Volumes have been written about the characteristics of God, but when it is distilled to the most basic categories, He is love (1 John 4:8), life (Jeremiah 10:10; Revelation 22:1), and holiness (Psalms 99:9). And in reality, His life and holiness are based upon and are an expression of His love: love gives, so He gives life; love desires the best, so holiness proceeds from Him.
Love is not something he chooses to do or give. It is the very essence of who He is. He doesn't just love-He is love (1 John 4:16). It motivates His every action, directs His activities, and reflects His desires (1 John 4:10). Love is the greatest and purest essence of who a person is and its proper expression brings fulfillment.
However, God's love is not like the love expressed by many in our culture today: a love of convenience and ego. That is, "I will love you as long as you add value to my life and please me. When that ceases, so does my love for you." For many, love is conditional. The conditions may be different depending upon the relationship, but there are still conditions to be met in order to "earn" our love.
William Bennett, former Secretary of Education and author of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories(1993), once said that he attended a wedding where the vows had been changed to reflect this love of convenience. He decided to send a gift to the couple that reflected their commitment to the marriage-a package of paper plates! He said he figured the package would last as long as the marriage.
This attitude stands in stark contrast to God's unconditional love, which never fails (Psalms 52:8), endures forever (Psalms 106:1), is uncalculating (Proverbs 30:5), and not motivated by personal gain (1 John 3:16). Unconditional love does not mean that God loves everything we do, but rather His love is so intense that He loves every sinner, no matter how vile and despicable he or she may be in the eyes of humanity, so much that He provides a way for them to find love, life, and holiness (John 3:16). "Intense love does not measure, it just gives" (Mother Teresa).
The Focus of God's Love is Redemption
Daily, Adam and Eve walked with God, until the desire for pleasure overcame their love for God (see Genesis 3). This break in the relationship required redemption.
God's love (and our own!) is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete reality that finds expression. Love that is not expressed through the giving of self, practical action and sacrifice is not love. Love must meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of those loved. It is costly, brings vulnerability, and seeks the person's highest good (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
God's unconditional and intense love for fallen humanity motivated the plan of salvation (Revelation 1:5). Simply, salvation is God making us whole or complete. It is a healing of the soul, bringing us back to the state of Adam when God breathed life into him and made him a living soul. Separation from God, caused by sin, is separation from life. A person might have biological life, but not the quality of life God envisions for us.
God's love brings cleansing, freedom, and wholeness. True love is liberating, not restrictive. This does not give us a license to sin, but the freedom to serve God completely, motivated by love, and empowered by the Spirit.
God's love motivates His compassion and mercy (love in action). His love brings transformation. Usually at baptism, the minister will quote from Matthew 28:19 and baptize the person "in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We clap, raise our hands, and miss the truth of the event. It is more than a public expression of one's faith. At baptism, we are baptized (immersed) into the very character of the Father (love), the character of the Son (grace), and the character of the Holy Spirit (fellowship; see2 Corinthians 13:13).
Salvation is based on God's fervent love and mercy, not our worthiness (Titus 3:4-5). One response (in the image of Jesus Christ's offering on the Cross) is that we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom 12:1).
The Goal of God's Love is Relationship
Love requires relationship, as love is a dynamic force or presence that naturally seeks expression. Simply put, love loves! And in order to do that there must be an object of that love or it is incomplete.
God's love is revealed in that He created us in His own image (a position of responsibility before God) and likeness (moral freedom; Genesis 1:26-27; Job 33:4). Part of that image/likeness is freedom of choice. We can choose to accept and embrace God's love or we can choose to ignore or reject it. We were formed from dust, but because of God's great love for us, we received the breath of God, with its intrinsic and inherent life. This life gives us the capacity and desire to be in relationship (understanding; self-awareness; communicative; ability to have fellowship) and to love in return. To live in God is to live in love (1 John 4:16).
Our relationship with God is an intimate one. There is a sacred knowledge and expression that takes place. To know Him intimately is to open the door for revelation and fulfillment. It brings change or transformation-change of essence, expression, behavior, desires, identity, and security. The bond is so strong that God says a nursing mother may abandon her child, but He will never abandon us (Isaiah 49:15-16). He becomes the ultimate Father!
When we reflect upon the intensity of our relationship with God, self-doubt often arises. Can we keep our end of the bargain? Of great comfort (and a pressing challenge) is the thought that our relationship with God is not the sum of our activity directed toward God, but the intensity of our relationship with God as expressed through our devotion to him, our obedience to his wishes, and our attitudes toward his will and best desires for us. He loved us first, enabling us to respond properly to His love (1 John 4:10-11). And His love (and ability) never fails.
A young student asked Karl Barth to share the most significant theological truth he had discovered in all of his years of study. Barth, one of the most prolific theologians of the 20th century, wrote approximately sixty volumes of commentaries and theological studies. This brilliant man that many call the most important theologian of modern times thought for a moment, smiled, and said, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
Nothing-absolutely nothing-can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:35-39)!
7 Ways God Loves Us
1) God loves us with Atoning love.
"God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (Jhn 3:16-17)
God's love for us is what motivated Him to send Christ into the world to save us. Christ paid for our sins, which had separated us from Him. This sacrifice not only brings us peace with God, it also brings us into a personal, loving relationship with Him. (Rom 5:1-5)
God's atoning love through Christ is the source of all our spiritual blessings.
2) God loves us with Calling love.
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Pet 2:9)
Another way God shows His love for us is by calling us out of the darkness of sin and into the light of fellowship with Him.
Even more, because God has called us to Himself, He promises to protect that relationship (Jhn 10:28) and never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5, 1 Thes 5:23-25)
God's calling love is a promise to always be with us.
3) God loves us with Redeeming love.
"God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Rom 8:3-4)
Because of our sinful nature, we have no power to fulfill God's law. But God's love is shown through Christ who redeemed, or paid, the price we owed for our rebellion. (Gal 3:13)
God's redeeming love frees us from guilt and fear.
4) God loves us with Justifying love.
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." (Rom 3:23-25)
God's love is shown by justifying us (or declaring us innocent) by grace through faith in Christ. Christ is treated as if he were the sinner, and the sinner is treated as if he were the righteous one. God now sees us through Christ's righteousness instead of through our sin.
God's justifying love allows us to stand accepted before Him.
5) God loves us with Adopting love.
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"" (Rom 8:15)
God shows His love for us by not only forgiving us of our sins, but by going even further and bringing us into His family. He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. (Col 1:12) This inheritance includes salvation, strength, hope, peace, comfort, providence, fellowship and so much more!
God's adopting love allows us to call Him "Father".
6) God loves us with Sanctifying love.
"We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Heb 10:10)
Still another way God also shows His love is by sanctifying, or setting us apart, for His purpose. We're sanctified in two ways: positionally and progressively.
We're sanctified "positionally" when we come to Christ. In the Old Testament the priests would continually make sacrifices because they never permanently paid for sin. But Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and has paid for our sins once and for all. So we've sanctified, or set apart, to obtain salvation through Christ.
We're also sanctified "progressively" throughout our Christian lives. Progressive sanctification isn't about our salvation - we're saved by grace and not by works (Eph 2:8-9) - it's about how we live after we've been saved.
Progressive sanctification is the process of dying to sin and living for Christ by becoming more like Him. It's about producing the fruits of the Spirit as opposed to producing the fruits of the flesh. (Gal 5:19-23)
God's sanctifying love sets us apart for His special plans.
7) God loves us with Glorifying love.
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:1-2)
Finally, God shows His love by glorifying us. Throughout our lives we'll wrestle with sin, but we're promised that the good work God begins in us will be completed. (Phil 1:6) When we go to be with the Lord our sinful nature will be left behind and we'll like Him, and with Him, forever.
God's glorifying love is the ultimate destination for Christians.
Sources
Biblestudyplanet.com
Biblestudytools.com
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Conflict Among Christians
Conflict Among Christians:
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
I was talking last night to a member of the Church I currently attend about some things. He was telling me about some of the Church's history, and how the Church had lost a few dozen members when one of the Associate Pastors played divide and conquer with the Congregation. He sent out e-mails to just the people who he thought he could trust to not tip off the Lead Pastor about his plan to draw away members after himself. Division is [i]not[/i] a Fruit of the Spirit.
A similar thing happened during the Apostle Paul's ministry. As he was about to leave Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, he called the elders of the Church together to bid them farewell. We read his farewell to them beginning in Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
Of this Matthew Henry writes, in part: “If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge...”
But it is not just the leadership of the Church that must be concerned with this. Every member must make it his or her personal responsibility to preserve and protect the Body of Christ, and every member of that Body.
What was the sign, the sign that Jesus said would identify who his true followers were? Was it how much Greek or Hebrew they knew? How much of the Bible they could quote, blindfolded? Perhaps it was how many Church Committees they serve on, or how many solos they sang with the choir?
No... it's much more simple than the above. But it is also much more difficult than the above. Jesus said in John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
There are two Greek words that were translated in to English as “love.” One is the Greek word, philèo, which Strong's Concordance defines as: “to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling;)
The other Greek word is agape`. Agape` In Paul's list in Galatians 5, of the God-given Fruit of the Spirit, love (agape`) is listed as the first Fruit. It is not something just to comes to us. Agape` love has One Source, and that Source is God. It outstrips, outlasts, outperforms, and supersedes any human-level emotion. Agape` is translated into English as “charity” in the following verses written by the Apostle Paul. It clearly rises far above the “friendship or fondness” level of love. Let's read how it differs from human filèo, beginning in 1 Corinthians 13:1 ¶Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 ¶Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 ¶Charity never faileth:
Loving one another as Jesus said we should, is not possible to fulfill with just human emotions. If anything, human emotions are volatile, unpredictable, usually vengeful and self-serving. That is not agape` love. But Jesus said agape` love would be the identifying sign to men, of true discipleship. More than that, Jesus actually presented this identifying sign as a prerequisite to our loving and worshiping God in a way He would find acceptable. Let's notice His words, very early in His sermon on the Mount, beginning in Matthew 5:23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
Matthew Henry comments: “We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!”
Worshiping God inextricably involves our seeking peace with fellow believers, in Jesus words, as a prerequisite. This is not always possible when someone who has been offended by a real or imagined offense, will not forgive you. But that is not your problem if you attempt to apologize and make things right. A person refusing to forgive you will have to answer to God about their unforgiveness. Where each of us in concerned, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:18: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
In another part of the Book of Matthew, Jesus spoke again about how to address and resolve conflict with a fellow believer: We read beginning in Matthew 18:15: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Matthew Henry comments: “If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much neglected by all. But how few try the method which Christ has expressly enjoined to all his disciples! In all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer; we cannot too highly prize the promises of God. Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us.”
