Romans 7:13-25, "Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
Chapter seven of Romans is often considered to be the most depressing and defeating passage in the New Testament. It seems to many people to reflect the view of a spiritual schizophrenic. And our experience seems to support that idea. Nothing could be further from the truth. When a person is born again he/she becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Jesus hasn't just been added to the life of the believer. Jesus has become the life of the believer. We still have the old flesh patterns, or habits of the old life, but we have been born again to a new way of living. The problem is most of us have never understood that and we struggle on using the equipment of the old life: walking in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit. Consequently, most believers read Romans chapter seven, verse fifteen, and say something like this, "Yeah, that's what my life's like. I just can't help myself." They do this without reading verse twenty-five and applying it to their lives.
In verse twenty-five you can almost hear Paul shout, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”. In 1 Corinthians 15:57 he says almost the same thing, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the second passage he’s talking about victory over physical death. In the first, that is part of our text, he’s talking about victory over spiritual death and destruction in the life of the believer. There are several truths that need to be incorporated into our lives.
The first thing we see is that believers are new creatures in Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." The problem we usually have is that we do not think of ourselves as a new creation. Folks, we are new creatures in Christ! We don't think of ourselves that way because we've been trained to "feel" a certain way about ourselves. All of our old habits, flesh patterns, ingrained over all the years of our lives are still with us. And they're deeply ingrained. Why are our flesh patterns so deeply ingrained?
We were born "dead on arrival". Ephesians 2:1, tells us, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins,". You see, we were born dead in trespasses and sins! All of us were born sons and daughters of Adam and Eve and as such we inherited a dead-to-God spirit from our father Adam. Romans chapter five clearly points this out. Our nature was in opposition to God. We began immediately upon entry into Earth's atmosphere to try to meet our basic needs in our own strength because we had no other. As time went by we developed patterns of behavior designed to meet our needs apart from God. These are not evil needs. They are basic needs to all human beings and the greatest need is love. God designed us to need love because he is love. That's his very nature and we were born physically with that need in our life so that we would desire him. But indwelling sin tried to keep us from our goal of meeting our need for love in God. But for every believer God had a plan to end their dead-to-God existence and give them a new life in Christ.
We are born again — made alive! Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, who came to Jesus one night hungry for what Jesus had been teaching. In John 3:3 Jesus told him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Earlier in his gospel John had written, "to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12,13) Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—" Ephesians 2:5. You see, we didn't need better habits, or a nicer personality, or any other kind of improvement on our old life. We needed our old life to be put to death so we could be born of God not of the flesh or the will of man.
However, the flesh is still present. When a person is born again he or she is a baby in Christ. The Holy Spirit has come to live in you but you are not fully equipped for the new life. When you're born of the flesh you were equally unequipped. Most of us had all the right parts but we didn't know what to do with them. We had a "thinker", or mind, we had a "chooser", or will, and we had a "feeler", or emotions. Our thinker had to be taught. Our chooser had to be trained. But our feeler had no problem expressing itself. As a matter of survival we cried a lot! When we were hungry we cried. When we were wet or dirty we cried. When we were lonely we cried. When we were hurt, physically or emotionally, we cried. Thank God for mothers!
Having spent all of our lives up until salvation "walking in the flesh", rather than in the spirit, we continue with our old habits. I know, the Holy Spirit has come to live in the new believer. However, our "chooser", our "thinker", and our "feeler" had not yet been fixed. The way we used live in the flesh still seems to be the way to go but somehow it doesn't feel right. In fact, when we follow the flesh we can say with Paul, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death." We struggle with how to live the Christian life. With Paul, we want to do right but find that we are not doing right. With training, we can get the outside looking pretty good but we know on the inside we are just not hacking it. It's as though we have a split personality. What could be the problem?
The problem is Sin dwells in us.
You see Adam sold us to Sin. Genesis 2:16-17, "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Our father Adam didn't just want to be like God, or to be a friend of God, or even a child of God, Adam wanted to be God and rule his own little kingdom himself. Eve was deceived by Satan, Adam volunteered! From that time forward, the human race was sold under sin and in bondage to the prince of the power of the air, Satan himself. The moment he sinned, by rebelling against God, his spirit, that had been attached to God, became attached to Satan. Then, as Don Francisco put it in his song, "all their unborn children die as both of them bow down to Satan's hand."
The power of Sin indwells us. Romans 7:20-23, "Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." Let me hasten to say to you that we do not have two warring natures. Remember, when a person comes to Christ, he or she becomes a new creature. That person's soul becomes a sealed unit attached to God and filled with the Holy Spirit. There is no room for the sin-spirit in your spirit or soul. However, Satan's tool remains in the members of our body. That tool is called, "Sin", or, "the law of sin". In last week's message we saw that Sin seized the opportunity of twisting the law, "You shall not covet." And produced all kinds of lust. Paul said that Sin, through that commandment, deceived him and killed him spiritually. The law that is holy, righteous, and good was used to stimulate sins in the life of Paul by the power of Sin that dwelt in his members.
When we are born again our old habits, or flesh, continue to live in our body. As Bill Gillham tells us in his book, Lifetime Guarantee, "These are the memory traces, the habit patterns, the software in your computer. If you are deceived into focusing on these thoughts, your brain will run the same program repeatedly." The flesh is left with us, by God, so long as we are on this Earth with a good purpose in mind. Remember, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) When those old memory traces, or habit patterns kick in it doesn't "feel" like it's working together for good! Well, rain on your feelings! Remember, your "feeler" is pretty well stuck in your old way of living. The flesh will always be with us but thanks be to God it doesn't have to rule over us. We have to live in the realm of our "chooser" and our "thinker" and let them retrain our "feeler". We have a promise in Scripture that sin will have no dominion over us since we are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14) When your "feeler" tells you that you'll never be set free, tell it to get off the bus and go on without it. Which can you trust most, the word of God or the way you feel? I hope you don't have to spend too much time thinking about that.
If Paul had ended this passage with verse twenty-three we would be left thinking that there is no hope of our never being delivered. But we can join him in saying: "But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:25
We have weapons of power. Paul told the Corinthians about those weapons of power in his second letter. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ," In this passage Paul uses the word "flesh" three times (ESV). The first time refers to the human body but the second two times referred to those flesh patterns, or habits, built into our lives over the years. The war we are fighting will never be won in our strength or by our training. Even if our flesh is good it is never to be used in our warfare. The apostle Paul had the best flesh possible. He wrote to the Philippians these words, "I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—" Philippians 3:4-9 Paul had excellent human credentials. He was above reproach by human standards. When he met Christ his value system was turned upside down. Now, whatever gain he had he counted as loss for the sake of Christ. He counted everything loss for the sake of knowing Christ. His own righteousness just wouldn't cut it. Remember he had said in our text, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh." Verse 18. Note that he did not say, "nothing good dwells in me", without adding, "that is, in my flesh". One thing for sure, something "GOOD" did dwell in him. That something good is the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! We have the mind of Christ. But we also have habits of the past — flesh patterns programmed by Satan.
There are, at least, three sources of thoughts. 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that we have the mind of Christ. Our mind generates thoughts that are holy and good. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and puts holy and good thoughts in our mind. The power of Sin, Satan's tool, also suggests thoughts to us. Now he doesn't do this in a strange scary voice or smelling of sulfur. When the enemy presents thoughts to our mind he uses our voice. Your mind receives thoughts from the Power of Sin and thinks those thoughts are your own! He doesn't say, "You should do thus and so." He says, using your own voice and your own words," I should do thus and so." Our job is to take every thought captive to obey Christ. When we are presented with a thought from the enemy we must learn to recognize the source. Sinful thoughts do not come from us. Be have been born again and have a new mind, a new thought pattern, a new way of living, because we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. John, writing to his beloved children in the Spirit, tells us, "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:6) Notice he doesn't say, "No one born of God sins." But he does say, "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning." You see in the beginning of the book, John says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) John includes himself when he says "we" rather than "you". He was the last living apostle when he wrote these words. He was very close to Jesus and was included in the three who were usually with Jesus at very special times. He was there on the Mount of Transfiguration. He was there when Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead. Still when John spoke of the possibility of sin and life of a believer he said if we say we have sin we deceive ourselves. So in chapter 3 he could not have been talking about sinless perfection but instead he speaks of sin habits and flesh patterns that we must take captive to obey Christ. It's not easy. In fact, especially in the beginning, it's hard. Anytime you have a thought to which you can not add, "In Jesus' name." it didn't come from your mind and it didn't come from the Holy Spirit. It came from the evil one and needs to be taken captive to Christ and rejected by you immediately. Never act on a thought that doesn't honor God.
If you have been with me very long you know that I believe the greatest promise in Scripture, apart from the promise of salvation, is that Sin will not win. Romans 6:14 tells us "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
We need to be aware that we are not spiritual Siamese twins. God does not come into a person's life and attach his Holy Spirit to Satan's sin-spirit in us and then leave us to fight a battle all of our life. That certainly is not what Jesus promised when he, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 God would not set us up for failure by leaving the Adamic nature intact in our life and attach His Spirit to it. Jesus laid down a spiritual principal when he said, "no city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25b Since we become a new creature in Christ Jesus and we have spiritual weapons that are powerful to the pulling down of strongholds we must choose to walk by the Spirit not by the Flesh.
All Scriptures are from: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001,. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The Deceitfulness of Sin 120506
Romans 7:7-13 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Romans 5:12 tells us at the same time that Adam first rebelled against God's rule over him something called "Sin" entered the world. This is not just talking about acts of sin we commit. Many times when the word "sin" is used, especially in Romans 6-8, it is talking about a powerful force that entered mankind. Looking over Romans 7 we quickly see that “Sin” often refers to an evil power against which the Christian battles. Adam's trespass led to condemnation for all men. The law came alongside of "Sin" to increase the trespass and Sin reigned. (Romans 5:18-21) In our chosen text the Apostle tells us twice that sin, "seizing an opportunity through the commandment" worked in him all kinds of covetousness, deceived him and killed him. Paul uses himself as an example of how sin deceives but it applies to us all.
Is the law evil? Paul could imagine this question in the minds of his readers and he had a ready answer.
