Twice in Ezekiel 38 the Lord declares that He will show His holiness. Outside the context of this chapter, one might imagine different scenes than the ones portrayed here. One might conclude that the Lord’s holiness will appear as a bright cloud, a radiant rainbow, or a breathtaking sunrise. Those pictures are far from the imagery of His holiness in Ezekiel 38! In fact, what is described in Ezekiel 38 is absolutely frightening.
One portrayal of God’s holiness will come in the form of a mighty, conquering army. The army of Gog will descend upon Israel like a cloud covering the land. The Lord says, “In the latter days I will bring you against My land, that the nations may know Me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate My holiness before their eyes” (38:16).
The other portrayal of God’s holiness in this chapter is a devastating earthquake. Everything and everyone, from the birds of the air to the people on the earth, will quake at the presence of the Lord! The Lord says, “For in My jealousy and in My blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel” (38:19).
Armies and earthquakes. Both are overwhelming and will overwhelm. Both are incontrollable and out-of-your-hands. Both will not be stopped but must be endured and waited out until they have finished. Both are frightening images of God’s manifested holiness. Why does God’s holiness appear in these forms? To judge sin and to uphold His name as the true God. If you deny Him, you will tremble at His approach. If you love Him, you will welcome His approach for when He vindicates His name, He saves His people (39:25-29)!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Bones and Promises - Ez 35-37
Ezekiel 37 is a fascinating account. The Lord brings Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and commands him to prophesy over the bones. The message: The Lord will cause you to live. As Ezekiel preached over these bones, the miraculous happened! Bone came to bone, muscle formed over the bones, breath was given to them, and the valley of bones was transformed into a great, living army! The dead came to life! An impossibility made into reality!
The point of Ezekiel 37 is to illustrate the promise of Ezekiel 36.
Ezekiel 36 is a restatement of the New Covenant promise found in Ezekiel 11. Again in 36, the Lord promises to give His people a new heart and a new spirit. He will put His Spirit within them. He will remove their dead heart and replace it with a new one. He will cleanse them and deliver them from their uncleannesses. Then they will walk in His ways, He will be their God, and they will be His people. In other words, He is going to make a people for Himself! He is going to totally transform a people into His children.
How will He accomplish this creation of life from death? By His will and power through the preaching of His Word! So to illustrate, He carries Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones!
As New Covenant believers today, the impossibility of bringing life from death is reality in us! We were dead in our sins, and God made us alive in Christ! He did this by His will and power through the preaching of His Word! Next time you read about the valley of bones, thank God for the day He rattled you and brought you to life in Christ!
The point of Ezekiel 37 is to illustrate the promise of Ezekiel 36.
Ezekiel 36 is a restatement of the New Covenant promise found in Ezekiel 11. Again in 36, the Lord promises to give His people a new heart and a new spirit. He will put His Spirit within them. He will remove their dead heart and replace it with a new one. He will cleanse them and deliver them from their uncleannesses. Then they will walk in His ways, He will be their God, and they will be His people. In other words, He is going to make a people for Himself! He is going to totally transform a people into His children.
How will He accomplish this creation of life from death? By His will and power through the preaching of His Word! So to illustrate, He carries Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones!
As New Covenant believers today, the impossibility of bringing life from death is reality in us! We were dead in our sins, and God made us alive in Christ! He did this by His will and power through the preaching of His Word! Next time you read about the valley of bones, thank God for the day He rattled you and brought you to life in Christ!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Shameful Shepherds - Ez 32-34
34:2 “This says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?”
There is simply no way around it. The number one job and priority for the shepherd of God’s flock, who follows the biblical model, is to feed the flock! When this top priority becomes secondary or even non-existent, disaster is right around the corner!
In this case of Ezekiel’s day, the shepherds of Israel had become the “served” instead of their proper role of serving others. This is what occurs when pride slips into the hearts of leaders. Leaders easily fall prey to pride because of their position and visibility. In the end, these shepherds had turned their vocation on its end! The flock was starving for nourishment while the shepherds were obese!
Sadly, this is often the situation in our day as well. The flock is starving. Sometimes it is due to role-reversal, but there are many other reasons that push the teaching of the Word to the background. Sometimes the flock rejects the Word. Sometimes the shepherd spins new meaning to the Word. Sometimes the shepherd and the flock have been groomed to deny the Word. Whatever the cause, the effect will be the same. The flock will starve!
You can be sure the Lord will not allow His flock to die of starvation! He will rescue His flock! He will judge and remove shameful shepherds. He will shepherd His flock Himself! He will restore His Word among His people. He will feed the flock.
There is simply no way around it. The number one job and priority for the shepherd of God’s flock, who follows the biblical model, is to feed the flock! When this top priority becomes secondary or even non-existent, disaster is right around the corner!
In this case of Ezekiel’s day, the shepherds of Israel had become the “served” instead of their proper role of serving others. This is what occurs when pride slips into the hearts of leaders. Leaders easily fall prey to pride because of their position and visibility. In the end, these shepherds had turned their vocation on its end! The flock was starving for nourishment while the shepherds were obese!
Sadly, this is often the situation in our day as well. The flock is starving. Sometimes it is due to role-reversal, but there are many other reasons that push the teaching of the Word to the background. Sometimes the flock rejects the Word. Sometimes the shepherd spins new meaning to the Word. Sometimes the shepherd and the flock have been groomed to deny the Word. Whatever the cause, the effect will be the same. The flock will starve!
You can be sure the Lord will not allow His flock to die of starvation! He will rescue His flock! He will judge and remove shameful shepherds. He will shepherd His flock Himself! He will restore His Word among His people. He will feed the flock.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Lord of the Nations - Ez 29-31
Behind the events of man stands the hand of God! Nothing takes place, whether political, economical, or global that does not have a divine initiative and purpose behind it. Even the horrors, evils, and devastation of war are folded into God’s plan to glorify Himself among the nations. Man does not act from his own intuition, even though he believes this to be the case.
An example of God’s sovereign rule over the nations is given in Ezekiel 29-31. Egypt will face a bitter judgment because of their pride and mistreatment of Israel. The Lord will not allow those things to go unpunished. He will prove to Egypt that He is Lord when He brings them down.
The instrument of His wrath will be the nation of Babylon. Babylon will brutally defeat Egypt and thus bring this prophecy to reality. In the prophetic words, the Lord will “break his [Pharaoh] arms” and “strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon” (30:22, 24).
From Babylon’s perspective, they are simply so powerful that they will crush the once mighty Egyptians. They are now the world empire. They are simply accomplishing what world empires accomplish, namely, global domination. However, this is not God’s perspective. He has raised them up. He is using them to enact judgment. When He has finished His purposes, He will judge them for their wickedness as well.
The same Lord who rules over the nations, rules over individual men! His purposes will be accomplished. The only proper response to His sovereignty is to bow before Him in honor, reverence, and worship!
An example of God’s sovereign rule over the nations is given in Ezekiel 29-31. Egypt will face a bitter judgment because of their pride and mistreatment of Israel. The Lord will not allow those things to go unpunished. He will prove to Egypt that He is Lord when He brings them down.
The instrument of His wrath will be the nation of Babylon. Babylon will brutally defeat Egypt and thus bring this prophecy to reality. In the prophetic words, the Lord will “break his [Pharaoh] arms” and “strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon” (30:22, 24).
From Babylon’s perspective, they are simply so powerful that they will crush the once mighty Egyptians. They are now the world empire. They are simply accomplishing what world empires accomplish, namely, global domination. However, this is not God’s perspective. He has raised them up. He is using them to enact judgment. When He has finished His purposes, He will judge them for their wickedness as well.
The same Lord who rules over the nations, rules over individual men! His purposes will be accomplished. The only proper response to His sovereignty is to bow before Him in honor, reverence, and worship!
