Eschatology 101 - the Prophetic Parenthesis
As we consider Biblical Prophecy from an objective point of view,
it is clearly the case that concerning eschatology (the study of last things),
that a literal reading of the Bible concludes to Premillennialism.
In order to avoid this obvious conclusion it is necessary to willfully alter the plain meaning of common
language, to set aside proper hermeneutics and
to ignore the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now that I have your attention; let’s think this through together.
Jesus said concerning the Kingdom of God that it was future; and that when it came it would be literal, it would be unmistakably recognizable and that He Himself would be visibly, physically, bodily, that is to say, literally present.
Lk.4: 14-18 – When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
For I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
Jesus was clearly saying that the Kingdom of God was to be understood as literal and future, and that He will be there in person. Only an agenda driven and willfully obstinate individual would deny this obvious truth.
Jesus’ use of the title “The Son of Man” as His favorite when referring to Himself and His mission is another unmistakable indication that Jesus was a Futurist and a Premillennialist.
Dan.7:13-14 – “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.”
“And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”
Obviously, when properly taken literally, this must be still future.
Jesus embraced and employed the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in His teaching concerning the fulfillment of prophetic passages concerning Himself and His mission.
Lk.4:14-21 – And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written:
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus was very intentional in His actions and in His ceasing to read the prophecy in mid verse. He was making the statement that only this first section of the Scripture was being fulfilled at that time and in doing so He was clearly leaving the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled at a future time; at His second coming when He will reign in His Kingdom and complete the rest of the prophecy.
Is.61:1-9 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
(Parenthesis; Jesus broke off reading here)
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3. To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
5. And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6. But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.
7. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their
portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
Jesus taught the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in His parables as well, such as in the parable of The Talents found in Mt.25:14-30 (see verse 19 – “After a long time”);
And, again, in the one following; the parable of The Pounds.
Lk.19:11-27 – While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
“And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’
“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
“When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.
“The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’
“And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’
“The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’
“And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
“Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;
for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’
“He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?
‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
“And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’
“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
Clearly a duration of time passes between appearances of the King.
When the Disciples questioned Jesus concerning the establishment of the Kingdom, Jesus did not rebuke them for assuming that there would be a literal Kingdom.
He told them that it would take place in God’s time and in the proper season;
That in the mean time they were to be about the business of making disciples, and teaching them all that He had commanded; and they should share all that they had personally witnessed concerning Him with those that they were teaching (Mt.28:19-20; Acts 1:6-8).
The attending angels told the disciples the Jesus would one day return literally, Just as they had seen Him go (Acts 1:11).
Jesus had told them that He would be with them, in Spirit (Mt.28:20; Acts 1:8) even unto the end of the Age; the culmination of the current Dispensation.
Jesus, in a statement recorded for us in Mt.24:15 declared that Daniel, the author of the Old Testament book that bears his name, was a prophet; and that his prophecies concerning the end of days were to be understood and to be expected to come to pass in the future.
I mention this because Daniel is not listed among the prophets in the configuration of the Hebrew Scriptures (The Tanakh).
But, Daniel was indeed a prophet and the significance of his contributions to the overall understanding of the entirety of Biblical prophecy cannot be overstated.
With a clear grasp of the importance of understanding and accepting the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis in mind; let us take a brief look at some examples of this feature as it is found in Daniels very important writings.
Dan.2:40 - gap – 41- 45 – We know from history that there is a gap in time between the reign of the old Roman Empire and the establishment of the future 10 region confederation of the revived Roman Empire that has yet to come; it will be the last of the gentile kingdoms on earth just prior to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom. Obviously, still future.
Dan7:7 – We encounter the same scenario here at the end of verse 7; a gap in time between the description of the historical old Roman Empire and the future rising of the 10 region confederacy that will come up in its place; immediately followed by the events that will take place at the end of days leading up to the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom on earth (Verses 8 – 14).
Dan.9:24-26 – gap – 27 – This section of Scripture, when properly understood in light of the Christ sanctioned principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis, is one of the most important prophetic passages in the Bible.
Here we discover a detailed outline of future history, complete with historical keys as to starting and stopping points for the prophetic time clock; these are called out for us and can be identified and calculated precisely; and indeed they have been (see Sir Robert Anderson’s fine work “The Coming Prince” for example, among others).
The events of verses 24 – 26 are well documented as having taken place exactly as described by the Prophet.
While some may quibble about the exact dates of the starting and stopping points, it is clear that the culmination of it all took place at "the cutting off of Messiah"; the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; and that that undeniable historical event was shortly followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God as predicted.
What follows in verse 27 must take place in the 70th week because 7 weeks plus 62 weeks are already completed; as stated within the text, these future events are for the duration of the one week of years remaining; or more simply stated, a period of 7 years (based upon a correct understanding of the previous 69).
Notice that the very event that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15 is found within our passage.
Jesus placed this event in the future from the time that He was speaking, was He confused?
Paul placed it in the future in II Thes.2:3-5; it will be an unmistakable event.
Anyone who would deny that there is a parenthesis in time between the events of the 69 weeks and the rest of the prophecy as recorded in verse 27 will be forced to abandon the literal method of interpreting the text and must come up with some kind of allegorical or so called spiritual meaning for remaining 70th week, and that is exactly what has been done by men like Augustine and Calvin.
This is the untenable Amillennial position.
To deny the validity, the proper application and the significance of the principle of the Prophetic Parenthesis, is to remain forever ignorant of the truth concerning the future and the pending fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Prophecy
Prophecy
It has been estimated by various Bible scholars that somewhere between 25% – 33% of the entire Bible is prophetic; a few estimate an even higher percentage.
The main reason that there are differing opinions is that different guidelines for identifying what is a prophecy and different approaches for counting them are employed.
For one thing, many of the prophecies are repeated more than once and by more than one author (the Greater Son of David motif for example); some people count the individual prophetic theme or event only once, while others include every mention separately.
Also, some prophecies are recorded as types and foreshadows contained within historical incidences (the life of Joseph, the offering of Isaac, the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, the Bronze Serpent, etc.); while still others are prefigured in rituals (the Passover Lamb, the Scapegoat, etc.).
Prophecy is found in the Law, the Prophets and the in the Psalms (at least 16 of the Psalms are Messianic and still others are prophetic in other ways); again; there are differences of opinion as to what should be counted as prophetic and how.
The “Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy” states that there are 1,817 prophecies in the Bible comprising 8,352 verses out of 31,124 for a total of 26.8%.
One thing is for sure; the Bible contains prophecy; it is filled with claims to be able to predict the future (Is.46:10; etc.) and it makes hundreds of bold predictions.
Secondly; it can be demonstrated that many (if not most) of the predicted events have already come to pass with incredible accuracy (Ezek.26:3-14, 19; etc).
