Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:21-48 of the need to tremble before God's Word, never assuming you're doing a "good enough" job of keeping it that He'd consider you righteous. "Be perfect, as your Father is perfect" is the concise summation in 5:48. Implied is the need to continue to approach the Word of God and listen to it in order to bring about this end. Jesus perfectly embodied this, in that He always quoted the Old Testament as authoritatively God's spoken Word.
This falls to the floor among many believers today. Because the Word of God is being doubted, questioned, debated, and tossed around like it's an awards show acceptance speech, the idea of "being perfect as your Father is perfect" isn't popular.
But among those who actually HAVE God as their Father (and it's not everyone, but only those who have received Jesus, God's Son, as Lord; see John 1:11-13), this is a welcome invitation because they love the Word of God. We trust that it tells the truth. We don't look at it as a scientific textbook when it comes to the details of physics and things like that, but we consider that if it ever says something that's directly contrary to any other truth claim being postured in the world, the Bible wins, because the God who created wrote it.
We shouldn't think God's Word can be put on the same plain as "reason, tradition, and experience", as though it's worthy of being subjected to the mind of fallen people and the history of a fallen world (and if you do adhere to the so-called Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which has these three with Scripture as the top-left first point, you might disagree that here Scripture is made equal with the others; but practically, it is made equal with the rest, because the nature of a quadrilateral is that all the points are equally necessary to make the quadrilateral, even if some of the angles are wider than others). On the contrary, obedience to Jesus' command to be careful with God's Word places the Word of God as the sun around which everything else (reason, tradition, experience, etc.) orbits.
Jesus' people believe that God has spoken, and all he speaks is right. "I the Lord speak the truth" (Isaiah 45:19). They view every word found in the Bible as authoritative, because a) Jesus and Moses both said that man lives by every Word that comes from God's mouth (see Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4), and b) Paul said that all Scripture is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16).
Therefore, we should shut our mouths if we are hasty to utter a word before God, if we aren't first listening to God's Word to us.
Pharisaism had fallen into a state of apostasy, upholding with great care religious acts that made the people look like they were worshiping, while their diligence and care with God's Word spoke something different. Jesus spoke this way in His Sermon on the Mount to show that God requires perfection, because He is perfect. You can imagine that this would thunder through the peoples' hearts like a lightning bolt when they heard it. But this is how Jesus the Living Word spoke--He spoke the truth, and truth pierces like the double-edged sword the Word of God is.
If you've never been led to the foot of the cross and seen your need for the perfect sacrifice of the perfect God-man, Jesus, His teaching that one must be perfect should do the trick (and yet, for most, it won't). But if you have been led there, and Jesus is your righteousness before a holy God, Jesus' teaching here should make you want to dig into the Word of God and seek a deeper discipleship and faithfulness. Disciples are taught to obey "all that Jesus commanded" (Matt28:19), always "let(ting) the Word of Christ dwell in (them) richly" (Colossians 3:16).
The fact is, you're building your life on some kind of foundation, assuming that it's the right one. You hope that the foundation will keep your house standing during any storm the future might hold. What a fearful task, to find the truth and build on it perfectly!
But Jesus offers an easier yoke--one that says "come and learn from me, and I will give you rest" (Matt11:28-29), and "if you build your life on my Words, you will stand firm" (see Matt7:24-27).
His Gospel is the way to be freed from the enslavement to sin and the world that would draw you away from His Word. Beginning with understanding that you're a sinner and Jesus is the Savior who invites you to come as you are to be changed into a new creation by His grace and power, you're sure to make it, because He is sure to deliver. His cross pays the ransom for sin that ensnares and His resurrection sets free those who have died with Him.
His Word promises it's true. "This is the one to whom I will look--he who is humble and contrite in heart, and trembles at my Word" (Isaiah 66:2).
Scott Stine - PhD, Pastor of Darlington Congregational Church, Pawtucket, RI. Follower of Jesus; husband, daddy, distracted by basketball. My book "Christ and Theology: Toward Typological Realism" (Wipf and Stock) is available most places.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Kingdom, week 4: Salt and Light
"You are the salt of the land....You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Jesus, Matthew 5:13-16
It's no secret that Christians know they should be evangelical, meaning they should be sharing the message. Everyone knows this, and this is part of the reason so many Christians have such a hard time loving each other--one group thinks the other group is misrepresenting Christ by being too loose, while the other thinks the first group is misrepresenting Him by not intersecting with non-believers at all.
There is no shortage of material, books, sermons, and opinions out there on what it means to the the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Though it certainly wouldn't be a waste of time to talk about this, I want to look at it a different way: what MAKES Christians the salt and light?
Many believers who want to make an impact in the world are doing whatever they can to bring the message of Jesus' love to the world and are doing a good job of seeking to live as salt and light. The problem is in motivation: they aren't doing it because they love Jesus, but because they love the world. And make no mistake: true Christians don't love the world (see 1 John 2:15--"if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him", and also James 4:4). Instead, true Christians love Jesus, and this makes them love their neighbors. There's a difference between loving the world and loving your neighbors--the former is concerned with one's own identity in the world, and the latter is concerned with one's neighbor's identity with Jesus. What needs to change with this group is their starting point: they need to see themselves as Christ's ambassadors (2Corinthians5:17-21), sent to bring people to Jesus.
Think of the "light" analogy: Light shines from the object producing the light, outwardly to objects outside of itself. Christians need to know that their identity with Jesus (who is Himself the light--John 8:12) is what makes them the light. The world is not the light, but Jesus is. Instead of seeking acceptance with the world, one seeks fellowship with Jesus, and wants others to have it as well. This makes them the light. But they're not the light if fellowship with and acceptance in the world still matters more to them than Jesus.
They must remember that Jesus had said earlier that there's blessing for being persecute for Him. One might need also to ask the question, "Is my evangelism flowing from my love for Jesus and desire to see people come to know Him, or is it flowing from a desire for people to accept me and my Christianity?" Verse 16 said the motivation for shining the light is that of wanting people to glorify God...not you. Where do you fall on this? I have to repent daily.
On the other hand, many believers are into the practice of staying behind closed church doors and talking about two subjects: what's wrong with the world, and how following our religious activity would fix it. And this isn't light either. Believers who spend all their time talking about what's wrong with culture, society, and non-believers are both guilty of not "letting their light shine before others" (v16), or being "the salt of the earth" (v13). Salt seasons and preserves--it is only useful in that it is scattered and spread on the objects that aren't salty. Salt is of no use if it stays in the salt shaker, the grains talking amongst their self about how unsalty everything outside is. Jesus says true Christians are only fulfilling their call when they're poured out of the shaker and are salting that which isn't salty.
This means you're NOT taken "out of the world" but are "kept from the evil one" (John 17:15). You live in the world, but you're not under Satan's power as you're here. You belong to Jesus, and so you can be a citizen of your city, town, neighborhood, etc., seeking to connect and build bridges with non-believers in hopes that they come to know Jesus, without the fear that they'll influence you more than you'll influence them.
Religious activity never saved anyone (cf Matt15:8-9; Ac13:39, 15:10; Rom3:20; Gal3:10). If you're with your church group, talking about what's wrong with the world and how if they came into your church they would be fixed as they become like you, you'd actually make them worse if they came in, because Jesus' people live as salt, and you're not salt, so you're not Jesus' people.
People who believe the gospel share the gospel with others. This doesn't mean they don't struggle with cowardice (Paul was even afraid at times--Acts18:9; 2Corinthians1:8, 7:5). It just means that, having the Holy Spirit, God's Word wells up in them like it did for Jeremiah, a "fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot" (Jerem20:9). If you believe, you speak and act (cf 2Cor4:13).
But you do it knowing who Jesus is: the Beginning and End of all things, who came to bear our sin on the cross, rose to make us new, and is coming again for those who are waiting for Him. He's the Light, and that makes us the light. And our shining the Light proves we have the light.
Some may be in danger of loving the world and that's why they speak and act. Others may be in danger of loving themselves and that's why they don't speak (because they think "people should come to me, not me to them"). Both are wrong. God's people shine as light in the world, for everyone to see, that His glory would fill the earth, and His Name would be made much of. "I have made you a light for the nations, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). What makes us the light is acknowledgement that a) people need saved by Jesus, b) we've been saved by Jesus, and c) no one, including us, has any light without Him. Let those who have the light shine it that people would know Him who is Light.
It's no secret that Christians know they should be evangelical, meaning they should be sharing the message. Everyone knows this, and this is part of the reason so many Christians have such a hard time loving each other--one group thinks the other group is misrepresenting Christ by being too loose, while the other thinks the first group is misrepresenting Him by not intersecting with non-believers at all.
