Hope-filled believers in Jesus are not left to themselves but given the Holy Spirit. Power will come down to them from on high to aid them in their walk with the Lord so that their life is not lived in anxiety but in trusting in the lavish Giver of good gifts. Believers are then free to seek his kingdom and serve others to point them to the ultimate Servant. This Servant humbled Himself and was exalted. Blessing came to Him, for He heard the word of God and kept it and that blessing is with those who do the same (11:28).
Thursday, November 8
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke is
written to Theophilus so that he can be certain of the things that were
instructed him (1:3-4). Therefore, the narrative
is an apologetic for the Christian faith as it reveals Jesus to be the
fulfillment of the prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the One that
would bring salvation to all peoples.
This salvation comes not to those who are haughty and self-righteous,
but to the oppressed—to the poor, sick, and outcasts of society. As the Son of God, Jesus came to seek and to
save that which is lost (19:10), even tax collectors and prostitutes who see
their need for a Savior and humbly repent.
However, many refuse to rid themselves of riches or worldly
concerns. Material matters are too
attractive for them. But in the end, the
joy that those who pridefully cling to wealth experience will turn to
mourning. On the other hand, the ones
who relinquish their resources and repent of their backslidings find
everlasting joy. They are the ones who
prove to be children of Abraham and obtain salvation through the saving work of
resurrected Christ.
Hope-filled believers in Jesus are not left to themselves but given the Holy Spirit. Power will come down to them from on high to aid them in their walk with the Lord so that their life is not lived in anxiety but in trusting in the lavish Giver of good gifts. Believers are then free to seek his kingdom and serve others to point them to the ultimate Servant. This Servant humbled Himself and was exalted. Blessing came to Him, for He heard the word of God and kept it and that blessing is with those who do the same (11:28).
Hope-filled believers in Jesus are not left to themselves but given the Holy Spirit. Power will come down to them from on high to aid them in their walk with the Lord so that their life is not lived in anxiety but in trusting in the lavish Giver of good gifts. Believers are then free to seek his kingdom and serve others to point them to the ultimate Servant. This Servant humbled Himself and was exalted. Blessing came to Him, for He heard the word of God and kept it and that blessing is with those who do the same (11:28).
The Gospel of Mark
Mark
is written to communicate that Jesus is the Son of God and the Suffering
Servant. As the Son of God, He fulfills
the expectations of a coming Lord who will inaugurate the kingdom of God. As the Suffering Servant, He reveals Himself
to be the Son of Man who by His death and resurrection gives His life as a
ransom for many. Both Jews and Gentiles
are blinded to these realities and need the miracle working Christ to heal them
of their spiritual deficiency. Those for
whom Jesus removes this blindness take up their cross and follow Him and prove
to be in the family of God. And those
for whom the blindness is not removed seek signs, care nothing for the
substance of Jesus and His call, and will receive judgment when the kingdom
will be consummated.
The first half of the book (1-8) emphasizes Jesus equal status with God and emphasizes the preaching and message behind the miracles. By working miracles and healing, He demonstrates His power, all the while calling for belief. By providing bread, Jesus shows that He is the chief shepherd who is the Son of David. Jesus is the One who ushers in the kingdom of God and only an embrace of Jesus provides entrance into the kingdom of God. This kingdom is initiated not through the Jewish expectation of immediate and full justice, nor does it come to any one individual based on heritage. The Son of God has become the Son of Man to suffer for sinners so that an embrace of His authority and Lordship will ransom the lost. They will enjoy the blessing of being in the family of God, whereas those who reject Him will be rejected at the close of the age.
The first half of the book (1-8) emphasizes Jesus equal status with God and emphasizes the preaching and message behind the miracles. By working miracles and healing, He demonstrates His power, all the while calling for belief. By providing bread, Jesus shows that He is the chief shepherd who is the Son of David. Jesus is the One who ushers in the kingdom of God and only an embrace of Jesus provides entrance into the kingdom of God. This kingdom is initiated not through the Jewish expectation of immediate and full justice, nor does it come to any one individual based on heritage. The Son of God has become the Son of Man to suffer for sinners so that an embrace of His authority and Lordship will ransom the lost. They will enjoy the blessing of being in the family of God, whereas those who reject Him will be rejected at the close of the age.