In fact, the Bible sets the required standard of accuracy at 100% for itself (and for others) concerning the fulfillment of prophecy; far above the realm of probability or the capacity of human reason.
No other so called prophet or prophetic source comes close to achieving that level of accuracy; the Bible does.
The Old Testament contains over 1,000 prophecies (some say 1,239). As stated before, a great number of them have already been fulfilled; many concerning ancient Israel and the gentile nations.
The remaining ones, yet to be fulfilled, concern the end of the age and the second coming of Christ. They will be literally fulfilled just as accurately in their time.
Over 300 of the O.T. prophecies were fulfilled at the 1st coming of Jesus Christ; 29 in just one day (Good Friday). This statement is not a matter of opinion; it is documented history.
Contrary to popular anti-christian myth, many of the events and details concerning the life and times of Jesus Christ are recorded by others outside of the Bible.
At least nine secular historical sources can be cited that verify the Biblical outline of the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.
They agree with the essential facts concerning His life, His travels, His teachings, His disciple’s beliefs concerning Him, and His crucifixion.
Many of these extra Biblical historians (while they may not accept prophecy or recognize Christ for who He Is), record details of Jesus’ life that were prophesied hundreds of years before His birth (where He lived, His popularity, His death on Passover, etc.).
No other book is like the Bible. Inerrant prophecy is exclusive to the Bible.
The New Testament contains over 500 prophecies (an estimated 578).
As with the O.T. many of the N.T. prophecies have already been fulfilled; more than 50 of which concerning the 1st coming of Christ and the events surrounding His life and death were fulfilled literally during His lifetime (not allegorically or spiritually or in some secret coded kind of way that requires special definitions or re-definitions for common terms; Jesus is Jesus, Israel is Israel, Jews are Jews, the Church is the Church, is is is).
The remaining prophecies, like those yet to come to pass in the O.T., concern the end times and the 2nd coming of Christ; these too will be fulfilled in like manner, literally as predicted.
We will look at these over the next few weeks as we take an overview of prophecy.
It has been estimated by various Bible scholars that somewhere between 25% – 33% of the entire Bible is prophetic; a few estimate an even higher percentage.
The main reason that there are differing opinions is that different guidelines for identifying what is a prophecy and different approaches for counting them are employed.
For one thing, many of the prophecies are repeated more than once and by more than one author (the Greater Son of David motif for example); some people count the individual prophetic theme or event only once, while others include every mention separately.
Also, some prophecies are recorded as types and foreshadows contained within historical incidences (the life of Joseph, the offering of Isaac, the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, the Bronze Serpent, etc.); while still others are prefigured in rituals (the Passover Lamb, the Scapegoat, etc.).
Prophecy is found in the Law, the Prophets and the in the Psalms (at least 16 of the Psalms are Messianic and still others are prophetic in other ways); again; there are differences of opinion as to what should be counted as prophetic and how.
The “Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy” states that there are 1,817 prophecies in the Bible comprising 8,352 verses out of 31,124 for a total of 26.8%.
One thing is for sure; the Bible contains prophecy; it is filled with claims to be able to predict the future (Is.46:10; etc.) and it makes hundreds of bold predictions.
Secondly; it can be demonstrated that many (if not most) of the predicted events have already come to pass with incredible accuracy (Ezek.26:3-14, 19; etc).
In fact, the Bible sets the required standard of accuracy at 100% for itself (and for others) concerning the fulfillment of prophecy; far above the realm of probability or the capacity of human reason.
No other so called prophet or prophetic source comes close to achieving that level of accuracy; the Bible does.
The Old Testament contains over 1,000 prophecies (some say 1,239). As stated before, a great number of them have already been fulfilled; many concerning ancient Israel and the gentile nations.
The remaining ones, yet to be fulfilled, concern the end of the age and the second coming of Christ. They will be literally fulfilled just as accurately in their time.
Over 300 of the O.T. prophecies were fulfilled at the 1st coming of Jesus Christ; 29 in just one day (Good Friday). This statement is not a matter of opinion; it is documented history.
Contrary to popular anti-christian myth, many of the events and details concerning the life and times of Jesus Christ are recorded by others outside of the Bible.
At least nine secular historical sources can be cited that verify the Biblical outline of the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.
They agree with the essential facts concerning His life, His travels, His teachings, His disciple’s beliefs concerning Him, and His crucifixion.
Many of these extra Biblical historians (while they may not accept prophecy or recognize Christ for who He Is), record details of Jesus’ life that were prophesied hundreds of years before His birth (where He lived, His popularity, His death on Passover, etc.).
No other book is like the Bible. Inerrant prophecy is exclusive to the Bible.
The New Testament contains over 500 prophecies (an estimated 578).
As with the O.T. many of the N.T. prophecies have already been fulfilled; more than 50 of which concerning the 1st coming of Christ and the events surrounding His life and death were fulfilled literally during His lifetime (not allegorically or spiritually or in some secret coded kind of way that requires special definitions or re-definitions for common terms; Jesus is Jesus, Israel is Israel, Jews are Jews, the Church is the Church, is is is).
The remaining prophecies, like those yet to come to pass in the O.T., concern the end times and the 2nd coming of Christ; these too will be fulfilled in like manner, literally as predicted.
We will look at these over the next few weeks as we take an overview of prophecy.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The LORD’S Passover - Good Friday
The LORD’S Passover
Good Friday
V
It
has been rightly said “The Bible is a book with the answers at the back,” Zola
Levitt.
All of the stories, events and rituals that are recorded for
us in the Old Testament are there for our instruction, and are explained in the
principles and applications found in the New Testament. Also, the “Pictures”, “
Shadows” and “Types” that are portrayed in the Old are fulfilled in the
New.
Jesus
Christ explains and applies the principles and truths that are enfolded
in the Law and the Prophets, and He is the fulfillment of many of the
foreshadowed Pictures and Types that are represented throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
The Type and Antitype
(fulfillment) that we are considering today, concerning Good Friday, is
“The
Passover Lamb.”
John 1:29
John saw Jesus coming toward him,
and said, "Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1 Cor 5:7
Therefore purge out the old leaven,
that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover,
was sacrificed for us.
1 Peter 1:18-19
knowing that you were not redeemed
with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct
received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot.
Heb 10:1-10
For the law,
having a shadow
of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never
with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make
those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be
offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more
consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins
every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You
did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--
In the volume of the book it is written of Me--
To do Your will, O God.'
"
8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt
offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in
them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said,
"Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first
that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1 Cor 10:1-6
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be
unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same
spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with
most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the
wilderness. 6 Now
these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust
after evil things as they also lusted.
1 Cor 10:11
These things happened to them as examples and were
written down as warnings for
us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
The Passover
Y
The
story of the first Passover is recorded for us in Exodus chapters eleven and
twelve. It has long been understood that the story of Israel ’s bondage in Egypt is a picture of mankind’s
enslavement to sin in the world. The symbolism is as follows. Egypt is a type
of the world. Pharaoh is a type of Satan.
