We're going to take a look at the concept of wealth, or riches, and how they affect our salvation. There are many examples of wealthy people throughout the bible, some good, and some evil. So, what is the difference between them, and how does prosperity affect us adversely? We know that God would not have us to be in want, but we need to be aware of what true riches really are, as Jesus tells us in Luke 12:32-34..."Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." We know that, for example, Abraham was very wealthy, but he was not corrupted by the prosperity which God gave him. Solomon, on the other hand, is an example of a man whom God provided not only exceeding wealth and riches, but also wisdom, and he was eventually corrupted by power. So, the question becomes, what degree of wealth is sufficient, or, what amount of riches corrupts? There is no easy answer, but we must put things in perspective. We in America are blessed to have all that we need and more. There are people in the world who don't even know where their next meal will come from, and yet most of us have more than enough. We have been truly blessed beyond measure. So, where does this leave us? How does this affect our souls? I would suggest that this puts us in a unique position. We read in Luke 12:48..."For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." If we have been blessed with prosperity, it is for a reason. We are to give of what we have been given in order to help those who are less fortunate and to further God's kingdom. With these thoughts in mind, we are going to take a look at the teachings of Jesus on this subject, and the very interesting paradox of the camel and the needle...
We read the account of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-27..."And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words.
But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
What can we learn from this exchange? First of all, this young man was very prideful, and full of self righteousness, as he claims to have kept all of the commandments from his youth up. We know that there is no one, other than Jesus Himself, who kept all of the commandments, as we read in Romans 3:23...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God..." Still, Jesus had love and compassion for him, and tells him to part with his worldly possessions in order to give to the poor, and to come and follow Jesus. However, the young man is grieved, because he does not want to part with his wealth, and he goes away sorrowful, as his choice is made, and his fate is sealed. Jesus goes on to express to his disciples how difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God, and this is hard for the disciples to understand, as well, and they question among themselves if anyone can be saved. Jesus then reassures them that although it is impossible for men to be saved on their own, that all things are possible with God.
It is not the wealth itself which corrupts. The story of Zaccheus confirms this as we read in Luke 19:1-9..."And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and he could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to see the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down, for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham." Zaccheus was a very rich man, in fact, he was the chief tax collector. However, he was not corrupted by his wealth, and his priorities and his integrity remained intact, as he did all that he could to get close to Jesus. We can also see that his heart was in the right place as he vows to give half of his possessions to the poor and to restore fourfold to any who he has taken from by false accusation. Though he had great riches, he understood what true wealth was, and he sought closeness with Jesus above all else, thereby securing his salvation.
We see that it is not riches which corrupt, but an evil heart. We read in 1 Timothy 6:10..."For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Notice here, that we are not told that money itself is the root of all evil, but the love of money. It is this covetousness, this greed, which hardens us against the plight of others less fortunate. We become apathetic and calloused to the sufferings of others as we are indulged in our own prosperity. This is the trap of wealth, the snare of riches, and Satan would gladly give us worldly riches and possessions in exchange for our soul. Jesus warns us against this very threat in Matthew 16:24-26..."Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" It is the denial of self, and the acceptance of our complete and total dependence upon His grace, which Jesus seeks from us. If we are reliant upon worldly wealth, we fail to see the need for the provision of God in our life, and we will also find it very difficult to see need in the lives of others. Let's look back at our earlier reading. Jesus first told His disciples how difficult it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Then, when the disciples were shocked by His words, He explained further..."how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" So, we see a twofold message here. The wealthy man's eyes are blinded to his need for salvation, and to its paramount importance, as compared to the riches of this world. However, he is only blinded to the degree to which he trusts in his riches. There are some, who, though they have earthly wealth, such as Abraham and Zaccheus, understand that their prosperity is a blessing from God. They do not see wealth as something to be depended upon, but rather as a tool to be used to help others. They see that their wealth has been given to them as stewards, to be distributed to those who are in need, and to further God's kingdom.
Finally, let's take a closer look at the words of Jesus in Mark 10:25..."It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." There has been much debate about the meaning of this phrase, and many who would seek to downplay its straightforward message. Jesus was speaking metaphorically, using an exaggerated example in order to emphasize a point. Jesus did this at other times, as well, such as in Matthew 23:24, as he rebuked the scribes and Pharisees..."Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." as well as in Luke 6:41..."And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Jesus used the example of a camel passing through the eye of a needle to emphasize the fact that it is impossible for a man to enter into the kingdom of God without divine intervention. If the camel represents our natural tendency to gather wealth, and the needle represents the narrow way, what does this tell us? We need to put our "camels" on a strict diet, and we need to study and work to enlarge the eye of the needle. However, we cannot humble ourselves enough, we cannot pray our way in, we cannot be "good enough", to merit eternal life. No amount of charity or pious acts will make us deserving of heaven. It is only through the precious blood of Jesus that we can obtain salvation, and this needs to be enough for us. Finally, we read in Hebrews 13:5..."Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
This week, we're going to take a look at some of the characteristics that define what a hero is, and then apply them in order to find out what a true hero looks like. Webster's dictionary defines the word "hero" as "a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities". People throughout history have always searched for heroes, for those who raised the bar, who, through selfless dedication, saved others, and inspire us to be better people. We consider firefighters and police officers to be heroes, and they certainly merit this distinction. Our military veterans are heroes, as well, and should be honored as such. The bible is filled with people who fit this description. From the inspiring faith of Abraham to the leadership of Moses, from the bravery of David to the loyalty and allegiance of Ruth, the Old Testament is filled with heroes. Likewise, the New Testament has many heroes. The selflessness of John the Baptist, as he paved the way for the Messiah, and the fierce courage of Paul as he endured so many hardships for the sake of the gospel are but two of the examples of heroism in the New Testament. However, there is one man whose entire life was filled with heroic acts, and who truly deserves the title of "hero". Of course, we are speaking of Jesus Christ. Let's take a look at some of the deeds, as well as the character traits of Jesus, and how His life, as well as His death, solidify His distinction as the greatest hero who has ever lived.
