Tag: Sanctification

One Gets What They Give

On By TimIn Genesis 12, SalvationLeave a comment

I will make of you a great nation;
I will bless you
and make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless them who bless you
and curse him who curses you,
and in you all families of the earth
will be blessed.”

Genesis 12:2–3

Considering the things people are doing today, there are many chanting “From the River to the sea…” Not quite understanding the genocide inherent in the refrain. The ultimate goal there is the annihilation of the Israelis as a people.

Given the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants, there is blessing to those who bless. Cursing comes to those who curse. In other words, one will get in return what one gives to Israel.

That in itself is a practical personal application. There is a Hebrew word used in hermeneutics. It is remez, which generally means hint. Hint, as in there’s something else here. Knowing that, consider this:

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Hosea 11:1

Israel was called out of Egypt by God. Moses led them through the wilderness and eventually to the Promised Land. The promise given to Abraham was kept by God. Along the way, those that treated Israel favorably got favor back. Those that didn’t received the unfavorable.

That verse in Hosea is prophetic. Matthew quoted it in his Gospel.

When he rose, he took the young Child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.”

Matthew 2:14–15

Clearly Israel serves as not just a synonym for Jesus. The two terms are interchangeable. Some Christians even call Jesus the “Israel of God.”

That has grand implications. One of those may be unsettling to some. That Israel was to bring salvation to the world. What is true for One is true for the Other. Jesus did bring salvation to the world, as is true for Israel.

So… To come full-circle.

One will get in return what one gives to Jesus. Those that give Him their life receive life in return. Those that don’t, won’t. (What I mean is you will lose your life eventually, and when you meet Him after, you will not have life to give to Him.)

God explained the principle. I will bless those that bless Jesus, and curse those who curse Jesus.

The deeper application is to you. There is only so much time that is available to anyone… Why are you waiting to give Jesus your life?

It might not be there when you want to do it.

Escaping the Corruption of the World

On By TimIn 2 Peter 01, Eternal Security, Salvation1 Comment

There exists a vast difference in between the ones who escape the corruption of the world and partake of the divine nature and those who escape the defilements of the world for a season.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2

In the introduction, Peter is established the tone. That tone is to Peter is encourage other believers to hold fast. Not that they might lose out on eternal life at some future time, but to ensure their own maturity in the faith. To grow to maturity ought to be the goal of every Christian.

At the beginning of this epistle, Peter establishes a premise. Sometimes that premise is blurred by the particular translation of the Bible used which may lead to some insecurities. Because of this, I prefer a literal word-for-word translation. This helps me to grasp the nuances in word meanings being translated. It also helps to have tools available to try and understand the subtleties in the original language that do not translate clearly. Taking the extra time for a bit of a deeper dive helps to ensure right division of the Bible.

With that said, let’s dive in!

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:3–4

At the outset, Peter is saying that Christians have everything they need no to live godly lives. These come by the promises of God. Promises that you have no part in save to receive them. He keeps them, even in light of what you do… Because it’s His word. His word is not made void by the freedom He has bestowed on us.

Because we have these promises, we escape the corruption of the world and become partakers of the divine nature. That statement is loaded with lots of stuff to unpack. Note the phrasing, escape the corruption. The corruption is in the world through lust. Think of the word lust as desire and intense craving.

Focus on the word corruption. It is the Greek word phthoras which does mean corruption and can also mean destruction. The destruction is ultimately death. That is the end result of sin. But the Christian escapes this.

For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5–7

Peter then provides a prescription for the saved person who has eternal life. Keep in mind that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. The outline is indeed doable by every Christian.

It is self-explanatory in nature. Faith is required to get eternal life and forgiveness is sins, it is also necessary to live a Christian life. It’s not faith alone. We add virtue onto our faith.

Virtue is excellence of character… Blamelessness. Add knowledge to virtue and then self-control. Self-control is different than virtue and comes after. Patience, godliness, kindness then follow, and finally love.

Most of us get it backwards. We think we love first. Peter is telling us that we cannot truly love without all of those things that come orderly before.