All Will Know, But Differently - Ez 25-28
Ezekiel 25 begins a transition in this prophecy. With the siege of Jerusalem, the word of prophetic judgment now falls upon Israel’s neighbors. Ezekiel announces judgment against Ammon, Moab and Sir, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, and Sidon. None is exempt from facing the penalty of their sin.
The Lord will not be mistaken or doubted. When He judges His children, He will not allow the nations to conclude that Israel’s God is unable to save! He will bring them to judgment for the sole purpose of not allowing them to reach that conclusion! Every prophetic word includes the same purpose statement, “Then they will know that I am the Lord God.” Judging Israel’s neighbors will affirm the sovereignty and omnipotence of the one, true God!
Then Ezekiel returns to prophecy of Israel. After God scatters them in judgment, He will gather them and return them to the land. After He has proven Himself in judgment upon her neighbors, He will prove Himself in grace upon Israel! 28:25-26 “. . . then they shall dwell in their own land . . . Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
Notice the fundamental difference between how Israel’s neighbors will know the Lord and how Israel will know the Lord. All her neighbors will know from judgment that He is the Lord God. Israel will know from grace after discipline that He is the Lord THEIR God! That’s a huge distinction. All will know, but differently!
Everyone will eventually KNOW the Lord! There will be no doubt as to who is the Lord God! The question is do we know Him as the Lord OUR God! If not, you can by embracing His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior!
The Lord will not be mistaken or doubted. When He judges His children, He will not allow the nations to conclude that Israel’s God is unable to save! He will bring them to judgment for the sole purpose of not allowing them to reach that conclusion! Every prophetic word includes the same purpose statement, “Then they will know that I am the Lord God.” Judging Israel’s neighbors will affirm the sovereignty and omnipotence of the one, true God!
Then Ezekiel returns to prophecy of Israel. After God scatters them in judgment, He will gather them and return them to the land. After He has proven Himself in judgment upon her neighbors, He will prove Himself in grace upon Israel! 28:25-26 “. . . then they shall dwell in their own land . . . Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
Notice the fundamental difference between how Israel’s neighbors will know the Lord and how Israel will know the Lord. All her neighbors will know from judgment that He is the Lord God. Israel will know from grace after discipline that He is the Lord THEIR God! That’s a huge distinction. All will know, but differently!
Everyone will eventually KNOW the Lord! There will be no doubt as to who is the Lord God! The question is do we know Him as the Lord OUR God! If not, you can by embracing His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A Tale of Two Sisters - Ez 21-24
Ezekiel 23 personifies Samaria and Jerusalem as sisters Oholah and Oholibah. It is one of the most, if not the most, graphic descriptions in all the Bible.
Oholah and Oholibah began their lives of perverse behavior at a young age. While living in the land of Egypt, they embraced the gods and practices of the Egyptians. Their idolatry is spiritual adultery and is described as literal adultery throughout the chapter.
Oholah continued her lewd behavior as an adult and gave herself to Assyrians. Seeing that her path of adultery only grew with intensity, the Lord delivered her into the hands of her lovers. Her lovers became her destroyers.
Having known the destruction of her older sister, Oholibah does not change her ways but instead grew even more vile than her sister! Oholibah not only committed adultery with Assyria but pursued adulterous relations with Chaldea. When all these lovers could not satisfy her, she returned to the adultery of her youth in Egypt. The message for Oholibah is that if Oholah faced judgment for her idolatry, how much more shall Oholibah face?
The point for the reader is to understand that God’s judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem are not over-reactions! The punishment does fit the crime. The application for the reader is repentance! Have we not all committed spiritual adultery? Do we not all deserve judgment? Let us thank the Lord for His grace today, turn from our own collection of idols, and love Him with all our hearts!
Oholah and Oholibah began their lives of perverse behavior at a young age. While living in the land of Egypt, they embraced the gods and practices of the Egyptians. Their idolatry is spiritual adultery and is described as literal adultery throughout the chapter.
Oholah continued her lewd behavior as an adult and gave herself to Assyrians. Seeing that her path of adultery only grew with intensity, the Lord delivered her into the hands of her lovers. Her lovers became her destroyers.
Having known the destruction of her older sister, Oholibah does not change her ways but instead grew even more vile than her sister! Oholibah not only committed adultery with Assyria but pursued adulterous relations with Chaldea. When all these lovers could not satisfy her, she returned to the adultery of her youth in Egypt. The message for Oholibah is that if Oholah faced judgment for her idolatry, how much more shall Oholibah face?
The point for the reader is to understand that God’s judgment against Samaria and Jerusalem are not over-reactions! The punishment does fit the crime. The application for the reader is repentance! Have we not all committed spiritual adultery? Do we not all deserve judgment? Let us thank the Lord for His grace today, turn from our own collection of idols, and love Him with all our hearts!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
For His Name's Sake - Ez 17-20
The fundamental reason for all of God’s actions is His own glory. Everything is primarily rooted in God’s motivation to uphold and spread His name. While this may perhaps be mistaken as wrongdoing on God’s part, it is actually quite the opposite. Because God’s actions are rooted in His name, they are also good, merciful, and gracious toward His people!
When the Lord was preparing to deliver the people from Egypt, He observed that they had embraced the gods of Egypt and would not relinquish them. Instead of extinguishing them in Egypt, as they deserved, He delivered them for His name’s sake (20:9)!
When the Lord provided their escape from Pharaoh and gave them His statutes, they responded by rebelling against Him. Instead of pouring out His wrath and ending them in the wilderness, as they deserved, He preserved them for His name’s sake (20:14)!
Their children, who were to inherit the Promised Land, followed in the way of their parents. Instead of executing them before the Conquest, as they deserved, He brought them into the land for His name’s sake (20:22)!
Eventually their continued sin is such that it must be judged. God will enter into judgment against them and scatter them, as they deserve. However, He will not forget them. He will gather them, renew them, and return them for His name’s sake (20:44)!
It is precisely because God acts on behalf of His name that we, followers of Christ, are His children today! Praise His name!
When the Lord was preparing to deliver the people from Egypt, He observed that they had embraced the gods of Egypt and would not relinquish them. Instead of extinguishing them in Egypt, as they deserved, He delivered them for His name’s sake (20:9)!
When the Lord provided their escape from Pharaoh and gave them His statutes, they responded by rebelling against Him. Instead of pouring out His wrath and ending them in the wilderness, as they deserved, He preserved them for His name’s sake (20:14)!
Their children, who were to inherit the Promised Land, followed in the way of their parents. Instead of executing them before the Conquest, as they deserved, He brought them into the land for His name’s sake (20:22)!
Eventually their continued sin is such that it must be judged. God will enter into judgment against them and scatter them, as they deserve. However, He will not forget them. He will gather them, renew them, and return them for His name’s sake (20:44)!
It is precisely because God acts on behalf of His name that we, followers of Christ, are His children today! Praise His name!
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Faithless Bride - Ez 13-16
Ezekiel 16 personifies Israel as the Lord’s Bride. It is a powerful, insightful means to reveal just how horrible was her sin towards such a merciful and gracious God. The faithless Bride has been wed to a Faithful Husband!
The Faithless Bride. She was born to an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. Pagan from birth, she was abandoned with no one to care for her. Yet the Lord watched over her. When she came of age, the Lord entered into covenant with her. He cleansed, adorned, and anointed her. He lavished her with goods, and she was known for her beauty and splendor.
Eventually, the gifts and status bestowed upon her became the means to cheat on Him and break covenant. Her beauty and fame attracted many lovers, and she turned none away. She grew in her lust and searched for lovers far and wide. Her adultery was even more vile than the prostitute’s for she paid her partners. There was no end to her lewdness.