But let's look at this, again: There are some ancient manuscripts that omit the two words “against thee,” and have Christ saying: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass... go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” In the verse written that way, the trespass need not have been committed [i]against[/i] the person witnessing it.
Notice Paul's words for that situation in Galatians 6:1 ¶Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
But why did Paul include a warning about being tempted? What temptation is there in discovering a fault or a sin in a brother or sister? And who, while we're on the subject, is the [i]source[/i] of temptation? The temptation is to react to such a discovery in an ungodly manner, with unthinking and irrational human emotions, and not the love of God that only He can provide. If you become aware of a brother or sister sinning in some capacity, God would have you react by going [u]to that person[/u], [b]alone[/b], and bring it to his or her attention, and [u]only[/u] to his or her attention. To do so is not a Biblical suggestion, it is a Command. And it also must be kept a matter of strict privacy between the two of you. A true follower of Christ will not seize it as an opportunity to light up the phone lines, or text lines, or chat room lines, or e-mail lines, to report to other believers or members, or to anybody else what their brother or sister did or said, to poison their reputation.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 26:20: “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
To repeat a real or imagined fault or a sin of a brother is a very serious matter to God. We read in Proverbs 6, seven activities that are abominations that God hates are listed: Four of the seven are characterisitic of talebearers: A proud look, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Reacting to offenses is a test we will all face at some time or another. Jesus said in Luke 17:1: “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”
And when we are faced with them, God commands us to act and react according to His Guidelines. But to do that, you have to know what those Guidelines are. If you don't actually read the Bible, and know what God requires, or which reactions that seem good to us God hates, then you cannot act and react within those prescribed Guidelines. But too many of us [b]do not read[/b] Scripture, and, too often, we respond with emotional knee-jerk reactions to certain circumstances in ways that may seem right and justified to us, but oppose God's Laws. Talebearing and spreading gossip are ungodly emotional reactions that do no good to anyone. Whispering is an abomination to God! God hates backbiting! These reactions are divisive, and are not how God would have us respond to the discovery of sin in a brother or sister in Christ. As Solomon said in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We need to be able to route out behavior that [i]seems right[/i] to us, and behavior that God hates. We need to follow His Ways, and [u]only[/u] His Ways!
In either case, if we witness a brother or sister in Christ commit a sin in word or in deed, we have, as witnesses, several commands from God as to how to react. [i]If it is directed against us[/i], accidentally or intentionally, we are commanded to forgive that individual. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Becoming the town crier regarding their sin, and gossiping about it behind their backs to anyone else, is NOT what Jesus said to do! How can talebearing be a “good” reaction when God calls it an “abomination” to Him? How can whispering about what a brother or sister did wrong be “blessing them,” when God said He hates when someone “soweth discord among brethren”?
Consider: In [u]both[/u] cases, if the sin committed is or is not against us personally, it is definitely against the one who committed it. Whatever the sin was, it must be repented of! For that to happen, it must be brought to the attention of the sinner, and NO ONE ELSE! Notice Paul's words to Timothy as he spoke about the obligation we each have to go to the sinner, and [i]how[/i] to approach him or her: We read in 2 Timothy 2:24: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that [u]oppose themselves[/u]; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (emphasis added).
In another area of Christian conflict, the Apostle Paul responded to the situation where brothers and sisters in Christ were taking each other to court, in order to get what they thought was rightfully theirs: Paul issued them a scathing rebuke beginning in 1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”
On another subject, where offenses are concerned, ministers and Bible teachers are not magically exempt from sin. No honest minister or Bible teacher would ever say that he or she does not or cannot or will not sin. Speaking for myself, I have said on many occasions that when I present these Discussions, I do not present them from the perspective of not needing to apply to my own life the things I am teaching. Paul said in Romans 2:21: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” My answer is is an unequivocal and enthusiastic “Yes!” I need every word of the things I teach you.
We all sin every day. As John wrote in 1 John 1:10: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” We may not sin the same sins, but the bottom line is, that all sin brings with it a death penalty. That means we are all tied for last place. But being a Bible teacher holds me, in God's eyes, to a stricter standard. James writes the very sobering words to those who teach the Word of God, in James 3:1 ¶My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
I take this responsibility very serious. But I also need you to know that I am not perfect, nor have I ever pretended to be, claimed to be, or even implied to be. I get things wrong because I am human, but I do not willfully or intentionally offend or mislead. If you think I have said something wrong, I invite, no... I urge you, and Christ commands you to come to me, and me alone, and tell me what I did or said. That is the Bible's prescription for correcting a fellow-believer who has done something offensive.
If a brother or sister in Christ, says or does something that was, or appeared to be inappropriate or ungodly, becoming a gossip, or a talebearer or a whisperer in response to that situation is condemned in both the Old and New Testament. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:28: “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Such activity will be answerable to God. If you think this is a minor matter with God, let's take a look at the sins that Paul lists, in which he includes whispering. Look at the sins that surround “whisperers”! Romans 1:28: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
The correct response to a brother or sister that sins is love, mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness. To do anything less, anything more, or anything different is to cut one's own throat. Jesus made a statement to all who would think themselves above the need to forgive, that removes all doubt on the subject. He said this at the end of the Parable where a king forgave an incredible sum, and the one who was forgiven refused to forgive a fellow-servant: Matthew 18:33: “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
We also need to look at another important facet of forgiveness, and that is repeat offenders:
Do we impose a ceiling on how many times we can or should forgive an offending brother or sister? We read in Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”
Forgiveness does not come easy. Jesus said it must be more than mere words... it must be from the heart. Only then will God acknowledge a forgiving attitude. If He does not recognize whole-hearted forgiveness, He will not forgive us when we ask for it. If that does not scare the living daylights out of you, nothing will.
Matthew Henry comments: “Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.”
In another place, Peter thought that he could max out forgiving offenses at the seventh offense, and was stunned to learn that he was wrong: We read in Matthew 18:21 ¶Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
T0 love our bothers and sisters in Christ, as God would have us love them, to forgive them from the heart, and to forgive on an unlimited basis, without counting the number of times, without seeking revenge, all the while being willing to suffer loss is not humanly possible. But it can and must be a part of our lives through, and only through, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And the Fruit of that Spirit, that makes it all possible, is found in Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
This concludes this evening's Discussion, “Conflict Among Christians, Part 1”
This Discussion was conducted “live” by Romans on June 5th, 2014
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
I was talking last night to a member of the Church I currently attend about some things. He was telling me about some of the Church's history, and how the Church had lost a few dozen members when one of the Associate Pastors played divide and conquer with the Congregation. He sent out e-mails to just the people who he thought he could trust to not tip off the Lead Pastor about his plan to draw away members after himself. Division is [i]not[/i] a Fruit of the Spirit.
A similar thing happened during the Apostle Paul's ministry. As he was about to leave Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, he called the elders of the Church together to bid them farewell. We read his farewell to them beginning in Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
Of this Matthew Henry writes, in part: “If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge...”
But it is not just the leadership of the Church that must be concerned with this. Every member must make it his or her personal responsibility to preserve and protect the Body of Christ, and every member of that Body.
What was the sign, the sign that Jesus said would identify who his true followers were? Was it how much Greek or Hebrew they knew? How much of the Bible they could quote, blindfolded? Perhaps it was how many Church Committees they serve on, or how many solos they sang with the choir?
No... it's much more simple than the above. But it is also much more difficult than the above. Jesus said in John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
There are two Greek words that were translated in to English as “love.” One is the Greek word, philèo, which Strong's Concordance defines as: “to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling;)
The other Greek word is agape`. Agape` In Paul's list in Galatians 5, of the God-given Fruit of the Spirit, love (agape`) is listed as the first Fruit. It is not something just to comes to us. Agape` love has One Source, and that Source is God. It outstrips, outlasts, outperforms, and supersedes any human-level emotion. Agape` is translated into English as “charity” in the following verses written by the Apostle Paul. It clearly rises far above the “friendship or fondness” level of love. Let's read how it differs from human filèo, beginning in 1 Corinthians 13:1 ¶Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 ¶Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 ¶Charity never faileth:
Loving one another as Jesus said we should, is not possible to fulfill with just human emotions. If anything, human emotions are volatile, unpredictable, usually vengeful and self-serving. That is not agape` love. But Jesus said agape` love would be the identifying sign to men, of true discipleship. More than that, Jesus actually presented this identifying sign as a prerequisite to our loving and worshiping God in a way He would find acceptable. Let's notice His words, very early in His sermon on the Mount, beginning in Matthew 5:23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
Matthew Henry comments: “We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!”
Worshiping God inextricably involves our seeking peace with fellow believers, in Jesus words, as a prerequisite. This is not always possible when someone who has been offended by a real or imagined offense, will not forgive you. But that is not your problem if you attempt to apologize and make things right. A person refusing to forgive you will have to answer to God about their unforgiveness. Where each of us in concerned, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:18: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
In another part of the Book of Matthew, Jesus spoke again about how to address and resolve conflict with a fellow believer: We read beginning in Matthew 18:15: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Matthew Henry comments: “If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practised every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much neglected by all. But how few try the method which Christ has expressly enjoined to all his disciples! In all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer; we cannot too highly prize the promises of God. Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us.”
But let's look at this, again: There are some ancient manuscripts that omit the two words “against thee,” and have Christ saying: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass... go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” In the verse written that way, the trespass need not have been committed [i]against[/i] the person witnessing it.
Notice Paul's words for that situation in Galatians 6:1 ¶Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
But why did Paul include a warning about being tempted? What temptation is there in discovering a fault or a sin in a brother or sister? And who, while we're on the subject, is the [i]source[/i] of temptation? The temptation is to react to such a discovery in an ungodly manner, with unthinking and irrational human emotions, and not the love of God that only He can provide. If you become aware of a brother or sister sinning in some capacity, God would have you react by going [u]to that person[/u], [b]alone[/b], and bring it to his or her attention, and [u]only[/u] to his or her attention. To do so is not a Biblical suggestion, it is a Command. And it also must be kept a matter of strict privacy between the two of you. A true follower of Christ will not seize it as an opportunity to light up the phone lines, or text lines, or chat room lines, or e-mail lines, to report to other believers or members, or to anybody else what their brother or sister did or said, to poison their reputation.
