How is the infinite divide between a Holy God and vile humanity reconciled? Through the death of Jesus Christ. God's word to us today was that this truth must be settled in our spirit. The days are short.
Romans 5:6-11 (Amplified Bible) While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ's blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His [resurrection] life. Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
I Will Be Feared!
We walked through the lives of Abram, Moses, Isaiah, Daniel and Saul and as each one was in the presence of God Almighty, they were undone. Men called of God, personal and intimate in their relationship with God, yet each one possessing a reverential fear of the God they served.
This awesome divide between a Holy God and sinful man was brought near by the cross of Jesus, yet I sensed the Lord wanted us to understand that He is God Almighty and there is no casual entrance into His presence. "Thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:28b).
This awesome divide between a Holy God and sinful man was brought near by the cross of Jesus, yet I sensed the Lord wanted us to understand that He is God Almighty and there is no casual entrance into His presence. "Thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:28b).
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Condition My Condition Was In
The mission of Jesus was (is) the preparation of a people for the future Kingdom of God. The death of Christ was the most essential event in accomplishing His mission. But why the cross?
For the next several lessons we will be looking to the cross, But, I sensed that the Lord wanted us to begin with "the condition my condition was in." The title comes from a song written by Mickey Newbury as he tried to describe his experience on LSD. I have to say it was the Lord that brought this to my mind and would not let it go until I finally looked up the lyrics. One line in the song is very telling with respect to our condition before Christ. "I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole, and then I followed it in. I watched myself crawling out, as I was crawling in."
The condition my condition was in was absolutely hopeless. The Word of God reminds us that we were enemies of God (Ephesians 2:12); in a state of death (Romans 5:14; Colossians 2:13); under the ever present wrath of God (Romans 5:9) and lawless (Romans 6:19).
It is only when we have a biblical and revelatory understanding of the state of our condition can we ever appreciate the significance of the cross.
For the next several lessons we will be looking to the cross, But, I sensed that the Lord wanted us to begin with "the condition my condition was in." The title comes from a song written by Mickey Newbury as he tried to describe his experience on LSD. I have to say it was the Lord that brought this to my mind and would not let it go until I finally looked up the lyrics. One line in the song is very telling with respect to our condition before Christ. "I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole, and then I followed it in. I watched myself crawling out, as I was crawling in."
The condition my condition was in was absolutely hopeless. The Word of God reminds us that we were enemies of God (Ephesians 2:12); in a state of death (Romans 5:14; Colossians 2:13); under the ever present wrath of God (Romans 5:9) and lawless (Romans 6:19).
It is only when we have a biblical and revelatory understanding of the state of our condition can we ever appreciate the significance of the cross.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
So As Not To Be Carried Away
We began our study with a reminder from the Lord of what we can expect during these last days (2 Timothy 3-4:8; 2 Peter 3). As we read in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, there will be an intensity of societal degeneration and there was agreement that we are witnesses to this on a daily basis. Yet it was the admonition of 2 Peter 3:17 that caused many to examine themselves. "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability." The Greek word for the phrase "carried away" is the same phrase that was used to describe how in Galatians 2:13 Barnabas and many other Jews were led astray by the hypocrisy of the Apostle Peter in his relationship with the Gentile Christians when he was in the presence of Jewish Christians. We were able to see that the Apostle Peter knew firsthand how easily we can lose our footing when we yield ourselves to the influence of lawlessness.
Lawlessness can be obvious in many instances and we can quickly make the decision to walk away from it and its influence. Yet, when it is masked in the words and behaviors of our family, close friends and associations, we all agreed we are challenged and surely need our Lord's wisdom.
The Lord's wisdom for us in these perilous times is to gaze upon Him who is our Hope. As the Message Bible so colorfully puts it in 2 Peter 3:11-13, "Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness."
Lawlessness can be obvious in many instances and we can quickly make the decision to walk away from it and its influence. Yet, when it is masked in the words and behaviors of our family, close friends and associations, we all agreed we are challenged and surely need our Lord's wisdom.
The Lord's wisdom for us in these perilous times is to gaze upon Him who is our Hope. As the Message Bible so colorfully puts it in 2 Peter 3:11-13, "Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness."
