I have been thinking alot lately about our world view and the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. For thirty nine years my world view has been changing along with my understanding of the revelation of God in the Bible. In my early years my world view was shaped by a futurist eschatology that thinks that Christ's kingdom is a future event.
More recently I have come to the view that Christ's kingdom was fully initiated in the first century, first in heaven, immediately following his ascension and then on earth starting with the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. From there increasing throughout Judea, Samaria and unto the utter ends of the Roman and Jewish world and then continuing until today to all peoples (a few yet to be reached) and the uttermost parts of the earth.
One of the foundational scriptures that leads me to this view is found in the Messianic prophecy given through Isaiah.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
( Isaiah 9:6,7 NIV this and all following Bible references are from, biblegateway)
Here God reveals that the Messiah, referred to here as a child and son, will be born with the government upon his shoulders. And that the Messiah's government will increase and be an eternal government starting in that time and continuing forever.
Note that nothing here supports an idea that the child would be born only to die and later in some future time establish an earthly government or kingdom. As I am now seeing all in the NT writers support the idea that Christ was presently the king, that his kingdom for them was a present reality, and not a future event.
Consider also that God does not reveal that the Messianic kingdom would spring forth as a full reality across the whole earth, but rather that it would increase. This to me says it has a beginning, a small beginning and increases from there and forever.
I see that all who are in Christ are also citizens in his eternal kingdom. And that the church is also the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus upon the earth. I don't have in mind here any particular organization that calls itself Church, but instead all true believers in Christ Jesus, in all their existence universally and in local fellowships.
Consider how the church started. There were about five hundred disciples of Jesus (based on Paul's statements in 1 Cor. 15:6), that followed him during parts of his earthly ministry. Some of those followed him all the time. Out of this group were selected twelve disciples to be sent out to represent the Messiah to carry on his work after his departure. These Christ ordered to wait in Jerusalem until "...the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1: 4,5).
Those gathered at Jesus ascension that heard these words clearly saw it time for the Messianic kingdom to be established. These were not confused about the times as some today teach. They were not holding on to some contemporary Messianic kingdom theory. No, these were holding on to the clear promises of God that are clearly stated in prophecies regarding the Messiah and the establishing of his kingdom.
These asked Jesus, "Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”" (Acts 1:6)
Jesus answer was to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit.
"7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” " (Acts 1:7,8)
And so they waited in Jerusalem for the promised immersion in the Holy Spirit and the establishing of the Messianic kingdom. And it did come upon them and was established.
"Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." (Acts 1:13)
"1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-3)
In an upper room in Jerusalem, there waited the twelve (including Matthias), some of the women, Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers (of whom we know James, the elder was one). And on the day of first fruits of the harvest, the day called Pentecost, the first believers received the promised immersion in the Holy Spirit, and the church was born. This too was the establishing of the eternal kingdom of God in Christ Jesus upon the earth. What had been birthed in eternity past, when God first desired a family and a kingdom, was now started in the earth. All former kingdoms were just a shadow of this one. This one alone was an eternal kingdom, made up of citizens that had the eternal life of God within them.
On that day three thousand were added to the church. The kingdom of Messiah increased. Soon after about five thousand more were added, increasing the kingdom of Messiah again. And this addition continued to increase. Extending to all of Judea and Samaria. And finally to the ends of the Roman/Jewish world.
From that beginning to today the eternal kingdom of God in Christ Jesus has increased. Extended to the very ends of the physical earth, reaching almost every people of every language group. But this kingdom is a present reality, not a future one.
This is my present view, based on my almost forty years in the Lord and study in the Bible.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Church Awakening.
There are those today who are critical of what church services have become. I think that much of their criticism is very valid. One of the criticisms is that the evangelical church has become a place for what many call worshiptainment, a mixture of worship and entertainment.
Chuck Swindol has written a book dealing with this subject titled "The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call to Renewal." The product description of Chuck's book from CBD is:
"..Swindoll exposes the problems of - and offers solutions for- the entertainment-based postmodern evangelical church. Revealing why and how far we've drifted from the truth, he shows how a return to biblical preaching and teaching will restore the life-altering strength and impact of the Bride of Christ. ..."
I'm not criticizing Chuck or his book. I have yet to read it, but will and will post my review here once I do. But this product description got me thinking again on what the solutions to the state of the modern church are. Is a "return to biblical preaching and teaching" really what will "restore the life altering strength and impact" of the church? My view is that proper teaching is only part of the solution needed in this postmodern church age (whatever that means?).
AS EACH ONE DOES THEIR WORK
In the letter to the Ephesians Paul has this to say about teaching and the building up of the body of Christ.
Eph. 4:11-16 NIV (Biblegateway)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
First notice that elders don't just function as preachers and teachers as the modern church makes it. But elders function as apostles (church planters), prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The function or office of preacher is not a NT idea, but one developed by the Reformation teachers to replace the office of the Roman Catholic priest.
The job of the elders is "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up". So yes, the elders are vital to the work of properly building up the body of Christ. Paul even says that the elders functioning in these capacities are gifts from Christ to men. Unfortunantly the modern church for the most part has neglected three of these functions and tends to lump the last two listed by Paul into one man. Where the early church had five functions of elders, we now have one man functioning in an assembly.
Part of the solution for the postmodern evangelical church is a true restoration of these five functions of elders. Some in the last century have tried to restore the so-called five fold ministry, to limited success. Most of the failure I think is because they tried to fit these functions into the modern church system, mostly changing titles of already existing offices. With no real changes in functions of any one. Others have taken on titles in an atttempt to lend credibility to "Their Ministry", giving them an air of authority and superiority compared to others.
They use titles such as Apostle .... and Prophet...
Next look at the purpose of the elders functions, their job, (if you will). It is to serve the rest of the assembly, by preparing them for "works of service", so that the body of Christ may be built up. Add to this part what concludes this passage and I think we get a full picture of a solution. "...builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
The elders, in their five areas of function work to prepare the assemly to do their works of service and as each one does their loving work of service the body of Christ is built up.
Only with the whole church functioning in every area of service, can the body of Christ, the church be built up. It will take good biblical teaching, that is part of what guides the church to know and be encouraged in works of service. But that is only part of the solution.
Chuck Swindol has written a book dealing with this subject titled "The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call to Renewal." The product description of Chuck's book from CBD is:
"..Swindoll exposes the problems of - and offers solutions for- the entertainment-based postmodern evangelical church. Revealing why and how far we've drifted from the truth, he shows how a return to biblical preaching and teaching will restore the life-altering strength and impact of the Bride of Christ. ..."
I'm not criticizing Chuck or his book. I have yet to read it, but will and will post my review here once I do. But this product description got me thinking again on what the solutions to the state of the modern church are. Is a "return to biblical preaching and teaching" really what will "restore the life altering strength and impact" of the church? My view is that proper teaching is only part of the solution needed in this postmodern church age (whatever that means?).
AS EACH ONE DOES THEIR WORK
In the letter to the Ephesians Paul has this to say about teaching and the building up of the body of Christ.
Eph. 4:11-16 NIV (Biblegateway)
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
First notice that elders don't just function as preachers and teachers as the modern church makes it. But elders function as apostles (church planters), prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The function or office of preacher is not a NT idea, but one developed by the Reformation teachers to replace the office of the Roman Catholic priest.
The job of the elders is "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up". So yes, the elders are vital to the work of properly building up the body of Christ. Paul even says that the elders functioning in these capacities are gifts from Christ to men. Unfortunantly the modern church for the most part has neglected three of these functions and tends to lump the last two listed by Paul into one man. Where the early church had five functions of elders, we now have one man functioning in an assembly.
Part of the solution for the postmodern evangelical church is a true restoration of these five functions of elders. Some in the last century have tried to restore the so-called five fold ministry, to limited success. Most of the failure I think is because they tried to fit these functions into the modern church system, mostly changing titles of already existing offices. With no real changes in functions of any one. Others have taken on titles in an atttempt to lend credibility to "Their Ministry", giving them an air of authority and superiority compared to others.
They use titles such as Apostle .... and Prophet...
Next look at the purpose of the elders functions, their job, (if you will). It is to serve the rest of the assembly, by preparing them for "works of service", so that the body of Christ may be built up. Add to this part what concludes this passage and I think we get a full picture of a solution. "...builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
The elders, in their five areas of function work to prepare the assemly to do their works of service and as each one does their loving work of service the body of Christ is built up.
Only with the whole church functioning in every area of service, can the body of Christ, the church be built up. It will take good biblical teaching, that is part of what guides the church to know and be encouraged in works of service. But that is only part of the solution.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Church Discipline
Mat 18:11-35 (LITV e-Sword)
"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
What do you think? If there be to any man a hundred sheep, and one of them strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and having gone he seeks the one having strayed? And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine not having gone astray. So it is not the will before your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
But if your brother may sin against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not hear, take one or two more with you, "so that on the mouth of two" or "three witnesses every word may stand". (Deut. 19:15)
But if he fails to hear them, tell it to the assembly. And if he also fails to hear the assembly, let him be to you as the nations and the tax collector.