No way! Galatians 3:21 tells us, “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.” The law was never intended to produce justification or sanctification. If it were possible for the law to produce salvation then Jesus died for nothing. When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;” there was no answer. If anyone’s prayer should be answered with a positive “yes” it would be Jesus’. But he went on to say, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” If there could’ve been any other way of salvation apart from the sacrifice of Jesus, the Father would have sent in the angels and removed his Son from this world. Jesus did what the law could not! He paid the price for our sins! Put your trust in him!
The law exposes the nature of sin. In the sermon on the Mount Jesus illustrated this truth, Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” and verses 27 & 28 say, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Here Jesus teaches the truth that the “sins” committed on the outside for everyone to see is activated by “Sin” on the inside that no one can see. To desire to sin is sin. Obviously there are differences in consequences but the desire is sin. Ultimately the law is spiritual. “The law is concerned with the man’s heart and his ultimate attitude to God.” ( D, Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Romans)
The law is designed to bring us to Christ. Paul tells us in Galatians 3:23-26, “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” The word translated here as “guardian” in the original language refers to a tutor or a guide for young boys. We might use the word “mentor” instead. Normally this person would be very strict and would compel the boys to do their lessons. When I was in college one of my teachers was Dr. Don Stewart. Dr. Stewart told us about a painting he saw, it may have been on a vase, that showed two students sitting facing a teacher with a man sitting behind them holding a stick in his hand. This man illustrated the meaning of the word used here. The law compels us toward the only salvation available! And that is in Christ Jesus. I pray that you have received him as your Lord and entered into that salvation.
Sin is a powerful force. And:
Adam delivered us up to it. Dr. Bill Gilham In his book, Lifetime Guarantee, tells us: “When Adam sinned against God's authority, not only did his innocent spirit die to God so that he had no life toward God, but his spirit instantly became one with Satan. Adam's dead spirit was instantly unified with Satan's spirit, the Power of Sin. This Power of Sin entered into Adam and took control over him spirit, soul, and body. He became Satan's spirit-offspring, born of the same rebellion as he, a dead-to-God spirit being in human form totally submissive to Satan.” We can see this in the statement of Jesus to the Jews in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Paul also says in Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
Please understand, the moment we entered Earth’s atmosphere in our Earth suit we were spiritually ”DOA”. We were occupied territory, captive to our enemy and unable to deliver ourselves — but we were NOT without hope.
God pointed that out to Cain in Genesis 4:7 God says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Note, here God speaks of sin as “its” or “it” but this word should be translated “his” and “him” as in the King James Version. What God said was, “sin is crouching at the door. His desire is for you, but you must rule over him”. You see; here “sin” is a masculine pronoun. In many places in Scripture sin is referred to as a noun or pronoun. When “sin” is a verb it refers to specific acts that are wrong. When “sin” is a noun or pronoun it refers to a powerful force planted in human nature when Adam rebelled against God and died spiritually. When Adam died spiritually we died spiritually in him.
Sin is a slave master. We should be clear, a person as either a slave to sin, or a slave to grace. There is no middle ground, or third option! In Romans 6:16, Paul wrote, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Notice that Paul puts over against “sin”, not faith, but “obedience”. John also emphasizes obedience in his gospel, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (3:36) By saying, “present yourselves” and “obedient slaves” Paul is pointing out that we’re either a slave to sin or, a slave of obedience. The first leads to death the second leads to righteousness. Having been born again the believer puts on new life, joins a new family, breaks with the old master and becomes obedient to the new one. However, Sin has helped us to develop flesh patterns that puts him in charge. If you haven’t been in the adult Sunday school class then you may not know what flesh patterns are. The definition we use for flesh is: “Those patterns of behavior used for satisfying my needs independently of God and His grace. Patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that I have walked in through the years in my private world and on which I have relied to get my God-given needs met—apart from Christ.” These patterns form the habits of our life and have been trained to respond to our master "Sin". Even though we have been set free we still have the ingrained habits of the old life. When Satan/Sin speaks to us he doesn't appear smelling of sulfur and waving a pitchfork. In fact, he speaks with your voice and he uses first person singular pronouns. "I am a sinner". "I'm no good". "I'm a failure". "I should (fill in the blank)". Or even, “I must (fill in the blank)” or, “I can’t help myself”. And if we are not careful we will follow our old master and go down in defeat.
It’s not the law but the deceitfulness of sin.
In answer to the question, “Is the law sin?” Paul tells us that it is holy, righteous and good. The Law is holy it is the absolute opposite of sin and evil. Throughout the Bible we are told that “God is holy”. So the commandment, the whole of the law, can be summed up in this way, “You shall be holy, for I am holy”. 1 Peter 1:13 Paul goes on to say that the law is righteous. The law has been given, it is plain and clear, it has told us what will happen if we don’t obey it. For example, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were clearly told what the result of their disobedience would be and they had no grounds to complain. The same is true of us today. Then Paul said, “the commandment is good”. The law is good for man, it shows us what sin is. The law shows us what we are to be and how we ought to live. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul…”
Sin used the law to produce death. Romans 7:5, “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” This would cause us to think that the law itself bore fruit unto death. Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul asked the question in verse thirteen, “Did that which is good, then, bring death to me?” His answer is emphatic! “By no means!” You see it was not the law — it was Sin that used the law to stir up covetousness, to be more specific, in modern language lust! Satan doesn’t want to use theology to defeat us. What he does is appeal to the senses. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were confronted with the question of whether God existed or whether God was good. Instead they were confronted with the law and made to think that the forbidden fruit would make them wise. They were deceived into believing that eating the fruit would make them like God! Then after they toyed with that idea they examined the fruit and found that it was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes. So they followed their flesh and the human race fell into bondage to Sin. Why would God allow this? Why would God allow his holy, righteous and good law to be used by the enemy to draw us into bondage?
God had a purpose. Romans 3:20 tells us, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The law gives us an understanding of sin. It was never meant to justify a sinner. The law was never intended to be a way of salvation. The problem the Jews were facing in Paul’s day was that they had attempted to build a relationship with God based on the works of the law. When we get to chapter 9 we will go into more detail on that subject. All the law does is make us aware that we are a failure. On the outside we may appear to be okay but on the inside we know we have failed. God’s whole purpose in the law is to bring men to see they needed a Savior.
Is the law evil? No, of course not! The law exposes the nature of sin. And sin is not just doing wrong Sin is a powerful force ingrained in our flesh that draws us away from God. The force of Sin uses the law to inflame our covetousness or lust. And God allows that to show us how exceedingly wrong sin is. Jesus took that Sin to the cross and nailed it there. He took our very nature so that we could die to Sin and live to God. Having been born into the family of Adam and Eve we were born spiritually dead. Accepting Christ as Savior and Lord brings us into a new birth that sets us free from bondage and gives us a new family. We have new spiritual DNA. We have a new genealogy as children of God. We have been given the power to break free from our former slave master. If God is speaking to you to come to salvation in Christ I hope you’ll respond today. If you’ve been letting your former slave master order you around I hope you’ll recognize the freedom you have been given in Christ Jesus. Turn to him today, he died to set you free!
All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Romans 5:12 tells us at the same time that Adam first rebelled against God's rule over him something called "Sin" entered the world. This is not just talking about acts of sin we commit. Many times when the word "sin" is used, especially in Romans 6-8, it is talking about a powerful force that entered mankind. Looking over Romans 7 we quickly see that “Sin” often refers to an evil power against which the Christian battles. Adam's trespass led to condemnation for all men. The law came alongside of "Sin" to increase the trespass and Sin reigned. (Romans 5:18-21) In our chosen text the Apostle tells us twice that sin, "seizing an opportunity through the commandment" worked in him all kinds of covetousness, deceived him and killed him. Paul uses himself as an example of how sin deceives but it applies to us all.
Is the law evil? Paul could imagine this question in the minds of his readers and he had a ready answer.
No way! Galatians 3:21 tells us, “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.” The law was never intended to produce justification or sanctification. If it were possible for the law to produce salvation then Jesus died for nothing. When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;” there was no answer. If anyone’s prayer should be answered with a positive “yes” it would be Jesus’. But he went on to say, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” If there could’ve been any other way of salvation apart from the sacrifice of Jesus, the Father would have sent in the angels and removed his Son from this world. Jesus did what the law could not! He paid the price for our sins! Put your trust in him!
The law exposes the nature of sin. In the sermon on the Mount Jesus illustrated this truth, Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” and verses 27 & 28 say, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Here Jesus teaches the truth that the “sins” committed on the outside for everyone to see is activated by “Sin” on the inside that no one can see. To desire to sin is sin. Obviously there are differences in consequences but the desire is sin. Ultimately the law is spiritual. “The law is concerned with the man’s heart and his ultimate attitude to God.” ( D, Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Romans)
The law is designed to bring us to Christ. Paul tells us in Galatians 3:23-26, “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” The word translated here as “guardian” in the original language refers to a tutor or a guide for young boys. We might use the word “mentor” instead. Normally this person would be very strict and would compel the boys to do their lessons. When I was in college one of my teachers was Dr. Don Stewart. Dr. Stewart told us about a painting he saw, it may have been on a vase, that showed two students sitting facing a teacher with a man sitting behind them holding a stick in his hand. This man illustrated the meaning of the word used here. The law compels us toward the only salvation available! And that is in Christ Jesus. I pray that you have received him as your Lord and entered into that salvation.
Sin is a powerful force. And:
Adam delivered us up to it. Dr. Bill Gilham In his book, Lifetime Guarantee, tells us: “When Adam sinned against God's authority, not only did his innocent spirit die to God so that he had no life toward God, but his spirit instantly became one with Satan. Adam's dead spirit was instantly unified with Satan's spirit, the Power of Sin. This Power of Sin entered into Adam and took control over him spirit, soul, and body. He became Satan's spirit-offspring, born of the same rebellion as he, a dead-to-God spirit being in human form totally submissive to Satan.” We can see this in the statement of Jesus to the Jews in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Paul also says in Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
Please understand, the moment we entered Earth’s atmosphere in our Earth suit we were spiritually ”DOA”. We were occupied territory, captive to our enemy and unable to deliver ourselves — but we were NOT without hope.
God pointed that out to Cain in Genesis 4:7 God says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Note, here God speaks of sin as “its” or “it” but this word should be translated “his” and “him” as in the King James Version. What God said was, “sin is crouching at the door. His desire is for you, but you must rule over him”. You see; here “sin” is a masculine pronoun. In many places in Scripture sin is referred to as a noun or pronoun. When “sin” is a verb it refers to specific acts that are wrong. When “sin” is a noun or pronoun it refers to a powerful force planted in human nature when Adam rebelled against God and died spiritually. When Adam died spiritually we died spiritually in him.
