Genesis 3:14-19 Understand the Curse to Understand the Cross

Genesis 3:14-19 ESV  The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.  (15)  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."  (16)  To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."  (17)  And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;  (18)  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.  (19)  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

It is all over the news.  In fact, you can hardly find an escape.  It is indeed everywhere and now they’re telling us it was here before we knew it was here.  They have us quarantined at home aside from essential trips to find groceries and such.  Why?  The coronavirus outbreak referred to as COVID-19.  This pandemic has certainly got our attention as it wreaks havoc across the globe with hundreds of thousands expected to lose their lives.  This, while the best scientists in the most advanced institutions in the world wrestle to gain the upper hand.

On this Good Friday when we remember the day of Christ’s crucifixion it brings us to the obvious question of why?  Why did Christ have to die on the cross and why is this coronavirus doing its best to kill us?

The answer is found in the passage referenced today referred to as, “The Curse”.  This act of God cursing his own creation was the result of the fall of Man.  Please review the passages preceding where the perfection of the garden was infected by the temptation of the serpent (Satan) resulting in the sin (something less than holy) of Adam and Eve.  That willful disobedience of the first man stained his kind.  That’s you and me.  We now have the nature of sin within us because of what Adam did.  And with that comes our inheritance of the curse.

In fact, the world from that point forward is living under the curse.  The curse of creation has actually been at work attacking through the ages and having a greater and greater effect.  A review of the patriarchs reveal a steady decline in the age to which they live.  Methuselah lived 969 years the oldest recorded living man.  But all of these early men lived for hundreds of years many more than 500.  As the curse persisted so did the decline in the age to which a normal man would live.

Only with the introduction of modern science, our deeper understanding of the pathogens of the curse have we been able to push back.  But are we pushing back successfully?  I mean real success.  Not just incremental improvement.  I would say, no.  Median lifespan is now in the high seventies approaching eighty.  That’s a far cry from 969.  And by the way, that life span of nearly 1000 years was not God’s design.  Man was created to be an eternal being.  Death was introduced with the curse.  None of us were ever supposed to die – full stop!

But with the curse came death and all the means toward death including yes, the coronavirus and this present COVID-19.  It is the result of the curse and it will be defeated by the scientists and our own immune system which God too created.

So what is the tie to this day; Good Friday?

Well, why would it be called “Good” when such a terrible thing happened?  How is the crucifixion of Christ “Good”?

Frankly, it was the only way.  In fact, it was the very purpose of Christ’s coming to this earth in the form of Man living in this cursed creation but doing so perfectly.  Living a sin free life.  That set him up to be the perfect sacrifice.  Not for himself, a sinless man requires no sacrifice.  Just go ahead, live a perfect life and find out.  Ooops, no you cant.  It’s not possible since you come from Adam and were born into the lineage of sin. 

So on this day some 2000 years ago the perfect was sacrificed for the imperfect.  His act of giving himself up on the cross as a holy sacrifice enables the restoration of mankind.  A reconciliation of the cursed back into the presence of a holy God.  His act breaks the curse.

But, whoa, hold on, you said that happened 2000 years ago.  Why do we have a pandemic today?

Well, that is simple to answer but hard to understand.  The simple answer is that God is merciful and full of grace.  You see the impact of the act of Christ on the cross is dependent on our faith.  We must believe what Christ did and believe He did it for us.  In order to do that, some of the generations prior to Christ looked forward to the cross anticipating the Messiah.  There are numerous examples of faithful people believing the promise of a deliverer and that faith being reckoned as righteousness.  Since the cross we look back with the same faith.  God’s grace has provided the time for this message to reach us.  In fact, He is providing time for all to hear and respond to this good news.

So what?  All this blather about reconciliation and sin and etc. etc.  Why does this all matter?  People are sick and dying.

Yep!  They are and they will continue to.  The coronavirus COVID-19 is a blessing in one simple way.  It has our attention.  It has brought the stark reality of life and death literally to our front door.  There is no escape from the cursed world in which we live.  That is, no escape other than through Christ.  Even then, we will all still die.  Well, except those who are still here when Christ comes to bring us home.  But that’s a story for another day.

For today, take a moment to reflect on the cross.  The sacrifice made for you.  Make the decision that this gift of grace is indeed for you and accept it.  You can do that right there where you are.  Just talk to God – in your head or out loud.  He’ll hear you.