Truly I say to you, Whatever you bind on the earth will be, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you loose on the earth will be, having been loosed in Heaven. Again I say to you, If two of you agree on earth as to anything, whatever they shall ask, it shall be to them from My Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.
Then coming up to Him, Peter said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?
Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, Until seven times, but, Until seventy times seven.
Because of this the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a man, a king, who desired to take account with his slaves. And he having begun to reckon, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought near to him. But he not having any to repay, the lord commanded him to be sold, also his wife and children, and all things, as much as he had, even to pay back. Then having fallen down, the slave bowed the knee to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay all to you. And being filled with pity, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the loan.
But having gone out, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. And seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay me whatever you owe. Then having fallen down at his feet, his fellow slave begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay all to you. But he would not, but having gone away he threw him into prison until he should pay back the amount owing.
But his fellow slaves, seeing the things happening, they were greatly grieved. And having come they reported to their lord all the things happening. Then having called him near, his lord said to him, Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt, since you begged me. Ought you not also to have mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy?
And being angry, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors until he pay back all that debt to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you unless each of you from your hearts forgive his brother their deviations. "
In all relationships comes times of disagreement that can be taken to extremes. We all are sinners by nature. We want our own way. We want what is best for ourselves. No man harms his own body while sane. We rarely sin against ourselves, but we often do sin against others.
We can sin in many differing degrees, from hurtful slight to lies and slanders. We can take up hand, fist or implement against another to strike them in an effort to lash out in anger or hate to do harm. We can covet what our neighbor has and seek to steal it or in some way rob it from them.
What makes a sin a sin? We do have the ten commandments from God to teach us what is right behavior. To break any of those ten is a sin by definition. Following the giving of the ten commandments Moses gives the teachings that explain how those ten are lived out in our daily relationships. I think that most rational believers would accept that to break one of those teachings is sin.
In the passage above Jesus is referring to when a brother sins against another brother and how to best deal with it. What if the sin is not delineated in the ten commandments or in the teaching of Moses? Here I think the idea of offense comes in. Let us keep in mind that the real issue at hand is not purity, but that not one little one be perish or be lost.
Jesus comes into this teaching of brothers from a discussion using a lost sheep as illustration. He is using the care of the shepherd for his sheep to show the love, care and concern God has for each one. One of the main teachings of the NT is that believers are to imitate God and his love for men. " And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,..." (1Th 1:6 ) we are told. We are told to keep Jesus as our example of how to live life.
Out of this teaching about God's care for even one lost one, Jesus teaches us how to deal with one who has offended us. A sin from one brother to another can be anything that offends. In relationships we can do many things that offends another to some degree. The more intimate the relationship the more easily one can be offended by seemingly small things. A look, a failure to perform some small act, a word, all can offend someone.
The goal here is to not allow an offense to cause a little one to perish or be lost. Many have left churches over the offenses of some one. Sins can drive away some of God's little ones.
Church Discipline
Most denominations have some official form of church discipline. Excommunication is a common ecclesiastic term used. Each denomination has its own process that is followed based on this passage of Jesus' teaching. Lets look at what Jesus taught.
Jesus gives steps to be used in addressing a sin between brothers.
1. Private: The offended brother goes in private to the offending brother to address the matter, reproving him, seeking the repentance of the offender. If the brother repents, then the relationship is restored and the process is ended. If the brother does not repent the matter is carried to the next step.
2. With a Witness: If the offender does not accept the reproof and repent, then the offended one is to go back with another brother as witness to reprove the offender again.
This is solidly founded on the teaching of Moses, where any matter must have two or three witnesses in support of an accusation against someone. No one could be tried in the court system of Israel on the basis of one lone witness.
Any rational person can see that anyone can say anything they want and in a most credible way against anyone, lying the whole time. But the more witnesses to a matter the more sure is the accusation. This is the basis of all good legal systems, hearing and testing the credibility of witnesses in a matter.
Jesus here is applying the teachings of the law to the matter of a brother sinning against another brother. The offense was made, the offended brother went to the offending brother. The offender refused to accept the rebuke. Now the offended brother is there again, rebuking the offender with a witness. If the offending brother repents of his sin, the matter is settled and done, the relationship is restored. If the offending brother does not receive the rebuke, the process goes to the next stage.
3. Before the Assembly: The next stage is for the matter to be brought before the assembly of believers. The assembly of believers acts as the formal court of law. The offender is brought in, the offended brother and his witness bear testimony. Both sides are given a chance to give their testimony and the assembly makes its decision.
Keep in mind the goal is still that not one be lost or perish from the flock of God. The goal is restoration of the relationship that was damaged by the offending brother against his brother. It is not to purge out the sinner or heretic from the assembly, though that can be a purpose for this process as well.
If the offending brother will not receive the rebuke of the assembly of believers, the final stage is played out.
4. Judgment, Separation: If after the assembly of believers hears the matter, judges the offender and gives him their rebuke, and the offender does not repent, the assembly is to separated from the assembly and to be treated as the despised tax collectors and the Romans (nations or gentiles) who occupied Israel.
Jesus then continues on with answering a question from Peter regarding forgiveness. If a brother sins against me, how often should I forgive him, seven times a day?, asks Peter.
Jesus says, no, seventy times seven times a day. In other words if any ones sins against you and you rebuke them and they hear you and ask your forgiveness, you are to forgive them. Even is the offender does it repeatedly all through the day.
We are to have the attitude of God towards the brethren. God in Christ Jesus forgave us all our sins towards him. Sins that righteously called for the death of our eternal soul. If God forgave us our great debt, we also should forgive our brothers' small sins towards us.
" Therefore, as elect ones of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassions, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive. And above all these, love, which is the bond of perfectness." ( Col 3:12-14)
" Let all bitterness, and anger, and wrath, and tumult, and evil speaking be put away from you, along with all evil things. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, having forgiven one another, even as also God forgave you in Christ." (Eph 4:31-32)
The process is still the same, private, with a witness, then publicly in the assembly. Whenever the offending one repents and asks forgiveness, we are to immediately forgive them. The restoration and maintenance of the relationship is the goal, not legal purity.
The proper goal of church discipline then is the maintenance of good, loving relationships. Any offense of brother towards brother is to be treated with kindness, tenderheartedness with a goal to forgiveness and restoration.
"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
What do you think? If there be to any man a hundred sheep, and one of them strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and having gone he seeks the one having strayed? And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine not having gone astray. So it is not the will before your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
But if your brother may sin against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not hear, take one or two more with you, "so that on the mouth of two" or "three witnesses every word may stand". (Deut. 19:15)
But if he fails to hear them, tell it to the assembly. And if he also fails to hear the assembly, let him be to you as the nations and the tax collector.
Truly I say to you, Whatever you bind on the earth will be, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you loose on the earth will be, having been loosed in Heaven. Again I say to you, If two of you agree on earth as to anything, whatever they shall ask, it shall be to them from My Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.
Then coming up to Him, Peter said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?
Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, Until seven times, but, Until seventy times seven.
Because of this the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a man, a king, who desired to take account with his slaves. And he having begun to reckon, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought near to him. But he not having any to repay, the lord commanded him to be sold, also his wife and children, and all things, as much as he had, even to pay back. Then having fallen down, the slave bowed the knee to him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay all to you. And being filled with pity, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the loan.
But having gone out, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. And seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay me whatever you owe. Then having fallen down at his feet, his fellow slave begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay all to you. But he would not, but having gone away he threw him into prison until he should pay back the amount owing.
But his fellow slaves, seeing the things happening, they were greatly grieved. And having come they reported to their lord all the things happening. Then having called him near, his lord said to him, Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt, since you begged me. Ought you not also to have mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy?
And being angry, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors until he pay back all that debt to him. So also My heavenly Father will do to you unless each of you from your hearts forgive his brother their deviations. "
In all relationships comes times of disagreement that can be taken to extremes. We all are sinners by nature. We want our own way. We want what is best for ourselves. No man harms his own body while sane. We rarely sin against ourselves, but we often do sin against others.
We can sin in many differing degrees, from hurtful slight to lies and slanders. We can take up hand, fist or implement against another to strike them in an effort to lash out in anger or hate to do harm. We can covet what our neighbor has and seek to steal it or in some way rob it from them.
What makes a sin a sin? We do have the ten commandments from God to teach us what is right behavior. To break any of those ten is a sin by definition. Following the giving of the ten commandments Moses gives the teachings that explain how those ten are lived out in our daily relationships. I think that most rational believers would accept that to break one of those teachings is sin.
In the passage above Jesus is referring to when a brother sins against another brother and how to best deal with it. What if the sin is not delineated in the ten commandments or in the teaching of Moses? Here I think the idea of offense comes in. Let us keep in mind that the real issue at hand is not purity, but that not one little one be perish or be lost.
