Saturday, December 29, 2012

Week of 1 Christmas C - 12/30 - 05/2013

Week of 1 Christmas C

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

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

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

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

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

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

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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 1 Christmas C
1st Sunday after Christmas - C
First Posted December 27, 2009;

Podcast: Sunday 1 Christmas C

First Posted December 27, 2009;

Jeremiah 31:10-13 – Return and Restoration;
Psalm 111 – God's Redemption;
Hebrews 2:10-18 Freed from Sin and Death;
Luke 2:41-52 – Jesus' Youth;

Jeremiah Background:

Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem from 627 to 580 B.C., the period leading up to and during the beginning of the Exile of Judah to Babylon, generally calculated from the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 587 to its restoration and dedication in 517 B.C..

Jeremiah Paraphrase:

Hear God's Word, all nations and distant shores. Israel, whom the Lord scattered, will be gathered again by the Lord. As a shepherd keeps his flocks the Lord will keep Israel.

The Lord has ransomed Jacob and and redeemed him from powers greater than he. Israel shall sing aloud to the Lord on Zion, (the temple mount in Jerusalem) and rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. They will celebrate over the harvest of grain, wine, olive oil, and the young of their flocks and herds. They will languish no longer; their life will be restored like a watered garden.

Their young girls will dance in joy, the men, both young and old will be merry. The Lord promises to comfort them and transform their mourning to joy, and exchange their sorrow for gladness.

Psalm 111 Paraphrase:

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! With my whole heart I will praise the Lord in the congregation of his people.

The works of the Lord are awesome! Those who delight in them will study them. His works are full of honor and majesty. He has caused his works to be remembered, for the Lord is gracious and merciful. For those who fear him, he provides food. He constantly remembers his covenant. He has revealed his power to his people, giving them the inheritance of the nations. He is faithful and just in all his doings; all his teachings are trustworthy and eternally true.

Hebrews Paraphrase:

In accord with the gracious nature of God, who has created all things for his purpose, it was appropriate that in his plan to bring many sons (and daughters) to glory (to spiritual maturity and eternal life; to the joy of heaven), to make the pioneer (author; “trail-blazer;”) of salvation (i.e., Jesus) perfect through suffering. The sanctifier (Jesus Christ) and the sanctified (“born-again” disciples) both originate from God, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brethren, as God's Word says in Psalm 22:22: “I will declare thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.” Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 8:17-18 of trusting in God's Word, and receiving the children of God (as his brethren).

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil (Satan), and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus' mission was not to angels, but to the descendants of Abraham. Jesus had to become like them in every aspect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest serving God, to make amends for our sins. Because Jesus has experienced suffering and temptation just as we do, he is able to understand and help us when we are tempted.

Luke Paraphrase:

Jesus' parents went from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year to celebrate Passover. When Jesus was twelve, they went, according to their custom. At the end of the celebration, they began their trip home, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Jesus' parents were not aware that he had stayed behind; they thought he was with friends or relatives in their caravan. At the end of the day's journey, they looked for Jesus, and discovered that he was missing, so Jesus' parents hurried back to Jerusalem.

After three days of anxious searching, they found Jesus in the temple sitting among teachers and listening and asking questions. Everyone who heard Jesus was amazed at his understanding and his replies. When Jesus' parents saw him they were amazed, and his mother asked Jesus why he had worried them so. Jesus asked his parents why they hadn't looked for him in his Father's house, the temple, first. His parents didn't understand what Jesus was saying to them.

Jesus returned with them to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother remembered things like this about Jesus. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)

Commentary:

Judah, the Southern Kingdom of the two tribes, was the remnant of Israel after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.. The Northern Kingdom had disobeyed God's warning by his prophets to repent and turn from disobedience and idolatry. Judah had not learned from the example of the Northern Kingdom, and did not heed the warnings of the prophets to repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word.

Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would be exiled in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), and God's Word was fulfilled. Israel had been scattered, but the Lord promised to gather them again and be their shepherd (Jeremiah 31:10c). God's promise was amazingly fulfilled when Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to their Promised Land. Cyrus gave them the sacred vessels of silver, gold and bronze which Nebuchadnezzar had looted from the temple. Cyrus also gave permission, money and help in the rebuilding of the temple.

God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The prophecy of a Shepherd to gather God's people is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-15), the Lord.

Israel had forgotten the lessons of the Exile and was unprepared for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. At the crucifixion of Jesus, the people of God were effectively scattered. Even the Twelve disciples were scattered (Matthew 26:31; John 16:32). Jesus was the one last faithful remnant of Israel. From then on the Church became the New Israel, the New People of God.

The disciples who had scattered began to be drawn back by the news of Jesus' resurrection. Jesus appeared to them and told them to remain in Jerusalem until they had received the “baptism” (gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then they were to go into the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all Jesus' teachings (Matthew 28:19-20). The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit began to be poured out on the Day of Pentecost, the “birthday” of the Church (Acts 2:1-13).

Those who look into the record of God's great works in the Bible will delight in them. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's power and faithfulness to the world. The “baptism” of indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17), is God's ultimate revelation of himself personally and individually to the disciples of Jesus Christ. 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' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Genesis 1:3, 9). Those who trust and obey Jesus come to know and testify that his teachings are trustworthy and eternally true.

God has created this world according to his purpose. God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This present world is God's spiritual garden, where he is “growing” sons and daughters for his eternal kingdom. Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

God designed this Creation to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we could have freedom to choose whether or not to obey God. He knew that we would all choose to do our own will rather than his and would need to learn by trial-and-error to trust and obey God's Word. We are all sinners who have fallen short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life.

Jesus' resurrection from the dead demonstrates that there is existence beyond physical death. Every truly “born-again” Christian personally experiences and testifies that Jesus is risen and eternally alive. Because we know that Jesus lives, we can know with certainty that we will rise from physical death to eternal life too (Romans 8:11). The joy of the Lord's presence now by the indwelling Holy Spirit is just a foretaste of the joy we will have with him in eternity.

Jesus was fully human and also fully God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). He is the only “begotten” (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35) Son, the first-born, with the birthright that goes with it. We become “adopted” sons and daughters, through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-16). Because he shared in every aspect our human nature, he understands our temptations and is able to help us resist and overcome them.

Jesus teaches by both word and example. Jesus taught his disciples to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, ahead of physical necessities. Those who seek physical needs first will never get around to seeking God's kingdom, because we can never get enough physical resources to feel satisfied. Jesus respected his physical parents, but he put God, his heavenly Father, first. His parents should have realized that the only reason Jesus would stay behind in Jerusalem would be to study God's Word and seek God's kingdom.

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)?

December 31 C
First Posted December 31, 2009;
Podcast: Tuesday December 31 C
Isaiah 61:10-62:3 – Vindication of Zion; 

Paraphrase:

Rejoice in the Lord, O my soul. I will exult in him. In garments of salvation he has clothed me, and with the robe of righteousness he has covered me, as a bridegroom adorns himself with a garland, and as a bride enhances herself with her jewels. God is going to cause righteousness and praise to sprout and grow before all nations, like the earth causes seeds to bring forth shoots, and like a garden causes what is sown in it to grow and flourish.

The prophet will not keep silent or rest for the sake of Zion (Israel; the Church), until her vindication appears as brightness, like a burning torch in the darkness. The Lord himself will give you a new name. Then Zion will be a beautiful crown, a royal diadem (a headband indicating royalty) in the hand of the Lord.

Commentary:

Isaiah was a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem from 742 to 687B.C.. The Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian armies of Sargon, the successor to Shalmaneser, with the fall of Samaria (capital of the Northern Kingdom) in 721B.C.. The Northern Kingdom and the ten tribes virtually ceased to exist.