First of all, Jesus was, and still is, a healer. Not only a healer of physical infirmities, but of mental and spiritual sicknesses, as well. There are many instances recorded in the gospels of Jesus healing those who were blind, lame, deaf or dumb, as well as those who were possessed by demons, and even raising the dead. When we read these accounts, we imagine the joy that the recipients of these miracles must have felt, to have their sight restored, or to be able to walk for the first time, or to be freed from the control of demonic forces.
However, one aspect of the healing power of Jesus which we fail to take into account is the fact He gave of Himself each and every time that He healed someone. It was a selfless act, and required Jesus to pour out some of Himself in order to make another person whole. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the woman with the issue of blood, found in Luke 8:43-48..."And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." The fact that Jesus "felt virtue go out of him" shows us that healing was, to some degree, draining upon His body and spirit while He was here on earth. We read many times that Jesus, after having performed miracles or healing the sick, would separate Himself from the crowds and even from His disciples in order to refresh His Spirit. He was fully God, but also fully man, and His many instances of healing show not only His compassion, but also His selfless nature.
Secondly, Jesus was fearless. He never possessed a spirit of fear, and His confidence was never shaken, although He knew the terrible fate which would befall Him. He was even tempered, and never lost control of Himself. In fact, the only instance we read of in which Jesus ever showed anger was in defense of the House of God. We read in Matthew 21:12-14..."And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them." It is interesting to note here that the anger of Jesus did not blind him to the needs of others. Immediately following His righteous indignation, He resumed His path of compassion and healing. As to His fearless nature, He faced Satan head on in the wilderness, after having fasted forty days, and rather than depend upon His own strength, He relied on the everlasting Word of God, as He replied to Satan, "It is written..." Though Satan threw everything he had at Jesus, He never faltered. Jesus faced the same temptations that we all face, and many that we will never have to endure, and His reliance upon God brought Him through every trial. There are those who feel that Jesus was not tempted to sin, or that His divine nature in some way gave Him a supernatural advantage that the rest of us are not given, but this is simply not the case. Bear in mind the fact that Jesus was fully human as well as fully God, and that in order to be our intercessor, He had to endure the same temptations that we all must endure. We read in Hebrews 4:15-16..."For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." It is the mercy and grace which is only found when we boldly approach God's throne which will bring us through temptations and trials. This is where Jesus got the strength to carry on, and nowhere was His reliance on God made more profoundly evident than in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that the time of His crucifixion drew near, and that He was about to be betrayed into the hands of the Romans. He went to the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to pray. As He kneeled down, He prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." A beautiful and inspiring example of selfless humility, as Jesus lays aside His own will, in deference to the will of the Father, for the benefit of us all. His prayer was so intense that we are told that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." This passion was not a result of fear, but of sorrow. Sorrow not only for what He would endure, but even more so for the persecutions which His followers would face, and not only the disciples of His day, but also those who would come after. His empathy and compassion is everlasting, as He intercedes even now on our behalf. He is the only One who is qualified to do so, having endured temptation and knowing our weakness firsthand. Hebrews 7:25 tells us..."Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Finally, Jesus saves. In fact, He gave His life to save. The salvation of mankind is of paramount importance to God, and is the very reason that Jesus came to earth. He is the Creator of the universe, and yet, in the ultimate display of humility, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father, and was born in human flesh, and made subject to the frailties and weaknesses of man. We read in Phillippians 2:5-11..."Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Let us be ever mindful of the fact that Jesus gave up the glory of heaven to come to this earth to suffer, to live a perfect sinless life, to be betrayed and crucified, to die a horrible death, and ultimately to be raised from the dead in order to defeat death, as we read in Hebrews 2:9..."...we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." The simple fact is, Jesus took our punishment upon Himself. He paid the price for us, in our stead, in order to make a way back to God for us. The miracles and the healings which are recorded in the Gospels are merely a sampling of the good which He did, as we read in John 21:25, the last verse of the book of John..."And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
So, we see that Jesus is a healer, that He can heal us of not only our physical ailments, but of our spiritual infirmities, as well. He is a fearless and selfless Shepherd, a fierce mediator, claiming and defending before God all those who believe on His name. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, and our Friend, and we are promised that He will never leave us, and never forsake us. These traits prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the greatest hero that has ever lived. May we be inspired, encouraged, uplifted, and led by His Spirit to share His love with the world around us.
The 53rd chapter of the book of Isaiah is a very powerful prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah and the sufferings which He would endure. We'll conclude our study of this stirring and expressive chapter as we look at verses 7-12...