Jesus comes into this teaching of brothers from a discussion using a lost sheep as illustration. He is using the care of the shepherd for his sheep to show the love, care and concern God has for each one. One of the main teachings of the NT is that believers are to imitate God and his love for men. " And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,..." (1Th 1:6 ) we are told. We are told to keep Jesus as our example of how to live life.
Out of this teaching about God's care for even one lost one, Jesus teaches us how to deal with one who has offended us. A sin from one brother to another can be anything that offends. In relationships we can do many things that offends another to some degree. The more intimate the relationship the more easily one can be offended by seemingly small things. A look, a failure to perform some small act, a word, all can offend someone.
The goal here is to not allow an offense to cause a little one to perish or be lost. Many have left churches over the offenses of some one. Sins can drive away some of God's little ones.
Church Discipline
Most denominations have some official form of church discipline. Excommunication is a common ecclesiastic term used. Each denomination has its own process that is followed based on this passage of Jesus' teaching. Lets look at what Jesus taught.
Jesus gives steps to be used in addressing a sin between brothers.
1. Private: The offended brother goes in private to the offending brother to address the matter, reproving him, seeking the repentance of the offender. If the brother repents, then the relationship is restored and the process is ended. If the brother does not repent the matter is carried to the next step.
2. With a Witness: If the offender does not accept the reproof and repent, then the offended one is to go back with another brother as witness to reprove the offender again.
This is solidly founded on the teaching of Moses, where any matter must have two or three witnesses in support of an accusation against someone. No one could be tried in the court system of Israel on the basis of one lone witness.
Any rational person can see that anyone can say anything they want and in a most credible way against anyone, lying the whole time. But the more witnesses to a matter the more sure is the accusation. This is the basis of all good legal systems, hearing and testing the credibility of witnesses in a matter.
Jesus here is applying the teachings of the law to the matter of a brother sinning against another brother. The offense was made, the offended brother went to the offending brother. The offender refused to accept the rebuke. Now the offended brother is there again, rebuking the offender with a witness. If the offending brother repents of his sin, the matter is settled and done, the relationship is restored. If the offending brother does not receive the rebuke, the process goes to the next stage.
3. Before the Assembly: The next stage is for the matter to be brought before the assembly of believers. The assembly of believers acts as the formal court of law. The offender is brought in, the offended brother and his witness bear testimony. Both sides are given a chance to give their testimony and the assembly makes its decision.
Keep in mind the goal is still that not one be lost or perish from the flock of God. The goal is restoration of the relationship that was damaged by the offending brother against his brother. It is not to purge out the sinner or heretic from the assembly, though that can be a purpose for this process as well.
If the offending brother will not receive the rebuke of the assembly of believers, the final stage is played out.
4. Judgment, Separation: If after the assembly of believers hears the matter, judges the offender and gives him their rebuke, and the offender does not repent, the assembly is to separated from the assembly and to be treated as the despised tax collectors and the Romans (nations or gentiles) who occupied Israel.
Jesus then continues on with answering a question from Peter regarding forgiveness. If a brother sins against me, how often should I forgive him, seven times a day?, asks Peter.
Jesus says, no, seventy times seven times a day. In other words if any ones sins against you and you rebuke them and they hear you and ask your forgiveness, you are to forgive them. Even is the offender does it repeatedly all through the day.
We are to have the attitude of God towards the brethren. God in Christ Jesus forgave us all our sins towards him. Sins that righteously called for the death of our eternal soul. If God forgave us our great debt, we also should forgive our brothers' small sins towards us.
" Therefore, as elect ones of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassions, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive. And above all these, love, which is the bond of perfectness." ( Col 3:12-14)
" Let all bitterness, and anger, and wrath, and tumult, and evil speaking be put away from you, along with all evil things. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, having forgiven one another, even as also God forgave you in Christ." (Eph 4:31-32)
The process is still the same, private, with a witness, then publicly in the assembly. Whenever the offending one repents and asks forgiveness, we are to immediately forgive them. The restoration and maintenance of the relationship is the goal, not legal purity.
The proper goal of church discipline then is the maintenance of good, loving relationships. Any offense of brother towards brother is to be treated with kindness, tenderheartedness with a goal to forgiveness and restoration.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Spiritual Antinomianism.
Spiritual Antinomianism.
What is this? Why would it be important for us to consider? Consider the following discussion.
"...Perfect love does cast out fear (1 John 4:18 ), but this is no open door for lawlessness or the abandonment of the law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:11; Prov. 1:7). We are not given a license to sin that "grace may increase: (Rom. 6:1). Jesus tells us how we can know if we are loving Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments: (John 14:15). Remember, the law is not the way we are justified by God. The law is, however, an objective standard to which we conform our thoughts, words and deeds. Paul described love in Romans 13:8-10 in terms of obedience to the law. One way you know if you are loving your neighbor is by looking at the law. Paul writes in another place that through faith "we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).
But Lindsey is not officially lawless. He tells us that "the answer to a righteous and obedient life is to walk in the Spirit and walk by faith in His ability to produce God's righteousness and obedience to His laws within you." What are these "laws within you"? Where did these laws come from? Lindsey is correct in telling us that it cannot be the conscience, for conscience is not a "reliable standard of conduct" because "it can be easily seared." Rather, it is immediate guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lindsey even goes beyond traditional dispensational theology by never telling the Christian that at least he is obligated to keep New Testament commands over against Old Testament commands. Greg Bahnsen describes this as "Spiritual antinomianism," a view that teaches
'that the Christian needs guidance for holy living expected by God, but it would deny that such guidance comes from a written (or verbally defined) code. Ethical direction is rather found in the internal promptings of the Holy Spirit...Quite expectedly, such thinking leads quickly to subjectivism in Christian ethics, with each man doing whatever he claims "the Spirit" has prompted him to do-despite the fact that it conflicts with what the Spirit has prompted others to do and (worse) with what the Spirit has revealed once-for-all in the Scriptures. The Bible teaches us that the Spirit works through the word, not speaking or directing from Himself (John 16:13-15). The Spirit works to fulfill the law in us (Rom. 8:4-9). The abiding of the Spirit in believers brings obedience to Gods commandments 91 John 3:24).'
Denying an Objective Standard
Some positive confession preachers unwittingly have opened themselves to the subjectivism of the human potential movement, just as Dave Hunt and others have opened themselves to the pessimism that abounds among the humanists. Why? Because neither group has had an objective standard to measure righteousness. Rushdoony makes this observation: "To deny the permanence of God's law is to fall...ultimately into Manichaeanism." Dispensationalists have been telling Christians for over a century and a half that the law of God as found in the Old Testament and the gospels no longer applies to the church today. So, where does the church get its law? What objective law-word does the church have for the State, meaning civil government?
For some, law is based on feelings. The individual has internal promptings that guide him. He looks to himself for direction, to the movement of hte Holy Spirit on his or her spirit. Law becomes subjective. What's right for one person might not be right for someone else. The end of such philosophy is the old slogan "If it feels good, do it." Or "do you own thing." It should not surprise us that some have turned to the subjectivism of the "positive thinking" movement: think and grow rich, the power of positive thinking, etc. Furthermore, with this internal-only view of the law the church can not address the world on social issues." (The Reduction of Christianity, pp.87,88 )
A longish quote I know. I hope I didn't tire some of you and you muddled your way through it.
So what do you all think. Is there an objective standard of right and wrong in the scriptures or are we left to subjectivism to guide us? I see this as a major issue in the present church society. One that needs to be discussed and not ignored with a few scripture quotes.
We are saved by faith and believing in Christ. We are justified by the atonement of Christ. Then we are called to walk in obedience. I think we all agree with these basic statements.
But obedience to what? God's revealed will recorded in the scripture? Or our own subjective feelings of what the Spirit is leading us to do? Or possible a synthesis of both the objectivity of the scriptures coupled with the leading of the Spirit to "walk ye in it"?
The Law destroyed?
Many today seem to think that the whole Law has been destroyed, that it has no impact at all to the believer in Christ. That no Christian has any obligation to God to keep it in any way. Many today teach that if one tries to reference the Law in any way involving our lives in Christ, that they are returning to Judaism or becoming legalistic. I think that in Gary and Peter's book, The Reduction of Christianity, they bring up some very valid points that we need to consider as we think about the Law and its function in the Church today.
I would like to take the quote I gave and look at it a little bit closer. Here is the first part of that quote.
"...Perfect love does cast out fear (1 John 4:18 ), but this is no open door for lawlessness or the abandonment of the law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:11; Prov. 1:7). We are not given a license to sin that "grace may increase: (Rom. 6:1). Jesus tells us how we can know if we are loving Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments: (John 14:15). Remember, the law is not the way we are justified by God. The law is, however, an objective standard to which we conform our thoughts, words and deeds. Paul described love in Romans 13:8-10 in terms of obedience to the law. One way you know if you are loving your neighbor is by looking at the law. Paul writes in another place that through faith "we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).
"...law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness."
Here I think is a starting point for our discussion. Is the Law of God His standard of righteousness? Which brings us to a more basic question, what is the Law?
