Week of 4 Easter - C - 04/21 - 27/2013

Week of 4 Easter - 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:

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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 Easter - C 
Sunday 4 Easter - C 
First posted April 25, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 4 Easter - C 

Psalm 23 – The Good Shepherd;
Acts 13:15-16a, 26-33 – Paul's Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia;
Revelation 7:9-17 – The Great Multitude of Redeemed;
John 10:22-30 – The Good Shepherd;

Psalm 23 Paraphrase:

Those for whom the Lord is their shepherd will never lack any good thing; the Lord will lead them to green pastures. He will lead them to calm waters; he restores their souls. For his own name's sake he will lead them in ways of righteousness.

They will fear no evil, even though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, for the Lord will be present with them, comforting them with the protection of his rod and staff.

In the presence of their enemies, the Lord prepares a table for his people. He anoints their heads with oil; he fills their cups to overflowing. They shall experience goodness and mercy all the days of their lives and they will dwell in the Lord's house forever.

Acts 13:15-16a, 26-33 Paraphrase:

On Paul's first missionary journey, he and his fellow missionaries went into the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia (in Asia Minor; present-day Turkey) as was their custom. After the synagogue leaders had read from the law and the prophets, the Old Testament scriptures, Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) and the missionaries with him were invited give a word of exhortation. So Paul stood up and began to preach, addressing them as brethren and descendants of Abraham, and those who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) God.

Paul said that the message of salvation (through Jesus Christ; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home) had been sent to the Jews. But the people and leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem, although they heard the prophetic scriptures read every sabbath, did not recognize or understand them, so they fulfilled them by condemning Jesus, although they could present no evidence that he deserved to die. Yet they asked Pilate (Roman governor of Judea) to execute him. Thus they fulfilled all the prophecy concerning the Messiah (Christ; God's anointed prophet, priest and king).

Then they removed him from the cross and placed him in the tomb, but God raised him to life from the dead, and for many (forty: Acts 1:3) days he appeared to his followers who had come with him from Galilee (more than five hundred: 1 Corinthians 15:5-8) who now testify as eyewitnesses. And these eyewitnesses (including Paul) testify that what God promised to the Jewish forefathers (a savior; the Good Shepherd; Psalm 2:7; John 1:14, 29; 3:16-17) he fulfilled to their descendants by raising Jesus from the dead.

Revelation 7:9-17 Paraphrase:

The Apostle John had a vision of a great multitude of every nation, tribe, people and language gathered before the throne of God and the Lamb (Jesus; sacrificed on the cross, whose flesh provides the spiritual feast of the New Passover, the Lord's Supper; Holy Communion; Eucharist; Matthew 26:26-28; and whose blood marks his disciples to be “passed over” by the destroying angel; Exodus 12:1-9). The multitude was clothed in white robes and holding palm branches. They were shouting that salvation comes from God who reigns upon the throne, and from the Lamb. The angels who surround the throne, the twenty-four elders (the twelve old testament patriarchs and the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ) and the four living creatures (symbolizing all living creatures) bowed their faces to the ground and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever. Amen (so be it; note seven-fold, perfect, praise).

Then one of the elders asked John who he thought the ones in white robes were. John deferred to the elder, who said that they are those who had come out of the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22) and had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before his throne and serve him day and night.

Commentary:

God had been promising throughout the Old Testament, that he would provide a Good Shepherd (Isaiah 40:10-11; 63:11; Ezekiel 34:11-17, 23-24; 37:24; and, of course, Psalm 23). Moses prayed for God to appoint a shepherd over the people of Israel and God told Moses to anoint Joshua, the son of Nun, to succeed Moses as the shepherd of Israel (Numbers 27:15-19).

Moses was a forerunner of Christ who illustrated the mission of Christ. Jesus is our “Moses” who leads us out of bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world order, through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus Christ, separating us from our spiritual enemies, through the wilderness of this lifetime, leading us through the spiritual darkness by the “Pillar of Fire” (Exodus 13:21-22) of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is our "Joshua" (the name “Jesus” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew words, “Jeshua” or “Joshua”), who leads us through the “River” of physical death and into the “Promised Land” of God's eternal kingdom in heaven (recall Numbers 27:15-19).

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to be the Good Shepherd of his people (Isaiah 40:10-11;  Ezekiel 34:11-16). Jesus is fully God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 14:8-11). Jesus is the “Strong Hand,” the “Right Arm” of God (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44).

