Drew’s Blog - Drew Boswell

“Best Christmas Ever” Sermon Series, Week #1 “HOPE” Isaiah 9:1-7

“Best Christmas Ever” Sermon Series

HOPE

Isaiah 9:1-7

Introduction

I love the Christmas season. I love going to the tree farm with the kids and cutting down the tree, having an open house for friends, seeing the kids open their gifts. Having a candlelight service on Christmas Eve – one thing in particular I enjoy about Christmas is getting Christmas cards. They are often very pretty and we use them to decorate our home.

It is a way that people say what’s going on in their lives or just to say, “We are thinking about you this year.” Did you know that God wrote the very first Christmas Card to you and to me in the Bible – but he sent it early, in fact it came hundreds and hundreds of years early. Let’s see what He wrote in His card.

Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ—the promised Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, a prophet greater than Moses, the Son of David, who will rule forever, He is the Righteous One, the King-Priest, the suffering savior, he is the babe born of a virgin who will be born in Bethlehem. He is Immanuel – We celebrate the birth of the Son of God who dwelt among us.

Seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanu means “with us,” and El means God.

This promised child would be the “with-us God.” Just as God was with Israel in the wilderness, so also Jesus Christ, as God-with-us, saves us, guides us, protects us, and provides for us. Because God is with us in Jesus Christ, we can always be triumphant and rejoice.

We can do all things through Christ! We can resist temptation and cause the devil to flee. In Christ we have all that we need. We can rejoice in tribulations and be fearless in the face of death.

725 BC N. Assyrian evil empires are poised to attack the morally bankrupt Jews. There is darkness and despair all around them. They about to be crushed from all sides, there seems to be no hope. It is at that moment that now they have a word from God.

This morning, you may feel completely surrounded by a dark world, and you feel crushed, and you have come here maybe, just maybe for a word from the Lord. Let’s see what He wants to tell you.

Isaiah 9:1-7

“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.3 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as son the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”

The gloom of verse 1 turns to brightness in verse 3. The darkness is turned to rejoicing. The perfect tense is used when referring to these various things, therefore it is so certain to happen that it as if they already have happened.

Many years before the wise men came, centuries before the shepherd’s bent a knee a king is foretold of coming who will be marvelous, a king is coming who is majestic, watchful and wonderful. We are told in Isaiah 11:1 that this king is the stem of Jesse, and in v. 53 he will be the suffering Savior.

He is Marvelous in How He Came

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given”

This king came in earthy humanity “a child is born” – child is emphasized. In the Hebrew text the emphasis is on “child.” Children represent newness and change. There is a new day coming, a new day is born. This king will bring about a change in the lives of His people. Thank God that he is a king of change who does not change. I thank my king that he changed my life!

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” God does not change, His word does not change, but when this king comes He changes you.

A child is born for us! That is speaking about the human nature of Jesus Christ. Then we read, “to us a son is given.” This is emphasizing the divine nature of Jesus Christ. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.

A change is coming “for us,” it was for us that he was born. Gal. 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

He came in heavenly diety – “a son is given” – son is emphasized; an eternal being, the God of Glory. Given not born, a son not child – John. 1:1-2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.”

There was never a time when “the Son” has not existed. Hebrews 1:1-2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but bin these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed ethe heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

God translated deity into humanity – a perfect wedding of the two. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

He is Majestic in Who He Is

Matthew 1:23 says “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” A Jewish name described both character and activity. There are four names given to describe the character and activity of this king who was given to us.

4 Names

(v. 6) “. . . his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

He is a Wonderful Counselor who soothes my conscience

In Isaiah 9 we are told, “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor.” In the Hebrew text we read, “He is” Jesus Christ is the greatest wonder imaginable because his very person is wonder: As God/man, there is no one else like him.

Is Jesus a wonder to you? Have your eyes been opened to the person of Jesus Christ? He is wonder, especially to his people. He is Wonder of wonders.

As the Wonderful Counselor the war boots and bloody blankets are used not for battle but for fire, the forces of evil will be over. This king will defeat the Enemy, and he brings peace to our hearts.