Foundationally the Law is the Ten Commandments which God directly gave to Moses to form the basis of his covenant with the nation of Israel. It is recorded that God did not just communicate these ten commandments to Moses to repeat, but instead in a supernatural way, inscribed these ten commandments on two tablets of stone, "with his finger".
Exodus 24:12 And Jehovah said to Moses, Come up to Me to the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you the tablets of stone, and the Law, and the commandments which I have written, to teach them.
Exodus 31:18 And when He finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave to Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
The Law encompasses alot more than just these ten commandments. But these ten are the basis for all the rest of the Law. The Jews commonly refer to the rest of the Law as "the teachings." Showing the idea that God gave to Moses more detail in how to apply the ten commandments to their whole lives.
The ten commandments and the "teachings" are considered to be the standard of righteousness that God demands of his covenant people.
Most of the rest of Exodus contains the teachings of righteousness based on the ten commandments. This is the most basic part of the Law. The other parts of the law form the rules, regulations and practices of the tabernacle and temple, regarding the sacrifices, festivals, and feasts as well as the special rules for the Levites and priests.
The ten commandments and the accompanying teachings are the standard of righteousness revealed by God for his covenant people.
"...Perfect love does cast out fear (1 John 4:18 ), but this is no open door for lawlessness or the abandonment of the law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:11; Prov. 1:7). We are not given a license to sin that "grace may increase: (Rom. 6:1). Jesus tells us how we can know if we are loving Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments: (John 14:15). Remember, the law is not the way we are justified by God. The law is, however, an objective standard to which we conform our thoughts, words and deeds. Paul described love in Romans 13:8-10 in terms of obedience to the law. One way you know if you are loving your neighbor is by looking at the law. Paul writes in another place that through faith "we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).
The phrase I would like to consider today is: "the law is not the way we are justified by God."
By the works of the law is no man justified. I will deal in greater detail what these "works of the law" are later. I would like to address the total sentence first, taking aim at the word justification.
What did Paul mean by his phrases? Lets look at a passage from Romans where Paul gives us this statement. I think we will stay here for a few posts exploring what Paul taught about the Law.
Rom 3:20-31
20 Because by works of Law not one of all flesh will be justified before Him, for through Law is full knowledge of sin. (Psa. 143:2)
21 But now a righteousness of God has been revealed apart from Law, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith of Jesus Christ toward all and upon all those believing; for there is no difference, 23 for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, as a demonstration of His righteousness through the passing over of the sins that had taken place before, in the forbearance of God, 26 for a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for His being just and justifying the one that is of the faith of Jesus.
27 Then where is the boasting? It was excluded. Through what law? Of works? No, but through a Law of faith. 28 Then we conclude a man to be justified by faith without works of Law.
29 Or is He the God of Jews only, and not also of the nations? Yes, of the nations also, 30 since it is one God who will justify circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Then is the Law annulled through faith? Let it not be! But we establish Law.
Paul is very clear, that not one work of the law is any man justified. Justification comes from God's work, not man's work.
Justification and righteousness are synonyms in this passage. Righteousness and justification come to us as we enter in Christ by faith in his redemptive work.
Paul even makes the comparison between justification by the works of the law to being justified because of our faith in Christ, calling faith in Christ, a law of faith.
Paul here is not making a new law to replace the ten commandments. Not at all. He is not saying that a new law is part of the new covenant. He is being a Rabbi, and making a comparison, like the Rabbis did in Proverbs so much of the time, comparing this to that. Comparing the righteous under the Mosaic covenant, doing the works as commanded under the Law of that covenant with the faith of those who trust in Christ.
As others in this forum have well pointed out before, we enter into God's justification by faith in Christ, and not by doing any works of the law. And if we have entered into Christ by faith and are justified through our faith, then too should we continue to walk in that self same faith.
But does faith in Christ nullify the Law and Christ's commandments in it? I did already say this in my previous post, did you miss it? It was the pre-incarnate Word of God that gave the Law to Moses. The very same Word of God that was the creator in the beginning. The very same Word of God that became flesh and tabernacled among us. This same Word of God, spoke with Moses from the burning bush. And the same Word of God met Moses on the top of Mount Sinai speaking with him for 40 days, giving him the tablets of the Law and all the accompanying teaching. Is the Law of the Word of God, nullified by faith in the Word of God? Not according to Paul. According to Paul the law is established in us by our faith in the Word of God. (Lest you misunderstand me, the Word of God is Jesus the Christ, not the writings of the Bible. When I mean the scriptures I write "word of God", lower case "word".) The Law is not nullified, but still living and active as we shall see.
More to come. To enter into a discussion on this article as I form it, join me at MeetChristians.com
What is this? Why would it be important for us to consider? Consider the following discussion.
"...Perfect love does cast out fear (1 John 4:18 ), but this is no open door for lawlessness or the abandonment of the law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:11; Prov. 1:7). We are not given a license to sin that "grace may increase: (Rom. 6:1). Jesus tells us how we can know if we are loving Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments: (John 14:15). Remember, the law is not the way we are justified by God. The law is, however, an objective standard to which we conform our thoughts, words and deeds. Paul described love in Romans 13:8-10 in terms of obedience to the law. One way you know if you are loving your neighbor is by looking at the law. Paul writes in another place that through faith "we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).
But Lindsey is not officially lawless. He tells us that "the answer to a righteous and obedient life is to walk in the Spirit and walk by faith in His ability to produce God's righteousness and obedience to His laws within you." What are these "laws within you"? Where did these laws come from? Lindsey is correct in telling us that it cannot be the conscience, for conscience is not a "reliable standard of conduct" because "it can be easily seared." Rather, it is immediate guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lindsey even goes beyond traditional dispensational theology by never telling the Christian that at least he is obligated to keep New Testament commands over against Old Testament commands. Greg Bahnsen describes this as "Spiritual antinomianism," a view that teaches
'that the Christian needs guidance for holy living expected by God, but it would deny that such guidance comes from a written (or verbally defined) code. Ethical direction is rather found in the internal promptings of the Holy Spirit...Quite expectedly, such thinking leads quickly to subjectivism in Christian ethics, with each man doing whatever he claims "the Spirit" has prompted him to do-despite the fact that it conflicts with what the Spirit has prompted others to do and (worse) with what the Spirit has revealed once-for-all in the Scriptures. The Bible teaches us that the Spirit works through the word, not speaking or directing from Himself (John 16:13-15). The Spirit works to fulfill the law in us (Rom. 8:4-9). The abiding of the Spirit in believers brings obedience to Gods commandments 91 John 3:24).'
Denying an Objective Standard
Some positive confession preachers unwittingly have opened themselves to the subjectivism of the human potential movement, just as Dave Hunt and others have opened themselves to the pessimism that abounds among the humanists. Why? Because neither group has had an objective standard to measure righteousness. Rushdoony makes this observation: "To deny the permanence of God's law is to fall...ultimately into Manichaeanism." Dispensationalists have been telling Christians for over a century and a half that the law of God as found in the Old Testament and the gospels no longer applies to the church today. So, where does the church get its law? What objective law-word does the church have for the State, meaning civil government?
For some, law is based on feelings. The individual has internal promptings that guide him. He looks to himself for direction, to the movement of hte Holy Spirit on his or her spirit. Law becomes subjective. What's right for one person might not be right for someone else. The end of such philosophy is the old slogan "If it feels good, do it." Or "do you own thing." It should not surprise us that some have turned to the subjectivism of the "positive thinking" movement: think and grow rich, the power of positive thinking, etc. Furthermore, with this internal-only view of the law the church can not address the world on social issues." (The Reduction of Christianity, pp.87,88 )
A longish quote I know. I hope I didn't tire some of you and you muddled your way through it.
So what do you all think. Is there an objective standard of right and wrong in the scriptures or are we left to subjectivism to guide us? I see this as a major issue in the present church society. One that needs to be discussed and not ignored with a few scripture quotes.
We are saved by faith and believing in Christ. We are justified by the atonement of Christ. Then we are called to walk in obedience. I think we all agree with these basic statements.
But obedience to what? God's revealed will recorded in the scripture? Or our own subjective feelings of what the Spirit is leading us to do? Or possible a synthesis of both the objectivity of the scriptures coupled with the leading of the Spirit to "walk ye in it"?
The Law destroyed?
Many today seem to think that the whole Law has been destroyed, that it has no impact at all to the believer in Christ. That no Christian has any obligation to God to keep it in any way. Many today teach that if one tries to reference the Law in any way involving our lives in Christ, that they are returning to Judaism or becoming legalistic. I think that in Gary and Peter's book, The Reduction of Christianity, they bring up some very valid points that we need to consider as we think about the Law and its function in the Church today.
I would like to take the quote I gave and look at it a little bit closer. Here is the first part of that quote.
