The Mystery

Daniel 2:22

For a long time, there was a mystery hidden in the Holy Scriptures. Most of the time, the people involved in these monumental happenings didn't know what to make of it. (Genesis 3:15, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 28:10-14)

I think in his suffering, Job knew. I think God's Holy Spirit was working quietly in the background. Job said some things that lead me to believe this. In Job 9:32-33 and Job 19:25-26 Job saw or sensed something big was coming, something much bigger than what was happening at that time.

Through His prophets, God foreshadowed what He was doing (Isaiah 50:4-7, Isaiah 53, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Psalm 22) Then He revealed to them what was happening (1 Peter 1:10-12).

Then it happened. The mystery began to come into focus. From the birth of the Messiah to His death, the mystery remained. It took Christ Jesus Himself to reveal it (John 19:28-30 and John 20). It is made plain in John 20:30-31. Even the Apostles referred to the gospel as a mystery (Ephesians 3:2-6, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 1:26-27, Colossians 4:3).

But the one Jesus sent (John 14:25-26, John 20:21-22, Romans 8:26) the Helper, the Comforter, the Teacher, has revealed it to those whom He called. The mystery of the gospel is Christ Jesus. He is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In Him is literally...everything.

God is AWESOME!

Proof

John 20:24-29

People often need proof to believe something. "Seeing is believing".

In the 16th centrury, a method of determining alcohol content was often used by soaking gun powder with the rum or whiskey. If the gun powder could be ignited, then that was considered "proof" that the alcohol had not been watered down. This method was standardized in the U.S. in 1848. 50% alcohol by volume (ABV) was considered 100 proof.

The Apostle Thomas wanted proof. He needed to see and touch (John 20:24-25).

When Jesus appeared to the Apostles in a locked room, He invited Thomas to put his fingers in the holes in His hands and to touch His side where He had been speared. Thomas' reaction was beautiful (John20:28), "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus' answer to Thomas was quite scathing, in my opinion. "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

If you have to have evidence before you believe, then you don't trust anything the Apostles have written as eye witnesses. The Gospel of Jesus Christ requires faith to believe. Faith is the key to receiving the righteousnous of Christ Jesus (Genesis 15:3-6 and 1 Peter 1:8-9).

We believe because of the hope Jesus holds out. We believe because our Great God has made a way for us to escape His wrath and to be able to stand in the presence of His Glory (Jude 1:24). We believe because of the goal set before us (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) so we can keep moving forward, not blindly, but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Because in Christ, there is joy and peace in all circumstances (John 16:33 and 1 Peter 1:8).

Soon, this life will be a very distant memory (Isaiah 51:6 and Revelation 21:1-4). So we have not seen, but we believe.

God is AWESOME!

All of Your Mind

Matthew 22:37

I listened to a sermon online that focused on the part of Matthew 22:37 that says "with all your mind".

It got the wheels turning in my little head. I had to ask myself if I did that. The harsh reality is that the answer is no.

The Bible warns believers to guard our hearts and our minds (Provers 4 20-27; Romans 12:2). I fell under great conviction.

Does it mean I am to meditate on God's Word day and night? Well, yes. We are told to hide it in our hearts (Psalm 119:11; Isaiah 26:3). We are to be very careful about what we let into our minds (Ephesian 6:17) because once it worms it's way into our hearts, our words can greatly affect our testimony (Luke 6:45) and eventully cause a falling away (Isaiah 29:13; Luke 15:7-9).

We are redeemed, Christ Jesus has imputed His righteousness to us, but we still have not shed our sinful nature. We have that constant battle with the flesh, lustful, greedy, angry, envious thoughts that crop up in our hearts and minds (Galatians 5:19-26). We must use every tool available to fend them off. One of the most useful resources that we are given is our brothers and sisters in Christ (Hebrews 10:23-25; Galatians 6:1-2).

Practice disciplining our minds (Philippians 4:8). The sciences are great for this. The more we learn about how the physical and natural world work and how vast and beautiful the universe is, the more in awe we stand before our Great and Glorious God and we bask in the wonder of all of it having been created through and for and being held together in Christ Jesus (Colossian 1:15-20).

God is AWSOME!

Eternal Security

Colossians 3:1-4

Christ Jesus came to bring back to life that which died in the Garden (Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-19). Not only bring back to life, but to eternal life (John John 1:1-5;14 and John 3:16-17).