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Verse 7 tells us a lot about the nature and character of Jesus, as He did not protest the punishment which was delivered to Him, although it was cruel, unusual, and undeserved. "He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter..." the meekness of Christ foretold so eloquently by Isaiah here, and as he continues..."and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." Jesus chose not to speak on His own behalf, or to declare His innocence, because His suffering and death was necessary in order to satisfy the wrath of God. He willingly laid down His life, taking the punishment that we all deserve. Jesus confirms this in John 10:17-18..."Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
With verse 8, Isaiah tells us that the Messiah was "taken from prison and from judgment". Jesus was betrayed by Judas and taken prisoner by the Roman soldiers, but we are never told that He was imprisoned, which would lead to the conclusion that the "prison" which Isaiah speaks of is the grave, and this would certainly be validated by the resurrection of Christ. An interesting side note here is the fact that both His betrayer, Judas Iscariot, and His judge, Pontius Pilate, would declare His innocence, hence His being "taken from prison and from judgment." Isaiah goes on to ask the question, "...and who shall declare his generation?" There are two schools of thought on this phrase, one which defines the query as, "Who can comprehend the wickedness of a generation which would execute an innocent man?" while the other puts forth that the phrase, "who shall declare his generation?" refers to the eternal life of Jesus, and the incomprehensible nature of His everlasting kingdom. Both views provide valid points, and are not contradictory in any way, they are just different ways of interpreting the verse. Isaiah continues..."for he was cut off from the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." The fulfillment of this prophecy would come with the death of Jesus, and Isaiah counts himself among those whose transgressions the Messiah would suffer and die for.
"And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." Jesus was crucified between two thieves, as if He had been the worst of the three, but He was not buried in the place where He died, as would have been common in the death of criminals. Rather, He was buried in a new grave which belonged to a wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea, thereby fulfilling yet another aspect of the prophecy. The fact that Jesus was buried in an honorable way distinguished Him from a common criminal, and set Him apart as One who did not die for his own crimes, but for the sins of others.
At this point in the chapter, there is a shift in focus from the physical sufferings and death of Jesus to the sufficiency of His sacrifice, that is, the satisfaction of the wrath of God, as it was poured out upon Him. Verse 10 begins with a rather cryptic phrase..."Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:" This is in reference to the fact that justice and righteous judgment must be maintained; by the process of transference of the sin of all mankind onto the body of Jesus, the curse of sin was abolished and the wrath of God because of sin was satisfied through the suffering and death of Christ on the cross. Isaiah goes on to write..."when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." As the sacrificial lamb, as the bullock upon the altar, Jesus was appointed to be born upon this earth, and to endure the penalty and consequence of sin in His own body, as we read in 1 John 2:2..."he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." From the transgression of Adam, and throughout history, to our sins today, righteous judgment for all sin was laid upon the shoulders of Jesus, as we read in Romans 6:23..."For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Finally, we read in verse 12..."Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." After the death of Jesus upon the cross, and His burial, His resurrection solidified our salvation, and the beginning of His glorification. He was exalted as He returned to Heaven, to sit at the right hand of God, and because He bore our sins, He is supremely qualified to intercede on our behalf. A beautiful summary of these thoughts is found in Hebrews 7:25-27..."Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself."
One thing is certain...we are all guilty before God. Our own sin, as well as original sin which was laid to our charge, has separated us from God. As we read in Romans 3:23..."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God..." and earlier in this chapter..."All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." We have all strayed from the path which God intended for us; we are, by our very nature, a rebellious people, as Isaiah reveals in chapter 59:1-2..."Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Had it not been for the precious blood that Jesus shed on the cross, we would be without hope. Finally, we read in 1 Peter 2:21-25..."For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
The Old Testament is filled with prophecy concerning Jesus, and the book of Isaiah is certainly no exception. Isaiah was a prophet who lived approximately 800 years before the time of Christ, and his prophecies are some of the most accurately detailed and specific glimpses into the future. The nation of Israel received stern warnings through the prophecies of Isaiah, but these warnings were not meant for the people of Israel alone. They apply to us as a nation today just as much as they applied to the nation of Israel 2800 years ago. Through Isaiah, God would foretell not only the fate of nations, and prophesy concerning the end of the world, but more importantly, the Spirit of God showed Isaiah the coming of the Redeemer, the Messiah, who would save His people from their sins. There are many instances of prophecy concerning Jesus throughout the book of Isaiah, but the 53rd chapter is devoted entirely to the life and sufferings of Jesus with regard to the salvation of mankind. With these thoughts in mind, let's take a detailed look at the 53rd chapter of the book of Isaiah, and the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah. We'll begin with the first half of the chapter, verses 1-6, and continue in part 2.
"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. "
With verse one, Isaiah prophesies concerning the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews, as well as His acceptance by the Gentiles. "Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" The Jews were expecting a king, one who would come to overthrow the Roman Empire and set them free, and they rejected the person of Christ because of His lowly demeanor, and because they could not recognize the fact that His mission was about so much more than merely freeing the Jews from the oppression of Rome, but about freeing all of humanity from their sins. The Gentiles, on the contrary, had no preconceived notions of what a Messiah should be, and therefore, were much more open to the concept of salvation. When the arm of the Lord was revealed, through signs and miracles, it was as if Isaiah were present to witness the sad rejection which Jesus faced.
"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." Meek and lowly from birth, Jesus grew up before the Father in silent reverence and submission. He was born to a poor family from Nazareth, a town of Galilee, a city of no reputation, as we read in John 1:46..."And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." Another aspect of the prophecy that Jesus would be "as a root out of a dry ground" is the fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin when she conceived and bare him. There were apparently no distinguishing physical features of Jesus which would differentiate him from any other man, no great beauty which would establish His being the Son of God. His physical appearance was not relevant, and it pales in comparison with His moral beauty, His holiness, and His example of love. Furthermore, God would not have us concentrate on, and therefore idolize, His physical appearance. He was created in a plain and unadorned body, if for no other reason than to discourage our dwelling on His temporal appearance, and to point us to His glorious appearing at the Last Day.
