Bitter darkness or joyful light?

April 15, 2020

At this point in the trajectory of the pandemic, there have been a little over 2 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. Over 130,000 have died. A little over half a million have recovered. What looks like good news is the number of new case, worldwide, has fallen over the past four days. In the USA, over 3 million have been tested, 100,000 plus have been hospitalized. (Stats from JHU) Over 27,000 Americans have died, to date. (source: worldometers)

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. I hear the senseless bickering of politicians who would rather rule a corpse than save a life. I see politicians leverage the situation for non-sequitur stuff rather than save a life. I feel for the families that have lost loved ones while politicians and media blindly blast blame, instead of put effort toward saving a life. 

I want it to be over. The reality is there is only one way for this to end. We may find a solution to this virus; but that ends only prolongs the agony, muddies the water, and boost the poison of our politics. There is only one solution to what this world desperately needs: Jesus, who is King of kings... period.

Paul urged us to love others, to “do no harm.” (see Romans 13:10) With this advice in mind, he continued, “As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith.” [Romans 13:11 CEB] There is an echo from the Old Testament in this verse.

After David united all the tribes of Israel, they congregated for a large celebration. All the tribes, except one, sent large numbers of representatives (armies). The exception, “From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” [1 Chronicles 12:32 CEB] Others had gathered for war, Issachar gathered for peace. Others were prepared to fight each other, Issachar did not abandon the homeland to the Philistines. Others felt the need to protect themselves, Issachar felt the need to take the lead.

Paul urged the Romans to “wake up from your sleep.” In Mark 13, talking about the end times, Jesus says “Stay alert!” not once, not twice, not three times, but four times. Think Jesus is making a point? Advising the servants concerning the return of their master, Jesus states, “Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping.” [Mark 13:36 CEB] Nobody can say when the day or hour will be… but it might be possible to know the season (Matthew 16:3). The season is right. Then again it has always been right for Jesus' return. 

“Everything that is revealed by the light is light. Therefore, it says, Wake up, sleeper! Get up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” [Ephesians 5:14 CEB] This is not the time to abandon our world to the darkness. Just like the heroic actions of the medical world to save lives, we must do our part in this pandemic of sin.

Time to light up this world with the truth of Jesus.

Victory over death part 10

April 13, 2020

Remember Monday? Before the pandemic, a lot of people felt the drain of having to go back to work after a brief couple of days rest. 

Let me back up and cover one event that happened on the day Jesus was resurrected (Sunday).

Two men are walking to a small town near Jerusalem called Emmaus, it’s about seven miles. We find the account in Luke 24:13 – 34. The stage is set with these words, “They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him.” [Luke 24:14 – 15 CEB]

The idea of being “prevented” comes from the Greek word that is a “passive imperfect.” The “passive” shows us that they were acted upon, they did not act. The “imperfect” gives us a clue this was continuing something already happening. 

What prevented them from recognizing Jesus? I am so glad you asked!!! (Hint: The clues are in the text.)

There are a series of not understanding or believing. After Jesus asks them a second time what they were discussion we watch them explain three reasons why people are blinded.

1. They did not understand Jesus. “…They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet.” [Luke 24:19 CEB] These two were willing to understand Jesus as a prophet, but not as God.
2. They did not understand the nature of death. “But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.” [Luke 24:20 CEB] They thought death is the end.
3. They made it political. “We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago.” [Luke 24:21 CEB] The idea of a redeemer or deliverer (the Messiah/Christ) was based on politics.
4. They did not believe the eye witnesses. “But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.” [Luke 24 22 – 24 CEB]

Jesus’ rebuke strikes like a hammer on an anvil because Jesus intends to reshape our thinking. “Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about.” [Luke 24:25 CEB] The “dull minds” comes from the Greek idiom “slow in heart.”  Literally Jesus says, they lack sense (foolish), and are stupid (slow to comprehend and act). Jesus could have left them blinded by their flawed thought process and hard hearts, but that is not His intentions for anyone.

