Love (Rescue from the Curse)

 I have been posting on love these many months. I have one more post on this topic and will be moving on to other topics. I will, God willing, revisit this subject that has been near to my heart. This post is not directly about love, but rather the removal of the curse as an act of love by God.

There will no longer be any curse.
Revelation 22:3a

There are times when the full weight of guilt rests upon our conscience. The guilt and shame overcome and drag us down to the depths of despair. This tangle of condemnation rests upon everyone. You see there is not a one of us that can escape the reality that we all miss the mark in life (that is sin). Missing the mark is no small thing either. Sure, we can think about minor sins and say that was not a big deal. However, how can we gage how large a sin must be before it is considered bad. Is the badness related to the nature of the sin itself? What if the sin is frequent does that make it worse? Does remorse change the nature of guilt? All of these and more are interesting questions. James an early follower of Christ answered these questions this way: “For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. (Jas 2:10)” That seems harsh to the modern ear. Paul another follower of Christ said it this way: “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. (Ga 3:10).” The point is this if you are depending on being a good enough person to please God you have already come up short.

Loving God and loving others well is a response to having the curse removed from your life. The curse is that we can never be good enough on our own. No amount of good works can make you a good person. However, when the curse is removed, we can reach the full potential of what God has created us to be. In many ways this returns us to the occasion that Jesus said to love God and love others. The question was how to inherit eternal life. To which Jesus replied to Love God (with all heart, soul, and strength) and to love your neighbor as yourself. A follow up question was “Who is my neighbor?”  Jesus used a parable to explain that our neighbor is another human being in need that we care for regardless of what group they identify with.

We come up short though. So, are we hopelessly under the curse? Yes and no.

“Yes”

As I have already mentioned we cannot be good enough to remove the guilt and shame of our sin. We remain under the curse of this sin and our virtuous deeds do not rescue. It is a hopeless and impossible state.

When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Mt 19:25–26)

With man it is impossible to be saved from the curse.

“No”

Our hope is in God’s promise. It is possible to escape the curse when we come to and trust in God.

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
(Jn 3:16–18)

Simply stated it is God’s love for us that provides the escape from the curse. The progression is quite simple. God loves us. He gives us a way to escape the curse. His Son Jesus provided the way. If we believe in Jesus, we receive the escape of the curse. Dear friends that is God’s love!

Love Sustaining Love

Watch Sermon Here: https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/rbcchurch/sermons/213222013388097/

A few weeks back someone asked me, “How love could be both the root and the fruit of the Christian life?” It is a very good question. Today I hope to describe how love and be the root, growth, and fruit of the Christian life. To illustrate this, I am going to use the analogy of an apple tree. I am holding in my hand here an apple seed. And in my other hand an apple. Now we can understand how this can become this over time. This analogy is useful in understanding love of God and how it can be the seed, root, growth, and fruit of our lives.

Another way to examine love is to look at it grammatically. “Love loves love!” is a complete sentence. Love is the subject, action, and object. In this way we can look at love as being a complete package. It is the fullness of love that is lived out in the Christian life.

As I mentioned in last week’s sermon God is the source and author of love. God is love. In this way when we come to Christ God plants the seed of love in our heart and lives that is His Holy Spirit. When we allow this love to mature in our lives it is the action of this love to produce sanctification in our lives. By loving God and others well the seed of love grows into maturity. In the flesh we simply love those who love us. Jesus says “What good is it to only love those who love you. Even sinners do the same.” So, then the higher mature love is to let God through His process of sanctification work in your heart to put to death selfish and unloving ways. As we mature then God uses our lives to produce mature fruit. This fruit of love is then a witness to a lost world, but also a ministry to the brothers and sisters in Christ.

In this way love can be both the source and the fruit. And this should not come as a surprise to us. The Bible frequently describes how we reap what we sow.

Galatians 6:7–9 CSB

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

Why should we expect anything different when it comes to the greatest spiritual virtue of love?

2 Corinthians 9:6 CSB

The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

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Let’s dig into God’s Word!

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John 15:1–17 CSB

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. “This is what I command you: Love one another.

I have already talked about the second part of that passages in the past two sermons. Jesus has laid down His life for our sins. He is talking about those that place their faith in Him the ones that listen and obey Him. Jesus is calling them friends. This is what happens when we turn from living a sinful and selfish life to trusting in Christ as our Lord and Savior. What a friend we have in Jesus.

This command to love is connected then to the sacrifice that Jesus has made. Jesus also is a commanding us to “love one another.” This command to love one another is connected then to the first part of this passage with an important phrase. Jesus says in John 15:9 ““As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.” The phrase “remain in my love” establishes a clear connection between the visual of vine and branches and His teaching on loving obedience to God and sacrificial love toward others. Taking it a step further I believe that the description the follows the metaphorical language is one of Jesus’ explanations to his disciples (See Matthew 13:10-17). We know that Jesus would use the metaphorical language of parables and then pull His disciples aside to explain what the parables meant.

The Source of Love

Ultimately Jesus is our source of Life and Love. In this passage Jesus refers to himself as the vine and refers to us as branches. God the Father is the gardener. We see then that it is our connection to and abiding in Christ that gives us life and fruitfulness. We often look at our salvation experience through the lens of getting a ticket to heaven. However, if we take the metaphoric language seriously there is a life sustaining connection to Christ that is needed. It also says that those that are not fruitful are cut off and thrown into the fire.

The question might be what causes a branch to be unfruitful? There is a verse I want to zero in on here. John 15:6 “If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

I recall when we used to have rose bushes that I would cut back once a year. In the spring as the bush would grow there were on occasion branches on the bush that although they were connected to the base of the rose bush physically, they were not connected in a life-giving way. This is referred to as die back. It is important to cut out the die back when it is detected as whatever is causing it can infect the health tissue in the rose bush and cause it to die. I bring this up because Jesus seems to be saying that there is a difference between being physically connected to the vine and abiding in the vine. When we are merely physically connected, we do not produce fruit because we are dead. In the same way a dead rose branch will never produce a rose and needs to be cut off if we are not connected to abiding in Christ then we will likewise be cut off. That is dead in a spiritual sense. This has eternal consequences. This passage also says that these branches will be burned up. This is a clear representation of eternal punishment in hell in my opinion.

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” This is a familiar verse to most church goers. It also can be familiar to the world at large. Less familiar is John 3:18 “Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” It is this condemnation that leads to branches being burned up.

Notice the connection to love though. In John 3:16 we read “For God so loved the world.” In John 15:9 we read “remain in my love.” The Gospel is an expression of God’s love for us. We experience and are connected to God’s love when we believe in Jesus Christ as our savior.

Jesus is the source of our love. It is his love that flows into our lives and enables us to bear the fruit of love.