Israel
is a type of mankind. The slavery of Israel under the bondage of Pharaoh
is a type of man’s slavery to sin (leaven is a type of sin). The blood of the
Passover lamb is a foreshadow of the blood of Jesus Christ. The Exodus from Egypt
is a picture of the deliverance from the bondage of sin that is only possible
through the “covering “ of the sinner with the blood of Christ.
Ex 11:1
And the LORD said to Moses, "I
will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt . Afterward he will let you go
from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here
altogether.
Ex 11:4-5
Then Moses said, "Thus says the LORD:
'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt ;
5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt
Ex 11:7
But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man
or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the
Egyptians and Israel .'
Ex 12:1-4
Now the LORD spoke to Moses and
Aaron in the land
of Egypt Israel , saying:
'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to
the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Ex 12:5-8
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may
take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the
fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation
of Israel
shall kill it at
twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on
the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on
that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they
shall eat it.
Ex 12:11-20
And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your
waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat
it in haste. It is the
LORD's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land
of Egypt
on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt , both man and beast; and against all the
gods of Egypt
I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the
houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall
not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt Israel . 16 On the first day there shall
be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No
manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat--that
only may be prepared by you. 17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on
this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt Israel ,
whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing
leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.' "
Note the specificity with which
the LORD instructed Moses regarding the meal and the activities
surrounding it. In order to insure that all subsequent generations of Jews in
all lands where they have been scattered would be able to follow the order of
service correctly, a book of directions was produced in Hebrew. The book is
known as The Haggadah. It has remained
virtually unchanged throughout the ages.
Ex 12:21-28
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said
to them, "Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb.
22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike
the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go
out of the door of his house until morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to strike
the Egyptians; and when
He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over
the door and not allow
the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall observe this thing as an
ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 It will come to pass when
you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that
you shall keep this service. 26 And it shall be, when your children say to you,
'What do you mean by this service?' 27 "that you shall say, 'It is the Passover
sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians
and delivered our households.' " So the people bowed their heads and
worshiped.
The
feast of Passover has been celebrated and kept now for over thirty five hundred
years by the people of Israel .
The term “Passover” is used in several ways in the scripture and is still
today. First of all it refers to the historical event that took place on that
momentous night in Egypt
those thousands of years ago. As we have read it also refers to the one-day
festival, instituted by God, to be held every year by the children of Israel , on the
15th of Nisan. Next it can mean the entire eight-day festival which
includes Passover (Lev.23: 4-5), Unleavened Bread (Lev.23: 6-8) and the Feast
of First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-14). These three memorial celebrations all speak
clearly of the work of Christ in providing redemption to mankind. The Passover
speaks of His sacrificial vicarious death. The Unleavened Bread speaks of His
sinlessness. The feast of First Fruits speaks of His resurrection (He is the
firstfruits from the dead, 1Cor. 15:20).
He was crucified on Passover, He was
buried on Unleavened Bread and He rose on the day of First Fruits!
Next, the term
Passover can be used to mean just the ceremonial meal that is eaten in commemoration
of that night long ago, which meal has come to be known as “The Seder” which
literally translated means “order of service.” This is the meal that our Lord
ate with His disciples as recorded in Jn. 13 + 14. It is from this ceremonial
meal, the Seder, that the Lord took the emblems of “The Lord’s Supper.”
Lastly, the word
Passover can be used to refer to the lamb that was the centerpiece of the feast, whose blood was used
to protect the people. This meaning was finally fulfilled as is specifically stated
in 1 Cor.5: 7 to mean the true “Sacrificial Lamb”, “The Lamb of God”, Jesus
Christ.
One last comment
about Passover is in order. Our Lord Jesus Christ indicated in Mt.26: 29 that
there would be a time when He will once again partake of “this” festival cup in
His Fathers kingdom (the use of the pronoun this indicates He was not just speaking
of wine in general). (By the way, just a mention in passing, obviously Jesus is
not an Amillennialist; He believes that the Kingdom of God
Matt 26:29
“But I say to you, I will not
drink of this fruit of the vine from now
on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”
Luke 22:14-21
When the hour had come, He sat
down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, "With
fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God kingdom of God
1 Cor 11:25-26
“This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
Friday, March 28, 2014
II Peter part 9
II Peter
part 9 (step 8)
7a) “And in your brotherly kindness (supply) love.”
Mat.5:43-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ (Lev.19:18 – notice; there is no mention of hating in the commandment)
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;
for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
“For if you love (only) those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
(Even unbelieving sinners know how to love!)
“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?
(You are not doing anything more righteous or praiseworthy than the rest of the world does every day).
Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
(The implied answer is “yes, of course they do.”)
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Be like your Father in heaven; let your love go beyond what is natural for man; more than the rest of the world).
This passage from the Sermon on the Mount contains the first mention of love in the New Testament. Jesus is introducing new spiritual insight into the Law;
He is illuminating the spirit of the Law.
These words of our Lord Jesus were radically new to Jewish ears; indeed to human ears!
The concept of love was not new;
the Hebrew language had a primary word to express love (aheb) including variations and several other terms and for nuanced meanings.
Indeed, I am sure it is safe to say that the concept of love was commonly understood and expressed in most if not all ancient languages.
And so too, the ancient Greek language employed several words to express the various kinds of love; much more specifically than modern English does for example.
Agape was used to express general preference for something or satisfaction with or acceptance of a thing or a person;
it was only one word among many more specific terms for love. (eros, philia, storge, ludis, pragma, philautia, etc.)
Today in modern secular Greek, the word used most commonly for love is agape.
The phrase “I love you” is pronounced “sagapo”; you can see the root agape is used.
But Jesus raised the word agape and the idea of the love that it describes, to an entirely new level of meaning;
a level that goes beyond the human capacity to love in the natural sense.
Jesus has taken an everyday word and made it special, for God’s own purpose.
And so, this new concept of Christian love has changed the definition of agape in the New Testament forever;
in fact, it goes beyond scripture; this enhanced meaning of love has been carried into all parts of the world where true Christianity has spread.
In review: For the ancient Greeks the word agape had no supernatural overtones; it carried with it no particular spiritual or religious connotations;
but that all changed forever when Jesus infused it with power from on high; when He filled it with divine overtones and deep heavenly volume and with the dimension of eternality.
Jn.13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jn.15:9 – “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
Jn.15:12 – This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
I Jn.4:8 – “God is love." – ho Theos agape esten (Gk.) – Deus caritas est (L.).
The Latin word caritas translates the Greek agape;
it is the source of the use of the word charity to describe agape in the KJV; charity is this special kind of love.
