) was with David.
But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and gave him God's
Word to David. God said that he had not lived in a house,
but in a tent, since he had led Israel out of Egypt. Why
would David want to build God a house to dwell in? God had
never asked Israel to build God a house.
God told Nathan to tell David that God had taken David from
tending sheep to be a prince over God's people. God
had been with David wherever David went, and had given David
victory over all his enemies. God declared that he would
make David's name great throughout the world. God promised
to give his people, Israel, a permanent place where they
could dwell securely, where they would no longer be
disturbed by violent people. God declared that he would make
David a house. And David's house, his kingdom and his
throne would endure forever.
Psalm Paraphrase:
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever; I
will proclaim his faithfulness to all generations. His
steadfast love will endure forever; his faithfulness is as
unchanging as the heavens.
God has said: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I
have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your
descendants for ever and build your throne for all
generations.
That eternal throne is founded on God's righteousness and
justice, and is characterized by steadfast love and
faithfulness. "Blessed are the people who know the festal
shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance,
who exalt in thy name all the day, and and extol thy
righteousness" (Psalm 89:15-16). We glory in the strength of
the Lord; we are strengthened by God's favor. Our allegiance
belongs to our king, the Holy One of Israel.
Romans Paraphrase:
At the end of the letter to the Roman Church, Paul invoked a
blessing on them, that the Lord would strengthen them by
Paul's preaching of the Gospel and his proclamation of Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's
purpose which was unknown from the beginning of Creation
until Christ's advent (coming). "But now [it] is now
disclosed and through the prophetic writings (the Bible) is
made known to all nations, according to the command of the
eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (Romans
16:26). Glory be to the only eternal and wise God through
Jesus Christ. Amen!
Luke Paraphrase:
In the sixth month (Elul: August-September) God sent an
angel, Gabriel, to Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a
virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph,
a descendant of David (the great shepherd-king of Israel).
The angel greeted Mary saying that she was favored by God,
and that the Lord was with her. Mary was worried about the
sort of greeting it might be, but the angel told her not to
be afraid, because she had God's approval. The angel told
Mary that she would conceive and give birth to a son whom
she was to call Jesus.
The angel said, "He will be great, and will be called the
Son of the Most High (God); and the Lord God will give him
the throne of his father (ancestor) David, and he will reign
over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there
will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
Mary asked the angel how this could be, since she was
unmarried. The angel told her that she would conceive by the
Holy Spirit and the power of God. Thus the child she bore
would be called holy, the Son of God.
The angel told her that her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was
barren and past the age of childbearing, was six months
pregnant with a son, and that nothing would be impossible
for God. Mary acknowledged that she was God's servant, and
accepted God's Word and will for her. Then the angel
left her.
Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth in Galilee, when the
angel announced to Mary the impending birth of Jesus, but
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the "City of David" (David's
birthplace), because the Roman government required the Jews
to return to their city of birth, to register, for tax
purposes, and Joseph was a descendant of David.
Commentary:
After David had become king of all the tribes of Israel, he
built a house for himself in the former Jebusite fortress on
Zion, a high place in Jerusalem, surrounded on three sides
by valleys, and that became known as the City of David.
Since David had a permanent house, he thought he should
build a permanent house (temple) for God also, instead of
the portable tent called the tabernacle.
When David told Nathan, the prophet, his plan, Nathan at
first told him to do as his heart desired, because God's
favor was with David. But that night God spoke to Nathan and
told him to tell David that God did not need David to build
him a house, and did not need to dwell in a house.
God had raised up a humble shepherd boy to be the prince
over the tribes of Israel. God had given David success and
victory over his enemies. God promised to give his people,
Israel, a permanent dwelling where they would be safe and
undisturbed by violent people. God promised that he would
make David a house (dynasty), and David's house, kingdom and
throne would endure forever.
The psalmist recalls the promise of God to David to
establish his descendants and his throne for ever. That
eternal throne of David is founded on God's righteousness
and justice and characterized by steadfast love and
faithfulness.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant, his promise, to
David. Jesus is the son of David and heir to the eternal
throne of David. Through Jesus, God has established a
permanent place for his people where we can dwell securely
where we will not fear our enemies or violent people. That
permanent place is God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Through
faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are the
spiritual descendants of David.
