Month: July 2014

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6

Who are “God’s chosen people”?  Who are the “children of God”?  Many Christians would say without hesitation that these titles belong to the nation of Israel, those literal descendants of Abraham that came through the line of Isaac.  It is this belief that drives a number of Christians from different denominations to say that we must always side with Israel in conflicts like the one currently in the news.  “After all, they are ‘God’s chosen people’…”  I’ve heard that statement over and over again through the years from evangelicals.  This topic came up in our Bible study last week, and I thought it might be good just to share a few key passages with you that shed further light on this topic in the New Testament.

The first of these passages is our text above.  Note that Paul is writing to Gentiles in Eph 1:3-6, specifically saved Gentiles or “saints” as he calls them in v. 1.  Paul, a natural Jew, includes himself with these Gentile believers and says that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”, i.e. we believers are “God’s chosen people!”  Further, the apostles says that God has “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself”.  Simply put, believers then are the “children of God”!  Yes, God chose the nation of Israel as the people to whom He would give His word and preserve it for our benefit now.  Most importantly, He chose them as the literal people from whom the Lord Jesus would descend.  Our understanding, however, of “God’s chosen people” should now be expanded since the Light of the world has come and revealed this mystery God kept hidden from the beginning. (Eph 3:1-11)

Part of what causes people confusion in this area is a failure to understand there are two Israel’s.  There is the literal Israel, those physical descendants of Abraham, but there is also a spiritual Israel who God claims as His chosen.  Gal 6:16 refers to this spiritual group as “the Israel of God”.  It is that distinction that Paul is also making in Rom 9:6 when he says “they are not all Israel who are of Israel”.  He makes clear here that there are two Israel’s we must consider.  He further defines the two  in v. 8 saying,  “those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.”  Consider the following passages that also make this distinction between the natural descendants of Abraham and those that are spiritual descendants who possess the same faith as Abraham:

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Rom 2:28-29)

…just as Abraham “BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (Gal 3:6-9)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3:26-29)

Did you catch that?  “There is neither Jew nor Greek”!  In Christ, there is simply one church, His beloved bride!  Do you possess faith in Jesus Christ?  Then you are a child of God, His chosen people, regardless of your ancestry!  On the flip side, if a man rejects the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of his heritage, he is not a part of God’s chosen people.  The key to being a member of God’s family is faith:

Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised [Jews] by faith and the uncircumcised [Gentiles] through faith. (Rom 3:29-30)

These truths have important consequences and will affect the way we interpret the word of God.  I pray they may be used of the Lord to help us embrace all He has provided for the church, His chosen people, the true children of God.  To those Peter writes, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1Pe 2:9-10) May we rejoice to know that God has gathered in Christ a people to Himself out of “every tribe and tongue and people and nation”. (Rev 5:9) There are no special favors based on natural lineage, but to all of these redeemed souls, “the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2Co 1:20)

Jamie

 

 

 

But the Lord said to him, “Go…”
Acts 9:15

When Ananias heard God say he must go to Saul of Tarsus to lay his hands on Him so he would receive his sight, Ananias began to politely inform God that He obviously didn’t know who this guy Saul was! “He hates guys like me, Lord, and he has authority to throw me in jail! This is not a good idea!!” Nevertheless, the Lord said, “Go.”

Has God ever told you to do that which was totally contradictory to human reason? Has He required of you that which could potentially turn out to be of great personal harm? If not, then either you haven’t walked with Him long, or you aren’t walking with Him at all! Maybe that seems a little harsh to you, but consider for a moment the thing that is absolutely necessary to please God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Heb 11:6) Everyone of God’s children possess this gift of faith from Him, and it is never dormant. (Eph 2:8, Jam 2:26) God will have it exercised and active!