And with me and the other Christians around the world anticipate with great joy the celebration of Easter on Sunday when we celebrate the victory of Christ as he conquered death and rose from the tomb.  Like Christ, we who believe will rise and join Him to live forever as originally intended.

The Curse is Broken!  AMEN

Mark 15:12-15 Pilate's Really Bad Day

Mark 15:12-15 NASB “Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"  (13)  They shouted back, "Crucify Him!"  (14)  But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!"  (15) Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”

Men, have you ever been in that “No Win” situation?  You know, when your wife says something like, “Do you like this dress”? Or “Does this outfit make me look fat”?  What are you supposed to say about that?  Any answer may be the wrong answer and – you’re in T R O U B L E.  No win here.

Just maybe that is the situation Pilate found himself in after Jesus came on the scene in Jerusalem so many years ago.  The trumped up charges the chief priests accused Jesus of which they had no authority to enforce were dumped on him, Pilate. 

Who was Pilate?

"The pagan historian Tacitus (Ann. 15:44) writes: "Christ, while Tiberius was emperor, was capitally executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate." The procurator was generally a Roman knight, acting under the governor of a province as collector of the revenue, and judge in cases arising under it. But Pontius Pilate had full military and judicial authority in Juda, as being a small province attached to the larger Syria; he was responsible to the governor of Syria. Archelaus having been deposed (A.D. 6), Subinus, Coponius, Ambivius, Rufus, Valerius Gratus, and Pontius Pilate successively were governors (Josephus, Ant. 18:2, section 2)."

So, all that to say – Pilate (Pontius Pilate) was large and in charge.  He was the ultimate decision maker appointed by the Roman Emperor – Tiberius.  It was this Pilate that the Jewish leaders turned Jesus over to for punishment.

Pilate had been witness to the throngs of people cheering Jesus just days before as he rode in to town.  This man’s reputation was large and the last thing Pilate needed was some insurrection stirred up because he upset the populace.  It didn’t help th
at these Jewish leaders were so adamant about the desired outcome for this man Jesus.

Pilate had to be very uncomfortable as he begins asking questions.  Mark 15:2 NASB  “Pilate questioned Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ And He *answered him, ‘It is as you say.’"

Pilate makes no judgment but, Mark 15:3 NASB “The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.”

Mark 15:4-5 NASB “Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!"  (5) But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.”

Amazed – indeed

We are not given what additional accusations were presented here nor the specific questions Pilate asked but we know this – Jesus was done answering pointless questions.

Pointless?  Yes, there was no point in giving truth to a bunch who had no interest in hearing the answer but were simply using questions to make a point of their own.  To trump up charges before Pilate.

“Jesus made no further answer” and because of that, “Pilate was amazed.”

What to do – what to do thinks Pilate.  I don’t want a riot.  These Jewish leaders are ticked but I don’t see anything in this man Jesus that warrants punishment.

Then it hits him.  Once a year we release one of the condemned at the request of the people.  I can implement that loophole right here – right now for Jesus.

So he puts it to the people giving them the choice to release a known murderer or Jesus.  He had to be thinking – these people that welcomed Jesus with such enthusiasm will surely ask for his release NOT the murderer Barabbas.  WRONG – the crowd having been riled up by the chief priests asked for Barabbas’ freedom and when asked – said, “Crucify him” regarding Jesus.

CRUD!  Now what do I do?

Mark 15:14 NASB  “But Pilate said to them, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify Him!’”

Well that was unexpected but I have my way out – the people want this even though he is innocent so far as I can see.

I’ll disown the whole thing Pilate says to himself.

Matthew 27:24  “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.’"

With that – Pilate was done.

The question I have for you is whether Pilate’s no win situation and the solution he finally came to a valid one.  Did he effectively wash is hands of the whole thing?  Was he truly guiltless in the crucifixion of Jesus?

I think the washing of the hands is illustrative.  In fact, the washing of hands was a known and practiced ceremonial cleansing that the Jews would have recognized.

Pilate in so doing was claiming his own innocence in the forthcoming brutality and death of Jesus.  But could he do that?

Can we, hover over a basin of water, wash our hands ceremonially and proclaim our innocence?  NO!!!

Pilate could no more cleanse himself from this sin than can we.  Ironically, the death Jesus was about to endure at the hands of Pilate was the only way that Pilate could possibly have been made clean.  It is the only way this terrible sin could have been wiped away.

It is the only way ANY sin can be removed.  The death of Jesus, His sacrifice is the only washing that could have removed his guilt.  That death, some two thousand years ago is the only way any of us can be cleaned.

