A Dinner Invitation

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Pete

In many ways it’s kind of a confusing story. Not the part about the man of God sent to King Jeroboam to pronounce judgment on the king for his idolatrous leadership of the northern kingdom. That part’s pretty clear. The altar Jeroboam had built in Bethel, as the place of sacrifice to the two golden calves he had declared to be “your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” (1Kings 12:28), would be the altar upon which Jeroboam’s fake priests would be sacrificed (1Kings 13:2). Jeroboam had provoked the LORD to anger (1Kings 14:9, 15) and, unless there was repentance, judgment was inevitable. No, that part’s not the confusing part.

The confusing part is what happens to the man of God. At first he is invited by Jeroboam to come home with the king. You sense it’s Jeroboam’s way of trying to get on God’s “good side.” Seems like he’s thinking he can wine and dine and bribe the prophets favor, then maybe he secures some of God’s favor. But God doesn’t turn a blind eye to sin . . . He can’t. And besides, God doesn’t work for the man of God, the man of God works for Him. So, as a further sign of God’s judgment, the man of God refuses to “eat bread or drink water in this place” for the word of the LORD had been clear to the man of God, “You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came” (13:8-9). So far, so good.

Then the confusing part.

As the man of God heads out of town, an old prophet who lives in Bethel invites him home for dinner. The man of God refuses. Just as he had said to the king, the man of God tells the old prophet, “I may not return with you, or go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place, for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came'” (13:16-17). But the old prophet lies to the man of God and says that he too received a word from the LORD and that God had changed His mind — the man of God was to eat in Bethel at the old prophet’s house.

Old man’s motivation for lying? I’m thinking it’s the same as the king’s. To secure favor and avoid God’s just wrath upon his own sin in worshiping the golden calves which “led Israel out of Egypt.” But while they are eating, God’s Spirit overpowers the lying flesh of the old prophet and uses him to pronounce judgment on the man of God for his disobedience. The man of God, after receiving the word, finishes his meal and leaves. Shortly thereafter he encounters a lion on the road and is killed. Weird. Kind of confusing.

Who feels sorry for the man of God? How unfair does it feel that a lying old man can cut short the aspiring career of a promising up-and-comer? What does it say about the importance of obedience?

So, not sure exactly what all this passage is meant to teach us, but here are some thoughts that run through my mind. First, God is God and His ways are perfect. Second, God’s word is to be guarded and obeyed and we need to beware of anyone or anything that says, “We’ve heard something different from God.” And third, while there is no buying God’s favor with the bread and drink we have to offer, there is the need to invite THE MAN OF GOD home for dinner.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.”
~ The Ascended, Living Jesus (Revelation 3:20 ESV)

Jeroboam couldn’t bribe his way into God averting His just judgment upon sin.. The old prophet couldn’t lie his way into God overlooking his complicity in Bethel’s idolatry. They both tried by inviting someone home for dinner. But they invited a man who, just like themselves, ended up tripped up in his own disobedience.

Instead, God calls all those enslaved in sin to invite His Son for dinner. It’s not what they can put on the table for Him, but about the table He has prepared for them. His body, our bread . . . his blood, our wine. Favor with God secured not by our wisdom, but by the wisdom of the cross. Having taken our wrath upon Himself, He now invites us to invite Him in for a meal. A meal of His provision . . . a meal which will result in eternal fellowship with the King of kings.  If we open the door, He will come in and eat.

Amazing grace . . . for the glory of God.

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The New Selfie

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Pete

I don’t know why we still call them phones. For most of us, that little (or, in more and more cases, not so little) device we carry with us 24/7 is probably used the least as a phone. It connects us with the Internet . . . it plays our music . . . is used as our Daytimer (who remembers those?) . . . tracks how many steps we’ve taken today . . . allows us to communicate with our thumbs. But I guess we call it a phone because “personal computer” has already been taken. And the reason I’m thinking about this is that for everything our phones do, for more and more people, it has also become the camera of choice. Cue the selfie.

