reliancechurchlakeland

 This 8 week study will cause those who attend to re-evaluate the way we live as believers and to take very seriously Jesus’ call to take up our cross and follow daily.  We will be forced to see what RADICAL abandonment to Jesus really means.  We will be offering the study at two locations in the area, starting FEBRUARY 1st.

The Law fades away in the Light of Grace

In some of my regular reading of the Scriptures this morning, I was impressed once again with how amazing grace is.  I was reading in Romans 3, which presents everyone, Jew and Gentile as being guilty before God of violating His Law.  Paul makes a statement that is quite revealing at the beginning of the chapter with reference to the Jews, who he said had an advantage over others with regards to having been entrusted with the very oracles of God.  Yet, they were no better off because of the advantage because they were just as guilty of sin as anyone else.  The Jews had the oracles of God, they had the Law, but just like anyone else, they fell woefully short of keeping it.  The Word of God declares that no one is righteous, no not one.

Further in to the chapter, at v.19, the Apostle Paul declares that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world held accountable to God.  Then, Paul states: “No one will be justified in God’s sight by works of the law because through the law comes knowledge of sin.  What Paul is stating here is that the purpose of the law is to point out sin and to show that we all fall short of it.  Left unto ourselves, no one would have hope.

How marvelous that the Apostle goes on to say in Rom. 3:21-22, those wonderful and magnificent words: “But now the righteousness from God has been manifested apart from the law.  This righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe.  For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Rom.3:23.

The justification that Paul speaks of here is a grace gift purchased for us through Jesus’ redemption.  The word redemption needs to be clearly understood.  The word means to be liberated or set free.  And the cost of our being set free is described here in v.25 as a sacrifice of atonement obtained through faith in His blood.  It is the blood of Jesus that atones for the sin of our not being able to keep the law.

The law is described elsewhere as a school master to lead us to Christ.  Again, the law leads us to see our sin and to point us to a Savior who frees us from the tyranny of sin and the law’s condemnation.  The law puts us under a curse and Jesus has released us from it’s curse by His grace.  There is coming a day when the law will perish and all we will have is grace.  Until then, the law continues to point us to Jesus the redeemer from sin and the giver of eternal life.

I know people who say that the law is eternal.  I am convinced that it is not.  The Bible says that it will not perish until it all is fulfilled, which is reference to the ultimate completion of Christ’s redemption.  Until that day, the law will continue to point people to the Savior: Jesus Christ.  Then the law will fade away, (2 Cor.3:11).  In Heaven, there will be no need for the law to point out our sin because there will be no sin in Heaven and therefore no need for the law.

Doom and Deliverance 

As of late, I have been blogging my thoughts and observations from the Genesis reading of the Daily Bible Blog (a link to the blog is on the right column of this page).  This morning, I will comment on today’s New Testament reading from the Daily Bible Blog.  The New Testament reading is from Matthew 8 and provides a stark contrast to what I said about the bride of Christ (the church) in yesterday’s comments.  In Genesis 24, we have a picture of the ultimate gathering of the bride, who in all of her purity will be presented to Jesus at his second coming.  What a future awaits us, as the church. One of eternal bliss with our Savior.

But in ch.8 of Matthew’s gospel, we have the account of demonic oppression and the actions of Jesus against it.  If you are on your computer reading this, cursor over this Bible reference: Matt.8:28-34.  Pretty cool that the Scripture just pops up when you cursor over it!  In this passage of Scripture, we witness the tremendous authority of Jesus to bring deliverance to those having formerly been demonically oppressed.  Jesus dramatically delivered these men who were so fierce and dangerous that no one could go near them.  As Jesus commanded the demons to leave the bodies of the oppressed, they begged him to allow them to enter into the pigs which had been feeding nearby.  Jesus permitted them to do so and the pigs immediately rushed down a steep grade and into the lake that was there and were drowned.  Those who witnessed the event rushed into town to tell the others and then a whole crowd came back to the scene of this event.  Astonishingly, the townspeople were more upset about their loss of the large huge of pigs than the fact that Jesus had just healed two of their own.