Isaiah was prophet during the reign of King Ahaz, who led his kingdom into wickedness and idolatry, and made a ruinous alliance with Assyria against the alliance of Rezin, King of Damascus (Syria) and Pekah, king of the Northern Kingdom against Isaiah's warnings. He was prophet during the time of spiritual reform which King Hezekiah initiated beginning in 715 B.C. (2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chronicles 29:3-36). This text originated before the fall of Babylon (October 29, 539 B.C. to Cyrus of Persia. The Southern Kingdom of the two tribes had been exiled in Babylon from 587 to 517, seventy years as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11-12), dated from the destruction of the temple to its restoration and rededication. The result was that the exiles of Judah were allowed to return to the “Promised Land.”

The prophet foresaw the vindication of God's people which would be witnessed by all the nations of the earth. That prophecy was fulfilled with the return of the remnant of Israel to their “Promised Land.” The conditions of the exiles' release by Cyrus is absolutely amazing: He returned the gold, silver and bronze vessels which Nebuchadnezzar looted from the temple, and Cyrus gave them money, help from the provincial governors, and authorization to rebuild their temple.

God's Word is eternally true and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Isaiah's prophecy applied to the return of the exiles, but also applies to God's Plan of Salvation, through the Messiah (Christ) Jesus.

The history of Israel's exile was intended by God to also be a “parable” (a common earthly experience used to teach spiritual truth), a metaphor for life in this world. We are all in exile in the “Babylon” of this present world. The seventy years is about an average lifetime.

During this lifetime we are to seek God (Acts 17:26-27) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6), to learn to know trust and obey God's Word, the Bible, and Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:14), and to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life.

This is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Only Jesus “baptizes” (gives the gift of; “anoints”) with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The vindication of God's people has appeared, in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), light of righteousness, and light of eternal life, in a world of spiritual darkness (spiritual ignorance; wickedness, and spiritual death).

Jesus has promised that he will return, as he departed at his ascension (Acts 1:9-12), on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living (“quickened”) and dead in both physical and spiritual senses. In that day “born-again” Christian disciples will be vindicated over the enemies of God. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, who have believed (trusted and obeyed) Jesus, will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in heaven, but those who have rejected Jesus as their Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the garment of salvation with which we are clothed when we believe (trust and obey) Jesus. Jesus' own righteousness is the robe which covers all of our sins (disobedience of God's Word).

Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is like a marriage feast (Matthew 22:1-14). Jesus is the bridegroom, and the Church is the bride. Jesus within believers who trust and obey Jesus, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is the “wedding garment” that his disciples must have to enter the wedding feast of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and his bride, the Church. The Church is the “New Israel;” the “New Jerusalem” on earth.

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)?

January 1 C
First Posted January 1, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday January 1 C
Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 – Inheritance in Christ; 

Paraphrase:

May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed for all the spiritual blessings in the spiritual realm (around and above our physical world) that are ours through Jesus. God chose us in Christ before the beginning of Creation, so that we could be holy and blameless in his presence. He chose us to be his sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ, according to God's purpose of uniting everything on earth and in heaven to him, so that the splendor of his grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), bestowed upon us in the Beloved (Jesus), would result in praise to God.

Having heard of the congregation's faith in Jesus Christ and the love for all the saints (“born-again” Christians), Paul gave thanks to God for them. He prayed continually with thanksgiving to God for the church, praying that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, God the Heavenly Father, would give the believers spiritual wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. Having their spiritual eyes enlightened, Paul prayed that the congregation would know the hope to which they are called and the richness of the glorious inheritance to be theirs.

Commentary:

The kingdom of God is all around us now, but we must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) in order to see it now, and ultimately to see and enter it in eternity. Jesus is the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9) Only Jesus gives the gift (“baptism”) of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit believers have all the spiritual blessings of heaven. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit their minds are opened to understand the scripture (Luke 24:45). The Holy Spirit teaches disciples of Jesus all things, recalls to our minds Jesus' teachings (John 14:26) and gives us what to say in opportunities to testify (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12).

God designed this Creation with his purpose of establishing an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. He designed this world to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey him or not, and the possibility to learn by trial and error that God's will is good, possible, and our best interest. God knew that given free choice we would all choose to do our own will rather than God's will. God designed a Savior, Jesus Christ into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

God limited Creation and we ourselves by time, because God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. This Creation is God's “garden” in which to grow his obedient trusting children. The meaning and purpose of this lifetime is to seek and come to know God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey God. This is only possible by faith in Jesus, through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:6).

We are all sinners 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). Jesus is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from eternal death (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern,” post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul had been “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-18), and was repeating the process of making “born-again” disciples, teaching them to trust and obey Jesus, and to repeat the disciple-making process (2 Timothy 2:2), in fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Paul was teaching congregations like the one in Ephesus to grow in spiritual maturity. As Christians live in obedient trust in Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Lord cause our faith to grow as he shows us that his teaching and guidance is faithful and true. As we seek God's will for us daily, he will give us spiritual wisdom and knowledge of God and we will experience a foretaste of the love and joy of our heavenly inheritance through our personal fellowship with the Lord through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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)?

January 2 C
First Posted January 2, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday January 2 C 
John 1:1-18 – The Living Word;

Paraphrase:

The Word (of God) was present at the beginning of Creation and was in very nature God. Everything in Creation was created through and by him. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The light (of spiritual enlightenment: John 1:9, righteousness: John 3:19-21; and eternal life: John 1:4; 8:12) shines in the darkness (of spiritual ignorance, evil, and spiritual death).

John the Baptizer was sent by God to testify to the light so that everyone might believe through John. John himself was not the light but the witness to the light. “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the World” (John 1:9). The light had come into the world and everything in the world was created through him, but the world did not know him. He was in his own home but his own people did not know and welcome him. “But all who received him, who believed in his name (his whole 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” (John 1:14). John the Baptizer testified that this One was the One who was coming after John, but who was before John in rank and in existence. This One is overflowing with inexhaustible grace (God's undeserved favor). The Law (of the Old Covenant) came through Moses; grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (in complete unity), he has made him known.

Commentary:

The Word of God has creative power. God spoke Creation into existence (Genesis 1:3, 9). What God speaks, happens. Fulfillment is the defining characteristic of God's Word (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). The Bible is the Word of God.

God's Word is eternally true, and is always fulfilled, over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The Bible contains great promises and ominous warnings. We will either trust and obey God's Word and receive the promises, or we will fail to trust and obey, and will receive the consequences the ominous warnings were intended to help us avoid.

Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5; 14). God created this world with Jesus Christ (Messiah; both mean God's “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew), the Savior, designed into it from the very beginning. 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 1:3, 9).

God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. Our lifetime in this Creation is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), to learn to trust and obey his Word, and to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God, to know divine, eternal truth, and to have eternal life (John 14:6).

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” Spiritual “rebirth” is only by the “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) 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 infilling of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event; anyone who isn't sure, hasn't been (Acts 19:2)!

John the Baptizer was the fulfillment of God's Word of a prophet like Elijah, coming to herald the appearing of the Savior (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:10-13). John the Baptizer called people to be baptized with water for repentance of sin (disobedience of God's Word), by ritual cleansing, to prepare them to receive Jesus. God revealed Jesus as the Christ to John at Jesus' baptism by John (John 1:31-34), and then John pointed people to Jesus (John 1:35-37).

Jesus was the fulfillment of God's Word of a Messiah, God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King. The Jews had received God's Word in the Bible through Moses. Their religious leaders were experts in the Bible, but were unable and unwilling to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of God's Word, even to this very day, although there are many Jews who have received Jesus.

In Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, his own family, friends and neighbors didn't recognize and acknowledge him as the Messiah. In fact they threw Jesus out of their synagogue and town, attempting to kill him by throwing him off a cliff (Luke 4:16-30). Members of his own family did not believe in him, (John 7:3-5).