Counselor – solves my confusion, he is glorious, unfailing in His wisdom. He is our advisor and teacher – Hebrews 4:1-2 “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.” The Counselor makes salvation very easy to understand. As we have seen this morning, even young children can grasp sin and forgiveness of that sin.

Joshua failed to seek God’s counsel and was deceived by the Gibeonites. Saul, after being abandoned by God, sought the counsel of a witch. The people of the world seek the counsel of mediums, spiritists, and so called “experts” who whisper and mutter nonsense: Isaiah 8:19 says, “And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?” But God has given us the counsel of his Son, Jesus Christ, in the Bible.

He is a Worthy Defender who fights before me – Mighty God ; warrior God (El Gabor), the child was nothing less than God.

He fought a battle far greater than Gettysburg, he fought a battle far more strategic than D-Day, he fought a battle far more crucial than any battle waged in Iraq. He fought the ultimate battle on the battleground called Calvary – where He conquered death, hell, and the grave – the empty tomb stood open as a memorial of this great battle.

He is a Watchful Father who showers me with affection, Jesus is the

Everlasting Father, it is a title, who he is to us:

He is the Father of Eternity – the source and origin of order, he is Alpha and Omega. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Hebrews 1:8 tells us that His thrown is forever and ever “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”

As a Father he is compassionate, a provider, a protector, and it is forever. He is always faithful and He will never leave. He is with us every step of the way. Think about the father of the prodigal son, waiting for his child to return. He received him with great joy, saying, “Let’s celebrate! This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Jesus Christ is such a Father to us.

He is a Prince of Peace who calms my storms

Isaiah 66:12 “For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” When this king comes we have peace.

Peace with God as in Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

And we have the peace of God as in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

He is Mighty With What He Will Do

II Sam. 7:12-13 “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

This king will rule completely and the rule of all of creation will be on “his shoulders” – no one will vote him into office no one will ever vote him out of office. And his rule will be for all of eternity “there will be no end”

There will be peace from peacelessness, justice from injustice – He will rule powerfully, the Father will see that the Son will reign. In fact, it says that he is zealous to make it happen.

In heaven there is no confusion about Christmas— God has burned for the glory of His Son. – in whom he takes delight.”

This One is the prince who brings peace, not by negotiation, but by the conquest of all his enemies. Peace comes to us from the cross of Jesus Christ: Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

Ultimately nothing else matters except what we think about Jesus and God will never be able to give a greater gift then His Son. The first Christmas Card was telling us of a Savior for all of mankind, but as with any Christmas Card you have to do something with it.

You can place it on a shelf and treasure it, or you can toss it in the trash. This morning what will you do with Jesus? Will you become his disciple and allow Him to become your Wonderful Counselor, your Mighty God, your Everlasting Father, and your Prince of Peace? Not only is He mighty in what He will do in the world, but it also true of what a mighty work he can do in your heart.

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Gratitude Sermon Series Week #5: “What Do Grumblers Look Like?” Numbers 14

Gratitude Sermon Series

Week #5: What Do Grumblers Look Like?

Numbers 14

Introduction

On a sunny July afternoon my cousin Clay challenged me to a race. He had a brand new Honda four-wheeler. I was beautiful, bright orange with a engine that started with a simple press of a button and gentle tug of a rope. It would fly over the Alabama clay.

I on the other hand had to use cunning to outsmart this technological giant. I had had a Manco, three-wheeler that had a lawn mower engine, that I had painted myself, jet black, with a red stripe. It had no switches just full throttle. The race was this, he would go left and I would go right around a huge hilly cow paster. Whoever got back first was the winner – Only we had not counted on one thing (the mid-way point.)

As he topped the hill we both fixed on each other’s eyes, He swerved right and then suddenly left, I swerved left and then suddenly right at the same time – there was no stopping – POW! We both were half-hearted in our turning, If I would have stayed right and he left, I would have won. But instead, we couldn’t decide left or right.

This week we are going to look at a portrait of people who claim to be God’s people but are only half-hearted in their attempt in following Him. It is a pictures of what grumblers look like.

***see article below “Rise and Fall of the Three-Wheel ATV”

Grumblers Always Want To Go Back (vv. 1-10)

Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And udo not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.”

