Category Archives: Bible Studies

People of the Book or People of the Spirit?

Posted by Matthew on February 8, 2011 None comments |

The Jews have been historically regarded as the “people of the book”. This is because of the strict adherence to the written code. It was held authoritatively above all matters of life and conduct. Because it is a noble thing to adhere to the Holy Scriptures, Paul teaches something unique about the those who choose to follow Jesus and become a Christian:

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:6)

What does this mean for us as Christians? Is the Bible less important now that we are in the Spirit and the Spirit is in us? The fallacy of some in the Church is to dichotomize the Spirit and the written word into two separate elements. What we have to remember is the nature and the essence of the Word of God itself and profound mystery that it is. The Word of God is the second person of the triune Godhead: Father, Son, Holy Spirit:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

It is unusual and hard to comprehend how the Word is equated with the person of Christ yet this is the truth of John 1. He is the “Godspeak”. Thus, when God breathes out text what do we have? The material Word, a holy text. That is, it is “Godspeak” in material form. Now if there is a visible, material word then there must be an invisible, immaterial word for what is on the mouth has already been on the heart (Matt. 12:34). This is how we understand bearing false witness (Exo. 20:16), when the words of your lips (or paper or computer screen) do not match the words on your heart:

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him. (Jer 9:8)

One of the most revealing statements about the Bible comes from Jesus himself:

Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering. (Luke 11:52)

Pay attention to the word “key” in this text. The Bible is a key. In that sense, we learn that it is not an end in itself. It is meant to unlock the doorway to something much bigger. Another important verse is the following:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Pay attention to the word “equipped” in this text. The role of the Bible is to equip us for serving in the new way of the Spirit (good works).

The Spirit as the Heart of the Gospel

On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit ushered in the age of the Church, everything changed. The gospel was complete and Christianity had begun. To better understand the nature of our faith (and Romans 7:6) we will need to take a close look at several scriptures.

You will be changed into another man

Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. (1 Samuel 10:6)

You will know the thoughts of God

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”– these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-12 ESV)

But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him’. But God has, through the Spirit, let us share his secret. For nothing is hidden from the Spirit, not even the deep wisdom of God. For who could really understand a man’s inmost thoughts except the spirit of the man himself? How much less could anyone understand the thoughts of God except the very Spirit of God? And the marvellous thing is this, that we now receive not the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God himself, so that we can actually understand something of God’s generosity towards us. (1 Corinthians 2:9-12 Phillips)

You will have fire

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11)

You will have focus on God

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

You will put to death the works of the body

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)

You will be a Son(or daughter) of God

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

You will pray with power

But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; (Jude 1:20)

You will know you are in Christ and Christ is in you

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. (1 John 4:13)

You will be convicted

…because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

You will be sealed

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)

You will reap eternal life

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8)

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5:5)

The connection with faith

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit… (Ephesians 5:18)

Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

Consider the emphatic exhortation of the New Testament writers to live life in the Spirit. We are to walk by the Spirit, pray with the Spirit, speak by the Spirit, preach by the Spirit, prophesy by the Spirit, exercise the laying on of hands imparting the Spirit, live by the Spirit, partake of the one Spirit, be unified by the Spirit, be reconciled to God by the Spirit, be empowered by the Spirit, be filled with the Spirit, and to serve God by the Spirit. Again, the goal of a Christian community is to seek the Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God consists of joy, peace, righteousness in the Holy Spirit.

The Bible as the Key

And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:37-40)

Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering. (Luke 11:52)

…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… (Ephesians 6:17)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

In conclusion, we can see how Christians are called to be a people of the Spirit. Before Jesus Christ came around to offer himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind and pave the way for the Spirit and mankind to unite as one, those who followed God were regarded as the people of the Book because this was all they had. They did not fully understand that the book was a key to a completely different religious universe—that of the very Spirit of God. Paul reveals this truth to us in these words:

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath [the written code]. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance [the heart of it] belongs to Christ [to whom we belong by through the Spirit]. (Col 2:16-17)

We are taken beyond the written code into the very heart of God behind the code by his Spirit, which is made possible only by the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Thus we are no longer subject to the written code, but instead something more awesome: God’s heart itself. Yet the written code is not thrown in the trash, because after all, God wrote it and thus it is useful for correction [not lording] as Paul writes (2 Tim 3:16-17).