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 26:20: “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
To repeat a real or imagined fault or a sin of a brother is a very serious matter to God. We read in Proverbs 6, seven activities that are abominations that God hates are listed: Four of the seven are characterisitic of talebearers: A proud look, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Reacting to offenses is a test we will all face at some time or another. Jesus said in Luke 17:1: “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”
And when we are faced with them, God commands us to act and react according to His Guidelines. But to do that, you have to know what those Guidelines are. If you don't actually read the Bible, and know what God requires, or which reactions that seem good to us God hates, then you cannot act and react within those prescribed Guidelines. But too many of us [b]do not read[/b] Scripture, and, too often, we respond with emotional knee-jerk reactions to certain circumstances in ways that may seem right and justified to us, but oppose God's Laws. Talebearing and spreading gossip are ungodly emotional reactions that do no good to anyone. Whispering is an abomination to God! God hates backbiting! These reactions are divisive, and are not how God would have us respond to the discovery of sin in a brother or sister in Christ. As Solomon said in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We need to be able to route out behavior that [i]seems right[/i] to us, and behavior that God hates. We need to follow His Ways, and [u]only[/u] His Ways!
In either case, if we witness a brother or sister in Christ commit a sin in word or in deed, we have, as witnesses, several commands from God as to how to react. [i]If it is directed against us[/i], accidentally or intentionally, we are commanded to forgive that individual. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Becoming the town crier regarding their sin, and gossiping about it behind their backs to anyone else, is NOT what Jesus said to do! How can talebearing be a “good” reaction when God calls it an “abomination” to Him? How can whispering about what a brother or sister did wrong be “blessing them,” when God said He hates when someone “soweth discord among brethren”?
Consider: In [u]both[/u] cases, if the sin committed is or is not against us personally, it is definitely against the one who committed it. Whatever the sin was, it must be repented of! For that to happen, it must be brought to the attention of the sinner, and NO ONE ELSE! Notice Paul's words to Timothy as he spoke about the obligation we each have to go to the sinner, and [i]how[/i] to approach him or her: We read in 2 Timothy 2:24: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that [u]oppose themselves[/u]; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (emphasis added).
In another area of Christian conflict, the Apostle Paul responded to the situation where brothers and sisters in Christ were taking each other to court, in order to get what they thought was rightfully theirs: Paul issued them a scathing rebuke beginning in 1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”
On another subject, where offenses are concerned, ministers and Bible teachers are not magically exempt from sin. No honest minister or Bible teacher would ever say that he or she does not or cannot or will not sin. Speaking for myself, I have said on many occasions that when I present these Discussions, I do not present them from the perspective of not needing to apply to my own life the things I am teaching. Paul said in Romans 2:21: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” My answer is is an unequivocal and enthusiastic “Yes!” I need every word of the things I teach you.
We all sin every day. As John wrote in 1 John 1:10: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” We may not sin the same sins, but the bottom line is, that all sin brings with it a death penalty. That means we are all tied for last place. But being a Bible teacher holds me, in God's eyes, to a stricter standard. James writes the very sobering words to those who teach the Word of God, in James 3:1 ¶My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
I take this responsibility very serious. But I also need you to know that I am not perfect, nor have I ever pretended to be, claimed to be, or even implied to be. I get things wrong because I am human, but I do not willfully or intentionally offend or mislead. If you think I have said something wrong, I invite, no... I urge you, and Christ commands you to come to me, and me alone, and tell me what I did or said. That is the Bible's prescription for correcting a fellow-believer who has done something offensive.
If a brother or sister in Christ, says or does something that was, or appeared to be inappropriate or ungodly, becoming a gossip, or a talebearer or a whisperer in response to that situation is condemned in both the Old and New Testament. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:28: “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Such activity will be answerable to God. If you think this is a minor matter with God, let's take a look at the sins that Paul lists, in which he includes whispering. Look at the sins that surround “whisperers”! Romans 1:28: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
The correct response to a brother or sister that sins is love, mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness. To do anything less, anything more, or anything different is to cut one's own throat. Jesus made a statement to all who would think themselves above the need to forgive, that removes all doubt on the subject. He said this at the end of the Parable where a king forgave an incredible sum, and the one who was forgiven refused to forgive a fellow-servant: Matthew 18:33: “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
We also need to look at another important facet of forgiveness, and that is repeat offenders:
Do we impose a ceiling on how many times we can or should forgive an offending brother or sister? We read in Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”
Forgiveness does not come easy. Jesus said it must be more than mere words... it must be from the heart. Only then will God acknowledge a forgiving attitude. If He does not recognize whole-hearted forgiveness, He will not forgive us when we ask for it. If that does not scare the living daylights out of you, nothing will.
Matthew Henry comments: “Faith in God's pardoning mercy, will enable us to get over the greatest difficulties in the way of forgiving our brethren. As with God nothing is impossible, so all things are possible to him that can believe. Our Lord showed his disciples their need of deep humility. The Lord has such a property in every creature, as no man can have in another; he cannot be in debt to them for their services, nor do they deserve any return from him.”
In another place, Peter thought that he could max out forgiving offenses at the seventh offense, and was stunned to learn that he was wrong: We read in Matthew 18:21 ¶Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
T0 love our bothers and sisters in Christ, as God would have us love them, to forgive them from the heart, and to forgive on an unlimited basis, without counting the number of times, without seeking revenge, all the while being willing to suffer loss is not humanly possible. But it can and must be a part of our lives through, and only through, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And the Fruit of that Spirit, that makes it all possible, is found in Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
This concludes this evening's Discussion, “Conflict Among Christians, Part 1”
This Discussion was conducted “live” by Romans on June 5th, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
The Bible is a book that meets the need of all mankind. It has stood the test of time, and no book has been studied as vigorously by people of all times. Such a book could be given to man only by God, who created man and who knows the human weaknesses and strengths of the creature He created. The subject of the Bible is the redemption of mankind for those who believe, and the judgment for those who reject God's offer of salvation. The Bible is our road map or guidebook for living with Godly wisdom.
Psalm 119:105 says “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Without its instructions, men flounder and lose their way. An in-depth study of God's Word helps us to find treasures which will bring solutions in times of crisis. With God's help and the power of His Word and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit is the means of transforming our lives into all that God wants us to be in our homes, our communities, our nation, and in our world. The Holy Spirit cannot tell us what the Bible means until we know what the Bible says. Our responsibility is to read the Word of God with great anticipation and prayerful diligence.
II Timothy 2:15 says "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Colossians 1:9-10 says "....and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"
Can you think of other reasons we should study our Bible?
The Bible - A Living Book
The book of Genesis gives us an outline of the entire Bible. Without the first eleven chapters of Genesis we would be at a loss to know what the remainder of the Bible is about. These chapters are the reason for the whole of the Bible. During the progress of the human family, God revealed Himself to man and made plain the message of Genesis. Book was added to book until the Word of God was complete in a volume of sixty-six books. Through these volumes God has revealed His purpose and plan for us. It is the only authority by which we can know our origin, history and destiny.
God created the world, and then made man and gave him dominion over all He had created. In the beginning, the entire human family was under one universal government, but man failed to respond to God and His Word. Following this, God called a family, through which He chose to reveal Himself as the Redeemer of the world.
Beginning with Abraham, this family developed and became a nation known as the Jewish nation. God made conditional and unconditional covenants with this nation. The greater portion of the Bible is given to show this nation's origin and the history of her faithfulness as well as her unfaithfulness and her final destiny. The Jewish nation failed in what was entrusted to her, resulting in her being scattered among the nations.
A remnant of the elect of God was worthy to be used to bring about the Church. Paul, the writer of the epistles, became a bitter enemy of the truth and a persecutor of the Church. He met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. From this experience and encounter with Christ, he became one of the most faithful followers, writers and expositors of the truth. He became a chosen vessel, a revealer of the Lord Jesus Christ, and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was able to write the letters which are so meaningful to us today for instruction in Christian living.
Ignorant of God's plan and purpose, the Jews rejected Christ as the Redeemer of the world. They had established their own system of religion, by-passing what God had promised the nation through covenant. They were unprepared to receive Christ whom God had revealed to them in the Old Testament.
John 1:11-12 tells us, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
The great theme of this book is the gospel of God – the good news concerning the way in which God, in His infinite love, has provided for sinners to be saved and for everything this free and full salvation includes. This theme is unfolded in the scope and divisions of the book. God reveals man’s true condition as being destitute of all righteousness. The whole world is found guilty before God; Jew and Gentile are lost. It is on this bleak and dark background that God writes the story of His great love.
Both the source and center of all is the sacrificial work of Christ, in which the righteousness of God is made manifest – no longer condemning the guilty sinner, but covering every sinner who believes in Jesus Christ. Justification is by faith, and faith in Christ is counted for righteousness. Justification is also based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being justified by faith, the results are that we have peace with God, a standing in grace and hope of the glory of God. We are therefore no longer to live in sin. Sin shall no longer have dominion over you. Christians are, in faith, to act upon this as one dead to sin and alive in God.
Romans 6:11-13 says “Likewise you also, reconcile yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteous sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God”
THE OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis, the book of beginnings, tells not only of the beginning of the universe and of man, but the beginning of sin, the beginning of the line of the Messiah Jesus Christ, the beginning of a line of believers and a line of unbelievers, and the beginning of the Jewish people.
Exodus, the book of redemption, gives a historical account of the deliverance of the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt. At the same time it records the story in such a way that it becomes typical of God's redemptive plan for all mankind.
Numbers, the book of wandering, tells of the 40 years the children of Israel spent wandering in the wilderness because of their unbelief. This, too, is typical, picturing the unhappy state of a believer who refuses to walk by faith.
Joshua is the book of conquest. It tells about the Israelites who entered the Promised Land and possessed their possessions, and is a picture of the victorious Christian life.
Judges, the book of apostasy, points out what happened because of incomplete obedience. God told the Israelites to wipe out completely the Amorites and Canaanites and other people in the land; but they failed to do so, and the remaining heathen people led them into idolatry.
Then, beginning with I Samuel, there are four books that tell about the age of the kingdom in Israel: I Samuel tells of preparation for the kingdom, II Samuel the establishment of the kingdom, I Kings the division of the kingdom and II Kings the loss of the kingdom.
Then there was a 70-year exile, a period of time during which the people of Israel were taken away and held in captivity.
Ezra tells of the return of a group of former prisoners to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah is the story of others who returned to rebuild the walls of the city.
Now, the other 28 books of the Old Testament can be fitted into time sequence. They do not advance the historical account, but rather each of them was written at some point during the history.
Job, one of the books of poetry, was written during the time-period covered by Genesis. Its theme is suffering.
Leviticus was the handbook of the priests. It has to do with the worship of God, and is filled with typical meaning concerning Jesus Christ.
In Deuteronomy, a book of review, God through Moses reviewed the law with the generation of Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land.
Judges is a book of relationships. It points out that God always has His faithful ones, even in the midst of apostasy. Ruth is a story that occurred during this time.
Psalms, a book of experience, is a compilation of individual psalms, some of which had been written as early as Moses' time. However, since David wrote so many of the psalms, we place the book during David's lifetime, about the time of the book of II Samuel.