I don’t know if it’s an official new word . . . but it shows up in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary. Even if it’s not an official word, pretty much everyone knows it . . . and, it seems, everyone’s doing it. All you need is a phone, your arm, and your face . . . or your face and as many faces as you can cram next to your face. And for the exceptionally well prepared and advanced student, you’re carrying a selfie-stick with you wherever you go. Extends the arm . . . allows more faces to be crammed together or more of the background to be captured. Crazy!

Ok . . . so two paragraphs in and you’re wondering, “Where’s this going?” What could he possibly be reading in the Bible that gets him thinking about phones that aren’t really phones and this new craze in self-portraits. Well, here it is. As I’m reading in Ephesians this morning it occurs to me that every time a child of God takes a pic of themselves with their phone, it’s either of the old-selfie or the new-selfie.

. . . put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds, . . . put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV)

After three glorious chapters of inventorying all that is the believer’s “in Christ,” Paul shifts to the practical implications of this divine reality. And so he says, “You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds” (4:17). Don’t do it, he says. Don’t go around living like the person you used to be . . . don’t do life after the natural man, the man governed by the sinful nature. Don’t give yourself up to hardness of heart . . . to living to fulfill your lusts . . . to unbridled, impure living. Because that’s your old self. The one who was crucified with Christ. The nature that was in rebellion to kingdom. It’s gone. Don’t live like it isn’t.

Instead, says Paul, put on the new self. Note that it’s not, “work your way up” to the new self. It’s “put it on.” By the renewing of the mind — through the pursuit of God’s word and way through the power of God’s Spirit — you “slip into” those robes of righteousness that are yours in Christ. The new self isn’t some self-improvement program, it’s a reality to wear. In Christ, the believer has been re-created after the likeness of God. Because of the nature of Christ imputed to them, that is, credited to their account, the believer possesses “true righteousness and holiness.” The work is finished . . . His holiness has been woven into us . . . it’s who we are in Christ through the Spirit. The task for us is to put it on. That’s the new self.

So every time I pause to take inventory of how I’m choosing to live my life . . . every time I take a moment to look in the mirror . . . every time I whip out the phone and take a selfie, it’s a picture which captures me either living like the old self . . . or of me living in the truth of the new self. It’s either an old-selfie or a new-selfie.

Might be interesting some time to go back over those tons of photo’s sitting in our phones, and reflect, “Old-selfie or new-selfie?”

New-selfies. That’s what you want, says Paul (kinda). Living as who we are in Christ and not as who we once were when we were “darkened in our understanding.”

Here’s to phones throughout the church which are packed with pictures of the new-selfie.

All because of grace . . . all for His glory.

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God’s Body Building Program

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Pete

Show me a follower of Christ who has stalled and I’ll show you a follower who’s not connected to a fellowship of other followers. Tell me about someone who was tracking well with the Lord and then just kind of went into a slow drift, and I’d be interested to know if that coincided with when they were too busy, or too disinterested, or too put-off, to keep gathering with the Lord’s people in a meaningful and regular manner. I know God is not to be put in a box . . . and that with God all things are possible–even a believer growing apart from fellowship with other believers . . . but I also know that God has prescribed a normative way for His children to grow and mature in the faith. And that’s through God’s body building program.

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
(Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV emphasis added)

The church wasn’t our idea. Calling it the body of Christ wasn’t some quaint term we came up with. The Son of God said He would build His church. And the Spirit of God has said that it is His body. A body for which He provides gifted men and women to equip the saints for building up of the body of Christ. He intent is that we grow up . . . becoming more and more like Jesus . . . becoming conformed to the image of God’s Son (Rom. 8:29). And the dynamic He has set in motion is that of the body of Christ, individual members joined together, gifted, and equipped, when it’s working as it should, builds itself up. The body works to together to grow and mature. Such is God’s body building program.

