Section 95
JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
TEN LEPERS
CONCERNING THE KINGDOM
(Borders of Samaria and Galilee)
LUKE 17:11-37
"All ten lepers were healed—but only the one who gave thanks was made whole. That is, he was saved spiritually as well as healed physically. Jesus notices those who come back to say, "Thank you." In fact, according to Mal_3:16, the things we say concerning what the Lord has done for us, how He has blessed us, His faithfulness to us are written in a book of remembrance. I think of the baby books parents keep in which to record their children's first words, first steps, and growth. So, too, the Lord keeps such books recording the words, walk, and growth of His children. " -Courson
"And having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God comes, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come in such a manner that one can carefully observe its approach. Neither shall they say, Look, here or there, for, see, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 17:20
"They
were looking for some manifestation of the sovereignty of
God in the realm of the civil and the external, which would
raise the Jewish nation to conspicuous supremacy, but they
are told that the work of the kingdom is internal and
spiritual (John 3:8; 18:36; Rom. 10:8; Col. 1:27), and that
its effects are not such as can be located in space. They
were seeking honors and joys, and would find contempt
and sorrow (Amos 5:18-20)." -Fourfold
"Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him." -Amos 5:18-19
"It seems strange that the terrors of the last day should
be accompanied by any thought or concern for property,
but such is the plain intimation of the text. If our hope has
been centered upon earthly things, we will be found
seeking them even in that hour, just as the face of Lot's
wife was turned toward Sodom despite the glare of the
penal fires. Our earthly characters become fixed, and great
catastrophes do not change them (Rev. 22:10-12). -Fourfold
"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:10-12
"Jesus gave a
proverbial answer, the meaning of which is that sin courts
and draws to itself punishment and destruction just as a
carcass draws winged scavengers. Applying his
words, we may say that as the corruption of the
antediluvians drew upon them, the devastation of the flood,
and as the crimes of the Sodomites called down upon them,
the fires from heaven, and as the unbelief of the Jews of
Christ's day caused the destruction of Jerusalem and the
death of the nation, so the wickedness of the men of the last
times will result in the ending of the world." -Fourfold
Jesus corrects several misunderstandings here regarding the coming of the Lord. A few things to learn from the texts and commentaries above:
1) The Kingdom was not obvious and physical in his time; it's not obvious and physical in our time either. Yet, it will be ultimately unavoidably evident.
2) Our character is revealed by circumstances. The Fourfold Commentary claims that "catastrophes do not change character," and this can be true with those far from God, those who have willfully rejected Him and turned away. But I do think that catastrophe can impact soft hearts and shape character--at least up until the end.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Section 94
Section 94
RETIRING BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN'S DECREE
Jerusalem and Ephraim in Judea
JOHN 11:47-54
Summary: Upon heading about the raising of Lazarus, the response of the Pharisees and leaders was to call a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
"What are we going to do about Jesus?" the Jews ask each other. "If we don't stop Him, the Romans will come down to quell a potential insurrection and we'll lose our place." You see, for the Pharisees, the ministry was simply a platform for personal prestige and power. Thus, they weren't concerned about God being in His rightful place. They were only concerned about losing their place." -John Courson
Such a good point here by Ryle:
"This is a marvelous admission. Even our Lord's worst enemies confess that our Lord did miracles, and many miracles. Can we doubt that they would have denied the truth of His miracles, if they could? But they do not seem to have attempted it. They were too many, too public, and too thoroughly witnessed for them to dare to deny them. How, in the face of this fact, modern infidels and skeptics can talk of our Lord's miracles as being impostures and delusions, they would do well to explain! If the Pharisees who lived in our Lord's time, and who moved heaven and earth to oppose His progress, never dared to dispute the fact that He worked miracles, it is absurd to begin denying His miracles now, after eighteen centuries have passed away."
"The Romans dreaded the power acquired by permanent office, and often exchanged one high priest for another. Hence the expression, being high priest that year. By his vote Caiaphas may be said to have appointed and sacrificed his victim, who in that memorable year was to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. See Dan_9:24; Dan_9:27.
Caiaphas professed to fear that Jesus would presently gain such an ascendency over the people as to lead a revolt against Rome, which would cause a deluge of blood in which the whole nation would perish. Therefore he recommended that they should compass the death of Jesus. But, as the evangelist puts it, he spoke more widely and truly than he knew, because the death of Jesus is gathering into one the children of God who are scattered abroad-that is, the heathen who were living up to their light, as in Joh_10:16 -that of the twain He might make one new man." F.B. Meyer
"So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:47-48
"The course of Jesus seemed to undermine Judaism, and to leave it a prey to the innovations of Rome. It is uncertain what is meant by the noun "place." Meyer says it refers to Jerusalem; Luecke to the temple; while Bengel says that place and nation are a proverbial expression, meaning "our all;" but the Greek language furnishes no example of such proverbial use. It is more likely that place refers to their seats in the Sanhedrin, which they would be likely to lose if the influence of Jesus became, as they feared, the dominant power. They feared then that the Romans would, by removing them, take away the last vestige of civil and ecclesiastical authority, and then eventually obliterate the national life." -Fourfold Gospel
Another solid explanation:
"The leaders felt they could no longer remain inactive. If they did not intervene, the mass of the people would be persuaded by the miracles of Jesus. If the people thus acknowledged Jesus to be their King, it would mean trouble with Rome. The Romans would think that Jesus had come to overthrow their empire; they would then move in and punish the Jews. The expression “take away both our place and nation” means that the Romans would destroy the temple and scatter the Jewish people. These very things took place in a.d. 70—not, however, because the Jews accepted the Lord, but rather because they rejected Him." -Believer's Bible
Sadly, it makes sense to me. They felt their way of life and future were threatened. Instead of embracing the truth and the future, they tried to prevent it from coming. This never works.
"So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death." John 11:53
"Thus, acting on the advice of Caiaphas the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus without a hearing and sought means to carry their condemnation to execution. Quieting their consciences by professing to see such political dangers as made it necessary to kill Jesus for the public welfare, they departed utterly from justice, and took the course which brought upon them the very evils which they were professedly seeking to avoid." -Fourfold
RETIRING BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN'S DECREE
Jerusalem and Ephraim in Judea
JOHN 11:47-54
Summary: Upon heading about the raising of Lazarus, the response of the Pharisees and leaders was to call a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
"What are we going to do about Jesus?" the Jews ask each other. "If we don't stop Him, the Romans will come down to quell a potential insurrection and we'll lose our place." You see, for the Pharisees, the ministry was simply a platform for personal prestige and power. Thus, they weren't concerned about God being in His rightful place. They were only concerned about losing their place." -John Courson
Such a good point here by Ryle:
"This is a marvelous admission. Even our Lord's worst enemies confess that our Lord did miracles, and many miracles. Can we doubt that they would have denied the truth of His miracles, if they could? But they do not seem to have attempted it. They were too many, too public, and too thoroughly witnessed for them to dare to deny them. How, in the face of this fact, modern infidels and skeptics can talk of our Lord's miracles as being impostures and delusions, they would do well to explain! If the Pharisees who lived in our Lord's time, and who moved heaven and earth to oppose His progress, never dared to dispute the fact that He worked miracles, it is absurd to begin denying His miracles now, after eighteen centuries have passed away."
"The Romans dreaded the power acquired by permanent office, and often exchanged one high priest for another. Hence the expression, being high priest that year. By his vote Caiaphas may be said to have appointed and sacrificed his victim, who in that memorable year was to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. See Dan_9:24; Dan_9:27.
Caiaphas professed to fear that Jesus would presently gain such an ascendency over the people as to lead a revolt against Rome, which would cause a deluge of blood in which the whole nation would perish. Therefore he recommended that they should compass the death of Jesus. But, as the evangelist puts it, he spoke more widely and truly than he knew, because the death of Jesus is gathering into one the children of God who are scattered abroad-that is, the heathen who were living up to their light, as in Joh_10:16 -that of the twain He might make one new man." F.B. Meyer
"So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:47-48
"The course of Jesus seemed to undermine Judaism, and to leave it a prey to the innovations of Rome. It is uncertain what is meant by the noun "place." Meyer says it refers to Jerusalem; Luecke to the temple; while Bengel says that place and nation are a proverbial expression, meaning "our all;" but the Greek language furnishes no example of such proverbial use. It is more likely that place refers to their seats in the Sanhedrin, which they would be likely to lose if the influence of Jesus became, as they feared, the dominant power. They feared then that the Romans would, by removing them, take away the last vestige of civil and ecclesiastical authority, and then eventually obliterate the national life." -Fourfold Gospel
Another solid explanation:
"The leaders felt they could no longer remain inactive. If they did not intervene, the mass of the people would be persuaded by the miracles of Jesus. If the people thus acknowledged Jesus to be their King, it would mean trouble with Rome. The Romans would think that Jesus had come to overthrow their empire; they would then move in and punish the Jews. The expression “take away both our place and nation” means that the Romans would destroy the temple and scatter the Jewish people. These very things took place in a.d. 70—not, however, because the Jews accepted the Lord, but rather because they rejected Him." -Believer's Bible
Sadly, it makes sense to me. They felt their way of life and future were threatened. Instead of embracing the truth and the future, they tried to prevent it from coming. This never works.
"So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death." John 11:53
"Thus, acting on the advice of Caiaphas the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus without a hearing and sought means to carry their condemnation to execution. Quieting their consciences by professing to see such political dangers as made it necessary to kill Jesus for the public welfare, they departed utterly from justice, and took the course which brought upon them the very evils which they were professedly seeking to avoid." -Fourfold
Section 93, Lazarus
Section 93
PERÆA TO BETHANY
RAISING OF LAZARUS
JOHN 11:1-46
So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:3-4
The raising of Lazarus is only recorded in John.
"St. John, who seldom relates any thing but what the other evangelists have omitted, does not tell us what gave rise to that familiar acquaintance and friendship that subsisted between our Lord and this family. It is surprising that the other evangelists have omitted so remarkable an account as this is, in which some of the finest traits in our Lord’s character are exhibited. The conjecture of Grotius has a good deal of weight. He thinks that the other three evangelists wrote their histories during the life of Lazarus; and that they did not mention him for fear of exciting the malice of the Jews against him. And indeed we find, from Joh_12:10, that they sought to put Lazarus to death also, that our Lord might not have one monument of his power and goodness remaining in the land. Probably both Lazarus and his sisters were dead before St. John wrote." -Adam Clarke
The raising of Lazarus will also bring to an issue his own death and all this involves the glorification of the Father (Joh_7:39; Joh_12:16; Joh_13:31; Joh_14:13). The death of Lazarus brings Jesus face to face with his own death. -Fourfold
Character in Crisis
John offers us a few character studies amid this life and death crisis. How would we respond in such circumstances?
How do the disciples respond?
Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” John 11:7-8
The disciples seek to put the breaks on Jesus' plan, applying reason and caution. Jesus responds by pointing to the need to act decisively while the time is right.
"The Jews, as well as most other nations, divided the day, from sun-rising to sun-setting, into twelve equal parts; but these parts, or hours, were longer or shorter, according to the different seasons of the year. Our Lord alludes to the case of a traveler, who has to walk the whole day: the day points out the time of life - the night that of death. He has already used the same mode of speech, Joh_9:4 : I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. Here he refers to what the apostles had just said - The Jews were but just now going to stone thee. Are there not, said he, twelve hours in the day? I have not traveled these twelve hours yet - my last hour is not yet come; and the Jews, with all their malice and hatred, shall not be able to bring it a moment sooner than God has purposed. I am immortal till my work is done; and this, that I am now going to Bethany to perform, is a part of it. When all is completed, then their hour, and that of the power of darkness, shall commence. See Luk_22:53. -Adam Clarke
"Don't be foolish—but realize there is a period of time in which you can work without being destroyed." Jon Courson
How does Thomas respond?
"So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16
Thomas digs deep and commits.
Thomas realized that to return to the neighborhood of Jerusalem meant certain death. -Bullinger
"I've always liked Thomas. I think he gets a bad rap. He should be remembered not only as the doubting one, but also as the devoted one because watch what he says…When the other disciples were saying, "Don't go near Jerusalem," Thomas said, "Let's go and die too." I think this shows real devotion and true courage." -Jon Courson
"That we may die with Him is ironic. On one level it reveals Thomas’ ignorance of the uniqueness of Christ’s atoning death. On another level it is prophetic of many disciples’ destinies (Joh_12:25)."
-BKC
How does Martha respond?
"So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house." John 11:20
Martha takes initiative against custom.
In running out to meet Jesus, Martha broke Oriental custom and tradition. Thus, I see Martha as being very much like Peter (Joh_21:7). -Jon Courson
"What we struggle with is the same thing with which Martha struggled. That is, we don't question His ability. But we do question His willingness." -Jon Courson
How does Mary respond?
"So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house." John 11:20
"I think Mary and John are also similar. Mary is a contemplator and John a mystic who received Revelation from Jesus." -Jon Courson
Mary waits for Jesus to come to her (per custom), then falls at his feet.
"Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”" John 11:32
"In Luke 10, we see her at the feet of the Lord in a happy time. Here, we see her at His feet during a hard time. Mary is one who both in days of delight and difficulty positioned herself at the feet of Jesus Christ." -Courson
"fell down. Others who fell down before Him or at His feet were the wise men (Mat_2:11), Jairus (Mar_5:22), the woman (Mar_5:33), the Syrophenician (Mar_7:25), Peter (Luk_5:8), the leper (Luk_5:12), the Gadarene (Luk_8:28), and the Samaritan (Luk_17:16). This makes nine in all."
