Going Deeper for the week of November 18, 2012

Today's topic involves "mystery".  Now we should recognize that "mystery" is not so much a problem to be solved, as it is a greater reality to be appreciated.  We should appreciate that God's ways are not our ways, and that His ways are beyond our ability to trace out.

So with this in mind, let's dive deep into the mystery of this week's reading.

(Read Romans 11:1-36)

It is very timely for us to discuss these things right now.   This weekend attacks have occurred between Hamas in Palestine and the Israeli military.  Unfortunately, many civilians on both sides of the "fence" have suffered loss.  So it is of utmost importance that we embrace this mystery regarding the "remnant of Israel" even as we pray for peace in that region of God's world.

So clearly Paul says, "God did not reject His people", but why?  Some might argue that it appears God has indeed rejected His people since earlier Paul had said, "What then shall we say?  That the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness has not attained it." (Romans 9:30-31)  So why can Paul now say, "God did not reject His people"?

Well, the reason is because of the remnant.  The "remnant" is the "7,000" who have not turned their backs on God, but have instead embraced His promise in the person of His Son Jesus.  Jesus is the true "seed" of Abraham (see Galatians 3:16) and the fulfillment of all of God's promises.

This is how we can also understand the imagery of the olive tree.  (see verses 11-24)  Jesus is the olive tree.  Wild olive branches (Gentiles) were grafted into Jesus through FAITH (i.e. believing God; particularly His promise fulfilled in Jesus), and the natural branches (Jews) can also be grafted in through that same FAITH.  (see verse 23)  However, without FAITH no one is included in Jesus, and no one is grafted in, no matter whether they are "wild" or "natural" branches.  The Bible says clearly, "Without FAITH it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6).

So back to today's situation in Israel, and the conflict between Hamas and Israel.  We should not believe that Israel has a divine right to do whatever it pleases.  Yes they can defend their borders, their citizens, and their interests.  However, we should not think that the current nation of Israel has God on their side.  The question, as has been asked time and time again, even when Joshua encountered the "commander of the army of the LORD" is not "Is God on our side?" but rather "Are we on God's side?"

All who place true FAITH in Jesus (Believing God; particularly His promise fulfilled in Jesus) are on God's side, but all who persist in unbelief have rejected God and His promise fulfilled in Jesus.  This is the bottom line, and it is, in my humble opinion, the best way to embrace this "mystery".

So what do you think?  Do you agree or disagree?  Why or Why not?  Let's discuss.

p.s. I will take the week off next week due to the short week and the Thanksgiving holiday, and I will start fresh in December with a new focus.  I would like to wrestle with real questions your family, friends, and neighbors have asked when you have spoken about your FAITH.  What are their objections?  What questions have they asked that you feel ill equipped to answer?  Let's discuss those questions together.  So either comment on this blog, or comment on Facebook.  Together we will seek God's answer as we continue to go deeper into God's Word together.  Thank you!

Going Deeper for the week of November 11, 2012

How can anyone (no matter who they are) be saved?

(Read Romans 10:1-21)

How can anyone (no matter who they are) be saved?  Paul cuts through the controversy and confusion by offering a clear answer in verse 13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."

So calling on the name of the LORD, and more specifically believing God's promise fulfilled in Jesus is the ONLY way to be saved.  And that way is open to "everyone" no matter who they are!

Unfortunately, too many folks try to make things more complicated than they need to be.

Some will promote the idea of "replacement theology" when it comes to God's relationship with Jews.
"Replacement theology" says basically that Christians have taken the place of Jews as God's people.
"Replacement theology" has unfortunately been used to commit many atrocities against Jewish people from pogroms to the holocaust some form of "replacement theology" has been used to justify injustice.

Others will promote the idea of what I will call "two covenant theology".  In an attempt to avoid the pitfalls of "replacement theology" they posit that God has two covenants (unbreakable promises), which are ongoing and exist side by side still today.  They believe God's promise to the Jews will yet be fulfilled.  They will once again receive the promised land, the temple will be rebuilt, and the Jewish religion will flourish in the sovereign nation of Israel.  In addition, they believe Gentiles (non-Jews) have been "grafted in" to the people of God through faith in Jesus.

However, this does not make sense either.  If this were true, then why would Paul make it his "heart's desire and prayer to God" that the Israelites might be saved?  If they were already going to inherit God's promises through being Jewish, then why would they also need to be saved?

There is much more to say here, and I hope some of you will take time to respond and offer your own thoughts, but before I end let me offer you mine.

Paul is very clear in Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."  He is also very clear that the identity of the LORD is Jesus (see verse 9).  So anyone who calls on Jesus  (believing God's promises fulfilled in Christ - see II Corinthians 1:20) will be saved no matter whether they are Jew or Gentile, everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved!