Jesus is the revelation of the mystery of God's purpose
which has been unknown to us since the beginning of
Creation, until Jesus' coming (advent). God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of
his people who willingly trust and obey Jesus. Jesus has
been designed into this Creation from the very beginning
(John 1:1-5, 14)
God has designed creation to allow us the freedom to choose
whether to trust and obey God or not, and so we can learn by
trial and error that God's way is good, reasonable, and our
best interest (Romans 12:2). But God is not
going to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, and
not at all in his heavenly kingdom or it wouldn't be heaven.
This Creation and we ourselves are limited by time.
The reason and purpose of life in this world is to seek,
find, and know God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27) and this is
only possible through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the
fullest revelation of God to us in human flesh. Jesus is God
(Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus' word is the Word of
God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word
(Genesis 1:3; Mark 4:41). Those who have "seen" and "know"
Jesus have "seen" and "known" God (John 14:9). The Holy
Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans
8:9). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation
of God to us individually and personally.
We have all been born physically alive, but spiritually
dead. This lifetime is our opportunity to be "reborn" (John
3:3, 5-8) to true, eternal life. This is only possible
through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus
gives the gift ("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling
Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust
and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is the indwelling Holy
Spirit within us which gives us spiritual life. The Holy
Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and
has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14;
Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies,
through which God has been progressively revealing his
purpose for Creation. David is the forerunner and
illustration of the Christ. David was the shepherd boy whom
God exalted to prince (earthly king; only the Lord is the
eternal heavenly king) of Israel. Jesus is the Good Shepherd
who is God's "anointed" eternal heavenly King of God's
kingdom of God's people.
God promised to make David's name great and he fulfilled
that promise. David's name is mentioned as the ancestor of
Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament and throughout the
Church year, notably at Christmas and on Palm Sunday.
The Bible scripture and the earthly advent of Jesus
have been revealed to all nations, so that all can come to
obedient trust in God's Word.
Elizabeth, the kinswoman of Mary had been barren and had
passed the time of childbearing. Her barrenness was a source
of shame in her society because it was understood as God's
disfavor. When she became pregnant she was exalted because
it was a sign of God's favor.
Pregnancy of a unmarried, betrothed, girl was a mark of
shame in the society, but Mary believed the Word of God told
to her by the angel Gabriel and accepted God's will. The
name of this obscure young girl became famous throughout the
world as the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:48).
There is a lesson for us to learn in the comparison of God's
favor on David, and on Mary. David had God's favor because
David trusted and obeyed God's Word. David thought he would
be doing God a favor by building a fancy house for God. It
is tempting to think that since we're member's of God's
family we can and should do what seems right to us, because
we have God's favor.
What we perceive as God's favor or disfavor is not
necessarily so. Barrenness is not necessarily a sign of
God's disfavor, nor is fertility necessarily a sign of God's
favor. Neither is wealth and success necessarily a sign of
God's favor, nor poverty a sign of God's disfavor.
Until Jesus' advent only a few select individuals had
personal fellowship with the Lord by his Holy Spirit. David
was a prophet, but perhaps didn't have the same relationship
with God which we can through Jesus. Nathan served as a
spiritual mediator to David. Nathan's first response was for
David to do what seemed right to David, since God's favor
was with David.
But that wasn't the right answer. That night the Lord spoke
to Nathan and revealed his will for David, which Nathan was
to convey. We don't need a "Nathan" if we are "born-again"
and filled with the Holy Spirit, but we do need to have a
"quiet time" with the Lord, perhaps at bedtime, when we can
listen to the Lord and hear what he's really saying, along
with scripture reading and prayer.
Note, though, that if we are not yet "reborn," seeking God's
will through a spiritual adviser is only acceptable as one
is "discipled" by a "born-again" disciple, only until they
have been "born-again. God wants us to seek him personally,
and he wants to reveal his will for us personally, only as
we are committed to do it.
In contrast to Elizabeth, God revealed his will to Mary and
she accepted God's Word and saw God's blessing for her, even
though it was not her heart's desire to be pregnant
out-of-wedlock.