-Bullinger
On the differences between Martha & Mary and believers in general:
"Martha’s “met” is a perfect tense; Mary’s “sat” is an imperfect. It is impossible not to see the characteristic temperament of each sister coming out here, and doubtless it is written for our learning. Martha—active, stirring, busy, demonstrative—cannot wait, but runs impulsively to meet Jesus. Mary—quiet, gentle, pensive, meditative, contemplative, meek—sits passively at home. Yet I venture to think that of the two sisters, Martha here appears to most advantage. There is such a thing as being so crushed and stunned by our affliction that we do not adorn our profession under it. Is there not something of this in Mary’s conduct throughout this chapter? There is a time to stir, as well as to sit still; and here, by not stirring, Mary certainly missed hearing our Lord’s glorious declaration about Himself. I would not be mistaken in saying this. Both these holy women were true disciples; yet if Mary showed more grace on a former occasion than Martha, I think Martha here showed more than Mary. Let us never forget that there are differences of temperament among believers, and let us make due allowance for others if they are not quite like ourselves. There are believers who are quiet, passive, silent, and meditative; and believers who are active, stirring, and demonstrative. The well-ordered Church must find room, place, and work for all. We need Marys as well as Marthas, and Marthas as well as Marys." -Bp. Ryle, BI
How does Jesus respond?
Jesus responds oddly. He says it's for God's glory. He delays. He corrects understanding. He questions. He weeps.
1. He says its for God's glory:
"But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4
2. He delays
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was." John 11:5-6
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
"Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” John 11:23-24
"Martha has expressed her faith in the common doctrine, but Christ passes over it as though it had little power to console. It is a far off event and hardly touches the present fact of death. So little power had it that Martha did not think of it till led to it by Christ’s question. God’s love may wait patient through ages, because ages are nothing to Him, but human love is impatient, because it is under finite conditions." T. Munger, -BI
"THIS PRACTICAL TRUTH. “Martha said she believed it, but verse 39 did not prove it. Coleridge says: “Truths, of all ethers, the most awful and mysterious, and at the same time of universal interest, are too often considered as so true that they lose all the power of truth, and lie bedridden in the dormitory of the soul, side by side with the most despised and exploded errors.” -Spurgeon, BI
"He saith not, “Understandest thou this?” “For the mysteries of religion,” saith Rupertus, “are much better understood by believing than believed by understanding.” J. Trapp, BI
emotion, be indignant, &c. Only occurs here, Joh_11:38. Mat_9:30, Mar_1:43; Mar_14:5.
"Jesus’ weeping differed from that of the people. His quiet shedding of tears (edakrysen) differed from their loud wailing (klaiontas, Joh_11:33). His weeping was over the tragic consequences of sin. The crowd interpreted His tears as an expression of love, or frustration at not being there to heal Lazarus."
-BKC
*********************************
"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled." John 11:33
"The verb translated "groaned" carries in it the idea of indignation. But the fact that sin had brought such misery to those he loved was enough to account for the feeling." -Fourfold
groaned. Greek. embrimaomai, to snort as a horse does, from fear or anger; hence, to feel strong
"And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." John 11:43
"The loud cry emphasized the fact that the miracle was wrought by personal authority, and not by charms, incantations, or other questionable means. His voice was as it were an earnest of the final calling which all shall hear." -Fourfold Gospel
council. Greek sunedrion. The Sanhedrin was the supreme national court. See Mat_5:22. It consisted of seventy-one members, originating, according to the Rabbis, with the seventy elders, with Moses at their head (Num_11:24). Its sittings were held in the "stone chamber" in the temple precincts.
Bullinger
God would defend him in this until the appointed time of his death. He had nothing to fear, therefore, in Judea from the Jews, until it was the will of God that he should die. He was safe in his hand, and he went fearlessly into the midst of his foes, trusting in him. This passage teaches us that we should be diligent to the end of life: fearless of enemies when we know that God requires us to labor, and confidently committing ourselves to Him who is able to shield us, and in whose hand, if we have a conscience void of offence, we are safe. -Barnes
PERÆA TO BETHANY
RAISING OF LAZARUS
JOHN 11:1-46
So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:3-4
The raising of Lazarus is only recorded in John.
"St. John, who seldom relates any thing but what the other evangelists have omitted, does not tell us what gave rise to that familiar acquaintance and friendship that subsisted between our Lord and this family. It is surprising that the other evangelists have omitted so remarkable an account as this is, in which some of the finest traits in our Lord’s character are exhibited. The conjecture of Grotius has a good deal of weight. He thinks that the other three evangelists wrote their histories during the life of Lazarus; and that they did not mention him for fear of exciting the malice of the Jews against him. And indeed we find, from Joh_12:10, that they sought to put Lazarus to death also, that our Lord might not have one monument of his power and goodness remaining in the land. Probably both Lazarus and his sisters were dead before St. John wrote." -Adam Clarke
Character in Crisis
John offers us a few character studies amid this life and death crisis. How would we respond in such circumstances?
How do the disciples respond?
Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” John 11:7-8
The disciples seek to put the breaks on Jesus' plan, applying reason and caution. Jesus responds by pointing to the need to act decisively while the time is right.
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”John 11:7-10
"The Jews, as well as most other nations, divided the day, from sun-rising to sun-setting, into twelve equal parts; but these parts, or hours, were longer or shorter, according to the different seasons of the year. Our Lord alludes to the case of a traveler, who has to walk the whole day: the day points out the time of life - the night that of death. He has already used the same mode of speech, Joh_9:4 : I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. Here he refers to what the apostles had just said - The Jews were but just now going to stone thee. Are there not, said he, twelve hours in the day? I have not traveled these twelve hours yet - my last hour is not yet come; and the Jews, with all their malice and hatred, shall not be able to bring it a moment sooner than God has purposed. I am immortal till my work is done; and this, that I am now going to Bethany to perform, is a part of it. When all is completed, then their hour, and that of the power of darkness, shall commence. See Luk_22:53. -Adam Clarke
"Don't be foolish—but realize there is a period of time in which you can work without being destroyed." Jon Courson
How does Thomas respond?
"So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16
Thomas digs deep and commits.
Thomas realized that to return to the neighborhood of Jerusalem meant certain death. -Bullinger
"I've always liked Thomas. I think he gets a bad rap. He should be remembered not only as the doubting one, but also as the devoted one because watch what he says…When the other disciples were saying, "Don't go near Jerusalem," Thomas said, "Let's go and die too." I think this shows real devotion and true courage." -Jon Courson
 |
| Traditional Site of the Tomb of Lararus |
"That we may die with Him is ironic. On one level it reveals Thomas’ ignorance of the uniqueness of Christ’s atoning death. On another level it is prophetic of many disciples’ destinies (Joh_12:25)."
-BKC
How does Martha respond?
"So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house." John 11:20
Martha takes initiative against custom.
In running out to meet Jesus, Martha broke Oriental custom and tradition. Thus, I see Martha as being very much like Peter (Joh_21:7). -Jon Courson
"What we struggle with is the same thing with which Martha struggled. That is, we don't question His ability. But we do question His willingness." -Jon Courson
How does Mary respond?
"So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house." John 11:20
"I think Mary and John are also similar. Mary is a contemplator and John a mystic who received Revelation from Jesus." -Jon Courson
Mary waits for Jesus to come to her (per custom), then falls at his feet.
"Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”" John 11:32
"In Luke 10, we see her at the feet of the Lord in a happy time. Here, we see her at His feet during a hard time. Mary is one who both in days of delight and difficulty positioned herself at the feet of Jesus Christ." -Courson
"fell down. Others who fell down before Him or at His feet were the wise men (Mat_2:11), Jairus (Mar_5:22), the woman (Mar_5:33), the Syrophenician (Mar_7:25), Peter (Luk_5:8), the leper (Luk_5:12), the Gadarene (Luk_8:28), and the Samaritan (Luk_17:16). This makes nine in all."
-Bullinger
On the differences between Martha & Mary and believers in general:
"Martha’s “met” is a perfect tense; Mary’s “sat” is an imperfect. It is impossible not to see the characteristic temperament of each sister coming out here, and doubtless it is written for our learning. Martha—active, stirring, busy, demonstrative—cannot wait, but runs impulsively to meet Jesus. Mary—quiet, gentle, pensive, meditative, contemplative, meek—sits passively at home. Yet I venture to think that of the two sisters, Martha here appears to most advantage. There is such a thing as being so crushed and stunned by our affliction that we do not adorn our profession under it. Is there not something of this in Mary’s conduct throughout this chapter? There is a time to stir, as well as to sit still; and here, by not stirring, Mary certainly missed hearing our Lord’s glorious declaration about Himself. I would not be mistaken in saying this. Both these holy women were true disciples; yet if Mary showed more grace on a former occasion than Martha, I think Martha here showed more than Mary. Let us never forget that there are differences of temperament among believers, and let us make due allowance for others if they are not quite like ourselves. There are believers who are quiet, passive, silent, and meditative; and believers who are active, stirring, and demonstrative. The well-ordered Church must find room, place, and work for all. We need Marys as well as Marthas, and Marthas as well as Marys." -Bp. Ryle, BI
 |
| Interior of Tomb |
How does Jesus respond?
Jesus responds oddly. He says it's for God's glory. He delays. He corrects understanding. He questions. He weeps.
1. He says its for God's glory:
"But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4
2. He delays
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was." John 11:5-6
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
"Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” John 11:23-24
"Martha has expressed her faith in the common doctrine, but Christ passes over it as though it had little power to console. It is a far off event and hardly touches the present fact of death. So little power had it that Martha did not think of it till led to it by Christ’s question. God’s love may wait patient through ages, because ages are nothing to Him, but human love is impatient, because it is under finite conditions." T. Munger, -BI
"THIS PRACTICAL TRUTH. “Martha said she believed it, but verse 39 did not prove it. Coleridge says: “Truths, of all ethers, the most awful and mysterious, and at the same time of universal interest, are too often considered as so true that they lose all the power of truth, and lie bedridden in the dormitory of the soul, side by side with the most despised and exploded errors.” -Spurgeon, BI
"He saith not, “Understandest thou this?” “For the mysteries of religion,” saith Rupertus, “are much better understood by believing than believed by understanding.” J. Trapp, BI
emotion, be indignant, &c. Only occurs here, Joh_11:38. Mat_9:30, Mar_1:43; Mar_14:5.
"Jesus’ weeping differed from that of the people. His quiet shedding of tears (edakrysen) differed from their loud wailing (klaiontas, Joh_11:33). His weeping was over the tragic consequences of sin. The crowd interpreted His tears as an expression of love, or frustration at not being there to heal Lazarus."
-BKC
*********************************
"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled." John 11:33
"The verb translated "groaned" carries in it the idea of indignation. But the fact that sin had brought such misery to those he loved was enough to account for the feeling." -Fourfold
groaned. Greek. embrimaomai, to snort as a horse does, from fear or anger; hence, to feel strong
"And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." John 11:43
"The loud cry emphasized the fact that the miracle was wrought by personal authority, and not by charms, incantations, or other questionable means. His voice was as it were an earnest of the final calling which all shall hear." -Fourfold Gospel
council. Greek sunedrion. The Sanhedrin was the supreme national court. See Mat_5:22. It consisted of seventy-one members, originating, according to the Rabbis, with the seventy elders, with Moses at their head (Num_11:24). Its sittings were held in the "stone chamber" in the temple precincts.
Bullinger
God would defend him in this until the appointed time of his death. He had nothing to fear, therefore, in Judea from the Jews, until it was the will of God that he should die. He was safe in his hand, and he went fearlessly into the midst of his foes, trusting in him. This passage teaches us that we should be diligent to the end of life: fearless of enemies when we know that God requires us to labor, and confidently committing ourselves to Him who is able to shield us, and in whose hand, if we have a conscience void of offence, we are safe. -Barnes
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Faith Defined #6, Abraham 1
Hebrews 11: 8-12
Abraham
Review
We learned about faith:
...substance to things we hope for
...has tangibility
...provides evidence for the things you can't see
...carried forth by elders from one generation to then next
...testimony of the believer has always been God's faithfulness
...helps us to understand things that without faith, we could never understand
We've looked at examples:
Abel--will come to worship God in the way God prescribes
Enoch--walked with God in obedience and hope, and preached in a generation that was headed for the flood....faithful to the Lord and before the judgement of God came God took him
Noah--true faith produces works/actions that bring results. Noah was warned of rain, yet it had never rained. For 120 years, he built ark in midst of most vile society family, by the time he was done his family was saved, and the world had been put on notice and found itself condemned and Noah was given right standing with Him. Right standing given by faith and belief in God. Noah taught us service must be in faith to be acceptable with God.
Abraham
Father of the Jewish Nation
Father of all who would believe in the Lord by faith, Father of all those who walk by faith
one of the greatest examples of faith in the Bible, few men have more focus on the various aspects of their life, the details that are listed, the steps of their walks that are laid out, 25% of Genesis devoted to him.
He'll teach us much about the kind of faith that pleases God.
So celebrated was Nehemiah find him mentioned as the standard of faith.
Levitical prayer, Nehemiah 9, You are the Lord God who chose Abram you brought him out of Ur of Chaldeans, you gave him the name Abram, you found his heart faithful and you made a covenant with him...and you have performed your word for you are righteous.
Galatians 3--Are you so foolish that you begin by the spirit you seek to be made complete in the flesh, suffered so many things in vain, the one supplies the spirit among you.....just like Abraham who believed God and it was counted to him as righteous. Only those who are of faith can be the sons of Abraham.
With believing Abraham. He is constantly set up as the standard by which you can
judged by flood
man had begun to build towers for idolatry purposes
Babel
land mass of earth broken, sections set adrift,
languages confused
All of God's remedial judgement to slow the wickness of man
Idolatry was the key for most lives
Goes back to Ham
Babylonian, founded by Nimrod, descendant of Cush, descendant of Ham, son of Noath
basis of all false religion, Satanic
Polytheistic
Ur--Tigris River, southern Iraq, even then an ancient city, Babylonians were wise in many areas
three story ziggerat built to the moon God Namu
human sacrifices regularly brought
this is where Abraham lived
His father served these gods. He was into Babylonian forms of religion.
God tells Abraham, "Get away from the city, from your parents, come to the land that I will show you"
He called him to leave the country and the family and the house and to come to a land that God would show him.
Genesis 12, Acts 7, and Stephen's sermon---Abram did not when called immediately go.
It appears that when God called him, Abraham sort of moved, took father, took his nephew, moved northwest to Heron.