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p.s. While I would appreciate your comments on today's blog post, I would also request that you share with me some real questions you have been asked by non-believers or skeptics when you have engaged them in conversations about Christianity.  I would like to offer a series of posts, which grapple with some of these very difficult questions and propose a framework for discussing them with grace and truth.  So please share your questions.  I would love to hear what challenges you have been facing in your attempts at bringing Jesus to others, and I would be honored to join you in that significant journey.
Thank you!

Going Deeper for the week of November 11, 2012

The identity of the true people of God has been up for debate for quite some time.  We have seen in Paul's letter to the Galatians how this issue has shaped the discussion concerning the "good news".  Is it the natural children of Abraham (i.e. Jews) who are the people of God, or some other group?

As I have come to understand God's Word, the true identity of the people of God is found in Jesus. Jesus is the true Israel (Abraham's seed) and all who are in Christ (by God's grace received through faith) are also the people of God.

So in order to further support this understanding I invite you over the next few weeks to join me in
"going deeper" into part of Paul's letter to the Romans; specifically chapters 9 to 11.  This first week we will "go deep" into chapter 9.

(Read Romans 9:1-33)

Let me start by saying this is a very complex part of scripture.  It is filled with mystery because it deals with something as unknowable as the mind of God.  We cannot fully know God's mind, but guided by the Holy Spirit and with God's word as our compass we will seek to "go deep" into truth.

Also to frame this discussion it is clear that Paul is passionate and filled with anguish in his heart as he speaks (v. 1).  These are not easy subjects, and they are not intended to be handled without emotion.

I think for this first week, the key components for our discussion are found in verses 1-8 and 30-33.

In verses 1-8, Paul speaks of all that belongs to the people of Israel: "Theirs is the adoption as sons, theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises ..." (v. 4-5)  Clearly the people of Israel have had a special relationship with the living God.

But not all of them.  This is where the argument gets difficult.  We must imagine Paul holding back tears as he says the following words.  "For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.  Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children ... In other words, it is NOT the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring."  (verses 6b-8)

As Paul has said in Galatians, "Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham." (Galatians 3:7)  Clearly those who believe in Jesus (specifically God's promises fulfilled in Jesus) are the children of the promise and regarded not only as children of Abraham, but also children of God!

Now we will move to verses 30-33 to see how Paul sums this up.

"What then shall we say?  That the Gentiles (non-Jews), who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.  Why not?  Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.  They stumbled over the "stumbling stone".  

And the "stumbling stone" is Jesus.  So then all who place true faith in Jesus (specifically God's promises fulfilled in Jesus) are the true people of God.  Jesus is the narrow door which leads to God.

We will talk more about this next week, but for now what are your thoughts?  Do you agree?  If not, what is God's relationship to the "natural children" of Abraham today?  Also, if this is true, how does it make you feel to know that in Jesus you have become forever a child of God?

Going Deeper for the week of October 28, 2012

In a few days we will remember the Reformation, which occurred primarily in Europe in the 16th century.  At the heart of the Reformation was a desire to reclaim "the truth of the gospel".  So in that same vein I would like to explore this same "truth" in light of what the apostle Paul says in Galatians 2 and Ephesians 2.

(Read Galatians 2:1-21 and Ephesians 2:1-22)

Twice in Galatians 2, Paul mentions "the truth of the gospel" and in both instances he describes actions he took in order to protect it against false teaching and unChristian practice.  In verse 5, he refuses to give into the false teachers "so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you", and in verse 14 he rebukes Peter and Barnabas because he "saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel".

So what is the truth of the gospel which Paul is protecting?

Certainly it is the truth that salvation comes from God by grace through faith in Jesus (His life, death, and resurrection) for us.  But I think there is more.

When we read Ephesians 2, we see the same thing.  In verses 8-9, Paul says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Clearly this is the truth of the gospel, but there is more.

If we read verses 11-18, the more becomes readily apparent.  Paul is not simply talking about reconciliation between God and human beings, but also reconciliation between human beings and human beings as the truth of the gospel.  Listen to how he develops this thought in verses 14-18:

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." 

In Jesus, we are one (both Jews and Gentiles).  And in Jesus we "both have access to the Father by one Spirit."  So the "truth of the gospel" goes beyond just personal salvation but to the greater truth that God is reconciling "all things" to Himself in Christ (see Colossians 1:19-20).  

So what do you think?  Is there more to "the truth of the gospel" than what we usually emphasize?
If so, what is it?  Why do you think we have not emphasized it?

Going Deeper for the week of October 21, 2012

(Read Luke 18:9-14)

The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector has always spoken directly to my heart.  You see, I am a recovering Pharisee.  I am one of those who tends to "look down on everybody else".  So I have to ask myself, "Am I confident in my own righteousness, or does my confidence come from somewhere else?"