Using the picture then this apple seed is symbolic of the gospel of God’s love. If this gospel it received and planted then it grows up. Love, more specifically God’s love is that seed.

The Growth of Love

Pruning

It would seem that there is more to this than simply believing in Christ. In this metaphorical language Jesus also says that God the Father is pruning those that remain in Christ. There is not only salvation, but also a process of sanctification that is occurring as God removes those parts of you that are getting the way of being fruitful. As followers of Christ then we must be willing to respond to God to remove those barriers. Jesus not only describes the action of being cleaned, but also the method of being cleaned. Notice John 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

It is the Word that God uses to do His pruning. Our Heavenly Father is the Gardener and His Word is the pruning shears. God’s word is often represented as an instrument that cuts.

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

There are so many things that get in the way of the fruit of love. None greater in my estimation than the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Truly as I think about the times that I have failed to love well it is nearly always one of these two. On the one hand the way that I think about the other person has a huge influence on how I treat them. It is also possible that when it comes down to it, I really never intended to love them in the first place. My thoughts about the other person simply become a way to soothe my conscience for acting in an unloving manner toward them. I can justify being unloving because they deserve it.

One more point before moving on. I realize that we can push metaphors too far so as to lose their meaning, but if you will indulge me just a bit. Pruning shears are no good to us if they simply sit in the shed collecting dust. It is only when we take them out and use them to prune that the purpose of the shears is fulfilled. Can I just say an unopened Bible is like pruning shears stored away in a shed. As we talked about last week it is only by being in the Word of God that we can know what it is that we are to obey. This week I would extend that to say that it is only by studying the Word of God that God can actively remove those things that God wants out of our lives. If you wonder why God is not producing fruit in our life individually or in the collective lives of our church is it possible that we do not spend nearly enough time in His Word if we spend any time at all?

So back to my analogy then. The seed of the gospel grows up into a tree. This apple tree is cared for by God. He loves and cleans the believer so that they will be fruitful. At times this cleaning is unpleasant.

Hebrews 12:11 CSB

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

We often consider suffering and discipline as being the opposite of love. But it is not so God genuinely cares for you and longs for good in your life. Submitting to His discipline is for our ultimate well-being. Apathy that is a lack of care or concern is the opposite of love.

Proverbs 3:11–12 CSB

Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

So then love is the growth of the apple tree toward maturity.

The Fruit of Love

Keep my commands / Love one another

I know we discussed this last week. One of the key ways that we express love toward God is through obedience to His commands. Jesus tells us that keeping His commands is the way that we remain in His love. This truth can generally apply to all the commands of God. In the New Testament there are over 300 commands of Christ. Admittedly not all the commands apply to us. Some apply to the disciples alive at the time of Christ. Jesus in this passage focuses on one command in particular. In John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.” He then redirects the command to focus on others in John 15:12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.” He repeats the command again saying John 15:17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.”

The command to “Love one another” placed so closely to the Vine metaphor and the keep my commands statement would make this particular command of primary importance. The fact that Jesus says it twice would make this an especially important emphasis of His teaching to “remain in his love.” It seems that to remain in Christ’s love that we are obliged to love one another. This is consistent with other passages in scripture as well. I have covered many of these “love one another” commandments in my previous two sermons. Just to highlight a couple of them:

1 Peter 4:8 CSB

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.

 

1 John 4:11 CSB

Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.

 

Romans 12:10 CSB

Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.

Truthfully, I could go on and on with the multitude of verses that command us to love one another that are in God’s Word. The command to love is an unambiguous teaching of God’s word. If we are to remain in Christ then Love ought to be central theme of our relationships. Further Love that is our ability to love one another is the central evidence that God’s love is in us.

The primary purpose of abiding, pruning, obeying, and loving is found in John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” The aim is to glorify God through being fruitful and proving to be Jesus disciples.

In Galatians and Ephesians, we find a good summary of what this fruit is to look like.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

 

Ephesians 5:8–10 (CSB)

Walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

Love is a sort of shorthand for all these things. Notice that the in the Fruit of the Spirit that Love is the first thing that is mentioned. It is not a stretch to suggest that Love is the premier fruit. Notice also that the Fruit of Light which is goodness, righteousness, and truth is consistent with Loving God which is to say obeying His truth. Fruitfulness in the Christian life necessarily involves love both loving God and loving others. That is why Jesus said:

Matthew 22:37–40 (CSB)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Love also is how we prove that we are Jesus’ disciples as well:

John 13:34–35 CSB

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

When the people outside the church look in, they don’t say, “Oh those people sure are smart!” Nor do they say, “Those Christians they are so righteous.” No Jesus says it plainly, “Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love is our witness to a dark world. Love is our witness when everything around us is violence. Love is our witness when contempt is the way of the times. Love is our witness while the world is tearing itself apart. Love, it is love that is our witness. It is love that shows others that we are abiding in Christ. In short if you want to Glorify God then you must love Him and love one another.

This apple is the fruit of the seed and the tree of the apple. In this same way Love in particular the love of Christ is the seed of love in our lives. As we abide in Christ the love and life-giving sap allows us to grow up and mature like an apple tree. God prunes us with His word. Finally, this same love become the fruit that glorifies our Heavenly Father. Love sustains love.

Love Sustains Love

As we draw to a close this series of messages on love, I want to challenge you all to consider a few things.

First are you in Christ? This message only makes sense if you are in Christ. If not then I want to encourage you to seek to be in Christ. Truthfully Jesus is seeking for you this morning. If you want to be found in Christ then in a few minutes we will be having a time of commitment. I would love to have a chance to share with you about how to abide in Christ. Our staff would also be available after the service if you want to pull one of us aside to learn more about this.

Second, if you are in Christ are you in God’s Word? As we have learned the only way, we can know what is pleasing to God is to study His message to us found in the Bible. We also learned today That God prunes the dead things in our lives using the Word found in scripture.

Finally, Are you fruitful in love? This is a burden for me. Everywhere I look in our times there is contempt, mean spirited words, hate, and violence. Brothers and Sisters, we must present ourselves different from the world. We cannot fall into the darkness of the world or follow the ways of the world. Let our love that is love for God and love for others shine brightly in a dark dark world. Further let’s not make this love mere lip service. Let’s not make this love be a simple attitude adjustment. No let’s serve God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Let’s sacrificially love and build up one another. Let’s take the greatest love story humanity has ever known to a world that desperately needs His love. That is the heart our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s pray!

 

Gospel Love Story

 

God’s salvation is a love story. It is a story of a deity that pursues His beloved and wins His beloved over. It is a story of an unworthy lover who seeks anything but a good God. And at just the right time and just the right place this Lover of our souls reaches out and says “Turn to me and I will save you from all the the mistakes, missed opportunities, neglects, evil deeds, everything that you have missed the mark on (sin).”