Promised Land--600 miles west
Heron-- 610 miles northwest, 400 miles from Promised Land, Heron means "parched and dry"
Stayed here for God knows who long, took care of dad, watched over Lot
His father Terah's name means "delayed," died as an idolatrous man (from what we know in the book of Joshua)
After death of Terah, at age 75, Abram began to warm to the call of God to walk by faith.
"Now the Lord had said to Abraham... get out of the country, come away from your family, get away from your father's house, and come to the land that I will show you...."
He does come, but not alone, still takes Lot, but is beginning to move in the direction that God wants him to take.
Notice that in Hebrews 11 God makes no mention of Abraham's faltering, his great hesitancy, bringing Lot, trying to help God out by having a child and Ishmael, took years to separate from Lot...
All you find in chapter 11 are the things that pleased God by faith. He's not unaware of them. He's not pretending they don't exist.
God's response with joy is when we walk by faith. The sins are under the blood.
The record God has of you is the times you were faithful. The times you respond in kind. The record of the failures are covered by his sacrifice.
That's what you find pointed out here (the things God was pleased with) as opposed to all the falterings. When the book is opened on you, the rewards will be when you walked by faith.
v 8 "by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inherenance and he went out."
Faith that pleases God obeys. You will not find faith in the Bible without a corresponding obedience. They are inseparable. Abraham would not have obeyed if he had not taken God by his word.
When he was called, when he went out..... present participle as if it were immediate.
We do a lot of failing but when we take a step of God by faith, God will respond in kind by blessing faith and rewarding it now and in the road to come.
God didn't tell him where he was going.
"All of the families of the earth in you will be blessed"
No---we are going to Canann, no you will live in a tent, just God's promise that blessing will come.
He went not knowing where he went.
He trusted God to get him to wherever it was God wanted him to go.
No promises of where, when, why, very little explanation. And often that's what God requires.
He doesn't explain His doings.
In the book of Job in several places, God says he doesn't give an account.
If he did, would you really understand it anyway?
Faith trusts the Lord and doesn't need an explanation. that's exactly the point of true faith. It follows God implicitly.
Relocate and I will bless you. That's it. How often does God ask us to get going and we say "ugh, I don't know..." Abraham would get more details as he went.
Lot and Abraham separates (13).....Genesis 17
But what is mentioned in verse 8 is Abraham's response early in his walk.
It was great in God's eyes..he came, the cost was great, the reward was unclear and far removed, faith alone moved Abram.
So often we are willing to do what God says to us by faith if there is some personal gain or reward attached to it. Not so for Abraham. The promises were beyond him, just "I will bless you and others through you." That''s a silly concept unless God is involved.
Most of us believe God is able, but faith trusts that God is willing and active to do what He says"
Use of a natural gift does not require much faith, when you see no capacity with you, and God says... going becomes a trust in God.
Abraham took the proverbial step of faith and he believed that God would finish what he had stirrred up and begun.
We would like to see the whole story. Giving up your old life to follow Jesus....
God doesn't lay out the whole plan, just what he shows you to do, you begin to do.
Philip was led to Samaria to huge revival to preach. But it was the Lord who came to him and told him to leave this place and go to the middle of the desert. He understands why Philip said "Lord that can't be you." When all reason said no, Philip said yes.
Abraham
Review
We learned about faith:
...substance to things we hope for
...has tangibility
...provides evidence for the things you can't see
...carried forth by elders from one generation to then next
...testimony of the believer has always been God's faithfulness
...helps us to understand things that without faith, we could never understand
We've looked at examples:
Abel--will come to worship God in the way God prescribes
Enoch--walked with God in obedience and hope, and preached in a generation that was headed for the flood....faithful to the Lord and before the judgement of God came God took him
Noah--true faith produces works/actions that bring results. Noah was warned of rain, yet it had never rained. For 120 years, he built ark in midst of most vile society family, by the time he was done his family was saved, and the world had been put on notice and found itself condemned and Noah was given right standing with Him. Right standing given by faith and belief in God. Noah taught us service must be in faith to be acceptable with God.
Abraham
Father of the Jewish Nation
Father of all who would believe in the Lord by faith, Father of all those who walk by faith
one of the greatest examples of faith in the Bible, few men have more focus on the various aspects of their life, the details that are listed, the steps of their walks that are laid out, 25% of Genesis devoted to him.
He'll teach us much about the kind of faith that pleases God.
So celebrated was Nehemiah find him mentioned as the standard of faith.
Levitical prayer, Nehemiah 9, You are the Lord God who chose Abram you brought him out of Ur of Chaldeans, you gave him the name Abram, you found his heart faithful and you made a covenant with him...and you have performed your word for you are righteous.
Galatians 3--Are you so foolish that you begin by the spirit you seek to be made complete in the flesh, suffered so many things in vain, the one supplies the spirit among you.....just like Abraham who believed God and it was counted to him as righteous. Only those who are of faith can be the sons of Abraham.
With believing Abraham. He is constantly set up as the standard by which you can
judged by flood
man had begun to build towers for idolatry purposes
Babel
land mass of earth broken, sections set adrift,
languages confused
All of God's remedial judgement to slow the wickness of man
Idolatry was the key for most lives
Goes back to Ham
Babylonian, founded by Nimrod, descendant of Cush, descendant of Ham, son of Noath
basis of all false religion, Satanic
Polytheistic
Ur--Tigris River, southern Iraq, even then an ancient city, Babylonians were wise in many areas
three story ziggerat built to the moon God Namu
human sacrifices regularly brought
this is where Abraham lived
His father served these gods. He was into Babylonian forms of religion.
God tells Abraham, "Get away from the city, from your parents, come to the land that I will show you"
He called him to leave the country and the family and the house and to come to a land that God would show him.
Genesis 12, Acts 7, and Stephen's sermon---Abram did not when called immediately go.
It appears that when God called him, Abraham sort of moved, took father, took his nephew, moved northwest to Heron.
Promised Land--600 miles west
Heron-- 610 miles northwest, 400 miles from Promised Land, Heron means "parched and dry"
Stayed here for God knows who long, took care of dad, watched over Lot
His father Terah's name means "delayed," died as an idolatrous man (from what we know in the book of Joshua)
After death of Terah, at age 75, Abram began to warm to the call of God to walk by faith.
"Now the Lord had said to Abraham... get out of the country, come away from your family, get away from your father's house, and come to the land that I will show you...."
He does come, but not alone, still takes Lot, but is beginning to move in the direction that God wants him to take.
Notice that in Hebrews 11 God makes no mention of Abraham's faltering, his great hesitancy, bringing Lot, trying to help God out by having a child and Ishmael, took years to separate from Lot...
All you find in chapter 11 are the things that pleased God by faith. He's not unaware of them. He's not pretending they don't exist.
God's response with joy is when we walk by faith. The sins are under the blood.
The record God has of you is the times you were faithful. The times you respond in kind. The record of the failures are covered by his sacrifice.
That's what you find pointed out here (the things God was pleased with) as opposed to all the falterings. When the book is opened on you, the rewards will be when you walked by faith.
v 8 "by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inherenance and he went out."
Faith that pleases God obeys. You will not find faith in the Bible without a corresponding obedience. They are inseparable. Abraham would not have obeyed if he had not taken God by his word.
When he was called, when he went out..... present participle as if it were immediate.
We do a lot of failing but when we take a step of God by faith, God will respond in kind by blessing faith and rewarding it now and in the road to come.
God didn't tell him where he was going.
"All of the families of the earth in you will be blessed"
No---we are going to Canann, no you will live in a tent, just God's promise that blessing will come.
He went not knowing where he went.
He trusted God to get him to wherever it was God wanted him to go.
No promises of where, when, why, very little explanation. And often that's what God requires.
He doesn't explain His doings.
In the book of Job in several places, God says he doesn't give an account.
If he did, would you really understand it anyway?
Faith trusts the Lord and doesn't need an explanation. that's exactly the point of true faith. It follows God implicitly.
Relocate and I will bless you. That's it. How often does God ask us to get going and we say "ugh, I don't know..." Abraham would get more details as he went.
Lot and Abraham separates (13).....Genesis 17
But what is mentioned in verse 8 is Abraham's response early in his walk.
It was great in God's eyes..he came, the cost was great, the reward was unclear and far removed, faith alone moved Abram.
So often we are willing to do what God says to us by faith if there is some personal gain or reward attached to it. Not so for Abraham. The promises were beyond him, just "I will bless you and others through you." That''s a silly concept unless God is involved.
Most of us believe God is able, but faith trusts that God is willing and active to do what He says"
Use of a natural gift does not require much faith, when you see no capacity with you, and God says... going becomes a trust in God.
Abraham took the proverbial step of faith and he believed that God would finish what he had stirrred up and begun.
We would like to see the whole story. Giving up your old life to follow Jesus....
God doesn't lay out the whole plan, just what he shows you to do, you begin to do.
Philip was led to Samaria to huge revival to preach. But it was the Lord who came to him and told him to leave this place and go to the middle of the desert. He understands why Philip said "Lord that can't be you." When all reason said no, Philip said yes.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Faith Defined #5, Noah
Faith Defined #5
Message 12/27/2018
Jack Abeelen
Growing Thru Grace
Hebrews 11:7
Noah
By faith Noah....divinely warned of things not seen as yet...moved with godly fear and went to work.
Context: Reviews Hebrews 10. This is a Hebrew fellowship ready to go back, to quit on their faith.
Let us draw near. Let us hold fast. 18 or 19 examples, then non-named examples.
Genesis 6 & 7
The generation of Noah was as bad if not far worse than ours. 6:5 "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually..." But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah walked with God. Had three sons. All flesh had corrupted its way. The end of flesh has come upon me.
Darkness in Noah's day was everywhere...yet in the midst of all these people, easily 6 billion people in the day of Noah, there was one shining light in the desert. Perfect in his generation
Noah is the first person in the Bible to be called righteous. "that which God accepts" and the first one associated with the word grace.
Abel, Enoch and Noah were in the minority---
In his faith, Noah will preach to everyone who will listen, for a generation and then another....
"moved with godly fear" "became an heir"
By faith Noah being divinely warned moved with godly fear.
True biblical faith has to have something to believe in the Lord God and then must act upon it. It has both a promise of deliverance and a warning...
Heard about from God something he had never seen---it had never rained. He was told about something about which he had no understanding.
Before flood 900 years, after was 120, then dropped to 70 or 80.
True faith believed and began to build. 100 miles from Babylon between the Tigris & Euphrates, in the middle of the desert. Builds it for 120 years...long time for a project...one job, build a boat. At great personal expense, gave time, no boat building experience. Don't tell the Lord you don't know what you are doing---think of Noah! Noah knew nothing. Never got encouraging word from anyone, yet he pressed on every day, every month, every year, every century....sun shined, skys clear, no rain showers to encourage him, but remembering God had said....
talk about waiting on the Lord. None of us have ever been stretched that far. We usually give God a week and then argue with God. Wait. Maybe you don't understand. He had to have struggled with the doubts, he isn't any difference from us. Suffers the mockery of this generation...violent demon-driven men whom God said he would destroy in judgement.
godly fear...not dread but respect and honor for God
Godly fear produces serious obedience...there is a cautiousness when we want to do what God wants.
Attitude (godly fear) lead to the action (build ark).
Make of yourself an ark of gopher wood....a million and a half cubit space...the same proportions made their boats the most stable (British in building battleships Dreadnot--conclusion: God knows how to build a boat). Noah and family will board a boat without rudder, sail, mast, anchor, huge door he didn't know how to close. Basically built a boat that couldn't close the hatch, but that didn't concern him. He was faithful, he was diligent...showed that faith perseveres even when you don't understand what you are doing
Noah accomplished three things:
1. He saved his household. Beneficiaries of his faithfulness. The entire family got out alive
2. He condemned the world around him, witness, message
3. Noah became an heir of the righteousness which comes to us accordingly to faith. Given a right standing that only faith can provide.
It was not the building, it was the response of building that shows itself in faith.
By the building he condemned the world....it was a warning....living example of what was coming
Peter 2 said "God did not spare the ancient world, but he saved Noah," who was "a preacher of righteousness."
Such a big boat gave Noah a reason to preach and others to criticize. Lunatic, eccentric, had a great long-suffering heart. Peter mentions his long-suffering heart.
Noah took the brunt of God's patience. God was reaching out in patience. Methuselah is a picture that God is willi o wait....in the day, in the year Methuselah came to faith, he died, and the flood came.
We have all the prophecies, data...
"As it was in the days of Noah....that's how the coming of the Son of Man will be" so you watch.
population explosion, demon revival
Move us to serious behavior, convince us God is right and produce an action that will save us and have an impact on others (even though it may be less than we hope).
Our culture equates goodness with performance, so grace is a hard concept for us. Good/bad is about behavior and performance. Religion gets a hold of that....how good do I have to be before God accepts me. We want to get as close to the line as we need to be accepted and no more. Religion draws the line that defines the standard. We rewrite the law, make it doable. Would do what was doable. Have to be better than Pharisees (most holy outwardly) but then says what about the heart. They've ruined the law...God never intended it to make you feel good about you. Jesus took it from the exterior and applied it to the heart. The law was to devastate the would be performer, that he couldn't engender himself.
Law sets true standard....you'd have to be like Jesus to measure up. The law was tutor. The law pushes you forward, breaks your heart, leaves you empty-handed.
Noah found grace....(not merited).
In our generation we also have an ark to build....God will enable us. Judgement is waiting at the door (he thinks). Peter 2
It will never be the majority, but thank God for us grace for those who do. And may we not believe we only have faith when we see results.
Message 12/27/2018
Jack Abeelen
Growing Thru Grace
Hebrews 11:7
Noah
By faith Noah....divinely warned of things not seen as yet...moved with godly fear and went to work.
Context: Reviews Hebrews 10. This is a Hebrew fellowship ready to go back, to quit on their faith.
Let us draw near. Let us hold fast. 18 or 19 examples, then non-named examples.
Genesis 6 & 7
The generation of Noah was as bad if not far worse than ours. 6:5 "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually..." But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah walked with God. Had three sons. All flesh had corrupted its way. The end of flesh has come upon me.
Darkness in Noah's day was everywhere...yet in the midst of all these people, easily 6 billion people in the day of Noah, there was one shining light in the desert. Perfect in his generation
Noah is the first person in the Bible to be called righteous. "that which God accepts" and the first one associated with the word grace.