But to everyone who receives (welcomes; invites) Jesus, who believes in his name (that he is God's anointed Christ, Savior and Lord), he gives the power (authority; opportunity) to become children of God. Notice that we receive the “power,” but we must claim and lay hold of the promise for ourselves, by receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and trusting and obeying him (Revelation 3:20). Adoption as children of God is not automatically conferred by some church ritual such as water baptism, confirmation (affirmation), or by acceptance into church membership. Adoption as God's children occurs by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15-16, 23).

Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law between God and God's People. The Law teaches us God's requirement of righteousness, and convicts us of sin (disobedience of God's Word). We've all sinned 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). Jesus came to mediate a New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 12:24) of Grace (undeserved favor), to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Everyone who knows God, through the Word of God, will know and acknowledge Jesus as God's only (begotten) Son (John 1:18). Jesus is the first-born Son. First-born sons in Israel received extra status and inheritance. Jesus is “begotten” because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35). Adoption through the indwelling Holy Spirit is salvation and eternal life. We are “adopted” by God's will; our adoption is not by our own effort. We cannot buy, earn by good deeds, or take our adoption, salvation and eternal life by force or deception.

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)?

January 3 C
First Posted January 3, 2010;
Podcast: Friday January 3 C 

Psalm 72

Paraphrase:

Give to the king your justice and righteousness, O Lord, that he may judge thy people with righteousness and give justice for the poor. May the mountains and hills produce prosperity. May the king defend the poor, deliver the needy and crush oppressors.

May they fear and reverence the Lord as long as sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. May he be like gentle rain to water the earth and mown grass. May righteousness flourish and peace abound until the moon ceases to exist.

May his dominion be from sea to sea, and from the river (Euphrates; the cradle of civilization; the Garden of Eden; Genesis 2:10, 14) to the ends of the earth. May his enemies be humbled before him, and lick the dust. May kings of Tarshish and the isles (in western Mediterranean give him presents. May kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts and all the kings of earth bow before him and serve him.

He is worthy of honor because when they call upon him he delivers the poor and needy, who have no other source of help. He has pity on the weak and needy and saves their lives. He redeems them from oppression and violence; their blood is precious in his sight.

May the king live long, may gold of Sheba be given to him. May prayers be offered and blessings invoked for him constantly. May grain be abundant in the land. May it wave from the mountaintops; and its fruit be as great as Lebanon. May the people of the cities increase like the grass of the fields. May the name and fame of the king endure forever, as long as the sun. May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed” (Psalm 72:17b).

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 72:18)!

Commentary:

God is the ideal intended king of Israel, but Israel wanted a human king like the neighboring countries. God warned them that a human king would make many demands upon them, but he allowed them to do as they had asked (1 Samuel 8:4-22).

During the period of the Monarchy many of the kings were wicked and led to the eventual destruction of the Northern Kingdom of ten tribes, and to the seventy year exile in Babylon of the Southern Kingdom of two tribes, Judah, the remnant of Israel.

Solomon, the son of David started well but finished badly. He asked God for wisdom to govern God's people wisely, instead of wealth for himself, and God gave him wisdom, and wealth, as well. The Queen of Sheba heard of his wisdom and came to visit, bringing him gold, jewels and spices (1 Kings 10:1-13).

David, the shepherd-king was the best example of a good king, and he was intended by God to foreshadow the Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed”) Savior and eternal King.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the ideal King of God's people. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16). The Church is the “New Israel.”

At Jesus' birth, wise men (“The Three Kings”) from the east came bringing gold and spices (Matthew 2:1-12), beginning the fulfillment of this scripture.

Ultimately Jesus is going to return with great power and glory. In that day, his enemies will be humbled and bow before him and every one will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day his dominion will be to the ends of the earth.

But in that day it will be too late to change one's eternal destiny. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus in this lifetime will have been spiritually reborn by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 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). Those who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) will enter God's eternal kingdom in Heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and death in Hell with all evil.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the eternal shepherd-king of God's People. His name and fame will endure forever, and by his name all nations and peoples will be blessed.

A just and righteous leader must use his power to protect and defend the poor and weak. The worldly way is for the rich and powerful to exploit the poor and powerless.

In America today it seems that the rich and powerful are using the government to exploit the poor and powerless. Government is no longer of the people by the people, for the people. It's government of the people by the rich, for the rich.

God blesses those who are righteous and just, and he punishes those who are their oppressors. God blesses and prospers righteous and just nations, and withholds favor and prosperity from unrighteous and unjust nations. We know this because of the record of God's dealing with Israel in the Bible, which was written down for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).

I believe that many problems America is experiencing right now are evidence that God is lifting his favor and protection from us and allowing us to experience trouble, in hope that we will return to faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, as America has done in the past.* God's Word promises that “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

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)?


*In 1745, the First Great Awakening in Northampton, Mass. began through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards. Second Great Awakening Awakening occurred between 1790 and 1840. Charles Grandison Finney (August 29, 1792 – August 16, 1875) was a major preacher.

In the 1970's there was youthful revival of the Jesus Movement, considered by some as The Fourth Great Awakening, trying to counteract the allure of sex and drugs of the "Flower Children." One of the best programs to come out of the Jesus Movement was the Calvary Chapel fellowship, begun in Costa Mesa by Pastor Chuck Smith.


January 4 C
First Posted January 4, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday January 4 C
Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Restoration of Jerusalem;

Paraphrase:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). The earth and its people are covered in deep darkness, but the Lord and his glory will arise on God's people and his glory shall be seen upon them. Nations and kings will be drawn to the the brightness rising upon God's people.

Look around and see the return of the people to Zion (Jerusalem; Israel; the Church; the heavenly city). Israel's sons will return from afar; her daughters will be carried in their arms. Then Israel will rejoice, because they will receive the abundance of the sea and the wealth of the nations. “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian (people related to Israel through Keturah, one of Abraham's wives; Genesis 25:2) and Ephah (an Arab tribe east of the Gulf of Aqabah). “And those from Sheba (southern Arabia) shall come bringing gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6c).

Commentary:

The text is thought to have been written around 530 to 510 B.C.,* the period of the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus of Persia, shortly before the return of the exiles from Babylon after seventy years (587-517 B.C.). The prophecy was fulfilled by the amazing release of the exiles, after the prophesied seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), by Cyrus, who not only allowed them to return to their “Promised Land,” but returned the sacred vessels of gold, silver and bronze looted by Nebuchadnezzar at the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. He also gave the exiles authority, assistance from provincial governors, and money to rebuild the temple! Judah's poverty in exile was replaced by prosperity, as God's Word promised. The prophecy of camels bearing gifts of gold and frankincense began to be fulfilled at the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12).

God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The return of the Judean exiles was fulfilled, but it is also fulfilled at the coming of the Messiah, God's “anointed” Savior and eternal King, Jesus Christ (Messiah and Christ each mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), the light of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).

The exile is also a metaphor for life in this world. In a spiritual sense we are all in exile in the “Babylon” of the present world. We are all in bondage to Satan (Romans 3:23, 6:16-18; 1 John 1:8-10). This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God's Word in the Bible, and fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:1-5, 14). Only faith (obedient trust) in Jesus can set us free from bondage to sin and death (see Hebrews 2:14-15; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

The exile of Judah for seventy years in Babylon was a life sentence for those who were adults at the time of their deportation. As the remnant of Israel was physically “reborn” in exile, this lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) in “exile.” Spiritual “rebirth” is only possible 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).