There is no shortage of material, books, sermons, and opinions out there on what it means to the the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Though it certainly wouldn't be a waste of time to talk about this, I want to look at it a different way: what MAKES Christians the salt and light?
Many believers who want to make an impact in the world are doing whatever they can to bring the message of Jesus' love to the world and are doing a good job of seeking to live as salt and light. The problem is in motivation: they aren't doing it because they love Jesus, but because they love the world. And make no mistake: true Christians don't love the world (see 1 John 2:15--"if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him", and also James 4:4). Instead, true Christians love Jesus, and this makes them love their neighbors. There's a difference between loving the world and loving your neighbors--the former is concerned with one's own identity in the world, and the latter is concerned with one's neighbor's identity with Jesus. What needs to change with this group is their starting point: they need to see themselves as Christ's ambassadors (2Corinthians5:17-21), sent to bring people to Jesus.
Think of the "light" analogy: Light shines from the object producing the light, outwardly to objects outside of itself. Christians need to know that their identity with Jesus (who is Himself the light--John 8:12) is what makes them the light. The world is not the light, but Jesus is. Instead of seeking acceptance with the world, one seeks fellowship with Jesus, and wants others to have it as well. This makes them the light. But they're not the light if fellowship with and acceptance in the world still matters more to them than Jesus.
They must remember that Jesus had said earlier that there's blessing for being persecute for Him. One might need also to ask the question, "Is my evangelism flowing from my love for Jesus and desire to see people come to know Him, or is it flowing from a desire for people to accept me and my Christianity?" Verse 16 said the motivation for shining the light is that of wanting people to glorify God...not you. Where do you fall on this? I have to repent daily.
On the other hand, many believers are into the practice of staying behind closed church doors and talking about two subjects: what's wrong with the world, and how following our religious activity would fix it. And this isn't light either. Believers who spend all their time talking about what's wrong with culture, society, and non-believers are both guilty of not "letting their light shine before others" (v16), or being "the salt of the earth" (v13). Salt seasons and preserves--it is only useful in that it is scattered and spread on the objects that aren't salty. Salt is of no use if it stays in the salt shaker, the grains talking amongst their self about how unsalty everything outside is. Jesus says true Christians are only fulfilling their call when they're poured out of the shaker and are salting that which isn't salty.
This means you're NOT taken "out of the world" but are "kept from the evil one" (John 17:15). You live in the world, but you're not under Satan's power as you're here. You belong to Jesus, and so you can be a citizen of your city, town, neighborhood, etc., seeking to connect and build bridges with non-believers in hopes that they come to know Jesus, without the fear that they'll influence you more than you'll influence them.
Religious activity never saved anyone (cf Matt15:8-9; Ac13:39, 15:10; Rom3:20; Gal3:10). If you're with your church group, talking about what's wrong with the world and how if they came into your church they would be fixed as they become like you, you'd actually make them worse if they came in, because Jesus' people live as salt, and you're not salt, so you're not Jesus' people.
People who believe the gospel share the gospel with others. This doesn't mean they don't struggle with cowardice (Paul was even afraid at times--Acts18:9; 2Corinthians1:8, 7:5). It just means that, having the Holy Spirit, God's Word wells up in them like it did for Jeremiah, a "fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot" (Jerem20:9). If you believe, you speak and act (cf 2Cor4:13).
But you do it knowing who Jesus is: the Beginning and End of all things, who came to bear our sin on the cross, rose to make us new, and is coming again for those who are waiting for Him. He's the Light, and that makes us the light. And our shining the Light proves we have the light.
Some may be in danger of loving the world and that's why they speak and act. Others may be in danger of loving themselves and that's why they don't speak (because they think "people should come to me, not me to them"). Both are wrong. God's people shine as light in the world, for everyone to see, that His glory would fill the earth, and His Name would be made much of. "I have made you a light for the nations, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). What makes us the light is acknowledgement that a) people need saved by Jesus, b) we've been saved by Jesus, and c) no one, including us, has any light without Him. Let those who have the light shine it that people would know Him who is Light.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Kingdom, week 3: Persecution
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." (Matthew 5:10-11)
Persecution is what happens when someone holds a conviction, others disagree vehemently with it, and the latter makes life hard for the former. This can either happen with physical persecution, emotional persecution, verbal, etc. People have been persecuted for their race, their religious beliefs, their actions, their words, and anything else under the sun that has put them in opposition to others.
Jesus here speaks of two kinds of persecution in His Kingdom: persecution for righteousness, and persecution for Him.
The first, righteousness, in this passage, simply refers to performing and acting in line with what is God's revealed will and purpose for us. It refers to living life before God's face, and earnestly desiring His will to be done.
People don't just hate God's word and will if they're atheists or if they live in a 10-Commandment-less culture. People can live in a Biblical theocracy and still be hostile to it. This is why people didn't receive Jesus when He came to Israel--they hated God, even though they thought they loved him. In reality, their religious observance didn't flow out of love for God, but out of love for self, as all religion does.
Anyone willing to be persecuted for the sake of God's Word and will are promised two things: a) persecution, and b) God's Kingdom. Since the Fall, man leans away from God and His Word, and so anyone who assumes His Word to be true and lives in light of it will be opposed. But Jesus promises here that they'll receive the Kingdom.
This is because if they're hungry for God's righteousness, they'll be hungry for Jesus. "If you believed Moses, you would believe me...if anyone's will is to do God's will, he'll know whether my teaching is from God" (John5:46, 7:17). Simply, if you believe in God's Word, the truth therein, and live in light of it, you'll receive Jesus, because the Word leads you to Him and the salvation that He provides for us (see Galatians 3:24-26).
This leads us to the second persecution: for Jesus' sake. It's no secret that Jesus is "the stumbling block" all throughout the Bible. This is because He's the only way to God (see John14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, and Hebrews 7:25), and He saves people by His grace and work, not by the peoples' work (see Isaiah 53:11-12, Luke 19:10, and 1 Timothy 1:15). Very simply, Jesus is the King of God's Kingdom, and the only way into this Kingdom is through the King: Jesus.
To be saved, one has to believe that they exist because God created them, that they're sinners in need of salvation, and that Jesus' perfect life which culminated in a bloody crucifixion and triumphant resurrection is the only way to salvation.
This doesn't make them judgmental towards others. It makes them citizens of a different "Kingdom" while still living in the same physical world as others. And being "called to belong to Jesus" (Romans 1:6), they're called to shine their light so others see (Matt5:14), make disciples of all nations (Matt28:20), and bear witness to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts1:8).
So of course they'll be persecuted: they believe everyone (including themselves) is on their way to hell if not for Jesus having born their hell on himself on the cross, "to be received in faith". Have you, Christian, ever talked to a non-believer about what you believe about Heaven and Hell? It's even more uncomfortable than being a Broncos fan this past Sunday night around 8:00!
But it's the truth. And Jesus' death and resurrection proves it to be true. If you've repented and followed Him, you have no choice, not only to believe it, but to proclaim it. "Make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey all I've commanded you" were His words to us.
The stakes being so high in the Bible run completely counter to the way our minds work. But so is grace counter to our way of thinking. God says He saves us by HIS powerful working (see Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 4:12-13).
As offensive as Jesus the Stumbling Block is to people (1Peter2:6-8), the proclamation about Him is what saves many of those offended people (1Peter1:23-24, cf Romans 1:16). Blessed are you for being persecuted for Christ's sake--it means you are "counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name" (Acts5:41), which puts you in a long line of witnesses who will receive an eternal inheritance. And in many cases, blessed will be those who are standing within eye-shot of your being persecuted, because many of them will be saved.
Are you willing to suffer dishonor for Jesus? He gave so much for us...how much have you given?
One more thought: Jesus is telling us to be persecuted, not to be the persecutors. Just because you have the truth doesn't mean you can smack people in the face with your every conviction. Let the Holy Spirit do the discerning. Be known for talking about Jesus, not for disagreeing with everything. You will have opportunity to share conviction, but don't get to 5:10-11 in Matthew without first going through 5:3-9 ("blessed are...poor in spirit...meek...merciful...peacemakers..."). It is your humility which will "heap burning coals on peoples' heads", not your actually heaping burning coals on their heads.
Persecution is what happens when someone holds a conviction, others disagree vehemently with it, and the latter makes life hard for the former. This can either happen with physical persecution, emotional persecution, verbal, etc. People have been persecuted for their race, their religious beliefs, their actions, their words, and anything else under the sun that has put them in opposition to others.
Jesus here speaks of two kinds of persecution in His Kingdom: persecution for righteousness, and persecution for Him.
The first, righteousness, in this passage, simply refers to performing and acting in line with what is God's revealed will and purpose for us. It refers to living life before God's face, and earnestly desiring His will to be done.