We don’t know the fate of Pilate.  We know some Romans even some Roman leaders came to know Jesus and his work of salvation accepting it for themselves.  Maybe he did.  Most likely he didn’t.

What is your choice?  Belief in what Jesus did as a cleansing of the blood on your hands or not?  AMEN!

Joshua 10:7-11 Holy God; Holy Jesus

Joshua 10:7-11 (NASB) “So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors.   The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you."  So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.  And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.  As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.”

Who is Jesus to you?  Do you think of Jesus with the long flowing hair and smooth nearly effeminate features hung on so many Sunday School walls when we were kids?  Do you picture the Jesus who said, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16b (NASB)  Is God to you you a bit firmer as  you consider passages such as, Matthew 21:12 (NASB)  “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.”  Is He more ?  Is He safe passage?  “Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” John 14:6 (NASB) 

While all these pieces of Jesus are true if left in isolation or even filled in with like passages it paints an incomplete portrait of our Lord and Savior. 

While it is true that Jesus is love, (1 John 4:8) there is much more to Him than our image of love.  Love is in fact more than warm and fuzzy.  Love is Holy.  Holy is incapable of tolerating anything unholy.  Holy equals Righteous.  And now you’re starting to get nervous – am I right?

Well, we’ve glossed over a few things that we have to go back and clear up.  First, that passage we quoted that says, Jesus is Love – actually says this, “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8 (NASB)  So the first two points to make are first, Jesus is not referenced by name, it is “God” with a capital G who is mentioned.  And second, if you do not love, you do not know God.

So how can you get away with saying “Jesus is Love” Dale?  -- Here’s how.  John also writes,  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 (NASB)  So, the Word equals God.  So what you say – that doesn’t make Jesus equal to God.  Read on my friend.  “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:14-17  So, Jesus is God and Jesus is Love.

Where did I come up with this God is Holy stuff and who says anyone or anything is unholy?  We can clear this one up pretty quick with a New Testament quote from Peter, “Because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’" 1 Peter 1:16 (NASB) and the other part comes from Paul, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (NASB)  Do we have to point out that sin is somehow less than holy?  That is clearly short of God’s standard of holiness.

Ok – what has this got to do with the passage from Joshua.  Simply this.  Joshua picked up the mantle as it were from Moses who had led God’s chosen people out of Egypt through the wilderness and to the Promised Land.  Moses led them there not once but twice you might recall.  On the first trip they arrived and sent twelve spies into the land to check it out and only two came back with reports that they should enter in.  Those two were Caleb and Joshua.

Because Moses failed to lead God’s people into the Promised Land they had to wander the wilderness another forty years and when they came back another generation had been raised up.  Only this new generation plus the two Caleb and Joshua were allowed to enter in.  Only Caleb and Joshua who had given the report that the inhabitants of the land could be defeated plus the new generation not yet circumcised until just before entering in as a way to separate the generations.

What was God’s command to Joshua and His people upon entering the Promised Land?    "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.  Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.  No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”  Joshua 1:2-6 (NASB)

He said take the land I am giving to you.  He said no one there will stand against you.  In later passages as the various battles are depicted even more explicit instructions are given about leaving no survivors.  This holy God commands utter destruction.

So my question comes back to this.  Who is Jesus to you?  Is He only the warm and fuzzy Teddy Bear Jesus or is He your Holy God Jesus?  For me, He is both.  AMEN!

Hebrews 4:12-14 Hidden Sin, Really?

Hebrews 4:12-14  “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.   Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (NASB)

So, I was in Boise this week and stayed at a hotel downtown where the company had arranged the meeting that I came to attend.  This particular hotel chain is one that I frequent a lot although I had never been to this particular property.  My experience is that the rooms are always clean and comfortable and I can always count on a comfortable bed.  I’ll start by saying my overall experience was different this time.

I always have road warrior travel stories.  This one started in near tragedy when the shuttle driver handed me the other guy's bag at the second to last stop upon arrival Monday night.  In the darkness I didn’t notice, just toted it in and started to check in.  Oddly when I let go of the bag to reach for my wallet it flopped over – NOT MY BAG.  Well, that’s just how this visit went with the TV remote not working, the key reader to the outside door not working and etc.

Well after the first day of meetings I returned to my hotel room briefly to drop my computer bag and rejoin the group for dinner.  When I walked in, I saw something that didn’t register at first.  Something odd about my suitcase; something out of place.  When I looked purposely at it I saw the maid had left her rubber gloves behind.  Not only left them behind in my room, she left them behind IN MY SUITCASE!

