Mon, Apr 23rd - 7:08PM
WHO IS THIS JESUS?
"For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not speak anything. For they themselves show what manner of entering in we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come (I Thessalonians 1:8-10)."
Aside from finding more evidence that this Jesus was the Son of the living and true God come down to earth from heaven, we find here words about the believer's life. The tenses indicated here are both logical and give the true order of how the life moves. Look back to verse three here and you will see the "work of faith" being in the present tense. It is active and not passive. It is in motion and does not remain at rest all of the time. It is something which operates without ceasing. We may already understand that this work of faith is to "turn to God from idols" (John 6:28-29); that we are to "serve the living and true God" and to know that the "patience of hope" is to "wait for His Son from heaven." If the believer does not catch this sequence here, the apostle Paul repeats this threefold sequence again in Titus 2:11-13. Work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. What hope? The return of the Christ from heaven to rule here on earth, ushering in the kingdom of heaven.
And in all of this we are saved from the wrath of God which is still to come in judgment of all of those who have rejected His gift of love. The Word of God does not just sound in the immediate vicinity of you whenever you speak His Words. It sounds far and wide as people speak to others about what you have said in testimony/witness to the power of Christ Jesus.
"God, who at various times and in diverse ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:1-3)."
In Hebrews we normally turn to find passages about faith. But right in the very beginning of the book we discover some incredible declarations. Jesus Christ is better than the prophets of the Old Testament. Jesus Christ is heir to all things. Jesus Christ created the worlds. Jesus Christ is the brightness of God's glory. Perhaps a better term to describe Jesus Christ in this regard is "effulgence." This means radiant splendor, brilliance, to shine forth. Jesus Christ is God's glory.
We find here more evidence to support our concept that Jesus Christ is the image of God's Person and that He upholds everything by the simple Word of His power. He does not need to wave His hands about tracing arcane symbols in the air in front of Him. He does not need to mumble unintelligible sounds to make things happen. What He thinks, becomes. It is that simple.
We also discover what Christ did once He had finished purging us of all of our sins: He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, His throne. Why has God decided to present to us this picture? He wants us to learn about obedience, about respect, about being willing to subdue one's will in order to do the will of One greater than ourselves. The Son is God, the Father is God, the Holy Spirit is God. God in His infinite wisdom has chosen to use Himself, the Godhead, to demonstrate important lessons to all of mankind.
Verse five of this chapter in Hebrews points out that at no time have we been told that God said to any angel "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be a Son to Me." Continuing on through the remainder of chapter one we can see that none of the angels have ever been invited to sit at the right hand of the living God. They have been created to be ministering spirits sent out of heaven to minister those who shall become heirs of salvation.
Chapter three and verse six of Hebrews says, "But Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firmly unto the end." This Jesus is ruler over His own household. We believers are part of His house if we strongly hold the confidence that He is returning again, and we rejoice always in this hope. Verse seven here tells us that the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, if we will only take the time to stop and listen. Can we hear His voice today? Are we allowing the "noise" of this world to drown out God's Word?
What else is this Jesus to us? In Hebrews four, verse fourteen we find this: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." This Jesus is High Priest for all believers in Him. No longer must anyone rely upon a human high priest to go once each year into the Holy of Holies to spread shed blood upon the Mercy Seat of God for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ has gone to heaven and applied His shed blood upon His own Mercy Seat in forgiveness of all of our sins, once for all time. He has become our High Priest who has no sin in Him. We all have effectively become members of His royal priesthood, not requiring any human being to confess our sins to since we can now directly approach God's throne on our own through the righteousness of Christ. Looking further at the ensuing verses, we discover that our High Priest has already experienced the "infirmities" of which we are beset each and every day. Christ was tempted in every way just as we are, yet He remained without sin. Therefor we are to boldly come to the throne of grace in order that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in our times of need. Suffering from cancer? Boldly come to the throne of grace for help in your time of need! Scared of losing your spouse? Boldly come to the throne of grace for help in your time on need! Afraid of not ever finding a boyfriend or girlfriend? Boldly come to the throne of grace for help in your time need! Jesus is there for each and everyone of us! You do not need to negotiate terms with Jesus. Grace is free as long as you believe in Him.
"Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9)."
Through the suffering Jesus experienced here on earth He learned obedience to the Father's will. Jesus willingly came to paint this picture for us so that we could learn obedience as well. Through what we suffer we learn to obey God. Through the suffering we become perfected just as Christ was (Hebrews 2:10). Through His suffering He then became the author of our salvation, if we will simply obey Him. Perhaps it is at this point that very many people bristle. Why must I obey anyone? I am a free man/woman! No one tells me what I can and can't do! Well, beloved, freedom often is just an illusion. No one can have absolute liberty in this world of ours. It is impossible for people to have it and still have a functioning society. Who would be in charge? Who would enforce what laws were even agreed to? Who would act as a judge? Who would decide what was right and wrong conduct-wise? Chaos would be the end result and society would dissolve.
That is all for today, beloved. Next time I will continue looking through Hebrews and then on into I John for evidences for who this Jesus really is. I hope that you will patiently follow along on this journey, as we go in search of Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace abound in your life today, and always!
~Eric
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Wed, Apr 18th - 10:23PM
WHO IS THIS JESUS?
"God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord (I Corinthians 1:9)."
We continue to find that Jesus Christ is consistently referred to as God's Son. God's Son had a very specific itinerary and agenda while He walked this planet veiled in human flesh. God claims to call people out from living in the midst of slavery to sin. God's faithfulness was made manifest through Jesus Christ coming and providing us with the means to join His fellowship.
Moving on into the book of Galatians we observe the apostle Paul speaking about his conversion out on the road to Damascus. "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood; Neither did I go up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before I was; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus (Galatians 1:15-17).' Paul says that at God's good pleasure He called Paul to separate himself from legalism and simultaneously revealed Jesus Christ within Paul. This was done to demonstrate to Paul that Jehovah had sent Jesus Christ to redeem people, not just the Jew. Paul then goes on to state emphatically that he did not survey men to get their opinion on these matters, nor did he rush up to Jerusalem to request the apostles' opinions of this matter. No, Paul followed the call of God and went out into Arabia and spent three years learning at the desert university of God. See, seminary can be quite valuable but it can't replace learning from God's Holy Spirit for with the Spirit there can be no deception, no twisting of God's truth into something less than what it originally meant.
Now we come to a passage which speaks of God having chosen the exact time for certain things to transpire here on earth. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent out His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father (Galatians 4:4-6)." Why did this Jesus come to earth? Being God made manifest in human flesh He was made under the law in order that He might then redeem mankind who was under the same law. Being like us in the flesh Jesus was then able to gain for each of us the adoption of sons and daughters of God Almighty. Whose Spirit was then sent to dwell within each of us who believes? None other than that of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Christ had determined before the beginning of Creation the exact time when He would be born as an infant to Mary and Joseph. He determined the exact time when He would be nailed upon that cross outside of Jerusalem. He determined the exact time when He would be raised from the dead in order that we may receive the benefits of His resurrection, if we choose to believe.
Now an outgrowth of this redemption is to be found in Colossians. "Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:12-14)." Who are saints? Those who believe on Jesus Christ as their redeemer. We then get to share the inheritance of the saints of light. God the Father delivers us from spiritual darkness and shifts our position to that of being in the kingdom of God's Son. Who is His Son? None other than Jesus Christ. If Jesus has a kingdom then He must be a King. One logically follows the other. Finally we see that in Jesus Christ we have redemption. It is through His shed blood, not through His healings, or miracles, or wise sayings, that we obtain this redemption. Sins are forgiven. We are cleansed. We are made whole once again. Self guilt is to be removed from us. Shame is to be removed from us. A measure of innocence is to be regained.
