Week of 5 Easter - C - 04/28 - 05/04/2013

Week of 5 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 5 Easter - C 
Sunday 5 Easter - C 
First posted May 2, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 5 Easter - C 

Psalm 145:1-13 – Great is the Lord!
Acts 13:44-52 – Paul's Sermon at Antioch of Pisidia;
Revelation 21:1-5 – A New Heaven and Earth;
John 13:31-35 – Jesus Glorified!

Psalm 145:1-13 Paraphrase:

Let us extol our God and King. Forever let us daily bless his name.  “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable” (beyond measure; Psalm 145:3).

Let one generation praise God's works and mighty acts to the next. Let us meditate on the magnificent splendor of his wondrous works. People will proclaim the greatness and power of God's awesome acts. Let us declare the fame of God's abundant goodness and shout aloud of his righteousness.

“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all and his compassion is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:8-9). All God's creatures will give thanks to God, and all his saints (those consecrated to God's service) will bless him. They will proclaim his power and the glory of his kingdom. His kingdom is eternal, and his reign is throughout all generations.

Acts 13:44-52 Background:

On Paul's first missionary trip, he and those accompanying him came to Antioch of Pisidia, a Roman province in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). On the sabbath they attended the synagogue, and after the customary readings of the Law and Prophets (the Old Testament Jewish scriptures) the synagogue leader invited the missionaries to speak any word of exhortation, and Paul did so (Acts 13:14-16a).

Acts 13:44-52 Paraphrase:

The next sabbath nearly the entire city gathered to the synagogue to hear the Word of God proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas (a leader in the church at Antioch who accompanied Paul). But the Jews were jealous of the multitudes attracted to Paul's preaching, and contradicted what he said and verbally abused him. So Paul and Barnabas boldly replied that it had been necessary to preach the Gospel (“good news”) of forgiveness and salvation first to the Jews, but since they rejected the Gospel and judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, the missionaries would preach to the Gentiles. They quoted Isaiah 49:6 which prophesied that God would make his apostles (messengers of the Gospel) to be [spiritual] light to the Gentiles, so that the good news of salvation can be carried to every place on earth.

The Gentiles who heard this were delighted, and glorified God's Word. And those who believed were chosen to receive eternal life. So the Word of the Lord spread throughout the entire region. But the Jewish authorities incited leading men and devout women to stir up persecution against the missionaries and drove Paul and Barnabas out of their district. “But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went to Iconium” (Acts 13:51; compare Luke 10:10-11; Acts 18:6).

Revelation 21:1-5 Paraphrase:

The Apostle John had a vision of a new heaven and earth; this present earth, sea and heaven had passed away. John saw the new Jerusalem, the Holy City, dressed in finery like a bride for her husband, coming down out of heaven from God. A voice from heaven declared that God's dwelling would be with mankind. They will be his people and he will dwell with them. God will wipe away all their tears, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain, because all those former things have passed away.

God, who sits upon the throne, says for us to watch and see, because he makes all things new, and he commanded John to write all these visions in a book, because they were true and worthy of trust.

John 13:31-35 Paraphrase:

On the night of Jesus' Last Supper, after Judas, his betrayer, had left, Jesus told the remaining disciples that now was the time for Jesus to be glorified, and in Jesus, God would be glorified. If God is glorified in Jesus, God will also glorify Jesus and do so immediately.

Calling his disciples his little children, Jesus told them that he would be with them [physically] only a little longer. They would seek him but, as he had told the Jews, they could not [right then] be where Jesus was going (but would be ultimately; John 14:1-6).

Jesus told them that he was giving them a new commandment: to love one another. His disciples were to love one another as Jesus had loved them. By their love for one another, all people would realize that they were Jesus' disciples.

Commentary:

Christians are called to be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples (students) and apostles (messengers) of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). First we are commanded to stay within “Jerusalem” (the Church) until we have been “baptized” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Then we are to go into the world with the Gospel message, to make disciples of all people (Matthew 28:19-20).

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 Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event (Acts 19:2). It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we know the Lord personally and experience his greatness, love, power, and his mighty acts on our behalf personally (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home). It is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are able to glorify him and give him praise.

We must read the entire Bible, and we must read it daily with meditation and prayer, in order to know and understand God's Word. Make time daily to read the Bible and get a 1-year Bible-reading schedule, and then use that time daily to follow some devotional Bible study like this one.

How can we proclaim God's goodness and his great works to others without having read God's Word and experienced his goodness personally through his indwelling Holy Spirit within us? There are ominous signs in the society around us, particularly in America today, that nominal Christians have not passed on God's Word and praise of God's goodness and awesome works to the next generation. Even truly “born-again” Christian parents who make every effort to disciple their children may not succeed because of the secular influences in society and especially in education today.

