Week of 7 Easter - C - 05/12 - 18/2013

Week of 7 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.

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Podcast Download: Week of 7 Easter - C
Sunday 7 Easter - C
First posted May 16, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday 7 Easter - C

Psalm 47 – God's Enthronement;
Acts 16:6-10 – Paul's Second Missionary Trip;
Revelation 22:12-17, 20 – Christ's Return;
John 17:20-26 – Jesus' Prayer for his Disciples;

Psalm 47 Paraphrase:

Let all people clap their hands and, with loud songs of joy, let them shout to God. The Lord Most High is awesome; a great king who reigns over all the earth. He subdues nations and peoples under Israel (his chosen people; the Church). He has chosen an inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob (father of the heads of the Twelve Tribes) whom he loves.

“God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm" (Psalm 47:5-7).

God is seated upon his holy throne; he reigns over all the nations. “The princes of the peoples gather  as the people of the God of Abraham, because all the rulers of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted" (Psalm 47:9)!

Acts 16:6-10 Paraphrase:

On his second missionary trip, Paul and his companions came to Phrygia and Galatia (Roman provinces in Asia Minor: present-day Turkey). When they came to Mysia (a Roman province in western Asia Minor, of which its chief port was Troas), the missionaries attempted to go to Bithinia, “but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” (Acts 16:7); so they bypassed Mysia and went to Troas. During the night Paul had a dream of a Macedonian man pleading for them to come and help the Macedonians. Paul concluded immediately from the dream that God was calling them to preach the Gospel in Macedonia.

Revelation 22:12-17, 20 Paraphrase:

Jesus declares that he is coming soon to repay everyone according to their deeds. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), the first and last, the beginning and end of all things (compare Revelation 1:12-18).

Those who wash their robes (spiritually; in the blood of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross; through faith -obedient trust- in Jesus) will be  blessed. They will receive the right to possess the fruit of the tree of life (Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24) and will be allowed entrance into the city (of God in heaven) by the gates. Denied entrance will be the dogs (unforgiven sinners), sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters and  all who love and practice falsehood.

Jesus sent his “angel” (his Spirit; Revelation 1:1; compare Acts 12:15) with this message to be recorded by John and sent to the Churches. Jesus is the root (Isaiah 11:10) and offspring of David (the great human shepherd-king of Israel and forerunner and preview of the Messiah; 2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29), the bright morning star (Numbers 24:17).

The Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God; the Spirit of Jesus; Romans 8:9), and the Bride (the Church) say, “Come (Lord Jesus; compare Revelation 22:20).” Let him who hears (the Gospel) say, “Come.” Let those who are spiritually thirsty, all who desire spiritual satisfaction, come and receive the water of (eternal) life without price.

Jesus himself testifies to these things and he declares that he is certainly coming soon. “Amen, Come Lord Jesus!”

John 17:20-26 Paraphrase:

After celebrating the Passover, the Last Supper, with his disciples and after his farewell discourse, Jesus prayed the high priestly prayer on behalf of his disciples.

He prayed not only for his disciples, but for all who believe in Jesus through their testimony, that all believers would be in unity as Jesus and God the Father are a unity; that they would be in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and that the Father and Jesus would be in them, so that the world may know that God has sent Jesus. Jesus has taken the glory which was his from the beginning of Creation, and has given it to his disciples, so that they can be one with one another and with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, that Jesus may be in them as God the Father is in Jesus Christ; and that the world may know that God has sent Jesus, and loves them just as he loves Jesus.

Commentary:

The Lord is God, whether we acknowledge him or not. God has designed this Creation for his specific purpose, to raise up people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek and come to fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God the Creator, which was broken by sin, and the only way to receive eternal life (John 14:6).

God has chosen an eternal inheritance for us. He has designed a Savior, Jesus Christ, into Creation, so that we can be forgiven for our sin (disobedience of God's Word). We have all sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Our inheritance is to share in the glory of Jesus Christ in God's eternal kingdom in heaven. The alternative is to spend eternity in eternal destruction in hell with all evil (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).

God will accomplish his purpose,  but he gives us the freedom to choose whether to cooperate with his purpose or not. We are all eternal beings in physical bodies. We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life. If we choose to reject God's eternal inheritance for us and live only for now in this physical world, we will be locked out of God's eternal city, and from God's providence, for all eternity. Every good thing we have in this Creation is by the providence of God. Imagine eternity without the blessings of God's providence.

