Hebrews 12:14-17
The key words or idea here is the idea that we are together in this. The author talks about living in peace and looking out for each other to root out the seeds of bitterness and sexual immorality. I notice that this is not just for the individual but I have a responsibility for my brothers and sisters in Christ. The author contrasts holiness with bitterness, sexual immorality and godlessness. The author equates holiness to living as part of the body (at peace, looking out for each other).
The illustration of godlessness that the author uses is Esau. I've always been somewhat mystified by God's harshness towards Esau, especially in light of the alternative choice: Jacob. However, in this context I can see it most clearly. When compared to the people who lived by faith in Hebrews 11, Esau stands in stark contrast. He had something of immense value which he sold because he could not control his physical appetite. In comparison to what the people of faith suffered and went through for the sake of the promise, Esau did not suffer at all. He was just hungry and couldn't wait to make his own lunch. In some ways, Esau had the promise in his reach because the inheritance and the blessing belonged to him. Humanly speaking, the line of the Seed would go through him. By rights, he stood to inherit the land, the seed and the blessing. He had it in his hand and sold it for a bowl of beans!
Esau stands a great warning to me. I have the promise in hand. I have received the blessing. Yet I do not value it as I should and often am tempted to trade it for little more than a bowl of beans: a moment of enjoyment, a few dollars, my reputation. I am reminded that I do not value my salvation and my inheritance nearly enough.
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday, November 2, 2009
Eternal Priesthood
Hebrews 7:20-25
The author is continuing his sermon on Psalm 110:4, exploring the Melchizedek priestly order that Jesus has become high priest in. The author now focuses on the oath that God made to this priestly line, and to the Messiah in particular, and the new covenant that Jesus brings in as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek. This goes back to the author's main point: the supremacy of Christ and of the new covenant.
He argues his point by contrasting the Melchizedek priestly order with the Levitical order: First, God has guaranteed that the Melchizedek order would be eternal, and that the Messiah would be the eternal high priest, by an oath; he has never made that guarantee to the Levitical order. Therefore, the priesthood of Jesus rests securely on God's promise and oath and is therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood. Second, the Levitical priests were mortal and therefore there were a lot of them; Jesus' priesthood is eternal because Jesus lives forever. Therefore, the priesthood of Jesus is superior because it lasts forever. This means that the covenant that we have under the priesthood of Christ is also superior in that it rests on God's oath, lasts as long as Jesus is high priest (forever!) and, therefore, we are offered a complete salvation (contrasted to the "partial" salvation available under the law).
My salvation rests in Christ's ability to intercede on my behalf. Because he is always alive, he is always able to point to his blood that was the payment for all my sins. When I ask for forgiveness, Christ, as high priest, takes that request to his Father, pointing to his shed blood which demands that God forgive my sin because Jesus has already paid for it and it would be unjust for God to demand two payments. What an incredible plan God has brought! What a great salvation has been purchased on my behalf! There is no reason to fear that God's mercy will ever run out because my forgiveness depends as much on his justice as it does his mercy. Jesus sacrifice completely and forever satisfies the justice of God and I am saved for all time in all areas of my life. Thank-you for saving me! What can I say?
The author is continuing his sermon on Psalm 110:4, exploring the Melchizedek priestly order that Jesus has become high priest in. The author now focuses on the oath that God made to this priestly line, and to the Messiah in particular, and the new covenant that Jesus brings in as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek. This goes back to the author's main point: the supremacy of Christ and of the new covenant.
He argues his point by contrasting the Melchizedek priestly order with the Levitical order: First, God has guaranteed that the Melchizedek order would be eternal, and that the Messiah would be the eternal high priest, by an oath; he has never made that guarantee to the Levitical order. Therefore, the priesthood of Jesus rests securely on God's promise and oath and is therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood. Second, the Levitical priests were mortal and therefore there were a lot of them; Jesus' priesthood is eternal because Jesus lives forever. Therefore, the priesthood of Jesus is superior because it lasts forever. This means that the covenant that we have under the priesthood of Christ is also superior in that it rests on God's oath, lasts as long as Jesus is high priest (forever!) and, therefore, we are offered a complete salvation (contrasted to the "partial" salvation available under the law).