With the care and accuracy necessary for the blacksmith to shape the metal to his will; Jesus proceeds to give them THE Bible lesson, “Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.” [Luke 24:27 CEB]

Later their eyes were opened. They recognized Jesus. They recognized there were signs before, “They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?” [Luke 24:32 CEB]

Their errors: they reduced Jesus to a “just” a prophet (or a good teacher), they thought death was the end, they made it political, and they didn’t believe the witness given to them. (Did they just explain one or more reasons you do not believe in Jesus?)

If Jesus is the living God who has conquered death, there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by following Him. If Jesus is NOT the living God who conquered death, there is nothing to gain and everything to lose by rejecting Him.

How Christians can get saved

Romans 10:9 – 10

How Christians can get saved

“Jesus is Lord”

1. Jews understood “Lord” to mean “God.” (The Jews substituted the word “Lord” for the sacred name of God, in an effort to not use the name in vain, break the 3^rd commandment.)

2. Romans understood “Lord” as referring to Caesar (proclaiming him to be a god)... this formula became a test of loyalty when Caesar issued “license” to be Christian. To obtain a license one had to swear an oath to the Roman “gods” and offer a sacrifice OR declares “Caesar is Lord.”

3. Political understanding: Declaring “Jesus is Lord” meant to make Jesus your ruler (King). As a counter measure against the Jewish leaders’ declaration “We have no king but Caesar.”

4. Ethical understanding: “Jesus is Lord” meant that Jesus controls your life... daily.

“Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.” [1 Corinthians 12:3]

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [Philippians 2:10 – 11]

“[Confess] denotes a public declaration or assent.” (Barnes)

The Greek word translated “confess” emphasizes saying the exact words: “Jesus is Lord.”

1. Not magic... instead it is a test.

2. Saying something publicly, “going on the record” is important.

CNN (the guy that took over the “Larry King Show”) asked Joel Osteen if he thought homosexuality was a sin. Rev. Osteen said “yes” because “that’s what the Bible said.” The questioner then noted this was the first time Osteen had taken a public stand on “sin.”

The prediction is this will dramatically change Osteen’s image of being “soft” on “hard” issues and his reputation for avoiding answering theological questions and concerns.

“Believe in your heart” (Heart = thoughts and feelings... the place choices are made)

1. Specifically the resurrection... why?

“(Jesus) was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans 1:4]

a. Jesus’ life and death are implied in His resurrection.

b. “Christ” meant “anointed one.” This was the Greek word for “Messiah.”

c. Nothing of what Jesus said and did is significant without the resurrection!

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ... [12] Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” [1 Corinthians 15:3 – 4, 12 – 14]

2. Believe means to place confidence in... or “trust”... or “depend.”

a. Different ways to believe (something that doesn’t make a difference, something that effects us, or something that changes everything)

b. (Ill. of transferring our weight from our feet to the pew...) EXCLUSIVE!

It is with belief... in the heart... that we are “justified” (“made right” which is a legal term)

Why is this important?

1. The Jews worked out their own religious practices based on their traditions and religious teachers.

“For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.” [Romans 10:3]

3. They depended on “the merit of their works, and by their observance of the ceremonial law.” [Matthew Henry]

4. “The moral law was but for the searching of the wound, the ceremonial law for the shadowing forth of the remedy but Christ is the end of both.” {Matthew Henry)

5. The Jewish system of the Law said, “do and live.” Sacraments replaced truth, enthusiasm replaced knowledge, membership replaced salvation.

6. The Christian system of Grace makes the same error... it creates opposite and equal imbalances. Truth replaces obedience, holiness replaces truth, and enthusiasm replaces responsibility.

7. Both leave out the confession (and outward expression of an inward reality) with the mouth... “Jesus is Lord.”

Notice there are TWO different words for “saved” in the Greek text... They are distinguished by the verb tenses in the English translations.

[v 9] “you will be saved” (sozo – save, as in to deliver/heal)

[v 10] “is saved” (soteria – rescue)

The first is a promise that will one day be fulfilled the second is the present benefit of that promise. In other words we say “Jesus is Lord” to acquire salvation, not as a result of salvation.

“The moment a sinner believes, therefore, he is justified; his sins are pardoned; and he is introduced into the favor of God.” (Barnes)

“Confession or profession is so made as to obtain salvation.” (Barnes)