The Church is the New Israel, the New Jerusalem on earth, and the ultimate “Promised Land” is God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Jesus is the only one who can free us from bondage to sin and death and lead us to God's eternal “Promised Land” in heaven (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

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)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Introduction to Isaiah, p. 822, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

January 5 C
First Posted January 5, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday January 5 C
 
Ephesians 3:2-12 – Inclusion of Gentiles;

Paraphrase:

Paul assumed that the Galatian congregation had heard that Paul had received God's grace (unmerited favor) as a steward on behalf of the Gentiles (non-Jews). The mystery of Christ, which had not been known in former generations, had been made known to Paul by revelation by the Holy Spirit, as it had also been revealed to the holy apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) and prophets. The revealed mystery was that through the Gospel the Gentiles share in the inheritance as members of the same body (the Church) and through the Gospel, they partake of the same promise in Jesus Christ.

Paul had been given the ministry of that Gospel as a gift by God's grace through God's power working in and through Paul. Paul felt unworthy, the least of the saints (those consecrated to God's service), to preach the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul and the other apostles had been given the opportunity and privilege to make known to all the people of the world the mystery of God's plan which had been hidden for ages in God the creator of all things. Now through the Church, all people and angelic beings in the universe can know the great wisdom of God of the eternal purpose God has accomplished in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Through our faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we have boldness and confidence of access to God.

Commentary:

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) felt less worthy than the original apostles, the remnant of the Twelve (minus Judas Iscariot, Jesus' betrayer) because Paul had persecuted Christians, before his confrontation by the Holy Spirit, the risen Jesus, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20).

Paul was as much an apostle as the original eleven. He was filled with, guided, and empowered by the same Holy Spirit, and proclaimed the Gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had done to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:9-48; 15:4-29).

I believe that Paul was intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can and should be. I believe that Paul was the one God intended to take the place of Judas Iscariot.

The Eleven had been told to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). While they were waiting, they decided to choose a replacement for Judas. Since they didn't yet have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they chose Matthias by lot (by chance; like throwing dice; Acts 1:15-26). Matthias is never heard of in the New Testament thereafter, but after Paul's conversion most of the rest of the New Testament is by or about Paul.

Paul loved his fellow Jews and wanted to share the Gospel with them, but they refused to hear it and had imprisoned Paul at the time of Paul's writing this letter (Ephesians 3:1). The Jews knew the Bible scriptures had promised the Messiah (Christ; both mean God's “anointed), the eternal Savior and King of God's kingdom. But they didn't realize that the Savior had been given for the Gentiles also (note Isaiah 49:6). They considered themselves righteous by keeping the Law of Moses, and couldn't accept that Gentiles (unrighteous pagans) could receive the same forgiveness and salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ by faith (obedient trust).

God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. From the very beginning he has designed this Creation for that purpose, to allow us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God, and the opportunity to learn by trial-and-error that God's will is our very best interest.

God knew that given freedom, we would all choose to do our will rather than God's will. Disobedience of God's Word is the definition of sin. God has limited this Creation and we ourselves by time, because he doesn't intend to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. God has designed the Savior, Jesus Christ into the structure of this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

We are all sinners who fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God's wisdom has been progressively revealed to the world, first in the goodness and complexity of Creation, then through God's Word, the Bible, then through Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

God's wisdom is unlike what mankind falsely calls “wisdom.” Worldly wisdom is incomplete and constantly changing; God's wisdom is complete, eternal and unchanging (1 Corinthians 1:17-29; 2:1-8). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to have real, eternal life (John 14:6).

The Church has received the stewardship of God's wisdom to proclaim it to the world. The Church is composed of “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. Believers are commanded to stay within the Church (the New Jerusalem; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) until we have received the promised gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit before going into the world to proclaim the Gospel and to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

Through our faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are spiritually “reborn” 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 Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel (guidance), might (empowerment), knowledge of and fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). By the Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

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, December 22, 2012

Week of 4 Advent - Christmas C - 12/23 - 29/2012

Week of 4 Advent - Christmas C

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

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

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

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

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

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/ (Please bookmark this link).

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http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/b_year/wklx_b.html

http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible2/c_year/wklx_c.html

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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 4 Advent C
4th Advent – Sunday C 
First Posted December 20, 2009;
Podcast: Sunday 4 Advent C

Micah 5:2-4 – Shepherd-King of Israel;
Psalm 80:1-7 – Prayer for Restoration;
Hebrews 10:5-10 – New Covenant;
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) – Mary and Elizabeth;

Micah Paraphrase:

The Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed” Savior and eternal King of Israel) will come forth (like David) from Bethlehem, one of the lesser tribes of Israel. His “origin is from of old, from ancient days (from everlasting)” (Micah 5:2d).

God will let them be until the Messiah is born. “Then the rest of his brethren will return to the people of Israel” (Micah 5:3c). The Messiah will be like a shepherd of the flock of Israel, in the strength, majesty, and character of the Lord his God. From then on God's people will dwell in security, for the Messiah will be great to the ends (most distant places, and also the end of time) of the earth.

Psalm Paraphrase:

The psalmist cries out to the Lord, the “Shepherd of Israel ...who leads Joseph (denoting Ephraim and Manasseh; the Northern Kingdom of Israel; the people of God)” to rise up and come to save his people.

“Restore us, O God; let thy face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19; a series of a refrain).

How long will the Lord, God of hosts (an army; a multitude), be angry with the prayers of his people? God has given them bread and drink of tears, in abundance. The Lord has made his people the scorn of their neighbors, and the derision of their enemies.

Hebrews Paraphrase:

The anonymous author of the Letter to the Hebrews quoted Psalm 40:6-8, saying of Christ (Messiah) when he had come into the world that God doesn't desire animal sacrifices and offerings, but has given his Messiah a body (or has opened his spiritual ear). God isn't pleased with burnt offerings or sin offerings. The Messiah declared that he had come to do God's will, in fulfillment of prophecy concerning him which is recorded in the Bible.

Luke Paraphrase:

After the angel had told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, the Messiah, he told her that her kinswoman was also pregnant. Mary hastily went to visit Elizabeth. Entering Elizabeth's house she greeted her, and at her greeting, the Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke forth, saying that Mary was blessed above other women, “and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42b). Elizabeth considered herself honored that the mother of her Lord had come to visit. She told Mary that Elizabeth's baby had leaped for joy at Mary's greeting. “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

Commentary:

The ancient name of Bethlehem is Ephrath (Genesis 35:19). Micah was a prophet of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His ministry was during the reigns of Kings Jotham (742 B.C,*) through Hezekiah, which ended in 687 B.C..* He prophesied the destruction of the Northern Kingdom and the capital, Samaria (Micah 1:2-7), which was fulfilled in 721 B.C.,* by the armies of King Sargon of Assyria, the successor of Shalmaneser. The Northern Kingdom and the ten tribes of Israel ceased to exist. He prophesied the fall of Jerusalem (Micah 3:9-12), which was fulfilled in 587 B.C,* by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar of Chaldea (Babylon).

God had declared through Jeremiah, that Judah, the remnant of Israel (the whole people of God), would be exiled in Babylon for seventy years, from 587 B.C.* to 517 B.C., dated from the destruction of the temple (Solomon's Temple) to the dedication of the restored temple (the Second Temple). God let them alone for the next six hundred years, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 5:3a. They went into exile, and they returned a renewed people having learned to trust and obey God.

Note that they were not the same people who went into exile, because seventy years is a virtual life sentence for those who were adults at the time of the exile. Recall also that the people who went into the forty-year wilderness wandering all died in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb, who had spoken for Israel to trust and obey God's command to enter and possess the Promised Land the first time (Numbers 14:6-10; 26-38).

Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets for four-hundred fifty to five hundred years before the birth of Christ. His virtually last word from God was for Israel to watch for the return of Elijah, the prophet, to precede the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5).

The exiles returned to the Promised Land after seventy years, and through Jesus Christ, his brethren are restored to the people of God (compare Micah 5:3c). Christians are the New Israel, the new people of God.

Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-14). Jesus is God made visible in human flesh (John 14:9b-10; Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus' words are the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus is the Lord of all the earth, from now on, for all eternity.