Sin is a slave master. We should be clear, a person as either a slave to sin, or a slave to grace. There is no middle ground, or third option! In Romans 6:16, Paul wrote, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Notice that Paul puts over against “sin”, not faith, but “obedience”. John also emphasizes obedience in his gospel, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (3:36) By saying, “present yourselves” and “obedient slaves” Paul is pointing out that we’re either a slave to sin or, a slave of obedience. The first leads to death the second leads to righteousness. Having been born again the believer puts on new life, joins a new family, breaks with the old master and becomes obedient to the new one. However, Sin has helped us to develop flesh patterns that puts him in charge. If you haven’t been in the adult Sunday school class then you may not know what flesh patterns are. The definition we use for flesh is: “Those patterns of behavior used for satisfying my needs independently of God and His grace. Patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that I have walked in through the years in my private world and on which I have relied to get my God-given needs met—apart from Christ.” These patterns form the habits of our life and have been trained to respond to our master "Sin". Even though we have been set free we still have the ingrained habits of the old life. When Satan/Sin speaks to us he doesn't appear smelling of sulfur and waving a pitchfork. In fact, he speaks with your voice and he uses first person singular pronouns. "I am a sinner". "I'm no good". "I'm a failure". "I should (fill in the blank)". Or even, “I must (fill in the blank)” or, “I can’t help myself”. And if we are not careful we will follow our old master and go down in defeat.
It’s not the law but the deceitfulness of sin.
In answer to the question, “Is the law sin?” Paul tells us that it is holy, righteous and good. The Law is holy it is the absolute opposite of sin and evil. Throughout the Bible we are told that “God is holy”. So the commandment, the whole of the law, can be summed up in this way, “You shall be holy, for I am holy”. 1 Peter 1:13 Paul goes on to say that the law is righteous. The law has been given, it is plain and clear, it has told us what will happen if we don’t obey it. For example, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were clearly told what the result of their disobedience would be and they had no grounds to complain. The same is true of us today. Then Paul said, “the commandment is good”. The law is good for man, it shows us what sin is. The law shows us what we are to be and how we ought to live. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul…”
Sin used the law to produce death. Romans 7:5, “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” This would cause us to think that the law itself bore fruit unto death. Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul asked the question in verse thirteen, “Did that which is good, then, bring death to me?” His answer is emphatic! “By no means!” You see it was not the law — it was Sin that used the law to stir up covetousness, to be more specific, in modern language lust! Satan doesn’t want to use theology to defeat us. What he does is appeal to the senses. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were confronted with the question of whether God existed or whether God was good. Instead they were confronted with the law and made to think that the forbidden fruit would make them wise. They were deceived into believing that eating the fruit would make them like God! Then after they toyed with that idea they examined the fruit and found that it was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes. So they followed their flesh and the human race fell into bondage to Sin. Why would God allow this? Why would God allow his holy, righteous and good law to be used by the enemy to draw us into bondage?
God had a purpose. Romans 3:20 tells us, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The law gives us an understanding of sin. It was never meant to justify a sinner. The law was never intended to be a way of salvation. The problem the Jews were facing in Paul’s day was that they had attempted to build a relationship with God based on the works of the law. When we get to chapter 9 we will go into more detail on that subject. All the law does is make us aware that we are a failure. On the outside we may appear to be okay but on the inside we know we have failed. God’s whole purpose in the law is to bring men to see they needed a Savior.
Is the law evil? No, of course not! The law exposes the nature of sin. And sin is not just doing wrong Sin is a powerful force ingrained in our flesh that draws us away from God. The force of Sin uses the law to inflame our covetousness or lust. And God allows that to show us how exceedingly wrong sin is. Jesus took that Sin to the cross and nailed it there. He took our very nature so that we could die to Sin and live to God. Having been born into the family of Adam and Eve we were born spiritually dead. Accepting Christ as Savior and Lord brings us into a new birth that sets us free from bondage and gives us a new family. We have new spiritual DNA. We have a new genealogy as children of God. We have been given the power to break free from our former slave master. If God is speaking to you to come to salvation in Christ I hope you’ll respond today. If you’ve been letting your former slave master order you around I hope you’ll recognize the freedom you have been given in Christ Jesus. Turn to him today, he died to set you free!
All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Friday, April 20, 2012
"Doubting” Thomas
120422
John 20:24-29 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
If impostors and deceivers had compiled the Bible for their own private advantage, they would never have told mankind that one of the disciples of Jesus had behaved as Thomas here did. Just look what Thomas missed by not being with the other believers first time Jesus appeared. Throughout history Thomas has been known as the doubting disciple. We don't know a lot about him. We certainly don't know as much about Thomas we do about Peter, James and John. He was one of the Twelve who were chosen, out of all the disciples, to be close to Jesus. So Thomas was important and it may help our Christian walk to see what John has to say about him. Matthew, Mark and Luke simply list him among the names of the Twelve. These three earlier Gospels leave this story out possibly because Thomas was still alive. John, writing much later, tells us more.
Thomas spoke up when he needed to.
One of those times was when Jesus was headed into danger. John 11:14-16 tells us, “Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”” Jesus and his disciples had been staying away from the vicinity of Jerusalem. The religious leaders had been trying for some time to arrest him. Jesus knew that the arrest would come but he also knew it wasn’t time yet. Thomas was with him, along with the others, when word came that Jesus' dear friend Lazarus was very sick. Jesus’ first reaction was to wait two more days and then say, “Let us go to him.” That was when Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas was disappointed in his desire to die with Jesus. He would yet be given the opportunity to die for Jesus a long time after. The tradition of the early church is that Thomas left the Holy Land and founded the first church in Babylon. Then he went on to India. There are Christians living today who believe they are descended from people who were converted by Thomas before he was killed for his faith.
Jesus’ followers often expected to die for him. Many years later Paul would go to Jerusalem expecting to die there — but he was disappointed! He was beaten by the crowd who intended to kill him but he was rescued by the Romans! After Paul was examined and locked up in prison Jesus came and stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11) After Paul had borne witness in Rome — knowing that he would soon pay the price of discipleship — he wrote to Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
In 1724 Isaac Watts would write a song as part of a sermon entitled, “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” It goes like this:
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thomas also spoke up when he didn't understand Jesus. John 14:1-7 tells us, ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
I am sure that the disciples often failed to understand what the master had to say. This was a prime example. At least three times Jesus had told them that he would be crucified and would rise again on the third day. He was going away but they didn’t understand it! Instead of sitting there confused, like the rest of the disciples, Thomas spoke up, “Lord, we do not know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” This seemed like a good question to him and Jesus patiently explained, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Thomas needed to know that and so do we. Our Lord Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.
He was not there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.
He simply did not expect the risen Lord. No matter how many times Jesus had said he would be crucified and come back to life the disciples didn’t get it! So after the crucifixion of Jesus, apparently, Thomas stayed away. Maybe he had trouble settling with his grief. If he didn’t believe Jesus would rise from the dead he might’ve thought the rest of them were a little crazy pretending Jesus had been raised from the dead
In fact, he openly rejected the idea. John 20:25b Thomas said to the other disciples, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” This is utterly amazing!
Think of what Thomas had seen. He saw five thousand men, not counting women and children, fed with a boy's lunch! He saw Jesus, and Peter, walk on the water! He had seen lepers healed! He had seen the eyes of the blind opened! He had seen Lazarus raised from the dead! He had heard Jesus’ teaching and had even been willing to die with him! But after seeing him die he wouldn’t believe that he would come back from the dead. All of us slip into times of doubt and we can be encouraged by Thomas. If the Lord Jesus would patiently bring Thomas around to faith he will surely do the same thing for us when we doubt.
But he was open to discuss it. On the next Lord’s day, when the disciples gathered together in the upper room Thomas was with them! His doubt did not turn him away from the fellowship of believers. He knew there was something special about these people and he needed to be there with them. I don’t believe he went expecting to see the risen Lord. It could very well be that Jesus appeared the second time just for Thomas’ sake. The thought of that is encouraging to me! I’m often slow to catch on to what God is up to and I need him to reach out and draw me along. The story of Thomas’ doubt should encourage us all to come to the throne of grace and trust that the one we are unsure of is sure of us. Even when we are faithless he is faithful! J. C. Ryle, in his commentary on The Gospel John, wrote, “Our Lord has many weak children in His family, many dull pupils in His school, many raw soldiers in His army, many lame sheep in His flock. Yet He bears with them all, and casts none away.”
Thomas confessed Jesus to be his Lord and his God!
For a second time Jesus came to a room where the door was locked yet he entered because he cannot be locked out. No matter how often we turn away he will come to us by his will not ours. He will not leave us alone — praise God for that! Jesus had the promise of the Father, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6: 39-40) Paul would later write to the Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39) Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! We may turn away, we may drag our feet, we may doubt and even consider ourselves without faith but he will remain faithful — Praise God!
Thomas proclaimed Jesus "Lord". In Romans chapter 10 verses 9 & 10 we are told if we confess Jesus as Lord with the mouth and believe with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead we will be saved. The term “Lord” is used a number of times in the Gospels for God himself. It was not a casual term like it might be today. When Thomas recognized that all that Jesus had said was true his relationship to Jesus was forever changed. Jesus had been his Rabbi, or teacher, but now Jesus was his Lord! Now, Thomas belonged to Jesus! The doubting one was convinced because of the patient love of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Then Thomas proclaimed Jesus as "God". This is a much more serious confession! At that time one might call a social superior “Lord” though it was a serious term to use. Now, Thomas adds, “My God”. If there was ever any doubts as to the divinity of Jesus this should settle it. When Cornelius fell down at the feet of Peter and would have worshiped him, the Apostle refused such honor at once--"Stand up; I too am a man." (Acts 10:26.) When the people of Lystra would have done sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, "they tore their clothes, and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you." (Acts 14:14.) But in this case, there was not a word of rebuke. Instead Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus could hardly have made it clearer. He is God!
There is no doubt that the divinity of Jesus is a foundational truth for Christianity. If Jesus was not God then there is a limit to what he can do for us. He can’t be our mediator. He can’t bear our sins since he would have sins of his own. He can’t give us salvation since he would need salvation himself. Many years ago C. S. Lewis put forth the idea that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or he is Lord. There is no middle ground. It Jesus is not Lord then everything we know about him is false. If Jesus is not Lord he was a deceiver, he was deceived or he was insane. Where do you stand? Is he your Lord?
All Scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jn 1:1). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
John 20:24-29 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
If impostors and deceivers had compiled the Bible for their own private advantage, they would never have told mankind that one of the disciples of Jesus had behaved as Thomas here did. Just look what Thomas missed by not being with the other believers first time Jesus appeared. Throughout history Thomas has been known as the doubting disciple. We don't know a lot about him. We certainly don't know as much about Thomas we do about Peter, James and John. He was one of the Twelve who were chosen, out of all the disciples, to be close to Jesus. So Thomas was important and it may help our Christian walk to see what John has to say about him. Matthew, Mark and Luke simply list him among the names of the Twelve. These three earlier Gospels leave this story out possibly because Thomas was still alive. John, writing much later, tells us more.
Thomas spoke up when he needed to.
One of those times was when Jesus was headed into danger. John 11:14-16 tells us, “Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”” Jesus and his disciples had been staying away from the vicinity of Jerusalem. The religious leaders had been trying for some time to arrest him. Jesus knew that the arrest would come but he also knew it wasn’t time yet. Thomas was with him, along with the others, when word came that Jesus' dear friend Lazarus was very sick. Jesus’ first reaction was to wait two more days and then say, “Let us go to him.” That was when Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas was disappointed in his desire to die with Jesus. He would yet be given the opportunity to die for Jesus a long time after. The tradition of the early church is that Thomas left the Holy Land and founded the first church in Babylon. Then he went on to India. There are Christians living today who believe they are descended from people who were converted by Thomas before he was killed for his faith.
Jesus’ followers often expected to die for him. Many years later Paul would go to Jerusalem expecting to die there — but he was disappointed! He was beaten by the crowd who intended to kill him but he was rescued by the Romans! After Paul was examined and locked up in prison Jesus came and stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11) After Paul had borne witness in Rome — knowing that he would soon pay the price of discipleship — he wrote to Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
In 1724 Isaac Watts would write a song as part of a sermon entitled, “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” It goes like this:
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
Thomas also spoke up when he didn't understand Jesus. John 14:1-7 tells us, ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
I am sure that the disciples often failed to understand what the master had to say. This was a prime example. At least three times Jesus had told them that he would be crucified and would rise again on the third day. He was going away but they didn’t understand it! Instead of sitting there confused, like the rest of the disciples, Thomas spoke up, “Lord, we do not know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” This seemed like a good question to him and Jesus patiently explained, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Thomas needed to know that and so do we. Our Lord Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.
He was not there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.
He simply did not expect the risen Lord. No matter how many times Jesus had said he would be crucified and come back to life the disciples didn’t get it! So after the crucifixion of Jesus, apparently, Thomas stayed away. Maybe he had trouble settling with his grief. If he didn’t believe Jesus would rise from the dead he might’ve thought the rest of them were a little crazy pretending Jesus had been raised from the dead
In fact, he openly rejected the idea. John 20:25b Thomas said to the other disciples, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” This is utterly amazing!
Think of what Thomas had seen. He saw five thousand men, not counting women and children, fed with a boy's lunch! He saw Jesus, and Peter, walk on the water! He had seen lepers healed! He had seen the eyes of the blind opened! He had seen Lazarus raised from the dead! He had heard Jesus’ teaching and had even been willing to die with him! But after seeing him die he wouldn’t believe that he would come back from the dead. All of us slip into times of doubt and we can be encouraged by Thomas. If the Lord Jesus would patiently bring Thomas around to faith he will surely do the same thing for us when we doubt.
But he was open to discuss it. On the next Lord’s day, when the disciples gathered together in the upper room Thomas was with them! His doubt did not turn him away from the fellowship of believers. He knew there was something special about these people and he needed to be there with them. I don’t believe he went expecting to see the risen Lord. It could very well be that Jesus appeared the second time just for Thomas’ sake. The thought of that is encouraging to me! I’m often slow to catch on to what God is up to and I need him to reach out and draw me along. The story of Thomas’ doubt should encourage us all to come to the throne of grace and trust that the one we are unsure of is sure of us. Even when we are faithless he is faithful! J. C. Ryle, in his commentary on The Gospel John, wrote, “Our Lord has many weak children in His family, many dull pupils in His school, many raw soldiers in His army, many lame sheep in His flock. Yet He bears with them all, and casts none away.”
Thomas confessed Jesus to be his Lord and his God!
For a second time Jesus came to a room where the door was locked yet he entered because he cannot be locked out. No matter how often we turn away he will come to us by his will not ours. He will not leave us alone — praise God for that! Jesus had the promise of the Father, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6: 39-40) Paul would later write to the Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39) Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! We may turn away, we may drag our feet, we may doubt and even consider ourselves without faith but he will remain faithful — Praise God!
Thomas proclaimed Jesus "Lord". In Romans chapter 10 verses 9 & 10 we are told if we confess Jesus as Lord with the mouth and believe with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead we will be saved. The term “Lord” is used a number of times in the Gospels for God himself. It was not a casual term like it might be today. When Thomas recognized that all that Jesus had said was true his relationship to Jesus was forever changed. Jesus had been his Rabbi, or teacher, but now Jesus was his Lord! Now, Thomas belonged to Jesus! The doubting one was convinced because of the patient love of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Then Thomas proclaimed Jesus as "God". This is a much more serious confession! At that time one might call a social superior “Lord” though it was a serious term to use. Now, Thomas adds, “My God”. If there was ever any doubts as to the divinity of Jesus this should settle it. When Cornelius fell down at the feet of Peter and would have worshiped him, the Apostle refused such honor at once--"Stand up; I too am a man." (Acts 10:26.) When the people of Lystra would have done sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, "they tore their clothes, and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you." (Acts 14:14.) But in this case, there was not a word of rebuke. Instead Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus could hardly have made it clearer. He is God!
There is no doubt that the divinity of Jesus is a foundational truth for Christianity. If Jesus was not God then there is a limit to what he can do for us. He can’t be our mediator. He can’t bear our sins since he would have sins of his own. He can’t give us salvation since he would need salvation himself. Many years ago C. S. Lewis put forth the idea that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or he is Lord. There is no middle ground. It Jesus is not Lord then everything we know about him is false. If Jesus is not Lord he was a deceiver, he was deceived or he was insane. Where do you stand? Is he your Lord?
All Scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jn 1:1). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
As… Even So!
John 20:19-23 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Jesus came and stood among them! The door was locked and yet he entered! It little matters how this happened. The door may have miraculously opened as a prison cell would later open for Peter. Or, Jesus may have just appeared in the room. After all, he is now in his glorified body. What matters is the fact that he was there at all! After all, they had seen him die! It had been reported by others that Jesus had been raised from the dead but the disciples don't seem to have believed that. Now Jesus appears to them. Only John gives us this account. Luke records a similar instance but he wasn't an eyewitness. John was there and even though he wrote many years later this event was burned into his memory. "Peace be with you" Jesus told them. Then he repeated those words and added, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."
Jesus, the sent One!
Jesus was sent from heaven with a particular plan in mind. This was not a last resort it was a first choice. He had always known that man, in his own strength,would fail to live up to the glory of God. We need to remember that God operates on an entirely different level from us. The plan of the ages was simply that God himself would come into the world to bear the sins of mankind. The cross was never a surprise to God. A part of the process leading to the cross was the work that Jesus did on Earth.
Jesus was sent to do the Father's will. John 5:30 records the words of Jesus when he said, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me,” This is a remarkable statement! To hear the creator the universe say, “I can do nothing on my own.” is absolutely amazing! In order to set a pattern for our lives he lived a life that was entirely human yet without sin. The temptations of Satan in the wilderness were attempts to get Jesus to act like God. “Turn the stones to bread” the devil said. “If you’re the Son of God”, “All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.” Jesus was not truly tempted in the way we might have been. He came from the Father to do the Father’s will.
Jesus was sent to reveal the Father's will. John 6:38-40 tells us “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” I love it when the Bible points me to the answer of a question in my life. “This is the will of him who sent me”, Jesus said. Wow, the Father’s will in Jesus’ life was, wondrously, that nothing given to him would be lost! The will of the Father is that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life! This is not a Calvinist or an Armenian doctrine, these are the words of Jesus himself. “Everyone who looks and believes will be saved!” Why would one look, except the Father reveals the Son? How can one believe except the Father enables faith? Jesus came from the Father to reveal the Father’s will.
Jesus was sent so that we could know the Father. Jesus said in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Many years ago a friend of mine asked me, “what is eternal life?”. I began a rather complicated answer beginning with the Father, continuing on forever, etc. and he simply asked, “What does the Bible say?” I said, “Show me” and he opened to this passage of Scripture and read it to me! Eternal life is knowing the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he sent. It’s that simple and that complicated all at once! Once we know him and receive the Son — believing on him — we have eternal life! Jesus came so that we could know the Father.
Jesus becomes the sender.
Jesus, who was sent from the Father, became the sender. He did this by a process that was predetermined before the world began. Jesus did not come into the world to study man and plot a course for correcting the problem. He already knew what to do when he came. Central to all of Jesus’ life was the process of setting an example.
Setting an example. In John 13 Jesus shows us how to minister. He had come to the end of his human life. He loved his disciples even though one of them would betray him. They came into the room where no servant was present and reclined at table without washing their feet. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, took the basin and towel and began the process of washing the feet of his disciples. This would’ve been the job of the lowest servant in the household. The disciples must’ve been embarrassed that their Master would kneal at their feet and begin to bathe off the dust. He had set an example for us to follow. No one in the kingdom is above, or too good for, the lowest job.
In a recent Undercover Boss TV show, Harlan Kent, President and CEO of Yankee Candle, went undercover and soon found himself cleaning up and even scrubbing the toilets. He did not hesitate nor did he grumble. He was there to do whatever needed doing and that is a good example of a leader. I am sure he gained respect in his company because he was willing to do the down and dirty jobs.