This verse in Heb 11 introduces a long list of believers and the things they accomplished “by faith”. It’s not a very comfortable list for the flesh. In fact, sometimes the circumstances were downright scary! Just listen to a few:

“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (v. 7)

Imagine the ridicule Noah must have endured as he labored and preached for 120 years, building a boat where there was no water! It had never even rained on the earth because God watered the ground with a mist that came up from the earth. (Gen 2:6) The idea of a flood was ludicrous to the men around him. He was no doubt branded as a fool until one day the rain fell.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (v. 8)

There was no police force in Abraham’s day as he traveled through strange, violent lands. He left the protection of his family and abandoned their gods to follow a God they didn’t know. Where was he going? The text says he had no idea! All he knew was that God said, “Go.”

“By faith he [that is Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (v. 27)

Moses had it pretty good in Egypt. He lived in Pharaoh’s house. He was learned and skilled in the Egyptians’ ways. He could have had a comfortable life there, but he left it all to suffer with the Jews. Why? Because he viewed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (v. 26)

And the list doesn’t end there. V. 33-37 chronicles the acts of others “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented…” We may not know the names of all these precious souls, but we have this record of the Holy Ghost concerning them: “of whom the world was not worthy.” (v. 38)

The one thing they all had in common was that they obeyed God by faith. They didn’t trust in what things looked like outwardly. Their faith provided for them “the evidence of things not seen.” (v. 1) And so, all who possess this faith will be called to use it. We will also hear that voice of God saying, “Go,” and no matter how illogical the instruction may seem to our natural man, there is only one response for those with eyes to see the unseen. “Here am I! Send me.” (Isa 6:8)

Jamie

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 
Galatians 1:15-17

The account above speaks of the three years that the apostle Paul spent in Arabia after his conversion.  We might think that if God was going to prepare him for such a mighty ministry that he would need to be in Jerusalem under the tutelage of Peter or John.  But God was able to teach Paul without the influence of these apostles.  Paul’s experience reveals that glorious reality which is true for every believer: “And they shall all be taught by God”! (Joh 6:45)

Don’t let anyone ever take this right from you, Christian!  Don’t let any man claim power over your soul and suppress your privilege to approach God directly.  It is true that God has gifted certain men and made them “able to teach.” (1Ti 3:2).  We call these men pastors and teachers.  Eph 4:12 says they are given “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” so these are needful men that benefit the flock of God.  Yes, we should be in attendance when they preach the word of God and give heed to that which they speak on God’s behalf; however, it is just as equally true that when God saved you, He placed the Teacher, the Holy Ghost, inside of you.  Praise God that when we leave the church house on Sunday, we don’t have to wait until the next service to hear from God!  God is more than able to teach us Himself without the use of any man.

John puts it plainly: “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1Jn 2:27) This “anointing” is the Spirit of God that Christ promised to send.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (Joh 14:26) How much error could have been stopped before it ever really started if men would have opened the scriptures and gone to God themselves rather than heeded the voice of one who claimed to be speaking for God!  We owe it to our souls to seek God directly, and when we sit under those who say they have a word from Him, we must remember John’s instruction: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1Jn 4:1)

Jamie

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Psalm 51:12

A sister shared this verse last week as one that God was impressing upon her heart and mind. Well, I’m sure glad she did because it’s stuck with me as well! I can relate to the psalmist as he cries out to God for a restoring of the joy of being saved in his heart. He is mourning the loss of closeness with His God that he knows is his own fault. This verse is written by David following his sin with Bathsheba. Don’t you hate sin! I hate it not only for what it cost my Lord on the cross but also, like David, what it costs me in fellowship with my Savior.

There’s a moving passage in Song of Solomon 5 that breaks my heart as I read it. Here the husband, a picture of the Lord Jesus, calls out to His bride. As the wife relates the account, we read in v. 2:

“I sleep, but my heart is awake; it is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, ‘Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is covered with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.'”

How sweetly He addresses His spouse! He comes to her desiring intimate fellowship, yet she cannot stir her heart and shake her sleepiness. She replies in v. 3:

“I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; how can I defile them?”