David's son, Solomon, wrote three books of poetry. Proverbs is the wise sayings of the world's wisest man. Ecclesiastes tells of the futility of life without God. Song of Solomon describes God's relationship to Israel, to the church and to the individual believer.
I and II Chronicles are placed under I and II Kings, for they cover the same period of time. The nation had been divided into Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom.
The books of Kings recorded the history from the point of view of the north, Chronicles from the point of view of the south.
The story of Esther took place about the time of Ezra. It demonstrates the sovereignty of God and His protection over the nation of Israel.
The books of prophecy were all written shortly before, during, or shortly after the time of Israel's exile. Thus we classify them as pre-exilic, exilic and post-exilic, because this helps to explain their messages. The pre-exilic prophets warned of impending judgment unless Israel would change its ways. Their books include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah.
The exilic prophets, Ezekiel and Daniel, encouraged the captives by telling of their future restoration and kingdom. The post-exilic prophets revealed more concerning the coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on the earth. They wrote the last three books of the Old Testament, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
This gives us a brief overall view of the Old Testament.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Like the Old Testament, the New Testament has sections of books grouped according to subject matter. It opens with four biographical books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Of course the Gospels do not give the whole biography of Jesus Christ. Perhaps we should call them memoirs. They give highlights of His life. It may appear that they repeat each other, but actually each of them presents Jesus Christ in a different way. Matthew presents Him as King of the Jews, Mark as the Servant of God, Luke as the perfect Man, and John as the Son of God. Matthew's Gospel was written to the Jews, Mark's to the Gentiles, Luke's to the whole world, John's to the church. Matthew's is prophetic in nature, Mark's practical, Luke's historical, John's spiritual. The four Gospels do not record all events in the same order. But this is because none of them, except Luke, were intended as historical accounts. Matthew, for example, in presenting the kingship of Christ, was interested in His kingly acts but was not interested in the chronology of them. Mark, in the same way, dealt with Jesus' servant like acts. John told very little of what He did, but repeated many of His words. Luke dealt historically with the work of Christ, and so was the most accurate in chronology.
Acts is a book of history. It records the story of the New Testament Church. Remember that Acts is historical, and not doctrinal. It simply tells what happened, how believers made the transition from worshipping God in shadows and types (as the Jews had) to worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth. The place to look for doctrinal truth is in the epistles. Confusion results when people try to form doctrinal statements from the history in the book of Acts. For example, some today are assuming that Pentecost, described in Acts 2, is a repeatable experience. But it was a historical event, that happened only once, just as the death of Christ as historical and cannot be repeated.
The section of epistles includes 21 books. Fourteen of these were written by Paul. They are Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon and (probably) Hebrews. They were written to refute error and establish doctrine for believers in Christ. Therefore we can find in them information on the manner of life intended for us in the present age.
The general epistles begin with James and I and II Peter, which were written to Hebrew Christians, as was the book of Hebrews. I, II and III John were written by the same John who wrote John's Gospel. The writer of Jude, like James, was a half brother of the Lord Jesus. These, also, give us doctrinal truth. II Peter, II and III John and Jude warn against false teaching.
The New Testament's one book of prophecy is the book of the Revelation. It is the capstone of all other prophecy. It ties together, and brings to consummation, all that was prophesied in the Old Testament. This is why people fail to understand it if they do not understand Old Testament prophecy. For example, suppose that a person misunderstands the Old Testament and believes that God is done with Israel. That person is at a loss as to what to do with the book of the Revelation; for that book tells of how God is going to purge the nation of Israel, bring the Jews to trust in Christ, and establish them under Christ their King. Jesus Christ is going to sit on the throne of David and fulfill every promise God made to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and David and the nation of Israel. He is going to bring all things under His dominion. This is what the Revelation points out. The last two chapters tell of the eternal state and of God's bringing into being a new heaven and earth.
We should regularly study our Bible, the Holy Word of God with much prayer and dedication.
Colossians 3:16 says "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Psalm 119:105 says “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Without its instructions, men flounder and lose their way. An in-depth study of God's Word helps us to find treasures which will bring solutions in times of crisis. With God's help and the power of His Word and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit is the means of transforming our lives into all that God wants us to be in our homes, our communities, our nation, and in our world. The Holy Spirit cannot tell us what the Bible means until we know what the Bible says. Our responsibility is to read the Word of God with great anticipation and prayerful diligence.
II Timothy 2:15 says "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Colossians 1:9-10 says "....and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"
Can you think of other reasons we should study our Bible?
The Bible - A Living Book
The book of Genesis gives us an outline of the entire Bible. Without the first eleven chapters of Genesis we would be at a loss to know what the remainder of the Bible is about. These chapters are the reason for the whole of the Bible. During the progress of the human family, God revealed Himself to man and made plain the message of Genesis. Book was added to book until the Word of God was complete in a volume of sixty-six books. Through these volumes God has revealed His purpose and plan for us. It is the only authority by which we can know our origin, history and destiny.
God created the world, and then made man and gave him dominion over all He had created. In the beginning, the entire human family was under one universal government, but man failed to respond to God and His Word. Following this, God called a family, through which He chose to reveal Himself as the Redeemer of the world.
Beginning with Abraham, this family developed and became a nation known as the Jewish nation. God made conditional and unconditional covenants with this nation. The greater portion of the Bible is given to show this nation's origin and the history of her faithfulness as well as her unfaithfulness and her final destiny. The Jewish nation failed in what was entrusted to her, resulting in her being scattered among the nations.
A remnant of the elect of God was worthy to be used to bring about the Church. Paul, the writer of the epistles, became a bitter enemy of the truth and a persecutor of the Church. He met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. From this experience and encounter with Christ, he became one of the most faithful followers, writers and expositors of the truth. He became a chosen vessel, a revealer of the Lord Jesus Christ, and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was able to write the letters which are so meaningful to us today for instruction in Christian living.
Ignorant of God's plan and purpose, the Jews rejected Christ as the Redeemer of the world. They had established their own system of religion, by-passing what God had promised the nation through covenant. They were unprepared to receive Christ whom God had revealed to them in the Old Testament.
John 1:11-12 tells us, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
The great theme of this book is the gospel of God – the good news concerning the way in which God, in His infinite love, has provided for sinners to be saved and for everything this free and full salvation includes. This theme is unfolded in the scope and divisions of the book. God reveals man’s true condition as being destitute of all righteousness. The whole world is found guilty before God; Jew and Gentile are lost. It is on this bleak and dark background that God writes the story of His great love.
Both the source and center of all is the sacrificial work of Christ, in which the righteousness of God is made manifest – no longer condemning the guilty sinner, but covering every sinner who believes in Jesus Christ. Justification is by faith, and faith in Christ is counted for righteousness. Justification is also based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being justified by faith, the results are that we have peace with God, a standing in grace and hope of the glory of God. We are therefore no longer to live in sin. Sin shall no longer have dominion over you. Christians are, in faith, to act upon this as one dead to sin and alive in God.
Romans 6:11-13 says “Likewise you also, reconcile yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteous sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God”
THE OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis, the book of beginnings, tells not only of the beginning of the universe and of man, but the beginning of sin, the beginning of the line of the Messiah Jesus Christ, the beginning of a line of believers and a line of unbelievers, and the beginning of the Jewish people.
Exodus, the book of redemption, gives a historical account of the deliverance of the nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt. At the same time it records the story in such a way that it becomes typical of God's redemptive plan for all mankind.
Numbers, the book of wandering, tells of the 40 years the children of Israel spent wandering in the wilderness because of their unbelief. This, too, is typical, picturing the unhappy state of a believer who refuses to walk by faith.
Joshua is the book of conquest. It tells about the Israelites who entered the Promised Land and possessed their possessions, and is a picture of the victorious Christian life.
Judges, the book of apostasy, points out what happened because of incomplete obedience. God told the Israelites to wipe out completely the Amorites and Canaanites and other people in the land; but they failed to do so, and the remaining heathen people led them into idolatry.
Then, beginning with I Samuel, there are four books that tell about the age of the kingdom in Israel: I Samuel tells of preparation for the kingdom, II Samuel the establishment of the kingdom, I Kings the division of the kingdom and II Kings the loss of the kingdom.
Then there was a 70-year exile, a period of time during which the people of Israel were taken away and held in captivity.
Ezra tells of the return of a group of former prisoners to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah is the story of others who returned to rebuild the walls of the city.
Now, the other 28 books of the Old Testament can be fitted into time sequence. They do not advance the historical account, but rather each of them was written at some point during the history.
Job, one of the books of poetry, was written during the time-period covered by Genesis. Its theme is suffering.
Leviticus was the handbook of the priests. It has to do with the worship of God, and is filled with typical meaning concerning Jesus Christ.
In Deuteronomy, a book of review, God through Moses reviewed the law with the generation of Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land.
Judges is a book of relationships. It points out that God always has His faithful ones, even in the midst of apostasy. Ruth is a story that occurred during this time.
Psalms, a book of experience, is a compilation of individual psalms, some of which had been written as early as Moses' time. However, since David wrote so many of the psalms, we place the book during David's lifetime, about the time of the book of II Samuel.
David's son, Solomon, wrote three books of poetry. Proverbs is the wise sayings of the world's wisest man. Ecclesiastes tells of the futility of life without God. Song of Solomon describes God's relationship to Israel, to the church and to the individual believer.
I and II Chronicles are placed under I and II Kings, for they cover the same period of time. The nation had been divided into Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom.
The books of Kings recorded the history from the point of view of the north, Chronicles from the point of view of the south.
The story of Esther took place about the time of Ezra. It demonstrates the sovereignty of God and His protection over the nation of Israel.
The books of prophecy were all written shortly before, during, or shortly after the time of Israel's exile. Thus we classify them as pre-exilic, exilic and post-exilic, because this helps to explain their messages. The pre-exilic prophets warned of impending judgment unless Israel would change its ways. Their books include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah.
The exilic prophets, Ezekiel and Daniel, encouraged the captives by telling of their future restoration and kingdom. The post-exilic prophets revealed more concerning the coming of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom on the earth. They wrote the last three books of the Old Testament, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
This gives us a brief overall view of the Old Testament.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
Like the Old Testament, the New Testament has sections of books grouped according to subject matter. It opens with four biographical books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Of course the Gospels do not give the whole biography of Jesus Christ. Perhaps we should call them memoirs. They give highlights of His life. It may appear that they repeat each other, but actually each of them presents Jesus Christ in a different way. Matthew presents Him as King of the Jews, Mark as the Servant of God, Luke as the perfect Man, and John as the Son of God. Matthew's Gospel was written to the Jews, Mark's to the Gentiles, Luke's to the whole world, John's to the church. Matthew's is prophetic in nature, Mark's practical, Luke's historical, John's spiritual. The four Gospels do not record all events in the same order. But this is because none of them, except Luke, were intended as historical accounts. Matthew, for example, in presenting the kingship of Christ, was interested in His kingly acts but was not interested in the chronology of them. Mark, in the same way, dealt with Jesus' servant like acts. John told very little of what He did, but repeated many of His words. Luke dealt historically with the work of Christ, and so was the most accurate in chronology.