Is Jesus your Lord (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 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/19/11;
Podcast: Monday 4 Advent B
Psalm 97 - The Lord Reigns;
Paraphrase:
Let the earth rejoice, for the Lord reigns! Rejoice all
coastlands! The Lord conceals himself as in thick clouds and
darkness. His throne is founded upon righteousness and
justice. Fire precedes him and burns up his adversaries. His
lightening bolts light the whole sky and the earth trembles.
"The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, the Lord of
all the earth" (Psalm 97:5).
The universe proclaims his righteousness, and his glory is
revealed to all people. Those who worship and trust
worthless idols will be put to shame. All other "gods" bow
before the Lord. Zion (the people of God) rejoices in the
Lord's judgments. The Lord is high above all earthly rulers,
and exalted far above all other "gods."
Those who love the Lord hate evil. The Lord preserves the
lives of his saints (those consecrated to God's service) and
delivers them from the wicked.
"Light dawns for the righteous and joy for the upright in
heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks
to his holy name" (Psalm 97:11-12)!
Commentary:
The Lord is King of Creation, whether we acknowledge and
accept him or not. The Lord reigns in the hearts of his
people. His kingdom begins now in this world, and his people
rejoice in his reign. Those who have trusted and obeyed the
Lord know from experience that the Lord is righteous, just,
faithful and loving in all his ways.
The Lord's manifestation is described in terms of the Lord's
manifestation to Israel at the giving of the Law to Moses on
Mt. Sinai (Psalm 97:2-5; compare Exodus 19:16-22). The Lord
is near at hand, but he conceals himself as in thick cloud
and darkness (obscurity). Those who need to "see" in order
to believe can't "see" him; but he reveals himself to those
who trust and obey his Word (John 14:21, 23).
The Lord has been progressively revealing himself to the
world, first in the goodness, orderliness, and intricacy of
Creation. Then he called Abraham (Abram) to trust and obey
God's Word, and the record of God's dealing with Abraham and
his descendants is recorded in the Old Testament of the
Bible.
Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world, in
human form, in a non-threatening way. Jesus is the only way
to come to know and have fellowship with God, the only way
to know divine eternal truth, and the only way to have true
spiritual eternal life (John 14:6).
Through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we receive the gift
("baptism;" "anointing") of the indwelling Holy Spirit,
which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples
who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The indwelling
Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God to us
individually and personally. The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11,
15-16).
The gift of the Holy Spirit is the dawn of the light of
righteousness (John 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John
1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4-5; John 8:12).
The Lord doesn't force his reign upon anyone. We have the
freedom to accept or reject his reign, but if we are not
ruled by the Lord we will be ruled by Satan, and will be
slaves of sin and spiritual death (Luke 16:13).
There is a day coming, the Day of Jesus' Second Coming
(advent), the Day of Judgment. In that day every knee will
bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord
(Philippians 2:10-11). In that day his people will rejoice,
and his enemies will be destroyed by fire in Hell with all
evil.
Jesus is the eternal King and Righteous Judge whom God has
"anointed" to judge Creation. Jesus is the standard by which
everyone who has ever lived will be judged. Those who have
accepted Jesus as their Lord will have been spiritually
"reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) in this lifetime, and will enter
eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have
rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust
and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and
spiritual eternal death in fire in Hell with all evil
(Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (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 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/20/11;
Podcast: Tuesday 4 Advent B
Isaiah 52:7-10 - The Coming of the
Lord;
Paraphrase:
How beautiful are the footsteps of those who cross mountains
to bring good tidings, who publish peace and salvation,
who declare to Zion (God's people; the Church) that their
God reigns (compare Romans 10:15). Listen! The watchmen
cry out with joy; they see eye-to-eye the return of the
Lord to Zion. The waste places of Jerusalem sing together
because the Lord has redeemed Jerusalem and comforted his
people. The Lord has revealed his holy arm to all nations,
and the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our
God.
Commentary:
Jesus is the mighty arm of God whom God has revealed to
the whole world. Jesus is God's "anointed" Savior, the
Messiah (Christ; both words mean God's "anointed"), whom
God has revealed to the world. Jesus is God's only
provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12) from sin
(disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10)
and eternal death (the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; see
God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus has redeemed his people, he has paid the price for
our sin. He has comforted us. We need no longer fear
physical death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He has given our lives
meaning and purpose. Life isn't just a "rat-race;" not
just a contest to accumulate the most "things" or indulge
our senses.