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." The beauty of Jesus having to be spiritually discerned, the carnally minded would reject him outright. His own people, the Jews, would reject Him because He did not physically fit their idea of what the Messiah should be. He was not born into wealth and royalty, He did not proclaim to be king, He laid no claims as to the freeing of the Jews from Roman rule, and in fact, He did not seem to be concerned with the current state of the Jewish nation at all. Rather, His concern was with the whole of humanity, and his display of kindness toward all men brought a rejection all its own. He showed compassion toward sinners, and tax collectors, and made no distinctions between the Jews, the Gentiles, and the factions of people who were considered to be second class citizens, such as the Samarians. His benevolent and empathetic worldview isolated him from the self righteousness of the Jewish rulers, and ultimately led to His crucifixion. He was meek, and lowly, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief..." and Isaiah goes on to say that "we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Sin has a way of separating, of leading us to hide our face from Jesus. The same sin which led the people of Jesus' day to despise and reject Him, and to hide their faces from Him, is still causing sinners to turn away, to reject Jesus, and is the root cause of the lack of esteem given to Jesus today. The cure for this is found in the next two verses...
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed." It is our acceptance of, and our faith and belief in, these truths, on which our salvation is dependent. The fact that Jesus, in His physical body, bore not only our sins, but also our sicknesses, our grief, and our sorrow, make Him supremely qualified to be our Healer, our Counselor, as well as our Savior. We read in Isaiah 9:6..."Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." There is no friend like Jesus. He truly knows, and understands, our pain and our sorrow, and He alone can heal us. It was our sin, not His own, which He bore on the cross. He suffered indignation and the severest punishment at the hands of the Romans on our behalf. We can have peace with God because of the sacrifice which Jesus made for us, as He gave Himself to be the sacrifice in our stead. We read in 1 John 4:10..."Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Jesus endured unimaginable torture in order to satisfy the full extent of God's wrath in His own body, rather than allow us to suffer it ourselves. As an example, the scourging that Jesus received at the hands of the Roman soldiers was not after the restrictions of the Jewish law, which allowed for no more than forty stripes to be given to any one person. Instead, as Pontius Pilate intended for this scourging to be used for the punishment of Jesus in place of crucifixion, the Roman soldiers were unusually cruel in their treatment of Him. Not only was He crowned with thorns upon His head, but He was beaten and whipped until His skin was torn and shredded, and nothing appeared but bloody wounds and bruises. However, this was still not enough for the Jews, and what had intended to be the full punishment of a criminal turned out to be the horrible beginning of the crucifixion of an innocent man. As hard as it is for us to imagine these sufferings, this was all a part of God's divine plan. The willingness of Jesus to endure this agony secured salvation for all those who would believe on His name, and therefore, "with his stripes we are healed."
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
My friend, don't think for a moment that you are the only one who has turned your back on Jesus. Each one of us, in our own way, has despised and rejected Him. We have all minimized His sacrifice and not esteemed Him, or given Him the glory, that He deserves. It is because of our sin that Jesus suffered in the first place. It is our sin which was laid on His shoulders, which He bled and died to redeem us from. He paid the price for us, in our stead, in order to bring us into a state of peace and freedom. He purchased our salvation with His precious blood, and thereby gave us eternal life. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21..."For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
This week, I'd like for us to take a look inwardly, in order to determine where our true focus lies. This study is not intended to be from the viewpoint of someone who has it all together, whose sole focus is on Jesus as it should be, and who stands in some pulpit looking down on those whose lives are not up to standards. If this study were a sermon, I would be in the audience, feeling a sense of overwhelming guilt. No, this is not a lesson to be learned only by others, but rather, I hope to gain some insight into my own failings and the reasons behind my own distance from God and His will for my life. So, I hope that this study will be beneficial for all of us, and will help us to see where our focus has shifted, and how we can get it back to where God would have it to be.
The first verse that we'll look at is James 4:8..."Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." Let's think about this for a moment. It is never God who pulls away from us, rather, it is our own impurity, and the guilt which goes along with it, which separates us from God. We seek for closeness with God, but then, as we invariably fail in one sense or another, we feel as though we are no longer worthy of intimacy with Him, and we pull away. This is something which does not happen all at once, but rather, it becomes a gradual estrangement, and it is all due to our focus, or the lack thereof. There is nothing that Satan loves more than for one of God's children to be separated from Him. However, if we maintain our focus, we can avoid this trap.
So, what are some of the ways in which our focus becomes shifted? Colossians 3:2 tells us..."Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." If we are preoccupied with worldly matters, we cannot focus on the things which really matter. Of course, we all have to pay bills, and earn a living, we all have problems, and we can't help but be caught up in the torrent of day to day life. However, even in the midst of these storms, we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus.
A perfect example of this is found in Matthew 14, as the disciples are in the boat and see Jesus walking upon the water. Peter steps out onto the water to walk to Jesus, and we read in verse 30-31..."But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" As long as Peter's eyes were fixed upon Jesus, he was able to walk on the water, but the moment his focus shifted, and he became aware of his surroundings, he began to sink. This is no different from what happens with each one of us. As long as Jesus is our focus, we will be able to weather the storms, but when the wind and rain become the focal point, we begin to sink. However, like Peter, we can cry out, "Lord, save me", and know that Jesus will immediately reach down and pull us up out of the waves.