Now, I don’t really know the ins and outs of housekeeping down to the last detail.  I couldn’t make a hotel bed just the way they do and I don’t have an endless supply of those tiny mints.  But I’m pretty sure the first page of the housekeeping manual says – DON”T PUT YOUR DIRTY RUBBER GLOVES IN THE GUEST'S SUITCASE!

So, she knew what she was doing was wrong – she just thought she would get away with it.  You know, she worked all alone in that room with her cart strategically placed so no one could follow her in.  What she did in there was completely HIDDEN!  Or was it?

You see, as benign as this little housekeeping incident seems it is sinful behavior; it is sin.  And it is sin that I’m quite certain the maid had not intended to reveal.  You know, sometimes there are sinful behaviors that people do flagrantly – IN YOUR FACE sins.  The parades in San Francisco come to mind as examples.  It would be hard to argue that anyone involved in some of that outlandish behavior regardless of their misguided beliefs could think what they do in some of those parades is upright and wholesome behavior.  That’s IN YOUR FACE sin.  The maid’s actions were not, she committed her deed in private.

The problem with hidden sin is that it can sometimes fool the perpetrator into living a double life; putting on the sparkling image in public but knowing secretly of their dark and shameful behavior.  Sin is that way – it eats at us – it ultimately will KILL us.  That is if it is not dealt with.

Scripture tells us of the remedy.  As believers the Word of God – Scripture itself is referenced in the passage quoted today.  “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  So, as Christians the Word of God is at work in our lives as a spiritual scalpel.  It can actually cut through with surgical precision to “Judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  That precision work of rooting out the evil that continually creeps into our lives because of our sin nature is a preservative surgery we need on a continual basis as believers.  We’re all sinners – all of our hearts are darkened by that stain of sin that fell upon our kind since the fall of man.

But, I’ll just HIDE!  My sin is mine alone!   

Baloney!!!

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”  Scripture is pretty clear here – THERE IS NO HIDING!  You can’t get away from the black and white facts.  You may fool your fellow man.  You may even tidy up after yourself most of the time by picking up those gloves you left in the customer’s suitcase – but your sin is not hidden from “His sight”.  “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him.”  So, who are you fooling?  Yourself?  Your family?  Your friends?  Your fellow church goers?

Some years ago the elders went through study called, “Experiencing God” together.  It is an intensive study and I highly recommend it to anyone individually but especially to a small group.  That said, my own experience when it came time in the book to “Walk with God” was quite profound.  The instruction was to go someplace alone with no distractions and simply bare all before your creator.  It took me several days to figure out how and where to accomplish my “Walk with God”.  I finally did it on a lonely drive home one night.  It is something I will never forget as I finally understood standing before my God, “Naked and ashamed.”  I came to terms with the truth that was always there but finally was real to me – there are no secrets with God, there are NO HIDDEN SINS!  I shook in the reality of that moment and unexpectedly I am sobbing even now.

But, our God is good!  He doesn’t leave us alone in that state of weakness and vulnerability.  He’s been there, done that.  Read on in the passage, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.´  We can trust in Jesus because He has walked among us and experienced every temptation and worse and yet did NOT sin.  That’s a great thing because it gives us a Savior in whom we can confide, in whom we can trust.

And although previously unquoted I will close today with the end of the chapter which sums things up nicely, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB)  AMEN!

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 Don't Even Eat with Him

1Corinthians 5:9-11  “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one”. (NASB)

Can you believe it?  Can you believe there would be a person or persons in a church body that in spite of his claim to be a Christian would participate in gross sin?  Openly participate in gross sin?  That is exactly the situation Paul learned of in the midst of the Corinthian church.  In this case Paul says it is the kind of sin you don’t even see unbelievers engaged in and yet here it is right in the church.  He says earlier in Chapter 5 that “Someone has his father's wife”.  It is widely agreed this was a step son engaged in a sexual affair with his step mother, his father’s wife.  And while he is openly engaged in this immoral relationship he is participating in fellowship with the other church members.

Paul is beside himself!  He likens this practitioner of evil in the midst of the congregation to a leavening agent in a batch of dough.  He says a little leaven affects the whole batch.  So the implication is clear.  Having a practitioner of evil in and among the flock is bad news for the flock.  Paul wants them to do something about it.  He says to get rid of the bad leaven and replace it with new.  There isn’t room for wondering what he means then is there?  He is saying get this guy out of your church.  If you don’t his behavior is going to rub off on you and before you know it you’ll have a disaster on your hands.  There will be more and more evil running amuck if you don’t nip this thing in the bud.