Abel, Enoch and Noah were in the minority---
In his faith, Noah will preach to everyone who will listen, for a generation and then another....
"moved with godly fear" "became an heir"
By faith Noah being divinely warned moved with godly fear.
True biblical faith has to have something to believe in the Lord God and then must act upon it. It has both a promise of deliverance and a warning...
Heard about from God something he had never seen---it had never rained. He was told about something about which he had no understanding.
Before flood 900 years, after was 120, then dropped to 70 or 80.
True faith believed and began to build. 100 miles from Babylon between the Tigris & Euphrates, in the middle of the desert. Builds it for 120 years...long time for a project...one job, build a boat. At great personal expense, gave time, no boat building experience. Don't tell the Lord you don't know what you are doing---think of Noah! Noah knew nothing. Never got encouraging word from anyone, yet he pressed on every day, every month, every year, every century....sun shined, skys clear, no rain showers to encourage him, but remembering God had said....
talk about waiting on the Lord. None of us have ever been stretched that far. We usually give God a week and then argue with God. Wait. Maybe you don't understand. He had to have struggled with the doubts, he isn't any difference from us. Suffers the mockery of this generation...violent demon-driven men whom God said he would destroy in judgement.
godly fear...not dread but respect and honor for God
Godly fear produces serious obedience...there is a cautiousness when we want to do what God wants.
Attitude (godly fear) lead to the action (build ark).
Make of yourself an ark of gopher wood....a million and a half cubit space...the same proportions made their boats the most stable (British in building battleships Dreadnot--conclusion: God knows how to build a boat). Noah and family will board a boat without rudder, sail, mast, anchor, huge door he didn't know how to close. Basically built a boat that couldn't close the hatch, but that didn't concern him. He was faithful, he was diligent...showed that faith perseveres even when you don't understand what you are doing
Noah accomplished three things:
1. He saved his household. Beneficiaries of his faithfulness. The entire family got out alive
2. He condemned the world around him, witness, message
3. Noah became an heir of the righteousness which comes to us accordingly to faith. Given a right standing that only faith can provide.
It was not the building, it was the response of building that shows itself in faith.
By the building he condemned the world....it was a warning....living example of what was coming
Peter 2 said "God did not spare the ancient world, but he saved Noah," who was "a preacher of righteousness."
Such a big boat gave Noah a reason to preach and others to criticize. Lunatic, eccentric, had a great long-suffering heart. Peter mentions his long-suffering heart.
Noah took the brunt of God's patience. God was reaching out in patience. Methuselah is a picture that God is willi o wait....in the day, in the year Methuselah came to faith, he died, and the flood came.
We have all the prophecies, data...
"As it was in the days of Noah....that's how the coming of the Son of Man will be" so you watch.
population explosion, demon revival
Move us to serious behavior, convince us God is right and produce an action that will save us and have an impact on others (even though it may be less than we hope).
Our culture equates goodness with performance, so grace is a hard concept for us. Good/bad is about behavior and performance. Religion gets a hold of that....how good do I have to be before God accepts me. We want to get as close to the line as we need to be accepted and no more. Religion draws the line that defines the standard. We rewrite the law, make it doable. Would do what was doable. Have to be better than Pharisees (most holy outwardly) but then says what about the heart. They've ruined the law...God never intended it to make you feel good about you. Jesus took it from the exterior and applied it to the heart. The law was to devastate the would be performer, that he couldn't engender himself.
Law sets true standard....you'd have to be like Jesus to measure up. The law was tutor. The law pushes you forward, breaks your heart, leaves you empty-handed.
Noah found grace....(not merited).
In our generation we also have an ark to build....God will enable us. Judgement is waiting at the door (he thinks). Peter 2
It will never be the majority, but thank God for us grace for those who do. And may we not believe we only have faith when we see results.
Faith Defined #4, Enoch
Faith Defined #4
Message 12/26/2018
Jack Abeelen
Growing Thru Grace
Hebrews 11: 6 Enoch
Two Examples: Abel & Enoch
ENOCH
Genesis 5:24
His entire story covered in 4 verses, 50 words
"and he was not, for God took Him"
7th generation from Adam, Methuselah's dad, and the great-grandfather of Noah who would be saved through the flood.
Notice:
Methuselah's birth had a tremendous spiritual impact on his life. At 65 years old, he has a son and he begins to walk with the Lord. For the next 300 years, his relationship with God continues to go forward.
Methuselah oldest man in the Bible, lived to be 969, died in the year of the flood, never accomplished anything but this, according to the Bible. You'd think if you lived that long something else would be said. Sometimes shares the story of Methuselah's life at children's funerals--just because you are young, doesn't mean your life is incomplete. His greatest work was being born.
He's not sure what happened, but Enoch got busted down to become a godly man because of the Methuselah's birth.
For the next 1,000 years, Methuselah does nothing. His name is kind of a judgement name and means "In his life, at the end of his life, it will come..." Just his birth changed his dad's life.
And Enoch walked with God 300 years with the Lord faithfully during the time before the floood, at a time when the Earth's culture was as bad or worse than you will ever find. Genesis 5: 6, God saw the wickness of man...the intent of every thought of his heart was only evil and the Lord was sorry that He made man. He will destroy man. Genesis 6:11 The Earth was corrupt before God, filled with violence. Behold I will destroy them. And Enoch walked with God.
Not only this but, according to Jude, he ran around the world preaching to people about the coming of the Lord at a time when nobody wanted to hear it, the judgement of God. He didn't succeed, but he was faithful. "Now Enoch the 7th from Adam prophesied about these men and he said behold the Lord is coming with 10,000 of his saints to execute judgement to convict all who are ungodly among them ..." He was on crusade.
But best know for what happened when he turned 365, and "Enoch walked with God, and he was with God because He took him."
Before the judgement came, he was delivered from the wrath to come. In a day when everyone's life ended...."And he died."
How did God take him? He has no idea. This is procedure over purpose. How we don't know, why we do.
Hebrews 11:5 Before he was taken, he had this testimony "he pleased God."
Faithful for 300 years...far less long than we'll have to be....in a culture far worse than that we live in.
A witness in a Christ rejecting world when no one else will join you. It can withstand rejection from the world. It kept him going. That's why Paul can reach back.... It will persevere when no one else will join you. You won't go down with the ship.
11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe in who He is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We are created for his pleasure...this used to bug him. But it's not such a bad thing to know...as we please God, I find my greatest fulfillment and satisfaction. To live for myself or other purposes than what God wants is to invite emptiness into my life. I've been made to please God.
Solomon lived for everything but the Lord later in life. He lived for money, sex, power, possessions, wisdom to pursue them. Ecclesiastes 12, if I conclude the whole matter, fear God and keep the commandments. That's the best we can hope for, that's where satisfaction takes place.
To walk with somone
To be on same path, headed in the same direction, walking toward the same place...
This sounds like the church, no? We don't fit real well. The world goes one way, we go another. He was in stride with God and kept step with God.
Warren Weresby---For the Lord to take Enoch wasn't such a big move for Enoch because Enoch was so close to God anyway.
Enoch is also a type of the rapture of the Church....we will be taken by fire not flood though.
It is a witness to the world and will persevere when no one follows.
v6---It doesn't say it's harder...it says it's impossible.
Paul gives two truths: 1) believes that God is 2) rewards those who diligently seek Him, that He is. That he is everything He declares Himself to be.
This is not a given (belief in God) in this world. We have folks who deny his existence. Not believing in God is worse than the demons....James says they tremble
If you seek him, you'll find him. He's a God who wants to be found.
For 300 years that faith drove Enoch---I know that He is and that he's a rewarder. Faith is not an easy way to live. It can bring isolation, but God will reward.
Message 12/26/2018
Jack Abeelen
Growing Thru Grace
Hebrews 11: 6 Enoch
Two Examples: Abel & Enoch
ENOCH
Genesis 5:24
His entire story covered in 4 verses, 50 words
"and he was not, for God took Him"
7th generation from Adam, Methuselah's dad, and the great-grandfather of Noah who would be saved through the flood.
Notice:
Methuselah's birth had a tremendous spiritual impact on his life. At 65 years old, he has a son and he begins to walk with the Lord. For the next 300 years, his relationship with God continues to go forward.
Methuselah oldest man in the Bible, lived to be 969, died in the year of the flood, never accomplished anything but this, according to the Bible. You'd think if you lived that long something else would be said. Sometimes shares the story of Methuselah's life at children's funerals--just because you are young, doesn't mean your life is incomplete. His greatest work was being born.
He's not sure what happened, but Enoch got busted down to become a godly man because of the Methuselah's birth.
For the next 1,000 years, Methuselah does nothing. His name is kind of a judgement name and means "In his life, at the end of his life, it will come..." Just his birth changed his dad's life.
And Enoch walked with God 300 years with the Lord faithfully during the time before the floood, at a time when the Earth's culture was as bad or worse than you will ever find. Genesis 5: 6, God saw the wickness of man...the intent of every thought of his heart was only evil and the Lord was sorry that He made man. He will destroy man. Genesis 6:11 The Earth was corrupt before God, filled with violence. Behold I will destroy them. And Enoch walked with God.
Not only this but, according to Jude, he ran around the world preaching to people about the coming of the Lord at a time when nobody wanted to hear it, the judgement of God. He didn't succeed, but he was faithful. "Now Enoch the 7th from Adam prophesied about these men and he said behold the Lord is coming with 10,000 of his saints to execute judgement to convict all who are ungodly among them ..." He was on crusade.
But best know for what happened when he turned 365, and "Enoch walked with God, and he was with God because He took him."
Before the judgement came, he was delivered from the wrath to come. In a day when everyone's life ended...."And he died."
How did God take him? He has no idea. This is procedure over purpose. How we don't know, why we do.
Hebrews 11:5 Before he was taken, he had this testimony "he pleased God."
Faithful for 300 years...far less long than we'll have to be....in a culture far worse than that we live in.
A witness in a Christ rejecting world when no one else will join you. It can withstand rejection from the world. It kept him going. That's why Paul can reach back.... It will persevere when no one else will join you. You won't go down with the ship.
11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe in who He is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We are created for his pleasure...this used to bug him. But it's not such a bad thing to know...as we please God, I find my greatest fulfillment and satisfaction. To live for myself or other purposes than what God wants is to invite emptiness into my life. I've been made to please God.
Solomon lived for everything but the Lord later in life. He lived for money, sex, power, possessions, wisdom to pursue them. Ecclesiastes 12, if I conclude the whole matter, fear God and keep the commandments. That's the best we can hope for, that's where satisfaction takes place.
To walk with somone
To be on same path, headed in the same direction, walking toward the same place...
This sounds like the church, no? We don't fit real well. The world goes one way, we go another. He was in stride with God and kept step with God.
Warren Weresby---For the Lord to take Enoch wasn't such a big move for Enoch because Enoch was so close to God anyway.
Enoch is also a type of the rapture of the Church....we will be taken by fire not flood though.
It is a witness to the world and will persevere when no one follows.
v6---It doesn't say it's harder...it says it's impossible.
Paul gives two truths: 1) believes that God is 2) rewards those who diligently seek Him, that He is. That he is everything He declares Himself to be.
This is not a given (belief in God) in this world. We have folks who deny his existence. Not believing in God is worse than the demons....James says they tremble
If you seek him, you'll find him. He's a God who wants to be found.
For 300 years that faith drove Enoch---I know that He is and that he's a rewarder. Faith is not an easy way to live. It can bring isolation, but God will reward.
Section 92, Forgiveness and Duty
Section 92
SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES
Probably in Peræa
Subdivision G
CONCERNING OFFENSES, FAITH, AND SERVICE.
LUKE 17:1-10
FORGIVENESS
"And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!" Luke 17:1
Principle: Sin will come.
"In this life sin cannot be eradicated - such things are bound to come." -BKC
"The plain meaning of our Saviour, when He affirms it to be impossible but that offences will come, is this only—that, considering the state of the world, the number of temptations, the freedom of men’s will, the frailty of their nature, the perverseness and obstinacy of their affections; it cannot be expected, it cannot be supposed, it cannot be hoped, but that offences will come; though it be very unreasonable they should come.
Since our Saviour has forewarned us that it must needs be that such offences will come as may prove stumbling-blocks to the weak and inattentive, let us take care, since we have received this warning, not to stumble or be offended at them. And above all, as we ought not to take, so much more ought we to be careful that we never give, any of these offences." -S. Clarke
Be not afraid of the great multiplication of offences at this day in the world. The truths of the gospel and holiness have broke through a thousand times more offences. -J. Owen, BI
"Take heed of yourselves..." Luke 17:3
Principle: Don't be the one through whom sin comes.
The giving offence being a great aggravation of sin, let this rule lie continually in your hearts, That the more public persons are, the more careful they ought to be that they give no offence either to Jew or Gentile, or to “the Church of Christ.” -J. Owen, BI
"Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:32-33
"Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3
"Jesus had already noted that the Pharisees were not only refusing to enter the kingdom but were also keeping others from entering (Luk_11:52) Not only are Jesus’ followers not to cause others to sin; they also are to counteract sin by forgiving others (Luk_17:3-4). One should rebuke a brother if he sins. If he repents, he is to be forgiven even if he sins and repents over and over. The words seven times in a day denote a completeness - as often as it happens." -BKC
This expression of the forgiveness cycle in Luke resonates with me. I like that it actively involves rebuke and repentance as an integral part of the cycle.
"All rebukes should be delivered in a spirit of love. We have no way of judging whether an offender's repentance is genuine. We must accept his own word that he has repented. That is why Jesus says: “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” This is the gracious way our Father treats us. No matter how often we fail Him, we still have the assurance that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn_1:9)." -Believer's Bible
FAITH
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5
If this is a direct response to Christ's command to forgive, it's notable that they ask for faith not ability. It seems faith precedes and drives ability in this spiritual discipline.