The Gospel of Matthew
Written to a Jewish
audience, the book of Matthew portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of all messianic
hopes. The Old Testament predictions
concerning a Coming One who will save and redeem His people is fulfilled in the
Person of Christ. His lineage, His
teaching, His righteousness, and His resurrection show that the kingdom of God
has come and the only proper and saving response is repentance. The flow of the narrative and the emphasis in
Jesus’ teaching demonstrate that to oppose Him will result in wrath when King
Jesus returns. On the opposite side, to
humbly embrace Him and rest only in His sacrificial atonement will bring
forgiveness of sins in this age and life when the Son of Man comes again. Because Jesus has authority not only to
define reality but also to forgive sins, He is a greater Moses whose redemption
for His people is actualized because of his own life, death, and resurrection. Jesus
is not just of David’s line, He is the Lord of David who has inaugurated the
kingdom to provide salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike. While opposition came by Jewish authorities,
His victory over sin and death shows that ultimate authority belongs to
Him.
Ironically, while the Jewish people were anticipating a deliverer while intending to establish their own righteousness, they participated in the crucifixion of the only Righteous One who alone could deliver them from their self-righteousness. All of the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus who calls people to Himself so that they will be true children of Abraham. And true anticipation is in the second coming of Messiah Jesus. He has accomplished full and complete redemption for all who trust in Him, and therefore his disciples bring the gospel to the nations.
Ironically, while the Jewish people were anticipating a deliverer while intending to establish their own righteousness, they participated in the crucifixion of the only Righteous One who alone could deliver them from their self-righteousness. All of the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus who calls people to Himself so that they will be true children of Abraham. And true anticipation is in the second coming of Messiah Jesus. He has accomplished full and complete redemption for all who trust in Him, and therefore his disciples bring the gospel to the nations.
Monday, October 24
Insights from Galatians
The glorious gospel of God—that faith in Jesus Christ apart from the works of the law is what saves—this is the truth which prompted Paul to exercise his rebuke of the Galatians in embracing a counterfeit gospel. This true gospel which excluded boasting, this gospel which sought the approval of God, this gospel which was free and gave freedom, was the Apostle’s mainstay and foundation upon which all love and sin-killing would follow. By clinging to even one thing, circumcision, as being necessary to become a child of promise, those who had fallen away from grace revealed that their hope and reliance was not in the righteousness that comes through faith, but in their own righteousness, thereby nullifying the death of Christ. It was because of this reality that Paul wrote vehemently against such heresy.
From the outset, Paul made plain the purpose of his writing, namely, that the Galatians were turning away from the gospel which saves them from their sins (1:4, 6-9) and depending on something else which would bring about their destruction (1:8-9). Paul repeatedly throughout the letter states that this “gospel” which they were embracing was the law, and one particular thing about the law, namely circumcision (5:2-3, 6; 6:12-15; cf. 2:15-16). Thinking that circumcision was necessary to make one righteous, they enforced this upon others (2:14) thereby enslaving others to the law which would bring forth death (3:13) instead of embracing Christ alone through faith (2:16; 3:7, 14, 22) which brings forth life (3:12) and imputes to us the righteousness of Jesus (2:4-5). Paul repeats the gospel theme of Christ defeating sin and becoming a curse for us (3:13), delivering us through his death and resurrection. As he begins by saying that through Christ who was raised and through Christ who delivered us from the present evil age (1:4), he says that only through this Christ can we be delivered from the principles of this world which bring slavery (4:3, 9) and this is done by a trust in Christ alone (2:16; 4:4-6)
Justification by grace alone, through faith alone excludes boasting (1:4-5, 10; 6:14) and clings to Christ for adoption as sons (4:1-7). As we cling to Christ alone, love follows (5:16ff), not out of slavery because of the law (4:7), but out of freedom from the law by the Spirit. This Spirit is the means in overcoming the passions of the flesh (2:20; 5:16, 24) and living as believers who are not afraid of man’s opinion or of seeking man’s approval (cf. 1:10, 2:11-14; 6:14). Apart from Christ, there is no hope to be made right with God. Even in adding just circumcision to the gospel, one thereby shows that one’s hope is not set fully on the righteousness of Christ, but instead one is depending on one’s own righteousness. The comforting aspect of the message of the gospel is that Christ became a curse for us in dying on the cross, and rose triumphant from the dead so that we who only deserve the curse of God may receive the blessing of being an heir through faith. It is because of this adoption that we are to walk in step with the gospel and live according to the Spirit.