Before the Earth was formed, before the universe erupted into being from the holy lips of God, our wise Father gave us to the Son (John 17:1-3;24). Jesus has such an intimate relationship with the Father that only He truly knows His Father. He has revealed His Father to those whom He has chosen (Matthew 11:27).

Once we have been redeemed, our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life, we are sealed (Ephesians 1:11-13) for all eternity. Our life eternal is secure (Colossians 3:1-4). God does not change His mind, especially in matters as weighty as this (James 1:16-18). Our great God is faithful, regardless of our actions (Deuteronomy 32:1-4).

To say that there is anything you can do to lose this salvation is to assign a power to yourself even greater than God Most High (John 10:27-30). A salvation brought about, not only to keep His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and not only because He loves us, but for reasons that have nothing to do with us (Ezekiel 36:22-36), for the sake of His holy Name. To say that you can lose this is, in my opinion, blasphemous.

God is AWESOME

A Powerful Work

Colossians 2:12-14

I have a group of friends who come over once a week, we have been studying Paul's letter to the Colossians. We are currently going through chapter 2.

As I was reading the verses for our study this week, it struck me how casually I can sometimes read God's Word. In Colossians 2:12-14, Paul is talking about how we have been raised from the dead with Christ in "the powerful working of God".

Again, I was struck with that phrase, how casually I read it. It was as if the Holy Spirit told me to go back and read that with reverence and awe. As I read it again, a little movie played in my head. I had to stop. I closed my eyes and watched it play again.

Words are too clumsy to describe what I watched in my little head. I would ask you to read these verses of scripture before finishing what I have written here: Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 28:10-15; Job 9:32-33; Job 19:25-26; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; 1 Peter 1:10-12

Christ Jesus, our Redeemer and Lord, took upon Himself all of our sins and erased all of our transgressions. He bore the wrath of God and gave us His righteousness. He died. On that third day in the rich man's tomb, God once again took up, with trembling hands, the lump of clay that was the mangled body of His only Son. He leaned in and with a Holy and powerful act, as Abraham, Job, David and all the prophets looked on in awe, He breathed life... and our Sovereign opened His eyes.

God is AWESOME!

The Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Christian life is often a tumultuous one. We have battles on so many levels. There is the battle against our own flesh, the battle with our own mind and the battle with the devil.

The battle with the devil, I think, is the hardest. He is relentless. Anything he can do to lead you astray, he will throw it at you (Ephesisans 6:11). Not a soft throw either. A big league fast ball.

It is the hardest battle because the devil is smarter than us. He knows all of our weak spots, and he will use them against you.

But, thanks and praise to the Lord Jesus the Christ! He sent us a helper. Someone to help us in donning the armor that He provides as one of the benefits of being in Christ.

The belt of Truth (Isaiah 11:5), The breastplate of righteousness (Isaiah 59:17), the Gospel of peace (Romans 1:16), the helmet of salvation (Isaiah 59:17), the sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12).

Let's look at the One who forged this armor. He is the image of the invisble God (Colossians 1:15-18). He is the One who calmed the storm and the One who cast out demons after they begged Him for mercy (Mark 4:35 - 5:13). He is the One who is an all consuming fire (1 Kings 18:20-40) The One who brought to life a vast army of dead and dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-10).

With God as our Father, Christ Jesus as our savior and King and living Word of God, and the Holy Spirit as our coach, and the armor He equips us with, we really have no reason to fear and every reason to fight.

God is AWESOME!

Easier Said Than Done

Job 1:20-22

There are sometimes things that happen in the lives of believers that are so bad that it can shake the faith of even the most devout followers of Christ Jesus (Job 1:18-19 and Luke 22:54-62). These are the times when it is important to remember the sovereignty of God.

Our wise Father has a purpose for everything He does, even in the suffering of His children (Malachi 3:2-3 and Romans 5:3-5). He will sometimes need to fine tune some of us through His purposeful trials (James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 1:3-7) that will purify or refine our faith and increase our peace and joy in Christ.

Let us remember that even Christ Jesus Himself understood that suffering is not something anyone wants (Luke 22:42-44) but He endured it all for His Name's (Ezekiel 36:22) sake and for our sake (Romans 3:21-24).

In our trials and suffering, we need to look to the example of our Great King and savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2).

God is AWESOME!