"That Jesus has “the power” of increasing the faith of his people. Strength comes from him, and especially strength to believe the gospel. Hence, he is called the “Author and Finisher” of our faith, Heb_12:2." -Barnes
"The reply of the Lord indicated that it was not so much a matter of the quantity of faith but of its quality. Also it was not a question of getting more faith but of using the faith they had. It is our own pride and self-importance that prevent us from forgiving our brothers. That pride needs to be rooted up and cast out. If faith the size of a mustard seed can root up a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea, it can more easily give us victory over the hardness and unbrokenness which keep us from forgiving a brother indefinitely." Believer's Bible
"When you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." Col 2:12
"In praying for more faith, they also acknowledged their own insufficiency to produce it" (Eph_2:8; Php_2:13).
Our faith may be increased by examining the evidence of Divine truth. God always deals with us as intelligent beings. -?
The human conscience always Justifies God. This is an undeniable fact—a fact of universal consciousness. C. G. Finney
But there is another "judging" that the command of Christ condemns, and that is the hasty and the false judgments we pass on the motives and lives of others. How apt we are to depreciate the worth of others who do not happen to belong to our circle! We look so intently for their faults and foibles that we become blind to their excellences. We forget that there is some good in every person, some that we can see if we only look, and we may be always sure that there is some we cannot see. We should not prejudge. We should not form our opinion upon an ex parte statement. We should not leave the heart too open to the flying germs of rumor, and we should discount heavily any damaging, disparaging statement. We should not allow ourselves to draw too many inferences, for he who is given to drawing inferences draws largely on his imagination. We should think slowly in our judgment of others, for he who leaps to conclusions generally takes his leap in the dark. We should learn to wait for the second thoughts, for they are often truer than the first. Nor is it wise to use too much "the spur of the moment"; it is a sharp weapon, and is apt to cut both ways. We should not interpret others’ motives by our own feelings, nor should we "suppose" too much. Above all, we should be charitable, judging of others as we judge ourselves. Perhaps the beam that is in a brother’s eye is but the magnified mote that is in our own. It is better. to learn the art of appreciating than that of depreciating; for though the one is easy, and the other difficult, yet he who looks for the good, and exalts the good, will make the very wilderness to blossom and be glad; while he who depreciates everything outside his own little self impoverishes life, and makes the very garden of the Lord one arid, barren desert. -Expositor's Bible
"Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’" Luke 17:9-10
"In this passage, which is in the nature of a parable, Jesus teaches that duty is coextensive with ability, and explodes the doctrine that it is possible for a man to do "works of supererogation." Since in God's sight no man can even do his full duty (Ps. 143:2), it is impossible that he can do more than his duty. We may be rewarded for the discharge of our duty, but the reward is of grace and not of merit." -Fourfold
SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES
Probably in Peræa
Subdivision G
CONCERNING OFFENSES, FAITH, AND SERVICE.
LUKE 17:1-10
FORGIVENESS
"And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!" Luke 17:1
Principle: Sin will come.
"In this life sin cannot be eradicated - such things are bound to come." -BKC
"The plain meaning of our Saviour, when He affirms it to be impossible but that offences will come, is this only—that, considering the state of the world, the number of temptations, the freedom of men’s will, the frailty of their nature, the perverseness and obstinacy of their affections; it cannot be expected, it cannot be supposed, it cannot be hoped, but that offences will come; though it be very unreasonable they should come.
Since our Saviour has forewarned us that it must needs be that such offences will come as may prove stumbling-blocks to the weak and inattentive, let us take care, since we have received this warning, not to stumble or be offended at them. And above all, as we ought not to take, so much more ought we to be careful that we never give, any of these offences." -S. Clarke
Be not afraid of the great multiplication of offences at this day in the world. The truths of the gospel and holiness have broke through a thousand times more offences. -J. Owen, BI
"Take heed of yourselves..." Luke 17:3
The giving offence being a great aggravation of sin, let this rule lie continually in your hearts, That the more public persons are, the more careful they ought to be that they give no offence either to Jew or Gentile, or to “the Church of Christ.” -J. Owen, BI
"Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:32-33
"Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3
"Jesus had already noted that the Pharisees were not only refusing to enter the kingdom but were also keeping others from entering (Luk_11:52) Not only are Jesus’ followers not to cause others to sin; they also are to counteract sin by forgiving others (Luk_17:3-4). One should rebuke a brother if he sins. If he repents, he is to be forgiven even if he sins and repents over and over. The words seven times in a day denote a completeness - as often as it happens." -BKC
This expression of the forgiveness cycle in Luke resonates with me. I like that it actively involves rebuke and repentance as an integral part of the cycle.
"All rebukes should be delivered in a spirit of love. We have no way of judging whether an offender's repentance is genuine. We must accept his own word that he has repented. That is why Jesus says: “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” This is the gracious way our Father treats us. No matter how often we fail Him, we still have the assurance that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn_1:9)." -Believer's Bible
FAITH
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5
If this is a direct response to Christ's command to forgive, it's notable that they ask for faith not ability. It seems faith precedes and drives ability in this spiritual discipline.
"That Jesus has “the power” of increasing the faith of his people. Strength comes from him, and especially strength to believe the gospel. Hence, he is called the “Author and Finisher” of our faith, Heb_12:2." -Barnes
"The reply of the Lord indicated that it was not so much a matter of the quantity of faith but of its quality. Also it was not a question of getting more faith but of using the faith they had. It is our own pride and self-importance that prevent us from forgiving our brothers. That pride needs to be rooted up and cast out. If faith the size of a mustard seed can root up a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea, it can more easily give us victory over the hardness and unbrokenness which keep us from forgiving a brother indefinitely." Believer's Bible
"When you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." Col 2:12
"In praying for more faith, they also acknowledged their own insufficiency to produce it" (Eph_2:8; Php_2:13).
Our faith may be increased by examining the evidence of Divine truth. God always deals with us as intelligent beings. -?
The human conscience always Justifies God. This is an undeniable fact—a fact of universal consciousness. C. G. Finney
But there is another "judging" that the command of Christ condemns, and that is the hasty and the false judgments we pass on the motives and lives of others. How apt we are to depreciate the worth of others who do not happen to belong to our circle! We look so intently for their faults and foibles that we become blind to their excellences. We forget that there is some good in every person, some that we can see if we only look, and we may be always sure that there is some we cannot see. We should not prejudge. We should not form our opinion upon an ex parte statement. We should not leave the heart too open to the flying germs of rumor, and we should discount heavily any damaging, disparaging statement. We should not allow ourselves to draw too many inferences, for he who is given to drawing inferences draws largely on his imagination. We should think slowly in our judgment of others, for he who leaps to conclusions generally takes his leap in the dark. We should learn to wait for the second thoughts, for they are often truer than the first. Nor is it wise to use too much "the spur of the moment"; it is a sharp weapon, and is apt to cut both ways. We should not interpret others’ motives by our own feelings, nor should we "suppose" too much. Above all, we should be charitable, judging of others as we judge ourselves. Perhaps the beam that is in a brother’s eye is but the magnified mote that is in our own. It is better. to learn the art of appreciating than that of depreciating; for though the one is easy, and the other difficult, yet he who looks for the good, and exalts the good, will make the very wilderness to blossom and be glad; while he who depreciates everything outside his own little self impoverishes life, and makes the very garden of the Lord one arid, barren desert. -Expositor's Bible
"Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’" Luke 17:9-10
"In this passage, which is in the nature of a parable, Jesus teaches that duty is coextensive with ability, and explodes the doctrine that it is possible for a man to do "works of supererogation." Since in God's sight no man can even do his full duty (Ps. 143:2), it is impossible that he can do more than his duty. We may be rewarded for the discharge of our duty, but the reward is of grace and not of merit." -Fourfold
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Faith Defined, Message #3, Abel
Faith Defined
Message 12/20/2018
Jack Abeelen
Growing Thru Grace
Hebrews 11: 4-6 Abel & Enoch
Two Examples: Abel & Enoch
Doctrine finishes 10:18, then we come into practical examples...
Every example He gives us, you can add to your understanding of what persevering Biblical faith is. One sentence explanation of what they add to the picture of persevering Biblical faith that pleases God.
"By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice....and through it, he being dead still speaks...."
First example is Abel.
One thing for sure, faith is the only thing that God has ever responded to from the lives of the people.
In the OT and the New, faith has always been the way to life with God, not works. Works are just evidence of the faith that you have.
It was true for Adam, and it was true for Eve. Adam & Eve had seen the face of God, but they still had to decide if they would obey by faith or if they would turn to their own ways.
Their children were the first to have need of faith in the fullest sense of having to stand without the benefit of seeing God. They had to learn as Paul wrote: we used to know the Lord according to the flesh, we don't know Him that way anymore because now the walk is by faith....so it was for the children of Adam & Eve.
Even as Adam and Eve were put out of the garden and in their unbelief, Adam & Eve were given a promise by salvation that could only be received by faith.
Then He brought them the clothes from the animal skins that spoke of the suffering and the blood that would be shed. Even in His judgement, mercy was found.
4,000 years between Abel and Jesus...every man in that time would have to look forward in hope to the truth that God's promise of a redeemer would prevail....through the painful childbirth, through the labor, through the certain death, God's promise.
They could look forward to God's promise as a redeemer would prevail. They would have the certainty of God's promise to look forward to. All would have to look forward to the certainty of God's promises.
Their children were the first to be born in the natural way, the first to be born in sin, 2nd generation.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice...
To do anything by faith, requires that you know what God wants because faith having God as its object demands that you respond to His revealed will; if you don't know what God wants, you cannot respond by faith.
Once you hear God's word, and then in obedience as you respond....through faith...
Faith comes by hearing...hearing by the word of God.
Genesis 4:3 "and in the process of time it came to pass..."
Over the process of these boys growing up, not covered in history, God has not seen fit to give us insight, clearly reveal to both of these boys how they were to come to worship Him. How they were to come, when they were to come. He feels it is clear in that they both showed up at the same time. They were aware of God's desires.
Cain might have been 129 years old when this took place. They had plenty of time to learn what God had desired, what God had revealed. When the worship of God was demanded by God. Both men arrived as sinners, both men had access only faith, but they had to come in the manner that God had revealed.
One had his gift received and the other did not. Why would be the question. Why was one gift received and one not?
Some commentators think it's obviously about Abel's blood sacrifice. An animal sacrifice is required in the OT. There is no where in the context of these scriptures we are told it was a sin offering that they were bringing which would require the shedding of blood. The law had not been given. Even then, there were plenty meal offerings that were perfectly acceptable (wave offering of grain, clause in law that if poor, could bring a meal offering).
Re animal sacrifice--blood spoke of death, and the animal blood couldn't cleanse anyone from anything. It was only good in that it was typical; it pointed us to the one whose blood could. The type of offering that Abel brought is missing the lesson. Not emphasized in any of the scriptures we were given...
1 John "This is the message we've heard from the beginning, love one another, not like Cain who being of the wicked one murdered his brother....because his works were evil and his brother's were righteous."
Pro 15:8 The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.
His heart was wrong, and the sacrifice can't really cover a wicked heart.
Religious observations which are made by people not in accordance with the will of God that is revealed are both foolish and unacceptable to God--despite how sincerely, even if they were meant well.
There are examples throughout the Bible where intensity in heart cannot be substituted for obedience in faith.
Saul....switches out plan on God re fighting the Amalekites.... God loves obedience more than sacrifice. Faith obeys God's will.
Abel came in a manner that God prescribed to Him. It was the heart, not the sacrifice although they very well have lined up. Faith is interested in learning to do things God's way.
Abel came as God wanted. Cain came as he wanted and concluded that God should be glad he came at all.
Lots of people these days who say they love God but develop own terms and begin to tell you what God should be happy with..."let me tell you what I have done for Him." Cain had a general belief in God or else he wouldn't have bothered to come at all, but he didn't obey him.
Cain is the father of all false religion. He comes in any way except the prescribed way.
Proverbs 14:1 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.
For Satan there is always another way and there is always another name.
Peter--there is only one name given by which man must be saved.
v. 5 Cain's response to God's rejection of the offering was unrepentant. It was the beginning of Satan's religious system--self will, pride.
Did Cain repent? Did he ask for clarification? No. He just said fine. He was defiant, hateful, angry, soon directed it toward his brother.
Abel had an entirely different heart---brought the best of his flocks, brought it joyfully, by faith being obedient to the Lord. God had respect for his offering and his person. It was more excellent because it was brought by faith, by obedience.
Under the guise of religion who reject God's clear direction and come on their own manner, their own way. Jude wrote about false teachers of his day "Woe unto them, they have gone the way of Cain..." Whether Kora or Baalam or Cain, they all have their own way Faith demands I trust God and do what He says. Whether I understand or agree.
Paul wrote those he loves in Romans who have "a zeal for God but not according to knowledge...."
It's important we know what it is....
Cain gave the appearance of wanting to worship but when called him on his heart, God found him angry. God asked, "Why are you so mad? If you do well, will you not be accepted? Sin crouches at your door and its desire is for you but you should rule over it."
Come as God has revealed, be obedient. Cain's mother had been talked into sin, Cain couldn't be talked out of it. He just stuck with the program. He was angry. He was going to rebel, He was going to get even. He would turn, and he would kill his own brother because he was righteous and his deeds were righteous, and his were wicked.
According to....
Jude- Cain represents going your own way
John--Cain represents the hatred of man out of fellowship with God
Genesis--Cain in the process of time should have known better and did not
Hebrews--Cain's failure was that he didn't come the way God intended; he didn't come by faith.
But Abel did, he offered to the Lord a better sacrifice.
And...biblical faith brings obedience to God as God prescribes, and it produces an authentic righteous life.
Hebrews 12:4 "through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts...and through he being dead, still speaks."
How God spoke well of Abel's offerings, we are not told. We have no record of how the Lord made it clear to both of them that one's offering was respected and the other's was not. We are just told of its results and the anger of Cain and his unwillingness to be corrected. Some commentators think fire came down and consumed Abel's offering---great guess, he just doesn't know.
But he does know:
1. both knew what God wanted
2. Abel knew he was approved. Cain knew he was not.
Abel came by faith.