In many nominal Churches today the situation is similar to Judaism at the time of Jesus' earthly ministry. In too many instances, the Church is being run for the benefit of the leaders. The Church selects and controls the doctrines they promote and who they allow to teach. The same false doctrines springing up in the Church in the first century, which are refuted in the New Testament, are still present today (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home).

Some of the most difficult people to teach the Biblical Apostolic Gospel (taught by the original Apostles, including Paul, in the first-century Church and recorded in the New Testament) are Church people. I've personally experienced resistance to the Gospel from people in my own congregations in the past, who had never read the entire Bible and didn't read portions of it regularly.

Some mainline denominations teach that the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred by water baptism or some church rite, and that salvation is by grace (a free gift; true), but without the requirement of discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus' teachings (false). Those who have personally experienced spiritual rebirth through the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit can testify to them, but "church members" often reject that Gospel truth, and condemn themselves as unworthy of eternal life. The unchurched are often more receptive. I have personally experienced several times having to “shake the dust off of my shoes” against congregations who would not receive my testimony, and go on to the next (Matthew 10:6-15).

The Lord is going to purify his Church. Not everyone who calls himself a Christian or says that Jesus is his Lord is going to survive the Day of Judgment (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46). When this present Creation passes away, then John's vision of a purified Church coming down from heaven from God will be fulfilled. The Church will be the people of God because they have learned to trust and obey God, and so he will be their God and will dwell with them. Death, decay, and all the sorrows of this lifetime will have passed away.

It is hard for worldly people to realize that being crucified is any way to glorify God or to be glorified, but it was because that was God's will and plan for Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus glorified God by trusting and obeying God's Word to the point of the most excruciatingly painful death imaginable, and in the eyes of the world, shameful and humiliating. God glorified Jesus by raising him from physical death to eternal life, making him King of kings and Lord of lords, and giving him a name that is above all other names in this world and the next (Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:7-11).

By leaving his disciples physically, Jesus was making it possible for each of us to have access to him individually and personally at any time or in any place, by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit within us. So it is to his “born-again” disciples' advantage that Jesus left earth physically (John 16:5-7).

Many nominal Christians talk about love. Certainly if one loves Jesus one will also love his brethren in Christ and all people (our “neighbors;” Matthew 22:35-40), because that is what he commanded; but if one loves Jesus one will be doing all that Jesus commands and teaches (John 14:15). The Great Commission to the Church is to make disciples of Jesus and teach them to know, trust and obey all Jesus' commandments (Matthew 28:20).

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

Monday 5 Easter - C 
First posted May 3, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 5 Easter - C 

Psalm 67 – Thanksgiving for a Good Harvest;

Paraphrase:

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving power among all nations” (Psalm 67:1-2 RSV). May all people praise you, O Lord.

May all nations rejoice and sing for joy, because the Lord judges all people fairly and guides all the nations of earth. May all people praise the Lord.

“The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us; may all the ends of the earth fear him” (Psalm 67:6-7 RSV).

Commentary:

God blesses his people who trust and obey him, so that all people can come to know that God is good and he is God of all people and nations. God withholds his blessings from those who refuse to trust and obey him, in hope that they will come to know that God is the source of all blessings.

God directs the conduct of all nations, whether they acknowledge him as Lord or not. One classic example is his use of Cyrus of Persia to accomplish God's purpose to bring the remnant of Judah from the Exile in Babylon after seventy years in fulfillment of his Word (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Isaiah 44:28).

God is Lord of the earthly harvests, but, more importantly, of the eternal spiritual harvest. God has designed this Creation to be a spiritual garden to raise his own people who willingly choose to trust and obey God.

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find and come to fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life (John 3:3, 5-8). These are only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6), 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 Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing experience (Acts 19:2).

Jesus is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20, Luke 1:34-35) and Son of man[kind], by his mother, Mary. He is fully God, in human form (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5), and is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this world (John 1:14). He has been appointed by God to judge the earth. He alone is qualified to judge the earth because he has lived in flesh like us and has experienced every temptation that we experience, yet without sinning (sin is disobedience of God's Word; Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus is going to return on the Day of Judgment, to judge the living (“quickened”) and the dead, in both physical and spiritual senses (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). He will come at the end of the temporal age, while we are still physically alive, or at the end of time for us individually at the moment of our physical death. At that moment, it will be too late to change our individual eternal destinies.