Divine perpetual motion.  That’s what it is.  Started with a few at Pentecost. Equipping itself . . . building itself up . . . each part engaged and contributing according to their gifting . . . and the body grows and builds itself up in love. First in Jerusalem . . . then Judea . . . then Samaria . . . and to the ends of the earth. Starting 2,000 years ago and continuing century after century. Set in motion by the Spirit of God . . . sustained in perpetual growth by the Spirit of God. It’s God’s normative way. What arrogance to think that we can accomplish God’s desired outcome for us to mature in Christ without engaging in His prescribed means for our development and growth.

If I was the sworn eternal enemy of God . . . opposed to all that which brings Him glory . . . if I couldn’t prevent people from believing in His Son . . . I would sure try and keep those people from growing up and being glory givers. I’d create a culture that seduced people into calendars too full to regularly meet with the body on Sundays. I’d work discord so that bad experiences would keep people from seeking out the dynamic God has ordained for His people’s spiritual growth. I’d sow seeds of complacency or resentment or discontentment within the church. I’d seek to misdirect popular opinion to conclude that doing community with God’s people is passé or irrelevant. And I’d do whatever else I could do to keep members of the body from connecting with the body so that they wouldn’t grow up through God’s body building program.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.   (Hebrews 13:23-25 ESV)

Oh that there would be revival among God’s people for God’s people. That, with a fresh sense of urgency and purpose, they might see the necessity of being all in with God’s prescribed way of growing their faith.

That we might no longer be children tossed to and fro . . . that we might mature to the measure given us of the fullness of Christ . . . that we might do so by His overflowing grace . . . that we might do so to His everlasting glory?

And God’s people said . . . ?

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The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Pete

After waking to eight verses in Psalm 119 . . . and chewing on Solomon’s great prayer of dedication at the just completed and glory-filled temple . . . and taking in Zechariah’s song of praise at the birth of his son and the prospect of his Messiah . . . like a good cup of coffee, I’m finishing with savoring the first part of Ephesians 3. To be sure it’s been a feast this morning. And the lingering after taste is awe, wonder, and worship as I consider the unsearchable riches of Christ.

For Paul, the gospel was a “stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you” (3:2). It was a treasure to be managed, shared, and directed as God willed. And, in that, was the mystery. The mystery of Christ given to Paul through revelation by the Spirit, “that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (3:6). Though very few of the twelve tribes saw it coming, it was always intended to be . . . “the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things” (3:9b). It’s what God meant when He promised Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). And that “eternal purpose” was realized in Christ Jesus our Lord (3:11).

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of Gods grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ . . .   (Ephesians 3:7-8 ESV)

The unsearchable riches of Christ. Unable to be fully tracked. Unable to be completely comprehended. But more than able to evoke awe and wonder.

Unsearchable in ITS EXISTENCE. Determined before the foundation of the world. Hidden for the ages. All of redemptive history pointing to it. Nothing done that was done by God without the determined purpose that it would culminate in Christ. Hinted at in the seed that would crush the serpents head. Pictured in the Passover Lamb. Foretold in Isaiah’s prophetic vision of a suffering servant. Promised as the Son of David who would sit on the throne forever. Go as far back as you can . . . and then some . . . and there you find the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Unsearchable in ITS REACH. Not just for the Jew, but for the Gentile as well. Not just for those who seek the Light, but for those so enveloped in darkness they don’t even know it. Not just for the saint but for the sinner. Reaching to the lowest hell . . . redeeming those that we might consider beyond redemption. It’s the nature grace . . . it’s the fruit of imputed righteousness . . . it’s the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Unsearchable in ITS BENEFIT. That the gospel was but an exemption from having to pay the wages our sin demanded, that would be a gift beyond expectation. But that it would be accompanied with “boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him” (3:12) is beyond measure. Not just rescued, but righteous. Not just saved, but sons. Not just excused from hell, but invited to dine at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits (Ps. 103:2) . . . the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Unsearchable in ITS INSTRUCTION.

