Thu, Jan 26th - 1:15PM

JUDGING OTHERS?

"Judge not, that you be not judged (Matthew 7:1)."

   Could there be any more misunderstood quote from the Bible than this one?  It is a very familiar maxim, often cited by unbelievers and carnal Christians as a rebuke to those Christians whom they regard as intolerant.  How dare you judge me!  You too will be judged!  So leave me alone!  These words of Jesus do warn us against judging others in a self-righteous manner.  The warning is against condemning others who disagree with us on the basis of superficial criteria.

   But this warning does not relieve us of the responsibility of evaluating the beliefs and practices of others relative to the standards given by God.  In the very same sermon Jesus said just a little bit further along: "Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine;...beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:6-15)."  Since we are to obey the commandments of Christ, obedience to such commands obviously requires us to make a judgment.  Are certain people "dogs" or "swine" or "false prophets?"  Perhaps we need to combine our text with this one as well: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24)."  Doing this means having to take the time out of our busy schedules and analyzing whether or not a person is what they appear at face value.  Jesus never ever said that believers must accept the conduct of every person.  Jesus said that we must love them but hate their wicked conduct, that we are to pray for their redemption earnestly each and every day. 

   Since the Scriptures are to be used in the final judgment (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12), it becomes obvious that we ought to use them today to discern truth and error, right and wrong.  "For the Word of God...is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)." 

   There is one other criteria by which we may judge people.  Christ authorized us to use this measurement: "A good tree can't bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit...Therefore by their fruits shall you know them (Matthew 7:18-20)."  In this manner, by combining the test of Scripture plus fruit produced, we have the means to reach a valid judgment.  Until adequate data for making such a test are available, we are to judge not!

~Eric

Wed, Jan 25th - 7:07PM

MYSTERIES OF GOD

MYSTERY OF CHRIST

   The Old Testament prophets consistently saw the rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah in one blended vision.  They also saw His glory as David's Son (Zechariah 12:8).  But "what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow (I Peter 1:10-12),"  was not revealed to them, only that the vision was not for themselves.  That mystery of Christ becomes revealed within the parables He spoke to His disciples and the people who came to hear Him.  A period of time is to intervene between His sufferings and His glory.  That interval is occupied with the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, as presented via the parables contained in Matthew. 

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46)."

   Here is found the mystery of Christ as expressed in the true Church.  The true Church, "one body" formed by the Holy Spirit of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-13), is the pearl of great cost.  Israel may be the hid treasure, but the Church is the pearl to be found out in the world.  Covering the exact same time period as the mysteries of the kingdom, is the mystery of the Church which is directly tied to Christ Jesus.  "Now to Him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith (Romans 16:25-26):" "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32)."  Verses 30 and 31 are quoted from Genesis 2:23-24, and exclude the interpretation that the reference is to the church merely as the body of Christ.  Eve, taken from Adam's body, was truly "bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh," but she was also his wife, united to him in a relationship which makes of two one flesh (Matthew 19:5-6), and so a clear "type" of the church as the bride of Christ "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:2-3)." 

   Of the true Church a pearl is a perfect symbol.  A pearl is one, a symbol of unity; a pearl is formed through accretion, and not mechanically, but vitally through a living organism, as Christ adds to the Church daily.  Christ, having given Himself for the pearl, is now preparing it for presentation to Himself, as shown in the above verses from II Corinthians.  The kingdom is not the Church, but the true children of the kingdom during the fulfilment of these mysteries, baptized by one Spirit into one body (I Corinthians 12:12-13), compose the true Church, the pearl. 

   The parable of the Net presents another view from that of the wheat and the tares.  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind of fish: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come out, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:47-50)."  Even though this parable addresses what the kingdom of heaven conditions will be like, it also speaks to us about the condition of the Church and of the church which the world looks at.  Here we find that the cast net draws to itself all kinds of fish, some good and some bad.  There is no distinction made before the net has been drawn in.  The same results occur in the church which the world looks at with jaded eyes.  The world looks upon Christianity and only can see those who claim to be believers in Christ but can't live like they love Him.  The world raises these individuals high and uses them as excuses to assail Christ as being a fraud.  Meanwhile, the true Church members are ignored by the world for the world is spiritually blind and can't distinguish one from the other.  Sadly, Christianity attracts to itself all sorts of people who come for a varity of motivations.  Some come because they have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.  Others come because everyone in their family has always gone to church.  Still others come because they think being a pastor is a great way to become rich and respected.  And there are those who come simply to infiltrate and plant seeds of dissension in order to destroy the ministeries of the faithful.  The "net" draws all sorts of people to the church, but it won't be until the net gets opened up and everyone is sorted through by Christ Jesus that the good and the bad will be separated from one another.  The good fish represent the true Church, the bride of Christ.  The bad fish represent everyone else who either rejected Christ and wanted to ruin the church or else mistakenly believed that they never had to accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  The net does not convert, the sea into which it is cast is much less a converted sea.  Injustice is done by this notion that the world is to be converted in this age.  Against this notion stands Christ's parables of the Sower, the Wheat and Tares, and the Net. 