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A Position Made by Suffering
This was our last class before the Christmas break. We will meet again starting January 12, 2010. While this semester we looked at the Kingdom of God as communicated to us in the Gospels, for the next semester we will spend some time looking at the significance of the cross. It is the finished work of the cross that allows us to enter the Kingdom of God and I sensed that the Lord wanted us to camp there for awhile.
Today we looked at 2 Timothy 2:15, specifically, today's (12/15) devotional reading in My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. In the study of the Word of God, there is that time of wrestling it out until it becomes a truth in our own lives. Only then does it become milk and meat for others. As 2 Timothy 2:10 tell us, we are the target for the lost. Through the window of our lives, they see the way home.
May we continue to be transparent so that others may know there is hope and hope has a name. His name is Jesus and that is what we celebrate; Immanuel - God with us.
Today we looked at 2 Timothy 2:15, specifically, today's (12/15) devotional reading in My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. In the study of the Word of God, there is that time of wrestling it out until it becomes a truth in our own lives. Only then does it become milk and meat for others. As 2 Timothy 2:10 tell us, we are the target for the lost. Through the window of our lives, they see the way home.
May we continue to be transparent so that others may know there is hope and hope has a name. His name is Jesus and that is what we celebrate; Immanuel - God with us.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Supreme Manifestation of Love is found in Forgiveness
This week we looked at Matthew 5:38-48 - the law of love demanded in the Kingdom of God. Each of us discovered this was both a hard and a good lesson. A hard lesson because the test of the love that God demands is found in forgiveness and real forgiveness is costly suffering. A good lesson because what God demands He gives freely by grace and that the ultimate show of love was demonstrated for us on the cross of Christ.
The standard of righteousness required of the Kingdom of God is high and perfection will only be accomplished in the Age to Come, yet He has allowed us to experience a real and evident measure of the righteousness of His Kingdom in this evil age through His Son and the Holy Spirit.
The standard of righteousness required of the Kingdom of God is high and perfection will only be accomplished in the Age to Come, yet He has allowed us to experience a real and evident measure of the righteousness of His Kingdom in this evil age through His Son and the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A Matter of the Heart
For the next several weeks we are looking at the Righteousness (ethics) of the Kingdom as communicated to us in the Sermon on the Mount. Specifically, in Matthew 5:20, Jesus tells us that our entrance into the kingdom of heaven is such that our righteousness (our uprightness and our right standing with God) must be greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees.
The scribes and Pharisees were the keepers and doers of the law such that in order to make sure they did all that the law commanded they added layer upon layer of additional laws. Jesus struck at the very core of their emphasis on legislating the outward act to setting it all aside and presenting a higher standard. This higher standard focused on the inner attitude and character.
Not committing murder was no longer the standard but not being angry with another. No longer was committing adultery the standard but Jesus says if in your heart is lust, you stand guilty before God. No longer is your truthfulness to be buttressed by an oath but Jesus says the man who knows the righteousness of the kingdom needs no oath. His naked word is valid. Your neighbor can trust your word, both in the spirit and the letter of your promise.
As we saw in our last lesson, our relationship with God is no longer mediated by the Law but by one who has submitted to the reign (rule) of God that has been manifested in Jesus. When a person is restored to fellowship with God, that person becomes a child of God and a recipient of a new power.
The righteousness that God demands, He gives us through His Son.
The scribes and Pharisees were the keepers and doers of the law such that in order to make sure they did all that the law commanded they added layer upon layer of additional laws. Jesus struck at the very core of their emphasis on legislating the outward act to setting it all aside and presenting a higher standard. This higher standard focused on the inner attitude and character.
Not committing murder was no longer the standard but not being angry with another. No longer was committing adultery the standard but Jesus says if in your heart is lust, you stand guilty before God. No longer is your truthfulness to be buttressed by an oath but Jesus says the man who knows the righteousness of the kingdom needs no oath. His naked word is valid. Your neighbor can trust your word, both in the spirit and the letter of your promise.
As we saw in our last lesson, our relationship with God is no longer mediated by the Law but by one who has submitted to the reign (rule) of God that has been manifested in Jesus. When a person is restored to fellowship with God, that person becomes a child of God and a recipient of a new power.
The righteousness that God demands, He gives us through His Son.
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