. . . so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.   (Ephesians 3:10 ESV)

The mystery of Christ . . . the grace of the gospel . . . impacting not only creatures here on earth, but also leaving an eternal impression in heavenly realms. What does it sound like for an angel to gasp in disbelief as he witnesses an enemy of God willingly surrender before the cross? What is the nature of the thunderous voice that is raised around the throne when, in celebration, heaven rejoices over a lost one found? How is the church providing the fuel for eternal worship in the heavens? Don’t fully know. It’s unsearchable.

And, it’s unbelievable!

But it is also undeniable!

All because of grace! . . . All for His glory!

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Near

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Pete

“Therefore remember . . . ” That’s how my reading in Ephesians (2:11-22) began this morning. I took it as a command to obey. Sometimes you need to recall where you were in order to appreciate anew where you are. Sometimes it makes sense to look back at what was, so that you might reflect afresh on what is. Sometimes it’s worth recalling the reality of the alienation of the past life so that you might wonder again, and worship again, because of the reconciliation we can take so for granted in the present life. Sometimes it’s good to remember how far off you were, so that you might thank God that now you are near.

And so, I remember. Like the Ephesians, I was a “Gentile in the flesh.” Separated from Christ. Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, a stranger to the covenants of promise. And so, I too was someone “having no hope and without God in the world.” Sum it up in two words, and I was “far off.”

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.   (Ephesians 2:13 ESV)

How easy it is for me to take “near” for granted. For the past three-and-a-half decades I have, for the most part, lived “near.” Because of a new nature, light has been preferred over darkness. By God’s grace, abiding as been the norm rather than the exception. But once, I’m told to remember, I was far off.

At one time, I was hostile toward God. At best, I thought if I left Him alone, He’d leave me alone, and then we could work out something in the end. At worst, His name was on my lips in a manner that now causes me to cringe in remorse and shame . . . maybe that’s why I don’t like to remember. While I’d like to think I lived in ambivalence, I reflect and concede that I lived in hostility.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility . . . that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.    (Ephesians 2:14-16 ESV)

He Himself is our peace. The blood having brought us near, the cross having dealt with, once for all, the hostility. Therefore remember . . .

And so I pause. For, if not for the grace of God, where might I be today? If not for the offering of the Son of Man as the Lamb of God for the sin of the world, how wide would the chasm be? If not for the empty tomb, how bleak would the prospect of eternity be? If not for the gentle wooing of a Savior Shepherd who made His voice known that I might hear and believe, how lost would I be?  If not for the life-giving power of the Spirit who dwells within me, how dead would I be?

And so I give thanks. For, though I once was far off, this morning I am near.

Near by the grace God . . . Near for the glory of God.

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Have A Seat!

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Pete

The rap sheet is long. Dead in trespasses and sins. Followed the course of this age . . . was led by the the spirit now at work in people of disobedience. Lived after the passions of the flesh–if it was about me, liked it . . . if it felt good, did it. By nature, a child of wrath. And though the rap sheet was huge and condemning, grace was immeasurable and liberating.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV)

Hovering over the great turnaround of Ephesians 2 this morning.

We were dead, BUT GOD made us alive. We were people enslaved by our sinful nature, BUT GOD is love. We were by nature children of wrath, BUT GOD is rich in mercy. How much do you have to like those two words, “but God.” That’s the game-changer. Not because of who we were or what we’ve done, but despite of who we were and all that we did. Not because of our good works, but all because of His immeasurable grace. We were lost in self, BUT GOD made us alive in Christ.

And as I noodle on the blessings of this great salvation, one in particular captures my thoughts. In redeeming us through super-abounding unmerited favor, God has not only made us alive in Christ but has also “seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Where is Christ seated today? At the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). At the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven (Heb. 8:1, 12:2). So where am I seated?

That the right hand of the Father is reserved solely for the Son is clear. But who gets the seats next to Him because they are in Him? We do. Have a seat!