Jesus came physically as a baby, to grow up and die on
the cross, as the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the
forgiveness of our sins. His resurrection from death to
eternal life demonstrates that there is existence after
physical death. Every truly "born-again" Christian
testifies that Jesus is eternally alive.
Jesus came to give us true, spiritual, eternal life.
Jesus declares that we must be "born-again" (John 3:3,
5-8) spiritually, now, in this lifetime, in order to see
God's eternal kingdom all around us now, and ultimately to
enter it in eternity. Only Jesus gives the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his
disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The
Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in
Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians
1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus has come once in human flesh. He comes to each
believer spiritually and reveals himself to them
personally and individually by the indwelling Holy Spirit
(John 14:21; Romans 3:20). He has promised to come again,
on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living and the dead
(1 Peter 4:5), in both the physical and spiritual senses.
In a sense the Church and all "born-again" Christians are
the watchmen who behold the coming of the Lord and cry out
in joy, to alert the world of his coming. "Born-again"
Christians have experienced the Lord's coming personally
and individually. Our God reigns within us now.
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 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/21/11;
Podcast: Wednesday 4 Advent B
Hebrews 1:1-9 – Christ, the “living Word;”
Paraphrase:
From God's call to the patriarchs, he has spoken in many
ways, through his prophets. But at last he has spoken to us
by his Son whom he “appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus
is the reflection of God's glory, has God's identical nature
(Colossians 2:8-9), and his word has the creative power of
God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus,
having made the sacrifice on the cross that purifies us of
sin (through faith: obedient trust), he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God (in the words of the
Second Article of the Apostles Creed). He has become very
much more superior to angels as his name is more excellent
compared to theirs (Acts 4:12; Matthew 28:18).
God said of Jesus, not angels, that he was God's Son, whom
God had begotten (Psalm 2:7). God said of Jesus that God
would be his Father, and he would be God's son ( 2 Samuel
7:14). When God brought his first-born Son into the world he
commanded the angels to worship him (Deuteronomy 32:43;
compare Psalm 97:7). God says in Psalm 104:4 that his angels
are spirits (winds), and his servants tongues of fire
(filled with the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:3; Luke 3:16). About
Jesus, God's Word says that Jesus' throne is forever and
that he is God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Righteousness
is the scepter of his kingdom. Jesus has loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness (sin, which is disobedience of God's
Word). Therefore God has anointed Jesus with the oil of
gladness above his peers (“Christ” and “Messiah” each mean
God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King of God's eternal
kingdom, in Greek and Hebrew, respectively).
Commentary:
The Old Testament of the Bible is the record of God's
speaking through his prophets. The Old Testament scriptures
are deliberately intended to be a series of parables to
convey spiritual truth about life in this Creation. God's
purpose has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of
his people who willingly trust and obey God. This Creation
has been deliberately designed by God to be a “seedbed” to
raise God's obedient and trusting people. God has designed
Creation so that everyone is guilty of sin (disobedience of
God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). God has designed a
Savior, Jesus Christ into the structure of Creation from the
very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the “living Word”
of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified. Salvation from
God's eternal condemnation is available to all as a free
gift, unmerited favor, to be received by faith (obedient
trust in Jesus Christ).
God intentionally created the understanding of a “Promised
Land” and of inheritance of that land in the Law of the Old
Covenant. The first-born received a double share of the
inheritance. Jesus is the first-born, and inherits a double
portion of the inheritance, the new eternal Promised Land
but he shares the inheritance with his disciples.
At the right time, at the very center of history, Jesus, the
promised Savior and eternal King, the only begotten Son of
God, came into the world to become the one and only
sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins,
our salvation from God's eternal condemnation of us to
eternal destruction, to restore us to fellowship with God
which was broken by our sin, and to give us eternal life in
God's heavenly kingdom (John 14:6; see God's Plan of
Salvation, sidebar, top right, 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)?
Thursday 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/22/11;
Podcast: Thursday 4 Advent B
John 1:1-14 – The “Living Word;”
Paraphrase:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all
things were made through him, and without him was not
anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life
was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
John (the baptizer) was sent by God to testify to the coming
of the true light. John came to announce the coming of the
light, so that everyone would believe through him. He was
not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light was coming into the world to enlighten
everyone. He was the Creator of the world and everything in
it, but the world did not recognize him. He came to his own
people, the Jews (Matthew 23:37-39), and his fellow
residents of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-31), and even his own
family (John 7:2-5;10), and they did not receive him. “But
to all who received him, who believed on his name (his total
person and character) he gave power to become children of
God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace
and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only
Son from the Father” (i.e. God the Father; John 1:14).