Jesus said that we must be “born-again” in this lifetime, in order to see the kingdom of God all around us now, and to see and enter it ultimately in eternity (John 3:3-5-8). Only Jesus gives the “baptism” (gift; infilling; anointing) 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 baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit directs the disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem (the Church is the modern equivalent) until they had been born-again (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), before going into the world with the Gospel to make [born-again] disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). We cannot accomplish the mission of Christ in our own human strength and understanding (Zechariah 4:6).

Paul is the prototype and example of a “modern, post-resurrection, born-again, disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel)," as all of us can and should be. Paul was guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit on his missionary journeys.

I personally have experienced times when the Holy Spirit has forbidden me to pursue certain venues of evangelism. The Lord closes a door, but opens another, as he did for Paul. In Paul's case, Paul then preached the Gospel for the first time on European soil in Macedonia.

God is the Alpha and Omega of all things; the beginning and end of this Creation. Jesus applies this title to himself (Revelation 22:13; compare Revelation 1:12-18). Jesus is God in human form (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus has been in the beginning with God and was active in Creation with God (John 1:1-3). Jesus is the means of the fulfillment of God's purpose for Creation: to give eternal life (John 1:4-5). Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and illustration of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:14).

The Creation account in Genesis 3:1-24 is the revelation of God's purpose for Creation. God created this world perfectly good; paradise (Genesis 1:31). But God allowed the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we would have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word. God told the first man and woman not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed his Word. As a result, sin entered Creation and produced spiritual, eternal death for all humans, because all humans have sinned (Romans 5:12).

The first man and woman were banished from Paradise and lost access to the fruit of the tree of eternal life (Genesis 2:9; 3:1-7, 22-24). Access to Paradise and the fruit of the tree of eternal life are restored to those who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, sacrificed on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. They are spiritually born-anew by the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and will obtain entrance to the eternal City of God in heaven.

Mankind was eternal and living in paradise, until sin (disobedience of God's Word) entered Creation. God warned mankind that if he disobeyed God's Word not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil he would die (Genesis 2:16), not immediate physical death, but would lose eternal life. The serpent deceived Adam and Eve by saying that they would not die (Genesis 3:4-5).

Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament scriptures (Luke 24:44). He is the root of Jesse (the Father of David) foretold by Isaiah and taught by Paul (Romans 15:12); he is the Son (descendant) of David (Matthew 1:1, 6; 21:9), and is the fulfillment of God's promise to David of an eternal heir to the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:5-13; Psalm 89:20-29). He is the bright morning star prophesied by Balaam in Numbers 24:17 (compare Matthew 2:2; Revelation 22:16). The prophecy was originally fulfilled by David who was victorious over Moab and Edom, but is fulfilled ultimately by Jesus, whose kingdom is eternal.

Living water is the symbol of Messianic hope, the water of salvation (Isaiah 12:3), the fulfillment of the Messianic promise (Isaiah 44:3; 55:1). That living water is priceless to those who are being saved. We could never afford it, but Jesus has paid the cost for us on the cross. 

Jesus is the only one who provides the “living water, ” the water of eternal life (John 4:10). That living water is the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), which flows into us to give us spiritual eternal life and to sustain us now until God's kingdom fully comes; and it is to flow from born-again disciples out into the world to give life to the spiritually lost and dying.

Through the “baptism” (infilling) of the Holy Spirit within us, Jesus Christ and God the Father are within us (John 14:23) and we are in them (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 Jesus (Romans 8:9). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with Jesus and God our Father. Born-again disciples are unified with each other through the Holy Spirit. The fact of disunity in the nominal Church today is evidence of the failure of the nominal Church to make born-again disciples.

Born-again disciples have been given the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that the world may know the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus' original disciples had fled when Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26:31-34; Mark 14:50-52), had denied knowing Jesus (John 18:17, 25, 27) and had hidden behind locked doors (John 20:19). But when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) they were transformed by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within them (Acts 2:14-36). Every truly born-again disciple of Jesus Christ is a testimony to the changing and saving power of Jesus Christ by the baptism of his 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)?