For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

The discussions that sometimes revolve around 2 Peter tend toward who is really saved. The reality is Peter is encouraging us to be useful and fruitful. This is not unlike much of the Bible, which itself teaches us how to be useful to God. Yes, first we need to be saved. Being useful and fruitful comes with maturity.

Virtue Revisited

I need to say more about virtue. It is a word that conveys an idea of blamelessness. Paul helps us to understand this idea of blamelessness and from whence it comes. He calls it a gift.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15–17

Righteousness is the quality of being in accordance with God’s requirements. It’s to be blameless in the law. Paul says this gift comes freely by Jesus to any who want it. Recall what Peter said, He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We don’t add to it, not maintain it. We simply cannot!

It is this gift of righteousness that leads to justification of life. Meaning you and I as Christians can stand blameless in the presence of God. It’s like me saying “Just as if I’d never sinned!”

Strong’s Dictionary gives us some additional insight to this word virtue (Greek aretē.) It means excellence of character, whether that excellence is intrinsic or attributed. As Paul showed, righteousness is attributed to us by God as a gift.

There is another sense conveyed by virtue… It is the idea of valor. Valor is the strength of mind needed to resist fear and brave danger. Think about that. God has given you that strength of mind.

Adding Virtue to Faith is Then Easy

If you are a Christian… You are saved. You have eternal life. Nothing can move you from that position. Fear can trick you but you don’t have to succumb to it. We resist that fear.

When the enemy comes and tells you you’re not doing enough and therefore not valuable to God, know it’s a lie. It’s designed to make you afraid. Resist it the fear, and the enemy has to flee.

God sent His Son Jesus for us. You and I have value and worth far greater than you can imagine.

The journey from faith to virtue is easy. God gives it to us. It means those that have eternal life by faith cannot be removed from it. If there’s a struggle on whether you can lose the gift of eternal life and your salvation, it stops here. And the text is going to show us that clearly.

Blind and Shortsighted in Forgetfulness

But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:9

When we forget who we are, and more to the point… Whose we are… It can lead to shortsightedness. Remember, you and I are already cleansed from former sins. Yes that is true. Yet it goes beyond former sins. Remember Peter saying that we might become partakers of the divine nature?

Paul says we already are.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15

We are already resurrected with Him. There is no way that can happen unless we are already partaking of the divine nature. Not only that, we are forgiven all sins. These are not just the former sins, but all of them!

Whatever claim the enemy had on us is gone. That’s the freedom of the Christian life. That’s the virtue that we courageously stand in now. We are immovable. We cannot sin enough to lose out on anything God has already given to us. Why would any of us really want to do that?

Now knowledge is added to the virtue. So what now?

Add the rest, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness, and love.

Calling and Election

Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided for you.

2 Peter 1:10–11

We make our calling and election sure. That is not about salvation. It’s about being useful, useful to God. He has given to every one of us unique gifts to be of service to Him. It is our responsibility to know what these things are and how to employ them for His glory. That is making sure your calling is to a particular place of service. Your election is to be useful to God… Not just saved.

Championing Us

Therefore I will not be negligent to always remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I live in this body, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that soon I will take off this body, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. And I will also be diligent to make sure that after my death you will always remember these things.

2 Peter 1:12–15

We all need encouragement. It ought be a strong part of our lives to encourage and admonish others in the same love that Peter does. We do that by reminding ourselves and others of all of these things.

Warnings

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:1–3

This discussion takes a darker turn away from encouragement. Peter is instructing as he exposes false teachers and those led astray by them. These deny the Lord that bought them. Does that mean they have lost salvation?

No. As we have already witnessed in Colossians, sin has been nailed to the cross and taken out of the way freeing humanity from the grips of the enemy. The Lord bought the lot of Adam’s race, every single human that has, had, or will have life. To deny that is to never ever come to salvation and receive the gifts of eternal life and righteousness. I admit, it’s a simple conclusion, but it’s right there. It is the truth. That’s why the writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?

Hebrews 2:1–3

Considering the immeasurable generosity is such a gesture, how do people ignore it as if nothing really happened?