In this study, the connection between being justified by grace alone through faith (2:16) and being an heir of God from which dependency comes (4:6-7) and grace to overcome the passions of the flesh and even the fear of man, was made known to me in a new way. The nuance of boasting in the cross alone and not one’s own righteousness was a blessed one to see, for in doing so I will not be afraid of man, but instead seek the approval of God (cf. 1:10; 6:13). This is in stark contrast to the boasting of others who do not embrace the gospel, for these people rely on their own strength and law-keeping. Oh, how grateful I should be and how radical should my life look, leaning on the cross of Christ and living by the Spirit, from whom fruitfulness arises and from whom godly reliance is fostered, for it is by grace that I am saved and by grace will I be sanctified (2:20).
From the outset, Paul made plain the purpose of his writing, namely, that the Galatians were turning away from the gospel which saves them from their sins (1:4, 6-9) and depending on something else which would bring about their destruction (1:8-9). Paul repeatedly throughout the letter states that this “gospel” which they were embracing was the law, and one particular thing about the law, namely circumcision (5:2-3, 6; 6:12-15; cf. 2:15-16). Thinking that circumcision was necessary to make one righteous, they enforced this upon others (2:14) thereby enslaving others to the law which would bring forth death (3:13) instead of embracing Christ alone through faith (2:16; 3:7, 14, 22) which brings forth life (3:12) and imputes to us the righteousness of Jesus (2:4-5). Paul repeats the gospel theme of Christ defeating sin and becoming a curse for us (3:13), delivering us through his death and resurrection. As he begins by saying that through Christ who was raised and through Christ who delivered us from the present evil age (1:4), he says that only through this Christ can we be delivered from the principles of this world which bring slavery (4:3, 9) and this is done by a trust in Christ alone (2:16; 4:4-6)
Justification by grace alone, through faith alone excludes boasting (1:4-5, 10; 6:14) and clings to Christ for adoption as sons (4:1-7). As we cling to Christ alone, love follows (5:16ff), not out of slavery because of the law (4:7), but out of freedom from the law by the Spirit. This Spirit is the means in overcoming the passions of the flesh (2:20; 5:16, 24) and living as believers who are not afraid of man’s opinion or of seeking man’s approval (cf. 1:10, 2:11-14; 6:14). Apart from Christ, there is no hope to be made right with God. Even in adding just circumcision to the gospel, one thereby shows that one’s hope is not set fully on the righteousness of Christ, but instead one is depending on one’s own righteousness. The comforting aspect of the message of the gospel is that Christ became a curse for us in dying on the cross, and rose triumphant from the dead so that we who only deserve the curse of God may receive the blessing of being an heir through faith. It is because of this adoption that we are to walk in step with the gospel and live according to the Spirit.
In this study, the connection between being justified by grace alone through faith (2:16) and being an heir of God from which dependency comes (4:6-7) and grace to overcome the passions of the flesh and even the fear of man, was made known to me in a new way. The nuance of boasting in the cross alone and not one’s own righteousness was a blessed one to see, for in doing so I will not be afraid of man, but instead seek the approval of God (cf. 1:10; 6:13). This is in stark contrast to the boasting of others who do not embrace the gospel, for these people rely on their own strength and law-keeping. Oh, how grateful I should be and how radical should my life look, leaning on the cross of Christ and living by the Spirit, from whom fruitfulness arises and from whom godly reliance is fostered, for it is by grace that I am saved and by grace will I be sanctified (2:20).
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