Week of Holy Trinity - 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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Podcast Download: Week of Holy Trinity - C
Sunday Holy Trinity - C
First
Posted May 30, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday Holy Trinity - C
Proverbs 8:22-31-- God's
Wisdom;
Psalm 8 – God's Glory; Mankind's Honor;
Romans 5:1-5 – Peace with God through Christ;
John 16:12-15 – Guidance by the Holy Spirit;
Proverbs 8:22-31 Paraphrase:
God's wisdom was established as the first act of creation,
before the depths of the sea and the springs of water,
before mountains and hills were formed, before the land
with its fields, before the dust of the earth. Wisdom
attended the establishment of the heavens, the skies and
the horizon, the fountains of the deep, the limits of the
seas and the foundations of the earth. Wisdom was like a
master workman. Wisdom was God's delight, and wisdom
rejoiced before the Lord always, delighting in mankind.
Psalm 8 Paraphrase:
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the
earth” (Psalm 8:1)! God's glory established above
the heavens is praised by the songs of babies and infants.
Because of his enemies the Lord has established a bulwark
to keep out enemies and avengers (those who bear a
grudge).
When one considers the vastness of the universe and the
magnitude of sun, moon, and stars, what is mankind, that
the Lord notices and cares for him.
But God has made mankind only slightly lower than God, and
has given him glory and honor. God has given mankind
dominion over all Creation, all the creatures God has
created.
The name of our Lord is majestic throughout the earth.
Romans 5:1-5 Paraphrase:
When we rely on faith (obedient trust) in Jesus for our
justification (Christ's righteousness attributed to us;
the opposite of condemnation), we have reconciliation and
peace with God. Through Jesus we have access to God's
grace (unmerited favor) and we rejoice in the hope of
sharing in God's glory. We can even rejoice in suffering,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, character and
hope. Our hope will not disappoint because we have been
given the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, through whom
we experience God's love.
John 16:12-15 Background:
After the Last Supper, Jesus was giving the disciples his
farewell discourse, to prepare them for his arrest,
crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
John 16:12-15 Paraphrase:
There were other things Jesus wanted his disciples to know
but they could not absorb and understand them yet. But
when they had received the promised “baptism” of the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, he would guide them into all
truth. The Holy Spirit would not teach them his opinions,
but would faithfully teach them what God had declared, and
would reveal what would occur in the future. The Holy
Spirit will glorify Jesus. All that God the Father has
belongs to Jesus and the Holy Spirit will declare to the
disciples all that belongs to Jesus.
Commentary:
Trinity Sunday celebrates the doctrine of the Holy
Trinity. The word “trinity” appears nowhere in the Bible,
but the concept is found throughout. God is one God in
three persons, or expressions: God the Father, God the Son
(Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. There are
denominations and cults in the nominal Church which deny
and teach against the Trinity.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, fully God and fully
human (Colossians 2:8-9; John 1:14; 20:28; 1 John 4:9).
Jesus was begotten of a human female virgin by the Holy
Spirit (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:30-35).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus
(Romans 8:9). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to us
in human form in the eyewitness testimony of the Bible.
The Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God the
Father and Jesus Christ to us personally and individually
(Matthew 11:27; John 14:21-23).
Jesus is the bulwark that God has established against his
enemies. Satan and the forces of evil were defeated at the
cross of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians
2:6-8). Baptism into Jesus Christ is prefigured, by God's
deliberate intention, in the history of Israel passing
through the Red Sea, unscathed, while their enemies were
destroyed (Exodus 14:21-31).
This Creation was founded according to God's divine,
eternal wisdom, which is unlike what the world falsely
calls wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8). Worldly wisdom
changes; divine wisdom is eternal and unchanging. Jesus is
the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's
Word lived in this world in human flesh. He was in the
beginning with God. All things were made through and for
him (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).
Jesus is the name of our Lord which is exalted throughout
the earth (Philippians 2:9-11). There is no other name by
which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). There is no other way
to know divine eternal truth, no other way to be forgiven
and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by
sin, and no other way to have eternal life (John 14:6).
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 event (Acts 19:2). Through the indwelling Holy
Spirit we personally experience the love and goodness of
God toward 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)?
Monday Holy Trinity - C
First
Posted May 31, 2010;
Podcast: Monday Holy Trinity - C
Psalm 117 – Praise the Lord!