Jesus trained his disciples. In Matthew 10:24-25 he gave specific instructions. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.…” Jesus had taught by example and then he gave specific instructions. I’m afraid that many who claim to be disciples of Jesus today would turn away rather than be as he was. When I see some Christian leaders’ lifestyles I cringe at the thought that this is what people think Christian ministry is really about. Throughout history there have been many godly men who have lived the example of Jesus. One that often comes to my mind is J. Hudson Taylor. Taylor was the founder the China Inland Mission in 1865 when he was in his 20s. He began the mission at a time when there were only about a hundred Western missionaries in China. He had no large financial backers but relied entirely upon God. He dressed in Chinese clothing and plaited his hair into a pigtail like the Chinese scholars did. He moved away from the coastal cities where the wealthy Westerners lived. He called for other to come and help and live like a servant to the Chinese. During his lifetime he saw hundreds of missionaries come to China in complete dependence upon God. He also saw thousands of Chinese come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus not only set an example for his disciples and trained his disciples the also empowered his disciples. As John told the story found in John 20:22 Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Luke tells us in Acts 1:8, “…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Remember, the work that must be done in the kingdom to win the world to Christ cannot be done in human strength. The work that needs to be done can only be done by the power of God. Any time we are called to a special ministry we are also empowered to do it. The gifts of the Spirit are given to enable the world to receive the witness we give. Spiritual gifts are not designed to glorify the person who receives the gift, or exercises it. Spiritual gifts are given to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!
Now we are sent as he was! When Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I’m sending you.” He wasn’t just talking about the twelve. He was speaking of all the believers throughout all of history. His closest disciples laid down their lives so that the gospel could go into all the world.
We too are to carry the gospel into all the world. Acts 1:8 actually lays out a process. “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jerusalem corresponds to our local community. By every means possible we are to take the gospel to our neighbors, friends and even our family. Judea and Samaria represent the region we live in and the area just beyond us. We cannot be content with just telling those in our village about Jesus. When his disciples came to him and told him that everyone was seeking for him. Jesus said, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” (Mark 1:38) Jesus had a missions mentality. Not content with attracting crowds he wanted to go on to the next villages. J. T. Davis, the former director missions for Central Association, used to say, “We came here as pioneers but now we have become settlers.” There are dozens of villages around us that need an ongoing witness in the form of a church or Bible study. But it’s not enough to reach our village and our region. We are under orders to go to all the world.
We are to go for the specific purpose of making disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:18-20 is called “The Great Commission”. Here we find the last words of Jesus as recorded by Matthew, “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Too often we are content with “making decisions” rather than making disciples. The central focus of this passage is the imperative, “make disciples”. The process is shown in the words: “go”, “baptizing” and “teaching”. Most of us “go” every day. We go to work, we go shopping, we go to visit a friend, etc. In today’s world we “go” even when we stay home. At least many of us do. We “go” by mail (writing a letter or card), by telephone or on the Internet. All of those are excellent ways of “going”. Jesus is very specific, as we go we should disciple others. And when they receive him as Lord and Master we are to baptize them and teach them what he taught us.
We are also to multiply witnesses. Paul wrote to Timothy and gave him specific instruction about discipleship in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 he wrote, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” There are generations of witnesses here. Paul, of course, is the first who witnessed to Timothy. The second is Timothy entrusting the message to faithful men. The third-generation is those men who also teach others. If everyone would share their faith with someone else each year the world we live in would be radically changed. We need to plant, water and let God bring the increase.
Jesus promised that those who believe in him will do the work that he did! You find that promise in the Gospel of John chapter 14, verse twelve. We cannot do that in our own strength but we will try! The flesh always tries to assert itself. We can only do the works that he did by doing them the same way he did. As we have seen, Jesus himself said, "I can do nothing on my own." He could do, on Earth, only what the Father did. Even Jesus, in his work on earth, had to have clear direction from the Father just as we have to have clear direction today. What ever God calls us to do He empowers us to do. He never calls us to anything that he doesn't equip us for! Have you been called by him? Then he is in the process of equipping you to do what he has called you to do. Put your trust in Christ and follow him!
Jesus came and stood among them! The door was locked and yet he entered! It little matters how this happened. The door may have miraculously opened as a prison cell would later open for Peter. Or, Jesus may have just appeared in the room. After all, he is now in his glorified body. What matters is the fact that he was there at all! After all, they had seen him die! It had been reported by others that Jesus had been raised from the dead but the disciples don't seem to have believed that. Now Jesus appears to them. Only John gives us this account. Luke records a similar instance but he wasn't an eyewitness. John was there and even though he wrote many years later this event was burned into his memory. "Peace be with you" Jesus told them. Then he repeated those words and added, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."
Jesus, the sent One!
Jesus was sent from heaven with a particular plan in mind. This was not a last resort it was a first choice. He had always known that man, in his own strength,would fail to live up to the glory of God. We need to remember that God operates on an entirely different level from us. The plan of the ages was simply that God himself would come into the world to bear the sins of mankind. The cross was never a surprise to God. A part of the process leading to the cross was the work that Jesus did on Earth.
Jesus was sent to do the Father's will. John 5:30 records the words of Jesus when he said, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me,” This is a remarkable statement! To hear the creator the universe say, “I can do nothing on my own.” is absolutely amazing! In order to set a pattern for our lives he lived a life that was entirely human yet without sin. The temptations of Satan in the wilderness were attempts to get Jesus to act like God. “Turn the stones to bread” the devil said. “If you’re the Son of God”, “All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.” Jesus was not truly tempted in the way we might have been. He came from the Father to do the Father’s will.
Jesus was sent to reveal the Father's will. John 6:38-40 tells us “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” I love it when the Bible points me to the answer of a question in my life. “This is the will of him who sent me”, Jesus said. Wow, the Father’s will in Jesus’ life was, wondrously, that nothing given to him would be lost! The will of the Father is that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life! This is not a Calvinist or an Armenian doctrine, these are the words of Jesus himself. “Everyone who looks and believes will be saved!” Why would one look, except the Father reveals the Son? How can one believe except the Father enables faith? Jesus came from the Father to reveal the Father’s will.
Jesus was sent so that we could know the Father. Jesus said in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Many years ago a friend of mine asked me, “what is eternal life?”. I began a rather complicated answer beginning with the Father, continuing on forever, etc. and he simply asked, “What does the Bible say?” I said, “Show me” and he opened to this passage of Scripture and read it to me! Eternal life is knowing the Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he sent. It’s that simple and that complicated all at once! Once we know him and receive the Son — believing on him — we have eternal life! Jesus came so that we could know the Father.
Jesus becomes the sender.
Jesus, who was sent from the Father, became the sender. He did this by a process that was predetermined before the world began. Jesus did not come into the world to study man and plot a course for correcting the problem. He already knew what to do when he came. Central to all of Jesus’ life was the process of setting an example.
Setting an example. In John 13 Jesus shows us how to minister. He had come to the end of his human life. He loved his disciples even though one of them would betray him. They came into the room where no servant was present and reclined at table without washing their feet. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, took the basin and towel and began the process of washing the feet of his disciples. This would’ve been the job of the lowest servant in the household. The disciples must’ve been embarrassed that their Master would kneal at their feet and begin to bathe off the dust. He had set an example for us to follow. No one in the kingdom is above, or too good for, the lowest job.
In a recent Undercover Boss TV show, Harlan Kent, President and CEO of Yankee Candle, went undercover and soon found himself cleaning up and even scrubbing the toilets. He did not hesitate nor did he grumble. He was there to do whatever needed doing and that is a good example of a leader. I am sure he gained respect in his company because he was willing to do the down and dirty jobs.
Jesus trained his disciples. In Matthew 10:24-25 he gave specific instructions. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.…” Jesus had taught by example and then he gave specific instructions. I’m afraid that many who claim to be disciples of Jesus today would turn away rather than be as he was. When I see some Christian leaders’ lifestyles I cringe at the thought that this is what people think Christian ministry is really about. Throughout history there have been many godly men who have lived the example of Jesus. One that often comes to my mind is J. Hudson Taylor. Taylor was the founder the China Inland Mission in 1865 when he was in his 20s. He began the mission at a time when there were only about a hundred Western missionaries in China. He had no large financial backers but relied entirely upon God. He dressed in Chinese clothing and plaited his hair into a pigtail like the Chinese scholars did. He moved away from the coastal cities where the wealthy Westerners lived. He called for other to come and help and live like a servant to the Chinese. During his lifetime he saw hundreds of missionaries come to China in complete dependence upon God. He also saw thousands of Chinese come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus not only set an example for his disciples and trained his disciples the also empowered his disciples. As John told the story found in John 20:22 Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Luke tells us in Acts 1:8, “…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Remember, the work that must be done in the kingdom to win the world to Christ cannot be done in human strength. The work that needs to be done can only be done by the power of God. Any time we are called to a special ministry we are also empowered to do it. The gifts of the Spirit are given to enable the world to receive the witness we give. Spiritual gifts are not designed to glorify the person who receives the gift, or exercises it. Spiritual gifts are given to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ!
Now we are sent as he was! When Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I’m sending you.” He wasn’t just talking about the twelve. He was speaking of all the believers throughout all of history. His closest disciples laid down their lives so that the gospel could go into all the world.
We too are to carry the gospel into all the world. Acts 1:8 actually lays out a process. “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jerusalem corresponds to our local community. By every means possible we are to take the gospel to our neighbors, friends and even our family. Judea and Samaria represent the region we live in and the area just beyond us. We cannot be content with just telling those in our village about Jesus. When his disciples came to him and told him that everyone was seeking for him. Jesus said, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” (Mark 1:38) Jesus had a missions mentality. Not content with attracting crowds he wanted to go on to the next villages. J. T. Davis, the former director missions for Central Association, used to say, “We came here as pioneers but now we have become settlers.” There are dozens of villages around us that need an ongoing witness in the form of a church or Bible study. But it’s not enough to reach our village and our region. We are under orders to go to all the world.
We are to go for the specific purpose of making disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:18-20 is called “The Great Commission”. Here we find the last words of Jesus as recorded by Matthew, “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Too often we are content with “making decisions” rather than making disciples. The central focus of this passage is the imperative, “make disciples”. The process is shown in the words: “go”, “baptizing” and “teaching”. Most of us “go” every day. We go to work, we go shopping, we go to visit a friend, etc. In today’s world we “go” even when we stay home. At least many of us do. We “go” by mail (writing a letter or card), by telephone or on the Internet. All of those are excellent ways of “going”. Jesus is very specific, as we go we should disciple others. And when they receive him as Lord and Master we are to baptize them and teach them what he taught us.
