CHRIST AND THE OTHER GUY
If we look at the picture of God in the gospel of John we see the picture of filling up. The Father has given to the Son, the Word that the Son came from the Father. The Son has given that Word to His disciples and they have believed it. So we might imagine the Father as the master wine merchant pouring new wine into a perfect wineskin. Then we might imagine the Son taking that wineskin to pour that new wind into the glass of a guest.
The picture of God is that of unselfish giving, of emptying the wineskin. In Philippians 2.8 Paul says Jesus did not try to grasp equality with God. The Son emptied Himself, He poured Himself out of His Godhead into manhood. Paul says he is poured out as a drink offering in Philippians 2.17 and 2 Timothy 4.6.
We can think of Hebrews 9.14 in which Jesus--through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God. In the OT Isaiah 8.8 has a passage in which he speaks of the Euphrates River overflowing its' banks--it will rise up over all its' channels and go over all its' banks. Then the image changes from water in the OT to wings in the NT--and the spread of its' wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel. This in Isaiah might remind us of the wings of a dove which appeared when Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan, Matt. 3.16.
So we have the picture of pouring out from the Father to the Son to the believers.
But what would be the opposite of this? It might be selfishness. Paul says--Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. Phil. 2.8. Ezekiel 28.2 describes the king of Tyre as epitomizing this selfishness--
Because your heart is lifted up
and you have said, I am a god,
I sit in the seat of gods,
in the heart of the seas...
This is the spirit of the father of lies Jesus mentions in John 8.44 as the one who--does not stand n the truth because there is no truth in him. Did you notice the connection between empty conceit and no truth? What is being conveyed here is that Satan was not the clear vessel Jesus was. He did not empty himself, pour himself out or even reflect the light of God's presence. He took the glory of God which he was reflecting as his own possession (you might say blocking the light) to cast down darkness--his kingdom became darkened, Revelation 16.10.
Satan tried to be a god without being God--he was a created being; Jesus as God the Son was 'begotten not made.' The Apostle's Creed puts it as--one being with the Father. So instead of receiving the Spirit of God as Jesus did, Satan tried to take a kingdom away from God. Jesus ascended to heaven, Satan was cast down.
We are called to be clear vessels. Peter emphasizes the clear aspect of our souls when he writes that we are to be precious stones, 1 Peter 2.6. These stones, from the crown of David to the heavenly city, are seen when light passes through them; not only is God seen when His presence is in us, but we are seen. as the precious stones upon which the church is built,we reveal His immanence while He resides in His transcendence. Jesus seems to summarize this when He says--Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven, Matt. 5.16.
How can we be what Jesus was, not what the Other Guy was? Paul seems to answer this at the end of Ephesians 3. First, Paul says he bows his knee before the Father. Certainly, Satan is not known for his humility. Second, Paul asks that we would receive--power through His spirit in the inner man, Eph. 3.16. And third, Paul says that as we are rooted and grounded in the love of God, Christ would dwell in us so that we would--be filled up to the fulness of God, Eph. 3.19.
When we humble ourselves before God, we receive His power so that Christ would dwell in our hearts in order that we become filled with God.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
We often think that predestination and free will are enemies, like Achilles and Hector battling for the fate of Troy. However, we might want to consider what the Bible says about destiny and choice. An example might be 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11.
The city was named after Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. When Alexander's father Philip of Macedon conquered the Thessalonians, his daughter was born on that day. He named her after them. When she married Cassander, she rebuilt the city which still stands today.
The Jews had a synagogue there. The Jewish community knew the Day of the Lord was coming. But the other people of the city lived as if life goes on as usual. Paul here predicts that the Day of the Lord will come on the Thessalonians and--they will not escape, 1 Thes. 5.3
Paul says the Christians in Thessalonica know this--you yourselves know this full well, 1 Thes. 5.2. They know what is going to happen beforehand, that the Day of the Lord is predestined. And yet Paul does not say to stand still, but he calls them to action:
Let us not sleep as others do,
let us be alert..
let us be sober..1 Thes. 5.6.
Paul then says--God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation...therefore encourage one another and build up one another, as you also are doing, 1Thes. 5.11. The believers are destined for obtaining salvation but Paul does not say, Rest on your eternal security, my friends. He encourages them to use their free will to act.
Probably the reason salvation and action go together is that the world will end. At some point the times will be too late for evangelism. Salvation is not retirement to the rest home. Christians don't end the evening playing gin rummy; Christians call upon the Spirit of God to share the gospel because the time is always short for someone.
At the end of 1 Thes. 5, Paul has 18 consecutive verses of what the Thessalonians should do. Some of them are well-known--
rejoice always
pray without ceasing
in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you
do not quench the spirit
and there are others. What this means is that our predestination, our salvation is put to work. In Ephesians the believers are to--
walk in a manner worthy of your calling
show forbearance to one another
be renewed in the spirit of your mind
put on the new self
be kind to one another
forgiving one another
These aren't all of what Paul says to do by the dedication of your will to your calling, but they are enough to understand that Paul's concept of predestination is not void. In Romans 16 the list of what the Christian is called to do with his or her calling is even longer.