Acts is a book of history. It records the story of the New Testament Church. Remember that Acts is historical, and not doctrinal. It simply tells what happened, how believers made the transition from worshipping God in shadows and types (as the Jews had) to worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth. The place to look for doctrinal truth is in the epistles. Confusion results when people try to form doctrinal statements from the history in the book of Acts. For example, some today are assuming that Pentecost, described in Acts 2, is a repeatable experience. But it was a historical event, that happened only once, just as the death of Christ as historical and cannot be repeated.
The section of epistles includes 21 books. Fourteen of these were written by Paul. They are Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon and (probably) Hebrews. They were written to refute error and establish doctrine for believers in Christ. Therefore we can find in them information on the manner of life intended for us in the present age.
The general epistles begin with James and I and II Peter, which were written to Hebrew Christians, as was the book of Hebrews. I, II and III John were written by the same John who wrote John's Gospel. The writer of Jude, like James, was a half brother of the Lord Jesus. These, also, give us doctrinal truth. II Peter, II and III John and Jude warn against false teaching.
The New Testament's one book of prophecy is the book of the Revelation. It is the capstone of all other prophecy. It ties together, and brings to consummation, all that was prophesied in the Old Testament. This is why people fail to understand it if they do not understand Old Testament prophecy. For example, suppose that a person misunderstands the Old Testament and believes that God is done with Israel. That person is at a loss as to what to do with the book of the Revelation; for that book tells of how God is going to purge the nation of Israel, bring the Jews to trust in Christ, and establish them under Christ their King. Jesus Christ is going to sit on the throne of David and fulfill every promise God made to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and David and the nation of Israel. He is going to bring all things under His dominion. This is what the Revelation points out. The last two chapters tell of the eternal state and of God's bringing into being a new heaven and earth.
We should regularly study our Bible, the Holy Word of God with much prayer and dedication.
Colossians 3:16 says "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Are you saved?
In this fast paced world will live in many of us sometimes
wonder about our salvation. The Bible gives us many scriptures to which we can test
ourselves. One of those is the parable of the sower. It talks of 4 different people
that receive the Word. Read the parable
and ask yourself, “Which one of these 4 describes me? And which one of these 4
should I be if I am saved?” Must be important to understand, it is in 3 out of 4 Gospels
Mar 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word.
Mar 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Mar 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mar 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word.
Mar 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Mar 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Also in Luke;
Luk 8:11 Now the
parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the
way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word
out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the
rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have
no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that
which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and
are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit
to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on
the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the
word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Also in Matthew
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
If, Part 10
“If, Part 10” by Romans
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
We are continuing our Series on the occurrences in Scripture of the word, “If.” Tonight will be the 10th Installment of our Series. In our previous 9 Studies, we have gone through the the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts, and just the first two epistles, Romans and 1 Corinthians. There are yet 19 Epistles, and the Book of Revelation that we have to cover. I don't know how many more Installments of this Series there will be. I do know that tonight will not be the last Installment. And, I hope you have experienced, in attending these Discussions, the same enlightenment and the same edification that I have received in preparing my Notes. I never expected a Study of the word, “If,” to yield the profitable review and clarification of so many Biblical precepts and doctrines. I hope it has been the same Blessing to each of you that it has been to me.
As a reminder, each of the previous 9 Installments are now available in the Forum, in the Thursday Bible Study area.
So let's begin.
There is one last Scripture that I would like to cover in the Apostle Paul's 1st Epistle to the Church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 16:7: “For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, IF the Lord permit.”
IF the Lord permit...
Paul qualified his plans about his visit to and tarry at Corith with the words, “IF the Lord permit...”
He did not know, and could not say that the visit he looked forward to, would ever take place. He recognized that his life, and twists and turns of his life were Divinely appointed. He certainly expected, when he originally started out to go to Damascus, to get there, and arrest those who he viewed as traitors to Judaism, embracing, what he was convinced was the heresy of Christianity.
He never made it to Damascus...
God had other plans for him. So now, when he speaks of a future visit to a city, he writes... “IF the Lord permit...”
James echoes a similar sentiment beginning in James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, IF the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “Go to now," is a call to any one to consider his conduct as being wrong. How apt worldly and contriving men are to leave God out of their plans! How vain it is to look for any thing good without God's blessing and guidance! The frailty, shortness, and uncertainty of life, ought to check the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all projects for futurity. We can fix the hour and minute of the sun's rising and setting to-morrow, but we cannot fix the certain time of a vapour being scattered. So short, unreal, and fading is human life, and all the prosperity or enjoyment that attends it; though bliss or woe for ever must be according to our conduct during this fleeting moment. We are always to depend on the will of God. Our times are not in our own hands, but at the disposal of God. Our heads may be filled with cares and contrivances for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Providence often throws our plans into confusion. All we design, and all we do, should be with submissive dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of worldly things and aspiring projects; it will bring great disappointment, and will prove destruction in the end.”
We have to keep in mind as we move into the Second Corinthians, that Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians was, for the most part, a letter of correction, and sometimes rebuke for their departures from the Faith into ungodly behavior, and heretical beliefs. Let's look at just three of these corrections:
First, there is 1 Corinthians 5:1: “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh...”
Next he had to reel in the Corinthian believers for their behavior at Church Services, in particular, during the Lord's Supper: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 11:20: “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.”
And lastly, as we read last week, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12: “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
As we can see, much of First Corinthians was a letter of correction, if not rebuke. He came down hard on them because he had to. Their ungodly behavior and drift into apostasy threatened the entire Church. His rebuke was not because he hated them... just the opposite. But First Corinthians caused some hurt feelings in Corinth. He indicates that he was aware of the impact he had on them later in this Epistle where he wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:8: For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as IF I would terrify you by letters.”
But our first actual “if” tonight from Second Corinthians directly addresses that hurt. One of the first things he talks about is his concern for the state of the man he instructed the Church to put out for his immoral relationship with his step-mother. Now he officially establishes Church precedent for accepting BACK a member who had been put out.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 2:1: “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For IF I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
2 Corinthians 2:5 ¶But IF any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for IF I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The apostle desired to have a cheerful meeting with them; and he had written in confidence of their doing what was to their benefit and his comfort; and that therefore they would be glad to remove every cause of disquiet from him. We should always give pain unwillingly, even when duty requires that it must be given. The apostle desires them to receive the person who had done wrong, again into their communion; for he was aware of his fault, and much afflicted under his punishment. Even sorrow for sin should not unfit for other duties, and drive to despair. Not only was there danger lest Satan should get advantage, by tempting the penitent to hard thoughts of God and religion, and so drive him to despair; but against the churches and the ministers of Christ, by bringing an evil report upon Christians as unforgiving; thus making divisions, and hindering the success of the ministry. In this, as in other things, wisdom is to be used, that the ministry may not be blamed for indulging sin on the one hand, or for too great severity towards sinners on the other hand. Satan has many plans to deceive, and knows how to make a bad use of our mistakes.”
Let's move on.
As I said earlier, Paul went from being the Church's persecutor-in-chief, to the Church's chief Evangelist. In making that about-face, he had to understand to superiority of the Gospel of Christ to the Old Covenant, also know as the Law of Moses.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 ¶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But IF the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For IF the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For IF that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.”
As we proceed in Paul's Epistle to the Church at Corinth, we come to our next “if.” Paul reiterates his love for the members there, and his great concern for their remaining Faithful to the Truth.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:1 ¶Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For IF he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or IF ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
This is somewhat clouded in the King James: Let's read that, again, but this time in the New Living Translation: “But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The apostle desired to preserve the Corinthians from being corrupted by the false apostles. There is but one Jesus, one Spirit, and one gospel, to be preached to them, and received by them; and why should any be prejudiced, by the devices of an adversary, against him who first taught them in faith? They should not listen to men, who, without cause, would draw them away from those who were the means of their conversion.”
Our next “if” is a continuation of the Paul's concern regarding deceivers and false brethren beguiling and undermining Church members. Satan's mission, as it was from his first conversation with the first humans on earth, is to deceive us, and introduce a wedge between us and God. He does not do that personally with us as he did with Eve. Let's notice how he does it, now:
We read of the men who do his work for him, beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing IF his ministers” (Satan's ministers) “also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the great power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptations to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serves Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discover those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Satan will allow his ministers to preach either the law or the gospel separately; but the law as established by faith in Christ's righteousness and atonement, and the partaking of his Spirit, is the test of every false system.”
For our next “if” this Evening, Paul answers those in Corinth who challenged his authority, and reminds them that he will address any departure from Godly behavior and Godly Doctrine. Let's read the complete thought that followed what he said when he spoke of his letters terrifying them:
The complete thought is this, in 2 Corinthians 10:9 That I may not seem as IF I would terrify you by letters.”
Notice, now, the disrespectful dismissal of Paul by some at Corinth in verse 10: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
Paul then reiterates his authority in verse 11: “Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.”
Our next “if” re-establishes his authority: 2 Corinthians 13:1 ¶This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as IF I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, IF I come again, I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
It is unthinkable to me that a man of the stature, standing, brilliance and dedication to Christ and the Gospel should have to defend himself against such disrespect. But he tells them in no uncertain terms that “ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.”
As I did last week, I saved for an “if” out of its chronological order as it appears in 2 Corinthians. It is from Chapter 5. I put it last because it is the longest “if” examination, but it is also the most powerful and positive “if.”
In our last 2 Corinthians “if,” we have the opportunity to review who and what we are in Jesus Christ. It is how God sees us. It is a reminder to all of us, and to each of us that we are not who we were. As Paul put it beginning in Colossians 1:9 ¶For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 ¶Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
We are not who we were before God called us, before God forgave us, and before God adopted us into His Family. We have been “delivered … from the power of darkness.” We have been “translated … into the kingdom of his dear Son.” We have become “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light...”
So let's look, now at our last “if,” tonight as it applies to who we were, and who we are. It is found beginning in 2 Corinthians 5:16 ¶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let's not read over that last verse too quickly. Let's notice two things:
First, notice that the word sin is in the singular, just it was in the singular when John the Baptist identified Him in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin (singular) of the world.”
As I thought about this, and I went back in Scripture. I noticed that the account of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac was the first time a lamb is specifically identified as the animal that would be sacrificed. There had been three other significant sacrifices before that incident, where an animal was killed but not specifically named. Can anyone name those three?
