Matthew 19:3-9 War on Chicken

Matthew 19:3-9  Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?"  (4)  And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,  (5)  and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'?  (6)  "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  (7)  They *said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?"  (8)  He *said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.  (9)  "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." (NASB)

So I took some time off this week, the week we would normally be at a lake – Tahoe ideally or Shaver when the gas price is too high to drag everything that far north.  But this year the calendar didn’t work for everyone so we stayed home.  I however had the days booked for vacation and took some time off.  Well, I did a few things around the house and yes I actually did come into work Friday but what I really did was watch the Olympics.  And of course – the War on Chicken!

I frankly had missed the CEO of Chick-fil-A declaring his support for the Biblical view of marriage and his financial support for a couple of organizations that promoted the same.  What I couldn’t miss was the media frenzy over the homosexual marriage supporters bashing this man’s transparency of belief.

On top of that I found it very interesting to find that these folks drew a comparison to Hitler and the KKK for someone standing on biblical principal claiming intolerance not only of homosexuality but marriage of homosexual couples; Intolerance of the “Intolerant”?  Is that what I heard?

Later in the discussion, I’ll not call it a debate – those who heeded the call of Governor Huckabee to support Chick-fil-A by buying lunch were called all sorts of names.  The Bible itself was bashed in several threads I read on Face Book as well.

So, if you’re reading this and you can’t subscribe to the fact the Word of God is the ultimate truth then we have nothing left to discuss.  YOU, may as well tune out now.  For those of you that believe God’s Word is true then stay tuned and we’ll look at what He says about the issue at hand.

First, the Scripture I’ve referred to today was shared by Christ when another group of haters, the Pharisees were trying to trick Jesus.  They asked a “Trick” question about divorce to see if they could stump Him.  They didn’t.  In answering their question for which they did not want to hear the answer, Jesus did give us some real insight into His original and perfect design.

He says, “He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE”.  Referring back to Genesis, Jesus reminds us that the original design of God is one man and one woman.  He goes on and declares what is to happen as humans mature, “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH”.  This is clearly speaking of marriage.  The man, leaves the home in which he grows up and joins together with his wife and the two become one.  The players are equally clear – one man and one woman  just as He “created them from the beginning”.

So, what is the BIG deal Dale?

Christians know and understand that marriage is designed and affirmed by God as a special institution between one man and one woman.  And something supernatural occurs in the marriage union, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh.”  And they are one flesh because of the marriage bond of one woman and one man joined together not of their own doing but by someone else altogether.  Jesus says, ”What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  So, in His own words, Jesus proclaims the union of a man and woman in marriage of His own doing and His own design.

That’s the BIG deal.

Now, sin is sin and two unregenerate people lusting in their flesh for one another even of the same sex is predictable.  Scripture says this, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.” Romans 1:26-27 (NASB)  That was written by Paul nearly two thousand years ago, so should we be surprised that the behavior continues today?  No!

As I said, sin is sin and we’ve all sinned and fall short of God’s holy standard.  This is simply one more example.  The rub is when groups attempt to normalize the behavior.

Take the absurd to illustrate the point.  If a group begins harping on a position advocating sex between six year olds we would be up in arms and of course this is wrong.  But what if this group turned the argument into one of intolerance and said leave the six year olds alone, let them enjoy free love like everyone else and if you don’t you’re intolerant and bigoted just like Hitler and the KKK.  In fact this group wants to legally recognize free love between six year olds and bar any interruption parental or otherwise. 

That’s what is going on here folks.  God’s Word clearly points to His design for marriage, specifically  heterosexual unions in the context of marriage between one man and one woman.  Outside of that there is a sin problem.  While individuals will always fall into sin of every sort, when institutional advocacy for making sin the lawful norm takes place, Christians must speak out.  AMEN!  

Romans 8:1 No Condemnation

Romans 8:1  “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

Referred to as “The greatest verse in the Bible” by some, the truth revealed here is certainly central to the Gospel and essential to the Christian faith.  What a verse! 