People don't just hate God's word and will if they're atheists or if they live in a 10-Commandment-less culture. People can live in a Biblical theocracy and still be hostile to it. This is why people didn't receive Jesus when He came to Israel--they hated God, even though they thought they loved him. In reality, their religious observance didn't flow out of love for God, but out of love for self, as all religion does.
Anyone willing to be persecuted for the sake of God's Word and will are promised two things: a) persecution, and b) God's Kingdom. Since the Fall, man leans away from God and His Word, and so anyone who assumes His Word to be true and lives in light of it will be opposed. But Jesus promises here that they'll receive the Kingdom.
This is because if they're hungry for God's righteousness, they'll be hungry for Jesus. "If you believed Moses, you would believe me...if anyone's will is to do God's will, he'll know whether my teaching is from God" (John5:46, 7:17). Simply, if you believe in God's Word, the truth therein, and live in light of it, you'll receive Jesus, because the Word leads you to Him and the salvation that He provides for us (see Galatians 3:24-26).
This leads us to the second persecution: for Jesus' sake. It's no secret that Jesus is "the stumbling block" all throughout the Bible. This is because He's the only way to God (see John14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, and Hebrews 7:25), and He saves people by His grace and work, not by the peoples' work (see Isaiah 53:11-12, Luke 19:10, and 1 Timothy 1:15). Very simply, Jesus is the King of God's Kingdom, and the only way into this Kingdom is through the King: Jesus.
To be saved, one has to believe that they exist because God created them, that they're sinners in need of salvation, and that Jesus' perfect life which culminated in a bloody crucifixion and triumphant resurrection is the only way to salvation.
This doesn't make them judgmental towards others. It makes them citizens of a different "Kingdom" while still living in the same physical world as others. And being "called to belong to Jesus" (Romans 1:6), they're called to shine their light so others see (Matt5:14), make disciples of all nations (Matt28:20), and bear witness to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts1:8).
So of course they'll be persecuted: they believe everyone (including themselves) is on their way to hell if not for Jesus having born their hell on himself on the cross, "to be received in faith". Have you, Christian, ever talked to a non-believer about what you believe about Heaven and Hell? It's even more uncomfortable than being a Broncos fan this past Sunday night around 8:00!
But it's the truth. And Jesus' death and resurrection proves it to be true. If you've repented and followed Him, you have no choice, not only to believe it, but to proclaim it. "Make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey all I've commanded you" were His words to us.
The stakes being so high in the Bible run completely counter to the way our minds work. But so is grace counter to our way of thinking. God says He saves us by HIS powerful working (see Ephesians 2:10, Hebrews 4:12-13).
As offensive as Jesus the Stumbling Block is to people (1Peter2:6-8), the proclamation about Him is what saves many of those offended people (1Peter1:23-24, cf Romans 1:16). Blessed are you for being persecuted for Christ's sake--it means you are "counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name" (Acts5:41), which puts you in a long line of witnesses who will receive an eternal inheritance. And in many cases, blessed will be those who are standing within eye-shot of your being persecuted, because many of them will be saved.
Are you willing to suffer dishonor for Jesus? He gave so much for us...how much have you given?
One more thought: Jesus is telling us to be persecuted, not to be the persecutors. Just because you have the truth doesn't mean you can smack people in the face with your every conviction. Let the Holy Spirit do the discerning. Be known for talking about Jesus, not for disagreeing with everything. You will have opportunity to share conviction, but don't get to 5:10-11 in Matthew without first going through 5:3-9 ("blessed are...poor in spirit...meek...merciful...peacemakers..."). It is your humility which will "heap burning coals on peoples' heads", not your actually heaping burning coals on their heads.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Kingdom, week 2, part 2
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Matthew 5:5-6
In describing the character of saving faith in His Kingdom, Jesus has said that it's only the humble who get in. As with any "group" or "organization", there is a prerequisite for entrance, and with His Kingdom, it's humility. We've seen that this humility includes poverty in spirit (5:3) and mourning (5:4).
Now Jesus continues by showing that the next two characteristics are meekness and an appetite for righteousness.
These are in keeping with how the Kingdom of God works exactly opposite the way the world works. In the world, it's self-seeking, self-building, smiley-faced optimism that makes you worthy of glory. Jesus' Kingdom works the exact opposite. It's self-slaying that gets you into His Kingdom. "If anyone comes to me and doesn't hate...even his own life, he can not be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). The attitude is hatred of all one has known up until that point. Then he is called to "renounce all he has", because without this, "he can not be (Jesus') disciple" (14:33). Thus Jesus calls for meekness--an attitude of one not trying to build their own kingdom and set their own self up, but instead having a hatred of all that he's known, so that they love all that Jesus is and all that Jesus has.
If this be you, you are "blessed", because Jesus says you will inherit "the land" (Gk). This refers to the final restoration of Israel in the "Promised Land" as promised in the OT prophets, and then clarified in Revelation 21-22. One day all of God's people will be brought together for eternity in "the New Jerusalem" (Rev21:2). Whereas those who "lay up treasure for their self" will die, those who are "rich toward God" will find rest (see Luke 12:20-21), which begins now, and is fulfilled then.
Jesus then says the next characteristic is a hunger and thirst for righteousness. "Righteousness" in the Bible simply refers to holy character and actions that are in line with what glorifies God and His revealed word and holiness. It's not based on what seems right to man (for "there is a way that seems right to man, but its end is death"--see Proverb 14:12), but that which is right according to God. The trust is that one can lie to their self and really be convinced they're doing things for God and righteousness, only to have Jesus tell them "I never knew you...depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23, emph. mine). The question isn't do you think you know Jesus--it's "does Jesus know YOU?" Well, does he?
This is what "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" means: having a hunger for right-relatedness to God. It's not about feeling good about yourself or being lifted up and exalted by others (Jesus says the glory of man keeps people from believing in Him--see John 5:44 w/ Romans 2:28-29). Rather, it's about truly wanting to be lined up with God's perfect righteousness. It's being over the world and others, and wanting God alone. Only then does Jesus and His coming to us shine forth in all of its glory.
Are you over the world? Do you long for being more obedient to His Word? Do you long to glorify Him and make much of Him? Jesus says that those who do will be satisfied. Because Jesus has come.
The glory of the gospel is that Jesus came to give us His righteousness. Sin is deadly in that the wages of sin is death. Since God is infinite, sin against Him deserves an infinite punishment. So who could stand before Him? "If the Lord were to mark iniquities, who would stand?" (Psalm 130:3). "How could man be in the right before God?" Bildad asked while "comforting" his suffering friend Job (Job 25:4). The answer to these questions are "No one", and "no way" respectively. No one could stand before God, and no way could one be "in the right". God is too holy and perfect, and you and I not only have sinned too much, but have hearts with sinful intent.
So Jesus came to save us. He is the God-man who lived the sinless life and paid for our sins on the cross so that we'd be made righteous. We were lost, and Jesus came to find us. "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). When the Word of His seeking and saving is proclaimed to us, the Holy Spirit regenerates us and gives us new life (see 1 Peter 1:23), we believe it (Ephesians 2:8-9), and God counts the righteousness of Christ to our account (Rom 1:16, 3:20, 5:17-19), justifying us free of charge because Jesus paid for it (Rom 3:25, 4:5). It's a work of grace, because no one but Jesus could pay for it, because He's the only one with the currency for it (perfect righteousness). And He paid it so that we'd receive it as a gift, "to the praise of His glorious grace" (Ephesians 1:6). He does it this way so that grace reigns supreme for what it is: the gift of eternal life.
This is why one must be poor in spirit, mourning, meek, and hungering for righteousness. It's because only with that character does one receive the gift. Otherwise they still think they're good, righteous, and worthy of credit for being a "good person". Only when people mourn for sin and hunger for God's righteousness (which, by the way, implies that they don't HAVE God's righteousness) does the gift of salvation by virtue of Jesus' seeking and saving make them be satisfied.
Not only do we get "satisfied" by His gift of righteousness, but we change. God's grace changes us into new creations in Christ.
Many hear this grace message and say "well that's cheap grace and it'll lead to loose living". Friend, you're not understanding. It couldn't be cheap if Jesus paid for it with His blood, and it couldn't lead to loose living if in it people die to sin, the world, and their self. On the contrary, the grace of God here changes the person's mourning to rejoicing, their poverty in spirit to filling with His Holy Spirit, their meekness into inheritance, and their hunger for righteousness to satisfaction in Christ's, and hungering for more!