I Cor.13:1-13 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth:
but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
This passage is the locus classicus for the definition of agape love for the Christian.
Please pay particular attention to the phrase “When I became a man.”
The thought is; when I became mature; we are studying Christian spiritual maturity.
In the Mathew passage above, we read that Jesus said that we are to be “perfect” as our heavenly Father is perfect.
He is talking about maturity in the Lord. This is to be our goal; we are to grow up in Christ.
Peter’s closing prayer is that we would continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Pet.3:18); so that we would become more Christ like.
Remember, God has given us everything that we need for us to grow in Christ;
II Pet.1:3-4 – seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
We are to become more and more like our heavenly Father;
just as Jesus was like His Father in every way;
and this is never truer than in the area of this attribute of love.
We have the Holy Spirit to help us and to guide us if we will but yield to Him and follow Him;
but we have need of personal diligence and we must practice these virtues (II Pet.1:5-11).
Eph.4:13 – until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
I Tim.1:5 – But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
We can gain valuable insight from Paul’s instruction to his young apprentice Timothy. Here we find three fountainheads of love that flow together to bring forth a steam of love.
1. A pure heart – is a heart in which the love of God can dwell; a heart through which the love of God can flow. A pure heart is a clean heart before God. This can only be accomplished through daily fellowship with God; through moment by moment awareness of God’s presence in ones life and a desire to love and obey Him. It is a heart that treasures the word of God and seeks to be transformed by it. A pure heart addresses our present walk.
2. A good conscience – is also necessary if the love of God is to flow through a person. Unconfessed sin will block the flow; therefore we need to keep short accounts with God and with others. This addresses our past actions. A tender conscience is sensitive to the affect that ones words and actions have upon others. A good conscience is one that is not hiding from God, but is open and honest before Him; a good conscience is ready and willing to receive instruction and correction from God through His Spirit and His through His word.
3. Sincere faith – addresses our future actions. Genuine faith is consistent faith; it is not hypocritical faith. If the love of God is to flow through us, we must first know it ourselves; we must love God and love others; we must speak the truth in love with conviction and sincerity. Sincere faith is a resting faith, a confident and contented faith in God.
Spiritual maturity is the last step on our chart
(page 4 of our outline).
Let’s consider the words that accompany this important culminating step on our chart.
Our persistence: the point here is that when we come to this step, we have only just begun. We have need of persistence and endurance in order to reap the full benefits of all that we have learned and come through. We need to put into practice what we’ve gained.
Repeating: we are to repeat all of the steps as we continue to grow in our maturity; remember no one will arrive at perfection in this life; we all must continue to grow in the knowledge of God, of Christ and of truth. This is our calling and this is our privilege.
An explosion of life: if we will apply all of these principles and add all of these virtues to our faith then we will be certain to experience a newness of life that will be dynamic and exciting; covering every area of our worship, our ministry, our service and our life!
Instruction: spiritual maturity means that one has reached the level of “father” in their growth (I Jn.2:12-14). At this level one is able to receive and accept instructions from God readily and then is able to instruct others with proficiency. A key characteristic of a good father is that he not only produces children, but that he instructs them as well.
Self – Control: this crucial fruit of the Spirit is evident in the spiritually mature Christian. We have already explored self-control as the virtue we were to add at the fourth step; in fact, this is only one of several aspects of growth that have been repeated throughout the process.
Others include kindness/ brotherly kindness, patience/ longsuffering, and of course love.
It is obvious that these are very important for our maturity.
Here we have the double emphasis of combining the fruit of the Spirit with the virtues that Peter has listed for us to add to our faith.
In summation, what is needed has been called Spirit control, and so it is. But I must hasten to add that we will only ever experience Spirit control if we exercise Spirit aided and Spirit directed self-control by the grace and provision of God.
part 9 (step 8)
7a) “And in your brotherly kindness (supply) love.”
Mat.5:43-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ (Lev.19:18 – notice; there is no mention of hating in the commandment)
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;
for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
“For if you love (only) those who love you, what reward do you have?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
(Even unbelieving sinners know how to love!)
“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?
(You are not doing anything more righteous or praiseworthy than the rest of the world does every day).
Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
(The implied answer is “yes, of course they do.”)
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Be like your Father in heaven; let your love go beyond what is natural for man; more than the rest of the world).
This passage from the Sermon on the Mount contains the first mention of love in the New Testament. Jesus is introducing new spiritual insight into the Law;
He is illuminating the spirit of the Law.
These words of our Lord Jesus were radically new to Jewish ears; indeed to human ears!
The concept of love was not new;
the Hebrew language had a primary word to express love (aheb) including variations and several other terms and for nuanced meanings.
Indeed, I am sure it is safe to say that the concept of love was commonly understood and expressed in most if not all ancient languages.
And so too, the ancient Greek language employed several words to express the various kinds of love; much more specifically than modern English does for example.
Agape was used to express general preference for something or satisfaction with or acceptance of a thing or a person;
it was only one word among many more specific terms for love. (eros, philia, storge, ludis, pragma, philautia, etc.)
Today in modern secular Greek, the word used most commonly for love is agape.
The phrase “I love you” is pronounced “sagapo”; you can see the root agape is used.
But Jesus raised the word agape and the idea of the love that it describes, to an entirely new level of meaning;
a level that goes beyond the human capacity to love in the natural sense.
Jesus has taken an everyday word and made it special, for God’s own purpose.
And so, this new concept of Christian love has changed the definition of agape in the New Testament forever;
in fact, it goes beyond scripture; this enhanced meaning of love has been carried into all parts of the world where true Christianity has spread.
In review: For the ancient Greeks the word agape had no supernatural overtones; it carried with it no particular spiritual or religious connotations;
but that all changed forever when Jesus infused it with power from on high; when He filled it with divine overtones and deep heavenly volume and with the dimension of eternality.
Jn.13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jn.15:9 – “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
Jn.15:12 – This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
I Jn.4:8 – “God is love." – ho Theos agape esten (Gk.) – Deus caritas est (L.).
The Latin word caritas translates the Greek agape;
it is the source of the use of the word charity to describe agape in the KJV; charity is this special kind of love.
I Cor.13:1-13 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth:
but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
This passage is the locus classicus for the definition of agape love for the Christian.
Please pay particular attention to the phrase “When I became a man.”
The thought is; when I became mature; we are studying Christian spiritual maturity.
In the Mathew passage above, we read that Jesus said that we are to be “perfect” as our heavenly Father is perfect.
He is talking about maturity in the Lord. This is to be our goal; we are to grow up in Christ.
Peter’s closing prayer is that we would continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Pet.3:18); so that we would become more Christ like.
Remember, God has given us everything that we need for us to grow in Christ;
II Pet.1:3-4 – seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
We are to become more and more like our heavenly Father;
just as Jesus was like His Father in every way;
and this is never truer than in the area of this attribute of love.