There are many factors which can steal our focus away from where it should be. When we concentrate on the evil around us, the state of the world and the decline of morals and ethics, a resentment sets in, a bitterness toward others which spreads like a cancer. It breeds not only animosity, but also indifference. We begin to become apathetic, as we no longer see others as being of value. We must bear in mind that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead for all of us, and none of us are deserving of His sacrifice. Sin and addiction, like bitterness, are another point of separation from God. When we choose our own pleasure over being pleasing to God, we lose sight of His will for us, and a self-induced rift is the result. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24..."No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other..." and further in verse 33..."But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Psalms 1:1-3 addresses these concerns in a beautiful way, as David writes..."Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
It is the precious sacrifice of Jesus which must remain our focus. None of us are worthy of His death, burial, and resurrection, but because of what He did for us, we are accounted as righteous, and through His blood, we have obtained salvation. All the cares and concerns of this world are but trivial when compared with the all-encompassing love which has been shown for us. Let this truth change our minds, and shift our focus back to God. Finally, we read in Romans 12:2..."And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
This week, we're going to take a look at the biblical account of creation, but not in the traditional sense. We all know the story of creation as read in the book of Genesis, but we're going to compare the creation as recorded in Genesis with the account of the creation in the first chapter of the book of John. I think we will find that these two very different accounts do not in any way contradict each other, but rather, that they complement one another, and when read together, they help to form a more complete picture of the creation.
For the purposes of this study, we will be looking at only the first 3 verses of Genesis chapter one, because our intention is not necessarily to delve into the entire process of creation day by day, but rather to intertwine the Genesis account with that of the first 3 verses of the book of John. The goal of this study will be to shed light on the fact that Jesus was not only present at the time of creation, but had a pivotal role in the forming of the universe. Our focus will be on the parallels of the two accounts, and the revealing of the creative work of Jesus as read in the book of John.
We'll begin by looking at Genesis 1:1-3..."In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
With verse 1, we see the inception of the creative process. However, the first four words of the verse, "In the beginning God", reveal far more than they at first appear to. We all understand that "the beginning" refers to the birth of the universe, a point at which things came into being, that is, before this time, there was nothing. Only God existed before the creation, as we read in Psalms 90:2..."Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." However, when we take a closer look at the first four words of the verse, we find that there is a fundamental, if not somewhat hidden, truth which is revealed. The original text of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the word used for "God" in this verse, as well as the verses which follow, is the Hebrew word "Elohiym", which is a plural noun. This is not a grammatical error, as this word existed in a singular form, as well. The Hebrew vocabulary was vast, and contained more names which referred to God than any other language, before or since. So, what does this tell us? The phrase in verse one, "God created", is perplexing when we realize that the word "Elohiym" is a plural noun, and "created" is a singular verb. It is as if we are reading the phrase as "We created ". And this is exactly the point. This is the first mention of God, in Genesis 1:1, and here we see that there is a plurality with God, our first glimpse of the Godhead, the Trinity.
Verses 2 and 3 lend further credence to the concept of the Trinity, as we see the work of the Spirit..."And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." Here we have the first mention of the Spirit of God, the Third Person of the Trinity, and the fact that He moved upon the face of the waters. Further evidence of the plurality of God is found later in Genesis 1:26, on the sixth day of creation, where we read..."And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:..." This is rather confusing until we realize that this was a consultation between the Trinity, a coming together for the purposes of forming man, because he was to be not only dedicated to Father, Son, and Spirit, but he was also to be the only creature with a living and immortal soul. It is humbling to think that mankind was the last of the creation, therefore, he had no role whatsoever in the creative process, and yet, the whole of creation was put under his dominion. This is our first indication of the love that God has for us.
With these thoughts in mind, let's now take a look at John 1:1-3, and the parallels which will help us to see a more complete picture of the creation..."In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. "
Let us first take a look at John 1:14, in order to establish the fact that it is indeed Jesus who is referred to in these verses..."And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." This verse serves to demonstrate, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus and "the Word" are one and the same. With this truth firmly established, we begin to see the beautiful harmony which flows between the first 3 verses of Genesis and John, showing us the completeness of the Trinity. The plurality of God, that is, the Father and the Son, along with the Spirit, created the heaven and the earth, and came together to form mankind in their image, after their likeness. Furthermore, when we read in verse 3 of Genesis 1 that "God said, Let there be light...", this is an example of the Word of God in action. This coincides with verse 3 of John 1, as we read that "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Jesus, the eternal Word of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, was and is the driving force behind all of creation. He tells us in Revelation 1:8..."I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Finally, we read in Colossians 1:12-17..."Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
One final thought...knowing what we know now, let's think about this: the hands that set the planets in motion, and formed the sun, moon, and stars, the hands that created all the animals and plants, and filled the oceans, the hands which created every human being who has ever lived, these same hands were nailed to a cross on our behalf. These same hands are, as we speak, preparing a home in glory for those who have believed on Him. All we need to do is to put our trust, and our life, in His hands.
This week, I'd like to take a look at a particular aspect of faith, the idea that faith exists in direct opposition to what we can understand by using our senses. This is a peculiar notion, and certainly worthy of study, because faith is not dependent upon our worldly faculties at all. In fact, it can be hindered by our dependence upon our senses. For this study, we will focus on two different verses, both of which have meanings that are somewhat difficult to comprehend, and both are often misunderstood. They speak of faith in its opposition to what we can see, or know, using our five senses. The first verse we'll take a look at is 2 Corinthians 5:7, but for purposes of study, we'll read it in its context, so that we can gain a clearer understanding of the overall idea being conveyed.
We'll begin by reading 2 Corinthians 5:1-9..."For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."