Abel was used by Jesus as yet another example of the wicked's unfaithful response to God. Matthew 23 speaking to the Pharisees and the history of the rejection of the prophets,
"The righteous blood shed on the earth began with righteous Abel..went to Zachariah being murdered between the temple and the altar." Every generation has the responsibility of being righteous.
The Lord used Abel as an example of a righteous one who's blood was shed.
But death is never the final word for the righteous....He's dead but he's still talking, 6,000 years later he's still speaking.
*Biblical faith comes to God in God's prescribed method.
Message 12/20/2018
Jack Abeelen
Growing Thru Grace
Hebrews 11: 4-6 Abel & Enoch
Two Examples: Abel & Enoch
Doctrine finishes 10:18, then we come into practical examples...
Every example He gives us, you can add to your understanding of what persevering Biblical faith is. One sentence explanation of what they add to the picture of persevering Biblical faith that pleases God.
"By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice....and through it, he being dead still speaks...."
First example is Abel.
One thing for sure, faith is the only thing that God has ever responded to from the lives of the people.
In the OT and the New, faith has always been the way to life with God, not works. Works are just evidence of the faith that you have.
It was true for Adam, and it was true for Eve. Adam & Eve had seen the face of God, but they still had to decide if they would obey by faith or if they would turn to their own ways.
Their children were the first to have need of faith in the fullest sense of having to stand without the benefit of seeing God. They had to learn as Paul wrote: we used to know the Lord according to the flesh, we don't know Him that way anymore because now the walk is by faith....so it was for the children of Adam & Eve.
Even as Adam and Eve were put out of the garden and in their unbelief, Adam & Eve were given a promise by salvation that could only be received by faith.
Then He brought them the clothes from the animal skins that spoke of the suffering and the blood that would be shed. Even in His judgement, mercy was found.
4,000 years between Abel and Jesus...every man in that time would have to look forward in hope to the truth that God's promise of a redeemer would prevail....through the painful childbirth, through the labor, through the certain death, God's promise.
They could look forward to God's promise as a redeemer would prevail. They would have the certainty of God's promise to look forward to. All would have to look forward to the certainty of God's promises.
Their children were the first to be born in the natural way, the first to be born in sin, 2nd generation.
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Kain and Abel, Mateo Orozco, 1652, public domain
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By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice...
To do anything by faith, requires that you know what God wants because faith having God as its object demands that you respond to His revealed will; if you don't know what God wants, you cannot respond by faith.
Once you hear God's word, and then in obedience as you respond....through faith...
Faith comes by hearing...hearing by the word of God.
Genesis 4:3 "and in the process of time it came to pass..."
Over the process of these boys growing up, not covered in history, God has not seen fit to give us insight, clearly reveal to both of these boys how they were to come to worship Him. How they were to come, when they were to come. He feels it is clear in that they both showed up at the same time. They were aware of God's desires.
Cain might have been 129 years old when this took place. They had plenty of time to learn what God had desired, what God had revealed. When the worship of God was demanded by God. Both men arrived as sinners, both men had access only faith, but they had to come in the manner that God had revealed.
One had his gift received and the other did not. Why would be the question. Why was one gift received and one not?
Some commentators think it's obviously about Abel's blood sacrifice. An animal sacrifice is required in the OT. There is no where in the context of these scriptures we are told it was a sin offering that they were bringing which would require the shedding of blood. The law had not been given. Even then, there were plenty meal offerings that were perfectly acceptable (wave offering of grain, clause in law that if poor, could bring a meal offering).
Re animal sacrifice--blood spoke of death, and the animal blood couldn't cleanse anyone from anything. It was only good in that it was typical; it pointed us to the one whose blood could. The type of offering that Abel brought is missing the lesson. Not emphasized in any of the scriptures we were given...
1 John "This is the message we've heard from the beginning, love one another, not like Cain who being of the wicked one murdered his brother....because his works were evil and his brother's were righteous."
Pro 15:8 The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.
His heart was wrong, and the sacrifice can't really cover a wicked heart.
Religious observations which are made by people not in accordance with the will of God that is revealed are both foolish and unacceptable to God--despite how sincerely, even if they were meant well.
There are examples throughout the Bible where intensity in heart cannot be substituted for obedience in faith.
 |
| Cain and Abel Make Offerings, Phillip Medhurst |
Saul....switches out plan on God re fighting the Amalekites.... God loves obedience more than sacrifice. Faith obeys God's will.
Abel came in a manner that God prescribed to Him. It was the heart, not the sacrifice although they very well have lined up. Faith is interested in learning to do things God's way.
Abel came as God wanted. Cain came as he wanted and concluded that God should be glad he came at all.
Lots of people these days who say they love God but develop own terms and begin to tell you what God should be happy with..."let me tell you what I have done for Him." Cain had a general belief in God or else he wouldn't have bothered to come at all, but he didn't obey him.
Cain is the father of all false religion. He comes in any way except the prescribed way.
Proverbs 14:1 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.
For Satan there is always another way and there is always another name.
Peter--there is only one name given by which man must be saved.
v. 5 Cain's response to God's rejection of the offering was unrepentant. It was the beginning of Satan's religious system--self will, pride.
Did Cain repent? Did he ask for clarification? No. He just said fine. He was defiant, hateful, angry, soon directed it toward his brother.
Abel had an entirely different heart---brought the best of his flocks, brought it joyfully, by faith being obedient to the Lord. God had respect for his offering and his person. It was more excellent because it was brought by faith, by obedience.
Under the guise of religion who reject God's clear direction and come on their own manner, their own way. Jude wrote about false teachers of his day "Woe unto them, they have gone the way of Cain..." Whether Kora or Baalam or Cain, they all have their own way Faith demands I trust God and do what He says. Whether I understand or agree.
Paul wrote those he loves in Romans who have "a zeal for God but not according to knowledge...."
It's important we know what it is....
Cain gave the appearance of wanting to worship but when called him on his heart, God found him angry. God asked, "Why are you so mad? If you do well, will you not be accepted? Sin crouches at your door and its desire is for you but you should rule over it."
Come as God has revealed, be obedient. Cain's mother had been talked into sin, Cain couldn't be talked out of it. He just stuck with the program. He was angry. He was going to rebel, He was going to get even. He would turn, and he would kill his own brother because he was righteous and his deeds were righteous, and his were wicked.
According to....
Jude- Cain represents going your own way
John--Cain represents the hatred of man out of fellowship with God
Genesis--Cain in the process of time should have known better and did not
Hebrews--Cain's failure was that he didn't come the way God intended; he didn't come by faith.
But Abel did, he offered to the Lord a better sacrifice.
And...biblical faith brings obedience to God as God prescribes, and it produces an authentic righteous life.
Hebrews 12:4 "through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts...and through he being dead, still speaks."
How God spoke well of Abel's offerings, we are not told. We have no record of how the Lord made it clear to both of them that one's offering was respected and the other's was not. We are just told of its results and the anger of Cain and his unwillingness to be corrected. Some commentators think fire came down and consumed Abel's offering---great guess, he just doesn't know.
But he does know:
1. both knew what God wanted
2. Abel knew he was approved. Cain knew he was not.
Abel came by faith.
Abel was used by Jesus as yet another example of the wicked's unfaithful response to God. Matthew 23 speaking to the Pharisees and the history of the rejection of the prophets,
"The righteous blood shed on the earth began with righteous Abel..went to Zachariah being murdered between the temple and the altar." Every generation has the responsibility of being righteous.
The Lord used Abel as an example of a righteous one who's blood was shed.
But death is never the final word for the righteous....He's dead but he's still talking, 6,000 years later he's still speaking.
*Biblical faith comes to God in God's prescribed method.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
FAITH Defined Series, Message #1 & #2, Introduction
Faith Defined #1
12/19 Hebrews 11: 1-3
"The Hall of Faith"
Focus: "What true faith is all about"
12-13 week series
Jack Abeleen, Growing Thru Grace
Lead up
Laid out doctrinal truths before this then...
Paul, Hebrews 10 ---Let us...true heart in full assurance of faith, let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, let us consider one another.
Paul, Hebrews 10:38---Don't throw away your confidence, will have great reward waiting, need endurance, after you have done the will of God, you will receive promises in a little while, but just will live by faith.
Hebrews 12--run the race
Paul could have just skipped 11 and moved on to 12, but he stops to define, to illustrate, to distinguish the characteristics of a kind of faith that is not only true and saving but is pleasing to God. They needed to see the truth of God's promises that could see them through; ultimately they needed to trust God.
What kind of faith pleases God? This is one of his favorite passages because faith is defined and laid out practically. What is the definition of faith from God's point of view?
Gallows humor---policeman and bridge jumper end up jumping. Reflects a culture that has abandoned God. suicide can not only be stylish but wise, no hope.
As God's people, how far are you and I from that type of outlook? We have great hope, tremendous futures, awesome promises. Peter called it a "lively hope," one that kept you going. Our experience of hope is directly proportional to our faith, or to our confidence in what God has said. The deeper or more profound your faith, the more wonderful your hope will become. This was the essential truth that Paul was trying to pass along to these Jewish-Christian readers. Some were in danger of going back to ease up on the pain they were suffering, and all were under attack for their faith.
Preserving faith is an essential part of real biblical faith. It sees it through. It really has nowhere else to turn because the doctrine in whom it has placed its trust, the God in whom has elicited that confidence, won't allow it to be turned off or to be turned away from. This litany of OT saints had persevering faith in common. Some persevered and beat back the enemy, some were sawn in half and martyred, but all overcame by faith.
Solution for both them and us: The just will live by faith.
Taking God at his word---what faith is all about.
Without any visible proof of God's promises, these individuals relegated their lives to live according to them and were so convinced that they took God at His word, which is really what faith is all about.
He will take them one at a time and together, they create a picture of true faith. In the end, the listener will have a complete list of what faith is. They needed this and so do we.
He's against "salesmen of the day" who seek to convince others that Alludes to cultural perspective that we need to shake faith out of God or ourselves, "what we need to get from God." He is against the view that "quantitative faith is a powerful tool in the hand of the saints so they can then have exactly what they want." Maligned believers who are convinced that if they just had a little bit more of faith God would give them what they want.
The just will live by faith.
Makes the distinction that Biblical Faith is what we want to understand.
Faith is the substance of what is hoped for, the evidence of the unseen. Substance=foundation, support beneath, sub-floor, that which undergirds. The guiding principle of what will please God in our lives...The evidence of faith is also provided by faith.
One thing is sure: Biblical faith is sure of something. It has sufficient proof and has provided it a foundation for life. This trust or confidence can support and can keep you from beginning to end.
IT IS NOT
a "positive outlook" hopeful words that have no assurance. Faith is not a psychological perspective or positive thinking. A lot of what Jesus said wasn't positive; his words about sin, hell, and judgment for all eternity is not uplifting. God's word must be behind the hope.
IT IS NOT
merely optimistic, a nebulous hopefulness, "Oklahoma" oh what a beautiful morning....
not an emotional sentiment, if you say it enough it becomes so.
Biblical faith:
It is sure, it is established, it provides a basis for your life, and it gives proof to what you believe because God has stamped himself and his promise upon it.
IS NOT
a hunch, an emotional sentiment, if you say it enough it becomes so...
Biblical faith makes the future present and the invisible seen, and it controls my life, and that faith can grow.
Romans 10--Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Hebrews 11: 6--Without faith it's impossible to please God because if you come to Him, you have to believe that He is and that He's also a rewarder of those who seek diligently Him.
BIBLICAL Faith always has God as its object and His word as assurance/proof.
You can't have "faith in faith" Not just "believe to believe."
And it must become the foundation for my life and the hope for my daily life to allow me to see what others cannot see, basically that God is at work. It gives evidence, supporting proof to what I cannot see and becomes the sub-floor for things I am hoping for, my faith in God.
IT IS NOT
Natural Faith, Blind faith. Natural faith often takes lots of things for granted, doing something because we are conditioned to do so--trust the water, fly in airplanes, allow someone to operate on us, visit the dentist. Most of what is we call faith is conditioned, learned behavior.
Spiritual faith is very much different:
Ephesians--through God's grace, He has given to us faith. It's not from us, not from works. It's a gift from God.
Romans 12---Through the grace that has been given to me everyone of you ought not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think but rather think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith---a capacity to respond and grow and follow Him by study, by the leading of His Spirit, through obedience, and it is to that measure of faith that God has planted in every man that the call of God comes for us to be saved. Come and believe in Me. Trust in Me. Lay down your ways. Look to Me. And as you begin to move towards the Lord, it is that faith that is then activated, some will respond, many will not, yet that initial faith is freely given to us by God, without it we could not be saved.
And yet, we have opportunity to go to church, get out the Bible, to begin to study and have our faith grow...
And, for the Hebrew believers, their faith grew to persevere through all kinds of things as they learned of the Lord and put into practice what they learned as He enabled them to do what He said. It was the kind of trusting in God that pleased Him.
Notice--it has a certainty, it is the substance of things hoped for, it is being sure of what we hope for.
In contrast, the Old Testament saints had the task of having to look ahead to a promised Messiah that would come someday, promises were vague at times, incomplete. Yet from what little they knew, faith reached out and grabbed ahold. Job had so little to go on, lived in the days of Abraham, yet he believed one day in his flesh he would see God. He knew that his redeemer lived, he knew that when his body was in the grave, he would still be alive--he knew this by revelation from God by faith, he was assured of it and it kept him through all of his suffering. Faith caused that surness and life by faith showed that surity by behavior. That surety showed itself in behavior, substance, that which stands beneath.
SubtanceBiblical faith grabs a hold of the future (that which we hope and that which God has promised and holds it in a foundational sense in the present tense so that everything I do is affected by that hope, I live according to the it becomes the basis of my life.
Solid certainty about a future hope based squarely on God's word.
Substance
5x's in NT 3x's in Hebrews
Hebrews 1:3 "person"
Hebrews "confidence"
Hebrews "substance"
What do we hope for? forgiven of sins, accepted into Heaven, faithful reward for service, the Lord to come, and to change the world, and one day to rule and reign with Him, for the Lord to provide for us daily, answer our prayers, to make us fruitful in ministry, give us give us peace in our lives, make us fruitful, these are promises that we can celebrate today.....