How does Paul suggest this happen?  He says get him out!  He says don’t, “Associate with immoral people”.  And he goes on to clarify that he’s not talking about lost people in the world who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.  He’s talking about this, “So-called brother”.  He’s saying that when this kind of wickedness is seen blatantly in your midst you need to get it out and isolate it from the body. 

So what does Paul mean by “Associate”.  I think he is clear once again.  Paul says to, “not even to eat with such a one”.  Paul says don’t break bread with this evil person, this carnal Christian.  So the initial thoughts of this process were about protecting the church body but now Paul seems to be moving into the personal relationships of the believers with this immoral man.  Don’t have a meal with him.

Again I think the implication is pretty obvious.  Paul is saying not only to get him out of your church but don’t have anything to do with him.  Leave him alone; don’t continue business as usual with this guy.  Let him twist in the wind for awhile, he needs to know he can’t just continue in his sin and everything will be fine.  It’s not fine!

Ultimately we know that Paul’s message on Church discipline is consistently about restoration.  And there is no reason to believe this section of Scripture is advocating anything else.  But we must remember that a key prerequisite of restoration is confession followed by repentance.  Confession is admitting what was done; agreeing it was sin.  Repentance is turning from sin and behaving honorably.

So how does all this tie together?  Leaving that guy out twisting in the wind with fellowship broken will allow the Holy Spirit (assuming he really is a believer) to work in his life.  It’s sad but true that we sometimes have to reach rock bottom before we are willing to look up.  Being broken is sometimes where God needs to take us in order to help us.  Being broken may be what is needed to bring about our admission and our turn-around.  That seems to be what was needed in this case.  The implication of Paul's instruction is that if the Corinthian believers were to continue in relationship with this evil man they might interfere with God’s plan to break him.

What is the take home for us?  There may be times in the life of the church when chronic unrepentant evil is the reality in a brother’s life.  When the initial steps of going one on one then as a group to confront his sin fail to bring confession and repentance then the next steps must follow.  They must follow for the health of the church and they must follow for the potential restoration of the brother.  Pray this doesn’t have to happen in your local church but do not fail to act if it is necessary.

To God be the glory in His Church.  AMEN!

Romans 2:9-11 Perfect and Impartial Judge

(Rom 2:9-11)  “There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God”. (NASB)

As honest and pure as a judge in a U.S. court of law can be, he is still subject to his human nature and prone to be less than perfect at meeting out justice.  The rest of us probably fall short of that as we evaluate various circumstances that come our way.  Our natural temptation is to play the role of judge and render our verdict on people and their behavior.  Scripture is clear, that’s a big no no because we are far too imperfect to pass perfect judgment.  Let’s see what the Bible has to say.

After Paul lays out the fact that men having observed nature are responsible to know there is a creator; to know God exists.  Those who fail to acknowledge Him are the objects of His wrath.  He goes on in this discussion of those worthy of His wrath to discuss those who got a big charge out of pointing a finger at those in Chapter 1.  Romans 1 said “They” are without excuse but Chapter 2 goes on to say, “You” are without excuse.  Why?

The essence of Chapter 2 is to say that we’re guilty of judging each other and that in so doing we are both overlooking our own sin but we’re also taking on God’s job.  God is the one and only qualified judge.  Well upon what then will God make his judgment?

Paul makes the case that those who do good will earn a reward but those that do evil will incur God’s wrath.  That sounds fair.  Right?

Well it does actually sound fair but if you take a moment to consider, what you’ve just agreed to as fair means you are also guilty and worthy of God’s wrath.  You see, Paul has just laid out that those who do evil are worthy of wrath and conversely those who do good are not only no longer the object of judgment but they are also in line for a reward.  We naturally think, “I’m good, where’s my reward”.  Unfortunately, we have this idea of good and evil that says that if I’m a little more good than I am bad then I should get counted as good.  WRONG!  The standard God uses is complete holiness; complete perfection.  One little slip and you’re not good.  One little sin and you’re not holy.  So how do you measure up?  I can tell you.  Not judging you I might point out, just relaying the facts here.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”,

(Rom 3:23)  “as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE’”; (Rom 3:10)

So what’s this guilt trip all about?  It is foundational to our faith to understand that we’re not the judge and that as objects of the judgment of God we’ve missed the mark.  We’re all guilty and when I say all I mean all.  Jew, Greek, Gentile, Muslim, Hindu, Arab, Anglo, Hispanic, White man, Black man – We’re all guilty!  We’re guilty because we don’t measure up to God’s standard of holiness.