Our focus in these verses is actually verse 7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight", but in order to bring it into clear understanding, it is important to look at the verse in its context, in order to grasp what is being said in its entirety. In these verses, Paul is contrasting the life which we now live, in the flesh, with the glory which is to be revealed in us. Comparing our earthly bodies with a tabernacle, Paul conveys to us the fact that if our tabernacle were dissolved, that is, if we die, that we have a much greater dwelling place which awaits us in heaven. Paul goes on to acknowledge the fact that we, in this earthly body, do groan because of burdens, both mental and physical. We yearn for something better, for a time when our burdens will cease. It is the shedding of this earthly body and of being clothed in righteousness that believers long for. Furthermore, Paul tells us that God created us with this purpose in mind, that we would not be enamored with this world, but rather, that His Spirit within us would lead us to desire to be present with Him. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." We live our lives by faith, because none of us have seen God directly, but we look forward to the day when "our faith shall be sight", when we can look upon His face. Jesus told Thomas in John 20:29..."Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
Contrary to what the world would have us to believe, it takes a lot of strength to have faith. The world tells us that faith is a sign of weakness, that a strong mind doesn't rely on faith, that "science" can teach us all that we need to know. However, even science must rely on some degree of faith, for example, have you ever "seen" electricity, or the wind, or gravity? No, but you must admit that they exist, because you have seen or felt their effects. Science wants to tell us that faith is foolishness, and yet they push us to believe in a "theory" of how the universe came into existence. With regards to evolution, there has not been a single shred of hard evidence to back this "theory", while, in contrast, the validity of the bible has been proven again and again. In fact, the bible has never, nor will it ever, be disproven by science or archaeology. No, faith is not foolishness. It is strength in action, it is a gift from God to help us through this life, and to bring us into a closer relationship with Him.
The other verse that we are going to take a look at is found in Hebrews 11:1, but, again, we will look at verses 1-3 in order to gain a clear understanding..."Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Verse 1 is a rather cryptic statement, as Paul very eloquently describes the characteristics of faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for..." Our faith brings to fruition the things which we hope to attain. We know that God is motivated by our faith, as we read later in Hebrews 11:6..."But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." As Jesus healed the eyes of two blind men in Matthew 9:28-29, he asked them, "Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you." The second part of verse 1 completes this thought, as Paul tells us that faith is "the evidence of things not seen." Faith provides us with convincing proof which our senses cannot perceive. The soul of the believer sees what the physical eyes cannot. Though the Lord may be hidden from our sight, from our five senses, He is hidden that He may be believed upon. It is our faith which is our link to the unseen. Despite the lack of physical affirmation, we rest our hopes solely on the Word of God, placing our trust in Him. This is the very definition of faith.
In verse 2, Paul goes on to tell us that by faith, "the elders obtained a good report." The "elders" which Paul speaks of are not elders of the church, but rather, the fathers of faith, men of old, whose faith put them in right standing with God. Paul goes on in the following verses to give examples of the faith of these men, one of which was Abraham, and the faith of Abraham is a prime example of a closeness and intimacy with God which we all should seek to emulate. We read, concerning the inspiring faith of Abraham, in Romans 4:20-25..."He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
Verse 3 is a beautiful account of creation, and of the faith that we are to have in order to understand its beginnings..."Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Faith allows us to perceive the Hand of the Creator, though we cannot now see His face. All that exists, both seen and unseen, was formed by the Hand of God. When we read that "the worlds were framed" by His word, the original Greek text provides further insight, as the word "framed" is translated from the Greek word "kateertisthai ", which literally means "fitly formed." God made all things to fit together, to work in harmony. The stars and the planets, with their orbits, like a celestial dance, inspired David to write in Psalms 19:1..."The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." The beautiful harmony of nature, even the microscopic processes which work together in unison as our bodies are healed, these are all the works of the Hand of God. We read in Romans 11:33..."O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" This same God who placed the stars in the sky and set the universe in motion knows your name, and cares for you personally. Jesus confirms this as He reassures us in Matthew 10:30 that even..."the very hairs of your head are all numbered." May we strive not to rely so heavily on what we can see, or hear, or feel, in order that we might become more attuned to the Spirit, and hear His voice, allowing Him to be our guide rather than our senses. All it takes is a little faith.
We're going to take a look at some of the snares of the devil, some of the main avenues which Satan uses to entrap and enslave God's people. The devil is relentless, and some of the most insidious ways in which he can infect our minds are through fear, doubt, and worry. Satan's influence can not only affect our self image, but also the way in which we perceive others. We'll begin by looking at the inceptions of our sin, the very roots of our falling away from God. These are the foundations of disobedience, the underlying concepts which separate us from God and from His will for our life. These dividing influences include fear, doubt, and worry. We'll look at these from a biblical perspective, as God's word is to be our defining article, our proving ground. So, let's take a look at each of these influences and some verses which will provide us with God's perspective on them...beginning with fear.
We read in Psalms 118:6..."The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" These profound words were spoken by David, and are among the most reassuring and edifying thoughts found in the entire bible. David was under extreme duress, as his life was in jeopardy many times, with enemies on every side, and yet he put his hope in the Lord. He was in more peril throughout his life than most of us will ever know, and rather than choose to have fear control him, he chose to put his trust in God. David chose the fear of
the Lord over the fear of man, and this is a choice which we all must make. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:28-31..."And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." It is no coincidence that there are 365 separate instances throughout the bible in which we are told not to fear. That's one for every single day of the year. We read in Hebrews 13:5-6..."Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." God does not want us to live in fear, but rather, to live by faith. Jesus reassures us in Luke 12:32..."Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Doubt is a very deceptive emotion, as it comes upon us disguised as self preservation. When doubt creeps into our minds, we often think of it as a type of defense mechanism, a cautious reminder not to be too trusting. This can prove to be very beneficial at times, but not with regard to God and His love and provision for us. If we, at any point, find ourselves in doubt of God's existence, or His love for us, we know that this is a snare of the devil. One of the most treacherous ways in which the devil separates us from God is by intensifying our focus on the things around us, the troubles and problems that we face on a daily basis. The devil knows that faith cannot coexist with doubt, and so his intention is to put as much doubt into our minds as possible. We read in James 1:5-8..."If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." If we have doubt in our minds about the love and provision of God, we must ask Him to remove our doubt and strengthen our faith, for it is our faith, our belief, which motivates God. He has given us this faith as a gift, and He is ready and willing to fortify our faith so that doubt will no longer control us. Doubt can be a very powerful demotivating influence, and a paralyzing force in our lives, but with God's help, our doubt can be dissolved by the renewing of our faith.