“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his
steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for
ever. Praise the Lord!”
Commentary:
As our Creator, God is our father, and God is God, whether we
acknowledge him as God and Father or not. God has been progressively
revealing his loving kindness, steadfast love and faithfulness to us,
first in the goodness of Creation, then in the history of his dealing
with Israel in the Bible, then in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ,
and finally to us personally and individually 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).
God created this world very good (Genesis 1:31). The evil that exists in
this world is the result of mankind's sin (disobedience of God's Word).
God allows the possibility of sin so that we have the freedom to choose
whether to trust and obey God's Word or not, and the opportunity to
learn by trial and error that trusting and obeying God's will is our
very best interest (Romans 12:2).
By the indwelling Holy Spirit, his “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
disciples personally experience God's steadfast love and faithfulness.
By the indwelling Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of and
fellowship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (John
14:21-23). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus
(Romans 8:9).
The Holy Spirit guides us according to God's Word and Jesus' teachings
(John 14:26; John 16:13). As we begin to trust and obey the Holy Spirit,
he will show us that what he says is trustworthy and absolutely
reliable, and our faith will grow to spiritual maturity at the Day of
Christ's Return (see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, right, home).
There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived will
be accountable to Jesus for what they have done in this lifetime
(Matthew 25:31-46). In that day, every knee will bow in submission, and
every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, to God's great glory
(Philippians 2:9-11). But at that day, the eternal destinies of each of
us will be fixed and unchangeable.
This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually reborn to
eternal life by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Those who
acknowledge Jesus as Lord and trust and obey him now will have been
spiritually reborn in this lifetime, will have a personal relationship
with Jesus, and will enter eternal life in God's heavenly kingdom. But
those who have refused to acknowledge Jesus as Lord now and have refused
or failed to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal
destruction, eternal death, in Hell with all evil (John 5:28-29; 2
Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you
received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts
19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to
obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Tuesday Holy Trinity - C
First Posted June 1, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday Holy Trinity - C
1 Kings 8:(22-23, 27-30) 41-43 – Solomon's Prayer of Dedication;
Paraphrase:
The entire congregation of Israel was assembled before the altar in the
temple at its dedication, and Solomon stood before the altar and prayed.
Solomon acknowledged that there is no god like the Lord, the God of
Israel, on earth or in heaven, who is faithful in keeping his covenant
and showing steadfast love to his servants who serve him with all their
hearts.
Solomon acknowledged that God cannot be contained in the temple; God
fills the Universe. But Solomon prayed that the Lord God would have his
eyes and ears open to hear the prayers of Solomon and the people of
Israel when they pray toward the temple; and may God forgive his
servants (his people who trust and obey God) when God hears their
prayers.
Solomon also prayed that God would hear the prayers of foreigners, who
are not of the congregation of Israel, when they come from far-off
countries and pray toward the temple; that they may come because they
have heard of the Lord's great name (his character and reputation), his
mighty hand and outstretched arm (his faithfulness, power and
willingness to hear and answer prayers of faith; see Conditions for
Answered Prayer, sidebar, right, home). Solomon prayed that God would
hear and answer the foreigners' prayers of faith so that all the people
of earth might know the Lord's name and fear him (have appropriate awe
and respect for God's power and authority), as the people of Israel do,
and that they might know that the temple Solomon had built is dedicated
in the name of the Lord.
Commentary:
In Bible times, names were more than labels; they believed that the
character, reputation and self of the individual were concentrated in
his name. Life-changing circumstances called for a change of name, as
when the angel of the Lord changed Jacob's name to Israel (Genesis
32:27-28). Knowing a person's name gave another individual access to
that person. God wants the world to know his name so that we can call
upon him in faith. Solomon dedicated the temple in the name of the Lord
so that all people could have access to the Lord, the God of Israel when
they prayed in faith (obedient trust) in his name.
God's character is steadfast love, faithfulness, power, and willingness
to hear and answer us when we pray in faith in his name. God is the God
who is (Exodus 3:13-14), the one true God. There are many idols,
so-called “gods:” the false gods of paganism. Modern examples of idols
are money, power, career, family materialism, and hedonism. Any thing or
person we value as much as or more than the Lord is idolatry. Trusting
in any name other than the Lord God is ultimately futile. Only God can
hear and answer our prayers of faith.