How I need to be reminded that although I’m living on earth, I am a blood bought, bona fide, seat-possessing citizen of heaven (Php. 3:20). While I might be occupying a chair at my desk in the here and now, one day, in the there and then, I will be granted to sit with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21). That though I hold no rank or office of significance in this world, I share in the authority of the King of heaven who is sovereign over all and has established His kingdom on earth through those He has redeemed.

Seated with Him in the heavenly places. What a high and holy position. What privilege. What blessing. All without merit save that I am “in Christ Jesus.”

Might I live like one seated in the heavenlies. Live in the blessing of the riches of that seat . . . live in the power of the authority of that seat . . . live in the responsibility to be a faithful ambassador of that seat . . . live in the awe and wonder of the reality of that seat.

. . . so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Have a seat! I think I will . . . only because of grace . . . only through grace. Thank you, Lord!

To Him be all glory!

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More Than We Could Ask or Deserved

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Pete

It must be one of the best known encounters between a man and God in the Old Testament. And, it must be one of the most inspirational. God appears to the newly crowned king, Solomon, in a dream and says, “Ask what I shall give you.” Talk about a blank check! Talk about the classic, “If you had one wish what would it be?” And Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel, asks for “an understanding mind” to govern God’s people. In sincere humility, knowing that he is insufficient to govern God’s great people, when told by God he can have anything he wants, Solomon asks for discernment that he might be a faithful leader and judge over Israel. (1Kings 3:3-9).

Bam! That’s the type of leader you like to see. Rather than seeking anything for himself, he wants what will benefit his people the most. It’s not about him, but about faithfully discharging the duty God has called him to. And not only does it ring right with us, but it also pleased the LORD (3:10). And so God gives Solomon what he asks for . . . and gives him what he didn’t ask for.

. . . behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. (1Kings 3:12-13 ESV)

Yup . . . pretty cool. Pretty inspirational. But here’s what hit me this morning . . . the foreboding context in which this divine transaction took place.

Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaohs daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had  finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.
(1Kings 3:1 ESV)

As I read this I could almost hear the ominous tolling of a bell. Wife number one. One down, nine-hundred-ninety-nine to go. The first of many foreign wives which God had warned the people of Israel not to marry “for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. And if one might turn away a man’s heart, then one-thousand was going to do a job on this son of David. And Solomon “clung to these in love . . . And his wives turned away his heart.” (1Kings 11:1-3).

So the chapter starts with exposing Solomon’s Achilles heel. And yet, having seen this act of disobedience in the heir to the throne, . . . despite the perfect foreknowledge of knowing that this would be far from an isolated incident, . . . fully aware that Pharaoh’s daughter would be the first of many, many who would successfully mess with the king’s spiritual GPS, God still asks, “What shall I give you?” God still is pleased when Solomon asks for wisdom. And God still grants him not only wisdom but a royal experience which will be second to none in all of history. Can anyone say, “Grace?”

If it had been performance based, God might have held off asking the question? Maybe waiting to see if this Pharaoh’s daughter thing was a “momentary slip” before showering him with wisdom, riches, and honor. If it had been on the basis of works . . .

But it wasn’t. In God’s sovereign determination, in order to fulfill God’s sovereign purpose, according to God’s steadfast love, and by God’s super-abounding grace, He bestows upon a king that which he did not merit. Sounds kind of familiar . . .

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV)

God loved Solomon . . . and showered him with wisdom, despite his choice of wife. And then He gave more him than he asked for, or deserved, and bestowed on him riches.

And God loved us . . . and gave us life, despite our dead works. And, more than just redeeming us, He lavishes on us “the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

By grace, giving us more than we could ask . . . and more than we deserve.

How great is our God? Pretty!

To Him be the glory . . .

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Lavished Upon Us

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Pete

“It’s like I’m drinking from a fire hose!” Ever heard someone say that? I did just this last week as I talked to a friend about how it was going as she was training for a new job. Ever said that yourself? I have. Numerous times. But pause and think about it and what a great word-picture it paints. Imagine someone drinking out of a fire hose? Nozzle to mouth. Hydrant turned on full. No way you can take it all in . . . but it just keeps coming. That’s the image that came to mind this morning as I started in on Ephesians in my reading plan and came across these words from Paul . . .