The Faithful Husband. The Lord will bring her iniquity to an end. He will turn her lovers against her. She will learn what true love is when they strip her of everything she has. Out of love, the Lord will allow her to receive due reward for her sin. He will not, however, leave her! He will not give her what she deserves. In fact, He will do more for her now than ever. He will enact a new covenant, atone for her, and take her for His own forevermore.
A faithless Bride and a Faithful Husband. It’s not just OT Israel’s personification! We have all been faithless, but the Lord remains faithful constantly. Praise His name that His faithfulness is rooted in the everlasting covenant He has made with His Bride, the Church!
The Faithless Bride. She was born to an Amorite father and a Hittite mother. Pagan from birth, she was abandoned with no one to care for her. Yet the Lord watched over her. When she came of age, the Lord entered into covenant with her. He cleansed, adorned, and anointed her. He lavished her with goods, and she was known for her beauty and splendor.
Eventually, the gifts and status bestowed upon her became the means to cheat on Him and break covenant. Her beauty and fame attracted many lovers, and she turned none away. She grew in her lust and searched for lovers far and wide. Her adultery was even more vile than the prostitute’s for she paid her partners. There was no end to her lewdness.
The Faithful Husband. The Lord will bring her iniquity to an end. He will turn her lovers against her. She will learn what true love is when they strip her of everything she has. Out of love, the Lord will allow her to receive due reward for her sin. He will not, however, leave her! He will not give her what she deserves. In fact, He will do more for her now than ever. He will enact a new covenant, atone for her, and take her for His own forevermore.
A faithless Bride and a Faithful Husband. It’s not just OT Israel’s personification! We have all been faithless, but the Lord remains faithful constantly. Praise His name that His faithfulness is rooted in the everlasting covenant He has made with His Bride, the Church!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Heart Transplant - Ez 9-12
The miracle of the New Covenant is the miracle of a new heart! Just try to tell your heart what to do. See how successful you are at manually, willfully redirecting the desires of your heart. After you have worn yourself out, you will discover that you cannot change your heart! You do not direct your heart, your heart directs you!
This is the fundamental, core problem with our sinful, fallen nature. It is a problem of the heart. We do not love God as sinners. We do not want to love God as sinners. We want to love ourselves! We want God to serve us instead of us serving God! There is nothing we can do or will do to change that course and direction. As fallen sinners, we will remain steady on the path of fallenness! The only hope we have is a change of heart!
This is the glory of New Covenant grace! God changes the heart! God’s saving work is so dramatic and new and fundamental that it is described as a heart transplant. When God pours His grace upon our sinful hearts, we are left with hearts that appear and function in absolutely brand new ways.
The new heart walks in the ways of God and loves it! It is not forced to obey God, it wants to obey God! The new heart finds its joy in servitude to God. The new heart changes the person. He now responds to God in faith and repentance. He now belongs to God! The radical change that conversion brings is as its core a change of heart, a heart transplant!
Ez 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules and obey them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
This is the fundamental, core problem with our sinful, fallen nature. It is a problem of the heart. We do not love God as sinners. We do not want to love God as sinners. We want to love ourselves! We want God to serve us instead of us serving God! There is nothing we can do or will do to change that course and direction. As fallen sinners, we will remain steady on the path of fallenness! The only hope we have is a change of heart!
This is the glory of New Covenant grace! God changes the heart! God’s saving work is so dramatic and new and fundamental that it is described as a heart transplant. When God pours His grace upon our sinful hearts, we are left with hearts that appear and function in absolutely brand new ways.
The new heart walks in the ways of God and loves it! It is not forced to obey God, it wants to obey God! The new heart finds its joy in servitude to God. The new heart changes the person. He now responds to God in faith and repentance. He now belongs to God! The radical change that conversion brings is as its core a change of heart, a heart transplant!
Ez 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules and obey them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
Then They Will Know - Ez 5-8
Ezekiel 5:13 “Thus shall My anger spend itself, and I will vent My fury upon them and satisfy Myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend My fury upon them.” Ezekiel 5-8 explains how God will judge Jerusalem and why. Judgment will come from three sources; sword, famine, and pestilence. The slain will be found dead around their idols. Sons and fathers will eat each other. The horror of the judgment will match the vileness of their iniquities. The Lord refers to this judgment as spending His anger, venting His fury, and spending His fury. These are frightening descriptives! Why is the Lord so furious?
There are a number of reasons given in the text. First, Israel, God’s chosen people who were to be witnesses to the nations of the glory of God, has become even more vile than the nations around them! She is more corrupt, abhorrent, and pagan than her pagan neighbors!
Second, idolatry has become rampant throughout the land. Everywhere you go, whether the city gates or the temple, you encounter idolatry. It is not only in the open among the common men, but done in secret by the city elders. The people do not believe God and have replaced Him!
Third, The Lord says He will do this so that they will know He is the Lord! He will prove Himself through the fire of judgment. Then all doubts will be removed. Then they will stop questioning God. Then that they will know!
Everyone will know that the Lord is God either by grace or by judgment! Turn to Him in the day of grace that you may know Him before the day of wrath!
There are a number of reasons given in the text. First, Israel, God’s chosen people who were to be witnesses to the nations of the glory of God, has become even more vile than the nations around them! She is more corrupt, abhorrent, and pagan than her pagan neighbors!
Second, idolatry has become rampant throughout the land. Everywhere you go, whether the city gates or the temple, you encounter idolatry. It is not only in the open among the common men, but done in secret by the city elders. The people do not believe God and have replaced Him!
Third, The Lord says He will do this so that they will know He is the Lord! He will prove Himself through the fire of judgment. Then all doubts will be removed. Then they will stop questioning God. Then that they will know!
Everyone will know that the Lord is God either by grace or by judgment! Turn to Him in the day of grace that you may know Him before the day of wrath!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Describing the Indescribable - Ez 1-4
Ezekiel’s prophecy begins with his description of the glory of the Lord. What a sight! It started as a bright cloud issuing lightening bolts with gleaming metal in the center of the storm. Out of this came four, fiery creatures with a human likeness, except they each had four faces and two wings! They had hoof feet, bronze bodies, and human hands under their wings. For their four faces, one looked human, one like a lion, one like an ox, and one like an eagle.
Beside the each creature was a gleaming wheel that had within it another wheel and rims covered with eyes. Over the creatures’ heads was a shining expanse. Above the expanse, a sapphire throne. On the throne, a human likeness with a body of gleaming metal and fire. Everything was brightness!
Can you get that image in your head? It is difficult isn’t it? You can tell by reading Ezekiel’s description that he is struggling to put into words what he is beholding! He is viewing the glory of the Lord! He is attempting to describe the indescribable.
We might miss the point if we try to analyze what each detail represents. Maybe some benefit, but probably just speculation. Maybe the point of this description is to realize that the manifested glory of the Lord is breathtaking, stunning, and overwhelming. When Ezekiel saw it, he fell on his face (v28). Maybe the point of describing the indescribable is to help explain the result of encountering God’s glory, not to figure it out.
As believers, we will behold His manifested glory as well. And we too will have a hard time describing it, especially with our face on the ground!
Beside the each creature was a gleaming wheel that had within it another wheel and rims covered with eyes. Over the creatures’ heads was a shining expanse. Above the expanse, a sapphire throne. On the throne, a human likeness with a body of gleaming metal and fire. Everything was brightness!
Can you get that image in your head? It is difficult isn’t it? You can tell by reading Ezekiel’s description that he is struggling to put into words what he is beholding! He is viewing the glory of the Lord! He is attempting to describe the indescribable.