Knowing what our Savior has done on our behalf, knowing the great love He has displayed, can we not lay aside our distractions and trouble ourselves for His sake?! Is He not worthy of our time even when we’re busy or tired? I’m reminded of the disciples when Jesus returned from prayer in the garden just before He going to the cross. He asked them to wait, watch, and pray, yet He finds them asleep. How it must have hurt Him knowing the sacrifice He was making for them. He exclaims, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” (Mat 26:40) How sad to think I would injure my loving Lord so! He is worthy of an eternity of our time, and can we not give Him one hour? The bride continues in v. 4-6:

“My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock. I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.”

Her unwillingness to yield when He first approached had cost her this special moment. We should bend to the Lord’s timing not try to force Him to fit our schedules. If we will not put aside all else when He calls, we should not be surprised if He’s no longer there when we finally decide to give Him a few minutes! What or who is more important than He is? Do you hear that gentle voice? Do you sense the Spirit tugging at your heart to seek Him in prayer NOW or immerse yourself in His word NOW? Then don’t delay! The bride’s missed opportunity of fellowship came at a great price in v. 7.

“The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil away from me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am lovesick!”

How sad that we’ve ever had to endure painful experiences like this one simply because we didn’t rush into our heavenly Husband’s protecting arms when He called us! We must respond immediately when we sense the Lord drawing us near. Do what it takes to be alone with Him! May Christ be our example as He made communion with the Father His priority. He had been up late into the evening healing the multitudes that came to Him in their need, and yet we read that after a little sleep, “in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” (Mar 1:32-35)

Jamie

6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:6-8

We had a special time of fellowship last time we met as we shared the personal testimonies of our conversions. As I thought back concerning my own salvation, I realized that this passage in Psa 34 identifies key areas of progression as God brings a soul to himself. The words of the psalmist echo the cry of my heart. I rejoice now to be able to declare with the him that, “this poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him”!

V. 6 describes the state of all who come to Christ in saving faith. These individuals recognize their poorness. Being raised in church, I learned a lot of Scripture early in my life, but this knowledge alone was a dangerous thing! 1Co 8:1 states that “knowledge puffs up”, and the more I learned, the more pride filled my heart. I was self-deceived, thinking all was okay between me and God. After all, I knew His word and lived a moral life. I was a pretty good guy, right? I think of the rich young ruler’s foolish statement regarding God’s law: “All these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mat 19:20) The truth was that I was lost and could never come to Christ in such a high-minded state. I needed to know I was a “poor man”.

This realization came later in my life when after high school I walked away from the truth I had been taught to pursue a career in music. I headed down paths I knew to be wrong! I hope this point will encourage you parents who are striving to teach your kids the word of God. Though I had improperly used my knowledge of the truth to feed my pride, the Scripture never left me! God’s word was unyielding, and all I could do to ease my conscience was push it out of my mind with worldly distractions. I immersed myself in music and left home to pursue the limelight, but what I didn’t realize was that the good Shepherd was pursuing me!

I remember when I became aware of my bankruptcy. In an instant I understood who I was and who God was. Our text says in v. 7 that deliverance is reserved for “those who fear Him”. The reality of hell came crushing down on me, and the lie in my heart was finally dispelled. I knew that if I died at that moment, I would live in eternal agony separated from the mercy of God forever! There are those today who would reject any need for the fear of God. They must be reading a different Bible than mine! The word of God says clearly that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. (Psa 111:10, Pro 9:10) In fact, David thought the fear of God to be so important that he stressed it again in our psalm in v. 9: “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” It was fear that brought me to my knees before this righteous God. I had once been the Pharisee thinking I was holier than the people around me, but now I was like the publican begging God to have mercy on me a sinner! (Mat 18:10-14)

I had nothing to offer God. I had no righteousness of my own in which to trust for “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isa 64:6), but God encouraged me in His word to, “Look to Me, and be saved…for I am God, and there is no other”. (Isa 45:22) Thank God for v. 8 of our text: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” There is a Savior for those who know themselves to be poor sinners, who come before Him fearing and trembling, and who trust, not in themselves, but in Christ alone for their salvation. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Joh 1:29)

Jamie