We have the Holy Spirit to help us and to guide us if we will but yield to Him and follow Him;
but we have need of personal diligence and we must practice these virtues (II Pet.1:5-11).
Eph.4:13 – until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
I Tim.1:5 – But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
We can gain valuable insight from Paul’s instruction to his young apprentice Timothy. Here we find three fountainheads of love that flow together to bring forth a steam of love.
1. A pure heart – is a heart in which the love of God can dwell; a heart through which the love of God can flow. A pure heart is a clean heart before God. This can only be accomplished through daily fellowship with God; through moment by moment awareness of God’s presence in ones life and a desire to love and obey Him. It is a heart that treasures the word of God and seeks to be transformed by it. A pure heart addresses our present walk.
2. A good conscience – is also necessary if the love of God is to flow through a person. Unconfessed sin will block the flow; therefore we need to keep short accounts with God and with others. This addresses our past actions. A tender conscience is sensitive to the affect that ones words and actions have upon others. A good conscience is one that is not hiding from God, but is open and honest before Him; a good conscience is ready and willing to receive instruction and correction from God through His Spirit and His through His word.
3. Sincere faith – addresses our future actions. Genuine faith is consistent faith; it is not hypocritical faith. If the love of God is to flow through us, we must first know it ourselves; we must love God and love others; we must speak the truth in love with conviction and sincerity. Sincere faith is a resting faith, a confident and contented faith in God.
Spiritual maturity is the last step on our chart
(page 4 of our outline).
Let’s consider the words that accompany this important culminating step on our chart.
Our persistence: the point here is that when we come to this step, we have only just begun. We have need of persistence and endurance in order to reap the full benefits of all that we have learned and come through. We need to put into practice what we’ve gained.
Repeating: we are to repeat all of the steps as we continue to grow in our maturity; remember no one will arrive at perfection in this life; we all must continue to grow in the knowledge of God, of Christ and of truth. This is our calling and this is our privilege.
An explosion of life: if we will apply all of these principles and add all of these virtues to our faith then we will be certain to experience a newness of life that will be dynamic and exciting; covering every area of our worship, our ministry, our service and our life!
Instruction: spiritual maturity means that one has reached the level of “father” in their growth (I Jn.2:12-14). At this level one is able to receive and accept instructions from God readily and then is able to instruct others with proficiency. A key characteristic of a good father is that he not only produces children, but that he instructs them as well.
Self – Control: this crucial fruit of the Spirit is evident in the spiritually mature Christian. We have already explored self-control as the virtue we were to add at the fourth step; in fact, this is only one of several aspects of growth that have been repeated throughout the process.
Others include kindness/ brotherly kindness, patience/ longsuffering, and of course love.
It is obvious that these are very important for our maturity.
Here we have the double emphasis of combining the fruit of the Spirit with the virtues that Peter has listed for us to add to our faith.
In summation, what is needed has been called Spirit control, and so it is. But I must hasten to add that we will only ever experience Spirit control if we exercise Spirit aided and Spirit directed self-control by the grace and provision of God.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
II Peter part 8
II Peter
part 8
7) ) “And in your godliness (add) brotherly kindness.”
I Pet.3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
The seventh virtue listed for the believer to add in 2 Pet.1:7 is philadelphia / brotherly love.
The seventh step in our chart of spiritual maturity is sensitivity.
An increased sensitivity to God and to others is what is in view.
This is exactly what Peter has expressed in this passage above. (I Pet.3:8)
Unity of mind and sympathy go hand in hand with sensitivity.
A tender heart and a humble mind are definitely needed if one is to show brotherly love and kindness to others.
The seventh step is accompanied by several other helpful descriptive words and phrases on our chart including;
Our perception; reaching the needs of others; a tender life; intimacy; more hearing / helping; and meekness.
This aspect of brotherly kindness / love in the life of the Christian is very much dependant upon previous growth, commitment, experience and upon an increased level of understanding and application of all that has gone before.
A balance between suffering and satisfaction (steps 5+6) marks out one's capacity for sensitivity (step 7).
Patience and godliness (steps 5+6) are most helpful virtues that enable and empower brotherly love in the believer.
An advanced level of moral excellence (step 2) will greatly aid in developing sensitivity towards God and others.
A love for God and the desire to live a holy life before God (separation and submission steps 2+3) will motivate one to do the right thing concerning our brothers and sisters.
I Jn.4:19-20 –We love, because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
I Jn.5:1 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too (Christian brothers).
All throughout the scriptures we are encouraged to love our brothers in Christ; it is a sure way that we can know (step 3) that we have eternal life!
I Jn.3:14 – If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.
The Bible is loaded with examples of the importance of love within the community of believers; both in the Old and New Testaments.
Ps.22:22 – I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.
I Pet.2:17 – Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.
We can readily see that there is to be a special relationship of love and family unity among God’s people; we are to share authentic brotherly love in the Church of God.
Now, we know that as God’s children our capacity for love is to go beyond the unique and special familial love that we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
That kind of love (agape) will be addressed in the next and final step on our chart, but for now we should just make sure of what Peter is talking about when he tells us to add brotherly love to our faith (step 1); he means mutual love for and among all of God’s children in His forever family.
Gal.6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Heb.2:10-12 – For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons (members of God’s family) to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father (these are only those who are born again through the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ); for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION (the exclusive gathering of God’s people) I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”
Mk.3:35 – “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Heb.13:11 – Let love of the brethren continue.
I Pet.2:22 – Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.
Ro.8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Ro.12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.
I Thes.4:9 – Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
It is this commitment to brotherly love that should motivate us to Christian service (step 4).
Lk.22:32 – “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
The jewels in the crown of brotherly love are the souls that have experienced our love. We can never go wrong by adding brotherly love! This aspect of love is a growing thing that begins as we mature through the various steps. However, upon entering the realm of satisfaction, we will discover that the realm of sensitivity will begin to increase in new ways. It is at this point that our sensitivity of [sic] God is sharper, which in turn develops a sensitive spirit towards others. When acting under God’s direction, abundant blessings will be poured out on sensitive individuals. Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pg. 451
The Apostle Paul expresses this spirit of brotherly love throughout his epistles, for example:
I Thes.2:19-20 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
part 8
7) ) “And in your godliness (add) brotherly kindness.”
I Pet.3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
The seventh virtue listed for the believer to add in 2 Pet.1:7 is philadelphia / brotherly love.
The seventh step in our chart of spiritual maturity is sensitivity.
An increased sensitivity to God and to others is what is in view.
This is exactly what Peter has expressed in this passage above. (I Pet.3:8)
Unity of mind and sympathy go hand in hand with sensitivity.
A tender heart and a humble mind are definitely needed if one is to show brotherly love and kindness to others.