True faith can celebrate today what is future---both near and far term and the content/basis of that faith is made present by faith.
walk by faith
I trust God will provide. I look to Him to open doors. He alone can produce fruit. I want to be lead by the Spirit and not off on my own. It is a faith that produces hope. It will undergird with great certainty the way I live. It will cause me to live a different life than I would before I came to know him. because his promises have given my life substance, as basis from which to work.
And at that point, the difficulty doesn't matter. It moves me because God has promised.
Biblical faith:
A confident expectation that grabs hold of the future and drags it into the present so that I can govern my heart day-by-day.
I respond to the world around me by faith in Christ and obedience.
He personally hates walking by faith, loves to see the whole picture, to see the whole outcome, to have it before I need it. To stand and wait, to understand why God isn't hurrying up or have him deal me a couple of jokers from the deck, and wonder What is wrong with Him? But is there another way to live? I don't think so, the Bible doesn't give you an out. Walk by taith or sight is the choice.
Romans 8:24....hope that is seen is not hope anymore.
Rejoicing and not staggering at the promises of God, having no other assurance than what God also told me allows me to persevere against insurmountable odds because God doesn't fail.
Our problem so often a weakness in faith, as if God has left town.
God would have us live with a settled conviction of His promises that will govern our lives.
We tell our kids to trust us, but we are so slow to believe God.
Future being certain...
Present proof of that confidence...
Faith:
It's the organ by which we see the invisible around us.
Jacob and his dream of the ladder. He showed him God had been ministering to the people like this for generations, commerce between Heaven and Earth on his behalf. Bethel.
Reunion with Esau, wrestled, goes forth with God's blessing. He was no longer Jacob, "hip catcher," catcher but Israel which means "governed by God." He saw something he hadn't seen. He knew God was in control; God had broken Him. He went with a vision of God he had not had before though He had known Him for years.
Elisha asks God to reveal the armies to Gehazi (his servant) to see the unseen.
Word: evidence, certainty
Means: to be proven or tested
Noah, 120 years building, 100 miles away from water, it had never rained, yet Noah believed God.
He evidenced that foundation by his actions--built a boat though he had never before.
Paul to the Corinthians--In truth the things that are not seen are more permanent than those that are seen----"light affliction which is but for a momentary...while we look not at the things that are seen..."
Recap: Faith, first and foremost, must become the basis on which we build our lives. Faith must have God as our object, His word as our assurance, provides proof for what we have yet to see.
Until we see Him, faith provides a proof, a certainty of His promise.
v 2 "For by it the elders obtained a good testimony"
The activity of faith in lives of these elders enabled them to provide a good testimony/report, a declaration to the world, John describes it as a "witness in himself" 1 John.
All had confirmed in their hearts that they were in the right place, a good report within their own heart.
The outcomes among these saints were tremendously different, but the assurances of faith were all the same.
Daniel & his friends--it gave them great authority to stand, "but if not..." great assurance in the heart, even if it meant their very lives. They stood with certainty of the future, and they saw the invisible.
The same lesson is repeated and illustrated: faith has a foundation, it provides evidence and proof ,and it has a long history.
v 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen are not made out of that which is visible."
It allows a view of the invisible; it allows knowledge, perception, among what we could otherwise see. Faith is far wiser than what my eyes can accomplish.
Our stars and the universe ought to cry "Creator!" to man--the sheer expanse. Scientists investigate, speculate, hypothesize, and they change the rules, but they are no closer to the truth because faith demands we trust God. The reward is that we see the things we otherwise could not see. What a marvelous thing to look out and say "Wow, look what God has done."
They also set aside the flood... Peter mentions (2 Peter 3) will always be scoffers, "where is the promise of His coming," but they "willfully forget that the word of God said..." the flood. Floods mess up archaeological records.
Science will never see the beginning because it requires faith in God; it's the reward of trust. Faith may not understand all of the processes, it does see God behind it all. The faith that we have in God convinces us that what we have seen was made by the Lord, and it was made of things we don't see.
He made the world--bara---"Out of nothing" not asah (cobbled from components) speaking the world into existence. Job 38 "Where were you when I created the world and hung the stars on nothing?"
The discovery of origins is outside the scope of man's knowledge. Not blind faith, but rather a Biblical faith that comes to know God and accept His testimony due to the proofs found in His word.
Man's attempts to explain origins change constantly, but the writer of Hebrews knew by faith he could view creation. If you can get by Genesis 1:1, the Bible is easier after that. -Pastor Chuck. Until you can rest in that though, things are very difficult.
Biblical Faith Summary
It makes the future present.
It makes the unseen seen.
It has a history of commendation in the elders who walked with God.
It brings knowledge that is otherwise unknown.
God has to be the object.
His word has to be our assurance.
As if you know Him, then you know that in that measure of faith that God has given you, which has began to grow in your heart, as you are exposed to God's word, as you seek to obey what He has said in your heart, He brings an assurance to your heart that He is indeed who He says He is.
"Do"is involved on our end. John 7---"If any man, then do..."
Faith defined in verses 1-3 but illustrated the rest of the chapter.
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham...and so it goes...
12/19 Hebrews 11: 1-3
"The Hall of Faith"
Focus: "What true faith is all about"
12-13 week series
Jack Abeleen, Growing Thru Grace
Lead up
Laid out doctrinal truths before this then...
Paul, Hebrews 10 ---Let us...true heart in full assurance of faith, let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, let us consider one another.
Paul, Hebrews 10:38---Don't throw away your confidence, will have great reward waiting, need endurance, after you have done the will of God, you will receive promises in a little while, but just will live by faith.
Hebrews 12--run the race
Paul could have just skipped 11 and moved on to 12, but he stops to define, to illustrate, to distinguish the characteristics of a kind of faith that is not only true and saving but is pleasing to God. They needed to see the truth of God's promises that could see them through; ultimately they needed to trust God.
What kind of faith pleases God? This is one of his favorite passages because faith is defined and laid out practically. What is the definition of faith from God's point of view?
Gallows humor---policeman and bridge jumper end up jumping. Reflects a culture that has abandoned God. suicide can not only be stylish but wise, no hope.
As God's people, how far are you and I from that type of outlook? We have great hope, tremendous futures, awesome promises. Peter called it a "lively hope," one that kept you going. Our experience of hope is directly proportional to our faith, or to our confidence in what God has said. The deeper or more profound your faith, the more wonderful your hope will become. This was the essential truth that Paul was trying to pass along to these Jewish-Christian readers. Some were in danger of going back to ease up on the pain they were suffering, and all were under attack for their faith.
Preserving faith is an essential part of real biblical faith. It sees it through. It really has nowhere else to turn because the doctrine in whom it has placed its trust, the God in whom has elicited that confidence, won't allow it to be turned off or to be turned away from. This litany of OT saints had persevering faith in common. Some persevered and beat back the enemy, some were sawn in half and martyred, but all overcame by faith.
Solution for both them and us: The just will live by faith.
Taking God at his word---what faith is all about.
Without any visible proof of God's promises, these individuals relegated their lives to live according to them and were so convinced that they took God at His word, which is really what faith is all about.
He will take them one at a time and together, they create a picture of true faith. In the end, the listener will have a complete list of what faith is. They needed this and so do we.
He's against "salesmen of the day" who seek to convince others that Alludes to cultural perspective that we need to shake faith out of God or ourselves, "what we need to get from God." He is against the view that "quantitative faith is a powerful tool in the hand of the saints so they can then have exactly what they want." Maligned believers who are convinced that if they just had a little bit more of faith God would give them what they want.
The just will live by faith.
Makes the distinction that Biblical Faith is what we want to understand.
Faith is the substance of what is hoped for, the evidence of the unseen. Substance=foundation, support beneath, sub-floor, that which undergirds. The guiding principle of what will please God in our lives...The evidence of faith is also provided by faith.
One thing is sure: Biblical faith is sure of something. It has sufficient proof and has provided it a foundation for life. This trust or confidence can support and can keep you from beginning to end.
IT IS NOT
a "positive outlook" hopeful words that have no assurance. Faith is not a psychological perspective or positive thinking. A lot of what Jesus said wasn't positive; his words about sin, hell, and judgment for all eternity is not uplifting. God's word must be behind the hope.
IT IS NOT
merely optimistic, a nebulous hopefulness, "Oklahoma" oh what a beautiful morning....
not an emotional sentiment, if you say it enough it becomes so.
Biblical faith:
It is sure, it is established, it provides a basis for your life, and it gives proof to what you believe because God has stamped himself and his promise upon it.
IS NOT
a hunch, an emotional sentiment, if you say it enough it becomes so...
Biblical faith makes the future present and the invisible seen, and it controls my life, and that faith can grow.
Romans 10--Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Hebrews 11: 6--Without faith it's impossible to please God because if you come to Him, you have to believe that He is and that He's also a rewarder of those who seek diligently Him.
BIBLICAL Faith always has God as its object and His word as assurance/proof.
You can't have "faith in faith" Not just "believe to believe."
And it must become the foundation for my life and the hope for my daily life to allow me to see what others cannot see, basically that God is at work. It gives evidence, supporting proof to what I cannot see and becomes the sub-floor for things I am hoping for, my faith in God.
IT IS NOT
Natural Faith, Blind faith. Natural faith often takes lots of things for granted, doing something because we are conditioned to do so--trust the water, fly in airplanes, allow someone to operate on us, visit the dentist. Most of what is we call faith is conditioned, learned behavior.
Spiritual faith is very much different:
Ephesians--through God's grace, He has given to us faith. It's not from us, not from works. It's a gift from God.
Romans 12---Through the grace that has been given to me everyone of you ought not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think but rather think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith---a capacity to respond and grow and follow Him by study, by the leading of His Spirit, through obedience, and it is to that measure of faith that God has planted in every man that the call of God comes for us to be saved. Come and believe in Me. Trust in Me. Lay down your ways. Look to Me. And as you begin to move towards the Lord, it is that faith that is then activated, some will respond, many will not, yet that initial faith is freely given to us by God, without it we could not be saved.
And yet, we have opportunity to go to church, get out the Bible, to begin to study and have our faith grow...
And, for the Hebrew believers, their faith grew to persevere through all kinds of things as they learned of the Lord and put into practice what they learned as He enabled them to do what He said. It was the kind of trusting in God that pleased Him.
Notice--it has a certainty, it is the substance of things hoped for, it is being sure of what we hope for.
In contrast, the Old Testament saints had the task of having to look ahead to a promised Messiah that would come someday, promises were vague at times, incomplete. Yet from what little they knew, faith reached out and grabbed ahold. Job had so little to go on, lived in the days of Abraham, yet he believed one day in his flesh he would see God. He knew that his redeemer lived, he knew that when his body was in the grave, he would still be alive--he knew this by revelation from God by faith, he was assured of it and it kept him through all of his suffering. Faith caused that surness and life by faith showed that surity by behavior. That surety showed itself in behavior, substance, that which stands beneath.
SubtanceBiblical faith grabs a hold of the future (that which we hope and that which God has promised and holds it in a foundational sense in the present tense so that everything I do is affected by that hope, I live according to the it becomes the basis of my life.
Solid certainty about a future hope based squarely on God's word.
Substance
5x's in NT 3x's in Hebrews
Hebrews 1:3 "person"
Hebrews "confidence"
Hebrews "substance"
What do we hope for? forgiven of sins, accepted into Heaven, faithful reward for service, the Lord to come, and to change the world, and one day to rule and reign with Him, for the Lord to provide for us daily, answer our prayers, to make us fruitful in ministry, give us give us peace in our lives, make us fruitful, these are promises that we can celebrate today.....
True faith can celebrate today what is future---both near and far term and the content/basis of that faith is made present by faith.
walk by faith
I trust God will provide. I look to Him to open doors. He alone can produce fruit. I want to be lead by the Spirit and not off on my own. It is a faith that produces hope. It will undergird with great certainty the way I live. It will cause me to live a different life than I would before I came to know him. because his promises have given my life substance, as basis from which to work.
And at that point, the difficulty doesn't matter. It moves me because God has promised.
Biblical faith:
A confident expectation that grabs hold of the future and drags it into the present so that I can govern my heart day-by-day.
I respond to the world around me by faith in Christ and obedience.
He personally hates walking by faith, loves to see the whole picture, to see the whole outcome, to have it before I need it. To stand and wait, to understand why God isn't hurrying up or have him deal me a couple of jokers from the deck, and wonder What is wrong with Him? But is there another way to live? I don't think so, the Bible doesn't give you an out. Walk by taith or sight is the choice.
Romans 8:24....hope that is seen is not hope anymore.
Rejoicing and not staggering at the promises of God, having no other assurance than what God also told me allows me to persevere against insurmountable odds because God doesn't fail.
Our problem so often a weakness in faith, as if God has left town.
God would have us live with a settled conviction of His promises that will govern our lives.
We tell our kids to trust us, but we are so slow to believe God.
Future being certain...
Present proof of that confidence...
Faith:
It's the organ by which we see the invisible around us.
Jacob and his dream of the ladder. He showed him God had been ministering to the people like this for generations, commerce between Heaven and Earth on his behalf. Bethel.
Reunion with Esau, wrestled, goes forth with God's blessing. He was no longer Jacob, "hip catcher," catcher but Israel which means "governed by God." He saw something he hadn't seen. He knew God was in control; God had broken Him. He went with a vision of God he had not had before though He had known Him for years.
Elisha asks God to reveal the armies to Gehazi (his servant) to see the unseen.
Word: evidence, certainty
Means: to be proven or tested
Noah, 120 years building, 100 miles away from water, it had never rained, yet Noah believed God.
He evidenced that foundation by his actions--built a boat though he had never before.
Paul to the Corinthians--In truth the things that are not seen are more permanent than those that are seen----"light affliction which is but for a momentary...while we look not at the things that are seen..."
Recap: Faith, first and foremost, must become the basis on which we build our lives. Faith must have God as our object, His word as our assurance, provides proof for what we have yet to see.
Until we see Him, faith provides a proof, a certainty of His promise.
v 2 "For by it the elders obtained a good testimony"
The activity of faith in lives of these elders enabled them to provide a good testimony/report, a declaration to the world, John describes it as a "witness in himself" 1 John.