We might miss the point if we try to analyze what each detail represents. Maybe some benefit, but probably just speculation. Maybe the point of this description is to realize that the manifested glory of the Lord is breathtaking, stunning, and overwhelming. When Ezekiel saw it, he fell on his face (v28). Maybe the point of describing the indescribable is to help explain the result of encountering God’s glory, not to figure it out.
As believers, we will behold His manifested glory as well. And we too will have a hard time describing it, especially with our face on the ground!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Enemies Within! Jude
The letter of Jude is a warning call. The church is under attack! She must defend herself and defend the truth from enemies within! Jude’s description of these undercover enemies removes their cloak of deception and reveals their true identity. First, these people have “crept in unnoticed.” They are sly and cunning. They speak “Christianese.” They do not loudly announce their opposition, but softly and subtly make suggestions, offer opinions, volunteer information. In this way, they guide the church instead of the pastors.
Second, they “pervert the grace of God.” They uphold the grace of justification as to deny the role of sanctification in true salvation. Their gospel says, “Once you’re in, you can live as you please!” As a result, they indulge in sin and encourage others to join them.
Third, these people “reject authority” by word and action. They have no respect for those God sets over them, such as pastors or the Word!
Fourth, they lash out against the truth, totally reject it, and even openly oppose it. They dangerously “blaspheme all that they do not understand,” “without [any] fear” whatsoever!
Fifth, Jude provides an extensive list of character traits. The enemies are “grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires, boasters, showing favoritism, cause division, worldly, and devoid of the Spirit.”
When unbelievers “creep in,” sound the alarm! The faith and the flock are under attack!
Second, they “pervert the grace of God.” They uphold the grace of justification as to deny the role of sanctification in true salvation. Their gospel says, “Once you’re in, you can live as you please!” As a result, they indulge in sin and encourage others to join them.
Third, these people “reject authority” by word and action. They have no respect for those God sets over them, such as pastors or the Word!
Fourth, they lash out against the truth, totally reject it, and even openly oppose it. They dangerously “blaspheme all that they do not understand,” “without [any] fear” whatsoever!
Fifth, Jude provides an extensive list of character traits. The enemies are “grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires, boasters, showing favoritism, cause division, worldly, and devoid of the Spirit.”
When unbelievers “creep in,” sound the alarm! The faith and the flock are under attack!
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Living Example - 3 Jn
John has been exhorting believers to walk in truth and love. In his third epistle, he commends a fellow believer who does so! 3 John teaches us that Christianity is not a philosophy or ideology, it is a way of life! 3 John answers the “how” question. How do we live out what 1 and 2 John command? How do you walk in truth? How do you walk in love? Instead of diving into a technical explanation, John says, “Let me introduce you to Gaius.”
Gaius stood high as a great example of walking in the truth. The reason why John was confident of this is because his reputation preceded him! Gaius had practiced Christianity in such a way as to get noticed, to grab attention. People were talking! Not of his mischief, but rather the talk of the town was Gaius’ kindness!
Gaius also walked in love, particularly love toward fellow believers. It seems that some missionaries arrived in Gaius’ town, and they found refuge, welcome, and hospitality at Gaius’ home! John describes Gaius’ actions toward these men as “love.”
3 John not only provides an example of walking in truth and love but also an example of one who has a profession of faith but is void of a demonstration of true faith: Diotrephes. He makes wicked accusations and does not welcome the brothers!
Authentic Christianity is of the kind that Gaius exemplified! Diotrephes’ life, void of truth and love, proved him to be one who had “not seen God.” May ours be the faith of Gaius. A faith that is lived out!
Gaius stood high as a great example of walking in the truth. The reason why John was confident of this is because his reputation preceded him! Gaius had practiced Christianity in such a way as to get noticed, to grab attention. People were talking! Not of his mischief, but rather the talk of the town was Gaius’ kindness!
Gaius also walked in love, particularly love toward fellow believers. It seems that some missionaries arrived in Gaius’ town, and they found refuge, welcome, and hospitality at Gaius’ home! John describes Gaius’ actions toward these men as “love.”
3 John not only provides an example of walking in truth and love but also an example of one who has a profession of faith but is void of a demonstration of true faith: Diotrephes. He makes wicked accusations and does not welcome the brothers!
Authentic Christianity is of the kind that Gaius exemplified! Diotrephes’ life, void of truth and love, proved him to be one who had “not seen God.” May ours be the faith of Gaius. A faith that is lived out!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Truth and Love - 2 Jn
John’s second epistle is addressed to the “elect lady.” It seems from indicators within the letter, “lady” is something of a code word for “church.” John anticipates a visit soon with this “lady,” and he has so much he wishes to share with her face to face (v12). However, there were a couple of things on John’s mind that just couldn’t wait: truth and love.
Concerning truth, John was well aware that movements were afoot which denied the Person of Christ and the teachings of Christ. To lose either is to lose the Gospel message. Christ must be both man and God in order to be Redeemer. Those who deny the Person of Christ are deceivers (v7). If Christ’s teachings are distorted, the biblical truth about salvation is distorted. Those who embrace different teachings do not possess true salvation (v9). John’s warning: Believe in Jesus as God in the flesh and abide in His teaching!
Concerning love, John appeals for the “lady” to truly love other fellow believers. For John, it all comes down to love! If we love the Lord, we will walk in His commandments, and His chief commandment is for us to walk in love! Love is truly the faith test. If love toward one another is present, so is faith. If it is absent . . .
Truth and love. These were the two subjects that John felt such an urgency he sent a letter instead of waiting for a visit. Holding to truth, the content of our faith, and walking in love, the display of our faith, are Gospel matters. Matters which call for our attention. The “lady” cannot lose her perspective on truth and love lest she lose far more! May we be as urgent in our day as John was in his to remind and to urge the “lady” to walk in truth and love!
Concerning truth, John was well aware that movements were afoot which denied the Person of Christ and the teachings of Christ. To lose either is to lose the Gospel message. Christ must be both man and God in order to be Redeemer. Those who deny the Person of Christ are deceivers (v7). If Christ’s teachings are distorted, the biblical truth about salvation is distorted. Those who embrace different teachings do not possess true salvation (v9). John’s warning: Believe in Jesus as God in the flesh and abide in His teaching!
Concerning love, John appeals for the “lady” to truly love other fellow believers. For John, it all comes down to love! If we love the Lord, we will walk in His commandments, and His chief commandment is for us to walk in love! Love is truly the faith test. If love toward one another is present, so is faith. If it is absent . . .
Truth and love. These were the two subjects that John felt such an urgency he sent a letter instead of waiting for a visit. Holding to truth, the content of our faith, and walking in love, the display of our faith, are Gospel matters. Matters which call for our attention. The “lady” cannot lose her perspective on truth and love lest she lose far more! May we be as urgent in our day as John was in his to remind and to urge the “lady” to walk in truth and love!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Full Assurance of Faith - 1 Jn 5
The First Epistle of John is a lesson on assurance of salvation. To suggest that one only need to “believe in Jesus” for full assurance of faith is misleading and in opposition to John’s epistle. It is ABSOLUTELY TRUE that we are justified by faith alone in Christ alone! However, where do you go when doubts and questions arise like “Did I really believe?” “Was I really saved back then?” That is what these “assurance points” are all about! If you can find these in your life, doubts and questions are settled!
(1) Has your life changed? Are you being sanctified? “Whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected” (2:5).
(2) Do you love the brothers in word AND ACTION? Are you loving towards members of God’s family no matter how different they are? If you locate this love in your heart, it wasn’t there before conversion! “We know that we have passed out of death unto life, because we love the brothers” (3:14).
(3) What is the content of your faith? What exactly do you believe about Jesus? Is He your permission slip to sin? Or is He the glorious Son of God, your only hope, your only Savior? “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (5:11-12).
