I Am Thankful For...

I am thankful for....

Some families will be following an annual tradition tomorrow by having those gathered finish the above statement. Some will be greatly challenged to come up with something for which they are thankful; others will give short, safe answers without much thought behind them (friends, family, my country, salvation, etc). And that's the problem - many of us spend precious little time thinking about things for which we are thankful.


The flip side of that is that we also spend little time thinking about those things which threaten the thing for which we are thankful. In a nut shell, much of our lives are spent working hard for things we need and things we want, always wanting more. So I ask you to slow down for a moment and think with me about this thing called salvation.

Some theologians have broken salvation down into 6, 7, or even 8 parts. I won't try to refute or defend any of them. I just know that salvation, the unspeakable gift of grace which God has given to us is something for which we should all be thankful (2 Cor. 9:15). And this salvation is so great that not neglecting its greatness is a necessary aspect of our being able to escape both the corruption that is in the world and the eternal punishment of those who prefer the kingdoms of this world to the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. (Hebrews 2:3; Revelation 11:15).

To be properly thankful for salvation, we must arrive at an understanding of what it is. What have we been saved from? What are we being saved from? What will we be saved to?
Many are grateful that they have been saved from the penalty of their sins, which is right and proper. We are told that this is an undeserved gift from God, and that there is nothing we can do to earn it, which is also right and proper. We are told that should we sin again (and again) we should repent and confess our sins, and that God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Proverbs 28:3; 1 John 1:9). This is true. Where we get in trouble is when this becomes our all-encompassing, yet limited, view of salvation. Eventually the yo-yo life of sinning and repenting becomes wearisome and we may begin to doubt whether we are really forgiven.

The equally dangerous counter point to this view is one that sees God as a doting and benevolent grandfather who indulges us no matter what we do, think, or say. The person blinded by this view sees God's love as being comparable to the world's view of tolerance. God, to this person, is not seen as holy or just. God becomes the "Man Upstairs" with whom they can get comfortable when they want. or ignore when they want.

To keep this post from becoming so long that no one will read it, let me say that the degree of our thankfulness for salvation will parallel our understanding of salvation. Yes, we have been saved from the penalty of our sins, but we are also being saved from the power of sin's control of our lives; and one day we will be saved even from the effects and presence of sin. Each one of the three tenses of our salvation is great and is worthy of our study.

So this Thanksgiving let us say with one voice "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! " (2 Corinthians 9:15) And then let us continue our study of what that gift is, living out our understanding on a daily basis.

The Gospel of the Kingdom, Part 18

There is a prerequisite to entering the Kingdom of Heaven (God) in addition to being born again (John 3:3,5); it is the requirement of righteousness. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20). A qualification for entrance into the future Kingdom is a present righteousness - that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. What kind of righteousness is this?

It is the righteousness that results from God's reign in our lives. Through faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection in our behalf, resulting in the new birth, the Kingdom of God gives us that which it demands; otherwise we could not attain it. The Scribes, as professional students of religion, and their disciples - the Pharisees - were motivated by the sole concern of achieving righteousness. A whole body of law and tradition had been developed to define right and wrong. If men should not work on the Sabbath, then what is work? They went on and on, with every matter of the Law, as if conformity to God's will is defined in all the smallest nuances of the Law. We would need to know that if salvation depended on obeying the Law, an impossible task. Yet the righteousness required of the Kingdom is greater.

Old Testament Law, rabbinic tradition, and even modern law recognize that there are different kinds of homicide, resulting in different degrees of guilt and punishment. Yet Jesus goes beyond that when He said, "...that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire" (Matthew 5:22). The oldest texts do not even qualify the anger as "being without cause." The oldest texts make it clear that Jesus was saying that anger is sin, even as murder is sin. The only difference is that anger is the baby, while murder is the full-grown monster.

Jesus went beyond the Scribe's and Pharisee's emphasis on outward actions and focused on the attitude of the heart. Most of us can say, "I've never murdered someone," but can we say (in honesty), "I've never harbored bitterness, hatred or anger toward anyone?" When we answer truthfully, Jesus then says that we are condemned before God as a sinner. You see, Kingdom righteousness says, "What you are is more important than what you do." Only God can change what someone is; only the gift of God can give what He requires.

Jesus illustrates this principle again with the "Law of Purity." The Law forbade illicit sexual relationships. If one stayed away from such relationships, by conduct they were righteous. But the standard of the Kingdom is higher, demanding that there be no lust in a person's heart. Righteousness with regards to sexual purity begins in the heart, and the proliferation of pornography, first in magazines and films, now on the Internet, has proven that time and again.

I once knew a man who struggled with these matters, and who, in ignorance, took seriously this and following verses. "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matthew 5:29). He literally plucked out his eye and cut off his hand. Though he suffered much pain, that did not set him free. A man with one blind eye and one amputated limb is not free from lust, for sin lodges in the heart and not in the eye or the hand. Only Christ can create in a man a new heart. The righteousness which God demands of us, He must give to us, or we are lost. As desperate as a man must be to cut off his hand, so desperate must be the sinner to search out the grace of God. Apart from the grace of God there is no salvation, only condemnation.