"...Perfect love does cast out fear (1 John 4:18 ), but this is no open door for lawlessness or the abandonment of the law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:11; Prov. 1:7). We are not given a license to sin that "grace may increase: (Rom. 6:1). Jesus tells us how we can know if we are loving Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments: (John 14:15). Remember, the law is not the way we are justified by God. The law is, however, an objective standard to which we conform our thoughts, words and deeds. Paul described love in Romans 13:8-10 in terms of obedience to the law. One way you know if you are loving your neighbor is by looking at the law. Paul writes in another place that through faith "we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).
"...law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness."
Here I think is a starting point for our discussion. Is the Law of God His standard of righteousness? Which brings us to a more basic question, what is the Law?
Foundationally the Law is the Ten Commandments which God directly gave to Moses to form the basis of his covenant with the nation of Israel. It is recorded that God did not just communicate these ten commandments to Moses to repeat, but instead in a supernatural way, inscribed these ten commandments on two tablets of stone, "with his finger".
Exodus 24:12 And Jehovah said to Moses, Come up to Me to the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you the tablets of stone, and the Law, and the commandments which I have written, to teach them.
Exodus 31:18 And when He finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave to Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
The Law encompasses alot more than just these ten commandments. But these ten are the basis for all the rest of the Law. The Jews commonly refer to the rest of the Law as "the teachings." Showing the idea that God gave to Moses more detail in how to apply the ten commandments to their whole lives.
The ten commandments and the "teachings" are considered to be the standard of righteousness that God demands of his covenant people.
Most of the rest of Exodus contains the teachings of righteousness based on the ten commandments. This is the most basic part of the Law. The other parts of the law form the rules, regulations and practices of the tabernacle and temple, regarding the sacrifices, festivals, and feasts as well as the special rules for the Levites and priests.
The ten commandments and the accompanying teachings are the standard of righteousness revealed by God for his covenant people.
"...Perfect love does cast out fear (1 John 4:18 ), but this is no open door for lawlessness or the abandonment of the law of God found in scripture as the standard of righteousness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:11; Prov. 1:7). We are not given a license to sin that "grace may increase: (Rom. 6:1). Jesus tells us how we can know if we are loving Him: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments: (John 14:15). Remember, the law is not the way we are justified by God. The law is, however, an objective standard to which we conform our thoughts, words and deeds. Paul described love in Romans 13:8-10 in terms of obedience to the law. One way you know if you are loving your neighbor is by looking at the law. Paul writes in another place that through faith "we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31).
The phrase I would like to consider today is: "the law is not the way we are justified by God."
By the works of the law is no man justified. I will deal in greater detail what these "works of the law" are later. I would like to address the total sentence first, taking aim at the word justification.
What did Paul mean by his phrases? Lets look at a passage from Romans where Paul gives us this statement. I think we will stay here for a few posts exploring what Paul taught about the Law.
Rom 3:20-31
20 Because by works of Law not one of all flesh will be justified before Him, for through Law is full knowledge of sin. (Psa. 143:2)
21 But now a righteousness of God has been revealed apart from Law, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith of Jesus Christ toward all and upon all those believing; for there is no difference, 23 for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, as a demonstration of His righteousness through the passing over of the sins that had taken place before, in the forbearance of God, 26 for a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for His being just and justifying the one that is of the faith of Jesus.
27 Then where is the boasting? It was excluded. Through what law? Of works? No, but through a Law of faith. 28 Then we conclude a man to be justified by faith without works of Law.
29 Or is He the God of Jews only, and not also of the nations? Yes, of the nations also, 30 since it is one God who will justify circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Then is the Law annulled through faith? Let it not be! But we establish Law.
Paul is very clear, that not one work of the law is any man justified. Justification comes from God's work, not man's work.
Justification and righteousness are synonyms in this passage. Righteousness and justification come to us as we enter in Christ by faith in his redemptive work.
Paul even makes the comparison between justification by the works of the law to being justified because of our faith in Christ, calling faith in Christ, a law of faith.
Paul here is not making a new law to replace the ten commandments. Not at all. He is not saying that a new law is part of the new covenant. He is being a Rabbi, and making a comparison, like the Rabbis did in Proverbs so much of the time, comparing this to that. Comparing the righteous under the Mosaic covenant, doing the works as commanded under the Law of that covenant with the faith of those who trust in Christ.
As others in this forum have well pointed out before, we enter into God's justification by faith in Christ, and not by doing any works of the law. And if we have entered into Christ by faith and are justified through our faith, then too should we continue to walk in that self same faith.
But does faith in Christ nullify the Law and Christ's commandments in it? I did already say this in my previous post, did you miss it? It was the pre-incarnate Word of God that gave the Law to Moses. The very same Word of God that was the creator in the beginning. The very same Word of God that became flesh and tabernacled among us. This same Word of God, spoke with Moses from the burning bush. And the same Word of God met Moses on the top of Mount Sinai speaking with him for 40 days, giving him the tablets of the Law and all the accompanying teaching. Is the Law of the Word of God, nullified by faith in the Word of God? Not according to Paul. According to Paul the law is established in us by our faith in the Word of God. (Lest you misunderstand me, the Word of God is Jesus the Christ, not the writings of the Bible. When I mean the scriptures I write "word of God", lower case "word".) The Law is not nullified, but still living and active as we shall see.
More to come. To enter into a discussion on this article as I form it, join me at MeetChristians.com
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Spiritual Starvation
I read an article by Darin Hufford on FaceBook FBN about spiritual starvation that rung true to me, the full article is here,
Here is an excerpt from that article, what I think is the heart of what Darin is sharing:
"The one common denominator that I’ve noticed in this vast religious landscape of Christian beliefs is that they are all full of hurting and hungry people. Not just hungry people - starving people! Over the years I’ve watched different Christian “Fads” come and go. I’ve
seen twitching, barking, laughing, shaking, falling, hopping and dancing. I have found that you can always gauge the level of spiritual starvation in people by what they’ll ultimately accept as food. What will they put in their spiritual mouths, chew up, swallow, and call food? I do not believe that there has been a time in my entire life quite like the one we are living in now. There has been a famine in the Church for so long that people are showing signs of extreme spiritual malnutrition. Christians today remind me of the little starving Ethiopian children we see on the “Feed the Hungry” commercials. Their spiritual bellies are swollen from a lack of nutrition, their bones are showing through their skin, and there are flies buzzing around their faces.
Here is an excerpt from that article, what I think is the heart of what Darin is sharing:
"The one common denominator that I’ve noticed in this vast religious landscape of Christian beliefs is that they are all full of hurting and hungry people. Not just hungry people - starving people! Over the years I’ve watched different Christian “Fads” come and go. I’ve
seen twitching, barking, laughing, shaking, falling, hopping and dancing. I have found that you can always gauge the level of spiritual starvation in people by what they’ll ultimately accept as food. What will they put in their spiritual mouths, chew up, swallow, and call food? I do not believe that there has been a time in my entire life quite like the one we are living in now. There has been a famine in the Church for so long that people are showing signs of extreme spiritual malnutrition. Christians today remind me of the little starving Ethiopian children we see on the “Feed the Hungry” commercials. Their spiritual bellies are swollen from a lack of nutrition, their bones are showing through their skin, and there are flies buzzing around their faces.At this point I believe that most Christians, out of sheer desperation, will eat just about anything that’s given to them. Gone are the days of meat and potatoes. Anything will do for today, as long as it fills the stomach. I watch sincere-hearted people running from dumpster to dumpster eager to find just a scrap of whatever to ease their spiritual hunger pains. People will literally travel hundreds of miles to attend a conference where supposedly the fire of God is being poured out. They’ll wait in line for four hours and give away money that they don’t even have, only to leave blaming themselves for not having received the fire they had heard so much about."
For those of us who are in the wilderness presently, manna is good, nutritious, but it isn't a three course meal and God never intended it to be. We can become like the children of Israel and yearn for meat, onions, garlic. We can get hungry for real food, and go to those places where we used to go to find food. We yearn to go back to Egypt, where we had real food, not just this manna bread and cooked manna...:bo-manna bread..." (as Keith sang).
We start to think that getting some food is better than eating only manna. We start to think that maybe we were wrong, and misunderstood what was really going on. But were we really getting fed in those franchised fast food big boxes? Consider the difference between dining at a McDonalds franchise, day after day, week after week, compared to eating fresh wholesome foods cooked well at home.
God does have a meal prepared for us. A feast set for his family. His full intention is to bring us into a land of milk and honey. Fields of grain. Vineyards rich with grapes. Olive trees dripping with oil. Trees full of fruit. All there for us to use to create great nutritious home cooked meals. Meals to eat and feast in his presence, to share with the rest of the family, to share with all who are hungry.
God has given us a thirst, a hunger for what is his. We find a true satisfaction of this hunger when we are where he wants us to be. Whether it is with manna, for a time in the wilderness. Or in a franchise once in a while. But mostly when we share the goodness of the Lord from the rich goodness he gives us.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Mark of the Beast, What is it?
