2 PETER 3:8 – STILL WAITING

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 ESV)

To distract myself from the tedium of doing laundry the other day, I decided to bring my “write it down” book. I just write stuff in it whenever the mood hits me. The thoughts which compelled me to tuck the book into my laundry bag, along with the mountain of laundry, had been with me for a couple days and were thoughts I knew very well.

“How do you continue to wait on God, with expectancy, as the days drag on with no answer or reprieve?”

Someone close to my heart finds herself in such a state; waiting on God to fulfill His promise to her. It has been a long time coming. Over the years, she has endured much hurt and grief, lost her hope, been discouraged, grown weary and shed countless tears of despair and longing. She has asked countless silent questions in her heart. Voiced many “how long Lord?” questions while on her knees.

Sometimes the God of the Universe, yet still the personal God of her solitary heart, breaks into her waiting with his intimate voice, “I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. I SEE AND I KNOW. I WILL DO WHAT I SAY I WILL DO. REMAIN FAITHFUL MY DAUGHTER.”

It isn’t a light thing when God speaks. His word is power and never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).

So what do you do after He speaks; when you know there will be yet more waiting? You open your Bible and read again the tear-stained pages of Habakkuk 2:3-4 and Lamentations 3:21-26. You focus on truth in the midst of the hurt (Phil 4:8). You talk to yourself to fight the discouragement, like David did (Psalm 42:5, 11).

Although at times she grows weary in the wait, she endeavors to not faint (Psalm 27:13).

She believes and knows two things about the Father and His heart:
-She knows He is faithful – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).
-She knows He does not lie – God is not human, that he should lie. (Numbers 23:19)

Despite the length of her wait, the ups/downs of her hope, she always returns to her expectant anticipation of God’s promise. She is an example, whether she knows it or not.

Waiting on God is a day-by-day thing; maybe, minute-by-minute! Either way, His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Joseph as a Type of Christ, Part 1

[u]Joseph as a Type of Christ, Part 1[/u], by Romans

The Book of Genesis concludes in 13 of the last 14 chapters with the story of the Patriarch Joseph.  We are pretty familiar with Joseph, and the events of his life. But did you know that Joseph was a type of Christ? A type is a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus! Incorporated within the events of the life of Joseph is a list of about 42 types. Many of the types that I will list tonight and next week are taken from “The World's Bible Handbook,” by Robert Boyd, but to his original list I have added many more types.

Consider:
[b]1.)[/b] [u]Joseph was loved by his father[/u]:
Genesis 37:3 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.”

In the New Testament, we read of Jesus in Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

John 3:35 adds to that: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”

[b]2.)[/b] [u]Joseph was a shepherd[/u]:
Genesis 37:2 “These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren;”

John 10:11-14 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

[b]3.)[/b] [u]Joseph was sent by his father to his brothers[/u]:

Genesis 37:13-14 “And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14  And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

John 12:49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

In a Parable about His being sent by His Father, Jesus said in
Luke 20:12-13 “And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
13  Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.”

[b]4.)[/b] [u]Joseph was hated by his brothers, and their hatred was fueled by their envy[/u]:

Genesis 37:4,5: “And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Matthew 27:18  For he (Pilate) knew that for envy they (the Chief Priests and Rulers) had delivered him.

John 15:25 “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.”

[b]5.)[/b] [u]Joseph's references to himself in a kingly role were resented and rejected by his brothers[/u]:

Genesis 37:8 “And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.”

Matthew 21:37-39 “But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39  And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

John 15:24-25 “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

[b]6.)[/b] [u]Joseph's brothers plotted against his life[/u]:

Genesis 37:18 “And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.”

Matthew 26:3-4 “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

John 11:53 “Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”

[b]7.)[/b] [u]Joseph was stripped of his coat[/u]:

Genesis 37:23 “And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him...”

John 19:23 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.”

[b]8.)[/b] [u]He was sold by a family member named Judah[/u]:

Genesis 37:26-27: “And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites...”

Jesus was betrayed by one of His inner circle named Judas, the Greek equivalent of Judah

Matthew 26:14: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”

[b]9.)[/b] [u]Joseph was sold for the price of a slave[/u]:

Genesis 37:28 “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver.”

Matthew 26:15 “And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.”

In each case, Joseph and Jesus were both sold for the going price of a slave in their day.