Why?

Love!

Romans 5:5–8 CSB

This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Incomplete Faith?

 

James 2:22–23 CSB

You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

There are Two phrases that stand out in this passage of James. “Faith was active together with his works,” “by works, faith was made complete.” These are two important considerations when it comes to faith and loving works. These are connected to love as this is the topic that James introduced earlier in James 2:8 “Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.”

Faith Together With Works

Faith and works of love go together. This would seem according to James that faith and works are collaborators. The Greek work used in this case is synergeō. We get our English word synergy from this word. Synergy is when two parts, parties, or individuals work together they are more effective than if they worked on their own separately. The word choice here by James is important. James could have said “faith was demonstrated by his works” as some would take this to mean. However, “faith is active together with his works.”

James has already stated that faith without works is dead being by itself (James 2:17). Paul makes it clear that works do not save us in various passages (Romans 10:3; Romans 9:31-32; Titus 3:5; Romans 3:27-28; and more). Many would point out the seeming contradictory passages. So how do we resolve these? I would say that it is more the absence of one or the other that leads to a false sense of security for the unbeliever. Without works of love faith is dead and cannot save (James 2:14). Without faith works are dead and cannot redeem (Hebrews 6:1). You see they are a package deal. I think this is James’ point when he says faith together (synergetically) with works produce righteousness in the lives of those who love God. In all reality you cannot have one without the other.

Even Paul who we typically think of when we talk about faith and not works says that we are created to accomplish works of faith (good works, works of love, walking in the Spirit, walking in newness of life, bearing fruit, newness of the Spirit, (Titus 3:5,8, Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 5:4-6, First Corinthians 13:1-3, Romans 8:3-4, 12-13, Romans 5:1, 6:4, 7:4-6 ). You see everywhere Paul connects these works to our faith. We do a disservice to Paul when we describe his writings as describing “faith and not works” without clarifying what is meant by that statement. So, what does he mean since the statements seem clear that Paul is saying we are justified by faith and not works then?

Paul, I believe, is making the point that it is impossible to work your way into heaven. There are not enough works of the law that you or I could ever do that would earn our way into God’s grace. One way to think of this is, “What is the object of your faith?” When the object of your faith is in doing good works then it comes up short every time. On the other hand, if God is the object of your faith then your trust in Jesus Christ is empowered by God’s salvation and sanctification. This is primarily the point that Paul is trying to make when he says that works of the law do not save.

God’s grace is a unilateral gift that only God provides. We are unworthy and undeserving, yet God in His love gives us this grace. We receive that Gift (Salvation) through faith not some work. We do disservice to Paul’s writings when we make Salvation merely an act of confession and then call that confession faith. This is why on the heels of nearly every “saved by faith not works” statements Paul follows it up with statements about good works, walking, and good fruits. He is not separating faith and works as some would think, but rather recognizing that when we are saved for good works then it is transforming us and fulfilling God’s righteousness in us.

Even Christ makes this plain to us when he says, “You will recognize them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).” You see it is the fruit (works) that reveals what a man believes in his heart. So then it is the combination of knowing Christ (Matthew 7:23) and producing good fruit (Matthew 7:16) that saves a man’s soul. Without both, there is compelling cause to question whether the person has been saved. Jesus also illustrates this in the picture of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-10). In this imagery there are two ways that one can be thrown into eternal Judgement. The first way to be removed is to not bear fruit (John 15:2). Jesus makes it pain that no fruit bearing branches are removed. He trims those that are bearing fruit that they might be more fruitful. The second way to be thrown into the fire is to not abide in Christ (John 15:6).

So you see salvation is both being in Christ and producing fruit. These are inseparable. If you have just works then you are placing hope on filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). If we have mere confession without good works then we are trusting in dead faith (James 2:17). Neither of these can save. It is faith active together with works that both saves and demonstrates we are saved. Just to be clear these are not works of merit. These works do not make us better in God’s eyes, no! These are fruit bearing works (Spiritual) that are the result of saving faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith Made Complete

Philippians 2:12–13 CSB

Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

“Working out your own salvation” in a merely confessional faith makes no sense. However, “working out your own salvation” in a synergistic faith/good works brings this particular passage into clearer view. This working is a command that we are to fulfill according to Paul. It is more than a passive agreement that we are letting God work in us, but rather we have an active role to play in our salvation and sanctification. This role is obeying God. It is through obedience to God in faith that we “work out” our salvation. What is more when we do this then God is “working in” us and accomplishing His “work according to His good purpose.” It would seem to me that there is a synergistic God’s work/My obedience action occurring here.

James says that Abraham’s faith was made “complete” through his good works. This word is teleioō (tell ee o). There are many references to the completion and perfection of the Spiritual fruit and disciplines in our lives. The completeness (teleioo) is ultimately found by faith in the perfect (teleioo) sacrifice Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:8-9); Trusting in Christ’s sacrifice makes us perfected (teleioo)(Hebrews 10:14); Through persistent moving toward God’s will we are also being made complete (teleioo) (Philippians 3:13); and keeping God’s word makes God’s love complete (teleioo) in us (1 John 2:5) which gives us assurance of our salvation.

In short then without good works our faith is incomplete. We move toward a mature faith by living out what God has shown us and put into us. Love, being the supreme Christian virtue and premiere fruit of the Spirit, is a mark of mature Christian spirituality. Love is also an ideal that we always will be moving toward as God sanctifies and draws us nearer to His heart. I can never say “Ah I have matured in God’s love. I can rest now.” Love will be striving and longing as we wait for perfection in the afterlife.

Philippians 3:13–17 CSB

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

God Bless You

~BJ Olson

 

In Christ, In Love

Jesus prayed for believers for all times on the evening before his crucifixion. He was facing the most difficult hours of his life and he got off to pray as was often his practice. Initially He praised and glorified God (John 17:1-5). Next he prayed for the 12 apostles (John 17:6-19). Then in the moments before his arrest he prayed for all Christians who would eventually receive his message (John 17:20-26).

If you are a Christian then you can read this prayer that Jesus prayed for you. That is powerful. That is moving!

So what exactly did He pray?

First he prayed for our salvation (John 17:20). We become a believer on the testimony of the Word. If a believer has been transformed by Jesus then they have done so through the testimony of others and the power of God’s Word. This divine Logos (word) is in all its fullness when we look to the person of Jesus Christ. We are saved when we put our hope in the Word (Christ) through the testimony of another disciple of Christ. Even, if a person comes to Christ through the reading of the Bible it is still testimony of the author who wrote the gospel. That is God’s way.