“Upon hearing the evil report of the majority of the scouts, the Israelites weep, complain, imply that God has evil motives, and desire to change leadership in order to go back to Egypt.”[1] The story told by the 10 spies spread throughout the people like a wildfire, that by nightfall “all the people” believed and wept. Joshua and Caleb’s voices could not be heard over the wailing and lies.

No one talked of God’s grace, or his many miraculous deeds that had been done over the two years. They only focused on the giants, the grapes, and them being grasshoppers.

They then look to put blame on this anger and so they “grumble” against Moses and Aaron. We are to imagine the worst sort of rage, a picture of screaming, rending of clothes, throwing, cursing in anger – completely given over to grief and despair.

As the Israelites are given over to fear and grief they begin to say that it would be better for them to die in Egypt as slaves, or to die in the desert, than to get this close to the Promised Land only to be unable to enter. “In addition, they begin to skeptically suspect God of evil intentions: “Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?” Their skepticism distorts their vision so that the slavery in Egypt looks better than following after God.”[2] And they will soon discover that this will become their own self-fulfilling prophesy.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sin against God in pride that they know as much about how to live their lives and make decisions as God does, or even more. Also, in the Garden there is peace with God, harmony, there is no poison or death. Satan’s lie to Adam and Eve is “you will not die.” In Numbers 14, we see a lie but it is the opposite for the Hebrew people. The Promised Land represents a restoration of the Garden. God has promised that He will be with them in the Promised Land, where there can be unity, peace, harmony, and the promise, “you will not die.” But the people believe the lie and it leads to anxiety, fear, and eventual death.[3]

The Israelite sin is not pride, but fear and this anxious fear leads them to finally reject God and His plan for them. Matthew 6:25, 33 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?. . . But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Two things were needed: the people needed to stop their rebellion against the Lord, and they must cease to be afraid of the people in the land. The Israelite people choose laziness and despair “over a path of courage, effort, and hope leading toward the promised land.”[4] God wants us to trust in Him, but also to fight for His plans.

Joshua and Caleb also say that the land’s protection is gone. There are no walls, no fortification, no factors of size, and certainly no gods that can withstand the onslaught of the people of God when they know that the Lord is with them.

The word translated “protection” often is translated as “shadow” or “shade.” In the hot regions of the Middle East, the notion of a shadow is a symbol of grace and mercy, a relief from the searing heat of the sun.

Luke 9:62 “Jesus replied, “Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” We cannot keep looking back to the way our lives were, if we are to be of any use to God today and in the future, especially when our lives were much worse.

Grumblers Have a “Plan B” Life (vv. 19-24)

19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”20 Then the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Moved by Moses’ plea to forgive the people for their rebellion, God pardons their sin. But forgiveness in this case in not complete. The people who have behaved so intolerably will not be put to death, but neither can things go back to the way they were on the day before the rebellion. Forgiveness here has nothing to do with forgetting – there is no mention of wiping the score clean. “God’s forgiveness is a gritty patience and willingness to continue on in relationship in spite of the past.”[5]

The people who had rebelled against God, could not enter the Promised Land and had to go to “Plan B” which is to wander in the desert. Which life would you prefer? Yet there are so many people who instead of following God and His Word, rebel against Him. It is as if God from heaven is saying, “I want to do great things through you, but you just won’t listen.

“tested me ten times” – God is gracious and merciful, but there is a limit, and once that line is crossed there is no going back. This limit of grace is limited to those who will not believe. The words of God in v.21 are forceful “as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth” There is a certainty that these people will never see the promised land. Hebrews 9:27 “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,”

V. 24 The Lord singles out Caleb and calls him “my servant”, and remarks with affection about his “different spirit.” But his reward for this faithfulness came forty-five years later. (Josh. 14:10). We as Christians should not expect to be blessed or rainbows to open before us now, but one day – in heaven He will remember our deeds and our works for Him.

We see that for those that do not believe God, He keeps an account. He knows every sin, and on judgment day will bring this list out and this like the words of the Israelites will be our judgment upon ourselves. However, for the believer, the Christian – Heb 8:12 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Grumblers Waste Their Lives (vv. 28-30)

Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

The rash words of the people asking to die in the desert become in a sense the judgment of the Lord. They have brought on themselves their punishment. This is the way it is in most rebellious people. The sin that we give ourselves over to will eventually destroy us. For the Israelites it was “doubting God” – this doubt sentenced them to 40 years of wandering aimlessly in the desert.