Why do we need to know this?  Because if we don’t know our own guilt how will we know we are in need of a Savior?  Jesus paid the price for our sins.  He made the perfect sacrifice to appease God’s wrath.  When we understand our guilt before God and accept the work of Jesus Christ on the cross dying in our place by faith we find ourselves guiltless.  We find ourselves righteous.  We find ourselves forgiven.  We find ourselves holy.  Not because of anything we have done but completely because of Jesus.  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.

John 5:24 Life and Death

John 5:24  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life”.  (NASB)

Never does life and death become more poignant than when it is faced personally or by someone close.  Some of us think about these things a lot while others gladly allow the distractions of daily life to change the subject.  If you’ve followed my BLOG or Facebook entries you know that I have a dear friend facing the distinction between life and death personally.

John in his gospel account shares about life and death quoting Jesus.  At first glance you might question the phrasing as out of order but, dare I say it, Jesus knew what He was talking about.  But before we get that far let’s start at the beginning.

The passage begins, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life.”  Now that is pretty key because it is the answer to salvation wrapped up in a tidy little package.  You see those who have heard the gospel message, “My word”.  And then follow up that hearing with faith; “Believes Him who sent Me” has what?  He, “Has eternal life”.  That’s the gospel, the essence of the Christian faith; that Jesus came to this earth, lived a perfect life but was crucified for sins He didn’t commit in our place.  He died in my place and He died in your place if you believe it by faith.

So what is this life and death comment with which He closes the verse?  He says of the Christian that not only do we have eternal life but we do not, “come into judgment”.  That is we are viewed with the holiness of Christ who died in our place rather than sins we have committed.  And finally instead we have, “Passed out of death into life”.

Now it is the last that bears explanation.  You see, because of Adams sin we are all guilty and in that condition we are “Dead” in our sins.  That’s our condition, D E A D, dead.  We are dead spiritually because of that sin and it is only faith in Christ than can do a thing about it.  With faith in Christ we are made alive spiritually so, we have “Passed out of death” and “Into life”.  And that, my friends, is the life and death that matters because it is for eternity.  

So as my friend Cathy faces death in this life she is not alone.  We all face death.  For her the potential is much closer or ominous than it is for the rest of us today but we all face the same death.  We face death from this life and death will certainly come.  But being spiritually dead, being eternally dead is not a condition without a cure.  Jesus is the cure.  Do you know Him?  AMEN!

If you would like to know more about faith in Christ who is the “Resurrection and the Life” please contact me.

Romans 6:3-4 Identified with Christ

Romans 6:3-4  “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (NASB)

This section of scripture follows Paul’s narrative where he debates whether to continue in sin because more sin liberates more grace.  Paul argues that we should not behave in that way.  Next he writes this section in support of good behavior by reminding us of the transforming work already done in us as believers.

First he refers to baptism into Christ Jesus.  By the phrase, “All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus” he means those who have believed by faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ in their lives.  This is not a reference to the water baptism of John or the believer’s baptism we are called to by obedience.  This baptism is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon conversion.  John the Baptist is quoted in the gospel accounts, "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1:8 

Paul writes this to identify the believer with Christ.  Why is that significant?  Being identified with the death of Christ is what saves us from our sin.  Christ died in our place.  But Paul goes on to say not only are we identified with His death we are also identified with His burial.  So we believers are linked to His death and His burial.  Having been linked to them we are in a position to be tied to the third aspect of Him which is His resurrection.  Believers are linked to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The passage says, “So that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life”.  We who believed are linked to Christ raised from the dead.  That means our old life is passed away and our new life in Christ is now ours.  In other words, those who believe in Christ aren’t waiting for eternal life; we have it! 

So as those identified with Christ through all He has done for us and possessors of eternal life now, we should live in accordance with this new identification. 

We’ve seen folks with the WWJD bracelet that refers to What Would Jesus Do.  That’s actually the thought we should have throughout each and every day as we, “Walk in newness of life”.  We shouldn’t be asking whether sinful behavior is okay since our fire insurance policy is paid up.  Paul writes in Ephesians, “And put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”  Ephesians 4:24  We are believers in Christ identified for eternity with Him so let us do as He would do.  AMEN!