David was a forerunner and illustration of the Christ. David was the great human shepherd-king of Israel. Jesus is the “Son of David” (descendant; Matthew 1:1, 6, 17, 20; 21:9). Jesus confirmed that the Christ was the Son of David (Matthew 22:42-45); but he was also the Son of God (Luke 3:23, 38; Matthew 16:15-18).

Paul proclaimed that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the prophecies of the “Good Shepherd.” Jesus was the promised Messiah (God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King; “Christ” and “Messiah” each mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). Jesus came to seek and save the spiritually “lost” (Matthew 15:24; 18:11; recall God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).

Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law between God and God's people. Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor) which is received by faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9) in Jesus Christ. Jesus initiated the New Covenant on the night of his betrayal and arrest at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28).

The Last Supper was the celebration of the Feast of Passover (Exodus 12:1- 14). During the feast, Jesus initiated the New Covenant. The Last Supper became the New Passover. God had taught through the original Passover, and throughout the Old Testament, that a blood sacrifice was necessary for the forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word). In the original Passover, a perfect, unblemished lamb was sacrificed, its flesh provided the feast, and its blood marked the faithful to be “passed-over” by the destroying angel (recall Exodus 12:1-14). Jesus became the Lamb of the New Passover,  “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; Eucharist) is the New Feast of Passover, the fulfillment of the promise of Psalm 23:5 of a table prepared for us in the midst of our enemies, and of an overflowing cup, and of the “anointing” (baptism) of the Holy Spirit, who is the “oil of gladness” (Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9). Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing event (Acts 19:2).

John's vision of the throne of God surrounded by a vast, uncountable number of the redeemed was a vision of the saved who had been washed in the blood of Jesus and were clad in robes of righteousness, not their own, but the righteousness of Jesus, which God attributes to them by their faith in Jesus (Philippians 3:9).

Is Jesus your Shepherd and Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Monday 4 Easter - C 
First posted April 26, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 4 Easter - C 

Psalm 145:1-13 – God's Everlasting Kingdom;

Paraphrase:

Those for whom the Lord is God and King, let us praise and bless his name daily for ever and ever. The Lord's greatness is vast and unsearchable, and worthy of praise.

Let each generation declare the mighty acts of God and exalt him to the next. Let us meditate on on God's glorious splendor and majesty, and his wondrous works. Let the people praise the power of God's fearsome acts and declare his greatness. Let us spread abroad the fame of God's abundant goodness, and shout aloud of God's righteousness.

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145:8). The Lord is good and compassionate to all his creatures.

All that he has created will give thanks to the Lord, and his saints will give him praise. They will testify, to the glory of God's kingdom, his power, so that the children of mankind may come to know his mighty deeds and the splendor of his glorious kingdom. God's kingdom is eternal, and he will reign in sovereign authority and power for ever.

Commentary:

I'm convinced that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek, find, and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator, which was broken by sin (disobedience of God's Word), to know divine eternal truth, and to have true, eternal life, which begins now in this lifetime.

God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey his Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually unborn.

This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn,” which is only by the “baptism” 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 “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing daily experience (Acts 19:2).

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal, daily fellowship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:23; Revelation 3:20). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we personally experience the goodness, power, greatness, glory and steadfast love of God. As we walk in daily obedience to the Holy Spirit we will personally experience God's awesome mighty acts (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home). When we do, we will want to testify to all the people of the world.

I recently heard statistics that the number of people in America professing religion has declined significantly in the last generation. I believe that Americans have fallen away from Christ and the Church. Many have failed to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to experience personally the fellowship and mighty works of God in their own daily lives, and have thus failed, and are unable to declare the Lord's greatness to the next generation.

In many instances the nominal Church shares equal responsibility for this failure, by failing to make “born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples, and teach them to trust and obey Jesus' teachings. Without born-again disciples, there will not be born-again candidates for ministry. It takes born-again disciples to make born-again disciples.

In some instances denominations are teaching that one is automatically born-again through some ritual such as “water baptism.” Some are teaching that their members are saved as a free gift (true), without the requirement of discipleship and obedience (false; see False Teachings, sidebar top right, home).

Christians should read the entire Bible, and then read portions of the Bible daily for guidance, with meditation and prayer. An average reader can easily read the Bible through in one year and there are numerous 1-year reading aids (See Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right). The Bible is the standard against which all Church doctrine should be measured. Knowing the Bible helps us to avoid false teachings. Unless we have read the entire Bible we don't know the Bible well enough to proclaim God's Word. The Bible is where we first experience God's mighty acts.