The seventh step is accompanied by several other helpful descriptive words and phrases on our chart including;
Our perception; reaching the needs of others; a tender life; intimacy; more hearing / helping; and meekness.
This aspect of brotherly kindness / love in the life of the Christian is very much dependant upon previous growth, commitment, experience and upon an increased level of understanding and application of all that has gone before.
A balance between suffering and satisfaction (steps 5+6) marks out one's capacity for sensitivity (step 7).
Patience and godliness (steps 5+6) are most helpful virtues that enable and empower brotherly love in the believer.
An advanced level of moral excellence (step 2) will greatly aid in developing sensitivity towards God and others.
A love for God and the desire to live a holy life before God (separation and submission steps 2+3) will motivate one to do the right thing concerning our brothers and sisters.
I Jn.4:19-20 –We love, because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
I Jn.5:1 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too (Christian brothers).
All throughout the scriptures we are encouraged to love our brothers in Christ; it is a sure way that we can know (step 3) that we have eternal life!
I Jn.3:14 – If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.
The Bible is loaded with examples of the importance of love within the community of believers; both in the Old and New Testaments.
Ps.22:22 – I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.
I Pet.2:17 – Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.
We can readily see that there is to be a special relationship of love and family unity among God’s people; we are to share authentic brotherly love in the Church of God.
Now, we know that as God’s children our capacity for love is to go beyond the unique and special familial love that we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
That kind of love (agape) will be addressed in the next and final step on our chart, but for now we should just make sure of what Peter is talking about when he tells us to add brotherly love to our faith (step 1); he means mutual love for and among all of God’s children in His forever family.
Gal.6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Heb.2:10-12 – For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons (members of God’s family) to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father (these are only those who are born again through the sanctifying work of Jesus Christ); for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION (the exclusive gathering of God’s people) I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”
Mk.3:35 – “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Heb.13:11 – Let love of the brethren continue.
I Pet.2:22 – Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.
Ro.8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Ro.12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.
I Thes.4:9 – Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
It is this commitment to brotherly love that should motivate us to Christian service (step 4).
Lk.22:32 – “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
The jewels in the crown of brotherly love are the souls that have experienced our love. We can never go wrong by adding brotherly love! This aspect of love is a growing thing that begins as we mature through the various steps. However, upon entering the realm of satisfaction, we will discover that the realm of sensitivity will begin to increase in new ways. It is at this point that our sensitivity of [sic] God is sharper, which in turn develops a sensitive spirit towards others. When acting under God’s direction, abundant blessings will be poured out on sensitive individuals. Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pg. 451
The Apostle Paul expresses this spirit of brotherly love throughout his epistles, for example:
I Thes.2:19-20 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
II Peter part 7
II Peter
part 7
6c) “And in your perseverance (add) godliness.”
The development of godliness in the life and character of the child of God is of great importance to God and is the ultimate purpose of God in the end for all believers.
Everything else, all of the virtues listed by Peter, which we have discussed prior to this step, in some way or another have contributed, or should contribute to the producing of godliness in a life.
Godliness is really the first outwardly recognizable aspect of Christian maturity in an individual.
It reflects and demonstrates the fact that one is growing up to be like his/ her Father, and the resemblance is more and more evident as the process continues.
This change is the result of one becoming more and more dependent upon God in every aspect of life and of a greater and more confident rest in God.
Less and less of the old self centered direction of a life will be evident and more and more of a yielded, contented, Holy Spirit directed life will be evident.
God is very patient and will wait as long as is necessary to develop this attitude and character in His beloved child. All else is actually secondary; in the end God’s purpose is for all of His children to be conformed to the image of His dear Son; and He will do whatever it takes in a life to accomplish His purpose.
II Pet.1:3 – Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
As we have discussed previously (page 3, point 3) God has already provided everything that we need in order for us to grow into a mature Christian; to become more Christ like;
To attain unto godliness; Peter is saying that now we must do our part, we must willingly utilize what God has provided for us. We must receive and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He seeks to direct and instruct our lives.
Three key concepts will help us to understand the word godliness as it is employed in the New Testament; they are holiness, love and faithfulness; together they produce a piety that is the natural consequence of yielding to, and resting in God.
I Tim.6:11 – You man (woman) of God ... pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
I Tim.4:7b-9 – Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
Here again we see Peter’s clear distinction between what we identified as Encratic asceticism (pg.12) which is the idea of meritorious self denial for the purpose of attaining or adding to our salvation; as contrasted with exercising spiritual discipline in order to grow our faith and to become more Christ like; more godly.
Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.
Satisfaction is the key word that accompanies this sixth step in the Christian life;
It is reflective of a peaceful / pious life.
This describes a life of contentment and trust for the believer; where one is resting in God and enjoying this much needed rest.
It is a life marked by goodness and faithfulness and it is a life that is influenced by God in all aspects and one that has a godly influence on others.
I Tim.6:6 – Godliness with contentment is great gain.
"In a world of continuous religious corruptness [sic.], godliness is to be sought and displayed by the believer. The world should be witnessing individuals who are devoted to God in all things. For this purpose, Peter exhorts each believer to add to his life godliness. The interesting aspect of godliness is what it reveals and produces. The one who is devoted to God is at peace with God and able to rest in Him, which indicates that he is satisfied with God. The reflection upon the word goodness produces the thought of satisfaction that displays a pious peaceful life. It is to be noted that the step of satisfaction comes after the painful ground of suffering. In fact, suffering opens the door to the final three glorious and productive steps of satisfaction, sensitivity, and spiritual maturity." Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pg. 398.
Ps.107:8-9 – Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
When one is truly satisfied with God, then praise for God is natural and truly joyous!
It is then that God is able to pour into that soul goodness and joy and peace!
It is when one has reached the place of satisfaction with God that he is able to truly rest in God and cease from struggling and fighting with God.
Heb.4:1-3 – Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Jer.6:16 – Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Rom.15:4–5 – For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Heb.4:10 – For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Mt.11:29 – "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Is.30:15 – For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing.
"If we were to study every example in the Old and New Testaments, we would discover that God is more concerned about the character of His servants and how they live their lives than He is about their service. Each one in any ministry or service is to operate from a level of satisfaction with God and sensitivity to God and others. For this reason, God spends a lifetime shaping and molding His servants to bring them to the point where they are supposed to be. In many cases, this shaping included some form of suffering. God will do what is necessary to bring one to the place he should be and to the lifestyle he ought to be living. We can say that God is allowing the troubling events and people of life for the end of molding one to be PURE before HIM and at PEACE with HIM! The ones who are pure and peaceful in heart will reflect God’s unique work in their lives. As the troubled and contaminated waters of a lake will not reflect the beauty of its surroundings, so a troubled unsatisfied soul will not reflect the work of God in its life!"