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV)

I only read the first fourteen verses of Ephesians this morning. Looks like I colored every word. Thoughts concerning Christ . . . truths about God the Father . . . gems about the nature of our salvation . . . calls for praise . . . demonstrations of blessing. Tons of stuff to noodle on in just these few verses. It’s like drinking from a fire hose! But what grabbed this morning . . . the hose that got hooked up and turned on . . . is the fire hose connected to the riches of God’s grace.

Paul says that in Christ we have redemption through His blood. That, because of the finished work of the cross, we can know the forgiveness of our trespasses — past, present, and future. And all this is “according to the riches of His grace, which we lavished on us.”

Savor that word for a moment . . . lavished! The word doesn’t find it’s way into my vocabulary very often. Evidently I’m either not talking about grace as much as I should be or talking about it the way I should be. If I did, “lavished” would be a pretty common part of my speech.

Merriam-Webster defines it like this: “expending or bestowing profusely; expended or produced in abundance; marked by profusion or excess.” Come to think of it I don’t use the word profusely much either. My handy-dandy online Greek lexicon says the original word as the idea of “to abound” or “overflow.” Strong’s puts it this way, “superabound.” When’s the last time I talked about God’s favor and used the word “superabound?”

Such is the degree to which God has, and continues to, pour out His grace. From the abundance and wealth of grace that is found in the very nature of God — a storehouse without measure — grace flows profusely. The floodgates are opened to all who believe and unmerited favor superabounds and the tide overwhelms us. But far from drowning in an ocean of grace, it’s when we fully allow it to submerge us . . . when, rather than seeking by our own effort to keep our head above the great tide, we dive down deep and open our mouths wide, . . . that we come fully alive. Drinking from living waters sourced from the Rock and realized through the Spirit.

A lack of living in God’s grace is not because the fire hose has run empty, but because we have become distracted from hooking ourselves up to it and drinking from it.

Oh that we might believe that God’s grace has been lavished upon us. That we might avail ourselves, day in and day out, of the superabounding flow of steadfast love . . . believing that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins . . . that the Spirit of Christ can lead us through every difficulty . . . that the love of Christ is sufficient in our failures.

Praise God for grace . . . for superabounding . . . abundantly expended . . . lavishly overflowing grace. All because . . . and only because . . . we are in Him!

To God be the glory!

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The Corpse

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Pete

Okay. When it comes to “translator privilege” I’m usually pretty compliant. I marvel when I consider those men and women who commit together to translate the Scriptures. I don’t pretend to understand all the nuances they have to deal with in translating the original languages from the right texts into understandable English which is true to the intent of God. And I’m no Greek or Hebrew scholar (or any other kind of scholar for that fact), so I don’t have much basis for being hyper critical of why some translations chose the words or phrases or sentences they chose. But I know what I like . . . and what, from my limited understanding and use of Bible helps, seems to be the more accurate and consistent translations. For that reason, I read the ESV.

So . . . why go into all this? It’s because the translators of the ESV did something in translating a word in Mark 15 that really caught my attention this morning. Not just because of the word they used and the mystery as to why they used it (though I am intrigued as to why they did what they did) but because of how it was juxtaposed against my reading in 2Samuel.

Here’s what the ESV translators did. They translated the word for “body” as “corpse.”

And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that He should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that He was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.    (Mark 15:42-45 ESV)

Joseph of Arimathea asked for “the body” (Gk. soma) of Jesus. Pilate granted him “the corpse” (Gk. soma). The same transaction is recorded in the other three gospels . . . and in each of those the ESV translators write that Pilate gave to Joseph “the body” of Jesus. But in Mark, he gave “the corpse.” As near as I can tell, after a quick examination, every other translation says that Pilate handed over “the body” of the crucified Christ. So, while well within the range of translation, I’m intrigued as to why the ESV translators chose to use “the corpse” in this one instance only.