Of course it isn’t fair to just jump right in to Romans 8 without pointing to the “Therefore”.  That single word at the beginning of the verse points to all that has gone before.  It has been a road pointing to the desperate need for a savior of all men.  Not just the gentiles but also the Jews, God’s chosen people.  Romans has pointed to man's ability to know God exists through His creation yet points to man’s rejection of the Creator.  Romans shows the way of knowing Christ as Savior and the redemption offered through Grace rather than works.  Leading up to Romans 8 we are presented with the struggle even Paul faces living out his salvation under Grace but in this sin stained body wrestling daily with the battle of spirit and flesh.

Only then comes the great news and assurance of Romans 8.  “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.  So the verse is for those of us walking this earth and for those that have passed on “In Christ” only.  To be clear this is not a universal get out of jail card for the human race.  This assurance is limited. 

For those, “In Christ” the assurance is, “Now”.  Isn’t it significant to know that the assurance of Romans 8 is not something to wait for or hope for but is, “Now”?  I think so.  And what is “Now”?  “No condemnation” is what is “Now”.  So currently, in this present time, as we walk through this life troubled by the battle of spirit and flesh just referenced in Romans 7 we have this assurance of Romans 8.  There is no condemnation now.  I don’t have to wait for someone to remove my sin at some ceremony later.  Because of Christ Jesus my sin results in no condemnation right now.  That is a wonderful message to me.

Now there are plenty of warnings in earlier chapters of Romans about intentionally liberating Grace by sinning all to more.  Paul tells us this is absolutely wrong and misses the point.  The point is we will continue to sin because we are damaged goods.  We have a sin nature handed down from our father Adam.  Try and we might, we will continue to sin from time to time.  When we do, those sins are covered immediately by Grace through the work of Christ Jesus and we find ourselves in this state of “No condemnation”.  

Applied to our lives there should be great comfort in knowing we walk in Grace free from the burden of our sins.  We do not have to carry the guilt of our sins before the Lord.  When the Father looks at us he sees the Son; guiltless.  So we don't need to be kicking ourselves, that is what Satan wants.  He wins when we do that.  Hold your head up high and go do something for Jesus.

In closing, if this isn’t the greatest verse in the Bible, it certainly gives rise to explanation of the greatest gift, Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN!

Nehemiah 8:9-10 Joy of the LORD

Nehemiah 8:9-10  “Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.  Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’" (NASB)

Chris Tomlin wrote a song of praise I have heard on the radio and we sing occasionally in church.  The phrase, “The joy of the LORD is our strength” is embedded in the lyrics.  Take a quick look at the whole song:

We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
And together we sing
[Chorus]
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory

It's rising up all around
It's the anthem of the Lord's renown
Repeat
And together we sing,
Everyone sing
[ Repeat Chorus]

           

The origin of the phrase, “The joy of the LORD is our strength” comes from Nehemiah 8 and it is this story that I’d like to hone in on.  This phrase actually comes as a part of a comforting word Nehemiah and Ezra gave to the people.  The people had all gathered in Jerusalem after returning from captivity and re-building their homes.  They came to Jerusalem to celebrate their delivery from that captivity; to give thanks to the Lord.  The people called on Ezra to read the Law of Moses to them.  They were all assembled to hear the reading of God’s Word and the explanation or interpretation of that Word.

Their reaction to the reading of the Law was one of grief.  They were convicted of their own sins at the reading of God's holy Law.  The passage says, “For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law”.  In other words, the Law did what it is intended to do.  It caused them to compare their sinful lives to God’s holy standard.  In comparison they fell far short.  That is what motivated their sorrow.

But the Lord desires that once convicted of sin and deal with it properly that they not go on in perpetual grief.  In this case, the Lord’s message to the people is, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep”.  This day was to be a celebration so they are instructed to,  "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord”.  The people are told to celebrate, to feast and to share that feast with others that can’t provide for themselves.

Finally he says, ”Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”.

Why joy?  Joy can only be found when in a right relationship with God.  Only real grief can produce real joy.  That sorrow from hearing the Law read produced thankful and contrite hearts.  In that position they were able to hear God; they were able to be responsive to what He asked.  They were mold-able; teachable.  In that condition they found strength.  The strength only the grace of God can provide is what they received.

