Posts Tagged ‘Salvation’

Day 362: Genesis 1–Revelation 21 — The Long Journey Home

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

I do not remember a lot of the things preachers have said throughout my childhood, but I do remember one from brother Ken Hoover who ministered at the Southwest church of Christ in Phoenix when I was in Jr. High. He preached a series of sermons taking one book of the Bible at a time and he would start out with the theme of the book which was always “The glory of God and the salvation of mankind through his Son Jesus Christ.” The message is the same throughout. It’s a message of repentance, forgiveness, love, mercy, and grace. There’s some wrath and punishment thrown in there when necessary, but that is not the goal.

My family (12 of us on my wife’s side) have just returned from a 2 day trip to visit my sister-in-law and her 1 year old son at the rehab facility where they currently reside. She has had many struggles and taken many wrong paths, but we can finally see her starting to take responsibility for them and seeking God and family to help her change her heart and her actions. We have prayed and solicited prayers for her over the years and we finally begin to see the fruit of God’s working in her. She has a long way to go, but God is good and willing to forgive. May we all be as merciful as He is. Our visit was such a joy to all of us and we hope she will be encouraged to continue on her path.

When I read today’s passage in Zechariah 1, it really struck a chord:

“The LORD was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?
“Then they repented and said, ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’”

This passage could come from any of the prophets or really anywhere in the Bible as this is the message throughout, which is why I titled the blog post Genesis 1 – Revelation 21. As fellow blogger Powell would say “Read the whole thing. It’s good for you.”

The message of forgiveness is to each one of us, as “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. As we close out this year and start a new, may we remember the message: that God loved me so much that he sent His Son to live and die for me so that I might be with him in this life and the one to come.

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Posted in Forgiveness, Grace, Love, Mercy, Repentance, Salvation | 1 Comment »

Day 327: Hebrews 12:2 — Joyfully

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Hebrews 12:2 has long been right at the top of my list for favorite Bible verse. The idea that Jesus went to the cross as a sacrifice for my sins is very powerful. But add to that the thought that he went there joyfully and it blows my mind. I try not get the picture in my head of him skipping down the roads of Jerusalem carrying the cross on his shoulders, whistling all the way. And yet on the inside, that joy gave him the strength to carry on and complete his task.

Would his sacrifice have been as meaningful if it had been out of duty or a fear of retribution for disobedience? After all that Jesus had gone through in his life, if he had become disheartened at the end and merely wished it to be over, would our sins be forgiven? Big questions that I am glad I do not have to answer, and I am glad they don’t even need an answer because he did it all for “the joy set before him.” It was not because of duty or fear or despair. It was because he loved me enough to want to go through all that and attain my salvation.

How many times do I fulfill my Christian duties out of obligation, fear of retribution, or even habit? When I give money to the church is it because I know I have to? When I give my time in service, is it so I will feel like I am a good Christian. When I keep the 10 commandments and all the other laws and regulations found in the Bible, am I doing it so I will not suffer an eternity in hell?

God does not just want me to give. He wants me to want to give. He does not want me merely to serve. In order to be like him I must want to serve. God does not just want me to be good and righteous. He wants me to want to be good and righteous. Like his son, on the cross giving and serving joyfully, not out of compulsion or duty or fear, but out of love.

A tough message for me. It is much easier to just do the things I do out of habit and think I am good enough to get by. But God calls me to something higher though the death of his Son and his joyful example on the cross.

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Posted in Hebrews, Obedience, Salvation | 1 Comment »

Day 317: Hebrews 1:1-2:9 — A little lower than the angels

Saturday, November 13th, 2010

The writer of this letter to Jewish Christians seems to go out of his way to show Jesus’ superiority to angels. To wit:

  • God has spoken to us by His Son. (v. 2)
  • The Son is heir of all things, appointed by the Father. (v. 2)
  • The Son is the radiance of God’s glory. (v. 3)
  • All the characteristics of the Son are exactly like those of His Father. (v. 3)
  • The Son’s words are so powerful, they sustain all things. (v. 3)
  • The Son purifies us from our sins. (v. 3)
  • The Son is seated at the right hand of God. (v. 3)
  • Not only is His Name superior to the angels, but His very being is superior to theirs. (v. 4)
  • Oh, and by the way, name one angel whom God called “Son”. (v. 5)

And that’s not all! But it’s enough to make the point. Jesus’ superiority to the angels made Him greater than the law, which was said to have been mediated by angels (Hebrews 2:2-3). Indeed, according to Jewish tradition, God had given His law through angels (Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19). Notice the reference to angels in Deuteronomy 33:2:

And he said, The Lord is come from Sinai, and has appeared from Seir to us, and has hasted out of the mount of Paran, with the ten thousands of Kadesh; on his right hand were his angels with him. (from the Septuagint)

Since Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God (v. 3; also Hebrews 12:2), which was the angels’ former post (Deut. 33:2), there’s no reason to consider angels as even being in the same league as Jesus — so is the point of the writer.