Jesus is the standard of judgment by which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord (our Lord is him whom we trust and obey), and have trusted and obeyed Jesus, will have been spiritually “born-again” and will have had a personal relationship with Jesus during this lifetime. Jesus will acknowledge them and they will enter eternal life in God's kingdom restored to paradise. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46) will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

“The fear (awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

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

Tuesday 5 Easter - C 
First posted May 4, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 5 Easter - C 

Acts 14:8-18 – Mistaken for gods.

Paraphrase:

On Paul's first missionary journey, at Lystra (in Asia Minor; present-day Turkey), Paul was preaching, and a man who had been born crippled and had never walked was listening intently. Seeing that he had the faith to be healed, Paul told him in a loud voice to stand up and walk, and the cripple did so. When the crowd saw what Paul had done they said that the gods had come down to them in the likeness of men. They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief spokesperson, they called Hermes. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city brought oxen and garlands, intending to offer sacrifice with the people.

But when Paul and Barnabas saw this they tore their garments (in ritual mourning), and hurried into the crowd, asking why they were doing this, since Paul and Barnabas were mere mortals like the people. The missionaries declared that they were bringing “good news,” that they should turn from vain things  (idols) to the living God who had created all things. In the past God had allowed the nations to follow their own ways; yet he had left them witness by the good he did and the blessings of rain and fruitful seasons, so that they had food and happiness. By these words Paul and Barnabas were scarcely able to keep the people from offering sacrifices to them.

Commentary:

Note the reaction of Paul and Barnabas at being mistaken for gods, and compare that to Jesus' reaction when Thomas declared him his Lord and his God (John 20:28). Jesus did not correct Thomas, because Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9). Jesus is the one true God who has come down to us in human form. Those who have “seen” (personally experienced) Jesus have “seen” (personally experienced) God (John 14:8-11).

God is patient with us, allowing us to pursue our own ways, and blessing us with rain and fruitful harvests, in the hope that we will discover that he is the source of our blessings. The meaning and purpose of life is to seek, find and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27; John 14:6-7), and to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life 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 Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing experience (Acts 19:2).

The healing miracle done through Paul and Barnabas was not by their own power and will, but by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. My online ministry through My Daily Walk Bible Study is not by my own effort and ability, but by the insight and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Christians are, by definition, disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” and have been sent (as apostles; messengers; of the Gospel). New believers are to be discipled within the Church (the New Jerusalem) by mature, “born-again” disciples (Paul -Saul of Tarsus- is the prototype and example; Acts 9:1-20) until they have been “born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), before being sent into the world with the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).

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 5 Easter - C 
First posted May 5, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 5 Easter - C 

Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 – New Jerusalem;

Paraphrase:

The Apostle John was transported  by the Holy Spirit in a vision to a “high mountain” where he could see the New Jerusalem, which he saw coming down from heaven from God. The Holy City is the Bride (the Church), the wife of the Lamb (Jesus). The city had the glory of God, radiant like a precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a high wall with twelve gates. The gates were named for the twelve tribes of Israel. The city was cubic with dimensions a multiple of twelve. There were three gates in each wall. The wall had twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

There is no temple in the city because the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, because its light is the glory of God, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Commentary:

The New Jerusalem is described symbolically: its cubic dimensions symbolize perfection, and its beauty is symbolized by precious jewels. The city is the temple, because the glory and presence of God Almighty and Jesus Christ, the Lamb, fill the city. There is no spiritual darkness there because God and Jesus provide spiritual light; they are the spiritual sun and moon (Isaiah 60:1-3, 19; John 8:12).

The Church is the New Jerusalem on earth, but it is not the purified Church of John's vision. The nominal Church today contains the true Church, but also false “Churches,” false teachers and teachings (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home), and false, nominal Christians (Matthew 7:21-27). All these false elements will have been removed at the Day of Judgment.

A true Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) 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 Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is God's intended replacement for Judas Iscariot, one of the original Twelve disciples, Jesus' betrayer. Paul is 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 (Acts 9:1-20). Paul was discipled by a born-again disciple (Acts 9:10-12) until Paul was “reborn” (Acts 9:17-18), and then began making born-again disciples (2 Timothy 1:6-7) and teaching them to repeat the process (2 Timothy 2:2).

Unfortunately, many parts of the nominal Church today are failing to make born-again disciples, and in some instances are discouraging members from seeking spiritual rebirth (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home).

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

Thursday 5 Easter - C 
First posted  May 6, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 5 Easter - C 

John 14:23-29 – Last Instructions;

Paraphrase:

Jesus told his disciples that those who love Jesus will keep Jesus' word (commands; teachings), and God the Father will love them and the Father and Jesus will come to them and make their home with them. Those who do not love Jesus do not obey Jesus' word, and Jesus' word is the Word of God who has sent Jesus.