[b]10.)[/b] [u]Joseph was taken to Egypt[/u]:

Genesis 37:28b : “and they brought Joseph into Egypt”

Matthew 2:14-15 “When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

[b]11.)[/b] [u]Joseph suffered because of his brothers[/u]:

Genesis 39:1-- Genesis 40:13 tells us of all that he suffered because of his brothers' hatred of him.
The enslavement and the imprisonment that followed.

Mathew 27:33-50 tells us of all that Jesus suffered at the hands of the Jews, His brothers: the betrayal, arrest, beating, mocking, scourging and crucifixion.

[b]12.)[/b] [u]Joseph was sorely and repeatedly tempted[/u]:

Genesis 39:7  And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.”

Genesis 39:10  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Luke 4:1  ¶And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2  Being forty days tempted of the devil.

[b]13.)[/b] [u]Joseph resisted and overcame the temptation by his faith in, and willingness to obey, God[/u]:

Genesis 39:9 how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

[b]14.)[/b] [u]After he resisted and overcame temptation, Joseph was falsely accused [/u]:

Genesis 39:16-18 “And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

Matthew 26:59-60 “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60  But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses...

[b]15.)[/b] [u]Joseph was bound[/u]:

Genesis 39:20 “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.”

Matthew 27:2 “And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”

[b]16.)[/b] [u]Joseph offered no defense[/u]:

Genesis 39:20 “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.”

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

[b]17.)[/b] [u]In spite of all he had endured, Joseph experienced God's presence through his ordeal[/u]:

Genesis 39:21 “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

When Pilate had Jesus in custody, he repeatedly declared Him innocent, and diligently sought to release Him:

Luke 23:14-15: “Pilate Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.”

[b]18.)[/b] [u]Two other prisoners were with Joseph in prison[/u]:

Genesis 40:2-3 “And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.”

Luke 23:32-33 “And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

[b]19.)[/b] [u]Only one of the two prisoners (the butler) with Joseph was given good news[/u]:

Genesis 40: 21-23 21: "And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Luke 23:39-43 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

[b]20.)[/b] [u]Joseph was 30 years old when he began his ministry[/u]:

Genesis 41:46 “And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.”

Luke 3:22-23 "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age...

Luke 4:1-2: “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness... Being forty days tempted of the devil.”

After His temptation, Jesus began His Ministry:

Luke 4:14-15: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.”

[b]21.)[/b] [u]Joseph was elevated to a place of Glory and Power after his suffering[/u]:

Genesis 41:14, 41 “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:41 “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.”

On the Road to Emmaus, Jesus asked the two disciples in: Luke 24:26 “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?”

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Of this, Matthew Henry writes, “The exaltation was of Christ's human nature, in union with the Divine. At the name of Jesus, not the mere sound of the word, but the authority of Jesus, all should pay solemn homage. It is to the glory of God the Father, to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will, that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father, Joh 5:23. Here we see such motives to self-denying love as nothing else can supply. Do we thus love and obey the Son of God?”

The astounding foreshadows of Jesus Christ was lived by the Patriarch Joseph in the Book of Genesis. The Book of Genesis is not a humanly authored Book. It is not a Book of myths or legends. And, it is not a Book of superstitious tales, or homogenized pagan folklore. The Book of Genesis includes a foundation of historical events and Themes that set the tone for the rest of Scripture. The Book of Genesis is a Book that defies the imagination, but also defies the odds against such a Book being what our critics claim it is, namely, a written work unscientific folklore or highly imaginative, humanly-devised fables . It is none of these things.  The Book of Genesis was inspired to be written by the Holy Spirit, and committed to writing by Moses. Its existence is a miraculous Gift from God to His Creation, giving us a priceless window that would not be available any other way, into the mind, the heart and the Plans of our God.  There are clear, undeniable and unmistakable foreshadows of our Savior in the life  of the Patriarch Joseph presented within its pages. We covered 21 of  them, tonight. There are about 21 more for us to look at, and we will do just that... God willing... next week.