There is a lot beneath the surface of this story that we should not miss.  People living today are still oppressed by demonic forces that are very real in the world today.  And only Jesus has the ability to bring deliverance.  The picture presented of the demons drowned in the lake, is one of future judgment for the Devil and his angels. When Jesus had first appeared at the location of this event, the demons recognized him and asked if he was coming to destroy them before the appointed time.  Demons know of their final state: the doom of destruction.  But in the meantime, they are about the business of destroying the lives of people they possess, wanting to take to doom and destruction as many as they can.

Some in the world would want to write these words off as fanatical musings of crazy Christians.  Others want everything to just be left as it is.  After all, there is big money to be made today in the realm of evil and sinful practices.  But there really can be no mistaking the fact that the influences of demonic forces are very real and that they explain a lot of the evil that pervades in the world today.  Thankfully, there is coming a day spoken of in the book of Revelation when all the demonic forces will be completely and forever destroyed.   I conclude with these notes from my study Bible (in italics) which allow you to examine a few other passages that deal with Jesus’ authority, our authority through our union with Jesus and the end-time doom of demons and the ultimate deliverance that comes through the work of Jesus, who came to deliver us all from sin and to give us eternal life:

The pigs’ fate in the sea prefigures and pictures the final fate of demons, when God defeats Satan and throws him into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). Jesus accomplished the decisive defeat of Satan in his earthly ministry (Matt. 4:1–11; Luke 10:18–19), and ultimately in his crucifixion and resurrection (John 12:31; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14–15).^[1]

In the One Year Bible blog reading for today, we have the story of  finding a Bride for Isaac –Gen. 24. This is one of my favorite stories in the whole Bible. ( I say that about a lot of the stories in the Bible).  But this story is very special because not only does it tell a true account of the successful, spirit-led mission in finding the perfect bride for Isaac, but it also provides a picture of the Father finding a bride (the church) for His Son (Jesus Christ).

As I mentioned in the last blog entry, Isaac was a miracle child.  Abraham and Sarah were well beyond the age of bearing children.  Sarah’s womb was dead, yet she had a child in her old age because nothing is impossible with God.  As a result, Isaac’s is a miraculous birth.  He is depicted in Scripture as a type of Christ.  In other words, the person of Jesus is seen through Isaac.   It is through the miracle birth of Isaac that the promises to Abraham would be fulfilled.   Abraham, as a good father, sought the right bride for Isaac- one who was not from the daughters of the heathen in the land of Canaan.  Abraham gave strict instructions to his servant to travel to his own kinfolk to find this choice bride.  The servant has to travel a very long distance to fulfill the mission.

Well, guess what?  This gives us a picture of what God is now doing in providing a bride for His Son, Jesus Christ.  In the Bible, the church is pictured as the pure bride of Christ.  And just as in Gen. 24, Abraham’s servant was sent on the mission of finding a bride for Isaac,  so the Holy Spirit has the task of serving the Heavenly Father in seeking out a bride for Christ.  It is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to bring us to the point of spiritual birth (Titus 3:5) and to make us a holy temple (1 Cor.3:16) as believers .  As we submit to the work of the Holy Spirit, we are made holy for our bridegroom, who is Jesus Christ.  Here are some passages from the New Testament that speak of our position as the bride of Christ: (Matt. 9:15; Jn. 3:29: Rev.19:7, 21:2-9-10; Eph.5:22-33).

As I promised, I will continue with the discussion about Melchizedek today.  He was a mysterious individual to say the least.  He appeared on the scene and blessed Abram after the rescue of Lot recorded in Gen. 12-15.  Even though one could say that Abram unfortunately got caught up in the tribal wars that were taking place at the time,  it is clear that God was intervening in this whole situation to work out His perfect will through Abram.  It is not just the deliverance of Lot that is at issue here.  God was bringing this man Abram to prominence to work out something on a grandiose and eternal scale.

So we have Melchizedek who appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, after the rescue of Lot.  One of the features about Melchizedek that we must reckon with is the fact that the Scriptures are silent concerning his genealogy.  He is presented in this way for a purpose which is insightfully given in the book of Hebrews.  If you look closely at the end of Hebrews 6 and in to chapter 7, you will read valuable information to augment what we have in the Genesis account.   Melchizedek is linked with Jesus Christ as belonging to a distinct priesthood.   It is a priesthood that will supersede the yet future priesthood of Aaron.