The defining characteristic of God's Word is its fulfillment
(Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word is always fulfilled, and it is
eternal, so it is is fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its
fulfillment are met. God wants us to trust and obey his Word so that we
will experience his power and faithfulness personally.
Jesus is the Word of God fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human
flesh (John 14:15-17). 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 ultimate revelation of the name of the Lord. Jesus is God
revealed in human flesh (Matthew 11:27; John 14:7). The whole fullness
of God dwelt bodily in Jesus (Colossians 2:8-9) in human flesh. Jesus
was fully human and fully divine. Jesus is the Christ (Messiah; both
words mean “anointed”) God's designated eternal prophet, priest and
king. Jesus is God's designated eternal Savior; there is no other name
under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Jesus is the only way to know divine, eternal truth, the only way to be
forgiven our sin (disobedience of God's Word) and restored to fellowship
with God which was broken by sin; and the only way to have eternal life
in God's kingdom in heaven (John 14:6).
The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find and come
to know and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and
this is only possible through faith in Jesus 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). Through the
indwelling Holy Spirit, believers are spiritually “born-again” (John
3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a
personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience (Acts 19:2). Through
the indwelling Holy Spirit we have daily access to God the Father and
our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21-23). The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians
1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we become individually and
collectively the temple of God dedicated in his name. We are filled,
guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the name of the Lord
throughout all this world (Matthew 28:19-20), so that all people might
come to know and have access the Lord.
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 Holy Trinity - C
First
Posted June 2, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday Holy Trinity - C
Galatians 1:1-10 – The Galatian Apostasy;
Background:
The Galatian Church (in the Roman province of Galatia, in Asia Minor
-present-day Turkey- which Paul had previously founded) was infiltrated
by false teachers, “Judaisers,” who insisted that Christians were bound
by the Law of Moses.
Paraphrase:
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) begins his letter by asserting his apostolic
authority. Paul was as much an Apostle as the Eleven original Apostles,
not by or through human authority and teaching, but by Jesus Christ and
God the Father (Acts 9:1-6, 15-16).
Writing to the congregations of Galatia, Paul offered them grace and
peace which are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, reminding
them that Jesus gave his life for the forgiveness of our sin
(disobedience of God's Word) to save us from the evils of the present
age, by God's will (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home),
who is worthy of eternal glory.
Paul said, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who
called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel- not
that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and
want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached
to you let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again,
If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you
received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
Paul asserted that he was not trying to please men, or he would not be
serving Christ. Paul was not seeking the favor of men, but the approval
of God.
Commentary:
Paul had been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest, legalistic,
faction of Judaism. He had been on his way to persecute Christianity
which he considered a heresy regarding Judaism, when he was converted on
the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22).
Paul is deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and example of a
“modern, post-resurrection, born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple
(student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we
can also be. He was as much an Apostle as the original Eleven, because
of the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives
(John 1:313-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John
14:15-17).
God has designed this world to allow us the freedom to choose whether to
trust and obey God's Word, and the opportunity to learn by trial and
error that God's will is our very best interest (Romans 12:2b). So God
has designed this Creation very good (Genesis 1:31), but with the
possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word). The evil in this world
is the result of human sin.
We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1
John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus
is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from
eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar,
right, home). Jesus has been designed into Creation from the very
beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
There are heresies (false teachings) in the nominal Church today which
were present in the first-century Church and are refuted in the New
Testament. One example is the “Judaisers;” “Legalism;” the teaching of
salvation earned by doing “good deeds” (see False Teachings, sidebar,
right, home). There are extra-biblical (doctrines based on books other
than or in addition to the Bible) cults within the nominal Church today
which teach that their members must observe the Jewish Sabbath
(Saturday) and keep Jewish dietary laws (vegetarianism), for example.
There is another extra-biblical cult which claims to be the Church of
Jesus Christ, and sends missionaries door-to-door, teaching “another
gospel,” which they claim to have received from an “angel,” which is
refuted in the text for today.
Another extra-biblical cult which sends missionaries door-to-door denies
that Jesus is God. This false teaching is refuted in Colossians 2:8-9,
John 20: 28, Matthew 11:27 and elsewhere in the New Testament.