Christians should pursue discipleship and the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are guided and empowered to proclaim God's Word in the world (Zechariah 4:6). In fact, Jesus warns his disciples to stay in Jerusalem (the Church; the City of God on earth) until they have received the indwelling Holy Spirit, before going abroad to spread the fame of God's goodness and righteousness (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). The Church was born on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured upon Jesus' disciples, and they were transformed, empowered and guided (Acts 2:1-13).

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Tuesday 4 Easter - C 
First posted April 27, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 4 Easter - C 

Acts 13:44-52 – Gospel to the Gentiles;

Background:

On his first missionary journey, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) had preached the Gospel at the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia (in present-day Turkey; Acts 13:14-16).

Acts Paraphrase:

The next sabbath practically the entire city gathered to hear God's Word. But the Jews were jealous when they saw the crowds gather to hear Paul preach, and so they contradicted what Paul said, and vilified him. But Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying that it was necessary to preach the Gospel first to the Jews, but since these rejected God's Word and condemned themselves as unworthy of eternal life, the missionaries would proclaim it to the Gentiles (non-Jews; most of us), thus fulfilling Isaiah 49:6, in which God declared that Christian evangelists were a light to Gentiles, to bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.

The Gentiles rejoiced when they heard this, and those who believed were chosen to receive eternal life. And the Word of God spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited persecution against Paul and Barnabas by the leading people of the city and drove them out of the region. “But they shook off the dust from their feet against them” (Acts 13:51a), and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Commentary:

God intended that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the “Good News” of peace with God and eternal salvation from sin (disobedience of God's Word) would come through the Jews to all the people of earth. Jesus Christ was a Jew (John 1:10-12). Most Jews turned aside from their calling, and rejected the Gospel, but the Gentiles received it with joy. Those who reject Jesus condemn themselves (John 3:18-20).

Those who believed in (trusted and obeyed) Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “baptizes” (“anoints”) 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). The “anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2).

Christians are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) “disciples” (students; Acts 11:26c) and apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church; the City of God on earth) until they had been “born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5) and then to go into all the world proclaiming the Gospel, making [“born-again”] disciples of Jesus, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches (Matthew 28:19-20).

Paul was deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern, post-resurrection, born-again, disciple and apostle” of Jesus Christ. Paul was confronted by the Spirit of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus where Paul (Saul of Tarsus) intended to persecute Christians (Acts 9:1-4). Paul repented Acts 9:9), accepted Jesus as his Lord (Acts 9:5), became obedient to Jesus' commands (Acts 9:6-8), was discipled by a “born-again” (Acts 9:10) disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:11-17) until Paul was “born-again” (Acts 9:18), and then Paul began to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which Jesus gave to his “born-again” disciples (Acts 9:20).

Paul demonstrated the process of “born-again” disciple-making which Jesus had taught by example with the Twelve original disciples. Paul repeated the process with Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6-7), and taught him to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

People who believe the Gospel, accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and begin to trust and obey Jesus' teachings will be filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and will experience the joy of the presence of, salvation, and eternal life, in the Lord.

Jesus taught his disciples to proclaim the Gospel, and to shake off the dust of the communities of those who rejected the Gospel, as a testimony against them. I have personally experienced the rejection of my proclamation of the Gospel in the Church community in which I was raised. I have personally “shaken off the dust of that community” and moved on to other Church communities, several times. It is not I who condemn them but they, themselves.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Wednesday 4 Easter - C 
First posted April 28, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 4 Easter - C 

Revelation 21:1-5 – A New Heaven and Earth;

Paraphrase:

The Apostle John had a vision of a new heaven and earth, because the first heaven and earth had passed away (as prophesied by Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). The sea was no more.  He saw the New Jerusalem,  the Holy City, coming down from heaven from God, adorned as a bride. A loud voice from the throne declared that God would dwell with mankind. They will be his people and God will be with them. He will wipe away all their tears and death, mourning, pain and crying will be no more, for all these former things have passed away.

The One who sits on the throne declared said, “Behold, I make all things new.” He also told John to write this down, for the words are true and worthy of trust.

Commentary:

The true Church is the New Jerusalem. It is now the City of God on earth; it will be the restored City of God in heaven, the new Creation restored to perfect paradise. The Church is the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9).

God's Word declares that everything in this material world will pass out of existence. We tend to think that material things have real substance. We can see and touch them. They seem “real.” Spiritual things seen insubstantial and unreal. But it is the spiritual things which are eternal, not what is material.