Monday 7 Easter - C
First posted May 17, 2010;
Podcast: Monday 7 Easter - C

Psalm 104:25-34 – God's Great Works;

Paraphrase:

Consider the ocean, great and wide, filled with uncountable living creatures, from huge to tiny. Leviathan (the whale) plays in the ocean while ships pass by.

All creatures in the ocean (and on the earth; Psalm 104:24c RSV) depend on the Lord for their daily food. When the Lord provides, they gather it; when the Lord opens his hand they are satisfied with good things. When the Lord hides his face from them they are dismayed. When the Lord takes their breath from them they die and return to dust. “When thou sendest forth thy Spirit (“breath;” the breath of life; Acts 17:25; Genesis 2:7), they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground” (Psalm 104:30).

May the Lord's glory endure forever; may he rejoice in his works. When he looks upon the earth, it trembles; when he touches the mountains, they smoke! As long as I live I will sing praises to the Lord and to my God while I have existence. May my meditations be pleasing to the Lord because I rejoice in him!

Commentary:

The Lord has made this world very good (Genesis 1:31). The Lord provides every good and necessary thing for all his creatures. The evil in the world is caused by human sin. Hunger and want are caused by unjust distribution of God's providence.

When we refuse to acknowledge his providence and follow his way, caring for our fellow humans, he hides his face from us; he withholds his providence, in the hope that we will come to know and appreciate our dependence upon him, so that we can be saved from sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home).

We can't control our length of life. No one knows whether he will live to see tomorrow. Today is the only day we can be certain of, and it could end at any moment. Now is the time to settle where we will spend eternity (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

We are all born into this Creation physically alive, but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek, find, and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. 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 eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Jesus is the only one who “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 event (Acts 19:2); if you're not sure, you haven't been!

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 7 Easter - C
First posted May 18, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday 7 Easter - C

Genesis 11:1-9 – The Tower of Babel;

Paraphrase:

All people of the earth had the same language and a small vocabulary. People migrated from the east to Shinar (Babylonia) to the plain of the Tigris-Euphrates rivers. They decided to build a stepped pyramidal temple tower of brick and bitumen whose summit was to be the gateway to heaven. Their desire was to make a reputation for themselves so that they would not be obscured among all other undistinguished people, and be scattered throughout the earth.

The Lord observed their city and tower and he declared that this was just the beginning of what they would do, and that nothing would be impossible for them, because they were one people with one common language. So the Lord decided to confuse their language, so that they would not understand one another; and he scattered them throughout the earth, so that their building was disrupted.

Therefore the name of the city was called Babel (“gate of God;”  interpreted in Hebrew as “to confuse”).

Commentary:

“Religion” is mankind's attempt to access heaven by their own ability. The people of Babylonia wanted the blessings of heaven. They decided to try to take them for themselves. They feared being scattered throughout the earth. Their action did not accomplish what they wanted, and brought about their scattering and obscuring that they feared, through the confusion of their language.

Jacob, the father of the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, had a dream of a ladder reaching into heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending. God has designed a “ladder” (John 1:51) a way of God's blessings to descend from heaven to us and a way for us to ascend into heaven. Jesus is that only way (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

God confused the language of mankind at the Tower of Babel so that they would not be able to cooperate with one another to accomplish their own will apart from God's purpose. God reverses that confusion of language for those who accept Jesus as Lord and trust and obey his teachings. This reversal began on the first Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This form of “speaking in tongues” was for the purpose of communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people of other languages.

There is another form of “speaking in tongues” which is called glossolalia. It is unintelligible  ecstatic utterance. It is intended to be a sign to unbelievers, not believers (1 Corinthians 14:1-33, cf. v. 22). I agree with Paul's position that prophecy is superior to glossolalia, and that glossolalia should be restrained in worship unless there is someone who can interpret.

Jacob had his dream of the ladder at Bethel (meaning “House of God;” Luz was the Canaanite name; Genesis 28:10-12, 17-19). Babel meant “gate of God” in the Mesopotamian language, but was interpreted in Hebrew as, “to confuse.” The Mesopotamians were certainly confused to suppose that their stepped pyramid could reach to heaven, and that they could obtain the blessings of heaven by their own efforts.

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 7 Easter - C
First posted May 19, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday 7 Easter - C

Acts 2:1-21 – Pentecost;

Paraphrase:

On the day of Pentecost (originally The Feast of Firstfruits at the completion of the grain harvest; the fiftieth day after Passover), Jesus' followers were all gathered in one place, and suddenly there was a sound from heaven of the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were. Tongues as of fire appeared and were distributed upon each one of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them.