Don't be deceived. Many think they're doing things for God, but they're really only doing it for man, and it starts with wrong ideas of God's mission. God doesn't need us to meet people's felt needs, because He does this--Matt5:44; Acts 14:17, 17:25. He wants us to give people Christ, who is the True Bread from Heaven. Don't try to avoid offending people and then call what you're doing "Gospel ministry". It's far from it. The Gospel does offend people. A God fashioned in our own image might not offend, but the real God will (and you can see which one you lean towards by monitoring your statements about God--do they start with "I think..." or with "God..."). People need to know Him, not just "love". They need to be offended by Him, so that they can be melted by Him, and then satisfied in Him. Only in light of His holiness is His love seen in its glory.
What are you hungry for? More money? A warmer climate? More "equality"? Acceptance by others? Jesus never promises any of those things in this world. But He promises that if you hunger for God, you'll be satisfied, because Jesus gives Him to us. "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father". Stop hungering for that which doesn't satisfy. Feast on the True Bread.
Matthew 5:5-6
In describing the character of saving faith in His Kingdom, Jesus has said that it's only the humble who get in. As with any "group" or "organization", there is a prerequisite for entrance, and with His Kingdom, it's humility. We've seen that this humility includes poverty in spirit (5:3) and mourning (5:4).
Now Jesus continues by showing that the next two characteristics are meekness and an appetite for righteousness.
These are in keeping with how the Kingdom of God works exactly opposite the way the world works. In the world, it's self-seeking, self-building, smiley-faced optimism that makes you worthy of glory. Jesus' Kingdom works the exact opposite. It's self-slaying that gets you into His Kingdom. "If anyone comes to me and doesn't hate...even his own life, he can not be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). The attitude is hatred of all one has known up until that point. Then he is called to "renounce all he has", because without this, "he can not be (Jesus') disciple" (14:33). Thus Jesus calls for meekness--an attitude of one not trying to build their own kingdom and set their own self up, but instead having a hatred of all that he's known, so that they love all that Jesus is and all that Jesus has.
If this be you, you are "blessed", because Jesus says you will inherit "the land" (Gk). This refers to the final restoration of Israel in the "Promised Land" as promised in the OT prophets, and then clarified in Revelation 21-22. One day all of God's people will be brought together for eternity in "the New Jerusalem" (Rev21:2). Whereas those who "lay up treasure for their self" will die, those who are "rich toward God" will find rest (see Luke 12:20-21), which begins now, and is fulfilled then.
Jesus then says the next characteristic is a hunger and thirst for righteousness. "Righteousness" in the Bible simply refers to holy character and actions that are in line with what glorifies God and His revealed word and holiness. It's not based on what seems right to man (for "there is a way that seems right to man, but its end is death"--see Proverb 14:12), but that which is right according to God. The trust is that one can lie to their self and really be convinced they're doing things for God and righteousness, only to have Jesus tell them "I never knew you...depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23, emph. mine). The question isn't do you think you know Jesus--it's "does Jesus know YOU?" Well, does he?
This is what "hungering and thirsting for righteousness" means: having a hunger for right-relatedness to God. It's not about feeling good about yourself or being lifted up and exalted by others (Jesus says the glory of man keeps people from believing in Him--see John 5:44 w/ Romans 2:28-29). Rather, it's about truly wanting to be lined up with God's perfect righteousness. It's being over the world and others, and wanting God alone. Only then does Jesus and His coming to us shine forth in all of its glory.
Are you over the world? Do you long for being more obedient to His Word? Do you long to glorify Him and make much of Him? Jesus says that those who do will be satisfied. Because Jesus has come.
The glory of the gospel is that Jesus came to give us His righteousness. Sin is deadly in that the wages of sin is death. Since God is infinite, sin against Him deserves an infinite punishment. So who could stand before Him? "If the Lord were to mark iniquities, who would stand?" (Psalm 130:3). "How could man be in the right before God?" Bildad asked while "comforting" his suffering friend Job (Job 25:4). The answer to these questions are "No one", and "no way" respectively. No one could stand before God, and no way could one be "in the right". God is too holy and perfect, and you and I not only have sinned too much, but have hearts with sinful intent.
So Jesus came to save us. He is the God-man who lived the sinless life and paid for our sins on the cross so that we'd be made righteous. We were lost, and Jesus came to find us. "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). When the Word of His seeking and saving is proclaimed to us, the Holy Spirit regenerates us and gives us new life (see 1 Peter 1:23), we believe it (Ephesians 2:8-9), and God counts the righteousness of Christ to our account (Rom 1:16, 3:20, 5:17-19), justifying us free of charge because Jesus paid for it (Rom 3:25, 4:5). It's a work of grace, because no one but Jesus could pay for it, because He's the only one with the currency for it (perfect righteousness). And He paid it so that we'd receive it as a gift, "to the praise of His glorious grace" (Ephesians 1:6). He does it this way so that grace reigns supreme for what it is: the gift of eternal life.
This is why one must be poor in spirit, mourning, meek, and hungering for righteousness. It's because only with that character does one receive the gift. Otherwise they still think they're good, righteous, and worthy of credit for being a "good person". Only when people mourn for sin and hunger for God's righteousness (which, by the way, implies that they don't HAVE God's righteousness) does the gift of salvation by virtue of Jesus' seeking and saving make them be satisfied.
Not only do we get "satisfied" by His gift of righteousness, but we change. God's grace changes us into new creations in Christ.
Many hear this grace message and say "well that's cheap grace and it'll lead to loose living". Friend, you're not understanding. It couldn't be cheap if Jesus paid for it with His blood, and it couldn't lead to loose living if in it people die to sin, the world, and their self. On the contrary, the grace of God here changes the person's mourning to rejoicing, their poverty in spirit to filling with His Holy Spirit, their meekness into inheritance, and their hunger for righteousness to satisfaction in Christ's, and hungering for more!
Don't be deceived. Many think they're doing things for God, but they're really only doing it for man, and it starts with wrong ideas of God's mission. God doesn't need us to meet people's felt needs, because He does this--Matt5:44; Acts 14:17, 17:25. He wants us to give people Christ, who is the True Bread from Heaven. Don't try to avoid offending people and then call what you're doing "Gospel ministry". It's far from it. The Gospel does offend people. A God fashioned in our own image might not offend, but the real God will (and you can see which one you lean towards by monitoring your statements about God--do they start with "I think..." or with "God..."). People need to know Him, not just "love". They need to be offended by Him, so that they can be melted by Him, and then satisfied in Him. Only in light of His holiness is His love seen in its glory.
What are you hungry for? More money? A warmer climate? More "equality"? Acceptance by others? Jesus never promises any of those things in this world. But He promises that if you hunger for God, you'll be satisfied, because Jesus gives Him to us. "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father". Stop hungering for that which doesn't satisfy. Feast on the True Bread.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Kingdom, week 2, part 1
As Jesus begins His "Sermon on the Mount", His first order of business is to set forth the character of saving faith.
When Jesus the Son of God and God in the flesh came, He came to usher in the Kingdom of God as prophesied in the Scriptures. This is why Matthew 4:17 and 23 show that he began His ministry preaching the Kingdom. The Gospel of Matthew is known as "the Jewish Gospel", because Matthew aims to show Jesus especially as the Jewish Messiah and Christ of Israel. In Matthew, Jesus shines forth as the Christ, the King of the Kingdom, and the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
The opening chapters of Matthew show a series of Scriptures that are fulfilled in Christ and His coming: 1:1-17 show Jesus as a descendent of Abraham and David with his entire genealogy; 1:23 shows His virgin birth as fulfillment of Isaiah9:7; 2:6 shows his Bethlehem birth as fulfillment of Micah5:2; and so on and so forth over chapters 3 and 4 (cf John the Baptizer, Jesus' ministry in Galilee, etc.).
In 5:1, Jesus "sits up on the mountain" to preach, just as Moses had "went up on the mountain" where God would give His Word to be given to Israel (see Exodus 19). Here Jesus is the One bringing God's Word to the people Himself. Throughout Matthew, several very important moments happen on mountains (here with the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration of 17:1, the End-times teaching of chs24-25, and the Great Commission of 28:16).
Jesus' coming was not a result of randomness. It was to fulfill Scripture, as "all of God's promises find their 'yes' in Him" (2Cor1:22). Matthew emphasizes Jesus' mountain-teaching so that his readers know Jesus is bringing God's Word, because "in the past..God spoke to us by the prophets...but in these last days, He's spoken to us by His Son" (Heb1:1).
In 5:3 Jesus gives the first characteristic of saving faith: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven". Greek "makarios" is the word for "blessed", and while it means "happy" (so it could be translated "happy are the..."), it also is intended to communicate something even deeper: "Blessed by God are those who are poor in spirit, for the Kingdom is theirs". It's a divinely-bestowed blessing because Jesus came to call the poor in spirit. It refers to those lacking self-sufficience and who realize they need something. It's not just referring to those with poverty in financial means (though it could include those), but those of poverty in spiritual means.