The psalmist cried out to God to bring forth the promised Messiah, the shepherd-king of his people, to come and save them. God does not desire religious ritual; he wants our obedient trust. Religion is mankind's attempt to manipulate God to do our will. Christian discipleship is our commitment to seek, know, and do God's will.

God is not obligated to hear and answer our prayers, if we are not willing to trust and obey God's Word. God is not obligated to hear and answer our prayers just because we add Jesus' name to the end. God withholds his favor and protection from us so that we can learn that we need him and can trust him.

Jesus came into the world in human flesh to accomplish God's will. The Old Covenant of Law required constant sacrifices for the forgiveness and cleansing of sin. Jesus came to bring a New and better Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) which we can receive by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus' blood sacrificed on the cross is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness and cleansing of our sin, once for all time and for all who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust).

Jesus' first advent (coming) in human flesh was to demonstrate how to live in obedience to God's Word in human flesh in this world. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise of an eternal Savior and King.

Jesus' resurrection from physical death to eternal life demonstrates that there is life after physical death. Jesus' resurrection was witnessed by over five hundred eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15: 3-8), and by countless “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians ever since.

The authors of the New Testament interpreted this passage as a prophecy of the Messiah's birth (Matthew 2:1-6; John 7:40-42). Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, the great human “shepherd-king” of Israel. David was intended by God to be the prototype and illustration of the Messiah to come. Jesus is the “son (descendant) of David (Matthew 1:1; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 21:9, 15). He was the fulfillment of God's promise to David of an eternal heir to David's throne (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29).

Jesus pre-existed with God before Creation, and was designed into Creation from “of old, from ancient days;” the beginning of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14).

Barrenness in women was considered a punishment from God. Elizabeth's pregnancy restored her to God's favor. Pregnancy of a young unmarried maiden was considered a sign of immorality and promiscuity. It was much easier for Elizabeth to accept God's will than it was for Mary. Because she trusted and obeyed God's Word, Mary was blessed beyond others. She is an example of how trusting and obeying God's Word, when it seems impossible, will be rewarded.

Mary is blessed above all other women, but she is merely an example of a faithful servant of the Lord. She's still just a mortal. Mary does not have any divine or supernatural nature. She is not to be worshiped or prayed to.

There are many false teachers and false "churches" in the world today. Unless one has read the Bible for oneself, one cannot be protected from false doctrine. It is easily possible for an average reader to read the entire Bible for oneself in one year. There are several plans available (see Free Bible Study tools, sidebar, top right, home).

Satan can (mis)quote scripture (Matthew 4:6), to deceive us if we are Biblically illiterate. Jesus is the only way to have access to God (John 14:6). There are conditions which must be fulfilled to have prayers answered (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home).

One of Satan's strategies is to get us to pray to anyone other than Jesus Christ. Another strategy is to get us to to repeat a phrase over and over, as in the rosary, “blessed art thou (thee) among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” over and over. Yes, it is scripture, but by mindless repetition, one is prevented from real Spirit-assisted prayer and communion with God (Romans 8:26). Another is to get us to regard a human religious authority as our spiritual Father (Matthew 23:8-9); to talk to him and expect him to intercede to God on our behalf. Another is to discourage laymen from reading the Bible for themselves.

Religion is mankind's attempt to manipulate God to do our will; Christianity is our attempt to seek, know and trust and obey God's will.

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)?
 


Dates from The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, “Chronological Tables of Rulers,” p. 1533, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.


4th Advent- Monday - C - Christmas Eve
First Posted December 21, 2009
Podcast: Monday 4 Advent C

Psalm 98 – God's Coming Kingdom;

Paraphrase:

Let us sing a new song to the Lord, praising his wonderful deeds! His “right hand and holy arm” (symbols of power and authority) have won victory. His victory has been made known, and his vindication has been revealed to all the nations. He has not forgotten his steadfast love for Israel. The farthest-most places on earth have seen the victory of our God.

Let all the earth make a joyful noise and join in joyous songs of praise! Sing his praises with stringed instruments and horns. Let us rejoice in the presence of the Lord, our King.

Let all nature join in the sound of rejoicing “before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with equity” (Psalm 98:9).

Commentary:

God's kingdom is coming, and it begins now for those who accept Jesus as their Lord and trust and obey him. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life and personal fellowship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ. This is only possible by the “baptism” (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).

Jesus Christ is the holy arm and right hand of God (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:19-20; Colossians 3:1), with the authority and power of God (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus Christ has won the victory of God over his enemies, which are ultimately Satan and death (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for Creation to us, first in the goodness and complexity of Creation, then through his Word in the Bible and in the “living Word,” Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to the world in human flesh. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God and Jesus Christ to us personally and individually.

Through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the presence of the Lord, our King, daily. Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit can we truly praise our Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 8:15-17). The Holy Spirit helps us experience and express the goodness, victory and vindication of God which Jesus won for us on the cross.

In the “Autobiography of Peter Cartwright,” quoted in “From Sea to Shining Sea,”* Cartwright describes his experience at a “camp meeting” (outdoor revival) held around the early 1800's by Presbyterian minister James McGready with several Methodist ministers participating. Cartwright said that (when he had been filled with the Holy Spirit) he was filled with unspeakable joy. As he looked around, the trees, their leaves and everything (their branches) seemed to be praising God; as if they were lifting their “hands” to God in praise. I have personally had similar experiences.

Jesus has promised to return at the Day of Judgment at the end of time. Jesus is the righteous judge and also the standard of judgment by whom all people who have ever lived will be accountable for what they have done in this lifetime. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus, will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in Heaven. 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)?


 *Marshall, Peter, J., Jr. and Manuel, David, " From Sea to Shining Sea" (underline), Fleming H. Revell, Baker Books, P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, Mich. 41956-6287. ISBN 0-8007-5308-9 (paper).

Cartwright, Peter, The Autobiography of Peter Cartwright, pg 38, New York: Carlton & Porter 1856.


Christmas Day, December 25 C
First Posted December 25, 2009;
Podcast: December 25 C

Isaiah 62:10-12 -- Your Salvation Comes;
Psalm 98 – The Victory of Our God;
Titus 3:4-7 – Jesus, Our Savior;
Luke 2:1-20 -- The Birth of Jesus;

Isaiah Paraphrase:

Go through the gates and prepare the way for the people. Build a highway, level it and clear it of stones. “Lift up an ensign over the peoples” (Isaiah 62:10e). The Lord has proclaimed, “Watch and see, your salvation comes; note that he is bringing his reward and his punishment with him. His people will be called holy (cleansed of sin and consecrated to God's service), the redeemed of the Lord. They shall be known as “Sought out; a city not forsaken” (Isaiah 62:12c).

Psalm Paraphrase:

Let us sing a new song to the Lord, for the wonderful things he has done. He has won victory by his right hand and holy arm. His vindication has been revealed to all nations. He has not forgotten his steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel. The victory of God has been displayed to the ends of the earth (both geographically and temporally).

Let all the earth rejoice in the Lord; let all people break forth in joyous songs of praise. Praise the Lord with stringed instruments and horns. In the presence of God our King praise him with joyful song.

Let all nature join in praise to the Lord; the sea earth, rivers and hills, and everything in them, because he is coming to judge the world and its peoples in righteousness and equity.

Titus Paraphrase:

When the goodness and loving kindness of God, our Savior, were revealed, he saved us not because we were deserving, but because of his mercy. He cleansed us by the “baptism” of regeneration (spiritual “rebirth;” the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit) and renewal by the Holy Spirit, which were given in abundance through Jesus Christ, so that we could be justified (found “not guilty”) by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), and become heirs of the hope of eternal life.

Luke Paraphrase:

Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus commanded that a census for assessing taxes be conducted in Judea, and Quirinius was appointed to carry it out.