Jews from every nation were dwelling in Jerusalem at the time. At the sound of the wind and subsequent commotion, they all gathered around and were amazed to hear the disciples speaking in the listeners' native languages. They recognized that Jesus' followers were Galileans, but they were speaking the languages of Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Phyrgians, Pamhylians, Egyptians, Libyans, natives of Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabians. All these heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages. All were amazed and puzzled, asking one another what this meant. But others mocked the disciples, saying that they were drunk with new wine.

But Peter, who was standing with the rest of the eleven remaining original disciples of Jesus raised his voice and addressed the crowd, saying that the disciples were not drunk, since it was only 9:00 a.m., but this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28-32), that God would pour out his Holy Spirit upon all people and they would see visions, dream dreams and prophesy. And the Lord will show wonders in the heavens, and disturbances of nature preceding the coming of the Day of the Lord. And whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Commentary:

Jesus had told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then they were to preach the Gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), beginning from Jerusalem and spreading outward through Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8; in both geographical and temporal senses). This was the beginning of the fulfillment of that promise.

Jesus is the only one who “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The manifestation of fire with the outpouring is the fulfillment of John the Baptizer's prophecy (Matthew 3:11). Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Fire purifies and refines.

Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, and the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual “re-birth” (John 3:3, 5-8)  of Christian believers individually. The Church and individual members cannot do the mission of Christ in the world without the guidance and empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

Peter had been instantly transformed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, from fear of the Jews (John 20:19), and a disciple who denied knowing Jesus to the menial servant of the high priest (John18:17), into a powerful preacher of the Gospel (Acts 2:14-41). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing daily event. It is impossible to be “born-again” and not be certain of it (Acts 19:2), and it is not automatically conferred by water baptism or some other church ritual (see False Teachings, sidebar, right, home).

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church was made possible by Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus' blood purifies all who trust and obey Jesus, so that they can become individually and collectively temples of the Holy Spirit. In Old Testament times only a few individuals were filled with the Holy Spirit. But Jesus' sacrifice makes it possible for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon all believers.

Joel prophesied disturbances of nature in the heavens and on earth would appear before Jesus Second Coming and the Day of Judgment. Jesus confirmed this prophecy to his disciples (Matthew 24:29-31). On the Day of Judgment, Jesus will gather all who have ever lived on earth (John 5:28-29) and will judge the living (“quickened”) and dead (1 Peter 4:5) in both the physical and spiritual senses. Those who have have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been re-born by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. Those who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will enter eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46).

Jesus' name isn't a magic incantation. Calling out Jesus' name on the Day of Judgment won't save anyone (Matthew 7:21-27). Now is the time to call upon Jesus' name; today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today is the only day of which we can be sure.

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 7 Easter - C
First posted May 20, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday 7 Easter - C


John 15:26-27; 16:4-11 – The Paraclete;

Paraphrase:

Jesus promised to send the “Counselor” (from Greek: para`klhtos; Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor) to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Counselor is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth which comes forth from God the Father. The Holy Spirit will bear witness to Jesus; and Jesus' disciples are also to testify about Jesus because they have known Jesus.

Jesus was telling his disciples ahead of time, so that when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place they would remember that Jesus had told them. When Jesus was with them daily it wasn't necessary to tell them these things, but now Jesus was about to return to God his Father who sent him. The disciples did not ask Jesus where he was going, but they were sad because of his imminent departure. But Jesus assured them that it was to their best advantage that Jesus go, because his departure would make it possible for them to receive the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus would send. The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin, which is unbelief in Jesus; of God's righteousness revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ; and of judgment, because Satan, the present world ruler was defeated at the cross.

Commentary:

Jesus' original Disciples spent day and night for about three years with Jesus during Jesus' physical ministry, and their testimony is recorded in the New Testament (Covenant) of the Bible. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was chosen by God to replace Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve, Jesus' betrayer.

Paul is intended by God to be the prototype and illustration of a “modern, post-resurrection, born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ,” as we all can be. Paul apparently didn't know Jesus during Jesus' physical ministry, but he knew and had personal fellowship with the risen and ascended Jesus, and was as much a disciple (student), apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) and witness to Jesus as the Eleven.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). During Jesus' physical ministry, he could only be one place at a time, although he was aware of what was happening elsewhere (John 1:48). 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). makes it possible for us to have his guidance and empowerment anywhere and anytime.

After Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1-22), Paul began living in obedience to the Holy Spirit. On his second missionary journey Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel in Bithinia (in modern-day Turkey), and then was given a dream of a Macedonian man pleading for Paul and his associates to come to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10).

The mission of the Holy Spirit is to bear witness to Jesus. Any spirit which denies that Jesus has come in the flesh is not of God; it is the spirit of error (1 John 4:2-3, 6). It is only possible for us to truly praise and worship the Lord by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15-17). 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 the mission of the Holy Spirit to convince the world that sin is unbelief in Jesus (compare John 3:18). The cross of Jesus Christ is the demonstration of God's righteousness (doing what is good, right and true). God gave his only begotten Son as the one and only sacrificial offering acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin for all who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Jesus was perfectly obedient and sinless (Hebrews 4:15), and God's righteousness would not allow Jesus to suffer unjust execution; God reversed Jesus' execution and raised him from physical death to eternal life.

Satan was defeated at the cross of Jesus Christ. Satan tried to thwart God's Plan of Salvation (see sidebar, right, home) by destroying Jesus, but Jesus' crucifixion accomplished it.

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 7 Easter - C
First posted May 21, 2010;
Podcast: Friday 7 Easter - C

Exodus 19:1-9 – The Covenant at Sinai;

Paraphrase:

On the third new moon after Israel left Egypt they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped at the base of Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb). Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord told Moses to tell the people of Israel that they had seen the great miracles God had done to bring them out of Egypt, and how he had brought them to Mt. Sinai “on eagles wings” (in relative ease and expedience). God offered to enter into a covenant with Israel, if Israel would trust and obey God's Word and keep their part of the covenant. Within the covenant, Israel would be God's special people, distinct from all Creation since all Creation belongs to God. Israel will be a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation of God. Moses was commanded by God to tell all these things to the people.

So Moses came down to the people and gathered them and the elders of the people, and told them all God's Word, which he had been commanded to proclaim. And all the people replied in union that they would do all that the Lord had said. Moses reported the people's response to the Lord. The Lord declared that he was going to come to Moses in a thick cloud, so that the people could hear the Lord speaking to Moses, so that they would believe in Moses forever.

Commentary:

Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai about three months after leaving Egypt (Exodus 19:1). Israel spent eleven months encamped at Mt. Sinai, preparing the  tabernacle and the provisions of the Covenant (Numbers 10:11). Then, at the border of Canaan (the Promised Land) Moses sent scouts to scout the land. After forty days, the scouts returned, and Israel could have entered and possessed the Promised Land if they had listened to the favorable reports of Joshua and Caleb and trusted in the Lord. Instead, they rebelled and spent the next forty years wandering as nomads in the wilderness, until all the people who had rebelled died in the wilderness (Numbers 13:1-14:38).

Israel had seen the great signs and wonders God had done to gain Israel's release from slavery and death in Egypt, the ten plagues upon the Egyptians, culminating in the Passover, when the Egyptian first-born were killed, and the Israelites were “passed over” by the destroyer. They had witnessed the parting of the Red Sea. They had seen the manifestation of God at Mt. Sinai and heard his voice (Exodus 19:9), and had entered into covenant with God to be his obedient trusting people, but they kept breaking their end of the covenant agreement (for example: Exodus 32:1).

The historical event of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt is also deliberately intended by God to be a parable, a metaphor, of life in this world. We are all in bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this world. Satan is “Pharaoh” and Jesus is our “Moses.” We escape our spiritual enemies through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus Christ. We are led through the spiritual wilderness of this lifetime by the Holy Spirit, the “pillar of cloud and fire” (Exodus 13:21-22). Jesus is our “Joshua” (“Jesus” is the  Greek equivalent of Hebrew “Joshua”), who leads us through the “River” of physical death into the eternal “Promised Land” of God's eternal kingdom in heaven.

Israel was called to be God's special people, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation of God, but Israel rejected their calling by rejecting their eternal King, Jesus Christ, their Messiah (both words mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). All of us are God's children, because he is our Creator, whether we acknowledge God or not. But God is not obligated to be all that an all-powerful, all-loving God implies, unless we are willing to be his obedient, trusting people.