The Anger of the Lord – Jeremiah 23:20

Posted by Matthew on January 25, 2011 1 comments |
The Anger of God

Trying to understand the anger of God is no small undertaking. Perhaps the best place to start is with some pertinent scriptures:

For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? Behold, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. (Jer 23:18-20)

Yet you have not listened to me, declares the LORD, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm. (Jer 25:7)

Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.” So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand, and made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it:

Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a desolation and a waste, a hissing and a curse, as at this day; Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his officials, all his people, and all the mixed tribes among them; all the kings of the land of Uz and all the kings of the land of the Philistines (Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod); Edom, Moab, and the sons of Ammon; all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastland across the sea; Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert; all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media; all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth. And after them the king of Babylon shall drink. “Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink, be drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you.’ “And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: You must drink! For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of hosts.’ “You, therefore, shall prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: “‘The LORD will roar from on high, and from his holy habitation utter his voice; he will roar mightily against his fold, and shout, like those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh, and the wicked he will put to the sword, declares the LORD.’ “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, disaster is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth! “And those pierced by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall be dung on the surface of the ground. “Wail, you shepherds, and cry out, and roll in ashes, you lords of the flock, for the days of your slaughter and dispersion have come, and you shall fall like a choice vessel. No refuge will remain for the shepherds, nor escape for the lords of the flock. A voice–the cry of the shepherds, and the wail of the lords of the flock! For the LORD is laying waste their pasture, and the peaceful folds are devastated because of the fierce anger of the LORD. Like a lion he has left his lair, for their land has become a waste because of the sword of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.”

(Jer 25:15-38)

Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect –before the day passes away like chaff– before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zep 2:1-3)

In 1741, the famous puritan preacher and theologian, Jonathan Edwards, preached a message titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. His message was simple and clear: outside of Christ, we are fully exposed and on the brink of eternal death and ruin, and the only reason we have not been delivered over to it is because God, by his mere, sovereign pleasure keeps us out of it.

Yes, God is a great deal more angry with the great numbers that are now on earth; yes, doubtless with the many that are now sitting in this congregation, who feel completely at ease, than He is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell. It is not because God is unmindful of their wickedness, and does not resent it, that He does not let loose His hand and cut them off. (Edwards)

When we think about God in the context of the Old Testament, it is easy to get the feeling that the Lord God of Israel is a terrible God of wrath and anger. However, a quick search on such terms reveals the following:

Term Occurrences in Scripture
God of Wrath 0
God of Anger 0
God of Vengeance 1 (Psa 94:1)
Wrath of God 11 (All in New Testament)
Anger of the Lord 35 (All in Old Testament)
God of Love 1 (2 Cor 13:11)
God of Peace 5 (All in New Testament)
God of Glory 2 (Psa 29:3 and Acts 7:2)
God of Justice 2 (Isa 30:18 and Mal 2:17)
God of Salvation 1 (Psa 68:20)

Nowhere in Scripture is God ever referred to as a “God of anger” or a “God of wrath”. He is however called a “God of Love”, a “God of Peace”, a “God of Salvation”, etc. This means that while God can be provoked to anger and wrath, his character and being is eternally rooted in love, peace, mercy, and goodness. It helps to think of God as being angry towards sin because sin, by nature, is anti-mercy, anti-love, anti-grace, or simply, anti-God. Thus, God takes great offense from sin.

It is this offense that can cause God to become fiercely provoked by the humans he created. That is evident to anyone from a cursory reading of the Bible. His anger can literally burn hot like coals beyond what many of us have ever experienced. Sinners can’t be angry with sin the way God, the Holy and Just, can. He fumes and flashes fire over it (Psalm 18:8).

The Pre-Church Age

The “Eye for an Eye” Mandate

The pre-church age is the time before Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed for the sins of the world–past, present, and future. God is a divine being whose throne is grounded on justice (Psalm 89:14). When God is wronged by us, there must be justice. Of course the question is asked, how could we possibly wrong God? But the answer is easy: we are his image.