Now comes the great verse of assurance, 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” If we have these three assurance points in our lives, we can rest in a full, robust assurance of faith! If one or more are missing, John’s epistle is a call for us to examine our faith!
(1) Has your life changed? Are you being sanctified? “Whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected” (2:5).
(2) Do you love the brothers in word AND ACTION? Are you loving towards members of God’s family no matter how different they are? If you locate this love in your heart, it wasn’t there before conversion! “We know that we have passed out of death unto life, because we love the brothers” (3:14).
(3) What is the content of your faith? What exactly do you believe about Jesus? Is He your permission slip to sin? Or is He the glorious Son of God, your only hope, your only Savior? “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (5:11-12).
Now comes the great verse of assurance, 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” If we have these three assurance points in our lives, we can rest in a full, robust assurance of faith! If one or more are missing, John’s epistle is a call for us to examine our faith!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Chief Evidence - 1 Jn 4
As observed in yesterday’s reading, one of John’s recurring themes in this epistle is to argue for the necessity of sanctification. Those who have truly been born again will display newness of life.
Running alongside that theme is another recurring one. John provides an example of what he is talking about with sanctification. He not only writes that true believers will practice righteousness, but he also conveys one key way righteousness expresses itself. For John, the chief evidence of the new birth is a new love toward others, particularly toward fellow believers. He does not mean “love talk,” but rather sincere actions toward each other which demonstrate deep affection. There is no middle road. You simply can’t just be “unconcerned” or just “dislike” a brother! If you don’t love him, you hate him to some degree. Your actions prove it because love reaches out to care and comfort.
The real punch is that John says if you don’t love your brother, you don’t know God! Love is the chief evidence of faith. Those who know God love others because God’s love has been poured out upon us and through us! Those who don’t have this river of love, don’t have the Source either!
4:7-8 - whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 4:16 - whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 4:19-20 - We love because He first loved us. If anyone says “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Running alongside that theme is another recurring one. John provides an example of what he is talking about with sanctification. He not only writes that true believers will practice righteousness, but he also conveys one key way righteousness expresses itself. For John, the chief evidence of the new birth is a new love toward others, particularly toward fellow believers. He does not mean “love talk,” but rather sincere actions toward each other which demonstrate deep affection. There is no middle road. You simply can’t just be “unconcerned” or just “dislike” a brother! If you don’t love him, you hate him to some degree. Your actions prove it because love reaches out to care and comfort.
The real punch is that John says if you don’t love your brother, you don’t know God! Love is the chief evidence of faith. Those who know God love others because God’s love has been poured out upon us and through us! Those who don’t have this river of love, don’t have the Source either!
4:7-8 - whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 4:16 - whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 4:19-20 - We love because He first loved us. If anyone says “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Monday, September 13, 2010
A Scriptural Impossibility - 1 Jn 3
There are things in Scripture that are clearly, irrefutably presented as impossibilities. One of the pitfalls we must avoid is embracing a theology which makes possible what the Bible presents as impossible!
An example of this “making the impossible possible” occurs in the realm of salvation and is prevalent among evangelicals today. Due to our emphasis on the new birth, conversion, and evangelism, the full, robust, biblical view of salvation has been distorted. Salvation has come to be, in our minds, a one-moment-in-time decision, backed immediately by a doctrine of eternal security, which may or may not include a noticeable difference in life. In other words, you can have a new birth without having a new life!
This is a dangerous, misleading distortion of biblical, saving faith, and actually is a scriptural impossibility! The Bible presents salvation as an eternally, ongoing process, not a one-time commitment but rather a lifetime renewal! Biblically, salvation involves regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. If one of those are missing, you are left with something other than the Bible’s depiction of salvation. Sanctification is the new you that results from a new heart! Scripturally speaking, if there is no “new you,” then there has been no “new heart!” But don’t take my word for it . . .
3:3 - And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. 3:6 - No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. 3:9-10 - No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God . . . whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.
An example of this “making the impossible possible” occurs in the realm of salvation and is prevalent among evangelicals today. Due to our emphasis on the new birth, conversion, and evangelism, the full, robust, biblical view of salvation has been distorted. Salvation has come to be, in our minds, a one-moment-in-time decision, backed immediately by a doctrine of eternal security, which may or may not include a noticeable difference in life. In other words, you can have a new birth without having a new life!
This is a dangerous, misleading distortion of biblical, saving faith, and actually is a scriptural impossibility! The Bible presents salvation as an eternally, ongoing process, not a one-time commitment but rather a lifetime renewal! Biblically, salvation involves regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. If one of those are missing, you are left with something other than the Bible’s depiction of salvation. Sanctification is the new you that results from a new heart! Scripturally speaking, if there is no “new you,” then there has been no “new heart!” But don’t take my word for it . . .
3:3 - And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. 3:6 - No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. 3:9-10 - No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God . . . whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Are You a Liar? 1 Jn 1-2
In our day of “tolerance,” political correctness, and religious pluralism, we would never call someone a liar! Only the judgmental and narrow-minded would do such a thing in the “progressive” era in which we have achieved! Never mind the fact that the individual just may in fact be telling an untruth and thereby deceiving others and himself and leading people astray.
John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, had no qualm or problem with calling someone a liar! Especially when it came to the absolute most important topic of discussion in this life: salvation! One of John’s main themes, main points, main emphases in his First Epistle is to stress that if someone’s life does not match his profession of faith in Christ, he is NOT a true believer! He is a liar! He lies when he says he is a disciple because his lifestyle, his habits, his attitude speak much louder than his words!
1:6 - If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 2:9 - Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 2:15 - If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:29 - If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
Why did John write this truth over and over? Surely because he faced the same twisting of the Gospel we face today. Many believe that salvation involves a mere decision without a necessary change of life. Justification without sanctification is NOT biblical salvation! Don’t be a liar!
John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, had no qualm or problem with calling someone a liar! Especially when it came to the absolute most important topic of discussion in this life: salvation! One of John’s main themes, main points, main emphases in his First Epistle is to stress that if someone’s life does not match his profession of faith in Christ, he is NOT a true believer! He is a liar! He lies when he says he is a disciple because his lifestyle, his habits, his attitude speak much louder than his words!
1:6 - If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 2:3-4 - And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 2:9 - Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 2:15 - If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:29 - If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
Why did John write this truth over and over? Surely because he faced the same twisting of the Gospel we face today. Many believe that salvation involves a mere decision without a necessary change of life. Justification without sanctification is NOT biblical salvation! Don’t be a liar!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A Faithful Prophet, A Faithful God - Lam
The little book of Lamentations tells you much about the character of the prophet and much about the character of God! The final chapter of Jeremiah’s prophecy captures in words the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem. It’s hard to imagine how horrifying it must have been to witness the destruction of the beautiful city. How would Jeremiah react? Would he exude an air of self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude? After all, he was insulted, beaten, imprisoned, and left for dead! Would he think, “Well, this is what they deserve! This is what they get for rejecting God!”
Not at all. Jeremiah weeps! Jeremiah laments! Remember, this was his city and his people too! He wasn’t “preaching” to them all those years, he was “pleading” with them! The last thing Jeremiah desired was judgment. He desired repentance and deliverance! Therefore, Lamentations arises from Jeremiah strolling through Jerusalem, describing the horrific scenes (2:20), and pleading for God to have mercy, to remember, and to restore! Jeremiah was a faithful prophet! Faithful to God and faithful to his people.
Lamentations also tells us much about the justice and mercy of God. If He were just without mercy, we would all be crushed! If He were mercy without justice, sin would overwhelm us. Thank God He is both! Let the words of God’s justice give us great fear and pause when we attempt to excuse our sin, and let the words of God’s mercy cause us to rejoice greatly in Him! “The Lord gave full vent to His wrath; He poured out His hot anger” (4:11). “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (3:22-23).