It would be the height of arrogance and indifference. It’s easy to understand why people go to perdition. And Peter does not have kind things to say about these types of people and the ideas they share with others.

For when they speak arrogant words of vanity, they entice by the lusts of the flesh and by depravity those who barely escaped from those who live in error.

2 Peter 2:18

Remember, the first phrase… Escape the corruption (phthoras.) Peter uses the same idea of escape again. This time it is to describe those who barely escape from those who live in error. I think he is speaking of Christians. These false teachers entice believers with religion. Religion is the idea that people can make themselves presentable to God by abstaining from sin.

Promised Freedom

Although they promise them freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by that which a man is overcome, to this he is enslaved. For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn back from the holy commandment that was delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and “the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mud.”

2 Peter 2:19–22

Freedom is contrasted with the enslavement to corruption. Instead of teaching reliance on the promises of God, the false teacher offers a semblance of freedom that is really slavery.

These teachers have themselves not yet escaped corruption (phthoras) but are still slaves to it. Remember what Paul said:

Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves to obey, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 6:16

Stepping out to sin is presenting yourself as a slave to it. Sin leads to death… The (phthoras) destruction.

Back to the text in 2 Peter, these false teachers seem to escape the defilements of the world. Defilements in the Greek is the word miasmata. It’s different than phthoras, and is only used this once in the entire New Testament. The single usage connotes it has some significance.

Miasmata means shameful deeds, or what we would call sins. In other words, it seems these are escaping sins. But it only seems for a bit as they return to the carnality of the world.

When a person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented they receive the knowledge of Him as Savior. What they do with that is of paramount importance as Peter hints at.

Let’s consider an example. It’s like when people come to church. They might enjoy the time of worship and even get something from the message given. They may even enjoy the fellowship and kindness that abounded. Then they leave and not applying what they heard. They are not changed. Yet, for a short period of time in church… They escaped the defilements of the world in the shelter of the Spirit present in the body of Christ. They did not repent, were not saved, and they did not receive eternal life. These go back to their carnality.

The part of having not known the way of righteousness the becomes condemnation. Each time the Gospel is ignored it hardens the heart. At each iteration it will become easier to not respond. That is why the latter state is worse not hearing.

Escape the Corruption

Christians escape the corruption and become partakers of the divine nature. It is escaping destruction. And such can never become corrupted again. Therefore losing eternal life and salvation are not possible.

Those that escape the defilements can sometimes be described with a term I like, “churchians.” These are folks who go to church and try to live a good life by not sinning, somehow thinking those things give them credibility. Some even shame others for not living like they do. Self-help and motivational therapy is not Christianity. Doing good deeds is not what makes a Christian. Neither is keeping the law or obeying commands. Don’t fall prey to the quaint religious language.

A Christian is one who believes in the One Whom God sent… Jesus. It’s His name we bear. It’s I solely in Him Who we trust. We know He lived, died for our sins, and spent three days in the grave. That was not the end… For He rose again as Victor over death.

Believing that is what makes one a Christian. Jesus keeps those who are His. Those things don’t come by following a set of rules.

Paneas and Resurrection

On By TimIn Atonement, Matthew 16, ResurrectionLeave a comment

From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day.

Matthew 16:21

This is the beginning of a marked change in Jesus’ ministry. His ministerial focus moves from primarily around the area of Galilee toward Jerusalem. He must go to Jerusalem. This is where the elders, scribes, and priests are. It is also home to Herod’s Temple containing the Holy Place where the presence of God is. The very place the chief priest ministered in the presence of God once a year.

For Israelis, Jerusalem is the entire center of the religious world. It is there that the maturest and most venerated leaders of the religious world were. The chief priests were those who presided over the 24 courses established by Daniel. These had charge of the temple. And finally, there are the scribes. At that time, these worked as if in the position of prophets.

There are many hints as to what Jesus is going to face in Jerusalem written of long ago. David sang of them in the Psalms. A few come to mind, Psalms 22, 27, and 35. That is far from a complete list, but as the Pesach (Passover) Lamb, He must be presented to the household of Israel, where He must be inspected as perfect.