Commentary:
Notice that the opening sentence is deliberately intended to
recall the Book of Genesis (Genesis 1:1). Everything in this
universe has been created by the Word of God; he spoke, and
it came into existence (Genesis 1:3). God's Word has
creative power.
God has designed a Savior and eternal King (Messiah; Christ;
both mean “anointed”) into Creation from the very beginning.
God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his
people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word.
This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God
(Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey Jesus.
Now that the promised Messiah has come we have a new
understanding of God and a new perspective of the Creation
through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment
and example of God's Word living in this world in human
flesh. Jesus is the “living Word.” Jesus' word is the Word
of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's
Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:9).
Jesus is what God looks and acts like in human flesh
(Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Only Jesus knows God the
Father, and only Jesus can reveal the Father to whomever
Jesus chooses (Matthew 11:27). Jesus is the only way to know
and have fellowship with God our Creator (John 14:6). This
is only possible through the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”)
of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John
1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus
(John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee
that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians
1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Jesus is the light of righteousness (John 3:19-21), the
light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and the light
of eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).
John, the Baptizer, called people to prepare for the coming
of the Messiah, by water baptism for repentance and
forgiveness of their sins (Mark1:4). I believe that the
Church has inherited the role of the water baptism of John.
Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34). We
don't have to understand how that happens, any more than we
need to understand what makes the wind blow; but we can see
the effect (John 3:8). Spiritual rebirth is a discernible
ongoing event; if one is uncertain, one hasn't been.
Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts
11:26c) who have been “born-again” by the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warns us that we must be
“born-again” (John 3:7)
The true Church is led by “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ, who are commanded to
go into the world and make (by preparing them to seek and
receive the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit), “born-again”
disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that
Jesus commands (Matthew 28:19-20), after they have received
the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts
1:4-5; 8). Sadly, in too many instances, this isn't
happening in the nominal “Church.”
Mainline denominations today are not making disciples, but
rather “members,” fair-weather Christians” who participate
in the Churches program if it suits them. These nominal
Churches discourage members from seeking spiritual rebirth,
by teaching that it is automatically received by some Church
ritual such as water baptism. Some also actually discourage
members from obedience to Jesus' teachings, by the false
teaching of “Cheap Grace” (see False Teachings, sidebar, top
right).
The place to begin change is to commit oneself to become a
disciple of Jesus and seek spiritual rebirth. To those who
welcome Jesus into their hearts to be their Lord (Revelation
3:20) he gives the power to become God's children (John
1:12), but we must use that power to receive what is
promised.
Believers need to read the Bible completely and then read
portions of it daily with prayer and meditation, seeking
God's guidance one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34). An
average reader can easily read the Bible in one year (see
Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home). Unless one has
read the entire Bible one is very vulnerable to False
Teachings and Teachers (1 John 4:1-6).
Is Jesus your Lord (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 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/23/11;
Podcast: Friday 4 Advent B
Isaiah 9:2-7 -
The Messianic King;
Titus 2:11-14 - Grace and Salvation;
Isaiah Paraphrase:
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has
light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The Lord has increased the
nation (of Israel; God's people) and has given it great joy.
They celebrate before the Lord as with a great harvest, and
as victors rejoice in the spoils of conquest. The Lord has
removed the yoke of involuntary servitude, the chastisement
and punishment of the oppressor of his people, as on the day
of Midian (the great victory of Gideon and his men at
Midian; Judges 7:15-25). The boots of warriors who have
engaged in the tumult of battle, and every bloody garment
will be as fuel for the fire (of judgment and condemnation).
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the
government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be
called 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of peace'” (Isaiah 9:6). His government and peace
will increase and never end. Upon the throne of David he
will establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and
righteousness now and eternally. God's great desire will
accomplish this.