This concludes this Evening's Discussion, [u]Joseph as a Type of Christ, Part 1[/u]

This Discussion was presented "live" by Romans on August 11, 2016

Barabbas, A Closer Look, Part 3

“Barabbas, A Closer Look, Part 3:” by Romans

Tonight, in preparing this final Part 3 of our Discussion about Barabbas, I want to credit, again, a book that I have repeatedly used in preparing Bible Studies. It has never ceased to amaze me in terms of the variety of valuable and edifying topics,  the depth of profound insight, and it has been a veritable gold mine of unlimited riches.  I refer to “The World's Bible Handbook,” written by Robert Boyd. Barabbas presented for us an amazing picture of a guilty and convicted individual, who was deservedly facing punishment... capital punishment for his crimes. And instead of being nailed to the cross that was fashioned with him in mind, the man acting as Judge that morning, released the guilty prisoner without a scratch, and sent the prisoner to be executed Whom he repeatedly had declared innocent, and Whom he repeatedly declared as being worthy of no punishment.

Barabbas, whose name we know so well, symbolically and prophetically represented each one of us in that he deserved to be punished for his lawlessness, yet he was summarily released. He came down from that Judgment Platform without a scratch. That picture, however, goes from powerful to astounding when you realize that, in the original Hebrew, the name Barabbas “son of the father.” When you become aware of that fact, the spiritual significance of Barabbas' representing us increases exponentially. There is no way that it was a coincidence that the prisoner released had a name that was so profound with meaning. But tonight we are going to examine all that Barabbas was NOT.

In “The World's Bible Handbook,” in an article titled “I Am What I Am,” in the section commenting on 1 Corinthians 15, Mr. Boyd compiles a list that describes that fuller picture of what we, as Christians, are, that Barabbas was not. Yes, when it comes time for us to stand before The Judge of the Universe, Christians will be released,unpunished. As He did for Barabbas, Jesus Christ gave His life in my place, and your place. Jesus' Name was written and nailed to the cross, while my name, and your name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life. And it was only possible for my name to be written in the Book of Life, because of the cross... because of Jesus' laying down His Life... because He was and is the Lamb of God, slain from the Foundation of World.

In this Part 3 of “Barabbas, A Closer Look,” I have used most, but not all, of the headings and Scriptures from “The World's Bible Handbook,” but I have also added a few ideas and verses of my own to round things out. Tonight, we will be looking at, and picking up where Barabbas leaves off. We will be looking at all that we are as Christians, and all that Barabbas was not. Mr. Boyd , the author of The World's Bible Handbook, has compiled a list of those differences that is, seeing it all in one place, more inspiring than anything I have ever seen before. His list also serves to powerfully point out the stark difference between how the world writes us off as fools, compared to how God provides for us, and has welcomed us into His Family.

When the people called his name instead of Jesus' name, Barabbas was free to go. But he was not free. Jesus said beginning in John 8:34: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36    If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Yes, Barabbas was  released back into the mob who called his name, for him to be released. And he disappeared into that crowd, and into history, never to be heard from again. He was guilty and unpunished... and Jesus was nailed to his cross, and died, innocent, in his place... just like us.

But Unlike Barabbas:

We are forgiven:
We read in Romans 4:7: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

That, my friends, is who we are, that Barabbas was not: Blessed, because we are forgiven.
Barabbas was merely released and unpunished. Pilate did not pardon him or wipe out his criminal record. His crimes and guilt remained. His sinful nature, his worldly attractions, along with his willingness to fulfill those attractions and addictions and lusts all remained. He was only released. He was not forgiven, but we are also forgiven!

We, on the other hand, are told in Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The word “transformed” in verse two is translated from the Greek word, “metamorphoo,” (pronounced: met-am-or-fo'-o) from which we get the English “metamorphosis.” We apply it to the radical change that takes place when a lowly, ugly, creep-crawly, earth-bound caterpillar changes into a beautiful, colorful, airborne butterfly. That is how radical the change is that God looks to take place when we embrace His Son, His Holy Spirit, His Way, and every facet of His Plan of Salvation.

Barabbas was not transformed in this way. He merely left the Judgment Platform to resume his old ways. The Bible is utterly silent about any conversion of any kind on his part. Not so with us...

We are a new creation:
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

We are crucified with Christ:
Romans 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We are dead with Christ:
Romans 6:8: “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

We are buried with Christ
Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:”

Romans 6:6-7: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

And then we are raised with Christ:
Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

Romans 6:3-8: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

As I said earlier, unlike Barabbas, we are forgiven. And, as a result of being forgiven, Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

But being forgiven is just the beginning of our new lives in Christ...