This is because no one receives the Kingdom unless they receive it like a child (see 18:3-4), which is why Jesus tells Nicodemus of his need to be reborn (see John 3). We're sinners at birth (Ps51:5, 58:3; Gen6:5, 8:21), and as we grow up and venture out on our own, we more and more come under the illusion that we're self-sufficient, and don't need any help. Jesus is here saying that humility and poverty in personal spirit is the first prerequisite for entering the Kingdom he came to bring. This is why being born isn't enough...we need reborn. No one is in this place except by God's grace, which is why they're "blessed".
This is the exact opposite of the way the world thinks. While others would have you be confident and feel good about yourself, Jesus says you're blessed if your in the darkness, because He's come to bring you into the light.
In 5:4 Jesus lists the next characteristic of saving faith as "mourning...for they'll be comforted". Certainly Jesus isn't referring to just any kind of mourning. Mourning over your sports team losing or over not having enough money to pay your drug-dealer isn't what He's talking about. He's talking about mourning over sin; over the brokenness of the world and over longing for fellowship with God. This is God-ward mourning Jesus describes. "Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret" (2Cor7:10). Pharaoh repented because of his mourning in Exodus9:27, but Moses knew better (v30), and later Pharaoh's heart was still hardened. He only mourned because of the hail plague--the minute it was over, he was back to pride. The kind of mourning Jesus describes is God-ward--that which longs for knowing God, but recognizes its own being prone to falling short.
Have you ever mourned over this? It's my contention that Good News is only good if the bad news is understood and accepted. Here Jesus' first real teaching on the Kingdom is that happiness and contentment are NOT prerequisites for the Kingdom, but that the prerequisite is a lack thereof...because then and only then will Jesus be treasured and adored as He who brings happiness and contentment. The reason Paul was "content in all circumstances" is because his life was one of spiritual endeavors where only Christ could provide the strength and fruit...thus "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil4:10-13; see also Rom15:15, and 1Cor15:10). Scripture also teaches us to "be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you'" (Heb13:5). Acknowledgment of Christ and the Holy Spirit's presence is the only road to contentedness and blessedness. And this only comes from recognition of need of Him.
The low state of Christianity in our country and culture is due to false conversions. People "come forward" or even get baptized simply because they either are caught up in an emotional appeal, or because they fear Hell. But they aren't mourning over sin, longing for God, or acting out of inward poverty, and so they aren't really looking for Christ to be their remedy and Mediator (1Timothy2:4-5). The whole act of "coming to Christ" is just an exercise for their flesh, ignorant that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1Cor15:50). This is why Jesus said it's the Spirit who gives life and the flesh is no help at all (see John6:63). The flesh moves countless to false professions/baptisms and the tragic result is that the person's state is worse than before--because now they think they're saved, and won't be convinced otherwise. This is why Jesus would rather the lukewarm be cold (Rev3:16-17).
So Jesus wants to make no mistake here--if you're not poor in spirit and mourning, you won't receive the Kingdom.
Have you ever been broken?
I remember when I began to be broken. I was a Bible-college student, and I began struggling with a sickening depression. Every day felt black, I worried, and I was almost paralyzed from wanting to do anything. I sought counsel from professors, therapists, pastors, and pills. Nothing worked. But then God began drawing me to His Son. I began seeing that my problems were because I was hungry, and that Jesus was God's Word who came so that I would feast on Him and be satisfied (see Matt4:4 and John6:35, 51, 53). I still struggle with those depressive tendencies some, but the difference is that I have new life in Christ now. It's unfortunate one could grow up in the church and even be in Bible college, and not feast on Christ, when Jesus says that's the whole point of the Kingdom. But that was exactly the case. Praise the Lord for His grace!
Jesus says these first two statements in his sermon to safeguard against prideful false conversions. "You must be poor in spirit, you must mourn, because then and only then will you feast on me".
While the Father draws people to His Son in different ways and the Holy Spirit works like the wind, the character of all standing at the door of the Kingdom is always the same--broken and needy.
One commentator on this verse pointed out that it's interesting the ancient philosophers, while making their "virtues" lists never once listed humility. Here Jesus not only includes it in His list, but puts it first. No humility, no Kingdom. No brokenness, no Kingdom. No sensing your need for Jesus, no Jesus. It's just that simple!
How can I be made humble? First, ask this: do you want to be? Second, ask this: What motivates your inquisition--fear of punishment, or fear of alienation from God and His Christ? Third, do this: Ask the Father for His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Call out for faith. He'll answer--just be patient, because He's probably going to go to work differently than you think, and with a different time-frame than you think.
When Jesus the Son of God and God in the flesh came, He came to usher in the Kingdom of God as prophesied in the Scriptures. This is why Matthew 4:17 and 23 show that he began His ministry preaching the Kingdom. The Gospel of Matthew is known as "the Jewish Gospel", because Matthew aims to show Jesus especially as the Jewish Messiah and Christ of Israel. In Matthew, Jesus shines forth as the Christ, the King of the Kingdom, and the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
The opening chapters of Matthew show a series of Scriptures that are fulfilled in Christ and His coming: 1:1-17 show Jesus as a descendent of Abraham and David with his entire genealogy; 1:23 shows His virgin birth as fulfillment of Isaiah9:7; 2:6 shows his Bethlehem birth as fulfillment of Micah5:2; and so on and so forth over chapters 3 and 4 (cf John the Baptizer, Jesus' ministry in Galilee, etc.).
In 5:1, Jesus "sits up on the mountain" to preach, just as Moses had "went up on the mountain" where God would give His Word to be given to Israel (see Exodus 19). Here Jesus is the One bringing God's Word to the people Himself. Throughout Matthew, several very important moments happen on mountains (here with the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration of 17:1, the End-times teaching of chs24-25, and the Great Commission of 28:16).
Jesus' coming was not a result of randomness. It was to fulfill Scripture, as "all of God's promises find their 'yes' in Him" (2Cor1:22). Matthew emphasizes Jesus' mountain-teaching so that his readers know Jesus is bringing God's Word, because "in the past..God spoke to us by the prophets...but in these last days, He's spoken to us by His Son" (Heb1:1).
In 5:3 Jesus gives the first characteristic of saving faith: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven". Greek "makarios" is the word for "blessed", and while it means "happy" (so it could be translated "happy are the..."), it also is intended to communicate something even deeper: "Blessed by God are those who are poor in spirit, for the Kingdom is theirs". It's a divinely-bestowed blessing because Jesus came to call the poor in spirit. It refers to those lacking self-sufficience and who realize they need something. It's not just referring to those with poverty in financial means (though it could include those), but those of poverty in spiritual means.
This is because no one receives the Kingdom unless they receive it like a child (see 18:3-4), which is why Jesus tells Nicodemus of his need to be reborn (see John 3). We're sinners at birth (Ps51:5, 58:3; Gen6:5, 8:21), and as we grow up and venture out on our own, we more and more come under the illusion that we're self-sufficient, and don't need any help. Jesus is here saying that humility and poverty in personal spirit is the first prerequisite for entering the Kingdom he came to bring. This is why being born isn't enough...we need reborn. No one is in this place except by God's grace, which is why they're "blessed".
This is the exact opposite of the way the world thinks. While others would have you be confident and feel good about yourself, Jesus says you're blessed if your in the darkness, because He's come to bring you into the light.
In 5:4 Jesus lists the next characteristic of saving faith as "mourning...for they'll be comforted". Certainly Jesus isn't referring to just any kind of mourning. Mourning over your sports team losing or over not having enough money to pay your drug-dealer isn't what He's talking about. He's talking about mourning over sin; over the brokenness of the world and over longing for fellowship with God. This is God-ward mourning Jesus describes. "Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret" (2Cor7:10). Pharaoh repented because of his mourning in Exodus9:27, but Moses knew better (v30), and later Pharaoh's heart was still hardened. He only mourned because of the hail plague--the minute it was over, he was back to pride. The kind of mourning Jesus describes is God-ward--that which longs for knowing God, but recognizes its own being prone to falling short.
Have you ever mourned over this? It's my contention that Good News is only good if the bad news is understood and accepted. Here Jesus' first real teaching on the Kingdom is that happiness and contentment are NOT prerequisites for the Kingdom, but that the prerequisite is a lack thereof...because then and only then will Jesus be treasured and adored as He who brings happiness and contentment. The reason Paul was "content in all circumstances" is because his life was one of spiritual endeavors where only Christ could provide the strength and fruit...thus "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil4:10-13; see also Rom15:15, and 1Cor15:10). Scripture also teaches us to "be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you'" (Heb13:5). Acknowledgment of Christ and the Holy Spirit's presence is the only road to contentedness and blessedness. And this only comes from recognition of need of Him.