Every Jew returned to his ancestral city for the census. Joseph, and Mary, his betrothed, who was pregnant, went from Nazareth in Galilee, where they were living, to Bethlehem in Judea, the city of David, the great shepherd-king, because Joseph was a descendant of David.

Because of the census, there were no vacancies at the inn, and Mary and Joseph stayed in a stable. While there, Mary began childbirth labor, and delivered her first-born, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths, according to the common practice, and laid him in a manger (an animal feed trough -which was not common practice).

Commentary:

God's people are to open the gates of the city and prepare a highway for the coming of the Lord. The (empty) Cross of Jesus Christ is the ensign of God's people (John 12:32-33: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”).

God designed the Savior into Creation from the very beginning of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). At the perfect time, God revealed the coming of the Savior (the Messiah; the Christ; both mean God's anointed Savior and eternal King): Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus commanded that a census for assessing taxes be conducted in Judea,* and Quirinius,** the Roman governor of Syria was appointed to carry it out. By establishing the dates of secular authorities, Luke documents the time of Jesus' physical advent (coming).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the long-awaited Savior and eternal King, the Messiah (Christ). Jesus' first advent (coming) was as a new-born baby. Jesus has promised to come again, on the Day of Judgment, to judge everyone who has ever lived.

Jesus is the righteous judge, and the standard by which all will be judged. He will be bringing both reward and punishment. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually “born-again” (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). Those who have rejected Jesus, who have refused or neglected to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus is the right hand and holy arm of God, who has won the eternal victory over sin and death at the Cross (Acts 5:30-31; 1 Peter 3:22). The enemies of God hoped to get rid of Jesus through his physical death, but Jesus rose again to eternal life. Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that there is existence after physical death. Jesus manifested himself to over five hundred people after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Every truly “born-again” Christian has personal daily fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and testifies that Jesus is risen and is eternally alive. Jesus' resurrection frees us from slavery to sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15).

When we are baptized with water by the Church for repentance we are cleansed of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and prepared to receive the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we are “regenerated” (by spiritual re-birth) and are guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be “renewed” (Ephesians 4:22-24). We are being transformed from our spiritual likeness to Adam, our earthly ancestor, into the likeness of Christ (Colossians 3:9b-10).

Jesus is the spiritual “bread of life” (John 6:47-51), true eternal life. Farm animals can find their feed in a manger, but most of Israel couldn't find the true spiritual bread of life in the manger of their Messiah Jesus Christ.

Christ came physically at the perfect time to accomplish God's purpose, which is to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who trust and obey God. Jesus came to be the only sacrifice acceptable to God for forgiveness of sin (we're all sinners: Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and salvation from eternal condemnation, eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Crucifixion was the method of execution of the Roman Empire; the Jewish method of execution was by “stoning.” Jesus' advent (coming) coincided, by God's will, with the circumstances of Christ's crucifixion.

In the period of wilderness wandering, Israel had been beset with fiery serpents and many people were bitten and died. God told Moses to make a fiery serpent of bronze and put it on a pole (horizontally through a hole in the middle). Then when anyone was bitten, he could look to the fiery serpent on the pole and would be saved (Numbers 21:6-9). God had forbidden Israel to make an image of any animal, but God intended this serpent on a pole to prefigure the Cross of Jesus Christ (John 3:14-15; 12:32-33; Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13).

By God's deliberate will, Jesus' birth also coincided with the first Roman census (Luke 2:2), so that Jesus' birth fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (Micah 5:2). Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise to David (the great human shepherd-king of Israel, whom God intended to prefigure Christ), to give him a descendant, a Son of David (Matthew 1:1; 21:9, 15), who would reign on David's throne eternally (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14).

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, “Chronological Tables of Rulers, “C” p. 1534, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

**Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, David Noel Freedman, “Quirinius,” pg 1104, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-2400-5


December 26 C
First Posted December 26, 2009;
Podcast: December 26 C

Psalm 111 – Redemption for His People;

Paraphrase:

Let us praise the Lord! Let us give thanks to him with all our hearts. Let us praise him in the congregation of his people, in the company of the righteous.

The works of the Lord are great, the delight of those who study them. His works are completely honorable and majestic, and his righteousness is eternal. He has done his works of wonder to be remembered; gracious and merciful is the Lord.

To those who fear him he provides food; he never forgets his covenant. His works reveal his great power to his people. He has given them the heritage of the nations.

Faithful and just are his deeds; trustworthy are his teachings; they are eternally true. They are to be performed faithfully in righteousness.

“He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever” (Psalm 111:9). The name of the Lord is holy and awesome! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise will endure forever' (Psalm 111:10)!

Commentary:

The Lord has done great things for us, and when we realize his goodness and faithfulness we will want to praise him and give him thanks, along with all God's people. Those who take the time to study God's great works will delight in them.

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose to the world from the very beginning of Creation, first through the goodness and complexity of the universe itself. Then he revealed himself to one man Abraham (Abram), who was willing to trust and obey God, and who became the father of the people of Israel, by faith in God's Word. Through Israel, God has given us his Word, the record of his great deeds on behalf of all people, in the Bible.

In his perfect timing, God revealed himself through Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1:1-5, 14), the fulfillment of his promise of an eternal Savior and King. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to the world. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is God's ultimate revelation of God the Father and Jesus Christ to us personally and individually.

Only Jesus “baptizes” with the gift of 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). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself if one has received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).

God has always intended from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27) and to be spiritually “reborn” (“born-again;” John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, because God designed Creation that way.

The place to begin to seek a personal relationship with God is to read the Bible completely, but from the perspective of the New Testament, either by reading portions of both testaments each day, or by starting with the New Testament. I prefer and recommend the first (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right, home).

The Bible is the record of God's great deeds done for his people through the history of Israel. When we begin to trust and obey God's Word in our own lives, we will begin to experience great deeds done for us personally. God intends to show us his goodness and righteousness through his deeds, for the world and for us personally. When we face times of trouble and difficulty, we can remember God's love and faithfulness in other circumstances and trust him to do similar things for us again. As we experience his faithfulness, he will cause our faith to grow to spiritual maturity (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of a Redeemer. We have all 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). Jesus is God's only provision for the forgiveness of our sin and our salvation from eternal death (Romans 5:8; John 3:15-16; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

God initiated a Covenant (Testament) of Law through Moses, which was intended to restrain sin until the first advent (coming) of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, God initiated an New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-28, RSV note “g;” Hebrews 8:8-10, 12:24. Under the Old Covenant we are all condemned to eternal death through sin; under the New Covenant we are released from the condemnation of the Old Covenant, provided that we are obedient to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-14).

God is faithful to his Covenant. If we accept Jesus as our Lord, and learn to trust and obey him, we will receive the promise of the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. By the presence of the Holy Spirit within us we are spiritually “reborn” to eternal life.

Until one learns to fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of God), one doesn't know anything eternally useful. God's wisdom is unlike what the world falsely calls wisdom. Man's wisdom is constantly changing, because there's so much we don't know. The status of Pluto in our solar system is a recent example. God's wisdom is eternally true (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). Jesus Christ is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, the only way to restoration of fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to have true, eternal life (John 14:6).

It is not true that one can never know for certain if there is existence after physical death until one dies. The only people who do not know where they are going to spend eternity are those who are spiritually “unreborn” and eternally “lost.” Those who trust and obey God's Word in Jesus Christ, will be “born-again.” By the indwelling Holy Spirit they will know personally that Jesus is risen from physical death and is eternally alive. Jesus' resurrection from physical death to eternal life is attested to by every “born-again” Christian, and demonstrates to the world that there is existence beyond the grave.

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)?