God has intentionally designed this world to be limited by time and decay. God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word. This Creation has been designed to allow us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God's Word. This Creation was perfect, but was corrupted by sin (disobedience of God's Word). But God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom.

This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God's Word, to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. We have all been born into this temporal life physically (materially) alive but spiritually “unborn.”

Only those who are “baptized” with the indwelling Holy Spirit are spiritually “born-again.” We can only find and have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2).

By the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit we experience the love, comforting and joy of God's presence. The Holy Spirit is the “comforter” (consoler; intercessor; “Paraclete” from the Greek: para`klhtos).

In the New Creation, there won't be any of the problems of this temporal world because there won't be any sin, disease or death and decay. That's the promise from Our Lord and God.

But note that the choice of where we will spend eternity is ours. We can believe God's Word fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ, and begin to experience spiritual reality now, or we can reject God's Word in Jesus Christ and spend eternity in spiritual death in Hell with all evil. In Hell, time will be suspended, but not sorrow, sickness, and decay; and suffering and death will be eternal.

It is not true that we cannot know whether heaven and eternal life are true until we die physically. The only people who are unsure are those who are perishing spiritually.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Thursday 4 Easter - C 
First posted April 29, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 4 Easter - C 


John 13:31-35 – A New Commandment;

Paraphrase:

At the Last Supper, after Judas, the betrayer, had left, Jesus said to his disciples that the time had come for the Son of man (Jesus) to be glorified, and that he would glorify God. If Jesus glorified God, God would also glorify Jesus in God the Father, at once. Jesus called his disciples his little children, and said that he would only be with them a short while. They would seek Jesus but could not come where Jesus was going. Jesus gave them a new commandment, that they should love one another as Jesus has loved them. By their love for one another all people will know that they are Jesus' disciples.

Commentary:

God's wisdom is unlike worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:1-8). God's wisdom is eternal and unchanging, but what humans falsely call wisdom is not unchanging; consider the recent redefinition of planets.

How could Jesus be glorified and glorify God by being executed with criminals? But Jesus was unjustly convicted and executed, and God, in righteous judgment, glorified Jesus by reversing worldly judgment and raising Jesus to eternal life, elevating him to be the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Jesus glorified God by trusting and obeying God's will even unto physical death.

Jesus told his disciples that he would no longer be present with them physically, and that they would not be able to go with Jesus, where he was going, right away. But Jesus had promised to be with them spiritually through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21).

Only Jesus gives the “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).  The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The infilling of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). “Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ will eventually be reunited with Jesus in God's eternal kingdom in heaven (Matthew 26:29).

It was necessary for Jesus to depart physically so that the Holy Spirit could be given to his disciples (John 16:7). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, each “born-again”  disciple of Jesus Christ can have personal access to Jesus anywhere and anytime (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus reduced the Ten Commandments to two: love of God and love of one another (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus came to give the indwelling Holy Spirit to us so that those who are obedient to the Holy Spirit are freed from slavery to the Law (Romans 8:1-13). No one can satisfy the requirements of the Law. It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can fulfill the demands of the Law (Galatians 2:16). If we live in obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit, it will be evident to others that we are Jesus' disciples.

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Friday 4 Easter - C 
First posted April 30, 2010
Podcast: Friday 4 Easter - C 

James 1:16-21 – First  Fruits;

Paraphrase:

We need to be aware that  every good and perfect gift is provided from God our Father, creator of the heavenly bodies, coming down to us from heaven. God is eternal and there is no  variation or shadow in him due to change. It was by God's own will that he brought us forth by “the Word of truth,” God's Word, the Gospel, to be the “first fruits” (an offering of the first part of the harvest which is to be consecrated to God's use; Numbers 15:21; Deuteronomy 18:4) of the harvest of this Creation.

Remember to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, because human anger doesn't accomplish God's righteousness. So let us put away all uncleanness and weed out wickedness which fill and overwhelm us, and with humility allow God's Word, which is able to save our souls, to be implanted in us.

Commentary:

God created this world very good Genesis 1:31. He provided every good and necessary thing for us.

We were all created eternal beings. Physical death came into the world through sin (Genesis 3:3). Satan lied to Adam and Eve, saying that they would not die (Genesis 3:4), but God was talking about spiritual death. Adam and Eve didn't physically die immediately, but physical and spiritual death entered Creation through their sin and passed to all humans, because all humans sin (Romans 5:12).

God designed Creation to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not. Disobedience is sin, and sin, death, sorrow and decay are in this world because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10).