The first time an animal was sacrificed was when “the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Adam and Eve)” in Genesis 3:21. He did not clothe them with more fig leaves, or nice big palm leaves. He clothed them with coats of skins. Blood had to be shed to cover their nakedness and shame, a clear picture of the future sacrifice of the Messiah.
Next, we see a sacrifice when Abel made an offering to God in Genesis 4:4 “of the firstlings of his flock.” Although the word sacrifice is not applied, here, it certainly was that, and a blood sacrifice at that. So far no specific animal is named.
The third offering was made by Noah. We read of it in Genesis 8:20: “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” As opposed to naming just one specific animal, Noah sacrificed one of every clean beast.
Note: An uninformed critic of the Biblw, (but aren't they all?) may leap on this and proclaim: “Aha! IF Noah sacrificed one of every clean beast, and he only brought TWO of every beast onto the Ark, the how can clean beasts have possibly reproduced and replenished their kind with only one left after the sacrifice?”
As we read in Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This kind of challenge can only be raised based on ignorance of what Scripture actually says! Most people hear about Noah bringing two of every kind of bird and land animal on the Ark. He did no such thing! According to Genesis 7:2: “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” Clean beasts were taken aboard the Ark “by sevens,” or seven pairs of male and female, each. So even if Noah sacrificed representative male and females from each kind of clean beast, there were still six pairs each left to reproduce and replenish their numbers and kind.
But this brings us, now, to the first sacrifice where one specific animal in named. It is found in Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
I once heard a minister say that the entirety of the Old Testament is an echo of Isaac's question: “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” John the Baptist answered Isaac's question: “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Jesus takes away the “sin,” singular, of the world. To make sure that the all of the sins and all of the offenses and injustices and lies and murders and abuses and faults and rebellion and acts of vengeance and betrayal and every abomination... to make sure they are ALL covered by Christ's sacrifice, God compacts them all into a single consolidated package of unrighteousness, and calls it the “sin of the world.”
Let's get back to our other reference to sin in the singular that we just read:
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that the Father made Christ “to be sin for us.” Christ took away the sin of the world, by first becoming sin, and then accepting God's full wrath being poured out upon Him. That allows us to better understand, now, why Jesus cried out in Matthew 27:46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus had become sin for us. The full fury and righteous indignation of God was poured out on His Son, because He had become the consolidated and concentrated sin, singular, that every one on this earth had ever and will ever commit. And in accepting the wrath of God in our place, Jesus made it possible for each of us to be forgiven for our individual contribution to that combined and concentrated sin. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,” as we read in Isaiah 53:10. There was no other way for the death penalty to be carried out, a death penalty that we earned and brought down on our own heads. There was a righteous demand that the death penalty for sin had to be satisfied. And God could not overlook or simply dismiss that demand. And so we read of the remedy that God supplied, that we did not ask for and could never earn or work for or deserve: “... he hath made him (His Beloved Son,) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let's read the whole “if” passage, again with this clearer understanding:
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.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
This concludes this Evening's Discussion: “If, Part 10.”
This Discussion was originally conducted “live” by Romans on April 10th, 2014
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
We are continuing our Series on the occurrences in Scripture of the word, “If.” Tonight will be the 10th Installment of our Series. In our previous 9 Studies, we have gone through the the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts, and just the first two epistles, Romans and 1 Corinthians. There are yet 19 Epistles, and the Book of Revelation that we have to cover. I don't know how many more Installments of this Series there will be. I do know that tonight will not be the last Installment. And, I hope you have experienced, in attending these Discussions, the same enlightenment and the same edification that I have received in preparing my Notes. I never expected a Study of the word, “If,” to yield the profitable review and clarification of so many Biblical precepts and doctrines. I hope it has been the same Blessing to each of you that it has been to me.
As a reminder, each of the previous 9 Installments are now available in the Forum, in the Thursday Bible Study area.
So let's begin.
There is one last Scripture that I would like to cover in the Apostle Paul's 1st Epistle to the Church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 16:7: “For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, IF the Lord permit.”
IF the Lord permit...
Paul qualified his plans about his visit to and tarry at Corith with the words, “IF the Lord permit...”
He did not know, and could not say that the visit he looked forward to, would ever take place. He recognized that his life, and twists and turns of his life were Divinely appointed. He certainly expected, when he originally started out to go to Damascus, to get there, and arrest those who he viewed as traitors to Judaism, embracing, what he was convinced was the heresy of Christianity.
He never made it to Damascus...
God had other plans for him. So now, when he speaks of a future visit to a city, he writes... “IF the Lord permit...”
James echoes a similar sentiment beginning in James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, IF the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “Go to now," is a call to any one to consider his conduct as being wrong. How apt worldly and contriving men are to leave God out of their plans! How vain it is to look for any thing good without God's blessing and guidance! The frailty, shortness, and uncertainty of life, ought to check the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all projects for futurity. We can fix the hour and minute of the sun's rising and setting to-morrow, but we cannot fix the certain time of a vapour being scattered. So short, unreal, and fading is human life, and all the prosperity or enjoyment that attends it; though bliss or woe for ever must be according to our conduct during this fleeting moment. We are always to depend on the will of God. Our times are not in our own hands, but at the disposal of God. Our heads may be filled with cares and contrivances for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Providence often throws our plans into confusion. All we design, and all we do, should be with submissive dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of worldly things and aspiring projects; it will bring great disappointment, and will prove destruction in the end.”
We have to keep in mind as we move into the Second Corinthians, that Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians was, for the most part, a letter of correction, and sometimes rebuke for their departures from the Faith into ungodly behavior, and heretical beliefs. Let's look at just three of these corrections:
First, there is 1 Corinthians 5:1: “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh...”
Next he had to reel in the Corinthian believers for their behavior at Church Services, in particular, during the Lord's Supper: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 11:20: “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.”
And lastly, as we read last week, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12: “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
As we can see, much of First Corinthians was a letter of correction, if not rebuke. He came down hard on them because he had to. Their ungodly behavior and drift into apostasy threatened the entire Church. His rebuke was not because he hated them... just the opposite. But First Corinthians caused some hurt feelings in Corinth. He indicates that he was aware of the impact he had on them later in this Epistle where he wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:8: For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as IF I would terrify you by letters.”
But our first actual “if” tonight from Second Corinthians directly addresses that hurt. One of the first things he talks about is his concern for the state of the man he instructed the Church to put out for his immoral relationship with his step-mother. Now he officially establishes Church precedent for accepting BACK a member who had been put out.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 2:1: “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For IF I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
2 Corinthians 2:5 ¶But IF any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for IF I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The apostle desired to have a cheerful meeting with them; and he had written in confidence of their doing what was to their benefit and his comfort; and that therefore they would be glad to remove every cause of disquiet from him. We should always give pain unwillingly, even when duty requires that it must be given. The apostle desires them to receive the person who had done wrong, again into their communion; for he was aware of his fault, and much afflicted under his punishment. Even sorrow for sin should not unfit for other duties, and drive to despair. Not only was there danger lest Satan should get advantage, by tempting the penitent to hard thoughts of God and religion, and so drive him to despair; but against the churches and the ministers of Christ, by bringing an evil report upon Christians as unforgiving; thus making divisions, and hindering the success of the ministry. In this, as in other things, wisdom is to be used, that the ministry may not be blamed for indulging sin on the one hand, or for too great severity towards sinners on the other hand. Satan has many plans to deceive, and knows how to make a bad use of our mistakes.”
Let's move on.
As I said earlier, Paul went from being the Church's persecutor-in-chief, to the Church's chief Evangelist. In making that about-face, he had to understand to superiority of the Gospel of Christ to the Old Covenant, also know as the Law of Moses.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 ¶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But IF the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For IF the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For IF that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.”
As we proceed in Paul's Epistle to the Church at Corinth, we come to our next “if.” Paul reiterates his love for the members there, and his great concern for their remaining Faithful to the Truth.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:1 ¶Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For IF he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or IF ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
This is somewhat clouded in the King James: Let's read that, again, but this time in the New Living Translation: “But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The apostle desired to preserve the Corinthians from being corrupted by the false apostles. There is but one Jesus, one Spirit, and one gospel, to be preached to them, and received by them; and why should any be prejudiced, by the devices of an adversary, against him who first taught them in faith? They should not listen to men, who, without cause, would draw them away from those who were the means of their conversion.”
Our next “if” is a continuation of the Paul's concern regarding deceivers and false brethren beguiling and undermining Church members. Satan's mission, as it was from his first conversation with the first humans on earth, is to deceive us, and introduce a wedge between us and God. He does not do that personally with us as he did with Eve. Let's notice how he does it, now:
We read of the men who do his work for him, beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing IF his ministers” (Satan's ministers) “also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the great power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptations to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serves Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discover those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Satan will allow his ministers to preach either the law or the gospel separately; but the law as established by faith in Christ's righteousness and atonement, and the partaking of his Spirit, is the test of every false system.”
For our next “if” this Evening, Paul answers those in Corinth who challenged his authority, and reminds them that he will address any departure from Godly behavior and Godly Doctrine. Let's read the complete thought that followed what he said when he spoke of his letters terrifying them:
The complete thought is this, in 2 Corinthians 10:9 That I may not seem as IF I would terrify you by letters.”
Notice, now, the disrespectful dismissal of Paul by some at Corinth in verse 10: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
Paul then reiterates his authority in verse 11: “Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.”
Our next “if” re-establishes his authority: 2 Corinthians 13:1 ¶This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as IF I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, IF I come again, I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
It is unthinkable to me that a man of the stature, standing, brilliance and dedication to Christ and the Gospel should have to defend himself against such disrespect. But he tells them in no uncertain terms that “ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.”
As I did last week, I saved for an “if” out of its chronological order as it appears in 2 Corinthians. It is from Chapter 5. I put it last because it is the longest “if” examination, but it is also the most powerful and positive “if.”
In our last 2 Corinthians “if,” we have the opportunity to review who and what we are in Jesus Christ. It is how God sees us. It is a reminder to all of us, and to each of us that we are not who we were. As Paul put it beginning in Colossians 1:9 ¶For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 ¶Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
We are not who we were before God called us, before God forgave us, and before God adopted us into His Family. We have been “delivered … from the power of darkness.” We have been “translated … into the kingdom of his dear Son.” We have become “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light...”
So let's look, now at our last “if,” tonight as it applies to who we were, and who we are. It is found beginning in 2 Corinthians 5:16 ¶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let's not read over that last verse too quickly. Let's notice two things:
First, notice that the word sin is in the singular, just it was in the singular when John the Baptist identified Him in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin (singular) of the world.”
As I thought about this, and I went back in Scripture. I noticed that the account of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac was the first time a lamb is specifically identified as the animal that would be sacrificed. There had been three other significant sacrifices before that incident, where an animal was killed but not specifically named. Can anyone name those three?