December 27 C
First Posted December 27, 2009;
Podcast: December 27 C

Jeremiah 31:10-13 – Return and Restoration;

Paraphrase:

Jeremiah declared that all the nations (Gentiles) and coastlands, near and far should pay attention to God's Word. The Lord God who had scattered Israel would also gather them and keep them like a shepherd keeps his flock. Jacob (God's people; named after the patriarch whose name God changed to Israel; the Church is the New Israel) has been ransomed and redeemed from his more powerful enemies by the Lord.

They will return to Zion, the temple mount (in Jerusalem), singing and rejoicing to the Lord for his goodness. They will again rejoice in the grain,wine, oil and multiplication of their flocks and herds. Their languishing will be no more; their lives will be like an irrigated garden. Their maidens will again rejoice in dancing, and the men, young and old, will celebrate. The Lord promises to turn their mourning into joy. The Lord will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for gladness.

Commentary:

Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem from about 627-580 B.C.. Jeremiah preached warning to Judah to repent and return to the Lord from disobedience and idolatry, to avoid the coming judgment of God. Jeremiah prophesied that unless Judah repented, they would be exiled in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12).

Judah ignored the warning of Jeremiah until it was too late. As the consequence, Jerusalem was conquered by the armies of King Nebuchadnezzar of Chaldea (Babylon) in 587 B.C.. The temple and the walls of the city were destroyed. The people were deported to Babylon until they were amazingly returned and restored in about 517 B. C. through King Cyrus of Persia who conquered Babylon.

The Southern Kingdom, Judah, of the divided monarchy, hadn't learned the lesson of the Northern Kingdom, Israel, which ignored the warnings of the prophets until it was too late. The Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes, was conquered by the armies of Shalmaneser and and his successor, Sargon, of the Assyrians in 721 B.C., with the fall of the capital, Samaria. The ten tribes effectively ceased to exist, because of the Assyrians policy of deporting conquered people to other conquered lands. Because the deportees mingled with aliens, they lost their racial and their religious identity.

Judah was the remnant of Israel through whom the promised Messiah, God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King was to come. God punished Judah for its rebellion, disobedience, and idolatry, in order bring back a ransomed and redeemed Israel through whom he continued his covenant promise.

But note that seventy years is a virtual life sentence for those who were adults at the beginning of the exile. A redeemed and restored remnant of Israel did return to the Promised Land but it wasn't the same people who went into exile. Remember that this was similar to the Israelites' wilderness wandering for forty years. The Israelites who had rebelled and disobeyed God's command to enter and possess the Promised Land, died in the wilderness, but Joshua and Caleb, the two scouts who gave a favorable report and encouraged Israel to trust and obey God survived and entered the land (Numbers 14:6-10, 28-32; Joshua 14:6-13).

Who would have been able to imagine how God would accomplish his promise to bring Judah back to the Promised Land after seventy years? But Cyrus conquered Babylon, and not only gave the exiles permission to leave and return to their Promised Land. He also restored the precious vessels that had been looted by Nebuchadnezzar from the temple. He also gave them permission, funding, and the cooperation of provincial officials to help the exiles rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

The remnant of Israel was redeemed from exile and restored to the Promised Land, and their fortunes were restored, but as they prospered they forgot the lessons of trusting and obeying God, learned in exile, and drifted into disobedience and idolatry. As the result, Israel was not prepared to receive their long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise of the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14-15). Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the blood offering which redeems all who are willing to receive it, from bondage to sin and death in the “Babylon” of this present world. Satan is our ultimate spiritual enemy, and he is stronger than we are, but Jesus won the victory over sin, death and Satan at his crucifixion (Hebrews 2:14-15). His resurrection confirms that victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 1 John 5:4).

The Babylonian exile is intended by God to be a parable and metaphor for life in this world. We are all exiles in Babylon. The Lord has promised to restore us to the heavenly Promised Land if we are willing to receive it.

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world of bondage to sin and death, and rebirth and victory are ours by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4). To all who receive Jesus, and believe on his name (his character; his nature), who believe what God's Word promises, he gives the power (the authority) to become children of God, who are born not of blood, flesh or human will, but of God (John 1:12-13). But we must claim it for ourselves by trust and obedience of God's Word in Jesus Christ (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

America and the American Church are in a very similar situation to Israel at the time of Jesus' first advent. Prosperity has led many to turn from obedient trust in God's Word to rebellion, disobedience and idolatry. We've forgotten the lessons we should have learned from our early wilderness experience, and don't heed the warnings of the prophets and the experience of the Israelites, which should be a warning and lesson for us (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).

The ten northern tribes of God's people became so mixed with the worldly people around them in their captivity that they lost their distinctive identity and became indistinguishable. Judah, the remnant of Israel kept their religious and racial identity in exile and returned to their Promised Land.

The Church in many instances is in the same situation today. Can we live among the worldly people in our society without losing our essential religious identity? Can we proclaim the Gospel to them, or will they convert us to their worldly view? Do we require conformity of our members to the Biblical Apostolic Gospel (the Gospel received by the disciples directly from Jesus Christ, and recorded in the New Testament), or are we tolerating members who want to change the Church to suit themselves (2 Timothy 4:3-4)?

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)?

December 28 C
First Posted December 28, 2009;
Podcast: December28 C

Hebrews 2:10-18 – Our Savior;

Paraphrase:

God is the Creator of all things which exist; Creation has been designed for God's eternal purpose. In God's loving, gracious and merciful nature, God considered it good that in bringing many people to glory, he should make the pioneer (Jesus; the “author,” “leader,” “trailblazer”) of their salvation perfect (complete; brought to maturity) through suffering. Jesus, who sanctifies (cleanses ceremonially and dedicates to God's service) and his disciples who are sanctified have one origin, God. So Jesus was not ashamed to call them his brothers (and sisters). The author of this Letter to the Hebrews quoted Psalm 22:22: “I will proclaim thy (God's) name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee,” Isaiah 8:17: “I will put my trust in him,” and Isaiah 8:18: “Here am I and the children God has given me.”

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15) Jesus' mission was not to angels, but to the descendants of Abraham. So Jesus had to be made like us in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in God's service, to make expiation (atonement; reconciliation; reparation; specifically the reconciliation of God and mankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ), for our sin (disobedience of God's Word). Since he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help us when we are tempted.

Commentary:

God is the Creator of the Universe and everything in it. This temporal world was created by God for his specific purpose: to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who trust and obey God. God designed this world to allow for sin, so that we could be free to choose whether to trust and obey God or not, and to learn by trial and error that his way is good, acceptable, and our very best interest (Romans 12:2). We are all sinners and fall short of God's righteousness (doing what is good, right and true, according to God's Word, the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word lived in human flesh in this present world John 1:1-5, 14).

According to God's design, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God designed the one and only Savior into the structure of this Creation, so that we could be forgiven for sin, and restored to fellowship with God that mankind had at the beginning of Creation, before the sin was introduced (Genesis 2:15-3:22). God loves us and doesn't want anyone to perish eternally (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). Jesus is the only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus' obedience of God's Word was tested in the wilderness, before his ministry began (Matthew 4:1-11), and again in the last weeks of his ministry. Jesus had been trying to prepare his disciples for his crucifixion, and had foretold his death on the cross at least three times (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19). On the night of his betrayal and arrest, Jesus prayed to God his Father three times, asking that if possible, God would spare his Son from the agony of crucifixion, but accepted it willingly in obedient trust (Matthew26:39, 42, 44).

Jesus was tempted, but without succumbing to sin (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was thus the unblemished Lamb of the New Passover feast.

Passover is the celebration of God's saving act of bringing the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. The last of the ten plagues which finally convinced Pharaoh to allow Israel to leave was the deaths of the firstborn of the Egyptians. On the eve of that plague, God instituted the Feast of Passover. God instructed Moses to have each family select a one-year-old, unblemished, lamb (small households could share a lamb). They were to kill the lamb and mark the doorpost and lintel with its blood, so that the destroying angel would “pass over” them and their firstborn would be saved.