Next Jesus prays for two fold unity (John 17:21). The first unity is with other believers. This unity with believers represents the unity between Jesus Christ and Father God. The second unity with with God. The expressions of unity in both cases is to “be in” and “one with.” To be one with is to be in agreement. Unity is an expression of God’s divine presence in our lives. More than agreement though is to be in Christ which denotes a connected intimacy with Jesus. This intimacy is also expressed in fellowship with other believers. When we strive with other believers it is both a threat and a blessing. One the one hand if our striving leads to disunity then we lose our witness of God’s work in our lives. On the other hand if our striving leads to unity we have a deeper fellowship, deeper intimacy, and deeper love for one another. This becomes a witness to the world of the saving and transforming power of Christ in the lives of believers.

Jesus continues by saying that he has shared his glory with believers in order that we may further express this unity (John 17:22). This makes me think that this unity that Jesus is referring to is supernatural. What else could it be? As I think about myself I see in me a devastatingly selfish man who left to his own end would rather be right than to have a right relationship. It is only by Jesus putting something supernatural into my life that I can overcome the curse of self-centeredness.

Continuing to pray for unity Jesus asks that we be in Him as God the Father is in Him (John 17:23). Again with the purpose of being a witness to the world. What drives all of this? God’s love! The foundation for all of this is God’s love for His Son Jesus and His love for us. Jesus is praying at the profound moment of the eve of crucifixion very clearly that our greatest witness of God’s work to the world, is His love. And no doubt Jesus had the fact that he was about to lay his life down for us as he prayed this prayer (See John 15:13).

Jesus ask that we be with him (John 17:24). This is both a present reality as well as looking forward to the future with Him in heaven. For the believer then Jesus is asking our Heavenly Father to make Jesus presence to be in believers now and with Jesus for all of eternity. We see again that God’s love is the basis of Jesus’ desire.

Continuing the Unity and intimacy theme Jesus says that He knows Our Heavenly Father (John 17:25). Often in religious knowledge we know something about God. However Jesus’ expression is no mere knowledge about God. No it is a relationship of intimacy. This relationship of intimacy makes it clear to the followers of Christ that He knows God. Through that relationship then Jesus continues to make God known to us (John 17:26). This is how the Word of God is revealed to the world. That we share the knowledge of God.

Notice the last part of this prayer. John 17:26 “I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.” This last phrase points out the purpose of His prayer for us. Jesus’ ultimate desire is that the love of God be in us and that He (the divine logos) would be in us. We fulfill the desire of Jesus when we allow God’s love and Word to do its work in our lives. I am not up to the task, but thank God we have Jesus’ prayer, empowering glory, and Holy Spirit to help us fulfill this calling.

The greatest of these is Love,

~BJ Olson

 

First Love (Accepting Jesus Christ)

John 5:41–44 CSB

“I do not accept glory from people, but I know you—that you have no love for God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and yet you don’t accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Jesus says that these people “have no love for God.”  Why?  Because, “You don’t accept me.”  What exactly does it mean to “accept” Jesus? Well let’s go back one step first.  

Human’s have been created with a strong moral sense.  We look at various situations and draw strongly held conclusions of things being right or being wrong.  Many of these things are universal like: don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t harm others, don’t take advantage of the the vulnerable, don’t be a jerk, show compassion, treat others with respect and so on.  Truth be told we are fairly rigorous at applying these moral standards on other people, but when it comes to applying it to ourselves we really miss the mark.  This interesting because that phrase “miss the mark” is the very definition of sin.  When we miss the mark with morality we sin against our conscience.  

To take this a step further this also becomes a sin against God.  You see if you view something as bad and yet you do it anyway then you are acting against the conscience that God has given you.  You are literally disobeying God.  This guilt is talked about in Romans 1:18-19 “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.” 

Our moral sense (unless a person has completely seared their conscience) testifies against us.  In our brokenness there is a profound realization that even though I know the right things to do in this life there is a complete lack of ability to do it (see Romans 7:23-24).  Most of us can string together a goodness for a season, but at some point we return to missing the mark (sin).  It really is a hopeless condition.  It also is true of all of us.  Religious people miss the mark, secular people miss the mark, professional people miss the mark, kind people miss the mark, rude people miss the mark.  We all sin!

So returning to describing what it means to “accept” Christ.  First, we have to humble ourselves and see that we have truly sinned (missed the mark).  We also have to recognize that even though we can see that we missed the mark that we are unable to do anything other than missing the mark.  That is to say we need help to get out of the this helpless state of sin.  With this recognition in our soul we then are in a position to repent.  Repent is a change in our soul and heart with regard to the life we have been living.   We acknowledge that we are headed in the wrong direction and long for something better, something pure, something righteous.  That something is actually someone.  That is Jesus Christ the Son of God and author of our salvation. 

John 14:6–7 CSB

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

So to accept Christ is the know Him and to know him is to know God the Father.  This also is the beginning of God’s sanctifying work in your life through the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.  As you trust in Jesus to forgive your sin through confession and repentance God sets your moral sense right and gives you the strength to live uprightly.  To love God and To love others by the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  This is a Christian’s first love.  

Jesus was eventually tried by these same people that did not love God.  He was put to death by those that hated Him.  Ironically God used those that hated him to complete the work of saving souls.  You see Jesus’ sacrifice was the ultimate death the penalty of our sins was laid on Him. 

1 Peter 2:24–25 CSB

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

When we accept Christ then we are healed of our broken moral sense and going astray.  Put your hope in Him.  Would you pray to receive Him today?  If you have already accepted Jesus would you return to your first love?  If you would like to talk more about this please feel free to message me.  Or if you have question find a friend or family member that is a follower of Christ and ask them the questions.  You can also contact myself or church staff Richland Baptist Church.  Don’t wait follow Christ today.

May God Richly Bless You

~BJ

God is a Meanie III (Judgment of Pharaoh and the Egyptians)

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But Pharaoh responded, "Who is Yahweh that I should obey Him by letting Israel go? I do not know anything about Yahweh, and besides, I will not let Israel go."
Exodus 5:2 (HCSB)

This is not an insignificant verse. There people that will reject God as a matter of course in this life. I must admit that I can understand the deception of sin the blinds a person to the love of God. It is often pointed out "Why would God punish Egypt for the sin that was Pharaoh?" and why would God punish Pharaoh when He "Hardened his heart." When we consider these comments we have to understand that they are observed and spoken through a filter of disowning God. There are many rationalizations that people can give to hate God. And they will just to assuage their consciences. Yet in there passion to find a reason to hate God they reveal within themselves the work of the Holy Spirit. The intensity of the reaction is out of sync with what they say that they believe. Namely that the Bible is a book of myths.

Let's take a look the two complaints and see if they are legitimate. As I have said before most people are not interested in what the Bible says. They form an opinion and will tell you what the Bible says often after reading or hearing about it somewhere else. In case there are those that are interested this verse quoted above is very important.