But that’s what the dead body of Jesus was . . . a corpse. When I read it this morning it hit me like a ton of bricks. Of all the names given to the One whose Name is above every name . . . of all the ways that we describe Him . . . at that moment, after having endured the wrath for my sin and having paid the penalty for my transgression, Jesus was the corpse.

Jesus, second Person of the Triune God. The God I had just read about in David’s song of victory in 2Samuel 22. The God David calls “my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer” (22:1) The One who caused the earth to reel and rock, and the foundations of the heavens to tremble and quake, because He was angry (22:8). He who rides on the cherub (22:11). The Most High who utters His thunderous voice from heaven (22:14). The One who goes into battle for His own and rescues them with might and with power. Behold our God!

And Pilate granted to Joseph the corpse. Behold our God.

To what depths did the Most High descend so that our Rock and our Fortress might be our Deliverer from the bondage of sin and death? What power, though clothed in apparent weakness, was exerted upon that cross that day so that the battle for eternal life might be fought and won? What victory, though shrouded in seeming defeat, was wrought that day because of “the corpse?”

Don’t know why the ESV translators did it, but it causes me to pause and wonder . . . not only at their translation decision . . . but to wonder and marvel and worship afresh because of God’s loving and grace-fueled determination to offer His Son as my atoning sacrifice.

For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name. Great salvation He brings . . .     (2Samuel 22:50-51a ESV)

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Of No Advantage To You

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Pete

It’s kind of an “out there” type of statement. Seems a bit over the top. But then again, that’s kind of how Paul’s coming across in this letter. If the epistle to the Galatians were an email I think you’d be seeing a lot of it in ALL CAPS . . . and there’d be emoticons with scrunched up faces and wide eyes scattered liberally throughout it. Paul was “astonished” and “perplexed” because his dear children in faith acted as though they had been “bewitched.” Paul couldn’t believe that those who had put on Christ were now thinking that in order to be justified they needed to also put on their best behavior. And so Paul goes over the top. Keep it up, Paul says, and Christ is of no advantage.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.   (Galatians 5:1-4 ESV)

Severed from Christ . . . fallen away from grace . . . the work of the cross of no advantage to you.  Pretty extreme declarations.

They had been running well (3:7), but now they were being hindered. They had believed the gospel, that Christ had been crucified to atone for their sins. By “hearing with faith” they had received the Spirit. Like Isaac, they were children of promise, offspring of the free woman, citizens of the new Jerusalem above. They had been “born according to the Spirit.” But now they were being charmed into believing that what had begun as a sovereign determination of heaven, could now be completed with the best efforts of earth. That what had begun in the Spirit could now be perfected in the flesh. That what had been declared to be an emancipation from the law could now only be fully realized by becoming again slaves to the law.

And so says Paul, if you pursue righteousness based on your best efforts . . . if the race can only be won because of your abilities and determination . . . then Christ is of no advantage to you. If you consider the justification wrought on the cross insufficient . . . if you live as though God’s acceptance is only fully found when you live up to a standard of conduct dependent on your righteous acts . . . then, in a sense, you have severed yourself from the Christ who has said He will live in you and through you . . . and you have detached yourself from the grace that is sufficient not only to save but to sanctify you as well.

Of no advantage to you.

Christ plus us, declares Paul, is nothing. Christ plus nothing? That’s everything. He is the all in all for all of salvation.

What futile bondage it is to live out our Christian lives thinking that somehow it’s up to our best efforts at holiness to be really accepted by God. It says the cross is insufficient . . . it says that the Spirit indwelling us needs help . . . it says that Christ’s imputed righteousness is a garment that needs to enhanced by our works.

Crazy, says Paul.

Might we, as God’s people, stand firm in the freedom for which Christ has set us free. Might we pursue godliness not because it’s required and we need to buckle down. Instead, might we pursue godliness as a loving and worship-induced response, knowing He has already raised us up . . . “and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6).

All because of grace. All dependent upon grace. All for His glory.

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