Evidently a believer's calling is the power of the Spirit to live the Christian life. We can immediately remember the woman caught in adultery of John 8. When the accusers leave, Jesus says--Go and sin no more. Would He say that if she could not do so? In Matthew 6.1 Jesus says--Beware of practicing your righteousness before men... So we see there is the practice of righteousness. After Jesus says this He mentions fasting, praying, giving alms, forgiving, laying up treasure in heaven, serving God, trusting God without anxiety, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then in chapter 7 He says, don't judge, ask in prayer, enter the narrow gate, beware of false prophets, do the will of God, and finally, act upon His words.
Predestination is a call to action as free will is a call to the knowledge of God. The difference is the man who hears--predestination-- and the man who hears and then acts--predestination and free will. To the Ephesians Paul is praying that they would know--
What is the hope of His calling...
of the saints, Eph. 1.18. This calling is not to rest in salvation but to act upon it. So in Matt. 25 Jesus says He will come back in glory. He will put His sheep on His right hand, the goats on His left. This had been predicted by Jesus. The sheep were predestined for the kingdom of heaven, as it was--prepared for you from before the foundation of the world. They were predestined so that exercising free will to take care of the least of Jesus' brothers is what Peter calls--make certain about His calling and choosing you.. 2 Peter 1.10.
Paul says this to the Galatians--
For you have been called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another, Galatians 5.13.
We often think that predestination and free will are enemies, like Achilles and Hector battling for the fate of Troy. However, we might want to consider what the Bible says about destiny and choice. An example might be 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11.
The city was named after Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. When Alexander's father Philip of Macedon conquered the Thessalonians, his daughter was born on that day. He named her after them. When she married Cassander, she rebuilt the city which still stands today.
The Jews had a synagogue there. The Jewish community knew the Day of the Lord was coming. But the other people of the city lived as if life goes on as usual. Paul here predicts that the Day of the Lord will come on the Thessalonians and--they will not escape, 1 Thes. 5.3
Paul says the Christians in Thessalonica know this--you yourselves know this full well, 1 Thes. 5.2. They know what is going to happen beforehand, that the Day of the Lord is predestined. And yet Paul does not say to stand still, but he calls them to action:
Let us not sleep as others do,
let us be alert..
let us be sober..1 Thes. 5.6.
Paul then says--God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation...therefore encourage one another and build up one another, as you also are doing, 1Thes. 5.11. The believers are destined for obtaining salvation but Paul does not say, Rest on your eternal security, my friends. He encourages them to use their free will to act.
Probably the reason salvation and action go together is that the world will end. At some point the times will be too late for evangelism. Salvation is not retirement to the rest home. Christians don't end the evening playing gin rummy; Christians call upon the Spirit of God to share the gospel because the time is always short for someone.
At the end of 1 Thes. 5, Paul has 18 consecutive verses of what the Thessalonians should do. Some of them are well-known--
rejoice always
pray without ceasing
in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you
do not quench the spirit
and there are others. What this means is that our predestination, our salvation is put to work. In Ephesians the believers are to--
walk in a manner worthy of your calling
show forbearance to one another
be renewed in the spirit of your mind
put on the new self
be kind to one another
forgiving one another
These aren't all of what Paul says to do by the dedication of your will to your calling, but they are enough to understand that Paul's concept of predestination is not void. In Romans 16 the list of what the Christian is called to do with his or her calling is even longer.
Evidently a believer's calling is the power of the Spirit to live the Christian life. We can immediately remember the woman caught in adultery of John 8. When the accusers leave, Jesus says--Go and sin no more. Would He say that if she could not do so? In Matthew 6.1 Jesus says--Beware of practicing your righteousness before men... So we see there is the practice of righteousness. After Jesus says this He mentions fasting, praying, giving alms, forgiving, laying up treasure in heaven, serving God, trusting God without anxiety, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then in chapter 7 He says, don't judge, ask in prayer, enter the narrow gate, beware of false prophets, do the will of God, and finally, act upon His words.
Predestination is a call to action as free will is a call to the knowledge of God. The difference is the man who hears--predestination-- and the man who hears and then acts--predestination and free will. To the Ephesians Paul is praying that they would know--
What is the hope of His calling...
of the saints, Eph. 1.18. This calling is not to rest in salvation but to act upon it. So in Matt. 25 Jesus says He will come back in glory. He will put His sheep on His right hand, the goats on His left. This had been predicted by Jesus. The sheep were predestined for the kingdom of heaven, as it was--prepared for you from before the foundation of the world. They were predestined so that exercising free will to take care of the least of Jesus' brothers is what Peter calls--make certain about His calling and choosing you.. 2 Peter 1.10.
Paul says this to the Galatians--
For you have been called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another, Galatians 5.13.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)