“I will do to you the very things I heard you say” – The four different punishments of God’s people were all based on what they had said. 1) They did not want to follow God in His purpose for them, so they wandered in the wilderness 2) for every day the spies were in the Promised Land would be a year they would be in the wilderness 3) they used their children as pretext to say why they shouldn’t go in, so only the children would enter 4) Does God want us to die in the wilderness? So the first generation would die in the wilderness.

They believed in knew the Lord but they did not believe the Lord. This would cause them to mark time in the desert until they died. Not believing God’s Word causes us do things that “mark time” in the desert of life. God’s desire is that the Israelites go in and conquer the Promised Land, to enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey, to be a city on a hill, a peculiar people, that would draw the people’s of the earth to God.

People would have looked at this people and their “surly good” land and would have said God is truly with these people. But now they are dust covered and miserable – would the world look upon them and say the same? No.

When we doubt God and live a life of rebellion, then in the end when we look back we will say “what did I do with my life, what a waste!” The apostle Paul said “Philippians 3:7-10 “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having fa righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Heaven is the Canaan set before us, a land flowing with milk and honey; there are many people who says that heaven is going to be wonderful, except is hard to get to it. The Israelite’s problem was that they thought following God was too hard, because they thought that is was they who was going to fight the battle.

I have heard many people say “yeah, but Drew, you don’t know what I’ve done.” The Bible says in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God always fights the battle for us. But we must have faith in Him to do it!

Not only does disbelief keep the half-hearted from heaven (the promised land) but it also keeps one from the peace and joy God has promised in this life. John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Grumblers Want To Follow When It Suits Them (vv. 39-45)

39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the LORD, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the LORD is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

Here is the classic example of too little, too late. Now too late to be in faith, the people determine to go up to the land they had refused. They confessed that they had sinned (v. 40). But, even in their desire to enter the Promised land, they rebel because God had already told them what His desire for their lives would be.

Their actions were rash and not thought out, but worse of all was that God was not with them. They brought about another judgment upon themselves. They thought they could change their future after God had spoken.

There are many people who delay following God, delay trusting Him with their lives, thinking I can “do the God thing later.” Don’t be like the Israelites who when it was too late decided that they wanted to enter the Promised Land.

Matt 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons vin your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Conclusion

This morning if you are over 20 and fall into the Israelite camp of doubt and rebellion, it’s not too late. You can still turn form your sins and follow God in faith. Ask for His forgiveness and begin to live a life that is a life of purpose, calling, and direction. Allow God to use you build His kingdom, a lasting and eternal accomplishment. If you are under 20 and a child of someone like the Israelite people, have hope, one day you can be free of your parent’s rebellion and you can live a life pleasing to God.

If you are like Joshua and Caleb, hold fast and your faithfulness will be recognized and blessed.

____________________________

***https://partdiscounter.com/blogs/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-three-wheel-atv

[1] David L. Stubbs, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible, Numbers (Grans Rapids, Michigan; Brazos Publishing, 2009) 129.

[2] Stubbs, 130.

[3] Ibid, 130.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid, 133.

Gratitude Sermon Series: Week #4 “Overflow” Colossians 2:6-10

Gratitude Sermon Series

Overflow

Colossians 2:6-10

Introduction

Salem Witch Trials – 1692, Salem Massachusetts

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/influence-of-the-puritan-religion-on-the-salem-witch-trials.php

FF76FW SALEM WITCH TRIAL, 1692. /nA witch trial at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. Lithograph, 19th century.

This disaster happened due to a blending of false doctrine, Catholic and Protestant beliefs, etc. Every church has to be alert to watch out for encroaching worldy beliefs.