Jesus had told the disciples these things while he was still with them (physically). “But the Counselor (“Paraclete:” intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26). Jesus promised to leave his peace with his disciples, giving it to them not as the world gives. So his disciples are not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid. Jesus had told them that Jesus was going away, and would come to them. Those who loved Jesus would rejoice that he was going to the Father, who is greater than Jesus. Jesus had told them these things (his impending crucifixion and death, and the end of his physical presence and ministry) so that when they took place his disciples would believe (trust and obey Jesus' word).

Commentary:

Obedient trust in Jesus' teachings is evidence that his disciples love Jesus, and Jesus has promised to “baptize” them with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17, 21). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9-10). Note the doctrine of the Trinity (the word is not found in the Bible but the concept is evident: Matthew 28:19).

Jesus and God the Father are one (John 14:10). Jesus was fully human but also fully God (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus is what God “looks like” in human form (John 14:8-10). By the indwelling Holy Spirit we have fellowship with Jesus and God the Father.

God is greater than Jesus in the sense that he designed Jesus into Creation from the very beginning, and “fathered” him by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:34-35). Jesus was completely obedient to his Father's will, to death on the cross. While Jesus was surrendered to the hands of wicked people, God was still in control of Creation.

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 baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2).

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word lived in human flesh in this present world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9). Anyone who claims to be Christian, and claims Jesus as his Lord, but doesn't know, trust and obey all that Jesus teaches, is deceiving himself (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the modern equivalent is the Church; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8) until they were “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and then they were to go into all the world and make (born-again; the only true kind of) disciples, teaching them trust and obey all that Jesus teaches his disciples (Matthew 28:19a, 20a), baptizing them in the name of the Triune (Trinitarian) God (Matthew 28:19b). The Church is to bring its members to spiritual rebirth, and then the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit will lead the members in spiritual growth to Christian maturity at the time of Christ's return.

Christian discipleship is a growth process. God wants us to trust and obey his Word so that he can show us that he is abundantly able and faithful to do what he says. Our spiritual growth begins with our “mustard seed” (Matthew 13:31; 17:20; Luke 17:6), our simple “yes” of faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. As God fulfills his promises to us personally and individually, we will grow spiritually in faith to maturity (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home).

With the indwelling Holy Spirit within us, we have peace which the world cannot give. We know with absolute assurance that Jesus is eternally alive and that we have what he has promised: eternal life (John 14:6; Hebrews 2:14-15). As we learn to recognize and trust his “voice” and come to know his power and faithfulness to deliver us, we will be spared many anxious hours and days. We need to practice and learn this by experience (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home).

I am convinced that the meaning and purpose of life is to seek, find and come to fellowship with God, our Creator, and this is only possible through Jesus Christ (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)?

Friday 5 Easter - C 
First posted May 7, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 5 Easter - C 

James 1:22-27 – Doers of the Word;

Paraphrase:

The author warns Christians to not only hear but also do the Word. Those who hear the Word but do not apply it in their lives do not retain it in memory. They're like a person who sees his face in a mirror, and then turns away and immediately forgets what he looks like. One who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty (i.e. the Gospel; Romans 8:1-4), and perseveres, not simply hearing, but applying it daily, will be blessed.

A person who thinks he is religious must learn to bridle his tongue, or he is deceiving himself and his religion is in vain. Pure, undefiled religion in God's judgment is that which helps the poor, weak, humble and oppressed (Matthew 25:35-40) and keeps us from being polluted by the sinful world around us.

Commentary:

The Bible, the Word of God, has been given to us by God for our own good. It is the “owner's manual” for life in this world. If we seriously look into God's Word we will read it entirely, and we will read portions daily, with prayer and meditation, for daily guidance (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, at top right, home).

God's Word promises that we will be blessed as we read the Bible with the commitment to apply it daily. Jesus warns that those who merely call Jesus Lord and call themselves Christians are not saved, and are deceiving themselves (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).

As we begin to trust and obey God's Word we will be filled with 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 infilling with the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily event (Acts 19:2).

The indwelling Holy Spirit is the greatest blessing imaginable! Through the Holy Spirit we have daily access to and fellowship with God our Creator and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). He is the “Paraclete,” our consoler, comforter, intercessor, and advocate (John 14:17). He's the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13) who will teach us all things, and cause us to recall all Jesus' words (John 14:26). The indwelling Holy Spirit opens our minds to understand scripture (Luke 24:45). The Holy Spirit gives Jesus’ disciples what to say at the moment it is needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). He guides and empowers us to know and do God's specific individual will for us. Jesus warns us not to depart from Jerusalem (the Church is the New Jerusalem on earth) until we have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

A true Christian is a disciple (student) of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who has been born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) by the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth process. A new believer is to be discipled by a born-again disciple until the new believer is born-again (compare Paul's -Saul of Tarsus-' conversion Acts 9:1-20), and then he is discipled by the Holy Spirit, to spiritual maturity at the Day of the Lord's Return.