My salvation rests in Christ's ability to intercede on my behalf. Because he is always alive, he is always able to point to his blood that was the payment for all my sins. When I ask for forgiveness, Christ, as high priest, takes that request to his Father, pointing to his shed blood which demands that God forgive my sin because Jesus has already paid for it and it would be unjust for God to demand two payments. What an incredible plan God has brought! What a great salvation has been purchased on my behalf! There is no reason to fear that God's mercy will ever run out because my forgiveness depends as much on his justice as it does his mercy. Jesus sacrifice completely and forever satisfies the justice of God and I am saved for all time in all areas of my life. Thank-you for saving me! What can I say?
Friday, August 24, 2007
Knowledge Based Passion
Romans 10:1-13
Observe:
Key words: righteousness, law, faith, confess, believe
Contrasted ideas: righteousness from God through faith vs. righteousness through the law
Interpretation:
Paul is connecting back to the beginning of chapter 9 where he talks about his desire to see Israel saved. He mourns their status because they had been given so much revelation from God and because he is an Israelite as well. He also connects to the over all theme of his letter (the just shall live by faith) in that his main point is that righteousness is obtained from God through faith and not by following the law (or doing good works).
The key verse is v. 9 because it sums up Paul's argument: salvation comes from acknowledging the deity of Christ and believing with your heart (emotions, will and intellect) that Christ was raised from the dead by God.
Application:
This reminds me of the graciousness of God: he does not demand that I do incredible heroic acts in order to be saved but to simply call on his name. This is so gracious of him because he has every right to judge (and condemn) me based on my deeds but he has agreed to allow the righteousness of Christ to become my righteousness through faith.
I am reminded again that my status before God has nothing to do with me and I am humbled again. At times I am arrogant in my thinking because I fall into the trap of believing that there was something in my character or abilities or accomplishments that attracted God to me. The truth is that I am saved only through faith and by the grace of God.
Observe:
Key words: righteousness, law, faith, confess, believe
Contrasted ideas: righteousness from God through faith vs. righteousness through the law
Interpretation:
Paul is connecting back to the beginning of chapter 9 where he talks about his desire to see Israel saved. He mourns their status because they had been given so much revelation from God and because he is an Israelite as well. He also connects to the over all theme of his letter (the just shall live by faith) in that his main point is that righteousness is obtained from God through faith and not by following the law (or doing good works).
The key verse is v. 9 because it sums up Paul's argument: salvation comes from acknowledging the deity of Christ and believing with your heart (emotions, will and intellect) that Christ was raised from the dead by God.
Application:
This reminds me of the graciousness of God: he does not demand that I do incredible heroic acts in order to be saved but to simply call on his name. This is so gracious of him because he has every right to judge (and condemn) me based on my deeds but he has agreed to allow the righteousness of Christ to become my righteousness through faith.
I am reminded again that my status before God has nothing to do with me and I am humbled again. At times I am arrogant in my thinking because I fall into the trap of believing that there was something in my character or abilities or accomplishments that attracted God to me. The truth is that I am saved only through faith and by the grace of God.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Ding-ding... Let's get ready to rumble!
1 Timothy 2
Ok, so I've got a lot of this chapter to cover today since I wasn't so great at posting this week and will be away for the weekend so this will likely be my last post on this chapter.
First, I am becoming increasingly concerned for the salvation of my students and the students in Lethbridge. I don't want death to claim one more who is still a citizen/captive of the kingdom of darkness. I'm not sure what to do about it at this time (and believe that we are moving in some great directions with our Ignite Camps) but I get great comfort and confidence from the fact that God's desire (will?) is that everyone would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. I believe that as I continue before God in prayer that he will reveal to me what I need to do in the areas of evangelism.
Ok, let's get to the main event... Paul stirs up some controversy here. Let me start with the questions. When Paul says he wants men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer is that just men or does he mean humans (in the sense of "mankind")? Does the desire for women to dress modestly only apply to women? Or does the principle extend to men as well? (I've seen some guys wear clothing that would be immodest). Does Paul's instruction about the role of women apply to all women in all cultures for all time? Or were there special circumstances in Ephesus that caused Paul to issue such a command? If we are going to teach that women should not teach for all time and all cultures, doesn't that mean that we should teach that women should be saved through childbearing? What does this mean for my wife?
After some study, hearing different positions at BBC and reading some books (Community 101 being an influential one for me) I believe that there were special circumstances that caused Paul to issue this order to the church in Ephesus. Chapter 1 makes it clear that heresies were being taught and the general sense of the letter is that there was a lot of chaos and confusion in the church (which is the reason Timothy was sent as a relatively permanent apostolic representative - a rare occurrence judging from the rest of Scripture).