Prayer

Thankfulness As a Defense Against False Doctrine (vv. 6-7)

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

In the first century, when the church was very young, there were a group of people who believed that they were Christians but they were not. These Gnostics believed that there was a sharp distinction between the man Jesus and a spiritual intermediary “the Christ”, which they called an “aeon” who came upon him at his baptism and left when on the Cross. Paul is refuting this type of false teaching.[1]

We don’t know exactly which false belief that Paul is addressing, but we can get clues from what he chooses to emphasize in the text. “It is not merely the identity of Jesus and Christ that Paul here emphasizes but his Lordship and leadership, whether the Messiahship is directly in mind or not.”[2]

Other’s false beliefs (specifically leaders in the church) had put the understanding of the Lordship of Jesus in jeopardy. So Paul reminds the church that they had received, “Christ Jesus the Lord,” – “Colossians, don’t be misled. Let your life (your “walk” or conduct) continue to be in harmony with the fact that you have accepted Christ Jesus the Lord as your tradition.”[3] According to the Scriptures.

Christ meaning the promised Messiah that will save the world from its’ sin, Jesus emphasizing his humanity – he was fully man, who died a painful death on a Roman cross, he laughed, wept, slept, was tired just like any other man, and he was also Lord – the eternal God equal with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit as the Tri-une God.

Paul then gives three mixed metaphors 1) walking in Christ, “It is the Christ path, the Jesus road.” 2) being rooted 3) as a building being built up. They walk as men, they take root like a tree, and they are built up like a house.”[4] In all three of the metaphors there is movement. Walking along a path, roots growing down and outward, and the building growing upward and layer upon layer of material is added.

All of these metaphors all reference the idea of abiding in Christ. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

If they do these things, then they will naturally be “abounding in thanksgiving.” Being thankful, and showing gratitude to God is a natural way of defending ourselves against false beliefs. Christ has given us all that we need (salvation, eternal life, an inheritance in heaven, a purpose and calling, etc.)

But Paul is not encouraging them to be thankful, but that they should be “abounding in thanksgiving” – it’s a pool and the water is overflowing the sides. Let what’s already in our heart, overflow to others. Also, “Faith and the nature of a Christian foundation are often invisible, but thanksgiving is a visible response to the grace of God in their lives.”[5] Also, a strong indicator that a person has stepped away from their relationship with the Lord is a lack of being thankful (Romans 1:21).

Watch out For Kidnappers and Robbers (v. 8)

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

We don’t know what the heresy that Paul is addressing, only his response to it. Paul warns the church to watch out for a leader or leaders who potentially will carry them off as booty, spoil, or as being taken captive.

The word for “captive” was used in other places like where a man’s daughter is kidnapped, the plundering of a house, seducing a maid, captives in a war.[6] But perhaps the best rendering for the passage would be “see to it that no man robs you.”

Those who persuade people to abandon truth for error are seducers and robbers.[7] The false beliefs that Paul is about to talk about will rob a person of a life that is lived out in truth. What is a person robbed of by believing false beliefs? They would be giving up the truth as it is in Christ Jesus the Lord for a lie.

Paul is concerned that the persuasive arguments against Christ may lead people away from Christ and cause their confidence in Christ to fade. He calls this subversive system of thoughts and morals, of rules and regulations “philosophy and empty deceit.” “The false teacher in Colosse is a con artist who uses Christian clichés and slogans to deceive immature believers.”[8]

How important is the truth of who Jesus really is?

Paul then gives the false teachings that the church is be on the alert for “by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world” – There are four things mentioned and they all seem to further explain what Paul means.

This is the only time that the word philosophy is used in the New Testament. Paul calls it “falsely named knowledge” in 1 Timothy 6:20. He is not referencing science, and he is not referring to the Greek philosophy of Socrates or Plato, or the philosophers that he argued with in Acts 17:18.

To seek knowledge and understanding is not wrong, but a godless philosophy is dangerous. When we seek after knowledge apart from understanding who God is very dangerous. “This teaching represents man’s attempt to arrive at the truth. It was therefore, a nonrevelational attempt to solve ultimate questions of life.”[9]

So Paul further adds to his warning by saying, “empty deceit” – “The word deceit means to “trick or cheat” and is opposed to the word of truth. “It is deceptive, for, while it promises big things to those who obey its ordinances, it cannot redeem its promises.”[10]

The teacher’s that Paul is referencing may have been “trying to harmonize Christianity with the prevailing religious outlook of the pagan culture which had molded their own thinking before the gospel came to them. They may have been unaware that their attempted synthesis of Christian and pagan ideas was destroying the unique and liberating power of the new faith in Christ.”[11]

They may even have thought they were improving Christianity, giving it wider appeal, but if they had been successful Christianity would have been clumped in with the rest of the world’s ideas and empty philosophies and lost.