We are also to multiply witnesses. Paul wrote to Timothy and gave him specific instruction about discipleship in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 he wrote, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” There are generations of witnesses here. Paul, of course, is the first who witnessed to Timothy. The second is Timothy entrusting the message to faithful men. The third-generation is those men who also teach others. If everyone would share their faith with someone else each year the world we live in would be radically changed. We need to plant, water and let God bring the increase.
Jesus promised that those who believe in him will do the work that he did! You find that promise in the Gospel of John chapter 14, verse twelve. We cannot do that in our own strength but we will try! The flesh always tries to assert itself. We can only do the works that he did by doing them the same way he did. As we have seen, Jesus himself said, "I can do nothing on my own." He could do, on Earth, only what the Father did. Even Jesus, in his work on earth, had to have clear direction from the Father just as we have to have clear direction today. What ever God calls us to do He empowers us to do. He never calls us to anything that he doesn't equip us for! Have you been called by him? Then he is in the process of equipping you to do what he has called you to do. Put your trust in Christ and follow him!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Luke 24:1-12, "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened."
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a historical fact! Jesus was publicly buried and his tomb was guarded by soldiers who were not sympathetic. His disciples, including Peter, were cowards who hid themselves, or lied about their relationship, during his trial and crucifixion. Yet, forty days later they would boldly stand in front of the same crowd that called for Jesus' crucifixion and proclaim, "… this Jesus, … you crucified … God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it," (Acts 2:23-24) How could they have been so brave if they had not seen the risen Lord? There are people, even today, who claim that the resurrection was a fabrication of the apostles. If that were true the authorities would've produced the body and stopped the whole movement in its tracks. None of the arguments against the resurrection hold water in the light of the fact that his disciples believed so strongly that he was raised that they were willing to die rather than deny it. What can we learn from his resurrection?
This resurrection was different from others.
Lazarus, and others, had been raised from the dead but died again. While these earlier resurrections were very significant in proving that Jesus is the Christ they were temporary. The widow's son at Nain, I am sure, was given many years to take care of his mother. He was given a second chance I'm sure he made the best use of it. Lazarus was restored to his family and lived on for a time as a witness to the power of God over death but he died again. I am sure he had less fear of death. After all, he had been there! It was no longer a mystery to him!
Jesus was the first of a new kind of human.
Paul presents the idea in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Here, he uses the word "firstfruits" and then notes that death came by a man and by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. Many theologians use the term, "Federal Head" to describe Adam and Jesus. Adam's sin resulted in death for all mankind. Jesus' death, burial and resurrection resulted in the hope of life eternal. Jesus became the head of a new race of humans. A race of people who no longer live in the kingdom of darkness but have been transferred to the kingdom of light.
He will never die again.
Romans 6:9 tells us exactly that, We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Dominion is an interesting word. The Greek word that it translates speaks of influence and authority over. When Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem he was born into a body that was under the curse of sin. The body not the baby was under that curse. The person who lived in the body was God himself. He was the Lord of life and as such was never strictly under the dominion of sin, but his body was. When he was raised from the dead is body took on new characteristics. In his first appearance to his disciples he came into a closed room. He didn't need a door, but he always had before! They could touch him and feel him. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds and see that they are real. Later he walked with two of his disciples and they didn't recognize him. When he broke bread with them they suddenly recognized him and he vanished from their sight! Again, a little later, he met some of them by the sea and cooked breakfast for them. For thirty-three years he had walked on the earth in his earth-suit. Now, he was walking around in his heaven-suit. It was a body that was perfected, made forever free from weakness, sickness, and death. There is a heaven-suit waiting for all those who have faith in him. The Bible says that when he appears we shall be like him! Have you trusted him? Do you have a heaven-suit waiting for you?
Christ's resurrection is essential to Christianity.
The empty tomb sets Christianity apart from all the world religions. The great teachers of the Greeks all died and remain dead. The great teachers of the Far East all died and remain dead. None of them offer eternal life because they don't have it to offer. The life of Jesus, not just the time he was on the Earth as a man, but the life force of Jesus is, and always was, eternal! He was there at the creation. All that was created, including life itself, came from him. As John would say, "… in him was life, and the life was the light of men".
Through his resurrection we were born anew.
1 Peter 1:3, says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,… When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus to talk about his teachings Jesus surprised him by saying, "… unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no eternal life. We were born into the kingdom of death and darkness. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the right to be called children of God. Children who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) Without this new birth mankind has no hope. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And, the wages of sin is death, but the gift God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Through his resurrection we are justified.
Romans 4:25 speaks of the Lord Jesus, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. What is justification? Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology defines justification as follows: Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight. What a marvelous thing this is! Having put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven, legally, and we are credited with Christ's righteousness. He took our sins since he had none of his own and gave us God's righteousness since we have none of our own. We should be overwhelmed by this truth. The power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ gives us salvation and justification and guarantees our resurrection.
Jesus' resurrection ensures ours.
In 2 Corinthians 4:13-15, Paul tells us, Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. In fact, Paul goes farther in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4-6, when he says, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. God will raise us up with Jesus because he HAS raised us up with Jesus! He took our sins to the cross and nailed them there. He took our sins into the grave and left them there. He raised us up with Jesus and seated us with him in the heavenly places. Of course we are not physically there yet! But so far as God is concerned, according to Scripture, he raised us up and already considers us as seated with him.
Christ's resurrection applies to our life now!
This is not some pie in the sky by-and-by scheme. This has practical applications for our lives right now! Through the power of the resurrection he does several things for us.
He gives strength to our service.
After a long discussion of the power of the resurrection in first Corinthians chapter 15 Paul tells us in verse 58, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Remember, any time you see the word "therefore" in Scripture you should pause for a moment and ask yourself, "What Is therefore there for?" In order to answer that question look at the material just before it. For most of the chapter before verse 58 Paul is talking about the concept of the resurrection. Since the resurrection releases so much power in the human life we can be: steadfast, immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. Sometimes it seems to be and sometimes we are discouraged. A lady by the name of Lucie E. Campbell wrote a song in 1933, that goes like this, "If when you give the best of your service, Telling the world that the savior has come; Be not dismayed when men don't believe you, He understands; He'll say, "Well done". Oh when I come to the end of my journey, Weary of life and the battle is won; Carrying the staff and the cross of redemption, He'll understand and say, "Well done."
He inspires us to seek a heavenly reward.
Because Christ has been raised, and because we have been raised with him, we are to seek for a heavenly reward and set our mind on the things of heaven. Paul wrote to the Colossians words that encourage us to look to our reward. In Colossians 3:1-4 he says, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. We spend too much of our time on earth looking for temporary satisfaction. There's nothing secure about earthly rewards. Peter talks about our security in his first epistle chapter 1 when he says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5) Remember, Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
Do you have an inheritance waiting for you in heaven? If you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and confessed him as your Lord you do.
He encourages us not to sin.
Paul wrote to the Romans to tell them that by virtue of the resurrected Christ, and his resurrecting power in us, we are to "consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" He then goes on to say, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14. I believe the greatest promise in Scripture, for the believer, apart from promises related to salvation is contained in verse fourteen. Sin will have no dominion over you! Admittedly, it's in future tense but it is God's promise to us and is part of the process of growing in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. The resurrection power includes victory in life and over death.
In the early days of the church the only "special days" were the first day of the week, as a day of worship, and Passover Sunday later called "Easter" by the established church. It's the only calendar date that is essential to the Christian church. Apart from the resurrection, Christianity is just another man-made religion rooted in the flesh and not worthy of our consideration. As Paul said, "… If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14) In the resurrection we have hope that we could never have without it. Not just hope of heaven but hope of a better life in the here and now! Have you trusted him?
All Scripture quotes are from, The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a historical fact! Jesus was publicly buried and his tomb was guarded by soldiers who were not sympathetic. His disciples, including Peter, were cowards who hid themselves, or lied about their relationship, during his trial and crucifixion. Yet, forty days later they would boldly stand in front of the same crowd that called for Jesus' crucifixion and proclaim, "… this Jesus, … you crucified … God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it," (Acts 2:23-24) How could they have been so brave if they had not seen the risen Lord? There are people, even today, who claim that the resurrection was a fabrication of the apostles. If that were true the authorities would've produced the body and stopped the whole movement in its tracks. None of the arguments against the resurrection hold water in the light of the fact that his disciples believed so strongly that he was raised that they were willing to die rather than deny it. What can we learn from his resurrection?
This resurrection was different from others.
Lazarus, and others, had been raised from the dead but died again. While these earlier resurrections were very significant in proving that Jesus is the Christ they were temporary. The widow's son at Nain, I am sure, was given many years to take care of his mother. He was given a second chance I'm sure he made the best use of it. Lazarus was restored to his family and lived on for a time as a witness to the power of God over death but he died again. I am sure he had less fear of death. After all, he had been there! It was no longer a mystery to him!
Jesus was the first of a new kind of human.
Paul presents the idea in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Here, he uses the word "firstfruits" and then notes that death came by a man and by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. Many theologians use the term, "Federal Head" to describe Adam and Jesus. Adam's sin resulted in death for all mankind. Jesus' death, burial and resurrection resulted in the hope of life eternal. Jesus became the head of a new race of humans. A race of people who no longer live in the kingdom of darkness but have been transferred to the kingdom of light.
He will never die again.
Romans 6:9 tells us exactly that, We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Dominion is an interesting word. The Greek word that it translates speaks of influence and authority over. When Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem he was born into a body that was under the curse of sin. The body not the baby was under that curse. The person who lived in the body was God himself. He was the Lord of life and as such was never strictly under the dominion of sin, but his body was. When he was raised from the dead is body took on new characteristics. In his first appearance to his disciples he came into a closed room. He didn't need a door, but he always had before! They could touch him and feel him. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds and see that they are real. Later he walked with two of his disciples and they didn't recognize him. When he broke bread with them they suddenly recognized him and he vanished from their sight! Again, a little later, he met some of them by the sea and cooked breakfast for them. For thirty-three years he had walked on the earth in his earth-suit. Now, he was walking around in his heaven-suit. It was a body that was perfected, made forever free from weakness, sickness, and death. There is a heaven-suit waiting for all those who have faith in him. The Bible says that when he appears we shall be like him! Have you trusted him? Do you have a heaven-suit waiting for you?
Christ's resurrection is essential to Christianity.