Worry is a debilitating condition brought on by a lack of confidence in one's sense of well-being. It is extremely toxic to our relationship with God, because it is the polar opposite of faith, and contradicts it in every way. I saw a plaque once which read, "Worry is the misuse of imagination", and this is exactly the case. For us to spend our time entrenched in worry is to waste our time and energy, and a sinful waste it is, for worry is nothing more than putting our faith in what the devil has the power to do to us. Faith cannot exist where there is worry, as the one nullifies the other. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4-7..."Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Paul, along with the Christians of the first century, were persecuted relentlessly by the Romans as well as the Jews. Many Christians were killed for their faith. Paul himself was imprisoned, beaten many times, and ultimately killed because He refused to give up his faith. Yet, we never see Paul in a state of fear, or doubting the goodness and mercy of God. In fact, here he boldly states that we are to "be careful for nothing." He is telling us that we are not to allow worry to cloud our minds because "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Peter was another apostle who suffered much persecution at the hands of the Romans, and was also killed for his faith in Jesus. Yet, he also chose not to be crippled by fear, doubt, or worry, as we read in 1 Peter 5:6-11..."Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
Let us have no misconceptions, we are living in perilous times. Christianity, as a whole, is under attack. Christians are being persecuted and killed around the world, and there may come a time in the near future when we, as Christian Americans, are persecuted as well. However, we cannot allow the paralyzing effects of fear, doubt, and worry to stifle and neutralize our faith. Jesus tells us in Revelation 2:10..."Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." We read the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10..."We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." Although the devil will do all within his power to destroy us, we must stand firm on our faith, for we know that we have a crown laid up for us in heaven when this life is over, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:10..."Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
We cannot underestimate the incapacitating effects of fear, doubt, and worry, or the damage that they can do to our spiritual well-being. They undermine our dependence upon God, as they weaken the very fibers of our faith. In fact, the common thread among these three toxic influences is their ultimate destruction of our faith. However, just as these malicious forces are able to corrupt our minds if we allow them to, God's gift of faith is the key to their eradication. Fear, doubt, and worry cannot survive where faith is present. We read in James 4:7-8..."Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." In all that we do, in our day to day lives, let us pray for our faith to be strengthened, that we would not be subject to the negative influences of fear, doubt, and worry, but rather, that we would be dependent upon the grace and mercy of God, and that we would live by faith. Finally, we read the encouraging words of Paul in Philippians 4:13..."I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
This week, we'll conclude our study of the fifth chapter of Romans as we take a look at verses 18-21, and the amazing gift of God's grace and the peace of mind that it affords us...
"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Paul expands upon his previous thoughts and closes out the chapter in a beautiful and reassuring way. Let's take a closer look at these verses, and how they apply to us...
"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life." Much more than a simple reiteration of the points that Paul had previously made, this bold statement highlights the contrasts of the actions of Adam, with their condemning consequences, with the actions of Jesus, and their resulting justification. Let's think about this phrase for a moment, "justification of life." Because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, and because of His righteousness, our life is justified in the eyes of God. What does it mean to be justified? So many times, we feel that we just don't belong, or that we have no purpose or meaning, but these verses prove otherwise. Because of Jesus, we are justified to be here, to be who we are. We are somebody in God's eyes, we matter to Him, because we have obeyed the gospel, and believed in what Jesus did for us. This feeling of belonging and of being seen as precious in the eyes of God is absolutely vital to our well-being, and we cannot allow the darkness around us to steal it out of our hearts. This all important peace of mind is what is missing in the world around us, what so many people are searching for. No small wonder that despair has taken hold of so many, and weighs on their minds so heavily. They are seeking for something, but it won't be found through vanity or possessions, or in a needle or a pill or a bottle; no doctor can prescribe it, only the healing of the Great Physician can bring the cure. This is what we are compelled to share with others. This is our very identity, for without it, we are lost and without hope. It is only through Jesus that we can find, and feel, this justification of life.
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." This is a description of the transference of Adam's disobedience onto all of us, and in contrast, the transference of the righteousness of Christ onto us through His obedience. One point of clarification becomes necessary here. In order to grasp the full extent of the sacrifice as well as the obedience of Jesus, we must come to terms with the fact that He was not "murdered" for our sake. He was crucified by the Romans at the insistence of the Jews, but this was all a part of God's plan, and Jesus was well aware of it. Throughout His ministry, Jesus referred many times to the fact that He would have to give His life. He also made it clear that this was not only by Divine design, but also by His own choice. He told His disciples in John 10:18, referring to His life and death..."No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." This gives us a deeper insight into the amazing sacrifice that Jesus was willing to make on our behalf. When we read this verse in the original Greek text, we find yet another aspect which often goes unnoticed. When we read that, due to Adam's disobedience, "many were made sinners", the original Greek word used is "katestathesan", translated literally as "were appointed." In other words, Adam's sin caused us all to be predetermined to be sinners, designated worthy of death. By comparison, when we read that, due to the obedience of Jesus, "shall many be made righteous", the Greek word used is "katastathesontai", which literally means "will be appointed." This tells us that the obedience of Jesus will cause us, at the day of judgment, to be declared as righteous, our belief in His sacrifice deeming us worthy of eternal life. The distinction which Paul makes between the past and future tense of the verb is an important one because it shows us that, while we all have been established as, and declared to be, sinners in the past, we, as believers, look forward to a future ordination of righteousness, as God, for Christ's sake, forgives us our trespasses.
"Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" One question which naturally arises when reading this verse is, "If God's plans for mankind centered upon Adam and Christ, what was the point of the law, and what was its intended purpose?" The law was given in order to reveal the ruin which sin had created as well as the recovery which was to come. Simply put, the law was instituted so that sin could be seen for what it is, and be labeled as disobedience to God. Even so, the longsuffering love and mercy of God would not allow us to be left in a state of separation without hope. The unspeakable gift of grace was given in order to provide a way of reconciliation back to God.
"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul here sums up the entire chapter as we see the stark contrast between the sin that reigned over us and brought death upon us, and the grace which brings righteousness and eternal life by Jesus Christ. No greater gift has ever been given, or higher price been paid, than that which Jesus gave for us. May we never feel alone, unloved, or abandoned, because we have a Savior who gave His all for us, who loves us with a love that we cannot begin to comprehend. His is an unspeakable and boundless love that transcends all that we know or feel. Let us never be discouraged or downtrodden, because we were bought with a tremendous price, paid for by His precious blood, and therefore we belong to Him. He lived to teach us, He suffered in our stead, He died to save us, and He was resurrected to reconcile us back to God. May we find peace and rest for our souls in the knowledge that He intercedes on our behalf even now, as well as in His promise that He is preparing a place for us, that where He is, there we may be also.
We'll pick back up in Romans chapter 5, and this week we'll take a look at verses 12-17. This section of the chapter can prove to be quite perplexing, and more than a little difficult to follow. Though it is rather challenging, it is also quite rewarding to study, as it proves to be the most profound part of the chapter. Admittedly, in time past, when reading this section of scripture, I've glossed over it, thinking that I understood it, but never really grasping it completely. So, I hope that this study will help us all to come to a better understanding of what Paul was trying to convey here.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"
There are questions which naturally arise when reading these verses, and there has been much dispute through the years concerning this section of scripture. So, we'll take these verses one by one and look at them in depth, making use of various resources and multiple commentaries. Beginning with verse 12...
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" This refers, of course, to Adam, and the original transgression which changed the course of history. Why do you suppose that Adam is mentioned, and blame placed squarely at his feet, when it was actually Eve who first consented to partake of the forbidden fruit? It comes down to an assignment of responsibility. Eve was made from the rib of Adam, therefore she was a part of him. God could have formed Eve from the dust, just as He did Adam, but He chose to form her from Adam's rib because it is on his side, as Eve was meant to stand by his side. The rib was under his arm, as he was to shield and protect Eve. The rib was close to his heart, as he was to love Eve. There has been much debate as to whether or not Adam was present at the time of Eve's indiscretion, but I don't think it really matters whether he was there or not. If he was there, why did he not step in to shield Eve from the cunning lies of the serpent? If he was not there, why was Eve alone and unprotected? Either way, we know that Adam was a willing participant, as well, and so, the blame ultimately falls upon Adam, and because of his disobedience, death entered into the world. His sin, like a cancer, spread throughout all of humanity, making us all guilty by association, his sin a part of all of us, along with our own sin. In the original Greek text, when we read that death "passed upon all men" the phrase is translated as death "went through all men", which tells us that it pervaded humanity, and came to be attached to the human race, as one transgression which all are held accountable for.
"(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." Although there was no specific law during this period, death reigned over mankind, even over those who had not blatantly disobeyed God. All were subject to death, the penalty of original sin. This tells us that the law of Moses is not the only rule of life, because there were rules, and they were transgressed, long before the law was given. Likewise, it tells us that we are not justified by our obedience to the law any more than we are condemned by our disregard of it. Our own sins, which are many, are simply a by-product of the rebellion of Adam, which is transferred upon us all. It is original sin, which stems from resistance to the will of God, that we are all guilty of, and it is this inherent disobedience which we all must repent of in order to be saved. Verse 14 closes by referring to Adam as "the figure of him that was to come." Though the interpretation of this phrase has proven to be a source of contention for many, I believe that the simplest explanation is the correct one. Adam bears similarity to Christ in that one, being born in human flesh, brought sin and death upon mankind by his disobedience; while the other, being born in human flesh, brought forgiveness and eternal life by His righteousness to all those who would believe on Him. Thus, Jesus is referred to by many as "the second Adam." Furthermore, we gain insight when we refer back to the original Greek text, as the phrase "the figure of him that was to come" translates directly as "the type of the future one". This lends further credence to our interpretation, and gives evidence that it is indeed Jesus who was referred to here.
"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Further comparing and contrasting the contributions of Adam with those of Jesus, Paul here asserts that, just as Adam's sin has convicted us all, and sentenced us to death, God's grace, through Jesus Christ, has freed us, and brought us life eternal. Furthermore, this shows us that the mercy and grace of God are such that He is much more willing to save us through the righteousness imputed to us through Jesus than He is to condemn us by the guilt imposed upon us through the sin of Adam.
"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification." The thought is here taken an important step further, as it contrasts that single sin of Adam, by which death entered into the world and infected all of mankind, with the bestowal of the righteous acquittal afforded by the all encompassing gift of grace, by which we are justified from many offences. The scourge of sin held us in captivity, but we are freed from sin by the gift of God's grace.
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" The whole of humanity owes its ruin as well as its reconciliation to two men, one whose sin brought condemnation, one whose life brought justification. Although death has reigned over us as a direct result of sin, if we will accept the abundant gift of God's grace, and the righteousness which comes only through Jesus Christ, we will reign in life. We can then look forward with anticipation to an eternity filled with peace, joy, and love. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift, because grace changes everything.