The low state of Christianity in our country and culture is due to false conversions. People "come forward" or even get baptized simply because they either are caught up in an emotional appeal, or because they fear Hell. But they aren't mourning over sin, longing for God, or acting out of inward poverty, and so they aren't really looking for Christ to be their remedy and Mediator (1Timothy2:4-5). The whole act of "coming to Christ" is just an exercise for their flesh, ignorant that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1Cor15:50). This is why Jesus said it's the Spirit who gives life and the flesh is no help at all (see John6:63). The flesh moves countless to false professions/baptisms and the tragic result is that the person's state is worse than before--because now they think they're saved, and won't be convinced otherwise. This is why Jesus would rather the lukewarm be cold (Rev3:16-17).
So Jesus wants to make no mistake here--if you're not poor in spirit and mourning, you won't receive the Kingdom.
Have you ever been broken?
I remember when I began to be broken. I was a Bible-college student, and I began struggling with a sickening depression. Every day felt black, I worried, and I was almost paralyzed from wanting to do anything. I sought counsel from professors, therapists, pastors, and pills. Nothing worked. But then God began drawing me to His Son. I began seeing that my problems were because I was hungry, and that Jesus was God's Word who came so that I would feast on Him and be satisfied (see Matt4:4 and John6:35, 51, 53). I still struggle with those depressive tendencies some, but the difference is that I have new life in Christ now. It's unfortunate one could grow up in the church and even be in Bible college, and not feast on Christ, when Jesus says that's the whole point of the Kingdom. But that was exactly the case. Praise the Lord for His grace!
Jesus says these first two statements in his sermon to safeguard against prideful false conversions. "You must be poor in spirit, you must mourn, because then and only then will you feast on me".
While the Father draws people to His Son in different ways and the Holy Spirit works like the wind, the character of all standing at the door of the Kingdom is always the same--broken and needy.
One commentator on this verse pointed out that it's interesting the ancient philosophers, while making their "virtues" lists never once listed humility. Here Jesus not only includes it in His list, but puts it first. No humility, no Kingdom. No brokenness, no Kingdom. No sensing your need for Jesus, no Jesus. It's just that simple!
How can I be made humble? First, ask this: do you want to be? Second, ask this: What motivates your inquisition--fear of punishment, or fear of alienation from God and His Christ? Third, do this: Ask the Father for His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Call out for faith. He'll answer--just be patient, because He's probably going to go to work differently than you think, and with a different time-frame than you think.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Kingdom, week 1
I haven't written a post in a while because, frankly, it's hard to write one when I have a lot of other teaching/preaching endeavors to focus on. Also, motivation is difficult when I know that not many people will read it! So I thought that perhaps I'd combine the two, and give "recaps" of messages and things I have just preached or taught ("praught" really should be the past-tense form of "preach").
Two weeks ago, I began a series on "the Kingdom", as taught by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel. There are a lot of different understandings of what is meant by "kingdom", and how we should understand it. Some think of it in more economic terms, others in theological or eschatological terms. I just wanted to preach a simple series on what Jesus teaches about the Kingdom, listening as God's Word speaks. So my first message was split up into five sections under five headings: What, Where, When, Who, and Why is the Kingdom.
What is the Kingdom?
The Kingdom is the reign of God's Christ. Jesus began his ministry preaching the Kingdom (see Matt4:17, 23), and it was a proclamation of His reign.
God had promised king David that He would make an eternal "throne" and "kingship" from David's descendents. In 2 Samuel 7, David is jealous for God's glory (seeing that the Ark dwells in a tent), so he wants to build God a house. But God sarcastically asks David, "Would you build me a house to dwell in?" God can't be contained in something man builds...He doesn't need man (Ac17:24-25). God wants people to have hearts that bow before Him in humility. "What house would you build for me?...this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in heart, and trembles at my Word" (Isaiah 66:1-2). So God will establish THIS house: a kingdom of humble subjects who truly know God. He tells David, "I will build you a house". The King will come from David's descent, who will "build a house for my name", not referring to Solomon (because, a) Solomon died and the temple he built fell, and b) God didn't need a literal house, but wanted people who honor Him...thus "WE are his house", Hebrews3:6).
Isaiah 9:6-7 has God promising that the King will be God Himself in the flesh born as a child, who will "sit on David's throne". This is a clear teaching that the King will be the God-man. Finally, Ezekiel 37:24 promises that the Shepherd (Jesus--John10) will "shepherd the flock" and they will "be careful to obey Gods commands". This is clear teaching that the Kingdom is a Kingdom of people who love God and "tremble at His Word", like He said in Isaiah 66.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom" (Matt5:3). He meant that these are the people who receive the Kingdom in humility, and tremble at Gods Word in Christ. They are blessed, for they will receive the Kingship and reign of God's Christ.
Where is the Kingdom?
As Kevin Deyoung has recently said, "Gods Kingdom is not geographic, but 'dynamic and relational'". It's not in this place or that place (ie, calling for a pilgrimage to a location, or only in church buildings), but it is, as Jesus Himself said, "in our very midst now" (Luke 17:21). If the Kingdom is the reign of Gods Christ, where people are trembling at God's Word, the locale of the Kingdom is anywhere this is recognized and acted in light of! It's anywhere Christ is adored, worshiped as King, and God is treasured as the God of glory!
The door into the Kingdom is rebirth, as Jesus clearly told Nicodemus (John 3:3,5,7). No one gets in without Holy Spirit rebirth, which is not of human will, but of God's power and action (John1:12-13). But where this has happened, the Kingdom is there, in their midst. Paul tells the Colossian church that God has "transferred us from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of His beloved Son" (Col1:13).
One thing that should be said is that felt-needs matter (feeding the poor, clothing the naked, etc.), because Jesus said that was a priority. But it's only a picture of the Kingdom if people are coming to know Jesus. You can do those things without knowledge of Christ (ie, humanitarian work)...the Kingdom is about knowing God and His Christ. We should meet the felt-needs AND lead people to a knowledge of Christ (and unfortunately most stop after the first part and never make it to the second).
When is the Kingdom?
It's already here, but not in its fullness yet.
There's an interesting scenario that takes place one day when Jesus has cast a demon out of a man--you can find it in Matt. 12:27-32. There, the Pharisees accuse him of casting out demons by Satan's power, which Jesus quickly shows as ridiculous logic. He then says, "If it's by God's Spirit that I cast out demons, the Kingdom has come among you." We'd all agree that it was by the Spirit that Jesus did it...so the Kingdom was already here.
But later in the story, Jesus refers to "this age, and the age to come" (v32), telling us that there is both a now and a later. The now is the era in which Christ has already been on earth ushering in the Kingdom...the later is the time of the fulness of God's Kingdom, when Christ comes to take us to Himself (John14), with the eternal blessings of Revelation 21 and 22. Jesus deals with this "era" (the later) in Matthew 24-25, a very important section of Jesus' teaching that must be carefully studied, and not in haste. Jesus died to ransom a Kingdom of priests (Rev5:9-10, cf 1Pet2:5,9), but they will remain "in the world" until He returns (cf John17:15-18), to be "by Gods power, guarded by faith, for salvation to be revealed at the last time" (1Peter1:5). This is the now, that's the later, and both are the Kingdom.
Who is the Kingdom?
Christians, saints, and Kingdom-citizens...and not just those professing, but those who really do belong to Jesus.
Paul said of himself and the Philippian christians, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body" (Phil3:20-21). The Kingdom is among those who have their citizenship in heaven, whose life is "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians3:3), and are "seated with Christ in the heavenly places" (Ephesians2:6).
We CAN'T be under the illusion that the Kingdom includes everyone--it doesn't. It's those who belong to Jesus, and this calls for a greater urgency to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom so that people will look to Him and belong to Him.
Daniel 7:18--(Daniel 7 being a great prophetic picture of Jesus receiving the heavenly Kingdom from the Father)--says that "the saints will possess the Kingdom". Who are the saints, if not those who belong to Christ? V14 said Jesus will possess the Kingdom, but v18 says the saints? The apparent implication is that the saints are those who are "co-heirs with Christ" (Rom8:17). All that is Christ's is the Saint's. What an incredible truth.
And another thing: the saints AREN'T those who have earned a deeper state of righteousness than others (as some have been led to believe). It's those who have been made poor in spirit to realize that Christ and Christ alone earned a right-standing with God. HE was completely obedient, and no one else has been...and the grace of the Gospel is that Christ GIVES His righteousness to sinners who receive His Word with faith and obedience. He came with grace and truth.