This was the very first recorded interaction with Pharaoh. Now as near as I can tell Pharaoh is rejecting God of his own accord. The hardening of his heart has not yet occurred. Not only did he reject God, but he also made things worse for the Hebrews.

But he said, "You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.' Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks."
Exodus 5:17-18 (HCSB)

Hardness of Heart was a condition that preceded the plagues.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hard: he refuses to let the people go. "
Exodus 7:14 (HCSB)

Which continued after the first sign.

Also the sacred scribes of Egypt did so with their occultisms; hence the heart of Pharaoh was steadfast, and he did not hearken to them, just as Yahweh had spoken.
Exodus 7:22 (CLT)

(Side Note: I am using Concordant Literal Version for this part because the translation intends to bring a literal word for word understanding to the text)

Notice the statement the heart of the Pharaoh was steadfast. Still at this point we do not see God hardening Pharaoh's heart.

When Pharaoh saw that there came to be an interval, he caused his heart to glory, and he hearkened not to them, just as Yahweh had spoken.
Exodus 8:15

Pharaoh "Caused his heart to glory." That is he became proud!

The sacred scribes said to Pharaoh: This is the finger of Elohim! Yet the heart of Pharaoh was steadfast, and he did not hearken to them just as Yahweh had spoken
Exodus 8:19

Here it starts to get more interesting. The religious leaders in Pharaoh's court have a change of heart. They recognized they were not dealing with a magic trick, but in fact where going toe to toe with God Himself. Yet when they pointed it out to Pharaoh his response was to remain steadfast. Notice God has yet to harden Pharaoh's heart.

Yet Pharaoh gloried in his heart, even at this time, and he did not dismiss the people.
Exodus 8:31

Again Pharaoh became prideful. No hardening by God Yet!

Then Pharaoh sent, and behold, not even one had died from the cattle of Israel. Yet the heart of Pharaoh gloried, and he did not dismiss the people.
Exodus 9:7

After five of the plagues Pharaoh was still holding pride within his heart. Yet no hardening as of yet by God. But that was about to change.

Yet Yahweh made the heart of Pharaoh steadfast, so that he did not hearken to them just as Yahweh had spoken to Moses.
Exodus 9:12

Here after many attempts to change the heart of Pharaoh do we see that God is now hardening his heart. You see if a person does not want God, God eventually gives them over to the hardness of his heart. There comes a point at which the person's rebellion serves only to deepen the judgment they have against themselves. There is only one cure, humbling themselves before God and turning their heart toward Him. Otherwise you continue on in the hardness of heart and God hardens your heart. My point is this you harden your heart to God long before He hardens your heart to long for sinful rebellion. It is when the conscience becomes seared that this type of hardness sets in. As long as there is a vestige of moral sense left there is a hope for repentance. In this case Pharaoh had crossed over. From this point forward his doom was certain.

Then Yahweh said to Moses: Rise early in the morning, station yourself before Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus says Yahweh, Elohim of the Hebrews: Dismiss My people that they may serve Me. For at this time I am sending all My strokes onto your heart and your servants and your people in order that you shall know that there is no one such as Me in the entire earth.
Exodus 9:13-14

Notice in this warning God specifically identifies that He is going to strike the Pharaoh�s heart. In one way I believe that God is giving Pharaoh one last chance to repent. Sadly he did not turn. However, some of the Egyptians began to repent.

The one fearful of the word of Yahweh among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee to the houses.
Exodus 9:20

Yet those that did not take the warning to heart did not repent.

Yet he who was not setting his heart on the word of Yahweh, forsook his servants and his cattle in the field.
Exodus 9:21

Here we see God showing grace to the Egyptians that heeded His word. Now that some how gets left out when those making a case against God. God is gracious to the humble and upholds the repentant.

Now Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail and the thundering sounds had halted, yet he continued to sin and made his heart glory, he and his servants.
Exodus 9:34
Yahweh said to Moses: Enter to Pharaoh, for I have made his heart glory and the hearts of his servants that I may set these My signs among them,
Exodus 10:1

Who continued to sin? Pharaoh did. Who continued with a prideful heart? Pharaoh did. See God's hardening was something that Pharaoh already had in his heart. At this point it was clear that the Pharaoh's intent was hardness against God. It is at this point that God begins to harden the heart of Pharaoh to show the his signs against them. From this point on God hardened Pharaoh's heart (See Exodus 10:20, 27, 11:10).

This applies to us. God makes it clear to us either in our consciences, basic decency toward other human beings, His word (the Bible) what His expectations are for our lives. We also experience the consequences of choosing to go against God's ways. We may not have the same dramatic experience that Pharaoh had, but we have our own conviction that things are not right. Then we have a choice. Will we turn from missing the mark in our lives or will we with great pride in our hearts and stubbornness in our soul continue on our sinful way. The story is not over yet though.

I had mentioned that some of the Egyptians had repented and heeded the word of God (Exodus 9:20). What is even more interesting is that there was an ethnically diverse people that left Egypt.

An ethnically diverse crowd also went up with them, along with a huge number of livestock, both flocks and herds. The people baked the dough they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves, since it had no yeast; for when they had been driven out of Egypt they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves.
Exodus 12:38-39 (HCSB)

Wait just a minute! Why did I not learn this in Sunday School? I am not sure why, but there it is. It would not have been possible for the family of Jacob (Israel) to be ethnically diverse. So what are we to make of the peculiar statement. I believe that being a Jew was an act of faith. You see the Passover required that people spread blood of a lamb over the door posts (Exodus 12:22-23). It was this act of faith that resulted in deliverance. Being covered by the Lamb's Blood (an act of faith) demonstrated that you were part of "Spiritual Israel." If you were a Jew, but did not put blood on your door post death visited your home. By reasoning then it is possible that if you were Egyptian (or other race) and you put blood on your doorpost then you were saved from death visiting your home. That seems radical, but it was the very thing that God said he would do. He did not say death would Passover decedents of Jacob. He said that death would Passover those that faithfully put the lamb's blood on the door post. That is why I believe there was an "ethnically diverse" people who left Egypt. It was the faithful followers of God that left. It was "Spiritual Israel." No doubt that the majority was ethnic Israel, but it would seem to me at least some were not ethnically Israel as well (Galatians 3:7 and others).

It seems then in response to those that say God is being unjust by punishing Pharaoh or the people of Egypt we have a very different picture than they would assume. What is really going on when we look at the passages dealing with Pharaoh's heart, is that Pharaoh started out hard. It was his pride and stubbornness that got him into trouble. Only after it was clear that Pharaoh was not going to repent did God harden his heart. God did this to judge the hardness that was already there. Interestingly those that have taken this position that God is unjust are in the same boat as Pharaoh. Without humility and brokenness they stand judged. Without a change they risk become hardened (calcified) against the things of God. Also it seems that Egyptians were judged not for Pharaoh's sin, but rather for following after Pharaoh (Who is divine according to Egyptian religion) and Egypt's gods. Those that repented and heeded the word of God were saved.