“Whoever sheds the blood of man [sin], by man shall his blood be shed [justice], for God made man in his own image [it violates God's holiness]. (Gen 9:6)

He is perfect and exact in his divinity. He overlooks absolutely nothing. Everything is accounted for and everything is dealt with eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Exo 21:23-25). Jesus, as the Lamb of God, was God’s own sacrifice to balance the scales of his righteousness and holiness which we, created in his image, violated.

In other words, we harmed God life, eye, tooth, hand and foot. We burned, wounded, and beat him by our sin. It’s seems hard to believe but consider the words of David:

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Psa 51:3-4)

Thus, for justice to be properly dealt, God returned the favor to us: eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand and foot. Sometimes it was an individual (Deut 13:5), sometimes it was a community (Num 16:26-33), and sometimes it was a whole nation (Gen 19:28). One time, it was the whole entire world (Gen 6:7).

How different it would have been to live in an eye for eye world! Although this was the name of the game back then, it was never a true fulfillment but just a prophet shadow—a message. If all sins are ultimately against God, there remains the need for due justice, and the mere death of the body was not sufficient to balance the scales of our offence to God. There would need to be much more: the death of the soul. Thus from Jesus we learn about the real retribution, or real death:

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mat 10:28)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:11)

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)

The Church Age

The “Turn the Other Cheek” Mandate

Anyone alive today can see that God is clearly not acting out in the way revealed in the Old Testament. God is not actively judging or bringing retribution for anyone’s sin, at least not in the way he used to. But how can this be? Consider Jesus’ startling words:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Mat 5:38-39)

Something very significant changed just then. We call it the perfect sacrifice: Jesus Christ, who harmed neither God nor man, offered himself as payment for the sins of all mankind by sacrificing himself. The profoundness of this change is simply incredible. It meant no less than that all the harm to God from mankind—every last bit of it—was atoned for(1 John 2:2).

In Christ, God offers a free way out of paying for your own sins. In essence, God is turning the other cheek because Jesus was God (John 1:1).

God sacrifices God. Justice is complete. Man is spared.

There is only one requirement on man’s part, and that is to believe it:

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom 3:23-26)

By putting forth Christ Jesus, this text shows us that God was able to accomplish three things. One, to make clear to all mankind  his righteousness. Two, to maintain his integrity as a God of justice (Psalm 89:14). And three, to justify all who have faith in Jesus.

So now the tides have turned, and the era of the Church has begun. The Scripture speaks of this as an appointed time of grace, not anger (2 Cor. 6:2). There is no anger of God being poured out on humankind. The anger that would otherwise be upon us is abated by the rule of Jesus Christ (Mat. 28:18). He is instead pouring out grace. He is full of grace and not wrath. And that grace is in a very specific form: the Church. Thus the church is not a means for God to bring judgment, curse, or retribution. Those who beat non-believers over the head with the Bible surely do not know God. Those Christians who are always ready to pour out their own wrath on other people’s sins surely do not know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Yet, as Jonathan Edwards points out, God holds all up over the pit of hell by his pleasure—his goodness, patience, grace, and mercy. Our sin would immediately banish us to the depths of Sheol if it weren’t for God holding us up in this very moment. So long as Jesus is in authority and at work through his Church, humanity gets to experience nothing but the peace, love, grace, and mercy of God. As the Church spreads, so the grace, love, and peace of God spreads. This is the very mission of the Holy Spirit.

In the context of the church age, no one in the New Testament ever talks about God being angry. Jesus himself never talks about God’s anger with people’s sin except in terms of the day of judgment.

Jesus responds to sin thus:

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. (Mat 18:9)

He takes sin very seriously. Yet, rather than destroying those offending his holiness, he instead eats with them:

“This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luk 15:2)

Jesus Christ will deal with those who reject him later (Rev 19:11-16).