Be encouraged - that grace is available to anyone who would cry out for it. A way has been provided to enter into the Kingdom, both the present aspect of it, and the future. The way is Jesus! "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man can come to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

The Gospel of the Kingdom: Part 15

There is, in virtually every human heart, a great hunger for life. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God," and Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God" (John 2:3, 5). God offers to every man a life that is so much higher than the physical life which men attempt to enjoy through all manner of means, and to which men tend to cling tenaciously, even at the end. This is the "abundant life" which Christ came to give us - the life of God's Kingdom. (John 10:10) Old Testament saints had been expecting Messiah to bring about a manifestation of the Kingdom by changing the political order and displacing all human rule and authority (Isaiah 2:1-4). This has not yet happened, but when it does, there will also come to pass a transformation of the very physical order of things on planet Earth (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Yet the Mystery of the Kingdom has occurred, and it is this: The Kingdom that will change the entire external order has entered This Age now to bring the blessings of God's Kingdom to men and women without changing the external order. The Old Age continues, yet men may already experience and enjoy some of the powers of the Age to Come, mainly a vital relationship with God as Father, through the New Birth. When the New Birth occurs, Kingdom life (life eternal and abundant) become available, although they belong, in unrestricted fullness, to the Age to Come. Eternal life, which we looked at in the context of Matthew 19:16 is the same eternal life into which the righteous will go at the separation of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25:46). This is all future.

Yes, much of salvation and eternal life is future. Today we have a hope (confidence) that when Christ returns, then we shall enter the Kingdom. We look forward to a day when we shall receive "a building from God, a house not made with hands" while in our present mortal bodies, we sigh with anxiety" (2 Corinthians 5:1, 4). We all, along with the Apostle Paul, long to be "clothed upon" i.e., to put on our resurrection bodies, so "that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 5:4). Eternal life has to do with the total man, spirit, soul and body. When we finally inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50) our bodies will be redeemed, no longer consisting of flesh and blood. Until then, we are all dying creatures....whether slowly and painfully, of enjoying a large measure of vigour until the end. Either way, God has something better when that which is mortal (our physical bodies) shall be swallowed up in life.

The future aspect of eternal life is again taught in Revelation. The "river of the water of life...flowing from the throne of God" and "the tree of life" are mentioned in Revelation 22:1-2. The revelation goes beyond this, as glorious as the salvation of the body is, to the greater reality that in our midst shall be "the throne of God and of the Lamb.....and His servants shall worship Him.....they shall see His face" (Revelation 22:3-4). All barriers of the flesh and sin will be swept away. We shall enjoy unhindered and untroubled fellowship with God. This is life; this is life eternal; this is life of the Kingdom of God.

In the next installment of this study, we will discover that there is a "now" aspect to life of the Kingdom of God. Somehow, God has managed to deliver some of the first installments of life in the Age to Come to us here and now, while we are living in this Present Evil Age, in our mortal bodies. Jesus said, "He who believes in the Son HAS eternal life" (John 3:36) and "He who hears my word and believes Him who sent Me, HAS eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but HAS passed from death to life" (John 5:24). These words are more true and powerful to me today than ever before, as I consider my father-in-laws frail body - lungs filled with fluid from pneumonia and kidneys that are working at about 30% efficiency. He is still living in his earthly tent, which is just a shadow of its former self when it could carry 2 bags of cement at a time.....but he is preparing to leave. I shared these Scriptures with him today, along with others which reminded us both of his simple faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, exercised about 27 years ago. Because of that he can leave this life for that life, with confidence. Can you?

The Gospel of the Kingdom: Part 12

The most important parable Jesus ever spoke concerning the Kingdom of God is the parable of the sower, as recorded in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8. Jesus said, concerning this parable, "...Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?" (Mark 4:13). I won't reiterate here the passages, or their immediate meaning. Jesus did a most excellent job of this. Preceding His explanation of the parable, He said to His disciples, "...The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you..." (Mark 4:11a).

What secret is revealed here? The Kingdom of God is here but not with irresistible power. It is not now destroying wickedness, but to the contrary it is like a man sowing seed. Seed does not force itself on the soil; neither does the Gospel (Good News) of the Kingdom force itself on the hearts of men. Jesus goes on to use the imagery of soil types to illustrate the various conditions of men's hearts to whom the Gospel is preached. Some never receive the message at all, allowing Satan to snatch it away immediately. Some receive it, but with no depth. Perhaps intellect or emotions have been stirred, but there is no real life. Consequently, when the inevitable trouble or persecution arise for the very reason that they received the message of the Kingdom, they wither and die because there is no life.