The same choice that existed then is before us today. Will we follow other gods and religions, or will we make God, Yahweh, the Savior and Lord of our lives. It is accomplished through the sacrifice. Since we live after the advent of the Cross it is Jesus who is our Passover Lamb. And it is faith in Jesus Christ that saves.

God Bless You

~BJ

Related articles

• I Did Not Expect That (bjs-spot.blogspot.com)
• Lord, Is My Heart Stubborn? Exodus 7:14 (dianneguthmuller.com)

Doubt (Standing in Two Places)

There are times that we stand in two places.  We have the faith to believe in God and his promises.  On the other hand we are uncertain that He is really concerned with us at all.  "Where is God?"  Doubt is the standing in two places at the same time.  One foot on the Rock of Jesus Christ and one foot on the shifting sand of human understanding.  This is a disconcerting place to be.  You by placing your feet in both places make yourself vulnerable to spiritual attack, discontent, anxieties, and ever growing skepticism about God.  I have had a chance to talk with people who are in this state and I can assure you that they are not happy people.  I admit I may have a limited interaction in this matter, but I would go on to say that those that are content with this double mindedness have sunk themselves into blissful unawareness (which could be even more dangerous in my estimation).  I must also confess that doubts have been in my own heart so I know that I am not immune to this standing in two places. 

When you stand in two places then you tend to sink toward doubt.  Consider standing on the edge of a sinkhole.  one foot on the ground that is in in place and one foot on the part that is sinking.  If you continue to stand in this position it will not be long before you fall into the hole and are swallowed up.  In the same way doubt (standing in two places) will swallow up our faith if we do not change our position. 

It is also interesting that this doubt tends to dissipate with worship of God.  The opposite is also true, when we enter into a time of lack of worship our doubts arise.  I believe that worship keeps our spirit in tune with God's Spirit and allows His power to flow into our lives. 

Have mercy on those who doubt;
Jude 1:22 (HCSB)
The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (HCSB)

I have been guilt of letting my frustration get the best of me when dealing with someone that doubts.  It is good to have zeal for the Lord, but if that zeal is against a person standing in two places you are more likely to push them into the hole than to put them back from their doubt.   Compassion on the other hand is what is called for.

Consider if someone was drowning in the pool.  You would not take this as an opportunity to explain to them why they need to be cautious around the water, learn to swim, or that they should be wearing a life jacket.  The immediate need is to rescue them. 

save others by snatching them from the fire.
Jude 1:23 (HCSB)

Doubt languishes in silence.  It robs the soul and destroys the gladness, the full life that God desires for us.  It is a wasting away in silence. I read an article about pastors "loosing the faith^*."  It was sad to me that in each of these cases they were isolated and the first person they shared this with was researchers who explain religion in terms of evolutionary survival.  It is sad that none of these men had a brother or sister to turn to.  It seems they were too afraid of the implications of sharing doubt.  They were pastors after all.  Hogwash.  Would God put in His word to be merciful on those that doubt if we were not to admit our own struggles.  Superstar Christianity is a complete farce.  It is time for us to lay bare that which has been kept secret.  Bring it to the light.  Perhaps if these pastors had done this they would have found God's mercy working through the lives of other believers.  Leading to greater understanding of God's place and plan for their lives.

 

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Father I ask that you be with these men.  That you would lead them through this dark valley of their lives.  Help them to see the power You have manifested in their lives up to this time.  Help them to hope for the blessing that you have before them.  Open their eyes that they may see that no man is an island.  God lead them to a fellowship that would be merciful and snatch them back from the fire.  Lord renew, restore, reconnect your salvation with them.  Lord help us to take heed.  We go there with them if we stand in two places.  Help us to recognize when we stand in this manner.  Help us to get back onto solid footing.  Bring others into our lives that we can lean on.  People willing to pull us back.  Lord rescue your people from doubt.  In Jesus Name.  AMEN

 

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* "For Clergy, Losing Faith Can be an Occupational Hazard"  Solange De Santis, Religion News Service, June 22, 2010, Retrieved June 27, 2010 http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11633654/

God Changes His Mind and I am Glad He Does

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This post will take the risk of sounding heretical, but only to those that misunderstand what I am saying.  So please read it carefully!

Often times we hold on to doctrine and then extend that doctrine way beyond the original teaching.  One teaching about the nature of God is His immutability.  Immutability deals with the unchanging nature, character, and will of God.  It is supported by several verses throughout the Bible (Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29; Ps. 102:26; Mal. 3:6; 2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 6:17-18; James 1:17).  This unchangeableness is best described by the statement:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (HCSB)

This seems pretty straight forward until you come across verses in the Bible that suggest that God does in fact change (Gen. 6:6; Exodus 32:14; Deut. 32:36; 1 Sam. 15:11; 1 Sam. 15:35; 2 Sam. 24:16; 1 Chron. 21:15; Isaiah 38:1-5; Jer. 15:6; Jer. 18:8; Jer. 26:3; Jer. 26:13; Jer. 26:19; Jer. 42:10; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:10). 

One might suggest that God Cannot both change and not change otherwise the Bible is contradicting itself making it an unreliable source for knowledge.  This is often a position of atheists or agnostics. 

The problem is not with the suggestion of contradiction.  It seems very apparent that this is a contradiction.  The problem is in the understanding of the nature of God.  Let me just affirm that I do believe in the teaching of the immutability of God.  So then what do we do with these contradictions?

I think one important attribute that we need to understand about God is that He is relational.  That is to say He is knowable and he relates to those that seek Him (Jer. 9:23-24; John 17:3; I John 5:20, I John 2:13; Gal. 4:9; Phil 3:10; I John 2:3, 4:8).  This truth is very well summed by this:

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)

This verse indicates to me that God rewards those that have faith and seek Him.  This is the foundation of Christian faith.  It is by trusting (faith) and turning to God (repenting/seeking) that we are saved from sin. 

Since relationship with His creation is an attribute of God then this attribute is unchangeable.  That is to say it is an immutable characteristic of God.  It is is in that context that these apparent contradictions begin to make sense and resolve.  Let's take a look at a couple of them. 

When the Lord saw that man's wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Genesis 6:5-6 (HCSB)

When God finished His creation He saw that it was "very good (Gen 1:31)."  So then we had the fall of man into sin.  From this event things got progressively worse.  It seems that as man became more bent on doing evil the more it grieved God's heart.  This grief produced a feeling of regret.  Note that this is a feeling and not an action or change in will.  If God had wanted to act on this feeling of regret he could have very well wiped out man and started over.  He has the power to do this.  So the feeling of regret is not the same as the action of regret (which would lead to undoing).  This feeling is based on the fact that God desires a relationship with people.  As people reject Him by acting evil it grieves Him. 