The empty tomb sets Christianity apart from all the world religions. The great teachers of the Greeks all died and remain dead. The great teachers of the Far East all died and remain dead. None of them offer eternal life because they don't have it to offer. The life of Jesus, not just the time he was on the Earth as a man, but the life force of Jesus is, and always was, eternal! He was there at the creation. All that was created, including life itself, came from him. As John would say, "… in him was life, and the life was the light of men".
Through his resurrection we were born anew.
1 Peter 1:3, says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,… When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus to talk about his teachings Jesus surprised him by saying, "… unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no eternal life. We were born into the kingdom of death and darkness. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the right to be called children of God. Children who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) Without this new birth mankind has no hope. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And, the wages of sin is death, but the gift God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Through his resurrection we are justified.
Romans 4:25 speaks of the Lord Jesus, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. What is justification? Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology defines justification as follows: Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight. What a marvelous thing this is! Having put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven, legally, and we are credited with Christ's righteousness. He took our sins since he had none of his own and gave us God's righteousness since we have none of our own. We should be overwhelmed by this truth. The power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ gives us salvation and justification and guarantees our resurrection.
Jesus' resurrection ensures ours.
In 2 Corinthians 4:13-15, Paul tells us, Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. In fact, Paul goes farther in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 4-6, when he says, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. God will raise us up with Jesus because he HAS raised us up with Jesus! He took our sins to the cross and nailed them there. He took our sins into the grave and left them there. He raised us up with Jesus and seated us with him in the heavenly places. Of course we are not physically there yet! But so far as God is concerned, according to Scripture, he raised us up and already considers us as seated with him.
Christ's resurrection applies to our life now!
This is not some pie in the sky by-and-by scheme. This has practical applications for our lives right now! Through the power of the resurrection he does several things for us.
He gives strength to our service.
After a long discussion of the power of the resurrection in first Corinthians chapter 15 Paul tells us in verse 58, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Remember, any time you see the word "therefore" in Scripture you should pause for a moment and ask yourself, "What Is therefore there for?" In order to answer that question look at the material just before it. For most of the chapter before verse 58 Paul is talking about the concept of the resurrection. Since the resurrection releases so much power in the human life we can be: steadfast, immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. Sometimes it seems to be and sometimes we are discouraged. A lady by the name of Lucie E. Campbell wrote a song in 1933, that goes like this, "If when you give the best of your service, Telling the world that the savior has come; Be not dismayed when men don't believe you, He understands; He'll say, "Well done". Oh when I come to the end of my journey, Weary of life and the battle is won; Carrying the staff and the cross of redemption, He'll understand and say, "Well done."
He inspires us to seek a heavenly reward.
Because Christ has been raised, and because we have been raised with him, we are to seek for a heavenly reward and set our mind on the things of heaven. Paul wrote to the Colossians words that encourage us to look to our reward. In Colossians 3:1-4 he says, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. We spend too much of our time on earth looking for temporary satisfaction. There's nothing secure about earthly rewards. Peter talks about our security in his first epistle chapter 1 when he says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5) Remember, Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
Do you have an inheritance waiting for you in heaven? If you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and confessed him as your Lord you do.
He encourages us not to sin.
Paul wrote to the Romans to tell them that by virtue of the resurrected Christ, and his resurrecting power in us, we are to "consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" He then goes on to say, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14. I believe the greatest promise in Scripture, for the believer, apart from promises related to salvation is contained in verse fourteen. Sin will have no dominion over you! Admittedly, it's in future tense but it is God's promise to us and is part of the process of growing in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. The resurrection power includes victory in life and over death.
In the early days of the church the only "special days" were the first day of the week, as a day of worship, and Passover Sunday later called "Easter" by the established church. It's the only calendar date that is essential to the Christian church. Apart from the resurrection, Christianity is just another man-made religion rooted in the flesh and not worthy of our consideration. As Paul said, "… If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14) In the resurrection we have hope that we could never have without it. Not just hope of heaven but hope of a better life in the here and now! Have you trusted him?
All Scripture quotes are from, The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Easter Sunrise 2012
The Resurrection
28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” English Standard Version, 2001
We have a written record of at least three times when Jesus told the disciples that he would be delivered up, beaten and crucified. He also said that he would rise again on the third day! They never seemed to understand. After all they had seen him do, one would think they would have clung to his every word, but no, they never understood!
The two Marys must’ve heard some of those accounts when Jesus promised to return from the dead. But obviously on the Sunday morning as the sun was rising they expected to find his body where it had been placed on Friday afternoon. Matthew’s account is probably taken from their testimony. When they arrived they found an Angel sitting on the stone that should’ve blocked the entrance to the tomb. I’m not sure what an appearance like lightning looks like but I can imagine some possibilities. His clothing was white as snow.
The brave guards fainted at the very sight of the Angel. (or Angels) So when the women came on the scene, the tomb was open. That solved a problem that they had obviously been worried about — how to move the stone! And there, in the vicinity of the tomb, lay the guards whose job had been to keep the disciples from stealing the body! What an absurd idea! To think that the disciples who had run away and hidden themselves when he was crucified would then come back on the scene, overpower the guards, (who were trained soldiers) and steal his body so they could pretend he had been raised from the dead!
Well, the women were frightened. This was way more than they expected! The Angel immediately moved to help them relax. He said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” I suppose that little conversation caused them to calm down and relax. No, I’m sure they were still quite excited.
The Angel gave them instructions, “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
Immediately the women departed from the tomb. They were filled with mixed emotions, fear and great joy. They had walked to the tomb but as they left they ran!
And as if they’d not been through enough, Jesus met them on the way!
What would they have expected Jesus to say? Of course I can’t know but I have an idea that what he did say was not what they expected. The ESV says, “Greetings”, while the KJV says, “All Hail”. These are two translations of a Greek word that expresses joy, more than that, extreme joy! Remember, he had been rejected, abandoned, arrested, beaten, spat upon, dragged through the streets and crucified! He had been hung out as a common criminal and buried in a borrowed tomb. Now, having been raised from the dead to never die again he was filled with extreme joy and shared it with the first people he met!
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” In effect, he repeated the instructions the Angel had given because they probably were too excited to remember.
What an exciting morning the two ladies had had. Now they had to go tell the disciples what they had been instructed to say. You see, the disciples also had bad memories. They didn’t remember that he would rise again on the third day. And it took them over a week to go to Galilee according to the instructions they had received.
The disciples’ reaction is encouraging to me. I often “don’t get it” the first time the Lord gives me directions. In fact, I often need two or more reminders and then I’m still slow to get the job done. Slow as they were, they were effective in their ministry because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit and were faithful to the word of God and the heavenly vision.
Let’s determine to be equally faithful and trust God’s Spirit to guide us in the future as we serve him.
28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” English Standard Version, 2001
We have a written record of at least three times when Jesus told the disciples that he would be delivered up, beaten and crucified. He also said that he would rise again on the third day! They never seemed to understand. After all they had seen him do, one would think they would have clung to his every word, but no, they never understood!
The two Marys must’ve heard some of those accounts when Jesus promised to return from the dead. But obviously on the Sunday morning as the sun was rising they expected to find his body where it had been placed on Friday afternoon. Matthew’s account is probably taken from their testimony. When they arrived they found an Angel sitting on the stone that should’ve blocked the entrance to the tomb. I’m not sure what an appearance like lightning looks like but I can imagine some possibilities. His clothing was white as snow.
The brave guards fainted at the very sight of the Angel. (or Angels) So when the women came on the scene, the tomb was open. That solved a problem that they had obviously been worried about — how to move the stone! And there, in the vicinity of the tomb, lay the guards whose job had been to keep the disciples from stealing the body! What an absurd idea! To think that the disciples who had run away and hidden themselves when he was crucified would then come back on the scene, overpower the guards, (who were trained soldiers) and steal his body so they could pretend he had been raised from the dead!
Well, the women were frightened. This was way more than they expected! The Angel immediately moved to help them relax. He said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” I suppose that little conversation caused them to calm down and relax. No, I’m sure they were still quite excited.
The Angel gave them instructions, “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
Immediately the women departed from the tomb. They were filled with mixed emotions, fear and great joy. They had walked to the tomb but as they left they ran!
And as if they’d not been through enough, Jesus met them on the way!
What would they have expected Jesus to say? Of course I can’t know but I have an idea that what he did say was not what they expected. The ESV says, “Greetings”, while the KJV says, “All Hail”. These are two translations of a Greek word that expresses joy, more than that, extreme joy! Remember, he had been rejected, abandoned, arrested, beaten, spat upon, dragged through the streets and crucified! He had been hung out as a common criminal and buried in a borrowed tomb. Now, having been raised from the dead to never die again he was filled with extreme joy and shared it with the first people he met!
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” In effect, he repeated the instructions the Angel had given because they probably were too excited to remember.
What an exciting morning the two ladies had had. Now they had to go tell the disciples what they had been instructed to say. You see, the disciples also had bad memories. They didn’t remember that he would rise again on the third day. And it took them over a week to go to Galilee according to the instructions they had received.
The disciples’ reaction is encouraging to me. I often “don’t get it” the first time the Lord gives me directions. In fact, I often need two or more reminders and then I’m still slow to get the job done. Slow as they were, they were effective in their ministry because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit and were faithful to the word of God and the heavenly vision.
Let’s determine to be equally faithful and trust God’s Spirit to guide us in the future as we serve him.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Coming of the King!
John 12:12-16 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
"Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!"
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
He was born to be King of the Jews. Once, the crowds tried to force him to be an earthly king. Jesus did have a kingdom but it was not of this earth. The wise men from the East knew it was true when they said, "Where is he who was born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." He had announced it himself when he said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He had demonstrated the power of the kingdom when he cast out demons, healed the sick and preached the message. He told the Pharisees, "… If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you." He was born to be King but he didn't act like one! Now, he appeared to be getting with the program! He came into Jerusalem triumphantly! But wait, he was riding on a donkey! He should've been on a white horse with armed followers around him.
The crowd recognized that he was the Son of David!
He was descended from David on both sides of his genealogy. Matthew 1 gives us the genealogy of Joseph his adopted father. Luke 3:23ff gives us the genealogy of Mary his mother. So according to earthly standards he was the descendent of David. But he was so much more! Once, in a discussion with the Pharisees, he raised the question, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?… David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?" Matthew 12:35-37 His human body was descended from David but the person inside that body was God himself!