Titus Paraphrase:
The grace (unmerited favor; free gift) of God for the
salvation of all people has been revealed, to teach us to
renounce ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live sober,
upright, godly lives, as we wait for the appearing of our
great God and Savior, Jesus Christ in great glory. Jesus
gave himself for us, to pay the price for our redemption
from sin, and to purify us as his people, who are eager to
do good deeds.
Commentary:
These passages in Isaiah are familiar to everyone who has
ever gone to a Christian Christmas pageant.
This world is in the darkness of sin and spiritual
ignorance. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12a), the
light of righteousness (John 1:5 3:19-21), spiritual
enlightenment (John 1:9) and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12b).
The Church is the New Israel, the new people of God. God has
increased his nation with all the people who have believed
(trusted and obeyed) Jesus. God's purpose for this Creation
has always been to establish an eternal kingdom of his
people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This
world is God's “seedbed,” in which to “grow” citizens for
his eternal kingdom.
God has designed this Creation to allow us freedom to choose
whether to trust and obey God or not, but God is not going
to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in
his eternal kingdom. So this Creation and we ourselves are
limited by time. This is our only opportunity to seek and
find God (Acts 17:26-27), and learn to trust and obey him.
Jesus is the only way to be forgiven our sins (disobedience
of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), the only way to
be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin,
the only way to know divine, eternal truth, and the only way
to have eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan
of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
The Church is engaged in a spiritual harvest, by the
guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We
will rejoice in heaven at the eternal treasures that belong
to spiritual victors who persevere.
We are all born in slavery to sin and death in the “Egypt”
of this present world. Jesus is the “New Moses” who can set
us free from slavery and oppression. Satan is the “Pharaoh”
of this world. Jesus came in human flesh to die physically,
in order to free us from the power of Satan (Hebrews
2:14-15). Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that there is
existence after physical death.
There is a spiritual battle going on in this world between
the forces of Satan and evil, and the forces of
righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. Jesus has already
won the victory at the cross. When Christ returns on the Day
of Judgment, the enemies of God will be condemned to eternal
destruction in the fires of Hell (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.”
This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. This is only
possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.
Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey
Jesus (John 14:15-17). We are spiritually reborn by the gift
of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal
and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11,
15-16).
Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and
example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world
(John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the Son of God, born as a tiny
infant, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1, 20b; 21:9), who is
the heir to the throne of David, the fulfillment of God's
promise to David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).
God has designed Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God's anointed
eternal Savior and King of God's kingdom, into this Creation
from the beginning. God knew that by giving us freedom to
choose whether to trust and obey God's Word would all choose
to disobey God's will to seek their own will. We're all
guilty; none of us deserves mercy and forgiveness. God's
forgiveness and salvation is a free gift, to be received by
faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus came to make it possible for us to be freed from sin,
so that we can learn to know and do God's will. Jesus paid
the price of our sin on the cross, and his blood cleanses us
spiritually so that we can be temples of the indwelling Holy
Spirit. By the indwelling Holy Spirit we know God's love,
and are eager to please him from love and gratitude, rather
than from fear of punishment.
Is Jesus your Lord (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 4 Advent B
First
Posted 12/24/11;
Podcast: Saturday 4 Advent B
Luke 2:-1-14 – Birth of Jesus;
1 John 4:7-16 – Abiding in Love;
Luke Paraphrase:
During the reign of Caesar Augustus (27 B.C. To 14 A.D.; *)
he commanded a census of the Roman Empire (6-5 B.C.*), when
Quirinius was governor of Syria (12-6 B.C.**). Everyone had
to return to his birthplace to be recorded. Joseph went from
Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the city of David, since
Joseph was a “son” (a descendant) of David. He took Mary,
his betrothed, a virgin (Luke 1:34-35; Matthew 1:18-25), who
was pregnant. While there she gave birth, her first-born
son. According to common practice she swaddled him with
cloths, and they used a manger for a cradle (which was
unusual). They had to use a stable, since the inn was full
because of the census.
There were shepherds in the fields nearby guarding their
flocks, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
angel was radiant with the glory of God. The shepherds were
afraid, but the angel reassured them, and announced the good
news of great joy for all people. That day in Bethlehem, the
city of David, a child had been born who is Christ the Lord.
As a sign of this birth the shepherds would find a babe
swaddled with cloths, and lying in a manger. Suddenly the
angel was joined by a great number of heavenly beings,
praising God and glorifying God above all. The birth would
result in peace among people and with God for those who
pleased God.