The Future Judgment

The “Eye for an Eye” Fulfillment

While sin may be overlooked by God presently, there will be a day when all who have not repented of their sin and put their trust in Jesus will have to account, and pay, for their own sin eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Those who are in Christ, have nothing to worry about for the Lord will deal with them according to Jesus.

Paul speaks about it in this way:

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works… (Rom 2:4-6)

In Psalm 18 there is a revelation of the future judgment of God.

(Psa 18:4) The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;
(Psa 18:5) the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
(Psa 18:6) In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

In other words, sin has enslaved me, I am bound to hell and confronted by my wretchedness. But grace is available to all who cry for help.

(Psa 18:7) Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.
(Psa 18:8) Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
(Psa 18:9) He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
(Psa 18:10) He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
(Psa 18:11) He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.
(Psa 18:12) Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
(Psa 18:13) The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones [see Rev 16:21] and coals of fire [see 2 Pet 3:12].
(Psa 18:14) And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
(Psa 18:15) Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
(Psa 18:16) He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.

The appointed time comes when the authority is transferred back from Jesus, and God is fury is let loose. After the world has denied Jesus, their only hope of salvation, glowing coals begin to flame forth from him, and his own are taken out of harm’s way.

(Psa 18:17) He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
(Psa 18:18) They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
(Psa 18:19) He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
(Psa 18:20) The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

The Lord will deal with believers according to their faith in Jesus who is called “The Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6).

(Psa 18:21) For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
(Psa 18:22) For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.
(Psa 18:23) I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.
(Psa 18:24) So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
(Psa 18:25) With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
(Psa 18:26) with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
(Psa 18:27) For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

With the purified, God shows himself pure, but to the crooked he shows himself tortuous. Here we see how justice can be the most beautiful thing in the world (to those purified by Jesus’ blood) or the worst thing in the world (to those who deny Jesus).

So, in light of all this we can conclude the following:

  1. God is not dealing with humanity according to its sinfulness, but according to the work of Jesus through the Church. His anger and wrath is put aside.
  2. In Christ his anger is completely appeased forever. He is as approachable as that father was for the prodigal son (Luke 15:19-23).
  3. Jesus Christ is the only way to approach him as an un-angry father (John 14:6). Any attempt to approach God outside of Jesus Christ will be in vain and actually count against you in the Day of Judgment.

 

God’s Sovereignty and Birds

Posted by Matthew on January 22, 2011 None comments |

Mysterious mass deaths of birds, fish, and other animals occurring around the world has people everywhere in a frenzy. The trends have been dubbed “Aflockalypse” as experts and scientists are without a clue as to what is causing these mysterious mass deaths.

Mass deaths of animals, fish, and birds are not uncommon. However, seeing so many mass deaths of animals happen at the same time (within a month) all over the world is, surely, not so common. Jan 1st
thousands of birds fall dead in Arkansas; Jan 6th
2 million fish wash up dead in Maryland; Jan 4th
500 birds dead in Louisiana, 100 tons of fish die in Brazil; and on it goes.

Perhaps it is coincidence as some maintain.

In the Biblical worldview there are no coincidences. God is in fact behind everything that happens, for he is sovereign, omnipotent, and omnipresent. There are some relevant verses to think upon in light of these events.

In one of Jesus’ parables he says the following:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (Mat 10:29)

Even Jesus would tell you that not one bird will fall to the ground apart from the Father. Much less thousands of them.

In the book of Hosea it is written:

Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea are taken away. (Hos 4:3)

There may be some end-time context to this passage (Hos. 3:5) but it’s more ambiguous and “the day of the Lord” is not referred to in this book.

The beginning of the book of Zephaniah however does contain some interesting last-days text:

“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. (Zep 1:3)

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. (Zep 1:7)

The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. (Zep 1:14)

According to Zephaniah, in the last days God will sweep man, animals, birds, and fish together off the face of the earth. The question is, how? How do you “sweep” fish off the face of the earth? Or birds? All at once or systematically? Who knows. But there are two passages to keep in mind:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2Pe 3:10)

Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. (Psa 18:12-14)

What these end-time texts show is that when God brings it, it will be by serious fire that will dissolve everything.

Two points can be drawn from all this.