The Lord also said to Moses: "I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
Exodus 32:9-10 (HCSB)
But Moses interceded with the Lord his God...  ...So the Lord relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people.
Exodus 32:11, 14 (HCSB)

In this section it is clear that God is relating to Moses.  He is plainly saying step aside Moses so that I can destroy these people.  God was angry with them because they had given the Glory of their deliverance from Egypt to the Egyptian god Apis.  God was offended that they would worship the false god of the very people that He had just delivered them from.  "Stand aside Moses." 

However, Moses chose not to stand aside, but to intercede on behalf of the people of Israel.  He identified reasons why God should not act on the anger to destroy the people of Israel.  Moses was appealing to another attribute of God, His divine Mercy.  Mercy is unwarranted compassion or leniency for wrong behavior.  God changed from His righteous anger to mercy.  In fact as we look at these situations that are described God as changing it is this very fact that God changes in His dealing with people from righteous anger to unwarranted compassion and leniency that happens the majority of the time.  This attribute of God is the central tenet of the Christian Faith.  It is this capacity to change in His dealings with mankind (from judgment to mercy) that led to providing the ultimate sacrifice of His son that we might have the forgiveness of sin and restored relationship with God.  Let's take a look at another verse.

Then God saw their actions-that they had turned from their evil ways-so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it.
Jonah 3:10 (HCSB)

God's righteous anger was burning against the people of Nineveh.  His anger was based on them being a violent people.  Being consistent with His nature God provides an opportunity for repentance for the people of Nineveh.  That opportunity would come from the voice of the reluctant prophet Jonah.  It is an very interesting story in that God used a prophet that did not want the Ninevites to repent (that is face God's wrath) to preach repentance (staying God's wrath).  In this situation God is changing based on the relationship with the people of Nineveh.  They repented, that is  they trusted in God's mercy and turned their ways to Him.  This is another example of God's changing from righteous anger to mercy. 

In short since God is relational His disposition will change with regard to a person or people based on their actions.  That God's disposition would change does not in any way diminish that He is unchangeable. 

Let me give an example.  If one of my kids is doing something wrong that leads me to feel upset, I have not changed in my relationship as their father.  What is more, if they come to me and seek forgiveness with a sincere heart then I am again likely to change my disposition toward them, but I have not change in the nature of the relationship of being their father.  Now this analogy falls apart if we press it to much as being fallible and imperfect I do in fact change in nature (and as a father), but I think it illustrates the point I am trying to make.

If someone suggests to you that God has changed then let me suggest that you determine if that change is related to a feeling of remorse, the result of someone's intersession, or the result of someone's repentance.  In these God does change, and I am sure glad that he does.  Facing God's righteous anger without mercy is certainly no place that I want to be. 

Lets look at one more verse:

You have left Me. This is the Lord's declaration. You have turned your back, so I have stretched out My hand against you and destroyed you. I am tired of showing compassion.
Jeremiah 15:6 (HCSB)

This verse is an example of God changing in His disposition from Mercy to divine wrath.  It says to me that God is overwhelmingly merciful. However, He cannot forever extend mercy (longsuffering in this case).  This is especially true when people leave Him.   Notice that this change in disposition is based on the actions of the people themselves.  They turned their back on God and refused His offer of mercy.  God is saying that he will not relent based on the intersession of the Prophet Jeremiah or any other prophet (see Jer 15:1).  However, there is still room in God's heart for a repentant people (see Jer 18:8, 11).  Take heed this warning that you can reach a point at which intersession of others will not be effective and without repentance judgment is certain.  We would do well to weigh this truth and not presume upon God's longsuffering.  It is this change that leads me to look to the Lord with awe and holy fear. 

God does change in his dealings with his people and it does not diminish that He does not change in nature, purpose, or character, but rather the change is based on the fact that he is a personal God that relates favorably to those that believe in Him and seek Him and unfavorably to those that turn their backs on Him. 

Don't Wait, Go!

Image by Dave Siberia via Flickr

This sermon was given on April 25, 2010. The audio version does not match exactly with the written text.  You can listen to the sermon by clicking the play button Here

This morning I am going to be expounding on Matthew 10:11-15. There was a man that had an acquaintance that was in the hospital for bronchitis. He felt a distinct prompt from the Holy Spirit to go an talk to that man. He thought he would go see him after the man recovered from the hospital. He again felt the distinct prompting. At this point he determined that he would go. Life got busy as it often does and he forgot about this determination. The man's acquaintance was dead in the next week. He did from complication of pneumonia. He now carries the grief of not going and sharing the gospel with him.

It seems that in order to receive a message you first have to receive the messenger and then you have to listen. This may seem very obvious to some, but it bears repeating. In order to receive a message you first have to receive the messenger and listen to the message. Now in this case Jesus is not addressing those that would receive the message, but rather the messengers themselves. By extrapolation then we can say that this instruction is for us as well when if comes to the spread of the Gospel.

The first command is to Go! In Matthew 10:7 Jesus says, "As you go..." We are to go into the world, ministering to the needs of others, while sharing the all important message of "the Kingdom of Heaven."

In this section (Matthew 10:11-15) Jesus is telling his disciples what they are to do when they arrive. The first order of business was to find a worthy person to stay with. I struggle with this part because I am not sure what method or measure we are to use to determine worthiness. It seems that the disciples were to ask around to find this worthy person, but worthy for what? I think it is directing us to a person that hospitable and open. This seems to make the most sense to me. I have in the past attempted to share the Gospel with those that were inhospitable and closed to hear anything about God. The danger of this type of interaction is that it rarely leads to a change and often just reinforces what the unbeliever already stereotypes Christians as being. In that sense then a worthy person is one that is welcoming, and open to hearing something from you. I can think of Paul's trip to Athens (Acts 17:16-34). In that passage we find that Paul first went to the Synagogue (Acts 17:17), next the market place, and then Areopagus. In each of these circumstances Paul was sharing with those that were open to hearing him out. It does not appear that all agreed with him though. Some ridiculed him, some said they wanted to hear from him again, and some believed. It is also interesting to note that Paul left the presence of those that ridiculed him. Another time when Paul traveled to Corinth to start a church in that city he found a couple Aquila and his wife Priscilla (Acts 18:1-3). They took Paul into their home and gave him work to do. It would seem that Paul determined they were worthy and he stayed with them throughout his time in Corinth.