1 John Paraphrase:
Believers should love one another, because God's nature is
loving, and if we are born of God and know God we will love
one another. Anyone who doesn't love others does not know
God. We know that God loves us because he sent his only
(begotten) Son to give us (eternal) life through him. God
did this not because we loved him, but because he loved us
(while we were yet sinners; i.e. disobedient of God's Word;
Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17), and sent his Son to make
atonement (restitution) for our sins. If we realize how much
God has loved us, we should be glad to love one another.
Commentary:
God wasn't surprised that mankind chose to do their own will
rather than God's. God designed Creation to allow us the
freedom to choose whether to obey God or not, and the
opportunity to learn by trial and error that God's way is
better than ours. God, knowing that we would all sin (Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), built a Savior into Creation from the
very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
The birth of Christ is verified in historical context. The
birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy throughout the
Old Testament scriptures, beginning in Genesis 3:15 at the
fall of mankind to sin. He is Shiloh in Genesis 49:10. He is
the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy in Numbers 24:19, the
Branch from the stump of Jesse (David's father) in
Isaiah11:1-2, the Lord our righteousness in Jeremiah 23:5-6,
and 33:14-16. He's the Lord's “anointed” in Psalm 2:2, the
seed of David in Psalm 132:10-11, the holy arm of the Lord in
Isaiah 52:9-15, the righteous servant in Isaiah 53-1-12.
God has also been revealing his Savior throughout the Old
Testament, by a series of verbal images of forerunners to
illustrate God's plan. Moses prefigures the Christ as God's
Savior who leads God's people out of slavery to sin and
death in “Egypt,” into God's “Promised Land,” and who
mediates the new and better Covenant of grace (Hebrews
12:24). David, the shepherd who became the great king of
Israel, prefigures the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14) and
eternal King, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of
God's promised eternal king who would inherit the throne of
David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:2-4, 20-29).
Christ and Messiah each mean (God's) “anointed.” Priests,
prophets and kings were “anointed” with olive oil and
consecrated for their offices. Jesus is God's “anointed”
prophet, priest and king. Jesus is the prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2),
priest (Hebrews 2:17-3:1), like Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4),
who was priest, and king of righteousness and peace; and
eternal, since Melchizedek has no birth or death recorded in
the Bible (Hebrews 7:1-3). Jesus is the eternal heir to the
throne of David.
The birth of the Christ was announced to shepherds nearby,
humble people, rather than the powerful. In fact if they had
told King Herod, he would have killed the child as his rival,
as he tried to do when informed by the Gentile Wise Men who
followed the star. (Matthew 2:1-12). The Jewish religious
leaders also saw the Christ as their rival, and ultimately
had him killed. When the shepherds went to see, they found
the Christ Child just as the angels had foretold.
Jesus was born to become the only sacrifice acceptable to
God for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God's
Word), to save us from eternal condemnation, and to restore
us to fellowship and eternal life with God which was broken
by our sins (Matthew 14:6). Through faith in Jesus we have
peace with God (Romans 5:1) and with one another (Ephesians
2:12-18).
God loved us when we were sinners, and gave his only Son to
die for us, before we knew we needed a Savior. Salvation is
a free gift for everyone who is willing to receive it by
faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
As in the physical ministry of Jesus, many people today do
not realize and admit that they are sinners who need a
savior, and until one does, Jesus can't help us (Matthew
9:12-13). Often, it takes a major disaster in our lives to
cause us to examine our beliefs and to realize that we need
Jesus.
God is like a loving parent with new infant. When we were
born, we were only concerned about ourselves; were we hungry,
tired, or wet? Our parents gave us what we needed without
requiring us to demonstrate love and concern for them. Then
as we grew we learned that we needed our parents, and we
learned to love them by the love we experienced from them.
Of course some parents are not good and loving, but even if
we haven't known loving parents, we should be able to
imagine parents who were loving.
If we realize the love of God for us through Jesus Christ we
should respond to him with love, and should love others as
he has loved us, because we want to please our heavenly
Father. Our relationship with other people reflects our
spiritual condition.
Is Jesus your Lord (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)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Luke 2:1n, p. 1172, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
**Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, “Quirinius,” p. ll04, David Noel Freedman, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-2400-5