Firstly, whether it is a sign of the end-times or not, these mass deaths are not happening apart from God’s sovereign will. He has appointed them just as he has appointed all things:

Is there a father for the rain? Or who has given birth to the drops of dew? From whose womb comes forth the ice; and the frost of the heavens, who fathered it; the waters hidden like stone, and the face of the deep is captured? (Job 38:28-30)

“‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. (Deu 32:39)

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (1Th 5:1-10)

This includes the birds:

“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? (Job 39:26-27)

The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. (1Sa 2:6-7)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (Mat 10:29)

Perhaps these are signs like birth pangs and perhaps not. We could couple the mass animal deaths with the many other countless disasters, wars, and famines that are happening around the world right now. One thing is for certain: it is not so far-fetched anymore to find striking similarities between the Biblical account of the great Day drawing near and what is happening in our time. Regardless, the command remains the same as it has for two thousand years:

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (1Th 5:1-10)


Birds of the Air

As a side note, in the Bible (ESV translation), the term birds of the air is found in at least 21 places, and birds of the heavens in at least 28.

Sometimes birds of the air refer metaphorically to demonic spirits. The following excerpt is taken from Acts 17:11 Bible Studies:

The Birds of The Air

Mark 4:3-4,13-15 (NIV) “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”… Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.”

Mark 4:13 (Phi) … “Do you really not understand this parable? Then how are you going to understand all the other parables?”

Mark 4:30-32 (NIV) Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and become the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”

Luke 13:19 (NIV) It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew, and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.

These parables give us insight to the nature of the God’s kingdom and its painful growing process. Notice that in the seed parable, three out of the four examples are HOW THINGS GO WRONG. So why do we flinch at the warnings and truth revealed in the other parables? (Explaining away of the “leaven” parable is probably the most grievous example of this.)

Mustard seeds normally grow into narrow shrubs, and are familiar as weeds that grow along the roadside. But what is described here is an monstrosity: It’s gotten way too big! It’s become a spreading tree. So big, in fact, that the birds of the air can comfortably lodge in it! And Jesus told us who the birds are: the agents of Satan. (While a specific bird like a dove or sparrow may be used to represent the Holy Spirit or the disciple, birds “of the air” in general often represent demons in Scripture.)

Jer 15:3 (NIV) “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.”

See the complete Acts 17:11 study on this subject.

His Word is Pure – Psalm 19

Posted by Matthew on January 16, 2011 None comments |
pureword

In a time when fewer and fewer Christians and churches are reading and upholding the Word of God we need to be reminded that:

The word of the Lord proves true. (2 Sam 22:31)

The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (Psa 12:6)

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isa 40:8)

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psa 19:7-11)

One of the greatest things a church can do is to uphold the Holy Scriptures above all else. The church is a “pillar and buttress” upon which the Holy Scriptures should rest.

…the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. (1Ti 3:15)

Sadly, many churches in our time have removed the Holy Scriptures from atop the pillar and buttress and have replaced it with idolatrous and worldly things like consumerism, materialism, and self. It is easy to attract people to a place if you elevate the right things. If you elevate the Holy Scriptures however, you’re chances of drawing people in become more dependent upon the Holy Spirit instead of pragmatism. What kind of church do you want?

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2Ti 4:3-4)

Who has the faith to uphold the Scriptures in such a time as this? Where is the church that remains steadfast in the Word of the Lord as the priority? Alas, they are becoming rare and hard to find.

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (Rom 3:31)

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. (Heb 10:1)

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:17)


What is Sin? Genesis 4:7

Posted by Matthew on January 4, 2011 None comments |
Sin

“It’s desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen. 4:7)

These are the words with which God first reveals to man the reality of sin.

The fact that this was long before there were any written laws or rules should make us wonder. Cain sinned by murdering his brother Abel, yet nothing was written against doing such a thing. He broke no rules because there were none.

It’s in the Blood

This tells us that sin is something already within us before we read any kind of “rules”. We don’t have to break rules before we commit sin.