  Thus do we find the mystery form of the kingdom of heaven and of the Church in Christ.  It is a mingled body of true and false, wheat and tares, good and bad. It is defiled by formalism, doubt, and worldliness.  But within it Christ sees the true children of the true kingdom who, at the end, are to "shine forth as the sun."  In the world Christ sees the redeemed of all ages, but especially His hidden Israel, yet to be restored and blessed.  Also, in this form of the kingdom, which is unlike that which is yet to be, Christ sees the Church, His body and bride, and for joy He sells all that He has and buys that field, the treasure, and the pearl. 

"But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  Therefore He said, When he ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.  (Now that He ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers(Ephesians: 4:7-11):"  Between this passage and that found over in I Corinthians 12:8-28 we see the Spirit as bestowing the members of the body of Christ with spiritual gifts, or enablements for a varied service.  In this specific passage certain Spirit-filled men are themselves the gifts whom the glorified Christ bestows upon His body the Church.  In Corinthians the gifts are spiritual enablements for specific service; here in Ephesians the gifts are men who have such enablements. 

   Now God, in bestowing the Church with gifted men, determines providentially or directly through His Holy Spirit the places of their service.  The word "Some" informs us that not all places are in need of exactly the same things at the same time.  Some need teachers, some need apostles, some need evangelists, and some need pastors or prophets.  Nothing in Christ's service is left to mere human judgment or self-choosing.  Even the Apostles of old were not allowed to choose their place of service (Acts 16:7-8). 

  Yet further delving into the mystery of Christ reveals that upon becoming born again through Jesus Christ something new is created.  "If so be that you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former conversation with the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:21-24)."  This new man is the regenerate man, as distinguished from the old man (Romans 6:6), and is a new man as having become someone who has a portion of the divine nature and life.  This does not say that he is the old man made over, or improved.  The new man is Christ, "formed" in the believer and engrafted into him and meant to convert him into a brand new creation.  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2;20)."  "My little children, of whom I travail in birth  again until Christ be formed in you (Galatians 4:19)."  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)."  "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)."  "No man has seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.  Here is how we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit (I John 4:12-13)."  The mystery of conversion through belief in Christ Jesus into a new person is explained by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the new believer.  Dramatic change ought to be visible in the believer's life as the old begins to pass away and is replaced with the new.  Old lifestyles can't be stubbornly held onto, old speech patterns can't be indulged, personal conduct can't remain questionable.  The old has passed away, the new has replaced it.  If Christ is growing within you as a beliver, then your life must show changes.  Foul language ought to be disappearing, addictions ought to begin to come under control, shady acquaintenances ought to be shed like a snake skin.  The missing ingredient in too many so-called believers is the Holy Spirit.  The person who claims to be a Christian simply because their family has been "Christian" for six generations is missing the Holy Spirit and are therefore not a Christian for there has been no conversion experience.  They are not regenerated, they are merely remade/improved through their own human efforts.  Here we find some of the rules to deciding if someone is actually a believer in Christ Jesus or not.  When different denominations accuse each other of not being believers in Christ, it had better be done in love and not bitterness or hate.  We are known to be children of God by loving other believers in Christ.  Further on in chapter four of I John can be found verses which highlight signs of true believers in Christ.  These verses tell us that anyone who stands up and declares vocally that Jesus is the Son of God, they have God dwelling within them and they dwell in God as well.  Those who live all caught up in fear are not living with love in their lives.  If God is love and their lives are thoroughly populated by fear, then obviously love is missing from their lives and God is absent.  Perfect love casts out fear and then there will no longer be torment in your life.  Finally, we see in I John 5:1-8 some basic truths about Christianity.  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.  Whoever loves God keeps His commandments and thus loves the other children of God.  Believers can only overcome this world one way: being born of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Believers are to know that it is the Holy Spirit that bears witness for He is truth.  The believer is to know without any doubt that God exists in a trinity: "For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  Can it be more clearly shown? 

   Well, beloved, I think this completes my efforts at this point on the mystery of Christ.  In reality, the entire Bible can be brought to bear upon explaining the complete mystery of Christ Jesus for He is the Word of God, the Logos.  I hope this clarifies one or more things for you.  I hope that it enables you to walk more closely with Christ and to know for sure more things about your God.  Until next we meet, grace and peace be with you!

~Eric

Mon, Jan 23rd - 8:16PM

MYSTERIES OF GOD

Tue, Jan 10th - 7:33PM

MYSTERIES OF GOD

We begin a new study series today.  We all know about solving mysteries and reading mystery stories.  But within the Bible there are mysteries, things which can't be explained throughout much of it.  However, God foresaw our difficulty in understanding the things which God can do and chose to provide us with some enlightenment throughout the New Testament. 

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29)."

God chooses which secret things He will reveal to mankind, and when they will be revealed.  Those mysteries which He reveals to us remain ours forever more. 

"So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the Word of the Lord.