God is faithful! First to Himself, His character, and therefore to His people!
Not at all. Jeremiah weeps! Jeremiah laments! Remember, this was his city and his people too! He wasn’t “preaching” to them all those years, he was “pleading” with them! The last thing Jeremiah desired was judgment. He desired repentance and deliverance! Therefore, Lamentations arises from Jeremiah strolling through Jerusalem, describing the horrific scenes (2:20), and pleading for God to have mercy, to remember, and to restore! Jeremiah was a faithful prophet! Faithful to God and faithful to his people.
Lamentations also tells us much about the justice and mercy of God. If He were just without mercy, we would all be crushed! If He were mercy without justice, sin would overwhelm us. Thank God He is both! Let the words of God’s justice give us great fear and pause when we attempt to excuse our sin, and let the words of God’s mercy cause us to rejoice greatly in Him! “The Lord gave full vent to His wrath; He poured out His hot anger” (4:11). “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (3:22-23).
God is faithful! First to Himself, His character, and therefore to His people!
Friday, September 10, 2010
And Great Was Her Fall - Jer 49-52
The recounting of Jerusalem’s fall is one of the most shocking chapters in all the Bible, especially if you were a Jew in those days! Jerusalem, the city of David, would never fall! Jerusalem, the city of God, could never fall! Could it? And yet it did and great was its fall!
The city was besieged until famine struck every stomach! The wall was breached, and then it was torn down! The king was forced to watch his sons being slaughtered before his own eyes were put out. He then lived out his days as a prisoner in a foreign land. Worse of all, the temple was totally destroyed and every article of gold and bronze furniture was broken down and carried away! How could this happen? Has God forsaken His people?
No. Absolutely not. The people had forsaken God! Warning after warning and prophet after prophet was ignored while sin and idolatry were indulged. God would surely not allow Jerusalem to fall, the place of His holy name.?.
Now they would realize God’s holy name is more about His character than it is a geographical spot or a temple made with hands! The truly shocking part of the story is not Jerusalem’s fall though. That was to be expected. The truly shocking, remarkable part of the story is that God is not finished! Out of this judgment will arise redemption!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, surrounded by a thick wall. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, had a great fall. All the false prophets and her arrogant king couldn’t stop the devastating judgment upon her sin!
But through the Messiah, God will make Jerusalem anew again!
The city was besieged until famine struck every stomach! The wall was breached, and then it was torn down! The king was forced to watch his sons being slaughtered before his own eyes were put out. He then lived out his days as a prisoner in a foreign land. Worse of all, the temple was totally destroyed and every article of gold and bronze furniture was broken down and carried away! How could this happen? Has God forsaken His people?
No. Absolutely not. The people had forsaken God! Warning after warning and prophet after prophet was ignored while sin and idolatry were indulged. God would surely not allow Jerusalem to fall, the place of His holy name.?.
Now they would realize God’s holy name is more about His character than it is a geographical spot or a temple made with hands! The truly shocking part of the story is not Jerusalem’s fall though. That was to be expected. The truly shocking, remarkable part of the story is that God is not finished! Out of this judgment will arise redemption!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, surrounded by a thick wall. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, had a great fall. All the false prophets and her arrogant king couldn’t stop the devastating judgment upon her sin!
But through the Messiah, God will make Jerusalem anew again!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Can They Get Any Worse? Jer 44-48
Jeremiah’s prophetic words have been ignored, detested, and spurned. Jeremiah the prophet has been maligned, scorned, and persecuted. While his message has been labeled as unbelievable and inconceivable, it has been only his messages that have come true! Still yet, his listeners are in a state of rebellion and continue to dismiss his warnings and dismiss him. Given the role of the prophet in this day and the unfolding of events around them, it is almost perplexing why they will not hear and abide by Jeremiah’s pleas and warnings. Can they get any worse in their rebellion against God?
Yes, they can, and yes, they do! Listen to the chilling response Jeremiah received when confronting those who had fled to Egypt. “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her . . .” (44:16-17)
Pay careful attention to how far their rejection has progressed. First, they acknowledge Jeremiah’s words as being from God, and yet they openly dismiss them! They have grown so bold as to proudly admit their refusal to hear and obey God. They realize “we will not listen to you” means “we will not listen to God!” Second, they openly endorse and commend the worship of another god right there in the face of God’s prophet. Rejection is total.
Yes, they could become worse. Hard hearts can always grow harder still. There is no end to how far one can move away from God when sin is being embraced and the Word of God is being rejected. A warning to all who read Jeremiah - Harden not your hearts lest they grow harder still! Hear, receive, and embrace the Word of God!
Yes, they can, and yes, they do! Listen to the chilling response Jeremiah received when confronting those who had fled to Egypt. “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her . . .” (44:16-17)
Pay careful attention to how far their rejection has progressed. First, they acknowledge Jeremiah’s words as being from God, and yet they openly dismiss them! They have grown so bold as to proudly admit their refusal to hear and obey God. They realize “we will not listen to you” means “we will not listen to God!” Second, they openly endorse and commend the worship of another god right there in the face of God’s prophet. Rejection is total.
Yes, they could become worse. Hard hearts can always grow harder still. There is no end to how far one can move away from God when sin is being embraced and the Word of God is being rejected. A warning to all who read Jeremiah - Harden not your hearts lest they grow harder still! Hear, receive, and embrace the Word of God!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
When Will They Ever Learn? Jer 40-43
A common theme runs through the book of Jeremiah. The Lord speaks to Jeremiah - Jeremiah tells the people what the Lord has said - They don’t believe him - He keeps telling them - They keep rejecting - Finally, judgment falls just like Jeremiah said, and the people never repented!
Now, one can understand how this can happen the first time. People just shrug off a hard message because it is so much easier to believe the false prophets. It is so much easier, that is appealing to the flesh, to believe that you can embrace sin and salvation. So it’s easy to see how Jeremiah’s message is initially rejected. But when his prophecy comes true, why do the people continue to reject his message? That doesn’t make sense!
If you have seen the words of judgment come true, why wouldn’t you believe the man of God when he warns you again? Instead, Azariah and Johanan thought they had a better plan than the promise of God to protect them. They responded to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say . . .” (43:2) Not only do they call the prophet of God a liar, but they claim to have right standing with God and to be the ones who discern what God has said! Astounding! When will they ever learn?
They won’t! None of those who reject the Word of God will learn until the Lord changes their hearts! Only under the New Covenant grace of a new heart will they joyfully receive and gladly follow the way of the Lord! That is the New Covenant promise (32:39).
Thanks be to God for the New Covenant promise fulfilled in our hearts as God’s people today. Without it, we would have never learned either!
Now, one can understand how this can happen the first time. People just shrug off a hard message because it is so much easier to believe the false prophets. It is so much easier, that is appealing to the flesh, to believe that you can embrace sin and salvation. So it’s easy to see how Jeremiah’s message is initially rejected. But when his prophecy comes true, why do the people continue to reject his message? That doesn’t make sense!
If you have seen the words of judgment come true, why wouldn’t you believe the man of God when he warns you again? Instead, Azariah and Johanan thought they had a better plan than the promise of God to protect them. They responded to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say . . .” (43:2) Not only do they call the prophet of God a liar, but they claim to have right standing with God and to be the ones who discern what God has said! Astounding! When will they ever learn?
They won’t! None of those who reject the Word of God will learn until the Lord changes their hearts! Only under the New Covenant grace of a new heart will they joyfully receive and gladly follow the way of the Lord! That is the New Covenant promise (32:39).