The only way to protect oneself from false teachers and false teachings
is to read the entire Bible for oneself. Any average reader can easily
read the entire Bible in one year, and there are several one-year
reading plans available (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, right,
home). I recommend plans which include readings from both Old Testament
and New Testament daily. The Old Testament must be understood from the
perspective of the New Testament, and the New Testament helps one get
through the “begats” (genealogy) and the legalistic details of the Old
Testament Law.
Paul is the example of the modern Apostle who presents the entire Gospel
of Jesus Christ, not just the parts that make us feel good. The problem
in the nominal Church today is that leaders try to make the Gospel
“seeker friendly.” Preaching on sin and eternal death in Hell isn't
popular. Instead of requiring discipleship, nominal Churches settle for
making members by providing services to satisfy the worldly needs of
worldly people: support groups for divorce, substance abuse, singles,
etc. I'm not saying that the Church can't offer support for these
worldly needs, but they need to be Biblically based and involve
discipleship.
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 Holy Trinity - C
First
Posted June 3, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday Holy Trinity - C
Luke 7:1-10 – The Centurion's Slave;
A Centurion had a slave, who was dear to him, ill and at the point of
death. When the Centurion heard that Jesus was in Capernaum, he sent
Jewish elders to Jesus asking him to heal the Centurion's slave. The
elders told Jesus that the Centurion was worthy because he thought
highly of the nation of Israel, and had built their synagogue.
Jesus went with the elders and as they approached, the Centurion sent
friends to them, telling Jesus not to trouble himself further. The
Centurion felt unworthy to have Jesus in his home, and as a man of
authority the Centurion was accustomed to giving commands and having
them carried out. He believed that Jesus could say the word and the
Centurion's slave would be healed. When Jesus heard this he was amazed
and said that he had not heard such faith in even in Israel. When the
messengers of the Centurion returned to him they found the slave healed.
Commentary:
God had been preparing his people, Israel, to expect and receive the
Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King), for
thousands of years. The Jews had the Old Testament scriptures, and yet
most failed to recognize and receive Jesus as the Messiah.
God didn't intend his salvation to be only for Israel; he wanted to
include all people. Christ's physical ministry was focused on Israel.
Jesus was making disciples who would be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8;
Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 2:1-18), and then would continue
Christ's mission to the end of the earth in both senses of distance and
time (Mathew 28:19-20).
Relatively few Jews responded to Jesus in faith, but there were enough
who did to carry out and fulfill God's plan. Jesus did respond to faith
wherever he found it, healing the syrophoenician woman's daughter
(Matthew 15:21-28), a Gentile military officer's* son (John 4:43-53) and
this Centurion's servant, for example.
The Jews saw the miracles Jesus did in response to faith in both Jews
and Gentiles, and yet refused or failed to respond in faith in Jesus.
God's Plan of Salvation (sidebar, top right, home) depends on faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. God deliberately designed it that way,
because he wants each one of us to be free to accept or reject Jesus'
salvation for ourselves. For those who need “proof” in order to
“believe” there is none; but for those who believe, there is abundant
proof.
This Centurion truly believed in Jesus, and he acted on that faith. He
believed in Jesus' power and authority to command healing for his
servant. The Centurion didn't need to see Jesus perform some religious
ritual over his servant or say some “incantation” in the servant's
presence. His faith was rewarded by “proof;” the servant, who had been
at the point of death, was healed and well.
The Jewish elders were willing to ask Jesus to heal a Gentile's servant,
on the basis that the Gentile was a friend of Israel and had built
their synagogue. The Centurion himself felt unworthy to receive Jesus
into the Centurion's home.
The Jewish elders were in need of spiritual healing, but they would not
ask Jesus to heal them; they wouldn't even acknowledge their need for
spiritual healing. But they were willing to ask Jesus to heal a
Gentile's servant, perhaps seeking “proof” that Jesus was the Messiah.
But even when they heard of the Centurion's servant's healing, they did
not believe in Jesus and turn to him to be healed.