The profound thing about this verse (Gen. 4:7) is how God describes it like a spiritual plague. It is an unseen, subtle power with great consequences that entered into Adam when he came into contact with it through disobedience. It thus spread throughout his entire spiritual circulatory system and mortally affected his mind, heart, soul, and body.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (Rom 5:12-13)

Sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. That is, it is not recorded. No points are being kept.

Commenting on Romans 5:12-13 William Barclay writes:

The passage ought to be given what is called the realistic interpretation, namely that, because of the solidarity of the human race, all mankind actually sinned in Adam. This idea was not strange to a Jew; it was the actual belief of the Jewish thinkers. The writer of 2 Esdras is quite clear about it. “A grain of evil was sown in the heart of Adam from the beginning and how much wickedness has it brought forth unto this time; and how much shall it yet bring forth till the time of the threshing come” (2 Esdr 4:30). “For the first Adam, bearing a wicked heart, transgressed and was overcome; and not only he but all they also who are born of him” (2 Esdr 3:21).

So sin is a virus of disobedience, a plague of evil. Repentance therefore is living in the reality that this is what you have. It is not fully healed yet for none of us goes a day without committing some disobedient act in our hearts or thought in our minds. John the Baptist taught, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Mat. 3:8) The Apostle John writes, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn 1:8).

How Do We Rule Over Sin?

Christ sets us free from sin having rule over us.

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (Joh 8:34-36)

Reading and learning the Word of God is absolutely critical to ruling over sin:

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. (Rom 7:6-9)

Paul is not here saying that the plague of sin is dead—indeed, it is very much alive and holding men across the world captive—but rather, we are completely oblivious to it. Every Christian—not just pastors or teachers of the Bible—is called to be skilled in the Word of Righteousness. Without such skill, you are weak against sin—in distinguishing between good and evil:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:12-14)

Because of his finished work on the cross Christ is able to take us out of slavery and into sonship. The Pilgrim’s Progress. A long narrow road that leads to life. Forgiveness and salvation are free, but ruling over sin takes a lot of work. It starts with daily repentance. One day we will be resurrected anew, fully, after the “new Adam”, Jesus Christ. We will have bodies, minds, hearts, and souls completely free of the plague of disobedience. But the work of Christ does far more than just counteract the fall of mankind—we will get to reign with Christ as fellow sons/daughters of God:

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. (Rom 5:17-18)

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Rom 8:23-25)

if we endure, we will also reign with him… (2 Ti 2:12)


Gospel Planting and God’s Sovereignty – 1 Samuel 1:2-7

Posted by Matthew on December 14, 2010 None comments |

He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. (1 Sam. 1:2-7)

Here a woman of God is unable to have children. It was not because of any sin on her part, or on her parents. The Scriptures state simply, that it was because the Lord “closed her womb.” The worldview of the ancient Jews readily understood that God was in control. Of everything.

Some however did not see things this way. The poor woman Hannah was constantly picked on and patronized by the other woman Peninnah who would point the finger at her and provoke her because of her problem as though it were her own fault. But God closed her womb for reasons beyond anyone’s understanding. It was the same with the man born blind, who was born that way for a reason that no one readily understood until Jesus came at the right time to reveal the works of God (John 9:2-5). Our carnal way of looking at such situations is that they somehow must deserve what they received.

But the reality is that God designed to show himself in a unique way to these people–”that the works of God might be displayed” (John 9:3).  So when gospel preaching fails to “bring forth children” we must remember that God has likely willed that it happen so that his glory might be revealed in a way that he designed. As giving birth is always a miracle of God so is the growth of God’s seed. It is never mechanical or manufactured on an assembly line with prepackaged components. Sometimes God closes the womb and we don’t see fruit. Sometimes Christians will condescend on such situations and write them off as failures as Peninnah did with Hannah. But Hannah was not a failure. She was God’s providence and plan. At the right time, or “in due time” as the Scriptures say, God revealed his design for the situation and the prophet Samuel, one of the greatest prophets that ever lived, was born (1 Sam. 1:20).

They say that 80% of church planters fail. But we weren’t called to plant churches. We are called to plant the gospel. Christ is the only church planter there is.