And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knows where his sepulcher is to this very day (Deuteronomy 34:5-6)."

This is an unsolved mystery.  God did not wish the Hebrew people to worship the bones of Moses and tote them all around Canaan, so God took Moses' life while he was still vigorous and not feeble.  The Hebrew people were ready to enter into the Promised Land of Canaan but Moses was not allowed by God to enter in.  This particular mystery won't be revealed until after Christ returns again to earth to rule.

"Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone (Ecclesiastes 4:11)?"

Here again, we are faced with an unsolved mystery.  We are left to ponder the handiwork of God.

"He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Matthew 13:11)."

This is something which I have covered in my other blog where I am studying out the Book of Matthew at this time.  Christ revealed to His disciples, and to us by extension, a previously hidden truth.  Despite this divine revelation there still remains a supernatural element.  There are at least ten mysteries which have been revealed by God within His Word.  I plan on studying all ten.  The very first one is that of the mystery of the kingdom of heaven.  As I have already pointed out, I have covered that one in my other blog.  So I shall skip on to the next one which is the mystery of Israel's blindness during this current age.  Why are Jewish people so adamantly against acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Messiah?  Why does God allow this to continue, and not enlighten them all? 

If we stop and read Romans 11:13-24 we discover that the apostle Paul warns the Gentiles that the Jewish people are not abandoned by God.  He reminds them, and us, that if their casting away resulted in our reconcilation with God then what shall the receiving of them be except life from the very dead?  The illustration provided to us is that of a fruit-bearing vine of which Christ is the root.  We are the branches on the vine growing from the root and if we do not bear fruit then we shall be pruned and then, if necessary, cut off and burned as being worthless.  Israel was broken off from the vine in order that we Gentiles might be grafted in to the true vine.  If we were grafted in, we can also be pruned out if we choose to sin.  Just as importantly, those who have been cut out of salvation can be grafted back in IF they will not remain adamant in their unbelief of God.  Then we come to verse 25: "For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, otherwise you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happening to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11:25)."  And there is the reason why Israel, and Jewish people globally, remain "blind" to the fact that their beloved Messiah has already come to save them from their sins.  They shall generally remain blind to this fact until the time of the Gentiles reaches fulness.  This speaks of the completion of the purpose of God in this current age: the calling out from among the Gentile peoples of a people for Christ's name, "the church which is His body."  God gave the Israelites ample opportunity to believe Him when He came in the flesh the first time.  They rejected Him then so now He allows His plan to run its course before they have their next opportunity to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. 

The other aspect of this particular mystery is that Israel had been provided insider information for generations about the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.  The people became complacent in their position as God's Chosen People and forgot what God had promised to do.  Today's Christian churches must not repeat history, but sadly, entire denominations do repeat this mistake.  They have chosen to ignore what Christ taught or to alter its meaning into something entirely different.  They have thus become blind to the Word of God and join the Jewish people in spiritual blindness.

That is all for tonight beloved.  Next time I shall study the mystery of Christ as the incarnate fullness of the Godhead embodied.  Until then, grace and peace by yours!

~Eric

Mon, Jan 9th - 1:03PM

Jesus Christ - Our Dayspring

""Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us (Luke 1:78)."

   We find here an unusual name of the coming Savior given Him by Zacharias when he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied (Luke 1:67).  Zacharias in addition called that coming Redeemer "the Highest", "the Lord", who would "give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins (verses 76-77)."  A mere six months later, Jesus Christ was born to Mary and Joseph.

   The Greek word translated here as "dayspring" is translated as such only this one time in the entire Bible.  It refers to the metaphorical spring from which the sun springs forth each and every day, and so is usually translated as simply as "the east."  It is used three times in connection with the account of the wise men "from the east" who saw "His star in the east" and then, when they reached Bethlehem, "the star, which they saw in the east," led them to the One who was Himself "the dayspring (Matthew 2:1-2, 9)."

   But we also must keep in mind that another sunrise is presaged here.  Over thirty years later the women who had tearfully watched the Lord being crucified and buried, came to His grave to anoint Him with sweet spices "at the rising of the sun (Mark 16:2)." Unknown to them, Christ had already risen from the dead.  But it is an instance of a closely related word "rising."

   But even more importantly, there is another great sunrise coming, one promised in the last chapter of the Old Testament. "But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2)."  He who is Himself the light of the world will one day replace the sun in the new Jerusalem.  Between now and that time Jesus Christ is our "dayspring" each and every day spiritually.  We can look to the east each and every morning and know that we are being given another new chance to walk with Christ more closely than the day before.  No matter how badly we may screw things up today, another sunrise is coming to give us opportunity to repent and do better.  No matter how dark the night may become, looking to the east we shall be able to see the coming of the light and the reminder that Christ remains forever faithful and true to His Word. 

   Once Christ replaces the solar sun with Himself there shall never be another sunrise, for "there shall no be no night there...neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light (Revelation 22:5)."  So, let's thoroughly enjoy the beauty and assurance of each and every sunrise God has given us in our lives for they are not infinite in number! 

~Eric