On a Christian board I post on, there is an ongoing discussion regarding the mark of the beast referenced in Rev. 13:17; 14:9,11; 16:2; 19:20; and 20:4.
There are many ideas today as to what this mark might be. Many look to modern technology and posit the idea that the mark is one of these technologies. I have read of tattoos, both visible and invisible, perhaps like a bar code or some symbol of the beast. An implanted chip is very popular today, since the advent of that technology. Biometric scans of the eye (in the forehead) and the hand or finger (in the right hand) have all been suggested as possibly being the mark of the beast ruler. Some claim it is so in most certain of terms.
But what is this mark? How would the original receivers of this letter from John regarding the Revelation of Jesus have understood the mark of the beast?
One of the truths I have learned in understanding scripture is that there are many quotes and allusions to past scriptures in the more modern scriptures. Through out the scriptures we call the New Testament are many of these quotes and allusions. Also that there is a commonality to prophecies. Biblical prophecies often use the same or similar language to express the same ideas.
To the receivers of this letter of Revelation, they would have understood the mark in light of past scriptures. They only had the scriptures we call the Old Testament. They also had many letters from different of the apostles and teachers, some of which we have in our canon of scriptures we call the New Testament.
When we search for similar ideas in the Old Testament scriptures we find this same idea of a mark or sign upon the hand or forehead to show allegiance to a kingdom rule.
In Exodus 13 we find just such a reference.
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal."
3 Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. 5 When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6 For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. 7 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8 On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
11 "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, 12 you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 "In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."
God said to Israel that their keeping the observances he commanded them would be LIKE a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead. In many of the religions of Canaan they had the religious observance of marking their hands and heads with temporary henna tattoos. Some in places still follow this custom today.
God elsewhere command Israel to not participate in tattooing, again directly referring to the religious idolatrous practices of the nations around Israel. God here is saying that keeping the observances is the mark that Israel is in covenant with God.
The assemblies that received the letter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ would have known about this reference and understood the mark of the beast in the light of it. They would have seen the mark of the beast to be keeping the ways and observances of the beast kingdom. Keeping the ways of those in covenant with the beast ruler.
In their day one was required by Roman law to sacrifice to the Roman gods. On a regular schedule governmental sacrifices were made with all the citizens of a town in attendance. It was considered treason to not participate in this idolatrous practice.
A believer could be tried and convicted of treason for not sacrificing to the Roman gods. By not participating in this Roman governmental idolatrous practice, they would be rejecting the mark of the beast nation of the Roman Emperor/god. By not participating in this Roman observation they would not be allowed to buy or sell, as all commerce was done under the eye of Roman soldiers and magistrates, and with the Roman standard, a idol of their emperor/god standing in the midst of the markets. To buy and sell in the Roman empire was also to make obeisance to the god/emperor, the beast of Revelations.
One of the main ways that Rome assured that all were under Roman control, was that all buying and selling had to be conducted in Roman coin. In each marketplace was set up an exchange, where the coin of the areas around a town were exchanged for the coin of the realm. This exchange included a tax and often an extra charge tacked on by the moneychanger. Again the Roman standard was right there next to the moneychanger, an idol to be worshipped in the course of the money exchange transaction. If you didn't worship the idol, you didn't get to exchange your money, and you didn't get to buy and sell in that marketplace. If caught buying and selling in coin other than Roman, you again would be guilty of treason against the empire.
There are many ideas today as to what this mark might be. Many look to modern technology and posit the idea that the mark is one of these technologies. I have read of tattoos, both visible and invisible, perhaps like a bar code or some symbol of the beast. An implanted chip is very popular today, since the advent of that technology. Biometric scans of the eye (in the forehead) and the hand or finger (in the right hand) have all been suggested as possibly being the mark of the beast ruler. Some claim it is so in most certain of terms.
But what is this mark? How would the original receivers of this letter from John regarding the Revelation of Jesus have understood the mark of the beast?
One of the truths I have learned in understanding scripture is that there are many quotes and allusions to past scriptures in the more modern scriptures. Through out the scriptures we call the New Testament are many of these quotes and allusions. Also that there is a commonality to prophecies. Biblical prophecies often use the same or similar language to express the same ideas.
To the receivers of this letter of Revelation, they would have understood the mark in light of past scriptures. They only had the scriptures we call the Old Testament. They also had many letters from different of the apostles and teachers, some of which we have in our canon of scriptures we call the New Testament.
When we search for similar ideas in the Old Testament scriptures we find this same idea of a mark or sign upon the hand or forehead to show allegiance to a kingdom rule.
In Exodus 13 we find just such a reference.
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal."
3 Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. 5 When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6 For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. 7 Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8 On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
11 "After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your forefathers, 12 you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. 13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 "In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."
God said to Israel that their keeping the observances he commanded them would be LIKE a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead. In many of the religions of Canaan they had the religious observance of marking their hands and heads with temporary henna tattoos. Some in places still follow this custom today.
God elsewhere command Israel to not participate in tattooing, again directly referring to the religious idolatrous practices of the nations around Israel. God here is saying that keeping the observances is the mark that Israel is in covenant with God.
The assemblies that received the letter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ would have known about this reference and understood the mark of the beast in the light of it. They would have seen the mark of the beast to be keeping the ways and observances of the beast kingdom. Keeping the ways of those in covenant with the beast ruler.
In their day one was required by Roman law to sacrifice to the Roman gods. On a regular schedule governmental sacrifices were made with all the citizens of a town in attendance. It was considered treason to not participate in this idolatrous practice.
A believer could be tried and convicted of treason for not sacrificing to the Roman gods. By not participating in this Roman governmental idolatrous practice, they would be rejecting the mark of the beast nation of the Roman Emperor/god. By not participating in this Roman observation they would not be allowed to buy or sell, as all commerce was done under the eye of Roman soldiers and magistrates, and with the Roman standard, a idol of their emperor/god standing in the midst of the markets. To buy and sell in the Roman empire was also to make obeisance to the god/emperor, the beast of Revelations.
One of the main ways that Rome assured that all were under Roman control, was that all buying and selling had to be conducted in Roman coin. In each marketplace was set up an exchange, where the coin of the areas around a town were exchanged for the coin of the realm. This exchange included a tax and often an extra charge tacked on by the moneychanger. Again the Roman standard was right there next to the moneychanger, an idol to be worshipped in the course of the money exchange transaction. If you didn't worship the idol, you didn't get to exchange your money, and you didn't get to buy and sell in that marketplace. If caught buying and selling in coin other than Roman, you again would be guilty of treason against the empire.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The New Jerusalem
What is the New Jerusalem?
When will it be established or has it already been established?
When will it come to earth?
Where will it come to earth?
Who is the city?
Let us consider the passage of Revelations 21 and see what it says. Perhaps we can understand it without our preconceived ideas of eschatology. I know its hard, its taken me almost 30 years to unlearn what I learned in my first 4 years in Christ.
When I read this passage I stop to think, what did this mean to the intended audience?Remember this book of revelation was addressed to the existing churches in Asia Minor. The time frame given to them as to when these things would happen was "soon", not thousands of years in the future, nor some future generations, but soon to them. The call to the churches was to be prepared, be ready to stand firm in the faith, be an overcomer. This is what I read, and what I now accept to be the full truth. No twisting of words and definitions, just a plain, simple reading of what was written.
Lets look now at what this city is. Two allegories are used in this passage. One is a city, the other is a bride. This is not a physical city that is the bride of Christ. That makes no sense at all. A stone city, set on foundations of gem stones, with gates made of pearl being a bride of God? Since this makes no sense, and since this revelation comes from Jesus himself, then it must mean something. Which of course it does.
The city is a representation, an allusion, an allegory of what the bride is like. It represents the functioning relationship of the bridegroom with the bride. It represents facets of the brides character. It represents God's work in obtaining the bride for his Son to marry. Many things are represented here, some I may not have thought about yet. Lets look at the description of the city, the New Jerusalem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven and God.
Rev 21
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea no longer is.
And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having been prepared as a bride, having been adorned for her Husband.
And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God with men! And He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no longer, nor mourning, nor outcry, nor will there be pain any more; for the first things passed away.
Here John describes what is being shown to him in this vision. A new heaven and a new earth, with no sea, can mean many things. It definitely means a great change in the state of things. In the Old Testament this same language is used for the change of a kingdom. So this can represent the change from the kingdom age ruled by the Mosaic Law and temple practice to the kingdom age of grace in and ruled by Christ Jesus.
Then John sees the New Jerusalem, lets look at what John tells us about this city.
1. It comes down from heaven.
2. It is coming down from God
3. It has been prepared as a bride is prepared for her husband.
Here is a most interesting fact, it correctly identifies who and what this city is. John hears a voice coming to him from where the city came from, down out of heaven from God. This voice of God says,
1. "Behold, the tabernacle of God with men!"
2. "And He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His people, and "
3. "God Himself will be with them as their God."
4. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
5." And death shall be no longer, nor mourning, nor outcry, nor will there be pain any more; for the first things passed away."