The importance of this moment is reflected in the way Matthew thinks of this moment. He writes “(f)rom that time on.” Signifying the paradigm shift in reality. Jesus was going to die. His resurrection, though, would remain mysterious in the minds of the disciples. For the disciples, the resurrection was unexpected until it happened. (This is one of my favorite ideas that shows the four Gospels to be authentic, you can read it here, It Was Unexpected.)

Passover

Many typologies in the Torah point to Jesus. An important one is Passover (Pesach.) In the Exodus, it was the perfect Passover lamb slain, and its blood splashed on the lintel and doorposts of the house. The significance of this sign spared the firstborn of the house from death.

Romans 3:23–26 (MEV): For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed, to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

From my understanding, the blood of Jesus already abides on every person sparing the firstborn in that house from death. 2 Corinthians 5:1 teaches us that our body is a house. Because we are spared death when we sin, the blood of Jesus applies. The book of Revelation also tells us that the work of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world is not confined to one moment in time.

Good or bad, believer or not… It is the blood of Jesus that stops the angel of death when you sin. That is one typology.

Blood Atonement

There is another typology presented in Leviticus 16. That is the command for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement.)

Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat on which the lot of the Lord falls and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot falls to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement with it, that it may be sent away as a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:8–10

Already there is a distinction in the text. Two offerings, one dead and one alive. This points to the death of Jesus and His Resurrection.

Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, and bring its blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it over and in front of the mercy seat. And he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins, and so he shall do for the tent of meeting that remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Leviticus 16:15–16

The blood of the slain goat was sprinkled in the presence of God, for the people, for all of their sins. This is done even while they were yet sinners!

Remember when Jesus died, the veil separating the presence of God was torn in two. There is no more separation because the blood of Jesus is sprinkled in the presence of God for the people and all of their sins.

But only the high priest went into the second part once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people, committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was signifying through this that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, because the first part of the tabernacle was still standing.

Hebrews 9:7–8

But Christ, when He came as a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies so that the flesh is purified, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:11–14

It is essential to understand these things as the Bible presents them. The presence of God is no longer reserved for a privileged few.

Therefore, brothers, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way that He has opened for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh, and since we have a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse them from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:19–22

Understand that it is only by the blood of Jesus that you are sanctified. Sanctified means to be set aside. That is true for all, believer or not. Everyone has respite from the wages of sin. I repeat it, everyone.

That’s the first part of the atonement. And it is unconditional for all people. The second part is also for all people with a condition.

Removal of Sin

When he has made an end of atonement for the Holy Place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, then he shall bring the live goat.

Leviticus 16:20–22

As we have gone back to the typologies, the high priest leaves the presence of God. This is important, as it proves the offering of blood is accepted as the priest walks out alive. That is the work of the cross, Jesus is declaring to everyone they are free.

Watch how the priest uses that freedom. He makes his way to the living offering. He presses onto the head confessing sins, in a sense transferring them to the goat. The goat is sent away, carrying the sins confessed on it into the wilderness never to return.

That is what the writer of Hebrews is saying… There is a new and living Way opened through the veil of separation. It was done by the blood that any may approach the live offering to confess our sins and have them removed forever. Jesus is the live offering, and He has taken a seat at the right hand of the Father.

We just confess our sins to have them removed. For that, we need a living offering. Jesus rose again.

Conclusion

For by one offering He has forever perfected those who are sanctified.

Hebrews 10:14

You and I cannot add to what Jesus did. It abides on us, and we acknowledge and celebrate that. Furthermore, it is a call to action. If we are forever perfected, and we are… What is there to really fear?

If we mess up and sin, we have an Advocate. A Living Offering Who takes away sin forever.

Forever Perfected

On By TimIn Encouragement, Jeremiah 02, SalvationLeave a comment

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the Lord: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your espousals, when you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel is holy to the Lord,
and the first fruits of His harvest.
All who eat of it will become guilty;
disaster will come upon them,
says the Lord.

Jeremiah 2:1–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Just a late night thought…

This was part of my reading tonight. I find it fascinating. There’s a bit of a deeper idea there. Can you find it?

Here is what I saw.