But for a little while (2:7 and 2:9), Jesus was “made” (though it was His will) a “little lower than the angels”. Jesus humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8), for a while giving up His place in heaven, so that you and I might have a home with Him forever (John 14:1-4).

Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!

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Day 280: Galatians 4:1-7 — An Heir

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

I have a hard time understanding the concept of being an heir to something. My mother died a couple of years ago and there was nothing for her to give. In the Bible, the idea of heir comes from the idea of lots. For example pieces of wood that represented an inheritance (i.e., land) would be divided up into pieces and given to the heirs of the inheritance. Paul in Galatians 4:1-7 reminds us that believers in Christ are sons and because we are sons we become heirs. I think we take our inheritance for granted. It is not something we deserve. It is something that was given to us at a great cost. Paul reminds us that Jesus’ incarnation was for the purpose of redeeming us. We are redeemed from our sins that separated us from God. I receive no inheritance from my family but because I believe in Jesus Christ — and not just that I have believed in Him but obeyed him (i.e., confessed my sins, repented, and been born again through baptism) — I have become a son. I now have a familial relationship with God. I am not just a sinner made clean but I am made whole again. I am not just one of God’s created beings but now I am a son. Now that I am a son, I am promised an inheritance that lasts forever. No wonder Paul spends so much time in Galatians teaching doctrine…it is just that important.

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Day 64: Numbers 8:5-22 — Salvation

Friday, March 5th, 2010

waterI have a preacher friend from another tradition that likes to tease me. When he sees me, he will say something like, “Hey Randy, you still baptizing people or have you learned about grace?” I will answer back something like, “Yes, grace has taught me to baptize.” I don’t think we will ever come to terms with this but when I read our text from Numbers 8:5-22, it makes me think about why cleansing is so important to God. I mean God has already shown His grace to the people by saving them from the Egyptians. He brought them out of Egypt and saved them from Pharaoh at the crossing of the Red Sea. Well then after He shows them His grace, why does He give them the Ten Commandments, expect them to build a tabernacle, and then in our reading tell the people to cleanse themselves for purification of sins? In this long list of things to do, never do the people question God’s grace nor his commandments.

Next time, I see my friend, I am going to yell, “you still telling people to call on the name of Jesus to be saved or have you learned of grace?” I mean if grace saves us why do we need faith, or to call on the name of Jesus, or confess, or repent, or be baptized, or to give money, or to live morally? It seems to me if we understand grace then we understand judgment. The just thing for God to do is to annihilate us from the face of the earth. I mean we have all sinned. We are all guilty. Yet, Jesus died for our sins and saved us from our sins. Jesus is so much greater than the sacrifice and purification in the Old Testament in our reading. I think His call for us to obey His Word today is even greater.

I believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). I confess Him (Romans 10:9-10) and call upon His name (Romans 10:13), I repent of my sins (Acts 2:38), and I submit my body to be immersed (buried in water – Colossians 2:12) into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). I believe that coming up out of that grave of water, that I am born again (John 3:3-5). I am forgiven of past sins (Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16). I am saved (1Peter 3:21 and Mark 16:16). I am added to the church which Jesus built (Matthew 16:18, Acts 2:41, and Acts 2:47). I have received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a seal of my salvation (Acts 5:32, Ephesians 1:13-14, and Romans 8:9-11). I am called to live a life worthy of Christ everyday (Ephesians 4:1-6).

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Posted in Baptism, Cross, Discipleship, faith, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Numbers, Repentance, Salvation, Sin | Comments Off

Day 5: Genesis 9-10 – קֶשֶׁת (qešet) bow

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

rainbowIn our reading today from Genesis 9:1-10:32, I have picked out a verse from Genesis 9:13.  I grew up with the image of the rainbow as a monumental visual representation of God’s love for us after the sinfulness of man was irradiated with the flood.  Yet, as I grew older, I found that Sunday School did not always provide me with the deeper image.  The word we translate for “rainbow” is a Hebrew word.  It is qešet. It is used in the Old Testament for the weapon used by a hunter (Genesis 27:3) and warrior (I Samuel 31:3). Simply, a bow that an arrow is shot from.  It was a common weapon in the ancient Near East, The tribe of Benjamin were noted archers (Judges 20; I Chronicles 8:40). Jonathan used a bow (I Samuel 20:20) and later the bow became the weapon of leaders and kings (II Kings 9:24). The bow is controlled by God (Genesis 49:24). The arrow finds its mark because of God’s guidance (I Kings 22:34; II Kings 13-16). The broken bow can represent divinely imposed defeat (I Samuel 2:4), and/or peace (God peaceably “hangs” his bow, Genesis 9:13).

What a great thing that God does.  In Genesis 9:13, he hangs up His bow.  God sees the bow in the sky and remembers that He will not take such drastic measures against us again.  In fact, He plans to not make war against us in the way of a watery flood but in our new covenant, He plans to save us through His Son (His ultimate plan since the origin of sin).

Source: Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (819). Chicago: Moody Press.

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