He was recognized by those in need. There were two blind men begging by the side of the road and they cried out to him, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." (Matthew 9:27) There was a Canaanite woman with a sick child. She went further than the blind men did. Not only did she call him Son of David, she called him "LORD" (Matthew 15:22), that should only be used for God, and stood by her position even when he questioned her right to ask for healing for her daughter. Let's read what Matthew had to say, She came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 And he answered, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:25-28.
Even Rome would recognize Jesus' royalty. When it was time to crucify Jesus, Pilate saw fit to put a sign above his head stating the charges against him. "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19) The Pharisees were horrified at the charge. The very thing they had fought against was now being rubbed in their faces. They wanted Pilate to change the sign to read, "This man said, I am King of the Jews." Pilate had had enough of them. He had personally interviewed Jesus and his wife had warned him of a dream she had. As the official representative of Rome he proclaimed Jesus to be: King of the Jews!
The crowd didn't understand what they were doing.
The crowds that gathered to cheer for him and proclaim him King did so because they had seen the miracles he had done — especially that of bringing Lazarus back from the dead after four days. A little earlier Jesus had called on them to believe what he said as being proven by what he did. He had said to them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, … (The Pharisees said) ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." (John 10:26; 36-38)
When the King arrived the kingdom was at hand! See what Mark had to say, "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15) Each of the gospel accounts, one way or another, clearly states that Jesus came to usher in the kingdom of God, or, the kingdom of heaven. The King had arrived he just wasn't recognized because he came as a baby, born in a stable! He lived among men as a common boy. He must not have been too unusual in his early years. He became a carpenter and worked with his hands. Even when he became a teacher with disciples he did not impress the religious leaders, he just frightened them.
He had shown the disciples again and again. Some, or all of them, were present when he turned the water into wine, brought back to life the son of a poor widow, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the leper, lifted up the cripple, calmed the storm, fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish (not counting the women and children!), healed the servant of a Roman centurion, healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman, brought Jairus' daughter back to life, restored a withered hand, forgave the sins of a woman in the house of a Pharisee, and another who was caught in adultery, cast out demons, they saw him transfigured on the mountain with Moses and Elijah, he healed a boy with an unclean spirit, and all the while, they listened to him teach, and at least three times, he told them he would be crucified and brought back from the dead. What more did they need?
Everyone thought of an earthly kingdom. Not just the crowd who had only seen his miracles but the disciples themselves expected an earthly kingdom. Look at what Matthew said, "Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." (Matthew 20:20-23) This event occurred immediately after Jesus had told them, for the third time, that he would be turned over to evil men beaten and crucified.
They needed a King.
They (we) were ruled by sin! Sin came into the world by one man — Adam! In the Garden of Eden he was faced with a choice. He could believe God and live or, he could believe the lie of Satan. Rather than exercise faith Adam followed his feelings and fell into sin. When he sinned we all became sinners. See what Paul said in Romans 5:17-21, Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
They (we) lived in the kingdom of darkness. Why didn't we recognize the fact that we were in the dark? We had acclimated ourselves to it. We had accepted it as being normal. Yet the Scripture says is true! In one of his prophecies of the coming Messiah, Isaiah said, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2) In the first chapter of his gospel, John tells us, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men" and, later, in chapter 12, Jesus said, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." In the late 1800s, Philip P. Bliss wrote a hymn that goes like this: "The whole world was lost In the darkness of sin,The Light of the world is Jesus! Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in. The Light of the world is Jesus! — Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee; Sweetly the light has dawned upon me. Once I was blind, but now I can see: The Light of the world is Jesus! The whole world, apart from Jesus Christ, is lost in the darkness of sin! And there's only one way out! And that is a transfer of citizenship from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light!
Only the King could deliver us. The story is told in the book of acts chapter 4 that Peter and John were brought before the Council and charged them with healing a lame man and false teaching. Peter stood before them and explained what had happened. In the course of that he said, "…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." No other being, in heaven or on earth, has the authority to deliver us! No one else can redeem us! Our sin condemns us because all have sinned! The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord! Only the sinless Son of God could take our sin away from us! He had no sin of his own. One of the men who died on the cross beside him recognized that. He said to the other criminal, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? … This man is done nothing wrong." And then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." That man knew something about Jesus I can only be explained as a revelation from God. Because of our need he took our sins into his own body and nailed them to the cross!
Jesus entered a world in rebellion against its true King. As long as man had been on the Earth (except for the early days of Adam) man was in rebellion against God. Throughout history some had recognized the true King and had suffered for it. The writer of Hebrews tells us about some of them, "Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, there were sown in two, they were killed with the sword, etc.… of whom the world was not worthy…" Jesus came to correct that for all who will come to him in faith. Where do you stand today?
All Scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
"Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!"
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
He was born to be King of the Jews. Once, the crowds tried to force him to be an earthly king. Jesus did have a kingdom but it was not of this earth. The wise men from the East knew it was true when they said, "Where is he who was born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." He had announced it himself when he said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He had demonstrated the power of the kingdom when he cast out demons, healed the sick and preached the message. He told the Pharisees, "… If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you." He was born to be King but he didn't act like one! Now, he appeared to be getting with the program! He came into Jerusalem triumphantly! But wait, he was riding on a donkey! He should've been on a white horse with armed followers around him.
The crowd recognized that he was the Son of David!
He was descended from David on both sides of his genealogy. Matthew 1 gives us the genealogy of Joseph his adopted father. Luke 3:23ff gives us the genealogy of Mary his mother. So according to earthly standards he was the descendent of David. But he was so much more! Once, in a discussion with the Pharisees, he raised the question, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?… David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?" Matthew 12:35-37 His human body was descended from David but the person inside that body was God himself!
He was recognized by those in need. There were two blind men begging by the side of the road and they cried out to him, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." (Matthew 9:27) There was a Canaanite woman with a sick child. She went further than the blind men did. Not only did she call him Son of David, she called him "LORD" (Matthew 15:22), that should only be used for God, and stood by her position even when he questioned her right to ask for healing for her daughter. Let's read what Matthew had to say, She came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 And he answered, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:25-28.
Even Rome would recognize Jesus' royalty. When it was time to crucify Jesus, Pilate saw fit to put a sign above his head stating the charges against him. "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19) The Pharisees were horrified at the charge. The very thing they had fought against was now being rubbed in their faces. They wanted Pilate to change the sign to read, "This man said, I am King of the Jews." Pilate had had enough of them. He had personally interviewed Jesus and his wife had warned him of a dream she had. As the official representative of Rome he proclaimed Jesus to be: King of the Jews!
The crowd didn't understand what they were doing.
The crowds that gathered to cheer for him and proclaim him King did so because they had seen the miracles he had done — especially that of bringing Lazarus back from the dead after four days. A little earlier Jesus had called on them to believe what he said as being proven by what he did. He had said to them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, … (The Pharisees said) ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." (John 10:26; 36-38)
When the King arrived the kingdom was at hand! See what Mark had to say, "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15) Each of the gospel accounts, one way or another, clearly states that Jesus came to usher in the kingdom of God, or, the kingdom of heaven. The King had arrived he just wasn't recognized because he came as a baby, born in a stable! He lived among men as a common boy. He must not have been too unusual in his early years. He became a carpenter and worked with his hands. Even when he became a teacher with disciples he did not impress the religious leaders, he just frightened them.
He had shown the disciples again and again. Some, or all of them, were present when he turned the water into wine, brought back to life the son of a poor widow, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the leper, lifted up the cripple, calmed the storm, fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish (not counting the women and children!), healed the servant of a Roman centurion, healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman, brought Jairus' daughter back to life, restored a withered hand, forgave the sins of a woman in the house of a Pharisee, and another who was caught in adultery, cast out demons, they saw him transfigured on the mountain with Moses and Elijah, he healed a boy with an unclean spirit, and all the while, they listened to him teach, and at least three times, he told them he would be crucified and brought back from the dead. What more did they need?
Everyone thought of an earthly kingdom. Not just the crowd who had only seen his miracles but the disciples themselves expected an earthly kingdom. Look at what Matthew said, "Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." (Matthew 20:20-23) This event occurred immediately after Jesus had told them, for the third time, that he would be turned over to evil men beaten and crucified.
They needed a King.
They (we) were ruled by sin! Sin came into the world by one man — Adam! In the Garden of Eden he was faced with a choice. He could believe God and live or, he could believe the lie of Satan. Rather than exercise faith Adam followed his feelings and fell into sin. When he sinned we all became sinners. See what Paul said in Romans 5:17-21, Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
They (we) lived in the kingdom of darkness. Why didn't we recognize the fact that we were in the dark? We had acclimated ourselves to it. We had accepted it as being normal. Yet the Scripture says is true! In one of his prophecies of the coming Messiah, Isaiah said, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2) In the first chapter of his gospel, John tells us, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men" and, later, in chapter 12, Jesus said, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." In the late 1800s, Philip P. Bliss wrote a hymn that goes like this: "The whole world was lost In the darkness of sin,The Light of the world is Jesus! Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in. The Light of the world is Jesus! — Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee; Sweetly the light has dawned upon me. Once I was blind, but now I can see: The Light of the world is Jesus! The whole world, apart from Jesus Christ, is lost in the darkness of sin! And there's only one way out! And that is a transfer of citizenship from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light!
Only the King could deliver us. The story is told in the book of acts chapter 4 that Peter and John were brought before the Council and charged them with healing a lame man and false teaching. Peter stood before them and explained what had happened. In the course of that he said, "…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." No other being, in heaven or on earth, has the authority to deliver us! No one else can redeem us! Our sin condemns us because all have sinned! The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord! Only the sinless Son of God could take our sin away from us! He had no sin of his own. One of the men who died on the cross beside him recognized that. He said to the other criminal, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? … This man is done nothing wrong." And then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." That man knew something about Jesus I can only be explained as a revelation from God. Because of our need he took our sins into his own body and nailed them to the cross!
Jesus entered a world in rebellion against its true King. As long as man had been on the Earth (except for the early days of Adam) man was in rebellion against God. Throughout history some had recognized the true King and had suffered for it. The writer of Hebrews tells us about some of them, "Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, there were sown in two, they were killed with the sword, etc.… of whom the world was not worthy…" Jesus came to correct that for all who will come to him in faith. Where do you stand today?
All Scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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