Jeremiah tells us that God remembers the kindness of the youth of a relationship. It is spoken of with tenderness. It happened after the Exodus and before taking the land.

We all know that story. We, like Israel, take that first step of faith and follow God out of bondage. He miraculously draws us out of our old life into His new.

Like Israel, our faith struggles. Yet, still God understands. He acknowledged the espousals. Those are the words of agreeing to the Covenant and following with building and furnishing the tent of assembly. We know the nation did not want to hear from God, and chose to hear from a mediator Moses. They also made a golden image and worshipped it.

God sweetly remembers this time. In spite of it being real messy. We ought to do likewise.

For the law is a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of those things. It could never by the same sacrifices, which they offer continually year after year, perfect those who draw near.

Hebrews 10:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The writer of Hebrews is making the case that Jesus is better than everything else. In this text he is speaking of the remedies for willful sin available under that covenant law of old. The reading is quick, I will summarize some.

There were remedies in the law, but had to be done routinely. The writer makes the point that Jesus died once. As he continues, we see clearly that the hound of heaven, that conviction of sin can still come to any believer.

The one offering that Jesus made forever perfected those who are sanctified.

We can trust our God, that sanctified believers are forever perfected. If we mess up, we can still trust Him.

Just as the Israelites were sanctified (set apart) by passing through blood on the sill and doorposts, we are sanctified through the blood of Christ. It is the day of salvation from the world. It was Israel giving the pattern at The Exodus, leaving the world… To plea the blood. It is the same thing for a believer today. It is the faith that did it, the love of your espousal, as God says. Those sanctified… They are forever perfected.

The writer also conveys the extending of God’s covenant to the believer is simply to not remember their sins at all. He says we have a bold confidence to enter the presence of God. It’s a new and living way, meaning we can confess sin at any time. Draw near to God in faith. Hold firmly to that profession of faith. Encourage other saints and meet with them.

Yeah, that sin still sucks, though. It sucks away life!

Remember the former days, after you were enlightened, in which you endured a great struggle of afflictions. In part you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions. And in part you became companions of those who were so abused. For you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully endured the confiscation of your property, knowing that you have in heaven a better and an enduring possession for yourselves. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which will be greatly rewarded.

Hebrews 10:32–35 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God is telling us to remember the things He remembers. Just as He reminisces over the early days. We ought direct our thoughts there and remember the early days of our own salvation. Compare those things, prayerfully.

Also know, a believer will wander through a wilderness of sin… Some for 40 days, some for 40 weeks. But like Israel, it takes some saints 40 or more years of wandering until they finally come to the land of promise.

No, this isn’t about losing salvation at all. It is an encouragement to stay committed even when the going gets tough. You can start over right now. And enter the land of promise… Peace with a place to serve Jesus.

Who is Like God?

On By TimIn Exhortation, Psalm 113Leave a comment

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God,
who dwells on high, who looks down on the things that are in heaven and on the earth?

Psalm 113:1–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Who, exactly, is like God?

His name is worthy to be praised at all times. There is no power above Him. There is no authority over Him.

But consider that last verse, “who looks down on the things that are in heaven and on the earth(.)”

Another translation puts it this way:

who ⌊condescends to look at⌋ what is in the heavens and in the earth?

Psalm 113:6 — W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012)

We start to see a hint as to what is really happening. The note for the bracketed phrase in that translation says the meaning of it is “makes low to see.”

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

Psalm 113:6 — The Holy Bible: King James Version

The translators of the King James see clearly what is happening. The exclamation point tells us to pay attention.

The idea given is that any time that God deals with His creation, whether in heaven or earth, He humbles Himself. He has to do that. Nevertheless, it is a part of Who He is. He loves His creation so much that He humbles Himself to take part in it.

I want you to keep that point in mind.

He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, even with the princes of His people. He gives the barren woman a dwelling, making her the joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113:7–9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash pit. That’s us. Each of us humans is made from the dust of the ground, and in ourselves, we are condemned in the place of burning. He lifts us out of that to sit with princes!

It gets better. The barren have a place and can bear fruit. Each of us that understands how God has humbled Himself can share that Good News with others, bearing children for the Lord Himself.