Others, like the thorny ground, appear to have received the word of the Kingdom, even evidencing a sort of life. However, they are not prepared to accept the humble form of the God's Kingdom, and the cares of the world, materialism, the desire for worldly riches and the pressures to conform choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful. So the mystery (revealed secret) of the Kingdom is that it has come among men and yet men can reject it. Please don't get me wrong - it's a wonderful thing when the Kingdom of God shows up with power. However, let us give pause for a moment: Jesus demonstrated the power of the Kingdom more than any other, yet He was despised and rejected by men (Acts 10:38 and Isaiah 53:3); the apostles whose words were confirmed by signs (Mark 16:20), according to tradition all died a martyrs death, except John.

Those who knew of the Kingdom of God only through Old Testament revelation believed the Kingdom of God would come with power. Who would be able to withstand God? Yet the mystery is precisely that the Kingdom has come yet men can reject it. There is a power at work now - power to witness and to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, yet God will not compel (in this Age) men to bow before it. They must receive it in a willing heart of faith with a submissive will. Now we proclaim the Kingdom as emissaries of God, pleading, not demanding; persuading, not driving. Until harvest time, the weeds and the wheat must grow together, in the world (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43). The ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of the evil one will be at the end of the Age. Until then the sons of the Kingdom - those who have received the Gospel of the Kingdom - and the sons of the evil one will live together in the world.

Until then, as long as one is drawing a breath, reconciliation unto God is possible by exercising faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. After death, and certainly after the final harvest, reconciliation is no longer possible. So much for those who preach the heretical message of universal or ultimate reconciliation. As the Scriptures declare: "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation [meaning the fullness of our salvation, even the redemption of our bodies c.f Romans 8:23] to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27-28). Don't put off receiving the Gospel of the Kingdom. By the time the Kingdom manifests itself in irresistible power, it will be too late.

Be encouraged while it is yet today. As one of God's fellow workers, I urge you to not receive God's grace in vain. "...I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

www.endtimesencouragement.com

Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 28

When we ended last time, we were at the interlude of Revelation 10. This interlude, which continues through 11:14, does not advance the narrative in an obvious, chronological manner. John sees in his vision a mighty angel who comes down from heaven, awesome in appearance, and holding a little, opened scroll in his hand. The contents of the scroll are never revealed in the revelation. Whatever it says (and it may be nothing more than documentation of the angel's authority), the angel, by planting one foot on the earth and the other on the sea, indicates that the destiny of the whole world is involved. As the angel shouts with a lion-like roar, seven thunders speak. No doubt, the number seven here again represents divine perfection or completion. John is instructed to not write what he heard the seven thunders say. This is an example of a biblical truth revealed in the Old Testament. "The secret things belong to the lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." (Deuteronomy 29:29)


Do you remember the promise given at the beginning of the Revelation? "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (Revelation 1:3) So I encourage you to read, to study, and to discuss with your children the things in the book. As you continue, understanding will increase. Don't let the secret things or the things which mystify cause you to neglect the book and so miss out on the promised blessing. It's not necessary, yea - it's not possible, to know in advance, without error, everything that will happen during Daniel's 70th week, in order to be blessed.


The mighty angel then, by the authority of "the Causeless Cause of All Things" announces that there will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows the seventh trumpet (which contains the 7 bowl judgments) then all the prophecies that God revealed to His prophets about the final days will come to pass. It will accomplish the revealing of the "mystery of God." Then John is told to take the scroll from the mighty angel. As he does so, the angel commands John to eat the scroll.


I believe that what happens next is that John experiences on a grandiose scale what all people experience when they have an encounter with the Living Word of God. The scroll tasted sweet in his mouth, yet made his stomach turn sour. This quickly brings to mind this description of God's Word: "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) There is sweet blessing in the Word of God to all who hear, trust and obey; there is the curse of judgment on sin and evil which all who reject God's Word must face. Even for the believer, following the sweetness of salvation there is often the persecution and affliction which arises because of the word (Matthew 13:21). The believer often languishes in the face of injustice, crying out "How long, O Lord?" But when the time is right, the Lord will right every wrong, heal every hurt, and wipe away every tear. The double-edged sword will accomplish this, bringing everlasting joy to some and everlasting torment to others. (Why even entertain the thought of petty paybacks?)


The mystery will be how God has used centuries of Satan, and demon-inspired men, to have their way (that is to say, the wonder of evil prospering and good being trodden underfoot). God has partially checked this through governments, but governments become so corrupt that the idea of them accomplishing this to God's high standards is ludicrous. God's purpose in all this will ultimately be clear to all. John himself was experiencing the sweetness of God's Word (assurance of salvation and that God is in control) while experiencing the bitterness of being exiled to a labor camp because of that same Word. Yet in the end, John's commission (and ours as well) is clear - deliver the Word as it is given and revealed. "Then I was told, 'You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.'" (Revelation 10:11) This book applies to everyone.


I have experienced personally the privilege of standing on God's Word, and then being allowed to present it before people in high places of leadership in our nation. Whether leaders accept God's Word as authority on all matters, including politics and government, or whether they reject it, the Word is spoken as a witness (Matthew 24:14). That's one way in which we hasten the day of the Lord's return. So be encouraged my friend. God has called you to be a part of His End-Times plans.