Finally...
Why is the Kingdom?
This might seem a peculiar question, and to some just a matter of course (who, what, where, when, why).
But no one asks this question--WHY does God want His Son to have a Kingdom?
The simplest answer is that God WILL be glorified. "My glory I give to no other" (Isaiah42:8), "I blot out your transgressions for my name's sake" (43:25), "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified" (49:3). "Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength" (45:24). Frankly, God is out for His Name being glorified.
People struggle with this because they think it makes God sound selfish, but can God BE selfish? If He's giving to mankind "life and breath and everything" (Ac17:25), "satisfying our hearts with food and gladness" (Ac14:17), and making the rain fall and sun shine on just, unjust, righteous, and unrighteous (Matt5:44), how could we ever call His motives selfish? If God is constantly giving and giving more and then giving more, how could God be selfish?
Perhaps His passion for His Name being glorified is a result of His Name just being that glorious and that worthy of glory. "I had concern for my holy name...it's not for your sake I'll act, but for the sake of my holy name...I will vindicate the holiness of my great name..it's not for your sake I will act...then they will know that I'm the Lord" (Ezekiel 36:21-23, 32, 38).
This is exactly why Jesus prayed to the Father for unity among His disciples their selves and with Christ and the Father..."that the world may believe you sent me...(and)..loved them as you loved me" (John17:21,23). God's mission is that His Kingdom come so that His Name be glorified and lifted high...because His Name IS that high! "Your Name is exalted above all honor and praise" (Nehemiah9:5). Think about that: if all mankind was to join together to worship God, His Name would still be higher than that. What a pride-humbling and self-righteousness-killing truth.
This is why we will worship and serve God in heaven for all of eternity--because it takes that long to thank and glorify God for who He is and what He's done. It's not coincidence man has a hunger in his heart for "something more"--it's because there IS something more. The only thing to remember is that the "something more" is found in just receiving the Word of truth, "which is able to save your souls" (Jms1:21)--the "something more" isn't far off. It's HERE. And one day, it will be realized in all of its fullness...those who will get to enjoy it in its fullness are those who have received it now. Kingdom citizens then are the Kingdom citizens now. "All who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans8:14, Gk).
Therefore, "turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!" (Isaiah45:22).
Two weeks ago, I began a series on "the Kingdom", as taught by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel. There are a lot of different understandings of what is meant by "kingdom", and how we should understand it. Some think of it in more economic terms, others in theological or eschatological terms. I just wanted to preach a simple series on what Jesus teaches about the Kingdom, listening as God's Word speaks. So my first message was split up into five sections under five headings: What, Where, When, Who, and Why is the Kingdom.
What is the Kingdom?
The Kingdom is the reign of God's Christ. Jesus began his ministry preaching the Kingdom (see Matt4:17, 23), and it was a proclamation of His reign.
God had promised king David that He would make an eternal "throne" and "kingship" from David's descendents. In 2 Samuel 7, David is jealous for God's glory (seeing that the Ark dwells in a tent), so he wants to build God a house. But God sarcastically asks David, "Would you build me a house to dwell in?" God can't be contained in something man builds...He doesn't need man (Ac17:24-25). God wants people to have hearts that bow before Him in humility. "What house would you build for me?...this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in heart, and trembles at my Word" (Isaiah 66:1-2). So God will establish THIS house: a kingdom of humble subjects who truly know God. He tells David, "I will build you a house". The King will come from David's descent, who will "build a house for my name", not referring to Solomon (because, a) Solomon died and the temple he built fell, and b) God didn't need a literal house, but wanted people who honor Him...thus "WE are his house", Hebrews3:6).
Isaiah 9:6-7 has God promising that the King will be God Himself in the flesh born as a child, who will "sit on David's throne". This is a clear teaching that the King will be the God-man. Finally, Ezekiel 37:24 promises that the Shepherd (Jesus--John10) will "shepherd the flock" and they will "be careful to obey Gods commands". This is clear teaching that the Kingdom is a Kingdom of people who love God and "tremble at His Word", like He said in Isaiah 66.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom" (Matt5:3). He meant that these are the people who receive the Kingdom in humility, and tremble at Gods Word in Christ. They are blessed, for they will receive the Kingship and reign of God's Christ.
Where is the Kingdom?
As Kevin Deyoung has recently said, "Gods Kingdom is not geographic, but 'dynamic and relational'". It's not in this place or that place (ie, calling for a pilgrimage to a location, or only in church buildings), but it is, as Jesus Himself said, "in our very midst now" (Luke 17:21). If the Kingdom is the reign of Gods Christ, where people are trembling at God's Word, the locale of the Kingdom is anywhere this is recognized and acted in light of! It's anywhere Christ is adored, worshiped as King, and God is treasured as the God of glory!
The door into the Kingdom is rebirth, as Jesus clearly told Nicodemus (John 3:3,5,7). No one gets in without Holy Spirit rebirth, which is not of human will, but of God's power and action (John1:12-13). But where this has happened, the Kingdom is there, in their midst. Paul tells the Colossian church that God has "transferred us from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of His beloved Son" (Col1:13).
One thing that should be said is that felt-needs matter (feeding the poor, clothing the naked, etc.), because Jesus said that was a priority. But it's only a picture of the Kingdom if people are coming to know Jesus. You can do those things without knowledge of Christ (ie, humanitarian work)...the Kingdom is about knowing God and His Christ. We should meet the felt-needs AND lead people to a knowledge of Christ (and unfortunately most stop after the first part and never make it to the second).
When is the Kingdom?
It's already here, but not in its fullness yet.
There's an interesting scenario that takes place one day when Jesus has cast a demon out of a man--you can find it in Matt. 12:27-32. There, the Pharisees accuse him of casting out demons by Satan's power, which Jesus quickly shows as ridiculous logic. He then says, "If it's by God's Spirit that I cast out demons, the Kingdom has come among you." We'd all agree that it was by the Spirit that Jesus did it...so the Kingdom was already here.
But later in the story, Jesus refers to "this age, and the age to come" (v32), telling us that there is both a now and a later. The now is the era in which Christ has already been on earth ushering in the Kingdom...the later is the time of the fulness of God's Kingdom, when Christ comes to take us to Himself (John14), with the eternal blessings of Revelation 21 and 22. Jesus deals with this "era" (the later) in Matthew 24-25, a very important section of Jesus' teaching that must be carefully studied, and not in haste. Jesus died to ransom a Kingdom of priests (Rev5:9-10, cf 1Pet2:5,9), but they will remain "in the world" until He returns (cf John17:15-18), to be "by Gods power, guarded by faith, for salvation to be revealed at the last time" (1Peter1:5). This is the now, that's the later, and both are the Kingdom.
Who is the Kingdom?
Christians, saints, and Kingdom-citizens...and not just those professing, but those who really do belong to Jesus.
Paul said of himself and the Philippian christians, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body" (Phil3:20-21). The Kingdom is among those who have their citizenship in heaven, whose life is "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians3:3), and are "seated with Christ in the heavenly places" (Ephesians2:6).
We CAN'T be under the illusion that the Kingdom includes everyone--it doesn't. It's those who belong to Jesus, and this calls for a greater urgency to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom so that people will look to Him and belong to Him.
Daniel 7:18--(Daniel 7 being a great prophetic picture of Jesus receiving the heavenly Kingdom from the Father)--says that "the saints will possess the Kingdom". Who are the saints, if not those who belong to Christ? V14 said Jesus will possess the Kingdom, but v18 says the saints? The apparent implication is that the saints are those who are "co-heirs with Christ" (Rom8:17). All that is Christ's is the Saint's. What an incredible truth.
And another thing: the saints AREN'T those who have earned a deeper state of righteousness than others (as some have been led to believe). It's those who have been made poor in spirit to realize that Christ and Christ alone earned a right-standing with God. HE was completely obedient, and no one else has been...and the grace of the Gospel is that Christ GIVES His righteousness to sinners who receive His Word with faith and obedience. He came with grace and truth.
Finally...
Why is the Kingdom?
This might seem a peculiar question, and to some just a matter of course (who, what, where, when, why).
But no one asks this question--WHY does God want His Son to have a Kingdom?
The simplest answer is that God WILL be glorified. "My glory I give to no other" (Isaiah42:8), "I blot out your transgressions for my name's sake" (43:25), "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified" (49:3). "Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength" (45:24). Frankly, God is out for His Name being glorified.