This is not really an easy question to answer.  It is rather difficult to discern my own heart and seek to discover where my real confidence lies.  I pray that my confidence is found in Jesus alone, but I cannot always be sure.

But here's the good news: whether I am confident in Jesus alone, or whether some semblance of confidence in my own righteousness still exists, I know that I belong to Christ, and His finished work on my behalf is enough even to cover my own tendency towards self-righteousness!  To God be the glory!  Great things He has done!

But how can I say that?  Well, let's look at another scripture.  This is one I find gives me incredible comfort when I feel I am falling back into my pharisaical tendencies.

(Read II Timothy 2:11-13)

"Here is a trustworthy saying, ... if we are faithless, He will remain faithful ..." 

That small verse from God's enduring, eternal, living word gives me great hope.  It is all about what God has done and not what I have done!  Jesus saves!  Hallelujah!  Praise God!

So in response to Jesus' words,"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted", this is my prayer: "Lord, help me to humble myself so that you can lift me up.
Amen."

What about you?  Do you tend to be more like the Pharisee or the Tax Collector?  Where then do you find your confidence?

Going Deeper for the week of October 14, 2012

Are we seeking to please people or God?

The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God?"  He writes this in context of his defense of his apostleship (authority in being sent by Jesus) and a re-proclamation of his gospel (given to him by revelation from Jesus - see Galatians 1:12).

Since we are in the midst of an election season in America, now might be a good time to take stock on this question.  We must search our own hearts and consider: "Are we seeking to please people or God?"

(Read John 12:20-50)

Jesus is the eternal Son of God who took on flesh.  He is God in human form.  In these verses, He describes Himself as "the light" (see verses 35-36, 46) and instructs us, "Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

Following this admonition, the gospel writer John, refers us to the failure of some to believe in Jesus (v. 37).  He quotes the prophet Isaiah and shows that people's unbelief actually fulfills these prophecies.
Then John turns his attention to Jewish leaders who did believe in Jesus, but "would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

Is that us?  Do we refuse to confess our faith because of fear?  Do we love praise from people more than praise from God?

These are not easy questions, and they do not yield easy answers.  Sometimes fear causes us to conform to the group's consensus because it is easier than "going against the grain".  And this happens on both sides of the aisle.  In conservative circles, there is pressure to conform to the consensus regarding what is perceived as liberal agendas.  And in liberal circles, there is often equal pressure to conform to the consensus regarding what is perceived as conservative agendas.  But what if God is calling us to say something that needs to be said, or to confess something that needs to be confessed?

No conservative and no liberal is completely right in everything they say.  Each of us needs to be able to hear challenges from the other side.  The Holy Spirit often places us in situations to give testimony to Jesus and His glory, and like the Jewish leaders in John's gospel we are called to speak up.

So what about us?  Will we be willing to speak up?  Will we put our trust in the light so that we may become sons of light?  Or do we love praise from people more than praise from God?  What are some of your thoughts?

Going Deeper for the week of October 7, 2012

Last week I ended by asking the question, "If we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, then why do we not see more evidence of it in our lives?"  So that is where I would like to begin this week.

(Read Philippians 2:1-18)

The apostle Paul begins with a description of all we possess in Christ (see verse 1) before instructing us on what it means to live in Christ (see verses 2-4).  So it is in scripture that the indicative (what is) always precedes the imperative (what should be).

And we continue to see this pattern developed throughout the rest of this chapter.

Our life in Christ is patterned after the Christ's own life, where he "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (read slave)", "humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross."  Then this same Jesus who humbled Himself has been "exalted" by God and given "the name that is above every name".  It is the trajectory of Jesus' own life which the pattern for our own.

But if this is true, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit, then why do we not see more evidence of it in our lives today?

Paul identifies the problem as well as the solution very succinctly in verses 12-13.  "Therefore my dear friends .... continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

The problem is found in our refusal to neglect our own responsibility in being conformed to Jesus' likeness.  Unfortunately, we do not commit ourselves to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling", and that is why we see limited evidence of Christ's life in us.

However, the problem also points to the solution.  If we are willing to commit ourselves to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling", God will continue to "work" in us "to will and to act according to His good purpose."  In short, God will always do His part, so we must be also be willing to do ours.

So what is our part?  How can we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling"?

I think the secret is found in following the pattern of Jesus' own earthly life.  It begins with making ourselves "nothing", "taking the very nature of a servant", "humbling ourselves", and "becoming obedient to God" in everything.  To state it very simply, working out our own salvation begins with recognizing God (WHO He is) and His authority over our lives.  As we choose to submit to Him, He will work in us to will and to act according to His good pleasure.

In submission to God through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit's power we will increasingly be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

So how is God asking you to humble yourself and submit to Him this week?  Can you hear His voice? Are you willing to obey?