I wish to direct your attention to Colossians 1:15-19. Here it can be learned that Jesus Christ was not created by God. Unbelievers twist the words around to suit their purposes, but verse fifteen lays it out quite directly. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. He is the firstborn of every creature. It is right here that they stumble over meanings and implied meanings. Could Jesus have been the first created creature? Sounds so plausible at first thought. But look at verse sixteen where it states that by Christ ALL things were created. Did He create Himself at this point in time? I do not think that would be very logical or defensible. Well, maybe that only speaks about those things created on earth or out in the universe at large? No, for the verse continues on to cover that supposition by stating that Christ created all things that are in heaven AND that are in the earth. Christ created things both visible and invisible. This covers gravity, thermodynamics, hydraulics, gas laws, physics, chemistry, and all of the physical laws that we have discovered. But not only were all things created by Christ, they were created for Him. They only remain in existence due to Him supporting them. As most science majors learn, organized systems only remain organized if there is a continual supply of energy into them to keep them operating and there is some overlaid repair mechanism to keep the system functioning properly. Christ is the source of energy for the universe to keep on functioning as we know it. If Christ were to remove His hand from the universe it would simply fall apart and dissolve into nothingness once again.
In verse eighteen we encounter the refutation to those who claim that Christ was born, or created, by God. It states that Christ is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. Here is explained the term "firstborn." It is a positional term applied to the second Person of the Godhead. Could Jesus have been anything less than 100% God? Not according to verse nineteen! In Him should all fulness dwell. Here is the Divine Godhead dwelling within Jesus while simultaneously the Father dwells in heaven while the Holy Spirit dwells within each and every believer in Christ Jesus. This is the means by which Christ can be the head of the body of believers, His church, and provide all of us with the same mind, the same love, the same spirit, the same unity of purpose. Christ created all, is in all, and provides all for those who believe in Him. Remaining outside of Christ dooms one to not having unity with believers of Christ nor being able to love the same way as they do or to think like they do. Remaining outside of Christ prevents understanding of Scripture, it remains as words upon pages of paper; a novel with an incomprehensible protagonist in Jesus Christ.
That is all for tonight beloved. My apologies for being away from this study for far too long! I shall do better in coming days. Grace and peace be yours.
~Eric
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Thu, Apr 5th - 5:16PM
MAUNDAY THURSDAY
"They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:13-16)."
In several different denominations across Christendom can be found the observance of the day of Passover. It is done in remembrance of the very last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples and because of the communion which was introduced directly after it. It can be called Maunday Thursday, or simply Passover.
Within the Church of the Brethren, we gather on this evening each year to observe more than one thing. We gather to remember that it was upon this Passover that the Lamb of God was prepared to be offered up for all of the sins of mankind. It was also the time when Christ began the cup and the bread communion which was for remembering what Christ would do for each person in just a very short time. It was also the time when Christ demonstrated exactly what sort of servants they were expected to be of one another when He got down on His knees and washed the feet of each apostle present. Christ also declared that this was something believers were to continue doing as time passed. So we Brethren meet on the Passover, wash each other's feet, share a fellowship meal, and then share in the taking of the cup and the bread in remembrance of all that Jesus did for each of us upon that cross.
But why would Jesus desire to be with friends, desire to share this particular Passover with the apostles? How will Passover be fulfilled in the kingdom of God? How does Jesus' use of the bread and wine change the emphasis of Passover? What new meaning did He give it?
In the past the Passover lamb merely covered the sins of those residing under that building's roof for one more year. It was an action which must be repeated over and over in order to have one's sins covered by the blood shed. Jesus came into our reality and as the Son of God offered Himself up as ransom for all of mankind's sins. He became the Lamb slain to redeem mankind from its sin, slain from before the foundations of the universe were ever laid out. God came and offered up Himself on behalf of His created beings in order to obtain for them the opportunity to be reconciled to Him, to be forgiven of their sin, to be redeemed from their carnal nature, to be restored to a place of peace with God. So Jesus desired to sit at the table with His apostles in order to teach them something new. It was necessary for they would need to go out and teach others about this new covenant with God. They would also need to go out and teach others about serving one another instead of being bosses of one another.