People struggle with this because they think it makes God sound selfish, but can God BE selfish? If He's giving to mankind "life and breath and everything" (Ac17:25), "satisfying our hearts with food and gladness" (Ac14:17), and making the rain fall and sun shine on just, unjust, righteous, and unrighteous (Matt5:44), how could we ever call His motives selfish? If God is constantly giving and giving more and then giving more, how could God be selfish?
Perhaps His passion for His Name being glorified is a result of His Name just being that glorious and that worthy of glory. "I had concern for my holy name...it's not for your sake I'll act, but for the sake of my holy name...I will vindicate the holiness of my great name..it's not for your sake I will act...then they will know that I'm the Lord" (Ezekiel 36:21-23, 32, 38).
This is exactly why Jesus prayed to the Father for unity among His disciples their selves and with Christ and the Father..."that the world may believe you sent me...(and)..loved them as you loved me" (John17:21,23). God's mission is that His Kingdom come so that His Name be glorified and lifted high...because His Name IS that high! "Your Name is exalted above all honor and praise" (Nehemiah9:5). Think about that: if all mankind was to join together to worship God, His Name would still be higher than that. What a pride-humbling and self-righteousness-killing truth.
This is why we will worship and serve God in heaven for all of eternity--because it takes that long to thank and glorify God for who He is and what He's done. It's not coincidence man has a hunger in his heart for "something more"--it's because there IS something more. The only thing to remember is that the "something more" is found in just receiving the Word of truth, "which is able to save your souls" (Jms1:21)--the "something more" isn't far off. It's HERE. And one day, it will be realized in all of its fullness...those who will get to enjoy it in its fullness are those who have received it now. Kingdom citizens then are the Kingdom citizens now. "All who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans8:14, Gk).
Therefore, "turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!" (Isaiah45:22).
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Rebirth: the Pride-Killer of the Gospel
Most people today are attempting to change their situation to “something better”, whether it means changing their identity, their job, their social network, their lifestyle...fill in the blank...most people are just unhappy and wanting better. With this the case, the question to be asked is this: Why is everyone so unhappy?
Jesus said that it’s because sin enslaves everyone (Jn8:34). Sin is more than the bad things you do...it's a spiritual force that brings spiritual death and eventually physical death. More than action, it's intention.
He came to save people who would believe in Him (Jn3:16). He said that people will make it through
whatever “storm” this life brings if they build their lives on His Words
(Mt7:24-27), and that when one puts their faith in Him, they “pass from death
to life” (Jn5:24).
People listen to Jesus’ hard words and think they can’t have
Jesus unless they begin acting like a ‘Christian’. But the truth is that Jesus came “not to call
the righteous but sinners” (Mt9:13) and when a sinner repents, angels
rejoice (Lk15:7, 10). He saves people as
they are, and begins conforming them to His holy image (Rom8:29). His initial calling of Matthew (a tax
collector…considered a “sinner” by the majority) was followed up by His coming
to Matthew’s house for a party that included a bunch of “sinners” who liked to
party (Mt9:10), and this continual attendance at parties apparently was such a
staple of Jesus’ social life that people wrongly called him a drunkard and a
glutton (Mt11:19). People had stupidly
assumed that because Jesus went to spend time with non-religious and “worldly”
people, he must not be as holy as his teaching and miracles let on.
But the truth is that Jesus was perfect and without sin (Heb4:15, Is53:9). His knowledge and understanding was such that
even at the age of 12 he was making that day's doctors of religion marvel. Then as an
adult, when the doctors of religion would argue his radical concepts, he had
the ability to immediately bring them to silence. This is because He came to tell the truth
(Jn18:37), but He told it in such a way that even the most adamant and hostile
religious people could only say, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
(Jn7:46). Truly His words were “spirit and life”
(Jn6:63, 68).
Jesus came and spent time with “sinners”, and had such a
heart for them because regardless of how sinful they were, He had both the truth and
the mouth to speak it. And the truth, as always, made an impact. In Jesus’ case, the impact was salvation
(Lk19:9-10).
Much has been said recently about how Jesus’ ministry targeted
sinners and not righteous people, and, even by Jesus’ admission, he “came not
to call the righteous, but sinners”. But
to say He didn’t have compassion for religious people is to miss the
point. This is proven in the examples of
Nicodemus (who was converted later on…see John 19:39), the Scribe who
understood the Law’s teaching in Mark12:28-34, and the famous Rich Young Ruler
who thought he’d done a good job as a religious person his whole life, until
Jesus loved him and told him the
truth that he needed Jesus and not his religion (see Mk10:17-22). The real reason why Jesus appeared to have
more civil conversations with the sinners than religious people is because the
religious people were so blinded by their self-righteousness, Jesus’
spirit-and-life words weren’t getting through.
The woman at the well was a “sinner” to whom Jesus told the hard
truth as well (John4). The difference
between her and Nicodemus from the previous chapter is that, by John’s
chronology, it appears to have taken years for Nicodemus to come to faith, when
it appears to have only taken a few minutes for the woman (See John4:25-29,
38-43). Why is this? It’s because self-righteousness, from wherever it
springs, blinds people to their need for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Nicodemus and the Pharisees appeared to have
this (though Nicodemus was open), and even the woman at the well had some of it,
but it pretty quickly broke down during Jesus’ conversation with her. Jesus tells the truth to people and brings
them to the place of seeing their own sinfulness (like Peter in Luke5:8), and
when they see this, they see their need for what He offers, and are reborn by
the Holy Spirit. Think about Jesus’
Words, “If anyone hears my words and believes Him who sent me, he has eternal
life. He doesn’t come under judgment,
but has passed from death to life” (Jn5:24).
When Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his
blood (John6:35-58), he was talking about believing
in Him and deriving your life from His
life. 6:29 has him saying, “This is
the work of God, that you believe in the One whom He has sent.” He wasn’t talking about communion or Eucharist…he
was talking about Himself, which is
what communion and Eucharist is supposed to be about! And His point was that the people needed to
see their need for Him and begin finding their lives in Him.
When people were grumbling at His hard teaching, He said, “Don’t
grumble among yourselves. It is the
Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I’ve spoken to are spirit and
life” (Jn6:63).
What kind of statement is this? A simple one: They had grumbled because they
had trouble accepting his teaching. And
Jesus, in effect, said, “Your grumbling is your flesh fighting me, while my
Words are the Holy Spirit giving life. Stop grumbling. Your understanding can’t give you what I can
give you,” just like Proverbs3:5-6 had famously said 1000 years earlier. The grumbling happened because the flesh is
hostile to God (Rom8:7-8), and God’s Son was telling them, “You have no life
apart from me”. Finally, Jesus said, “This
is why I told you no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father”
(6:65).
What kind of statement is this? Again, a simple one: Sinners' flesh, enslaved to
sin (8:24), dead in sin (Eph2:1), and at enmity with God (Rom5:10), is overcome by
God’s grace. His grace, more than being
freely offered (Mt11:28-30) is also freely sovereign (Mt11:27), and He gives
people new life to look to Jesus who is the only hope they’ve ever had to a)
live this life to God’s glory, and b) live eternally for God’s glory. The invitation goes out for all, but because
no one responds in and of themselves (as they don't want to), God “grants them repentance, that they
escape from the snare of the devil, having been captured by him” (2Tim2:26).
Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s
eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom (Mk10:25). But this isn't because it's
impossible or because Jesus doesn’t love rich men. It’s because the rich men have money and
possessions as a crushing idol that captivates them away from what they really
need by convincing them that THIS is what they really need. Jesus also said that Pharisees who are
leading others will lead as they both end up in Hell (Mt15:14). But this isn’t because Jesus doesn’t love
them. Rather, it’s because they have
religion and their own power and will as their idol that keeps them from
submission to Jesus’ rule of needing to be Holy-Spirit-reborn (Jn3:3,5,7-8). The issue with both groups isn’t lack of God’s
grace—God gives rain and sunshine on sinner and righteous and provides food,
happiness, and everything to all
peoples everywhere (Mt5:45; Ac14:17, 17:25).
The issue is a lack of God-consciousness. People don’t care about God and His glory,
and so because of this, they don’t see their need for Jesus to redeem
them.
So Jesus comes to sinners to capture their hearts, so that
they’ll be redeemed by looking to Him in pure and sincere faith, admitting
their need for Him. In so doing, He even captures
some rich people (ie, Joseph of Arimethea) and even some religious Pharisees (ie,
Nicodemus and Paul). This is because, in
the end, they’re ALL sinners in need of
grace. And where sin increased, “grace
abounded all the more”.
What leg are you standing on? What if the truth is that Jesus is the only
possible hope for a lost and dead world?
Will you grumble, fight, and kick, or will you accept that He, being the
Creator and Redeemer, knows truth better than you do? It’s not a question of will before it’s a
question of truth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)