"The development of satisfaction may take a long time and may produce many losses in order for us to be at the place that God intends. What we do not realize is that our tendency to be impatient increases suffering and postpones the development of a satisfied heart. We tend to fight the discipline and development of our lives by God, and in doing so; we forfeit what God calls 'The peaceable fruit of righteous.' "
Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pgs. 406-407
The preceding passage from Pastor Hanson’s book should be read over several times and you need to meditate upon the deep truths that are contained therein. If you are not in the habit of meditating upon the truths in God’s word then you need to start; and this is a good place to do so.
These insights are gleaned directly from a lifetime of submission to God and a dedicated commitment to studying and teaching the Bible. They are nuggets of golden truth mined from the depths of personal trust, contentment and satisfaction with God. We would do well to pay close attention to these precious truths and to make these beautiful principles a permanent part of our lives.
Heb.12:11 – All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Jn.15:1-5 – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;
And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
“Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
We have previously discussed the virtue of patience and I pointed out the importance of the Greek word used in our text; ὑπομονή - hupomonae- -“to wait on God”. I want to reiterate what I explained during our discussion time concerning this word and its relationship to the words of our Lord in John 15 concerning our abiding in Him. The word abide in the text is μένω and it is the root of ὑπομονή. Here we find a great insight into how we can develop patience and godliness and arrive at satisfaction in our Christian life.
Everything flows directly from our intimate relationship of dependence upon and our resting in our Lord Jesus Christ.
part 7
6c) “And in your perseverance (add) godliness.”
The development of godliness in the life and character of the child of God is of great importance to God and is the ultimate purpose of God in the end for all believers.
Everything else, all of the virtues listed by Peter, which we have discussed prior to this step, in some way or another have contributed, or should contribute to the producing of godliness in a life.
Godliness is really the first outwardly recognizable aspect of Christian maturity in an individual.
It reflects and demonstrates the fact that one is growing up to be like his/ her Father, and the resemblance is more and more evident as the process continues.
This change is the result of one becoming more and more dependent upon God in every aspect of life and of a greater and more confident rest in God.
Less and less of the old self centered direction of a life will be evident and more and more of a yielded, contented, Holy Spirit directed life will be evident.
God is very patient and will wait as long as is necessary to develop this attitude and character in His beloved child. All else is actually secondary; in the end God’s purpose is for all of His children to be conformed to the image of His dear Son; and He will do whatever it takes in a life to accomplish His purpose.
II Pet.1:3 – Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
As we have discussed previously (page 3, point 3) God has already provided everything that we need in order for us to grow into a mature Christian; to become more Christ like;
To attain unto godliness; Peter is saying that now we must do our part, we must willingly utilize what God has provided for us. We must receive and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He seeks to direct and instruct our lives.
Three key concepts will help us to understand the word godliness as it is employed in the New Testament; they are holiness, love and faithfulness; together they produce a piety that is the natural consequence of yielding to, and resting in God.
I Tim.6:11 – You man (woman) of God ... pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
I Tim.4:7b-9 – Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
Here again we see Peter’s clear distinction between what we identified as Encratic asceticism (pg.12) which is the idea of meritorious self denial for the purpose of attaining or adding to our salvation; as contrasted with exercising spiritual discipline in order to grow our faith and to become more Christ like; more godly.
Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.
Satisfaction is the key word that accompanies this sixth step in the Christian life;
It is reflective of a peaceful / pious life.
This describes a life of contentment and trust for the believer; where one is resting in God and enjoying this much needed rest.
It is a life marked by goodness and faithfulness and it is a life that is influenced by God in all aspects and one that has a godly influence on others.
I Tim.6:6 – Godliness with contentment is great gain.
"In a world of continuous religious corruptness [sic.], godliness is to be sought and displayed by the believer. The world should be witnessing individuals who are devoted to God in all things. For this purpose, Peter exhorts each believer to add to his life godliness. The interesting aspect of godliness is what it reveals and produces. The one who is devoted to God is at peace with God and able to rest in Him, which indicates that he is satisfied with God. The reflection upon the word goodness produces the thought of satisfaction that displays a pious peaceful life. It is to be noted that the step of satisfaction comes after the painful ground of suffering. In fact, suffering opens the door to the final three glorious and productive steps of satisfaction, sensitivity, and spiritual maturity." Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pg. 398.
Ps.107:8-9 – Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
When one is truly satisfied with God, then praise for God is natural and truly joyous!
It is then that God is able to pour into that soul goodness and joy and peace!
It is when one has reached the place of satisfaction with God that he is able to truly rest in God and cease from struggling and fighting with God.
Heb.4:1-3 – Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Jer.6:16 – Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Rom.15:4–5 – For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Heb.4:10 – For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Mt.11:29 – "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Is.30:15 – For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing.
"If we were to study every example in the Old and New Testaments, we would discover that God is more concerned about the character of His servants and how they live their lives than He is about their service. Each one in any ministry or service is to operate from a level of satisfaction with God and sensitivity to God and others. For this reason, God spends a lifetime shaping and molding His servants to bring them to the point where they are supposed to be. In many cases, this shaping included some form of suffering. God will do what is necessary to bring one to the place he should be and to the lifestyle he ought to be living. We can say that God is allowing the troubling events and people of life for the end of molding one to be PURE before HIM and at PEACE with HIM! The ones who are pure and peaceful in heart will reflect God’s unique work in their lives. As the troubled and contaminated waters of a lake will not reflect the beauty of its surroundings, so a troubled unsatisfied soul will not reflect the work of God in its life!"
"The development of satisfaction may take a long time and may produce many losses in order for us to be at the place that God intends. What we do not realize is that our tendency to be impatient increases suffering and postpones the development of a satisfied heart. We tend to fight the discipline and development of our lives by God, and in doing so; we forfeit what God calls 'The peaceable fruit of righteous.' "
Eight Steps To Spiritual Maturity - pgs. 406-407
The preceding passage from Pastor Hanson’s book should be read over several times and you need to meditate upon the deep truths that are contained therein. If you are not in the habit of meditating upon the truths in God’s word then you need to start; and this is a good place to do so.
These insights are gleaned directly from a lifetime of submission to God and a dedicated commitment to studying and teaching the Bible. They are nuggets of golden truth mined from the depths of personal trust, contentment and satisfaction with God. We would do well to pay close attention to these precious truths and to make these beautiful principles a permanent part of our lives.
Heb.12:11 – All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Jn.15:1-5 – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away;
And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
“Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
We have previously discussed the virtue of patience and I pointed out the importance of the Greek word used in our text; ὑπομονή - hupomonae- -“to wait on God”. I want to reiterate what I explained during our discussion time concerning this word and its relationship to the words of our Lord in John 15 concerning our abiding in Him. The word abide in the text is μένω and it is the root of ὑπομονή. Here we find a great insight into how we can develop patience and godliness and arrive at satisfaction in our Christian life.