The city is the tabernacle of God with men. The first tabernacle, then the temple of Solomon, then the temple of Herod were in the past times, the tabernacle of God with men. He dwelt in those tabernacles, his glory rested upon the mercy seat in the holy of holies in those tabernacles. But a change has taken place, a great change, like to the heavens and earth being rebuilt, as they were in creation. A new order has taken place. God will no longer dwell in houses made with the hands of men, but instead he will dwell in this new tabernacle, this new city of Jerusalem, this bride of Christ. This city, bride, tabernacle is where God dwells with men, this bride/city/tabernacle is a people whose God is God (YahVeh).
Can you see? This passage is not talking about a real physical city, it is talking about the people of God and his relationship with them. This is new order, a new age, no not that New Age which is all the rage among some who think themselves spiritual, but a true new age. The age of Moses and the children of Abraham is over. God's people are now a new people.
The Old Jerusalem is to be destroyed, the old tabernacle to be done away with, the old people to be replaced and a New Jerusalem made by God comes down from heaven, this city represents a new people created by God in Christ Jesus, with in these people God dwells as in a tabernacle. All things are in deed made new!
The one sitting on the throne speaks. And the One sitting on the throne said, Behold! I make all things new. And He says to me, Write, because these Words are faithful and true. And He said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending.
To the one thirsting, I will freely give of the fountain of the Water of Life. The one overcoming will inherit all things, and I will be God to him, and he will be the son to Me. But for the cowardly and unbelieving, and those having become foul, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the lying ones, their part will be in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
See the enthroned Christ Jesus clearly says that he makes all things new. The old order is out, the ways taught by Moses in the Law has been done away with. No longer will sacrifices be made in the temple. No longer will the glory of God be present in the holy of holies, no longer will the priests do their bloody work. That age is over, all is new.
A new order has been instituted by the one on the throne. An angel shows John the bride, the wife of the Lamb, the city.
And one of the seven angels came to me, he having the seven bowls being filled with the seven last plagues, and spoke with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
And he carried me in spirit onto a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God.
And its light was like a very precious stone, as a jasper stone, being clear as crystal, and having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates and names having been inscribed, which are of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
From the east, three gates; from the north, three gates; from the south, three gates; and from the west, three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Again John sees this city coming down from heaven, from God. This shows that this work has nothing to do with the works of men, but is solely the work of God. This is not a man made religion, or religious work. No man conceived of this work, no, this is part of God's creation work, part of his eternal plan. In eternity past he conceived of this bride, this city. It came down from heaven because this is where it has dwelt, in the heart of God since before the start of creation.
This bride was planned from eternity past, before the foundations of the world, just as the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. This has always been God's plan. Remember we have said that the city represents ideas about the bride, who is the people of God in Christ Jesus.
The city's walls are crystal clear. The light of the city shines through them. Being crystal clear speaks of the purity of the bride and the way she shows forth the light that comes from within her. Later we see that the lamb himself is that light. So the bride, (people) show forth the glory, the light of the Lamb who rules within her (them).
In this city's walls are twelve gates, each one named for the twelve tribes of Israel. This represents the way of salvation that was prepared by the work of God in the twelve tribes of Israel. For it was his plan in the choosing of Abraham to bring forth a great tribe, that would then be used to bring forth God's plan of salvation to the whole world. The twelve children of Jacob/Israel were the way that God chose to bring salvation to the world. He used them to represent the sinfulness of men, to shadow salvation in the sacrifices, to act as a wife to him, until the proper time, when he would bring forth the bride he had chosen from eternity past.
And he speaking with me had a golden reed, that he may measure the city, and its gates, and its wall.
The twelve gates are three on each wall, facing each of the four cardinal directions, north, south, east, west.
This represents that the way of salvation is open to all people in every corner of the earth. And the gates are open, not closed, all many freely enter into it, except those who are "profaning may not at all enter into it, or any making an abomination or a lie;" these are kept outside by the angels stationed at each gate.
Only "the ones having been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb" may enter, as we shall read at the end of this passage.
Also notice that the city has twelve foundations, each after the twelve apostles of Jesus. This shows that the people, the bride is founded on the teaching of the twelve apostles. The city described further.
And the city lies four cornered, even its length as much as the width also. And he measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty four cubits, a measure of a man, which is of an angel.
And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass.
And the foundation of the wall of the city having been adorned with every precious stone: The first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; respectively each one of the gates was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
This city measures as perfect cube. I'm not sure what the measurement represents, but the cube is a perfect geometric structure, having four equal sides, with length, width and height all being the same. To me this speaks of the perfection of the saints, a perfection made by God.
Again we see that the walls are made of pure jasper, or crystal, also pure gold like glass. Gold is an interesting metal, it can be made so thin that you can see through it, it can be made a clear as glass. And gold is one metal that never corrodes. As such it is considered the most noble of the noble metals.
The foundation stones are all gemstones. The same gemstones as in the ephod of the priests. Each stone represents a tribe of Israel, as well as the twelve apostles. Again this represents the earthly foundation of salvation being found in Israel and taught by the apostles.
These gems and the gold also represent something else, the bride price of Christ. Within the marriage custom of the Jews, was a bride price. Each husband to be had to pay the bride's family a ransom, this payment paid to the bride's parents secured the marriage covenant. A very wealthy husband would pay a very rich ransom. In this case a whole city's foundation worth of precious gem stones, walls of purist crystal, and streets lined with gold. A very rich sum indeed, one fit for the King of Kings and his bride.
Another aspect of the bridegrooms wedding preparation was that after the bride price was paid, the groom went to build a house for them to live in. After this house was built and the father of the groom approved it, the bride was sent for. This city would be that house. But as I have said, this city is also the bride.
Most interesting. The temple of the New Jerusalem.
And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb.
And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, even its lamp is the Lamb.
And the nations of the ones saved will walk in its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. And its gates may not at all be shut by day, for no night will be there. And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
And all profaning may not at all enter into it, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only the ones having been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb.
Now we come to the end of the discription of the city of the New Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb. We see that there is not temple in the city, in this New Jerusalem, as there was in the past Jerusalem.
The old temple is destroyed, it is gone. Its work is finished, it was to forshadow the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and that purpose is fulfilled. There for as a master craftsman puts away the scaffolding, tears down the supporting walls from the building he was building, the old temple was destroyed and is no more.
In this new Jerusalem, there is not temple and no need for one. For God/Christ dwells in and amidst his people. God, even the Lamb is the temple, he himself. Not some edifice made of stone by human hands. Nothing in this new city contains the glory of God. His glory is not hid behind a heavy veil and behinds closed doors. NO, it is in the open, for all his people to see and enjoy. And more than that, since the walls are crystal clear, like glass, the light of his glory shines out from this city to all the surrounding country side.
This speaks of God dwelling in his people. That the Lamb is the light of the world, and shines in his people, changing their lives from ones of darkness to ones of light, which is love, truth, and life.
It is clear to me that this city is a real and present reality. For if it is not, then what do we who are in Christ dwell in now? We are not in darkness, but in light, the teaching of the NT is clear in this point. The bride of Christ is not some future reality, it is here and now. We are the bride of Christ. He lives in us, his people, a tabernacle made by God not by human hands.
Peter also uses this analogy of a building in referring to believers. He says that we are as living stones, built up on that one living corner stone which is Christ.
We are those living stones, clear as crystal, that make up the city of the New Jerusalem, we show forth the glorious light of God and the Lamb. We do this now, this is not some prediction of what will come, but a description of the present reality in Christ Jesus.
I know there are many eschatological schemes out there in the Christian world. But this is what I read and see. It is a simple and clear understanding of this chapter. --------------------
Body Servant, IHMS
in Cape Coral, FL
When will it be established or has it already been established?
When will it come to earth?
Where will it come to earth?
Who is the city?
Let us consider the passage of Revelations 21 and see what it says. Perhaps we can understand it without our preconceived ideas of eschatology. I know its hard, its taken me almost 30 years to unlearn what I learned in my first 4 years in Christ.
When I read this passage I stop to think, what did this mean to the intended audience?Remember this book of revelation was addressed to the existing churches in Asia Minor. The time frame given to them as to when these things would happen was "soon", not thousands of years in the future, nor some future generations, but soon to them. The call to the churches was to be prepared, be ready to stand firm in the faith, be an overcomer. This is what I read, and what I now accept to be the full truth. No twisting of words and definitions, just a plain, simple reading of what was written.
Lets look now at what this city is. Two allegories are used in this passage. One is a city, the other is a bride. This is not a physical city that is the bride of Christ. That makes no sense at all. A stone city, set on foundations of gem stones, with gates made of pearl being a bride of God? Since this makes no sense, and since this revelation comes from Jesus himself, then it must mean something. Which of course it does.
The city is a representation, an allusion, an allegory of what the bride is like. It represents the functioning relationship of the bridegroom with the bride. It represents facets of the brides character. It represents God's work in obtaining the bride for his Son to marry. Many things are represented here, some I may not have thought about yet. Lets look at the description of the city, the New Jerusalem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven and God.