Christ lifted up the bread, broke it, and informed the apostles that this represented His broken body freely given to redeem men from sin. Afterwards Jesus offered up the cup, saying that it represented His shed blood that was poured out for men. Here was the new covenant God was making with mankind. Believe upon the name of Christ, believe that He died upon the cross to redeem mankind from its sin, that salvation may only come from the shedding of innocent blood. God's blood was required to put a halt to the sacrifice of unblemished animals upon the Temple altar. Christ crucified once, for all. No more physical sacrifices with the shedding of blood are required by God. Believe in Christ Jesus and you are saved and can enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Little do most believers understand the true significance of participating in this memorial each year. It is a time to remember the time when Jesus "touched" me, when He came and forgave me of all the nasty, wicked, and evil things that I had done in my life up to that point. It is a time to recall the fact that Jesus came into my heart, touched me, and He made me whole. He restored me to a state of balance. He put an end to the open conflict that had existed between me and Him. He provided me with the guidance to begin feeding my "new" nature and to not give place to the old nature of my flesh. This night is a time to remember all the joy that flooded my soul upon realizing that the Holy Spirit was now dwelling in me. It is a night to recall what my "first Love" actually felt like when I accepted Jesus into my heart. Something happened the day that Jesus touched me, He made me whole. I can't ever forget that fact, ever.
Very soon Love Feast begins at Lake Side Church of the Brethren. I shall join with my other brothers and sisters in Christ and after having reflected upon the state of my relations with those people around me partake in worshiping Christ. I shall have my feet washed by someone and then I shall wash the feet of someone else. We shall greet one another in the name of Jesus Christ. We shall sit together around a common table and share a simple meal. And then will come the time for communion; the time of the bread and the cup. It will be a time for us to be reminded that we are to serve one another in love, and to serve God in love by serving each other. I hope and pray that you are able to join with other believers tonight and remember what Christ was preparing to do for each of us that night so long ago. Grace and peace be yours this night!
~Eric
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Mon, Apr 2nd - 3:17PM
DISCIPLES OR SERVANTS?
"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord (Matthew 10:24)." As we read such verses as the one above, we must remain aware of the two-fold relation of the believer to the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we are His disciples. But we are also His servants. Yes, He is our Lord. But He is also our Master. Each of these relationships is vital and we must learn how and why since we are disciples, and this word means "pupil." The term "master" is the same as "teacher." Christ Jesus, therefore, is our teacher, and He teaches us through His Word---the Scriptures. It is our function to learn His teachings and to believe them. No Christian has the right to reject or even to question one of the teachings of His Word (Matthew 5:18-19). The lord-servant relationship goes even further. The term for "servant" is actually "bond slave." The lord of a slave was his owner; the word itself means "supreme ruler" and is the title commonly assigned to God Himself in the New Testament. So if a disciple is to believe the word of his master without question, the servant is to obey the word of his lord without question. It is these sorts of teachings of God's Word that our world scoffs at and ridicules. The world tries to persecute those of us who seek to follow them. The unbelieving world, even the religious world, responded to the teachings of the Master by ridiculing Him, then torturing Him, and finally by hanging Him upon a tree to die. Should we expect any less sort of treatment from the world today when we attempt to follow these teachings? Nonetheless we are to go to this same world with the same teachings. "As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you (John 20:21). "As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world (John 17:18)." This last was part of Christ's prayer for His disciples. Christ does warn us however. It is a warning we all ought to heed well. "Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also (John 15:20)." Bond servants. Christ bought us with His blood upon the cross. We are no longer our own agents. He died in our place. We owe Christ our very lives. We must therefore stop playing games, we must therefore acknowledge the fact that we ought to begin believing everything in the Bible and begin obeying those things taught within the Bible. I, myself, must ask God to forgive me today for failing to be obedient as I ought to be. Do I believe with all of my heart, soul, and mind? Then why not obey in like manner? I am left with the fact that I continue to inhabit a fleshly, carnal, physical body that remains subject to the effects of sin. Thus I must always struggle to maintain self-control over my extremities, my urges, my mind, and my heart. There is no other option available to me as a bond servant of Christ, He has left me none. ~Eric
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Name: E J Rajaniemi