The first time an animal was sacrificed was when “the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Adam and Eve)” in Genesis 3:21. He did not clothe them with more fig leaves, or nice big palm leaves. He clothed them with coats of skins. Blood had to be shed to cover their nakedness and shame, a clear picture of the future sacrifice of the Messiah.
Next, we see a sacrifice when Abel made an offering to God in Genesis 4:4 “of the firstlings of his flock.” Although the word sacrifice is not applied, here, it certainly was that, and a blood sacrifice at that. So far no specific animal is named.
The third offering was made by Noah. We read of it in Genesis 8:20: “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” As opposed to naming just one specific animal, Noah sacrificed one of every clean beast.
Note: An uninformed critic of the Biblw, (but aren't they all?) may leap on this and proclaim: “Aha! IF Noah sacrificed one of every clean beast, and he only brought TWO of every beast onto the Ark, the how can clean beasts have possibly reproduced and replenished their kind with only one left after the sacrifice?”
As we read in Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This kind of challenge can only be raised based on ignorance of what Scripture actually says! Most people hear about Noah bringing two of every kind of bird and land animal on the Ark. He did no such thing! According to Genesis 7:2: “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” Clean beasts were taken aboard the Ark “by sevens,” or seven pairs of male and female, each. So even if Noah sacrificed representative male and females from each kind of clean beast, there were still six pairs each left to reproduce and replenish their numbers and kind.
But this brings us, now, to the first sacrifice where one specific animal in named. It is found in Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
I once heard a minister say that the entirety of the Old Testament is an echo of Isaac's question: “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” John the Baptist answered Isaac's question: “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Jesus takes away the “sin,” singular, of the world. To make sure that the all of the sins and all of the offenses and injustices and lies and murders and abuses and faults and rebellion and acts of vengeance and betrayal and every abomination... to make sure they are ALL covered by Christ's sacrifice, God compacts them all into a single consolidated package of unrighteousness, and calls it the “sin of the world.”
Let's get back to our other reference to sin in the singular that we just read:
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that the Father made Christ “to be sin for us.” Christ took away the sin of the world, by first becoming sin, and then accepting God's full wrath being poured out upon Him. That allows us to better understand, now, why Jesus cried out in Matthew 27:46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus had become sin for us. The full fury and righteous indignation of God was poured out on His Son, because He had become the consolidated and concentrated sin, singular, that every one on this earth had ever and will ever commit. And in accepting the wrath of God in our place, Jesus made it possible for each of us to be forgiven for our individual contribution to that combined and concentrated sin. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,” as we read in Isaiah 53:10. There was no other way for the death penalty to be carried out, a death penalty that we earned and brought down on our own heads. There was a righteous demand that the death penalty for sin had to be satisfied. And God could not overlook or simply dismiss that demand. And so we read of the remedy that God supplied, that we did not ask for and could never earn or work for or deserve: “... he hath made him (His Beloved Son,) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let's read the whole “if” passage, again with this clearer understanding:
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.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
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.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
This concludes this Evening's Discussion: “If, Part 10.”
This Discussion was originally conducted “live” by Romans on April 10th, 2014
If, Part 9: The Resurrection
“If, Part 9: The Resurrection” by Romans
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
Good evening. I would like to welcome all of you here this evening. For those of you who may be new to what we have been doing on Thursday nights, we are continuing in our Series of the word, “If” as it occurs in Scripture. It it as surprising to me as it may be to you that tonight's installment of this Series is Part 9. You may be wondering how we could squeeze 9 installments of one-hour Bible Studies out of the word “If,” but there was no squeezing necessary. The Studies essentially wrote themselves, and the Bible itself more than willingly poured out teachings on the laws of God, Bible history, and spiritual doctrines. Our Studies delved into and clarified many issues that have affected, united and divided the Church from Apostolic times to our present day.
Tonight, our Study of the word “If” will be zeroing in on a single issue that has been controversial before it even occurred, namely, the Resurrection of Christ. I wish the timing for my delivering this Study were just a few weeks ahead of where it actually is. If this were the Thursday immediately before
Easter Sunday, I would have been very pleased. But, the notes will be available in the Forum for those who want to review at that later time.
I need to set several stages before we begin, so that when we get to the actual meat of the Discussion, it will have far greater impact and clarity.
First, in one of His many confrontations with the Jewish leaders who opposed Him, Jesus made this following statement very early in John's Gospel where Jesus cleansed the Temple and drove out the livestock and money changers. Because this is event is listed so early in John's Gospel, many scholars believe that Jesus did cleansed the Temple on two occasions, one at the beginning of His Ministry, and then again just before His crucifixion. But a cleansing has just taken place, and Jesus is immediately confronted: We read beginning in John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Now keep in mind as we read this, that it apparently only sank into their understanding that Jesus was saying that He was going to rise from the dead AFTER it happened. In contrast to them, the Pharisees DID understand that Jesus had said that He was going to rise again.
Notice this other occasion of this prediction in Matthew 12:38 ¶Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew Henry comments: “The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again.”
And the Pharisees got it. They understood very well what Jesus was saying. Why do I say this? They had subjected Jesus to a rigged and illegal trial, and then basically blackmailed Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea, into order the execution of a man whom he had already declared innocent. We read in John 19:12: “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
Pilate washed his hands of the blood of the innocent Jesus, but turned Him over to the Pharisees, and let them have the crucifixion that they cried out for. But they remembered and understood Jesus' words that He would only be in the heart of the earth for three days: We read in Matthew 27:62: “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
I submit to you that this was the first and last time that the tomb of a dead man had to have a military guard assigned to it to be sure that either the dead man did not come out, or that His followers would steal it to pretend that He had been resurrected. This is all the more striking when you consider that the corpse we are talking about, did not simply die peacefully in His sleep. He was the victim of the most brutal execution ever devised by man. Yet the Pharisees who arranged that execution still saw fit to beg the Governor to assign a Roman Guard to His tomb.
Matthew Henry writes: “On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.”
When the tomb was found to be empty, just as Jesus had said it would be, the Pharisees shifted into Plan B. We read beginning in Matthew 28:11 ¶Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
I love Matthew Henry's comments on that Plan B. As he does so often when I read his writings, he brings out many insightful and perceptive points that I had never considered before.
Matthew Henry writes: “What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge a little money for advancing what they know to be the truth. Let us never starve a good cause, when we see bad ones so liberally supported. The priests undertook to secure them from the sword of Pilate, but could not secure these soldiers from the sword of God's justice, which hangs over the heads of those that love and make a lie. Those men promise more than they can perform, who undertake to save a man harmless in doing a wilful sin. But this falsehood disproved itself. Had the soldiers been all asleep, they could not have known what passed. If any had been awake, they would have roused the others and prevented the removal; and certainly if they had been asleep, they never would have dared to confess it; while the Jewish rulers would have been the first to call for their punishment. Again, had there been any truth in the report, the rulers would have prosecuted the apostles with severity for it. The whole shows that the story was entirely false. And we must not charge such things to the weakness of the understanding, but to the wickedness of the heart. God left them to expose their own course. The great argument to prove Christ to be the Son of God, is his resurrection; and none could have more convincing proofs of the truth of that than these soldiers; yet they took bribes to hinder others from believing. The plainest evidence will not affect men, without the work of the Holy Spirit.”
The last prop that I will need to set for this stage involved the Apostle Paul as he made his appeal to the Roman Authorities for the riot that took place in Jerusalem. We read beginning in Acts 25:14: “And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
Paul, who once destroyed the Church, was now not only a Christian, but he had also quickly become one of its chief promoters among, of all people, the Gentiles. This was the reason to begin with for the riot that took place in Jerusalem. The mere appearance of Paul among the Jews in the Temple Area was the emotional equivalent of striking a match in a gas-filled room.
Now, finally, we have the full setting in place, and we turn to our first “If” of the evening. It appears in 1 Corinthians 15. Does anyone know what name scholars use when they refer to 1 Corinthians 15?
Yes, it is called “The Resurrection Chapter.”
Paul opens this chapter by reminding his readers in the Church at Corinth, that the Resurrection of Christ is a foundational, bedrock doctrine on which the Church, and Christianity are based. He writes:
1 Corinthians 15:1 ¶Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.”
The preaching of Christ's Death and Resurrection was Paul's primary message. He had faithfully and clearly delivered that message to the Church at Corinth, but now there were divisions and contentions rising up within the Congregation regarding Jesus' resurrection. Paul incredulously addresses the controversy beginning in the next verse: We read in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19: “Now IF Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But IF there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And IF Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, IF so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And IF Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 IF in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind, especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in the times of the sharpest persecution.”
Paul continues his discourse laying out for the Corinthians and for all of us a clear and concise teaching on the resurrection as it affected Christ, and as it affects each of us: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 IF after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, IF the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
Matthew Henry comments: “All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mt 20:22,23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.”
Paul next becomes very specific about exactly how the Resurrection will take place: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:35 ¶But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
Matthew Henry writes, “How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like it, year after year, in the death and revival of the corn. It is foolish to question the Almighty power of God to raise the dead, when we see it every day quickening and reviving things that are dead. To the second inquiry; The grain undergoes a great change; and so will the dead, when they rise and live again. The seed dies, though a part of it springs into new life, though how it is we cannot fully understand. The works of creation and providence daily teach us to be humble, as well as to admire the Creator's wisdom and goodness. There is a great variety among other bodies, as there is among plants. There is a variety of glory among heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly state; and there will be a variety of glories among them. Burying the dead, is like committing seed to the earth, that it may spring out of it again. Nothing is more loathsome than a dead body. But believers shall at the resurrection have bodies, made fit to be for ever united with spirits made perfect. To God all things are possible. He is the Author and Source of spiritual life and holiness, unto all his people, by the supply of his Holy Spirit to the soul; and he will also quicken and change the body by his Spirit. The dead in Christ shall not only rise, but shall rise thus gloriously changed. The bodies of the saints, when they rise again, will be changed. They will be then glorious and spiritual bodies, fitted to the heavenly world and state, where they are ever afterwards to dwell. The human body in its present form, and with its wants and weaknesses, cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God. Then let us not sow to the flesh, of which we can only reap corruption. And the body follows the state of the soul. He, therefore, who neglects the life of the soul, casts away his present good; he who refuses to live to God, squanders all he has.”