Thanks be to God for the New Covenant promise fulfilled in our hearts as God’s people today. Without it, we would have never learned either!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
They Just Do Not Want To Hear! Jer 36-39
One would think that as Nebuchadnezzar’s war machine inched closer and closer to Jerusalem that Jeremiah’s opposers would have second thoughts! That maybe they would consider Jeremiah’s words of warning and call for immediate repentance in light of Babylon’s advance and soon descent upon the city! Surely, they would at least question whether Jeremiah might possibly be the true prophet and the rest liars. They did not. Instead, as the heat intensifies around Jerusalem, so it does around Jeremiah.
Essentially, instead of following Jeremiah’s words to repent and flee the city, Jeremiah gets blamed for the city’s peril. It works this way every time! Those who just do not want to hear the message will blame and attack the messenger. The closer Nebuchadnezzar approached Jerusalem, the more persecution Jeremiah experienced for telling, even pleading for, the Truth!
First, he was banned from the house of the Lord (36:5)! Second, his scroll was burned (36:23). Third, he was beaten and imprisoned (37:15). Fourth, he was dropped into a muddy cistern and left for dead (38:6)!
They just did not want to hear! So they got him out of sight. They rid themselves of his written material. They tried to keep him away from others. At last, they tried to silence him for good. Hostility against the messengers of the Word still comes in these forms today. Many preachers are “banned” from churches, beaten, imprisoned, even killed!
Eventually, Jerusalem did fall just as Jeremiah prophesied! Those who refused to listen were slain or captured. And Jeremiah...well, he was taken care of by the order of Nebuchadnezzar himself!
Essentially, instead of following Jeremiah’s words to repent and flee the city, Jeremiah gets blamed for the city’s peril. It works this way every time! Those who just do not want to hear the message will blame and attack the messenger. The closer Nebuchadnezzar approached Jerusalem, the more persecution Jeremiah experienced for telling, even pleading for, the Truth!
First, he was banned from the house of the Lord (36:5)! Second, his scroll was burned (36:23). Third, he was beaten and imprisoned (37:15). Fourth, he was dropped into a muddy cistern and left for dead (38:6)!
They just did not want to hear! So they got him out of sight. They rid themselves of his written material. They tried to keep him away from others. At last, they tried to silence him for good. Hostility against the messengers of the Word still comes in these forms today. Many preachers are “banned” from churches, beaten, imprisoned, even killed!
Eventually, Jerusalem did fall just as Jeremiah prophesied! Those who refused to listen were slain or captured. And Jeremiah...well, he was taken care of by the order of Nebuchadnezzar himself!
Monday, September 6, 2010
What Makes the New Covenant "New" - Jer 32-35
When the Bible speaks of the New Covenant, it is comparing it with one of the previous biblical covenants, the Mosaic Covenant. The heart of the old covenant was a simple message: Keep these commandments and you will be right before the Lord (Deut 6:25). The new covenant promise stands in stark contrast to the old covenant. The heart of the new covenant is a glorious “new” message: I will make you right with me (Jer 32:38-41). Under the old covenant standard, no one could ever possibly be saved because no one could ever possibly keep the commandments! In gracious contrast, under the new covenant, salvation is secured and guaranteed because God accomplishes the work for us and in us necessary for our redemption! Here are a few insights from Jer 32: 38-41.
The NC begins with a declaration. “They shall be My people, and I will be their God.” No room for question or doubt or possible failure here! The NC is rooted in God’s Word! He declares, yea decrees, that this WILL happen.
Next follows a transformation. “I will give them one heart and one way.” God takes the initiative. God enacts the work. God transforms the heart and sets the mind, affections, and will on a new course!
Then comes the explanation. “that they may fear Me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.” Why does God implement, accomplish, and secure the NC? For His glory and the good of His people!
Finally, there is the conclusion. “...I will not turn away from doing good to them...they may not turn from Me.” Those under the NC are constantly, eternally under grace, and their lives are living proof!
The NC begins with a declaration. “They shall be My people, and I will be their God.” No room for question or doubt or possible failure here! The NC is rooted in God’s Word! He declares, yea decrees, that this WILL happen.
Next follows a transformation. “I will give them one heart and one way.” God takes the initiative. God enacts the work. God transforms the heart and sets the mind, affections, and will on a new course!
Then comes the explanation. “that they may fear Me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.” Why does God implement, accomplish, and secure the NC? For His glory and the good of His people!
Finally, there is the conclusion. “...I will not turn away from doing good to them...they may not turn from Me.” Those under the NC are constantly, eternally under grace, and their lives are living proof!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A New Day, A New Covenant - Jer 29-31
About midway through Jeremiah’s prophetic work, location changes. He is no longer warning people of the coming Babylonian captivity. He is now prophesying to the captives in Babylon! Jeremiah’s words have been proven true and the other prophets’ words false. Judgment has fallen! But this is not God’s final word to the Jews. Jeremiah writes to them in captivity to prophesy a word of hope just as he had previously prophesied a word of doom. He is to be believed now because what he said so far has indeed come true!
His word is this: a new day is coming! God is not finished with you. He will not leave you in Babylon. Buy houses, marry, and plant gardens in the meantime. Make the best of it. However, know that God has already set a limit to your time of exile. A new day is coming. He’s going to bring you back home, but you will be different. You will not return the same way you departed!
This new day is based upon a new covenant (31:31-34). It will be a new day and you will be a new people because God is enacting a new covenant! This one is not like the old one under Moses. Under this covenant, God will not put His law on stone tablets, but rather He will write His law on warm hearts. He will not place the stability of this covenant upon their shoulders, but rather He will ensure it (I will be their God, and they shall be My people, v33). Not a single one intended to be under this new covenant will be left out! Finally, under this new covenant, iniquity and sin will be removed from their account forever!
A new day is coming! And with it comes a new covenant!
His word is this: a new day is coming! God is not finished with you. He will not leave you in Babylon. Buy houses, marry, and plant gardens in the meantime. Make the best of it. However, know that God has already set a limit to your time of exile. A new day is coming. He’s going to bring you back home, but you will be different. You will not return the same way you departed!
This new day is based upon a new covenant (31:31-34). It will be a new day and you will be a new people because God is enacting a new covenant! This one is not like the old one under Moses. Under this covenant, God will not put His law on stone tablets, but rather He will write His law on warm hearts. He will not place the stability of this covenant upon their shoulders, but rather He will ensure it (I will be their God, and they shall be My people, v33). Not a single one intended to be under this new covenant will be left out! Finally, under this new covenant, iniquity and sin will be removed from their account forever!
A new day is coming! And with it comes a new covenant!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Preaching Can Be Deadly! Jer 25-28
Everyone knew Jeremiah’s message: The Lord is going to judge Judah and Jerusalem because of idolatry and wickedness! No one believed him. They believed the lying prophets who kept telling them everything was going to be fine. They could be God’s people and live pagan lives - no problem! Then nagging Jeremiah would be on a street corner bringing his message of doom! He did so for 23 years! (25:3) To them, he was a nuisance.
One day Jeremiah changed tactics and took his message right to church! (26:2) The place of worship had turned into a den of false hope and security. The place where you would expect to hear about sin and repentance becomes the place where nothing seems to be sin and the attendees never need repentance. It’s fine to speak of others needing repentance and facing judgment, but don’t be so arrogant and judgmental as to imply that those assembled in the Lord’s house are in the wrong!Bringing the message of sin and judgment into church just may be dangerous to your health! Jeremiah was threatened with death for telling people the God’s honest Truth!
This happens in our day as well. Church-goers shake their heads in approval when we speak of God’s impending judgment on the wicked. But don’t dare suggest that some of the “wicked” are actually at church! If you go so far as to suggest that some in the church face eternal judgment because their lives do not evidence true faith, you may see cross-hairs!