God gave us the stewardship of Creation, and we have often misused resources God gave us to satisfy our selfish desires, rather than what we really need. People go without needed resources because others want and take, by force or deception, more than they need. Witness the recent financial disaster in America.

God knew that, given the choice we would all choose our will rather than his, so he designed Creation and we ourselves to be limited by time. God is not willing to tolerate sin and rebellion forever. And he designed a Savior (Messiah; God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King), Jesus Christ, into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

The meaning and purpose of this lifetime is to seek, find, and have fellowship with our Creator which was broken by sin (Acts 17:26-27). We are born into this world physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life (John 3:3, 5-8).

This Creation is intended by God to be a “seedbed” to raise a harvest of God's people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. God taught Israel to dedicate the first portion of their harvests to God's service, and this is what we are to be. There is a harvest coming on the Day of Judgment when Christ returns (Matthew 13:47-50; 25:31-46).

We are the “first fruits” of that harvest, consecrated to God's service now by the “baptism” 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 Gospel is God's Word of truth, the “good news” of forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). His Word is unchanging because God is eternal and unchanging. If we hear it and believe (trust and obey), it will be implanted within us, by the indwelling Holy Spirit and will grow to spiritual maturity at the Day of Christ's return

Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

Saturday 4 Easter - C 
First posted May 1, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 4 Easter - C

John 16:5-15 – The Work of the Holy Spirit;

Background:

At the Last Supper, after they had eaten, Jesus gave his disciples his last instructions and encouragement to prepare them for Jesus' crucifixion.

John 16:5-15 Paraphrase:

Jesus told them that now he would be returning to God his Father who had sent him. The disciples didn't ask where Jesus was going (Jesus had told them, although they didn't fully understand; John 14:1-6). But the disciples were sad to think of Jesus leaving them. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7). When the Counselor comes he will convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgment: unbelief in Jesus is sin; God's righteousness, and triumph over and judgment of evil, is revealed in the cross of Jesus.

There was more that Jesus wanted to tell his disciples but they were saddened and upset by what he had said already. But when the Holy Spirit had come, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit would guide them into all divine eternal truth. The Spirit will speak what he hears (from God), not by his own authority, and will reveal to the disciples what is to come. He will reveal Jesus' glory by taking what belongs to Jesus and declaring it to his disciples. All that the Father has belongs to Jesus.

Commentary:

During Jesus' physical ministry on earth, he was all-knowing (John 1:47-50; John 4:16-19), but couldn't be present everywhere at once. When he was on the mountain of transfiguration with Peter, James and John, the other disciples were getting into trouble on their own (Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29).

By the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the “born-again” disciples (John 3:3, 5-8) would have access to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God anytime and anywhere. When I've been away from telephones in the mountain back-country, my prayers have been heard and answered and I have been comforted and reassured (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, right), and I have experienced miraculous deliverance.

But I had to learn to trust and obey him and wait for his Word. When I was a new Christian, I wanted a solid physical connection and immediate results like most people in our world today. I had to resist temptation to pick up the phone and talk to the pastor. Pastors are mostly well-intentioned, and try to help, but the truth is that they are blessed if they know God's will for themselves. God doesn't want to tell them God's will for us because God wants us to seek it directly from God, one day at a time (Matthew 6:11).

As we learn to seek God's Word for us personally, directly from the Lord, the Lord teaches that we can trust and do what he says. That is how he causes us to grow in faith to spiritual maturity. He wants us to trust and obey his Word so that he can show us that his Word is absolutely trustworthy and true.

The Holy Spirit is at work through the Church of Jesus' “born-again” disciples to convince the world that unbelief in Jesus is sin, and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus perfectly obeyed God's will to the point of death on the cross, and his resurrection demonstrated that God is the righteous judge. He didn't allow evil to triumph, and he didn't let the world's unrighteous judgment prevail; God reversed it by raising Jesus from the dead.

Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that there is existence beyond physical death, and that God is able to vindicate those who trust and obey God's Word even though they may die physically (Hebrews 2:14-15). The worst the world can do to us is kill us physically, but God has the last Word.

We first learn about God the Father and Jesus Christ through the Bible record. As we begin to trust and obey God's Word, we will be “baptized” with the Holy Spirit. But God waits to make sure we are really serious, first, because premature spiritual birth can be eternally disastrous if we then turn away (Hebrews 6:4-6). By the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus promises to reveal himself and God the Father to us personally and individually (John 14: 7-11, 21-23). There is more that Jesus wants us to know, which we will learn by experience as the Holy Spirit reveals it to us.

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)?