But who, exactly, is like God?

Can I say… You and I are. Any time we set aside our own desires to help another, we are like God. For most who do it, it is perceived as small gesture, if even that. Yet each of us can help another with the gifts we have. In that ministry, those others who receive also have opportunity to minister to others, maybe even the one ministering to them!

When we take in a stranger, clothe and feed someone who is homeless… When we lift someone from a place of despair, even if it is only for a moment. In that way, each of us are like God.

This isn’t to make you feel superior in anyway, but just to encourage you to continue helping. It may not be visible to others, but your Heavenly Father has humbled Himself to see it. Just as you had to humble yourself to see the need in others.

And like God ministers to us, we minister back to Him by praise.

Praise the Lord!

What Your Behavior Accomplishes

On By TimIn Exhortation, Job 35, SinLeave a comment

If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?
Or if your transgressions are multiplied, what does it do to Him?
If you are righteous, what does it give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?

Job 35:6–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Elihu asks Job a series of probing questions. These questions drive at something rather poignant to consider. God doesn’t need your sin. And He doesn’t need your good behavior.

Just because that is true, doesn’t mean we get to do what we want to do when we want to do it because we want to do it as a right. Look at how it continues.

Your wickedness may hurt a man like you,
and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

Job 35:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That’s exactly the point. Your actions don’t affect God. But they do affect others around you.

See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise men, making the most of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In other words, pay close attention to what you do and the way you comport yourself. You are being watched by others. You may not think your life has much impact, but it does. Most of it is in ways you may never know here. (I’ve been reminded of this just today before I read this part of Job.)

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, wisely using the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s part of what Jesus taught us to do. Second, to loving God is to love others as we love ourselves. A big part of loving both God and others is denying ourselves.

And we do it to have an opportunity to make an eternal impact.

Salt is Good

On By TimIn Luke 14, TemperanceLeave a comment

“Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? 35 *It is neither fit for the land nor for the manure pile. So men throw it out.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14:34–35 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is a short post.

Jesus is yet again speaking in salt. Sometimes this idea of saltiness is misunderstood. In our culture, salty behavior usually tends to vulgarity with a heavy dose of self-importance. But as discovered previously the salt Jesus speaks of is plain. It is self-control.

To establish this idea, we only need reel-back to find context.

“For who among you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost to see whether he has resources to complete it? Otherwise, perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to complete it, all who see it will begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to complete it.’
“Or what king, going to wage war against another king, does not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is yet at a distance, he sends a delegation and requests conditions of peace. So likewise, any of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:28–33 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Yet again, Jesus has coupled the idea of saltiness with self-introspection and self-control. In other words, salt is humility.

We preserve the culture with humility.

Know the Master’s Will

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Luke 12, SalvationLeave a comment

“That servant who knew his master’s will, but did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who unknowingly committed acts worthy of punishment shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whom much is given, of him much shall be required. And from him to whom much was entrusted, much will be asked.

Luke 12:47–48 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus often spoke in parables. These stories provided a vivid insight into reality and righteous behavior. The insights are for our introspection. They provide opportunities to examine ourselves more closely.

This part of this one brings to mind something I think is important and may not have been considered. I will address that, but first things.

There are lots of folks that know what the Master expects of them. The utmost importance is to believe and be saved. That’s what God expects. That’s His will for everyone. If you don’t do that and have been given the Gospel, things aren’t going to go well for you. That same news would go to the Christian that knows and isn’t doing what he’s been called to do by God.

The solution to both of those predicaments is to confess it. Call out to God. He is the Potter that can remake a marred vessel. Such can be fit for another purpose. If you’re in that position, fix it!

Now for that other thought… One that might surprise you.

For before the children had been born, having done neither evil nor good, so that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but through Him who calls, it was said to her, “The elder shall serve the younger.”

Romans 9:11–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This was told to Rebekah while pregnant. It is certain others knew this, too. Others would include her family. It’s not a stretch to say that both Jacob and Esau knew. But God says this about Esau.