This model of grief leading to joy is the same for us.  Only when we are humbled by the conviction of our sin in relation to God’s holy standard can He reach us.  When we stand convicted of our sin we realize that only God’s grace can help us.  We are able to accept the free gift of salvation offered by His own shed blood when we are in that humble state.  Without the sorrow of conviction there is no joy because we will never come to Him.  The Holy Spirit's conviction brings us to a place where we can be reached; we can be saved.  “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”.  AMEN!

If you are in grief over your behavior in relation to the holiness of God I would be happy to talk with you about Jesus Christ and His desire to bring joy into your life.  Please contact me.

1 Peter 1:1-2 Chosen by Grace

1Peter 1:1-2  “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” (NASB)

Peter is frankly my favorite apostle.  Why?  I simply identify with him more than the others because he reminds me of me.  In future discussions I’ll share insight of why but for today I want to take a look at the opening of one of his letters.  Peter was considered the leader of the early church.  He was also one of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples along with James and John.  As such he is also considered an apostle of Jesus Christ.  In this context an apostle means he was an eye witness and directly commissioned to ministry by Jesus Himself.

I think it is interesting to note that in looking through the letters of the New Testament rich chewy truth is available in the opening few verses universally.  Peter’s first letter is no different so I’d like to take a look at the first two verses here.

Peter identifies himself first as an apostle and since I’ve already explained what that means I won’t do it again.  He mentions this however to let those who are reading know (in case they don’t) just who it is that is writing to them.  Next Peter identifies his audience.  This letter is written to those Christians who first “Reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia”.  Why aliens?  I think this is twofold.  First, because they are literally aliens.  They are primarily Jewish Christians who were displaced or dispersed out of Palestine.  Living in a foreign land they are aliens.  I believe however the term alien also applies to them as Christians among non-Christians.  That would be among unbelieving Jews and native Pagans.  Later in this letter Peter refers to Christians as “Aliens and strangers” as he urges them not to conform to their surroundings1 Peter 2:11.  The geographical areas referenced are located in modern day Turkey and Greece.

Okay – now it gets interesting. 

These Christians, scattered into this foreign land, “Are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”.  In Christian circles the term “Election” is tossed around.  It means that God chooses.  This Scripture confirms that Peter is writing to those, “Who are chosen” and let’s us know who did the choosing.  “God the Father” did the choosing.  It goes even further however and says His choosing was, “According to” His “Foreknowledge”.  Elsewhere we learn that God’s choosing was done from eternity past.  How is that possible?  Well, “With God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26 and God quite frankly isn’t bound by the constraints of time; He created it!  He can look at the act of creation, Jesus time on this earth, our brief lives and Christ’s return right now; all at once, as though it were a thing to be examined.

Can I hear a WOW!

How were we Chosen?  Well, it is by the “Foreknowledge of God the Father” but it is “By the sanctifying work of the Spirit”.  We discussed before that sanctification is the setting apart for a special purpose.  When the Spirit does his work of sanctification of the believer it means He sets us apart for something special.  Peter doesn’t disappoint us because he shares what that something special is.  He says we were set apart by the Spirit, “To obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood”.  That simply means that we were set apart to have obedience of faith in Christ.  It is that obedience of faith that saves us.  “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”. Galatians 3:26

Peter reminds us also of what this faith in Christ brings.  He reminds us that the obedience of faith is, “To obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood”.  The sprinkling of blood is a reference to the atonement sacrifice established in the Law.  Animal blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat on the arc of the covenant  in a ritual that, “Covered” the sins of the people.  That sacrifice of animals in atoning for sin had to be repeated over and over to satisfy God's wrath.  The blood of Jesus however, following the premise of the animal sacrifice is much more effective.  “His blood”, shed for our sins satisfies God’s wrath once and for all .  When the believer is, “Sprinkled with His blood” by faith in Him all our sins are forgiven forever.

When the reality of the efficacy of “His blood” is realized Peter’s statement becomes possible.  “May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure”.  AMEN!