Being a Christian means that we are not of this world:    
John 15:19: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

John 17:15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

We should also remember that, as Barabbas, we were once without Christ:
Ephesians 2:12: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

The Bible does not speak of Barabbas' hopeless condition ever being changed. He only went from being a convicted criminal, to an unpunished convicted criminal. He very likely immediately returned to that life of crime and rebellion.

Peter tells us in his first epistle, that we should expect our friends to be flabbergasted by our radical change from what we used to be, to the new creature in Christ that we have become. He writes in 1 Peter 4:3: “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”

I have no reason to believe that Barabbas' old cronies ever thought anything strange about him after his release. They witnessed, I am quite sure, the same old Barabbas, hatching plots to steal and murder and wreak havoc among the people. Barabbas' only change was from a caught caterpillar that was about to be killed by its captor, to a released caterpillar. And nothing more.

Unlike Barabbas, we read of our radical change in status from alien to citizen in Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Then Verse 19: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”  

We are justified:
Romans 5:1    ¶Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2    By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Barabbas very likely rejoiced in his release. He was a dead man walking, and he knew it. But as Christians, we rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God. Barabbas knew of  no such rejoicing, or hope or glory.

We are declared to be righteous:
Romans 3:25: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Jesus is said, here, to be our propitiation. We have all heard this word I am sure, but what exactly does it mean?

Here is the definition from the Online Merriam Websters dictionary: “to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of...” Synonyms include “appease” and “pacify”

It means that God was pacified to not punish us with the deserving death penalty that we brought on ourselves by breaking His Laws. Jesus' own blood, shed for us, and in our place, pacified and appeased God.  

Let's apply this word to a common situation: There were two people arguing. One is apologizing for some offense, and trying to put things right with his friend. Maybe he borrowed an item, and broke it. His apology is not enough. So he next offers to pay for it. That payment is the propitiation that appeases the one whose item was broken. Jesus' blood is the propitiation that satisfied the Justice of God.  We are saved by our faith in that propitiation.

But Jesus did not merely pay for our sins... He did not merely take away our sins... we read the astounding verse in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he {God} hath made him {Christ} to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Think of what this verse is saying! God made Christ TO BE sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. It does not matter how many times I read this verse... I cannot wrap my finite mind around and comprehend the depth of love God has for us to have done such a thing.

We are sanctified (which means, set apart for Holy use):
Hebrews 10:10: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

After filling two verses naming a variety of sinners including fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, drunkards, etc who wold not inherit the Kingdom, Paul then writes in the next verse in 1 Corinthians 6:11: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

We are children of God by adoption:
Romans 8:15: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

Abba is the MiddleEastern equivalent of our English word, “Daddy.” This is how the Father wants us to understand the relationship He is trying to establish with us. As close and affectionate a picture that is painted by the phrase, Father and child, Daddy and child is just so much warmer and loving and intimate.

We are the people of God:
1 Peter 2:10: “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

“Peculiar” is not a word that is usually used as a compliment. But if you hear it in these two other Verses you might be less concerned about it being applied to us, as believers:

We read in Psalms 135:4: “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.”

And then in Titus 2:14: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

As we continue in this study, I hope you see and appreciate the greater and greater distance from Barabbas we are getting as we leave him in the dust. Yes! It was indeed profound that the name Barabbas meant, “son of the father.” And that, even though he was guilty, he was released without punishment. But for us, our experience goes far beyond the mere meaning of a name. God's presence in our lives literally impacts what He would have us become, and what we do become! We read in Romans 8:16: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

But, as heirs,  what do we inherit?
Matthew 25:34: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

Revelation 21:7: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

We are members of the Body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

We are the Temple of God:
1 Corinthians 3:16: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

1 Corinthians 6:19: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

We are kings and priests:
Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

1 Corinthians 4:8: “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

When Paul chided the Corinthians for taking each other to court, unable to resolve their own petty squabbles, he reminds them of the future God has in store for His saints. We read in 1 Corinthians 6:1:  “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2    Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3    Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”

When was the last time your heard of that future for Christians being preached? I didn't make up the concept of Christians, after Christ returns and we are made immortal and glorified, judging the world and judging angels. It has been written and accepted as Inspired Scripture for the past 2,000 years. But is it being regularly preached? Is it being occasionally preached?