On the night of Jewish Passover, Jesus instituted the New Passover (the Lord's Supper; Holy Communion; the Eucharist; Matthew 26:26-28) and later that night Jesus was betrayed and arrested (Matthew 26:45-50). Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, marks his disciples who receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Jesus' death (his body) provides meal of the New Passover feast. Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant secured by his body and blood sacrificed on the Cross.

God had taught Israel that only a blood offering can spiritually cleanse and dedicate anything to God's service (Hebrews 9:12-22). By the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the Cross, all who believe in (trust and obey) Jesus, are cleansed and dedicated to God's use.

Those who believe in (trust and obey) Jesus will receive the “baptism” (free gift; “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our bodies become temples of the Lord, and we are spiritually “reborn” by the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus teaches that one must be “born-again” to see the Kingdom of Heaven all around us now, and to enter it in eternity (John 3:3, 5-8).

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).

The presence of the Holy Spirit within believers is a personally discernible, ongoing event; anyone who has to take the word of a spiritual counselor, hasn't been “born-again”! (Acts 19:2).

Several mainline Church denominations are teaching that one automatically receives the indwelling Holy Spirit through some Church ritual, such as (water) Baptism, or Confirmation (Affirmation) of Baptism. This not only doesn't help members become sanctified and “born-again,” but actually is causing members spiritual harm, by not helping members to seek and be filled with the Holy Spirit. It takes “born-again” disciples to make “born-again” disciples. Those Churches aren't making “born-again” disciples because their leaders are not “born-again” disciples (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus commands his disciples to await the infilling of the Holy Spirit before going into the world to make disciples. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). After their “baptism” with the Holy Spirit, Jesus' “born-again” disciples are to go into the entire world and “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them (with water) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (note the Trinity; Matthew 28:19) teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus demonstrated the “discipling” ministry that his Church, his disciples, are to follow. He made disciples, taught them how to live according to God's Word, told them to await the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and then to go into the world with the Gospel (“Good News”) of forgiveness and salvation through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-20). On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, he was convicted by the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:4), the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9; Acts 9:5).

Paul repented (Acts 9:9) and accepted Jesus as his Lord (Acts 9:5a), and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:6, 8). In Damascus, God sent a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-12; we know he's “born-again” because he has a personal relationship with the Lord) to Paul so that Paul could be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17).

As soon as Paul had received the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, He began making “born-again” disciples (Acts 9:19b-20). Timothy is a good example of a “born-again” disciple taught to make “born-again” disciples who would repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

By the cleansing, by the blood of Jesus and the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are “adopted” children of God, and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:4-7).

Jesus came into this world to provide forgiveness of sin and salvation from spiritual, eternal death. He came into the world to teach us how to live according to the Word of God. Jesus demonstrated through his death that there is existence after physical death, and the the promise of eternal life. Jesus is the first-born from the (physically) dead (Colossians 1:16-18).

Hebrews 2:14-15 is one of my favorite passages; what a great promise and testimony of Jesus' mission! It is so true! Many in the world today pursue the idea of “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Commercials teach us that we only go around once in life, so we should grab all the gusto we can! Many believe in reincarnation; many believe that after death is nothingness. For people who have no hope of existence beyond physical death, this is all there is.

Jesus not only taught eternal life but demonstrated it. Every truly “born-again” Christian testifies from personal experience that Jesus is risen, and is eternally alive. God's Word declares that all are appointed to die once, not over and over, not reincarnation, not nothingness, and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Christians know from the Bible and from personal experience with the risen Jesus, that the God who raised Jesus from physical death to eternal life will do the same for us who trust and obey Jesus (1 Peter 1:19-23; Romans 8:11). So we no longer fear anything, even physical death. As Paul said, it is better for us to be at home with the Lord, but it is more necessary for us to be in the world to save as many as possible (2 Corinthians 5:6-10). The only things we can take with us into eternity are our family and acquaintances.

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)?

December 29 C
First Posted December 29, 2009;

Podcast: December 29 C

Luke 2:41-52 – Jesus' Boyhood;

Paraphrase:

Jesus' family traveled from their home in Nazareth to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Feast of Passover. When Jesus was twelve they had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and when it ended, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents assumed that Jesus was with others in their caravan. At the end of the first day of travel, they sought Jesus from among their kinsfolk and friends. When they had not found him, they returned to Jerusalem, where they searched for him for three days. On the third day, they found Jesus in the temple, listening to the religious authorities teaching and asking them questions. All who heard Jesus' questions and his knowledge of scripture were amazed at his understanding and answers.

When his parents found Jesus, they were surprised, and his mother asked why Jesus had caused his parents such anxiety. Jesus asked them why they hadn't checked the temple for him first. Did they not understand that he must have been in God his Father's house? They didn't comprehend what Jesus had told them.

Jesus went down with them (from the temple mount; Zion), and returned to Nazareth, and Jesus was obedient to his parents. His mother kept such things in her heart. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

Commentary:

The Feast of Passover commemorated the great saving act of God, in delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The final of 10 plagues which God caused among the Egyptians, to convince them to let the Israelites leave, was the death of the firstborn children and animals of the Egyptians (Exodus 11:1-5). The blood of the sacrificial lamb of Passover was to be placed upon the door-posts and lintel to mark the dwellings of the Israelites, so that the destroying angel would “pass over” them and not harm the firstborn children of the Israelites.

The week before his crucifixion Jesus took his disciples with him to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover. Jesus had told his disciples, at least the four times recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, that he would be abused and killed and would be raised up again (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; note 26:2). Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is celebrated by the Church as “Palm Sunday” (Luke 19:28-46), and the week as “Holy Week.”

Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover Feast on Thursday evening of Holy Week. During the meal Jesus instituted the New Christian “Passover,” “The (Lord's, or) Last Supper” (Holy Communion; the Eucharist; Matthew 26:26-29). Moses had been the mediator of the Passover between God and Israelites. Jesus became the mediator of the New Passover. Jesus' body was going to be broken on the cross and would become the bread of Communion (John 6:32-35), the “bread of (eternal) life” (John 6:47-58) and his blood shed on the cross would become the wine.

Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” the perfect unblemished young lamb, sacrificed to provide the lamb of Passover. His blood marks his disciples to be passed over by the angel of eternal death.

The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is deliberately intended by God to be a “parable” (a common earthly experience used to teach a spiritual truth), a metaphor about life in this world. In a sense, we are all in bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this world. Jesus is the New “Moses,” the only one who can free us (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home) and take us through the “wilderness” of this world and into the eternal “Promised Land” of God's Kingdom in Heaven. Having been freed from sin and death God's people are to learn to follow Jesus, to learn to trust and obey him, through this present “wilderness.” God has sacrificed his own “firstborn Son” to free us.

Jesus teaches that one must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) in this lifetime to be able to see the Kingdom of God which is all around us now, and ultimately to enter it in eternity. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The personal infilling of the Holy Spirit is a discernible ongoing event which every truly “born-again” Christian knows with certainty for themselves (Acts 19:2). Any person who must rely on some religious authority's word hasn't been reborn. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21) that leads God's people through the spiritual darkness of this world.

Jews were strictly forbidden to drink blood or eat meat with its blood. People believed that the blood of an animal contained its spirit. God doesn't want his people to be filled with the spirits of animals; he wants us to receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God (note the Trinity; Romans 8:9). But note that one doesn't automatically receive the Holy Spirit through participation in Communion. In fact, those who participate in Communion without discerning Christ's body condemn themselves to eternal destruction (1 Corinthians 11:29; John 3:18). For truly “born-again” Christians, the Lord's Supper provides “communion” with the Lord, not only during the Communion rite itself, but by keeping us spiritually cleansed and in communion with the Lord through the days between “Communion” services.

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)?