My problem with my position is that the preceding verses are applicable universally. However, my problem with the other position is that nowhere does it mention that the gifts of leadership, pastor/teacher, shepherd, etc. were only given to men. Besides that, Scripture makes it clear that when it comes to how God sees us after salvation, he doesn't see male or female, slave or free, Jew or Gentile. The titles and roles that go along with them seem to be human inventions.
Ok, let's tackle the last verse. The word "saved" is used in three ways through Scripture:
1) deliverance from disease or demon possession
Not likely the meaning here unless one considers the child in her a disease or demon!
2) the rescue of physical life from impending peril or instant death
Basically this means that God will protect (Christian?) women so they won't die while giving birth to children. The test of history shows that this is not likely the meaning. Plenty of Christian women have died in childbirth.
3) spiritual salvation
We know that salvation is by grace alone. A woman is not made spiritually alive by giving birth. This would also mean that all barren women would miss out on salvation somehow. The NIV study Bible says that it could mean that women are saved spiritually through the physical birth of Jesus. But aren't we saved through his death and resurrection? Wouldn't men be included in that salvation? Besides, the tense is future: they will be saved. Wouldn't the more proper reading be: "Women have been saved through childbearing..." Even that sounds awkward! This view would solve the evangelism problem I mentioned earlier - "hey girls! Want to go to heaven? Have babies!!"
Ok, so I've got a lot of this chapter to cover today since I wasn't so great at posting this week and will be away for the weekend so this will likely be my last post on this chapter.
First, I am becoming increasingly concerned for the salvation of my students and the students in Lethbridge. I don't want death to claim one more who is still a citizen/captive of the kingdom of darkness. I'm not sure what to do about it at this time (and believe that we are moving in some great directions with our Ignite Camps) but I get great comfort and confidence from the fact that God's desire (will?) is that everyone would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. I believe that as I continue before God in prayer that he will reveal to me what I need to do in the areas of evangelism.
Ok, let's get to the main event... Paul stirs up some controversy here. Let me start with the questions. When Paul says he wants men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer is that just men or does he mean humans (in the sense of "mankind")? Does the desire for women to dress modestly only apply to women? Or does the principle extend to men as well? (I've seen some guys wear clothing that would be immodest). Does Paul's instruction about the role of women apply to all women in all cultures for all time? Or were there special circumstances in Ephesus that caused Paul to issue such a command? If we are going to teach that women should not teach for all time and all cultures, doesn't that mean that we should teach that women should be saved through childbearing? What does this mean for my wife?
After some study, hearing different positions at BBC and reading some books (Community 101 being an influential one for me) I believe that there were special circumstances that caused Paul to issue this order to the church in Ephesus. Chapter 1 makes it clear that heresies were being taught and the general sense of the letter is that there was a lot of chaos and confusion in the church (which is the reason Timothy was sent as a relatively permanent apostolic representative - a rare occurrence judging from the rest of Scripture).
My problem with my position is that the preceding verses are applicable universally. However, my problem with the other position is that nowhere does it mention that the gifts of leadership, pastor/teacher, shepherd, etc. were only given to men. Besides that, Scripture makes it clear that when it comes to how God sees us after salvation, he doesn't see male or female, slave or free, Jew or Gentile. The titles and roles that go along with them seem to be human inventions.
Ok, let's tackle the last verse. The word "saved" is used in three ways through Scripture:
1) deliverance from disease or demon possession
Not likely the meaning here unless one considers the child in her a disease or demon!
2) the rescue of physical life from impending peril or instant death
Basically this means that God will protect (Christian?) women so they won't die while giving birth to children. The test of history shows that this is not likely the meaning. Plenty of Christian women have died in childbirth.
3) spiritual salvation
We know that salvation is by grace alone. A woman is not made spiritually alive by giving birth. This would also mean that all barren women would miss out on salvation somehow. The NIV study Bible says that it could mean that women are saved spiritually through the physical birth of Jesus. But aren't we saved through his death and resurrection? Wouldn't men be included in that salvation? Besides, the tense is future: they will be saved. Wouldn't the more proper reading be: "Women have been saved through childbearing..." Even that sounds awkward! This view would solve the evangelism problem I mentioned earlier - "hey girls! Want to go to heaven? Have babies!!"
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