Everything flows directly from our intimate relationship of dependence upon and our resting in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
II Peter part 6
II Peter
part 6
6b) “And in your self-control (supply) perseverance / patience.”
Lord, ... give me patience, ... But I need it right now !!!
Patience is a virtue that everyone wants, but unfortunately very few actually have it to the degree that they would desire to have it.
It is an attribute that we must cultivate, with the aid and instruction of the Spirit of God on an ongoing daily basis.
As Christians living in a hostile environment, particularly in these latter days, when we are surrounded by scoffers and false teachers, we have great need of perseverance.
This Greek word here is word hypomenēn. It means “staying under.” It is frequently used in the New Testament to refer to constancy or steadfast endurance under adversity, without giving in or giving up. We might say, “Hanging in there.”
As we look at our chart we see that the fifth step reflects this aspect of patience building. One of the tools that God uses to build perseverance into us is suffering.
Rom. 5:3–4 – And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.
Rom.15:4–5 – For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
II Cor.1:3-6 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
II Cor.6:3-5 – giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger.
Col. 1:9-12 – For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Through our trials God is developing Christ-like character in us. As we yield to Him and lean upon Him for strength we find we can endure and we gain the virtue of patience.
I Thes.1:2-6 – We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
II Thes. 1:3-12 – We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
herefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:3 – Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
II Tim.312 – Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Mat.5:10-12 – Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
It is obvious that God has a purpose and a plan for allowing suffering into the lives of His children. We have need of patient endurance and perseverance in our trials and when, with God’s help and by His grace, we have come through; our faith will be strengthened and purified and we will have added the virtue of patience along with
self control, knowledge, and moral excellence to our faith.
Let’s consider the deeper meaning of the Greek word translated as patience here; it is a very important word in the New Testament and it conveys significant insight into this particular virtue from a biblical perspective that could be missed if we only consider the English dictionary definition.
patience: n. [L. pati, to suffer] the state, quality or fact of being patient; specif.,
a) the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint.
b) steadfastness, endurance or perseverance in the performance of a task.
patient: adj. 1 bearing or enduring pain, trouble, etc. without complaining or loosing self-control. 2 refusing to be provoked or angered, as by an insult; forbearing; tolerant.
3 calmly tolerating delay, confusion, inefficiency, etc. 4 able to wait calmly for something desired. Webster’s College Dictionary
While these attributes are certainly examples of what it means to have patience in the everyday use of the word, the biblical sense takes on a more specific and significant connotation for the Christian. While courage and brave resistance in the face of hostile forces and difficult circumstances are commendable, they lack a crucial component of biblical patience; the God aspect.
ὑπομονή - hupomonae: the emphasis in the context of the New Testament is to “wait upon God” to bring about resolution to trials, tribulations, suffering, injustice and any other evil or difficult circumstance or situation in ones life; to endure with the sure and certain hope that God is a God of justice; a God who keeps His covenants; One who honors His promises. He is a God who possesses all power and all wisdom; One who is merciful and loving; a God who cares for His own. There is an ultimate eschatological aspect to endurance from the Christian perspective. Our endurance is based upon a confident hope and trust in the Lord and that our God will make it right in the end.
I Pet.1:3-9 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
For me, this passage sums up the concept and definition of Christian endurance, perseverance and patience. We can endure through difficulties because we know that our God reigns; we persevere because we know that our heavenly Father has a plan and a purpose in all things that He allows to come into our lives; we add patience to our faith because in doing so we become more like our blessed Savior who patiently suffered for us.
part 6
6b) “And in your self-control (supply) perseverance / patience.”
Lord, ... give me patience, ... But I need it right now !!!
Patience is a virtue that everyone wants, but unfortunately very few actually have it to the degree that they would desire to have it.
It is an attribute that we must cultivate, with the aid and instruction of the Spirit of God on an ongoing daily basis.
As Christians living in a hostile environment, particularly in these latter days, when we are surrounded by scoffers and false teachers, we have great need of perseverance.
This Greek word here is word hypomenēn. It means “staying under.” It is frequently used in the New Testament to refer to constancy or steadfast endurance under adversity, without giving in or giving up. We might say, “Hanging in there.”
As we look at our chart we see that the fifth step reflects this aspect of patience building. One of the tools that God uses to build perseverance into us is suffering.
Rom. 5:3–4 – And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.
Rom.15:4–5 – For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
II Cor.1:3-6 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
II Cor.6:3-5 – giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger.
Col. 1:9-12 – For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Through our trials God is developing Christ-like character in us. As we yield to Him and lean upon Him for strength we find we can endure and we gain the virtue of patience.
I Thes.1:2-6 – We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
II Thes. 1:3-12 – We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
herefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:3 – Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
II Tim.312 – Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Mat.5:10-12 – Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
It is obvious that God has a purpose and a plan for allowing suffering into the lives of His children. We have need of patient endurance and perseverance in our trials and when, with God’s help and by His grace, we have come through; our faith will be strengthened and purified and we will have added the virtue of patience along with
self control, knowledge, and moral excellence to our faith.
Let’s consider the deeper meaning of the Greek word translated as patience here; it is a very important word in the New Testament and it conveys significant insight into this particular virtue from a biblical perspective that could be missed if we only consider the English dictionary definition.
patience: n. [L. pati, to suffer] the state, quality or fact of being patient; specif.,
a) the will or ability to wait or endure without complaint.
b) steadfastness, endurance or perseverance in the performance of a task.
patient: adj. 1 bearing or enduring pain, trouble, etc. without complaining or loosing self-control. 2 refusing to be provoked or angered, as by an insult; forbearing; tolerant.
3 calmly tolerating delay, confusion, inefficiency, etc. 4 able to wait calmly for something desired. Webster’s College Dictionary
While these attributes are certainly examples of what it means to have patience in the everyday use of the word, the biblical sense takes on a more specific and significant connotation for the Christian. While courage and brave resistance in the face of hostile forces and difficult circumstances are commendable, they lack a crucial component of biblical patience; the God aspect.
ὑπομονή - hupomonae: the emphasis in the context of the New Testament is to “wait upon God” to bring about resolution to trials, tribulations, suffering, injustice and any other evil or difficult circumstance or situation in ones life; to endure with the sure and certain hope that God is a God of justice; a God who keeps His covenants; One who honors His promises. He is a God who possesses all power and all wisdom; One who is merciful and loving; a God who cares for His own. There is an ultimate eschatological aspect to endurance from the Christian perspective. Our endurance is based upon a confident hope and trust in the Lord and that our God will make it right in the end.
I Pet.1:3-9 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
For me, this passage sums up the concept and definition of Christian endurance, perseverance and patience. We can endure through difficulties because we know that our God reigns; we persevere because we know that our heavenly Father has a plan and a purpose in all things that He allows to come into our lives; we add patience to our faith because in doing so we become more like our blessed Savior who patiently suffered for us.
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