Rev 21
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea no longer is.
And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having been prepared as a bride, having been adorned for her Husband.
And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God with men! And He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no longer, nor mourning, nor outcry, nor will there be pain any more; for the first things passed away.
Here John describes what is being shown to him in this vision. A new heaven and a new earth, with no sea, can mean many things. It definitely means a great change in the state of things. In the Old Testament this same language is used for the change of a kingdom. So this can represent the change from the kingdom age ruled by the Mosaic Law and temple practice to the kingdom age of grace in and ruled by Christ Jesus.
Then John sees the New Jerusalem, lets look at what John tells us about this city.
1. It comes down from heaven.
2. It is coming down from God
3. It has been prepared as a bride is prepared for her husband.
Here is a most interesting fact, it correctly identifies who and what this city is. John hears a voice coming to him from where the city came from, down out of heaven from God. This voice of God says,
1. "Behold, the tabernacle of God with men!"
2. "And He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His people, and "
3. "God Himself will be with them as their God."
4. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
5." And death shall be no longer, nor mourning, nor outcry, nor will there be pain any more; for the first things passed away."
The city is the tabernacle of God with men. The first tabernacle, then the temple of Solomon, then the temple of Herod were in the past times, the tabernacle of God with men. He dwelt in those tabernacles, his glory rested upon the mercy seat in the holy of holies in those tabernacles. But a change has taken place, a great change, like to the heavens and earth being rebuilt, as they were in creation. A new order has taken place. God will no longer dwell in houses made with the hands of men, but instead he will dwell in this new tabernacle, this new city of Jerusalem, this bride of Christ. This city, bride, tabernacle is where God dwells with men, this bride/city/tabernacle is a people whose God is God (YahVeh).
Can you see? This passage is not talking about a real physical city, it is talking about the people of God and his relationship with them. This is new order, a new age, no not that New Age which is all the rage among some who think themselves spiritual, but a true new age. The age of Moses and the children of Abraham is over. God's people are now a new people.
The Old Jerusalem is to be destroyed, the old tabernacle to be done away with, the old people to be replaced and a New Jerusalem made by God comes down from heaven, this city represents a new people created by God in Christ Jesus, with in these people God dwells as in a tabernacle. All things are in deed made new!
The one sitting on the throne speaks. And the One sitting on the throne said, Behold! I make all things new. And He says to me, Write, because these Words are faithful and true. And He said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending.
To the one thirsting, I will freely give of the fountain of the Water of Life. The one overcoming will inherit all things, and I will be God to him, and he will be the son to Me. But for the cowardly and unbelieving, and those having become foul, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the lying ones, their part will be in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
See the enthroned Christ Jesus clearly says that he makes all things new. The old order is out, the ways taught by Moses in the Law has been done away with. No longer will sacrifices be made in the temple. No longer will the glory of God be present in the holy of holies, no longer will the priests do their bloody work. That age is over, all is new.
A new order has been instituted by the one on the throne. An angel shows John the bride, the wife of the Lamb, the city.
And one of the seven angels came to me, he having the seven bowls being filled with the seven last plagues, and spoke with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
And he carried me in spirit onto a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God.
And its light was like a very precious stone, as a jasper stone, being clear as crystal, and having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates and names having been inscribed, which are of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.
From the east, three gates; from the north, three gates; from the south, three gates; and from the west, three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Again John sees this city coming down from heaven, from God. This shows that this work has nothing to do with the works of men, but is solely the work of God. This is not a man made religion, or religious work. No man conceived of this work, no, this is part of God's creation work, part of his eternal plan. In eternity past he conceived of this bride, this city. It came down from heaven because this is where it has dwelt, in the heart of God since before the start of creation.
This bride was planned from eternity past, before the foundations of the world, just as the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. This has always been God's plan. Remember we have said that the city represents ideas about the bride, who is the people of God in Christ Jesus.
The city's walls are crystal clear. The light of the city shines through them. Being crystal clear speaks of the purity of the bride and the way she shows forth the light that comes from within her. Later we see that the lamb himself is that light. So the bride, (people) show forth the glory, the light of the Lamb who rules within her (them).
In this city's walls are twelve gates, each one named for the twelve tribes of Israel. This represents the way of salvation that was prepared by the work of God in the twelve tribes of Israel. For it was his plan in the choosing of Abraham to bring forth a great tribe, that would then be used to bring forth God's plan of salvation to the whole world. The twelve children of Jacob/Israel were the way that God chose to bring salvation to the world. He used them to represent the sinfulness of men, to shadow salvation in the sacrifices, to act as a wife to him, until the proper time, when he would bring forth the bride he had chosen from eternity past.
And he speaking with me had a golden reed, that he may measure the city, and its gates, and its wall.
The twelve gates are three on each wall, facing each of the four cardinal directions, north, south, east, west.
This represents that the way of salvation is open to all people in every corner of the earth. And the gates are open, not closed, all many freely enter into it, except those who are "profaning may not at all enter into it, or any making an abomination or a lie;" these are kept outside by the angels stationed at each gate.
Only "the ones having been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb" may enter, as we shall read at the end of this passage.
Also notice that the city has twelve foundations, each after the twelve apostles of Jesus. This shows that the people, the bride is founded on the teaching of the twelve apostles. The city described further.
And the city lies four cornered, even its length as much as the width also. And he measured the city with the reed at twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty four cubits, a measure of a man, which is of an angel.
And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass.
And the foundation of the wall of the city having been adorned with every precious stone: The first foundation, jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; respectively each one of the gates was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent glass.
This city measures as perfect cube. I'm not sure what the measurement represents, but the cube is a perfect geometric structure, having four equal sides, with length, width and height all being the same. To me this speaks of the perfection of the saints, a perfection made by God.
Again we see that the walls are made of pure jasper, or crystal, also pure gold like glass. Gold is an interesting metal, it can be made so thin that you can see through it, it can be made a clear as glass. And gold is one metal that never corrodes. As such it is considered the most noble of the noble metals.
The foundation stones are all gemstones. The same gemstones as in the ephod of the priests. Each stone represents a tribe of Israel, as well as the twelve apostles. Again this represents the earthly foundation of salvation being found in Israel and taught by the apostles.
These gems and the gold also represent something else, the bride price of Christ. Within the marriage custom of the Jews, was a bride price. Each husband to be had to pay the bride's family a ransom, this payment paid to the bride's parents secured the marriage covenant. A very wealthy husband would pay a very rich ransom. In this case a whole city's foundation worth of precious gem stones, walls of purist crystal, and streets lined with gold. A very rich sum indeed, one fit for the King of Kings and his bride.
Another aspect of the bridegrooms wedding preparation was that after the bride price was paid, the groom went to build a house for them to live in. After this house was built and the father of the groom approved it, the bride was sent for. This city would be that house. But as I have said, this city is also the bride.
Most interesting. The temple of the New Jerusalem.
And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty is its temple, even the Lamb.
And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, even its lamp is the Lamb.
And the nations of the ones saved will walk in its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. And its gates may not at all be shut by day, for no night will be there. And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
And all profaning may not at all enter into it, or any making an abomination or a lie; but only the ones having been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb.
Now we come to the end of the discription of the city of the New Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb. We see that there is not temple in the city, in this New Jerusalem, as there was in the past Jerusalem.
The old temple is destroyed, it is gone. Its work is finished, it was to forshadow the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, and that purpose is fulfilled. There for as a master craftsman puts away the scaffolding, tears down the supporting walls from the building he was building, the old temple was destroyed and is no more.
In this new Jerusalem, there is not temple and no need for one. For God/Christ dwells in and amidst his people. God, even the Lamb is the temple, he himself. Not some edifice made of stone by human hands. Nothing in this new city contains the glory of God. His glory is not hid behind a heavy veil and behinds closed doors. NO, it is in the open, for all his people to see and enjoy. And more than that, since the walls are crystal clear, like glass, the light of his glory shines out from this city to all the surrounding country side.
This speaks of God dwelling in his people. That the Lamb is the light of the world, and shines in his people, changing their lives from ones of darkness to ones of light, which is love, truth, and life.
It is clear to me that this city is a real and present reality. For if it is not, then what do we who are in Christ dwell in now? We are not in darkness, but in light, the teaching of the NT is clear in this point. The bride of Christ is not some future reality, it is here and now. We are the bride of Christ. He lives in us, his people, a tabernacle made by God not by human hands.
Peter also uses this analogy of a building in referring to believers. He says that we are as living stones, built up on that one living corner stone which is Christ.
We are those living stones, clear as crystal, that make up the city of the New Jerusalem, we show forth the glorious light of God and the Lamb. We do this now, this is not some prediction of what will come, but a description of the present reality in Christ Jesus.
I know there are many eschatological schemes out there in the Christian world. But this is what I read and see. It is a simple and clear understanding of this chapter. --------------------
Body Servant, IHMS
in Cape Coral, FL
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