We have all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1
John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus
is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and
salvation from eternal condemnation (Acts 4:12). Are we willing to
acknowledge our spiritual terminal illness and, in faith, ask Jesus to
heal 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)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, John 4:46n, p. 1290, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Friday Holy Trinity - C
First Posted June 4, 2010;
Podcast: Friday Holy Trinity - C
1 John 4:16-21 – Commandment of Love;
Paraphrase:
We know and believe the love of God for us. God is love, and if we live according to love we live in God and God lives in us. When God's love is matured in us we need not fear the day of judgment, because he is present in this world as are we. Love rules out fear. Fear concerns punishment, and those who fear have not become mature in love. We are able to love because he first loved us. We cannot claim to love God while hating our brethren; that would be a lie. If we cannot love our brethren whom we see, we cannot love God whom we do not see. His commandment is that if we love God, we should love our brethren also.
Commentary:
Love cannot be commanded. When children are born, they care only about themselves. Good parents sacrifice their self-interest to provide care and nurture for their children, and their children perceive their parents' love. The children become able to love because they perceive that they have been loved.
God's love for us is demonstrated in the cross of Jesus Christ. God gave his only begotten Son to die on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word), once for all time, and for all people who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
Through 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), we individually and personally experience God's love for us every day.
We have all sinned and fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God doesn't want any of us to perish eternally but to live eternally in paradise restored in his eternal heavenly kingdom. God loved us while we were still sinners, disobeying his Word (Romans 5:8). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (see God's Plan of Salvation; sidebar, right, home), who has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
God wants us to trust and obey his Word, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the living Word (John 1:14), out of love for what he has done for us in Jesus Christ, rather than from fear of punishment. But God is God, whether we acknowledge him or not. His will will be done, whether we cooperate with it or not. If we do not trust and obey his Word out of love, we will be accountable to his judgment on the Day of Christ's Return.
There is a Day of Judgment coming when Christ will return to judge the living ("quickened") and the dead in both physical and spiritual senses. Jesus is the righteous judge and the standard of judgment by which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord, will have trusted and obeyed Jesus and will have been “born-again” by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They will have had a personal daily fellowship with Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and Jesus will know and acknowledge them as his disciples. They will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in heaven. Those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Saturday Holy Trinity - C
First Posted June 5, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday Holy Trinity - C
Luke 16:19-31 – The Rich Man and Lazarus;
Background:
Jesus taught in “parables,” fictional stories of common earthly experiences to teach spiritual truths.
Luke Paraphrase:
A rich man (commonly called “Dives,” which is Latin for “Rich Man”) had a poor beggar, Lazarus (not the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany), at the gate of his home. Lazarus had open sores on his body, and desired to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Worse yet, dogs came and licked Lazarus' sores.
Lazarus died and was carried by angels into the presence of Abraham (the patriarch of Israel). The rich man also died and was carried into Hades (Hell; the doom and misery of the spiritually lost). Being in eternal torment, the rich man looked and saw Lazarus far off in the presence and comfort of Abraham. So the rich man called out, asking Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool the rich man's tongue, because the rich man was in torment in the fires of Hell.
But Abraham reminded the rich man that in the rich man's lifetime on earth he had enjoyed all the pleasures of life, while Lazarus had suffered. Now Lazarus was comforted while the rich man was in torment. In addition, there was a chasm set between Hell and Heaven, which prevented any from crossing between.
Then the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them so that they would not wind up in Hell with the rich man, but Abraham replied that the brothers had the Bible scriptures, and should heed them. But the rich man said that his brothers wouldn't pay attention to the scriptures, but would repent if someone from the dead would go to them. But Abraham said that if they didn't heed the scriptures they wouldn't heed one who arose from the dead.
Commentary:
The worldly philosophy is that we only go around once in life, and that we should “grab all the gusto” that we can.
The Word of God declares that the meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek, find, know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This is only possible through Jesus Christ (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), who has been designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).
The rich man knew the reality of Hell, and wanted to warn his brothers who were still alive in this temporal world. He realized that his brothers would not take warning from the Bible scriptures, but might from one who was raised from physical death. But Abraham realized that if they didn't believe the Bible they wouldn't believe one who had arisen from physical death either.
We have the testimony of the Bible scriptures and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from physical death to spiritual eternal life. Will we believe and repent and be saved from eternal destruction in hell?
Jesus has arisen from physical death to eternal life. Jesus' resurrection was witnessed by over five hundred eyewitnesses recorded in the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:1-9). Everyone has access to the Bible. Everyone who has accepted Jesus as Lord and has trusted and obeyed Jesus, including me, personally testifies that Jesus is alive; he has arisen from physical death to eternal life. Have you repented and turned from eternal death to eternal life?
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)?