Paul concludes his teaching on the Resurrection 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.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 ¶Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
And as a last comment for this Evening, Matthew Henry writes: “All the saints should not die, but all would be changed. In the gospel, many truths, before hidden in mystery, are made known. Death never shall appear in the regions to which our Lord will bear his risen saints. Therefore let us seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of death, we may think calmly on the horrors of the tomb; assured that our bodies will there sleep, and in the mean time our souls will be present with the Redeemer. Sin gives death all its hurtful power. The sting of death is sin; but Christ, by dying, has taken out this sting; he has made atonement for sin, he has obtained remission of it. The strength of sin is the law. None can answer its demands, endure its curse, or do away his own transgressions. Hence terror and anguish. And hence death is terrible to the unbelieving and the impenitent. Death may seize a believer, but it cannot hold him in its power. How many springs of joy to the saints, and of thanksgiving to God, are opened by the death and resurrection, the sufferings and conquests of the Redeemer! In verse 58, we have an exhortation, that believers should be stedfast, firm in the faith of that gospel which the apostle preached, and they received. Also, to be unmovable in their hope and expectation of this great privilege, of being raised incorruptible and immortal. And to abound in the work of the Lord, always doing the Lord's service, and obeying the Lord's commands. May Christ give us faith, and increase our faith, that we may not only be safe, but joyful and triumphant.”
We can visit the graves of many famous and influential men. We can lay flowers where they lie in a casket, entombed. I have been to the grave of Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. His body was there in the 1970's when I went, and it is still there, now. I have been to President John F. Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetary. His body was still there when I went in 1993, and it was there when I went in 2012.
But when I was on tour in Israel in October of 1979, I went to a grave in a garden just outside the city of Jerusalem. The stone was rolled away. The Garden Tomb can be viewed at the following website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Tomb#The_tomb
When I stepped inside, I saw for myself that that grave was empty! Jesus died and was raised. And He is coming again!
This concludes this Evening's Discussion, “If, Part 9: The Resurrection.”
This was originally conducted “live” by Romans on April 3rd, 2014.
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
Good evening. I would like to welcome all of you here this evening. For those of you who may be new to what we have been doing on Thursday nights, we are continuing in our Series of the word, “If” as it occurs in Scripture. It it as surprising to me as it may be to you that tonight's installment of this Series is Part 9. You may be wondering how we could squeeze 9 installments of one-hour Bible Studies out of the word “If,” but there was no squeezing necessary. The Studies essentially wrote themselves, and the Bible itself more than willingly poured out teachings on the laws of God, Bible history, and spiritual doctrines. Our Studies delved into and clarified many issues that have affected, united and divided the Church from Apostolic times to our present day.
Tonight, our Study of the word “If” will be zeroing in on a single issue that has been controversial before it even occurred, namely, the Resurrection of Christ. I wish the timing for my delivering this Study were just a few weeks ahead of where it actually is. If this were the Thursday immediately before
Easter Sunday, I would have been very pleased. But, the notes will be available in the Forum for those who want to review at that later time.
I need to set several stages before we begin, so that when we get to the actual meat of the Discussion, it will have far greater impact and clarity.
First, in one of His many confrontations with the Jewish leaders who opposed Him, Jesus made this following statement very early in John's Gospel where Jesus cleansed the Temple and drove out the livestock and money changers. Because this is event is listed so early in John's Gospel, many scholars believe that Jesus did cleansed the Temple on two occasions, one at the beginning of His Ministry, and then again just before His crucifixion. But a cleansing has just taken place, and Jesus is immediately confronted: We read beginning in John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Now keep in mind as we read this, that it apparently only sank into their understanding that Jesus was saying that He was going to rise from the dead AFTER it happened. In contrast to them, the Pharisees DID understand that Jesus had said that He was going to rise again.
Notice this other occasion of this prediction in Matthew 12:38 ¶Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew Henry comments: “The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again.”
And the Pharisees got it. They understood very well what Jesus was saying. Why do I say this? They had subjected Jesus to a rigged and illegal trial, and then basically blackmailed Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea, into order the execution of a man whom he had already declared innocent. We read in John 19:12: “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
Pilate washed his hands of the blood of the innocent Jesus, but turned Him over to the Pharisees, and let them have the crucifixion that they cried out for. But they remembered and understood Jesus' words that He would only be in the heart of the earth for three days: We read in Matthew 27:62: “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
I submit to you that this was the first and last time that the tomb of a dead man had to have a military guard assigned to it to be sure that either the dead man did not come out, or that His followers would steal it to pretend that He had been resurrected. This is all the more striking when you consider that the corpse we are talking about, did not simply die peacefully in His sleep. He was the victim of the most brutal execution ever devised by man. Yet the Pharisees who arranged that execution still saw fit to beg the Governor to assign a Roman Guard to His tomb.
Matthew Henry writes: “On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.”
When the tomb was found to be empty, just as Jesus had said it would be, the Pharisees shifted into Plan B. We read beginning in Matthew 28:11 ¶Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
I love Matthew Henry's comments on that Plan B. As he does so often when I read his writings, he brings out many insightful and perceptive points that I had never considered before.
Matthew Henry writes: “What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge a little money for advancing what they know to be the truth. Let us never starve a good cause, when we see bad ones so liberally supported. The priests undertook to secure them from the sword of Pilate, but could not secure these soldiers from the sword of God's justice, which hangs over the heads of those that love and make a lie. Those men promise more than they can perform, who undertake to save a man harmless in doing a wilful sin. But this falsehood disproved itself. Had the soldiers been all asleep, they could not have known what passed. If any had been awake, they would have roused the others and prevented the removal; and certainly if they had been asleep, they never would have dared to confess it; while the Jewish rulers would have been the first to call for their punishment. Again, had there been any truth in the report, the rulers would have prosecuted the apostles with severity for it. The whole shows that the story was entirely false. And we must not charge such things to the weakness of the understanding, but to the wickedness of the heart. God left them to expose their own course. The great argument to prove Christ to be the Son of God, is his resurrection; and none could have more convincing proofs of the truth of that than these soldiers; yet they took bribes to hinder others from believing. The plainest evidence will not affect men, without the work of the Holy Spirit.”
The last prop that I will need to set for this stage involved the Apostle Paul as he made his appeal to the Roman Authorities for the riot that took place in Jerusalem. We read beginning in Acts 25:14: “And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
Paul, who once destroyed the Church, was now not only a Christian, but he had also quickly become one of its chief promoters among, of all people, the Gentiles. This was the reason to begin with for the riot that took place in Jerusalem. The mere appearance of Paul among the Jews in the Temple Area was the emotional equivalent of striking a match in a gas-filled room.
Now, finally, we have the full setting in place, and we turn to our first “If” of the evening. It appears in 1 Corinthians 15. Does anyone know what name scholars use when they refer to 1 Corinthians 15?
Yes, it is called “The Resurrection Chapter.”
Paul opens this chapter by reminding his readers in the Church at Corinth, that the Resurrection of Christ is a foundational, bedrock doctrine on which the Church, and Christianity are based. He writes:
1 Corinthians 15:1 ¶Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.”
The preaching of Christ's Death and Resurrection was Paul's primary message. He had faithfully and clearly delivered that message to the Church at Corinth, but now there were divisions and contentions rising up within the Congregation regarding Jesus' resurrection. Paul incredulously addresses the controversy beginning in the next verse: We read in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19: “Now IF Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But IF there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And IF Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, IF so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And IF Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 IF in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind, especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in the times of the sharpest persecution.”
Paul continues his discourse laying out for the Corinthians and for all of us a clear and concise teaching on the resurrection as it affected Christ, and as it affects each of us: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 IF after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, IF the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
Matthew Henry comments: “All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mt 20:22,23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.”
Paul next becomes very specific about exactly how the Resurrection will take place: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:35 ¶But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
Matthew Henry writes, “How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like it, year after year, in the death and revival of the corn. It is foolish to question the Almighty power of God to raise the dead, when we see it every day quickening and reviving things that are dead. To the second inquiry; The grain undergoes a great change; and so will the dead, when they rise and live again. The seed dies, though a part of it springs into new life, though how it is we cannot fully understand. The works of creation and providence daily teach us to be humble, as well as to admire the Creator's wisdom and goodness. There is a great variety among other bodies, as there is among plants. There is a variety of glory among heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly state; and there will be a variety of glories among them. Burying the dead, is like committing seed to the earth, that it may spring out of it again. Nothing is more loathsome than a dead body. But believers shall at the resurrection have bodies, made fit to be for ever united with spirits made perfect. To God all things are possible. He is the Author and Source of spiritual life and holiness, unto all his people, by the supply of his Holy Spirit to the soul; and he will also quicken and change the body by his Spirit. The dead in Christ shall not only rise, but shall rise thus gloriously changed. The bodies of the saints, when they rise again, will be changed. They will be then glorious and spiritual bodies, fitted to the heavenly world and state, where they are ever afterwards to dwell. The human body in its present form, and with its wants and weaknesses, cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God. Then let us not sow to the flesh, of which we can only reap corruption. And the body follows the state of the soul. He, therefore, who neglects the life of the soul, casts away his present good; he who refuses to live to God, squanders all he has.”
Paul concludes his teaching on the Resurrection 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.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 ¶Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
And as a last comment for this Evening, Matthew Henry writes: “All the saints should not die, but all would be changed. In the gospel, many truths, before hidden in mystery, are made known. Death never shall appear in the regions to which our Lord will bear his risen saints. Therefore let us seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of death, we may think calmly on the horrors of the tomb; assured that our bodies will there sleep, and in the mean time our souls will be present with the Redeemer. Sin gives death all its hurtful power. The sting of death is sin; but Christ, by dying, has taken out this sting; he has made atonement for sin, he has obtained remission of it. The strength of sin is the law. None can answer its demands, endure its curse, or do away his own transgressions. Hence terror and anguish. And hence death is terrible to the unbelieving and the impenitent. Death may seize a believer, but it cannot hold him in its power. How many springs of joy to the saints, and of thanksgiving to God, are opened by the death and resurrection, the sufferings and conquests of the Redeemer! In verse 58, we have an exhortation, that believers should be stedfast, firm in the faith of that gospel which the apostle preached, and they received. Also, to be unmovable in their hope and expectation of this great privilege, of being raised incorruptible and immortal. And to abound in the work of the Lord, always doing the Lord's service, and obeying the Lord's commands. May Christ give us faith, and increase our faith, that we may not only be safe, but joyful and triumphant.”
We can visit the graves of many famous and influential men. We can lay flowers where they lie in a casket, entombed. I have been to the grave of Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. His body was there in the 1970's when I went, and it is still there, now. I have been to President John F. Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetary. His body was still there when I went in 1993, and it was there when I went in 2012.
But when I was on tour in Israel in October of 1979, I went to a grave in a garden just outside the city of Jerusalem. The stone was rolled away. The Garden Tomb can be viewed at the following website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Tomb#The_tomb
When I stepped inside, I saw for myself that that grave was empty! Jesus died and was raised. And He is coming again!
This concludes this Evening's Discussion, “If, Part 9: The Resurrection.”
This was originally conducted “live” by Romans on April 3rd, 2014.
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