All had confirmed in their hearts that they were in the right place, a good report within their own heart.
The outcomes among these saints were tremendously different, but the assurances of faith were all the same.
Daniel & his friends--it gave them great authority to stand, "but if not..." great assurance in the heart, even if it meant their very lives. They stood with certainty of the future, and they saw the invisible.
The same lesson is repeated and illustrated: faith has a foundation, it provides evidence and proof ,and it has a long history.
v 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things which are seen are not made out of that which is visible."
It allows a view of the invisible; it allows knowledge, perception, among what we could otherwise see. Faith is far wiser than what my eyes can accomplish.
Our stars and the universe ought to cry "Creator!" to man--the sheer expanse. Scientists investigate, speculate, hypothesize, and they change the rules, but they are no closer to the truth because faith demands we trust God. The reward is that we see the things we otherwise could not see. What a marvelous thing to look out and say "Wow, look what God has done."
They also set aside the flood... Peter mentions (2 Peter 3) will always be scoffers, "where is the promise of His coming," but they "willfully forget that the word of God said..." the flood. Floods mess up archaeological records.
Science will never see the beginning because it requires faith in God; it's the reward of trust. Faith may not understand all of the processes, it does see God behind it all. The faith that we have in God convinces us that what we have seen was made by the Lord, and it was made of things we don't see.
He made the world--bara---"Out of nothing" not asah (cobbled from components) speaking the world into existence. Job 38 "Where were you when I created the world and hung the stars on nothing?"
The discovery of origins is outside the scope of man's knowledge. Not blind faith, but rather a Biblical faith that comes to know God and accept His testimony due to the proofs found in His word.
Man's attempts to explain origins change constantly, but the writer of Hebrews knew by faith he could view creation. If you can get by Genesis 1:1, the Bible is easier after that. -Pastor Chuck. Until you can rest in that though, things are very difficult.
Biblical Faith Summary
It makes the future present.
It makes the unseen seen.
It has a history of commendation in the elders who walked with God.
It brings knowledge that is otherwise unknown.
God has to be the object.
His word has to be our assurance.
As if you know Him, then you know that in that measure of faith that God has given you, which has began to grow in your heart, as you are exposed to God's word, as you seek to obey what He has said in your heart, He brings an assurance to your heart that He is indeed who He says He is.
"Do"is involved on our end. John 7---"If any man, then do..."
Faith defined in verses 1-3 but illustrated the rest of the chapter.
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham...and so it goes...
Section 92, Rich Man & Lazarus
Section 92
SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES
(Probably in Peræa)
Subdivision F
PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
LUKE 16:19-31
"The charge against the rich man was, not that he had injured Lazarus, but that he had not helped him. Man condemns us for doing wrong, God for failing to do right." -F.B. Meyer
Lazarus was translated to the realm of blessedness-the bosom of Abraham bespeaking nearness to him at the great feast-not because he had been so poor and miserable, but because, beggar though he was, he possessed the faith of heart and the purity of motive that characterized his great ancestor. -F.B. Meyer
Is it a parable? How far should we press it for truth?
"A parable so striking and solemn that, as has been said, "they must be fast asleep who are not startled by it." It is in several respects unique. Figure is so blended with reality, so rapidly passes into reality, that we are doubtful where and how far to separate between the form of truth and the truth itself. Indeed, it has been questioned whether the discourse is to be regarded as a parable at all; whether it is not to be regarded as the record of facts and experiences. Alone, too, of all the pictorial sayings of Jesus, it carries thought into the region behind the veil; it gives us a glimpse into the hidden economy. He who has access to the invisible takes us whither the eye of man has never pierced. "
The rich man was surrounded by friends and distractions on earth, but finds himself lonely and pensive in the afterlife.
"What were the torments? men with hushed voices ask... it is rather the burning never to be satisfied, longing for something utterly beyond his reach, that the unhappy man describes as an inextinguishable flame. Were it desirable to dwell on these torments, we should remind men how lustful desires change rapidly into torture for the soul when the means for gratifying them exist not. In the case of Dives, his delight on earth seems to have been society, pleasant jovial company, the being surrounded by a crowd of admiring friends, the daily banquet, the gorgeous apparel, the stately house,—these details more than hint at the pleasure he found in the society of courtier-friends; but in the other world he seems to have been quite alone. Whereas among the blessed there appears to be a sweet companionship. -Pulpit Commentary
The torment was psychological:
Notice that memory plays a conspicuous part in the sorrow of Gehenna; that Christ gives no hope of changing the soul’s habitation; and that we have in the Scripture a more certain agent of spiritual renewal than would be provided by even the apparition of the dead. -F.B. Meyer
As to the torment of this Dives in Hades, Luther hit on the right explanation when, in one of his sermons, he exclaims, "It is not corporeal. All is transacted in the conscience as he perceives that he has acted against the gospel. Nothing was actually spoken by him, but only internally felt." It is in view of this that we apprehend the scope of’ the recorded conversation. That is the outward form in which the emotion, the terror, of the conscience is portrayed. For, the retribution, whose fire is not quenched, is pointed to in the saying, "Son, remember!" "It is not necessary to imagine anything beyond the stroke, stroke, stroke, ever repeating, of a scorpion-conscience," recalling, revivifying all the past, the real character of actions being made evident, as with the force of a fire from whose heat nothing can be hidden.-Fourfold
God's revelation through His word to us on earth is sufficient:
"In endeavoring to carry out his desire he proceeds on the theory that the testimony of the dead in reference to the realities of the future state are more trustworthy and influential than the revelations of God himself, given through his inspired spokesmen. This dishonoring of God and his law was to be expected from one who had made mammon his real master, even though professing (as the context suggests) to serve God. The singleness of his service is shown in that he, though practically discharged by one master--mammon, can not even now speak respectfully of God. Some commentators make much of the so-called repentance of the rich man, manifested in this concern for his brethren; but the Lord did not count kindness shown to kindred as evidence of goodness, [much less of repentance (Luke 6:32-35, pp. 248, 249). Besides the natural feeling for his brothers, he knew that their presence in torment would add to his own. His concern for his brethren is not told to indicate repentance. It is mentioned to bring out the point that the revealed will of God of itself and without more makes it inexcusable for a man to lead a selfish life. -Fourfold Gospel
SECOND GREAT GROUP OF PARABLES
(Probably in Peræa)
Subdivision F
PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
LUKE 16:19-31
"The charge against the rich man was, not that he had injured Lazarus, but that he had not helped him. Man condemns us for doing wrong, God for failing to do right." -F.B. Meyer
Lazarus was translated to the realm of blessedness-the bosom of Abraham bespeaking nearness to him at the great feast-not because he had been so poor and miserable, but because, beggar though he was, he possessed the faith of heart and the purity of motive that characterized his great ancestor. -F.B. Meyer
"The poor man died and was carried by the angels Abraham's side." -Luke 16:22
What a lovely promise to think upon--angels escorting us to Heaven. The Pulpit Commentary suggests that it teaches also the continuance of the spirit without delay to Heaven or Hell.
 |
| The Rich Man and Lazarus, 1610, anonymous, Dutch low countries |
Is it a parable? How far should we press it for truth?
"A parable so striking and solemn that, as has been said, "they must be fast asleep who are not startled by it." It is in several respects unique. Figure is so blended with reality, so rapidly passes into reality, that we are doubtful where and how far to separate between the form of truth and the truth itself. Indeed, it has been questioned whether the discourse is to be regarded as a parable at all; whether it is not to be regarded as the record of facts and experiences. Alone, too, of all the pictorial sayings of Jesus, it carries thought into the region behind the veil; it gives us a glimpse into the hidden economy. He who has access to the invisible takes us whither the eye of man has never pierced. "
The rich man was surrounded by friends and distractions on earth, but finds himself lonely and pensive in the afterlife.
His intense longing seems to be for companionship. "Oh for a friend," he seems to say, "who could speak to me, comfort me, give me the smallest alleviation of the pain I suffer!" -The Pulpit Commentary
"What were the torments? men with hushed voices ask... it is rather the burning never to be satisfied, longing for something utterly beyond his reach, that the unhappy man describes as an inextinguishable flame. Were it desirable to dwell on these torments, we should remind men how lustful desires change rapidly into torture for the soul when the means for gratifying them exist not. In the case of Dives, his delight on earth seems to have been society, pleasant jovial company, the being surrounded by a crowd of admiring friends, the daily banquet, the gorgeous apparel, the stately house,—these details more than hint at the pleasure he found in the society of courtier-friends; but in the other world he seems to have been quite alone. Whereas among the blessed there appears to be a sweet companionship. -Pulpit Commentary
The torment was psychological:
Notice that memory plays a conspicuous part in the sorrow of Gehenna; that Christ gives no hope of changing the soul’s habitation; and that we have in the Scripture a more certain agent of spiritual renewal than would be provided by even the apparition of the dead. -F.B. Meyer
As to the torment of this Dives in Hades, Luther hit on the right explanation when, in one of his sermons, he exclaims, "It is not corporeal. All is transacted in the conscience as he perceives that he has acted against the gospel. Nothing was actually spoken by him, but only internally felt." It is in view of this that we apprehend the scope of’ the recorded conversation. That is the outward form in which the emotion, the terror, of the conscience is portrayed. For, the retribution, whose fire is not quenched, is pointed to in the saying, "Son, remember!" "It is not necessary to imagine anything beyond the stroke, stroke, stroke, ever repeating, of a scorpion-conscience," recalling, revivifying all the past, the real character of actions being made evident, as with the force of a fire from whose heat nothing can be hidden.-Fourfold
God's revelation through His word to us on earth is sufficient:
"In endeavoring to carry out his desire he proceeds on the theory that the testimony of the dead in reference to the realities of the future state are more trustworthy and influential than the revelations of God himself, given through his inspired spokesmen. This dishonoring of God and his law was to be expected from one who had made mammon his real master, even though professing (as the context suggests) to serve God. The singleness of his service is shown in that he, though practically discharged by one master--mammon, can not even now speak respectfully of God. Some commentators make much of the so-called repentance of the rich man, manifested in this concern for his brethren; but the Lord did not count kindness shown to kindred as evidence of goodness, [much less of repentance (Luke 6:32-35, pp. 248, 249). Besides the natural feeling for his brothers, he knew that their presence in torment would add to his own. His concern for his brethren is not told to indicate repentance. It is mentioned to bring out the point that the revealed will of God of itself and without more makes it inexcusable for a man to lead a selfish life. -Fourfold Gospel
Section 92, On Hades/Sheol
A side discussion on the word Hades.
"The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." Luke 16:22-23
Hades (en tōi Hāidēi). See note on Mat_16:18 for discussion of this word. Lazarus was in Hades also for both Paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and Gehenna are in the unseen world beyond the grave. -RWP
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
"The gates of Hades (pulai hāidou) shall not prevail against it. Each word here creates difficulty. Hades is technically the unseen world, the Hebrew Sheol, the land of the departed, that is death. Paul uses thanate in 1Co_15:55 in quoting Hos_13:14 for hāidē. It is not common in the papyri, but it is common on tombstones in Asia Minor, “doubtless a survival of its use in the old Greek religion” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). The ancient pagans divided Hades (a privative and idein, to see, abode of the unseen) into Elysium and Tartarus as the Jews put both Abraham’s bosom and Gehenna in Sheol or Hades (cf. Luk_16:25). Christ was in Hades (Act_2:27, Act_2:31), not in Gehenna. We have here the figure of two buildings, the Church of Christ on the Rock, the House of Death (Hades). “In the Old Testament the ‘gates of Hades’ (Sheol) never bears any other meaning (Isa_38:10; Wisd. 16:3; 3 Maccabees 5:51) than death,” McNeile claims. See also Psa_9:13; Psa_107:18; Job_38:17 (pulai thanatou pulōroi hāidou). It is not the picture of Hades attacking Christ’s church, but of death’s possible victory over the church. “The ekklēsia is built upon the Messiahship of her master, and death, the gates of Hades, will not prevail against her by keeping Him imprisoned. It was a mysterious truth, which He will soon tell them in plain words (Mat_16:21); it is echoed in Act_2:24, Act_2:31” (McNeile). Christ’s church will prevail and survive because He will burst the gates of Hades and come forth conqueror. He will ever live and be the guarantor of the perpetuity of His people or church. "-RWP
"The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." Luke 16:22-23
Hades (en tōi Hāidēi). See note on Mat_16:18 for discussion of this word. Lazarus was in Hades also for both Paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and Gehenna are in the unseen world beyond the grave. -RWP
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
"The gates of Hades (pulai hāidou) shall not prevail against it. Each word here creates difficulty. Hades is technically the unseen world, the Hebrew Sheol, the land of the departed, that is death. Paul uses thanate in 1Co_15:55 in quoting Hos_13:14 for hāidē. It is not common in the papyri, but it is common on tombstones in Asia Minor, “doubtless a survival of its use in the old Greek religion” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). The ancient pagans divided Hades (a privative and idein, to see, abode of the unseen) into Elysium and Tartarus as the Jews put both Abraham’s bosom and Gehenna in Sheol or Hades (cf. Luk_16:25). Christ was in Hades (Act_2:27, Act_2:31), not in Gehenna. We have here the figure of two buildings, the Church of Christ on the Rock, the House of Death (Hades). “In the Old Testament the ‘gates of Hades’ (Sheol) never bears any other meaning (Isa_38:10; Wisd. 16:3; 3 Maccabees 5:51) than death,” McNeile claims. See also Psa_9:13; Psa_107:18; Job_38:17 (pulai thanatou pulōroi hāidou). It is not the picture of Hades attacking Christ’s church, but of death’s possible victory over the church. “The ekklēsia is built upon the Messiahship of her master, and death, the gates of Hades, will not prevail against her by keeping Him imprisoned. It was a mysterious truth, which He will soon tell them in plain words (Mat_16:21); it is echoed in Act_2:24, Act_2:31” (McNeile). Christ’s church will prevail and survive because He will burst the gates of Hades and come forth conqueror. He will ever live and be the guarantor of the perpetuity of His people or church. "-RWP
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