Once a person was determined to be worthy then the disciples were to offer a peace blessing on the home. It is interesting to me that often we easily fall out of the command to offer a blessing of peace to the people that are the recipients of the message of Christ. All to often we debate, deride, ridicule, dismiss those that do not believe as we do. In some sense it is a gospel according to the flesh. "I know I am right and you are wrong so don't challenge me, don't fight me, just listen it is for your own good. Jesus died for your sins after all." I must admit I have been there myself. God grant mercy to those that I have been a stumbling block to. A blessing of peace is quite a thing. If we are to bless then it seems that we selfishly keep it for ourselves. We bless those that bless us. Jesus was saying something quite different here. He was suggesting that we speak blessing and peace without regard to where the person stood at the end of our encounter.

How does one bless another's home? Prayer certainly can be a good place to start. Sharing the Gospel without prayer is a real good way to ensure that you are arguing with the mind or the flesh. Our weapons though are not soulful or fleshly. They are spirit. If the message of the Cross is a spiritual message then it would seem to me that being in communion with God's Spirit would be a requisite part of the process. Pray for the peace of God to fill another's home then. What is more we can bring a blessing of peace by being good guests so to speak. I think American's have a difficult time with the concept of being a good guest. We expect as guests to be served and waited on. Not so with Paul. Notice that Paul promptly went to work with Priscilla when he stayed with him in Corinth. Paul the missionary of missionaries there making tents to supply for his own need. I must admit I struggle with this as well. We can be a blessing by speaking peaceably. There is a time for forceful presentations to be sure, but by in large it is the peaceable person that will lead another person to the Lord. We can be a blessing of peace if we speak in such a manner that others are likely to listen to us. Being vulgar or abusive is not a blessing and it certainly is not peaceable. I would also say that keeping passions in check is important to being a blessing of peace to others. It is often our passion (fleshly ones at that) which lead us astray into paths of defensiveness, hurtfulness, strife, and destructiveness. Keeping passions in check is no easy task when it comes to sharing the Gospel. We cannot expect others to be so kind to us. In fact there will be those that we do not reach.

When we strive to be a blessing of peace though our peace returns to us when the other person is not willing to receive that peace. At this point unworthiness is defined by not reciving your nor the message. We are not to take this personally. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you." (John 15:18) We are to realize that the peace which we offered has been rejected and returns to us in that instance.

Now some time passes and it becomes clear that the town is not going to convert to Christ. I am not sure how much time passes (God knows), but it has become clear that the audience for the message is either rejecting the message outright or not willing to listen at all. I think the hardest thing in the world is to make a break with someone when it becomes clear they are not ready to receive the message. One hopes beyond hope that a person will see it my way. If we continue down this path it is likely that the only way of conversion is by manipulation or by way of force. However, true conversion is by faith and faith alone. If a person cannot come to that place then manipulation or force will not save them. So break we must.

As a symbolic gesture of that break Jesus commands his disciples to shake the dust off of their feet. In order to understand this gesture you have to understand a practice of Jews at the time of Christ. To the devout Jew Palestine was Holy. Not just the place, but the very dust of the ground was considered Holy. When a Jew returned from a foreign city they believed that unholy dust clinched to their feet. This would lead them to shake their feet to rid themselves of the unholy dust so as not to pollute the holy dust of Palestine.

Was Jesus introducing a superstitious practice here? I do not believe so. I believe that Jesus was going with a more symbolic meaning. In the other gospels that record this event it is said that the disciples were to do this as a witness against them. In that case then it is saying we have brought a message to you and you have neither welcomed us nor accepted the message. We are not responsible for your rejection of the message. They are also making a break in fellowship with them. You see these were Jews and the Disciples were fellow Jews.

It is a sad case that there will be those whose hearts will not be changed. It is their hardness of heart that keeps them from being changed by the power of the Gospel. Making that choice hardness begets more hardness and leads them further down a path of disbelief. Arguing with a person that is on this path only chases them further along the way. That is why a break is needed.

It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of Judgment than for those that reject the messengers and the message. That seems like quite a statement. God rained down his judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah for several sins. They had a complete disregard for God and the things of God that they were judged. They were in full on rebellion against God that they were judged and condemned. They Bible explains that they were sinning against God (Gen 13:13), guilty of moral corruption and rejecting God (Deut 32), engaged in full on sinfulness with no shame (Isa 3:9), guilty of adultery, falsehood, helping evil doers, and lack lack of repentance (Jer 23:14), promoted idolatry, prostitution, a lack of social justice (Ezek 16), and given themselves over to sexual perversion (Jude 1:7). That only to say that for these towns that rejected Christ's message for which these disciples were ambassadors are worthy of greater punishment. In my mind that is quite extraordinary. Yet there is is. Let me read it. Jesus said,

I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town
Matthew 10:15

The first phrase in this first sentence is "Amen I am saying to you." Jesus is removing any doubt about where He stands on this issue. His resolve is certain. There is no grace for those that reject the Gospel. And in the day of judgment they will face certain punishment. We tend to sugar coat the Christian message. I used to think that it was because we don't want to scare people off. I have come to the realization that so few Christians are engaged in witnessing that we sugar coat things we don't have to consider the responsibility we have shirked when it comes to spreading the message. To be sure those that do not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior will face eternal judgment and separation from God and loved ones who have gone on before them.

This judgment is a terrible fire (Matthew 25:31). It is a time in which we all will have to give account for our deeds whether good or bad, every careless word will come under the scrutiny of our Lord (Matthew 12:36). As Christians we will not escape Judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 says: For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.

So for the Christian the terrible fire of judgment is a purification process leading to greater purity. The unbeliever on the other hand it is something much worse:

Revelation 20:13-15 says: Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

If your name is not written in the book of life in the day of judgment it means that you have rejected the Gospel. I believe that every person's name is written in the Book of life . As long as that person has breath they have an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. Once they die if they never repent of the rejection of God's Grace their names are blotted out (that is erased) from the book of life (See Exodus 32:30-35; Ps 9:3-5; Ps 69:27-28, Rev 3:5). Having your named erased from the book of life means that you will face everlasting punishment (Rev 20:15).

I hope that is not true for anyone here this morning. I would be naive though to believe that everyone here has a relationship with Christ. If you have not made that step. Then I ask you, I implore you, take that first step. Enter into a loving relationship with the one that loves you enough to give his life for you. That is good news we can be free of sin and eternal death. If you are in a saving relationship with Christ then I have a question. Are you going to a lost world? If not then why not? When we go we need to find those that are open to the message. We need to be messengers of peaceful blessing. We have to acknowledge that there will be those that do not accept what you have to say. There are some that you may need to make a break with who refuse the gospel. The point is that we need to get involved in our mission to reach lost souls for Christ. We have to do it now. If we don't then we risk becoming like the man who waited too long to speak to the acquaintance in the hospital. That man caries that grief. That man was me. Don't wait. Let's Pray