The Aaronic priesthood was a temporary vehicle used until Jesus appeared and made it obsolete, cf. Hebrews 7:11-12.  Of course the Aaronic priesthood came to an end through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.   Jesus made peace for us by His sacrifice on our behalf.  Melchizedek is referenced as “king of Salem.”  “Salem” means peace.  So he is called “king of peace.”  Melchizedek means: “king of righteousness.”  Taken together, he is king of peace and king of righteousness (Hebrews 7:2) perfectly prefiguring or foreshadowing Jesus Christ who came to bring us righteousness and peace by his work on the cross.   Both Jesus and Melchizedek are presented as priest-kings.  Again, this is unique.

We have been looking at the fact that God raised up Abram and called him apart for a godly purpose.  Abram means “exalted father.” His name is changed in Genesis 17 to Abraham.  Abraham means “father of many” or “father of nations.”   Abram is given his new name, Abraham, before he had any children.  His new name holds a prophetic promise of what was yet to be.  The fact that Abraham pays a tithe to Melchizedek in Genesis 14 is evidence of something on a grand scale that God was to accomplish through Jesus Christ, who was of the order of Melchizedek.  And it is through Jesus Christ that Abraham’s name will ring true (Romans 4:17).

In today’s reading of the Daily Bible Blog, the unfolding story in Genesis continues with Isaac.  If you are reading through the Bible, using this blog, you are introduced to Isaac today.  He is the miracle child of Abraham who will be the one through whom Christ will come and through whom God would fulfill the promise to Abraham revealed through his name.

The Faith of Abraham – “Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

In today’s reading, we see a man who rises to prominence in the pages of Genesis.  I love these particular chapters of Genesis.  The Daily Bible blog reading from Genesis 13:5-15:21, reveals that Abram was not greedy but extremely generous.  He defaulted to his nephew, Lot, allowing him to make the first choice of relocation when their herds got too large for them to stay together and they had to part company.   Lot chose the prime, fertile land of the valleys for himself.  But no sooner do Abram and Lot agree, that God immediately blesses Abram and gives him insight into how blessed he would become and that virtually everything he could see in all directions would be the inheritance of his descendants. . It is clear at this point that Abram’s heart attitude is right where it needed to be.  His selflessness is a virtue to which too few attain.  It is a mark of his greatness.

Next, we see that Lot’s choice led to trouble makes leads to trouble and Uncle Abram comes to his rescue.  Abram demonstrated tremendous bravery in rescuing his relative.  In the process, Abram’s fame became renowned throughout the area.   The mysterious appearance of the priest Melchizedek at this point provides great fascination, right up to this present day. What we know for certain about him is that his priesthood prefigures the priesthood of Jesus Christ and replaces the Levitical priesthood,  made obsolete by his indestructible life, (Hebrews 7:15-17).  With regards to the tithe that Abram pays to Melchizedek, we are given insight to the mystery behind it in Hebrews 7:4-10.  (I’ll have more to say about this in my next blog article). Once again, we can see through the book of Genesis that God providential power is preserving a godly line that leads to Christ.  How awesome to know that by the same faith as Abram, we are grafted into that line by faith.

In the reading of the early chapters of Genesis, there is an alternating between events on a worldwide scale and the focus upon specific individuals who have definitive and significant roles placed upon them by God.  Interwoven in the midst of the stories of the fall of man, the flood, the tower of Babel, the accounts of people like: Enoch, Noah, Seth and Abraham rise to prominence.   God is producing a godly line that will lead to Christ.  In ch.12, God is very direct in his call to Abram, whose name will be changed to Abraham.  He is called to leave his pagan roots and become a nation.  His name: “Abram” means exalted father.  His name will be changed to “Abraham,” which means father of nations.  The new name that he receives reveals a plan that God had before ordained which includes you and me.  His new name “Abraham” was given to him before he had any children.   Abraham became exemplary in his faith, believing God to do the impossible, since he and his wife Sarah, were well beyond the age of childbearing  (Rom. 4:17-21).  As the story of this man Abraham unfolds, it will become clear that God is bringing all things together in this world to complete conformity to His plan, through His unique Son, Jesus Christ, cf. Col. 1:12-22.   Note that just like the description that was given of Noah being righteous, blameless and walking with God by faith, Col.1:22 ascribes a very similar description to the believer today who is trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  By faith, we become holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.