As saints, we are seated in the Heavenlies:
Ephesians 2:5: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

We are delivered from this present evil world:
Galatians 1:3: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”    

We are in Christ's Kingdom:
Colossians 1:13: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

Here, again, Barabbas was released back into the world. He was neither delivered from the power of darkness, nor translated into anything different than he was the day before. Be we are!

We are each a child of light to the lost:
Acts 13:47: “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”

Ephesians 5:8: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

We are co-laborers with God:
1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

We are servants of Righteousness:
Romans 6:18: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

We are God's Workmanship:
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We are like Christ:
1 John 4:17: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

We are at Peace with God:
Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

We are Heaven's Ambassadors:
2 Corinthians 5:20: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

We are empowered witnesses:
Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

We are the salt of the Earth:
Matthew 5:13: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

We are the light of the world:
Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

We are highly valued:
Luke 12:6: “... ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Of more value than sparrows? Is that being highly valued? Well, it certainly is when you consider what Jesus said immediately before that: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” Yes, we are highly valued!

We are Jesus' disciples:
John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,” and

John 8:31: “...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
We are Jesus' friends:
John 15:14: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

We are victorious:
1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

But even far above being victorious, we are more than conquerors:
Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

We are glorified:
Romans 8:30: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

So... who are we?    

We are Christians.    

We read in Hebrews 3:14: “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end...” Besides being made “partakers of Christ,” we read in 2 Corinthians 2:15: “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ...” On another level we are told in Ephesians 4:25: “...for we are members one of another.” The list of positive themes that describe us can supply us with many, many hours of meditation and edification in our spiritual walk. I have never heard any of our detractors ever use any of the adjectives, descriptions and categories that I used, tonight, to describe who and what we are. The world dismisses us as fools believing in fairy tales.

They don't have the remotest idea of the blessings poured out on us by God. But remember, Jesus told us to expect to be resisted and rejected: He said beginning in John 15:18: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.”

But I also hasten to add these words of consolation that Jesus also spoke to us in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Lastly, we are  complete  in Christ:
That is such a reassuring and comforting thought: We read in Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

Now, if you think I could get through a Discussion without sharing with all of you the comments of Matthew Henry, you are wrong. Regarding all the things that Barabbas was not, and our being complete in Christ, Mr. Henry writes: “We have in Him the substance of all the shadows of the ceremonial law. All the defects of it are made up in the gospel of Christ, by his complete sacrifice for sin, and by the revelation of the will of God. To be complete, is to be furnished with all things necessary for salvation. By this one word "complete," is shown that we have in Christ whatever is required. "In him," not when we look to Christ, as though he were distant from us, but we are in him, when, by the power of the Spirit, we have faith wrought in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are united to our Head.

The circumcision of the heart, the crucifixion of the flesh, the death and burial to sin and to the world, and the resurrection to newness of life, set forth in baptism, and by faith wrought in our hearts, prove that our sins are forgiven, and that we are fully delivered from the curse of the law. Through Christ, we, who were dead in sins, are quickened. Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the quickening of our souls.”

Paul tells us what will happen to His living and/or resurrected followers (us) when Jesus returns beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:51: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52     In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53     For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
We will then join Him in rulership of the earth as He makes His way to Jerusalem to set up His Kingdom. We read in Zechariah 14:4: "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east..." And we are included also in prophecies of His Return! Notice Jude 1:14: "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints..."

Jesus says two stunning things regarding our future in the Book of Revelation: First, in Revelation 3:21: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."  And then in Revelation 2:26: "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:" Does it occur to any of you that Jesus' Title. "King of Kings and Lord of Lords"  includes us in that Title? We are the kings that He is King of, and we are the lords that He is the Lord of.

Peter confirmed this in 1 Peter 2:9: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." Daniel confirmed this in Daniel 7:18: "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." And Jesus Himself, confirmed this in Matthew 25:34: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"

Barabbas, “the son of the father,” was a convicted criminal who was released without punishment. He was, from one perspective, the symbolic black and white snapshop of what we experience when we first become Christians. But there is so, so, so much more to our redemption than merely not being punished. And I hope you now see, in full color and in 3-D, a fuller, deeper, wider and higher scope of what God sees when He sees us.  

This concludes this Evening's Discussion, “Barabbas, A Closer Look, Part 3"
This was written by and delivered “live” by Romans on Thursday, August 4th, 2016