As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Romans 9:13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I’m certain you’ve probably understood this verse in light of election to salvation. To connect being elect to being saved doesn’t work well in the Scriptures. At least, not in the way it’s taught.

Look closely at what is being discussed by Paul. The older shall serve the younger. There’s nothing about the younger one being chosen to be saved… And the older not. It’s about knowing the Master’s will and not doing it.

In the case of Esau, his whole life was shirking off and running away from that specific call of service God wanted for him to do.

Sow to Yourselves Righteousness

On By TimIn Hosea 10, Righteousness, SanctificationLeave a comment

Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Hidden gems abound in the writings of the prophets. This is one of my favorites. In an agrarian way, God succinctly explains how things work. It is sowing and reaping.

In our own lives, we are responsible for the viability of the ground seed is planted in. That is if your own heart is willing to hear the words of God… No matter how hard they are to hear… That is breaking up the fallow ground.

The next step is to apply and do what you hear. That is, sow to yourself righteousness. The crop reaped is mercy. And it comes in bounties!

The time is now. Yea it is! It is time to seek the Lord. You cannot do it half-heartedly. It is a life-long loyalty.

Until He comes and rains righteousness upon you. In other words, you will be immersed in righteousness.

It is not doing good things that saves anyone. You cannot do enough. But it is hearing, heeding, and doing God’s will. And that is easy.

Acknowledge Who He is and what He says. That He did indeed come in the flesh, He died on the cross and rose again to give life to all.

Believe it is for you right now. Jesus did die for you; He did that for the pardon of your sins. He rose again, too. In that, He gives you new life.

Confess those things out loud. Tel Him your sins, too. He will faithfully remove those and cleanse you from al unrighteousness and give you the gift of eternal life.

They Have not Known my Ways

On By TimIn Psalm 095, Second ChanceLeave a comment

For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, and as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me and tried Me, though they had seen My deeds. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.”

Therefore I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter into My rest.”

Psalm 95:7–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I think of these things. I ponder over this idea as it is written in the book of Hebrews. It almost follows this word-for-word. Yet, these are written in the praises Israelis sang to God.

The writer of Hebrews is clear. (I will leave you to find that. I’ve written of it on the past.) He says the Israelites of that generation could not enter His rest because of unbelief.

Of that idea… Some will sometimes use that to teach that the Israelites who didn’t enter somehow lost their salvation. That isn’t so. The indictment against them is clear. “They have not known my ways.” They didn’t believe.

They saw all of what He did for them, but they didn’t know Him. They were afraid of Him. They missed the tender compassion of leading, protecting, and providing for them. That is clearly seen at their reaction when the Lord’s voice thundered from Mt. Sinai (Hebrew 13 summarizes that.) At that time He spoke the law. I am certain as one hears the law has spoken, the immediate reaction to “you shall not” is to apply that personally.

As a result, they were looking at themselves in the mirror of the law. They would see their inadequacies. That would make anyone afraid. Yet God still wanted them to approach Him.

Had they looked to God instead of themselves, trusting that He indeed wanted to meet and commune with them, they could have eventually entered the Promised Land.

See, those Ten Commandments weren’t for us. Well not in the way you’ve probably come to know. They aren’t to be used to measure yourself against and see how good you are. We all fail at it. We couldn’t live up to that standard.

These and the other laws and ordinances were there as a pattern, as all of the Law is… A teacher intended to lead Israel to Jesus. He fulfilled all of those commands. He never appeared before the priest at the temple to give a sin offering.

I am now wondering, did the priests know?

Did they talk among themselves about that?

It’s interesting, yet I ramble.

Every single command in the law has a purpose, to point people to Jesus. That they would easily recognize something very different about Him when He came.

It’s the same for us. We innately know we don’t measure up to the standard. God gives. It is near impossible for any of us to approach Him through the good we do.

But the law points to The Way. It is the other mount of approach… Zion. The one with great company. The one with the new city of God.

He wants you there. He wants you to know His ways. That He forgives iniquity. Today if you hear His voice, don’t cower, don’t run away. Don’t garden your heart. And don’t depend on someone else to approach God on your behalf. Only you can do it for your own salvation.