This is why reading through the Bible in a year is such a great practice.  It is a continual reminder that God is sovereign and that He has a purpose to which we are to conform.  The contrast between chapters 11 and 12 of Genesis clearly demonstrate this.  In ch.11, man attempts to achieve greatness apart from God.  God puts an end to such feeble attempts.  Ch. 12 reveals that God’s ways are higher than man’s.  God is producing a godly line that comes right down to you and me.  We must conform to God’s ways and learn obedience and surrender to Him.

Today’s reading from the One Year Bible Blog (link is on right column) presents the progression from Noah to his son Seth.  It is the godly line of Seth that produces the Hebrew race.  Keeping in mind what the Word of God says about Noah being a man who was righteous, blameless and walked with God by faith.  Yesterday I discussed whether or not we could be like Noah whose life was characterized by righteousness, blamelessness and faithfulness. I is clear that we can.  God, by His grace, makes it possible.  The progression in Genesis now will continue through Seth and it is his line that ultimately leads to Jesus Christ.  In this progression, God continues to weave His historical plan to bring into the world a Savior, the Messiah.  It is through Him (Jesus) that we are brought into complete and perfect fellowship with God.  John 14:6 has Jesus proclaim: “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.  Jesus wants us to enter into the Way.  He invites us into the godly line characterized by righteousness, blamelessness and faithfulness.

There is a progression that needs to be made in the Christian life.  “How are we progressing?”  Are we committed to be like Noah? Will we, like him, produce a godly line that maintains integrity in the midst of a perverse generation?  Will we produce a godly line that endures because our focus on Jesus the Author and the Perfecter of our faith?  Consider memorizing Hebrews 12:1-2 as a motivating challenge in your race.

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” (NIV)

If you are following the daily Bible reading from the “One Year Bible Blog” (see link on right column) then you have or will be reading the above quote about Noah today.  What an excellent thing to have written about you.  To be a righteous man and to be blameless and to walk faithfully with God speaks of tremendous character in the life of this individual.  What a contrast Noah was to the other people we read about in the early chapters of the book of Genesis.  If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we should want to emulate the character traits that we see here in Noah.  The three traits of righteousness, blamelessness and faithfulness are virtues which are worthy of our consideration.

RIGHTEOUSNESS:  The Hebrew for this word is rarely used as an attribute of human beings in the Old Testament.  It speaks of very high character in one who reflects being made in the image of God.

BLAMELESSNESS:  Noah was faultless in the way that he lived among the people of his day.  He was always operating with impeccable character in his relationship with God and with others.

FAITHFULNESS – Though the NIV quotation of Genesis 6:9 says that “he (Noah) walked faithfully with God,” the Hebrew simply says that “he walked with God.”  This is the second individual that we read of in the early chapters of Genesis who walked with God.  The other is Enoch (Genesis 5:24).  To walk with God is to live by faith and have complete and uninterrupted fellowship.  What a great attribute!

In the context of chapter 6, we see that Noah stood apart from the wickedness that was prevalent in the world at that time.  The world was so corrupt that God determined to bring it to an end, which He did by way of the flood.  Only Noah and his immediate family were spared.

Today, we live in a world that is characterized by evil.  But it is a day in which we can resolve to live like Noah, being righteous, blameless and faithful.  Can we really do it?  According to the Word of God, by the grace of God we can. Check out Titus 2:11-14:

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

As we progress in this new year may we, like Noah, walk with God.

Join Reliance Church as we get under way with this challenging study from the book “RADICAL.”   This is an 8 week study that will feature lessons with titles like: “Something Worth Loosing Everything For” & “Beginning at the End of Ourselves.”  Inquire about entering into a study starting in a home near you. Le’ts begin this new year by learning what it means to be a RADICAL CHRISTIAN in the 21st Century.