Many nominal Churches today are failing to make disciples and require discipleship of their members. Many nominal Churches today are not “Bible-preaching Churches.” Often there is no reading of the Bible during the service, and the sermon may be based on a single verse, if based on scripture at all. Many nominal Christians have never read the entire Bible, and don't read it regularly.

Disciples need to learn to bridle their tongues in several ways. Some must break habits of cursing; some must break habits of gossip. We must not verbally abuse those of our own congregation and our family at home, and we must not verbally abuse those who serve us in retail and service industries in the community around us. Treating people poorly in the secular world gives Jesus a bad reputation among worldly people (James 1:19-21).

God is the helper and advocate for the poor, weak, humble and oppressed, and so are we called to do likewise (1 Corinthians 1:26-28; Matthew 25:34-40). Jesus' ministry of physical healing, feeding and resurrection were intended to show that he could also, and more importantly, heal, feed and resurrect spiritually, but he cared also for their physical conditions. He sent his disciples out to practice carrying on Jesus ministry, telling them to preach the coming of the kingdom of heaven, and to heal the sick, raise the dead and feed the hungry physically and spiritually (Matthew 10:7-8). After they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit they began fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), and carrying on Jesus' mission (Acts 3:2-8; Acts 9:36-41; James 2:14-17).

Christianity isn't really a “religion” in the sense of other worldly religions. It isn't man's attempt to propitiate God by religious rituals. One can be “religious” without being a Christian; one can be “spiritual” without being born-again. But one cannot be a true Christian without being baptized with the Holy Spirit and having a personal relationship with God the Father and the 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 5 Easter - C 
First posted  May 8, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 5 Easter - C 

John 16:23-30 – Jesus Comforts His Disciples;

Paraphrase:

Jesus' disciples were sad to hear that Jesus was going to leave them, but Jesus promised that they would see him again and that their sorrow would be turned to joy which would not fade (John 16:22). In that day they would not ask anything of Jesus. “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.  Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23-24; see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home).

Jesus told his disciples that he had been speaking of these things metaphorically but the time was going to come when he would no longer have to use metaphors, but would be able to speak plainly to them about God the Father. Then they would pray in Jesus' name; they would not need Jesus to pray to the Father for them, because God loves Jesus' disciples because they have loved Jesus and have believed that Jesus has come from God. Jesus has come into the world by God's will, and is leaving the world to return to God.

His disciples declared that Jesus had now spoken plainly and not in any metaphor. Now they realized that Jesus knew all things and no one needed to question him, so they were convinced that he had come from God.

Commentary:

The Bible is the history of God's dealing with Israel, and is a series of metaphors, “parables” of life in this world. Metaphors are necessary to explain spiritual truth in terms of worldly experiences.

The Exodus from Egypt is the central act of God's deliverance of his people. We are all slaves to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world order. Jesus is our “Moses” who leads us out of Egypt, through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus, through the wilderness of spiritual darkness of this world, by the pillar of fire and cloud (Exodus 13:21-22) of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our “Joshua” (the name, “Jesus” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Jeshua” or “Joshua”), who leads us through the “River” of physical death, into the eternal “Promised Land” of God's Kingdom in heaven, restored to perfect paradise.

There are many other metaphors in the Bible. Metaphors allow us to understand spiritual truth, but allow us to not understand, if we choose. This Creation has been designed to allow us the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God or not. That is the reason that Jesus called himself the Son of man, which is true, but which allowed his hearers to decide for themselves whether Jesus was also the Son of God. Jesus was the Son of man through his human mother, Mary, and the Son of God through his conception by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:34-35).

There are conditions for answered prayer. God is under no obligation to hear and answer our prayers unless we are willing to trust and obey God's Word. Just adding Jesus' name to our prayers doesn't obligate God to hear and answer them. Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word, lived in human flesh in this sinful world.

Genuine Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) 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 Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, daily, ongoing experience (Acts 19:2).

Note well, those who consider themselves Christians! We have direct access to God the Father through prayer in Jesus' name! We cannot receive answer to our prayer by asking any “saint” to pray in our behalf, or even Jesus himself. The condition for answered prayer is obedient trust in Jesus (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right, home).

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