The Church is the heir to the call of Israel to be the kingdom of priests and a holy nation of God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Note that Israel lost that calling by not trusting and obeying God's Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the living Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus is the “New Moses,” the  mediator of the New Covenant of grace through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the “New Passover Lamb” whose blood marks us to be passed over by the destroyer, and whose flesh provides the New Passover Feast that ratifies the New Covenant, which Jesus instituted on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28).

The Church is called to assemble before the Mountain of God, to receive God's Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, to witness the manifestation of God in the cloud and fire of the Holy Spirit, to hear the voice of God in Jesus Christ, and then to enter and possess the Promised Land now and eternally. The Promised Land of God's eternal kingdom is all around us now; we don't have to die physically to participate in it now.

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

Saturday 7 Easter - C
Vigil of Pentecost
First posted May 22, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday 7 Easter - C


Psalm 33:12-22 – Lord of History;
or Psalm 130 – Hope in the Lord;
Romans 8:14-17, 22-27 – Spirit of Adoption;

Psalm 33 Paraphrase:

The nation whose God is the Lord is blessed! Blessed are the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage!

The Lord sees all the people of earth from his throne in heaven. He who created their hearts sees their deeds. A great army will not save a king, nor will great strength save a warrior. The great strength of a war horse will not save nor gain victory.

Watch and see! The Lord's eye is upon those who fear (have appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority of) him, those who trust that he will deliver them from death and famine.

Our souls await the Lord, because he is our help and shield. He is the joy of our hearts because we trust in his holy name (his entire person and character). As we hope in the Lord, let his steadfast love be upon us.

Psalm 130 Paraphrase:

From the depths of trouble I cry to the Lord! Hear my cry, O Lord! Let your ears hear my supplications! Who would survive judgment if you would count all our iniquities? But you grant forgiveness, so that you might be reverenced.

For the Lord, my soul waits, and in his Word I have hope. More than watchmen wait for the morning, my soul waits for the Lord.

Hope in the Lord, O Israel (God's people; the Church). There is steadfast love and plenteous redemption in the Lord. He will redeem Israel from all sin.

Romans Paraphrase:

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are [children] of God” (Romans 8:14). The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of slavery and fear, but of sonship. When we cry, “Abba” (Aramaic word meaning “Father”)! Father! the Holy Spirit testifies that we are the children of God. If we are his children, we are his heirs, joint heirs with Jesus, provided that we share in his suffering in order to share in his glory.

This Creation, including ourselves, has been in the pain of childbirth  until now, as we await our adoption as children, and the redemption of our bodies, for this is the hope in which we were saved. Hope is not seeing what is hoped for, but waiting for it patiently.

Likewise, the Spirit helps us pray, because we don't even know what we should be praying for, but the Spirit intercedes in our behalf, in emotions that are deeper than words. God knows the hearts of men, and he knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes according to God's will.

Commentary:

Those who trust in the Lord are and will continue to be blessed! The Lord has chosen as his heritage all who are willing to trust and obey God.

There is hope only in the Lord. Only the Lord can deliver us from spiritual famine and eternal death. Hope in any human resource will disappoint and fail. Large armies, great physical strength, and powerful instruments of war will not save us and secure our victory.

Waiting on the Lord is so hard for us to do in this society. We're used to getting instant information, via cellphone and Internet.

The Lord provides every good and necessary thing. Only the Lord can satisfy our spiritual hunger and save us from spiritual eternal death.

The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek and find fellowship with God our Creator, and to be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the “baptism” of the 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). It is impossible to be born-again and not personally know it with certainty for oneself; it is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2).

Note that the indwelling Holy Spirit is given to those who are willing to be led by the Holy Spirit. Note that the indwelling Holy Spirit is the testimony within us which confirms that we are children of God and heirs with Christ in God's heritage. If we are to share in Christ's inheritance, we must be willing to share in his suffering.

Jesus is the “begotten” Son of God by the Holy Spirit, and the “adopted” son of man and son of David by Joseph, his earthly father. We are the begotten offspring of humans, and the adopted offspring of God, by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

We cannot know and do God's will apart from the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus warned his disciples not to go into the world with the Gospel (“good news”) of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word) and salvation (from eternal destruction and death) until they had received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

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)?