Thankfully, Jeremiah was released from this mob but he would endure many more angry opposers and suffering because of his message. If we dare to bring the Word of God to church, we might face the same!
One day Jeremiah changed tactics and took his message right to church! (26:2) The place of worship had turned into a den of false hope and security. The place where you would expect to hear about sin and repentance becomes the place where nothing seems to be sin and the attendees never need repentance. It’s fine to speak of others needing repentance and facing judgment, but don’t be so arrogant and judgmental as to imply that those assembled in the Lord’s house are in the wrong!Bringing the message of sin and judgment into church just may be dangerous to your health! Jeremiah was threatened with death for telling people the God’s honest Truth!
This happens in our day as well. Church-goers shake their heads in approval when we speak of God’s impending judgment on the wicked. But don’t dare suggest that some of the “wicked” are actually at church! If you go so far as to suggest that some in the church face eternal judgment because their lives do not evidence true faith, you may see cross-hairs!
Thankfully, Jeremiah was released from this mob but he would endure many more angry opposers and suffering because of his message. If we dare to bring the Word of God to church, we might face the same!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Figs and Hearts - Jer 21-24
Jeremiah saw two baskets of figs at the temple of the Lord. One basket had very good figs, first-ripe figs. One basket was filled with very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten. What’s up with the figs?
The good and bad figs represented good and bad hearts. The Lord said, “Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah” (24:5). He will set His eyes “on them for good” and bring them back to the land. Furthermore, He is also going to do a good work of grace in their hearts! “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people and I will their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart” (24:7). Extraordinary! Notice it is only AFTER God gives them a heart to know Him that they are His true people and demonstrate this by returning, by repentance!
Then there are the bad figs. The Lord will regard as bad the ones who remained in Jerusalem. He says He will “make them a horror” and send all manner of harm upon them until they are driven from the land. This is not arbitrary. They were warned to leave the city but they decided to remain against God’s will (21:8-10).
Once again, as found throughout the Scripture, God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are not contradictory. When man is judged, he is totally responsible for it. He chooses to disobey and dishonor and distrust God. He is a bad fig! When man is saved, it is totally a work of grace. God gives him a new heart! He is a good fig. To which basket do you belong? Has the Lord changed your heart? Or do you remain obstinate in your rebellion against Him?
The good and bad figs represented good and bad hearts. The Lord said, “Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah” (24:5). He will set His eyes “on them for good” and bring them back to the land. Furthermore, He is also going to do a good work of grace in their hearts! “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people and I will their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart” (24:7). Extraordinary! Notice it is only AFTER God gives them a heart to know Him that they are His true people and demonstrate this by returning, by repentance!
Then there are the bad figs. The Lord will regard as bad the ones who remained in Jerusalem. He says He will “make them a horror” and send all manner of harm upon them until they are driven from the land. This is not arbitrary. They were warned to leave the city but they decided to remain against God’s will (21:8-10).
Once again, as found throughout the Scripture, God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility are not contradictory. When man is judged, he is totally responsible for it. He chooses to disobey and dishonor and distrust God. He is a bad fig! When man is saved, it is totally a work of grace. God gives him a new heart! He is a good fig. To which basket do you belong? Has the Lord changed your heart? Or do you remain obstinate in your rebellion against Him?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Heart's Sole Observer - Jer 17-20
Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” We don’t really know ourselves, even though we think we do. There is nothing more deceptive than one’s own heart. People will deceive you occasionally. The heart will deceive you constantly. It will always present to you a false picture. Your heart will always say, “You’re fine,” and you’re not! Honesty is not the heart’s policy!
The heart is fallen. It has been corrupted, tainted, and bent from the effects of sin. While it portrays to you the perfect picture of health, it is actually decaying slowly and desperately sick. This is one of the areas where you have to believe the Bible above and beyond your own experience. Your own experience is going to tell you that you are the exception to this verse. If you believe that, your heart has deceived you! We can never really get to the bottom of our hearts, but there is One who can!
Jer 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” There is One from whom the heart cannot hide nor deceive. It is the Lord. His all-seeing eyes look straight through the cloak of our self-deception. He turns the lights on in the dark corners of the heart. He alone lays the heart bare. Therefore, when the Lord tells us the condition of our hearts, we better listen. He is the only One who truly sees it! He will give us our true recompense, and it won’t be what we thought we deserved!
The good news is that the Sole Observer of the heart is also the Sole Changer of the heart! He alone can remove your desperately sick heart and give you a new one! (Jer 31)
The heart is fallen. It has been corrupted, tainted, and bent from the effects of sin. While it portrays to you the perfect picture of health, it is actually decaying slowly and desperately sick. This is one of the areas where you have to believe the Bible above and beyond your own experience. Your own experience is going to tell you that you are the exception to this verse. If you believe that, your heart has deceived you! We can never really get to the bottom of our hearts, but there is One who can!
Jer 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” There is One from whom the heart cannot hide nor deceive. It is the Lord. His all-seeing eyes look straight through the cloak of our self-deception. He turns the lights on in the dark corners of the heart. He alone lays the heart bare. Therefore, when the Lord tells us the condition of our hearts, we better listen. He is the only One who truly sees it! He will give us our true recompense, and it won’t be what we thought we deserved!
The good news is that the Sole Observer of the heart is also the Sole Changer of the heart! He alone can remove your desperately sick heart and give you a new one! (Jer 31)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
When Preachers Lie - Jer 13-16
Jeremiah was the final prophetic voice Jerusalem would hear before the judgment of God fell! Most, if not all, of his cry for repentance fell on deaf ears. The people of Judah rejected Jeremiah’s message. Judgment would never come to Jerusalem! They were the people of God and Jerusalem is the city of God. Jeremiah faced this mentality, and it proved to be an impregnable fortress. Behind the people’s false confidence in their sin stood many false prophets! Who wants to listen to Jeremiah scream, “Judgment, judgment” when other prophets are singing, “Peace, peace”?
There are two ways a lying prophet lies. First, he lies by assuming an office he was never called to fill (14:14). Jeremiah was called of God for this role before he was even born (1:5). These lying prophets just decided on their own to speak for God! Once this office is held, the assumption among the people is that this person has God’s authority behind him. If he is not called of God to the task, this is a horrible deception. Some preachers in our day are guilty of the same deception.
Second, prophets lie when they spread a message in God’s name that does not have God’s Truth in it! Sadly, this happens often in our day as well. Many a sermon has been delivered to God’s people with a “Thus says the Lord” upon it, but the Lord never spoke it!
In Jeremiah’s day, being a lying prophet infuriated the Lord. He declared, “I will pour out their evil upon them” (14:16). A word of warning. He is not pleased with lying preachers in our day either! Follow God’s calling. Speak only God’s Word. Or find another vocation! Don’t be a lying preacher! We, like Jeremiah, already have enough of those.
There are two ways a lying prophet lies. First, he lies by assuming an office he was never called to fill (14:14). Jeremiah was called of God for this role before he was even born (1:5). These lying prophets just decided on their own to speak for God! Once this office is held, the assumption among the people is that this person has God’s authority behind him. If he is not called of God to the task, this is a horrible deception. Some preachers in our day are guilty of the same deception.
Second, prophets lie when they spread a message in God’s name that does not have God’s Truth in it! Sadly, this happens often in our day as well. Many a sermon has been delivered to God’s people with a “Thus says the Lord” upon it, but the Lord never spoke it!
In Jeremiah’s day, being a lying prophet infuriated the Lord. He declared, “I will pour out their evil upon them” (14:16). A word of warning. He is not pleased with lying preachers in our day either! Follow God’s calling. Speak only God’s Word. Or find another vocation! Don’t be a lying preacher! We, like Jeremiah, already have enough of those.
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