Then he adds “human tradition” – tradition means something that is handed down from generation to generation. So that is not necessarily wrong. The Hebrew tradition of passing on the oral story telling of the Bible to its’ eventual writing down, and then copying was meticulous in its’ attention to detail.

“This philosophy and empty deceit” were merely “the tradition” passed from one to another, from one generation to the next. The Essenes were the predecessors of the Gnostics, who claimed to possess secret knowledge. The Essenes had a secret oath to pass on their doctrines as they had received them. “The later Jews gave the name “kabbala” or tradition to their mystic theology.”[12]

And then adding “the elemental spirits of the world” – there is no clear understanding of what Paul means by this[13], other than to say there is a worldly way, and a spiritual or Christ like way of moving through life. Don’t be fooled into believing that salvation can come from following the rules and regulations of this world, only through a proper understanding of Christ as revealed through His Word.

One way to interpret “the elemental spirits of the world” – is where forces within nature control the actions of people. “If man’s nature and destiny are determined by the elements that make up the physical world, including structure of the human body, whether these are considered simply as natural substances, or as natural substances controlled by spiritual beings and powers, then human personality is not spiritually free and self-determining but the product of the interaction of these natural and amoral elements.”[14] The sense of guilt vanishes when we lose moral freedom and responsibility.

Also notice how Paul seeks to persuade them toward the truth. “He respects their integrity, and approaches them with love guided by intelligence, and with intelligence illuminated by love.”[15]

The Truth of the Deity of Christ (vv. 9-10)

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Paul again is arguing against false beliefs that were threatening to “carry off” the church, specifically that Jesus was fully God. The “fullness of deity” dwelt within Christ. He was not partially man, and partially God – he was fully God, and fully man. All the attributes of God dwell in the Son of God who also is the Son of man, the incarnate Son of God.

Christ in his human incarnation (body) has fully revealed the moral nature and the loving heart of God. We can understand what God is like by observing Jesus.

Athanasius and Arius Controversy – “The issue was settled at the Council of Nicaea. The bishops of the church discussed and debated the issue and finally decided by overwhelming majority that homoousious (“same substance”) best encapsulates the teaching of the New Testament on the nature of Jesus. The Nicene Creed was the result of this meeting and reads in part,

“We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.” That last phrase of one being is a translation of the Greek word homoousious. The word homoousious is not found in Scripture, but the Council felt this was the best word to describe orthodox biblical teaching concerning Christ.”[16]

“you have been filled in him” – In Christ we have all we need, we have been given all that is needed for salvation, and a relationship with God. We can grow in that relationship, and we can grow in our knowledge and understanding of God, but we have all we need, “we are filled” in Christ. There is no need to seek another savior, spiritual guidance, or rely on anything other than Christ.

“who is the head of all rule and authority” – Christ is the creator and sustainer of all that exists, therefore He alone is its’ ruler and has authority over everything.

It’s not just enough to know the facts about Christ, as in knowing the correct doctrine, if it does not mean anything to you personally. “Biblical faith is very concrete, rooted in the teachings and work of a person, Jesus of Nazareth, and embodied in personal and social relationships.

Thus, when one’s understanding of Christian faith centers on a collection of elegant, even powerful ideas at the expense on an experience of God’s love, it quickly becomes an idolatry; the idea of God replaces a life-transforming relationship with the Lord.”[17]

Bad ideas of Jesus are dangerous because it effects how we relate to Him – A worldy view of Christ is that He is was a great teacher, a moral man. If we bring Him too close, we lose his divinity. If we put Him in the cosmos somewhere, then we lose his humanity. We therefore look to the Bible to show us what He is like – not man-made traditions, flowery elegant words – simply what the Bible says.

_____________________________

[1] John Phillips, Exploring Colossians and Philemon (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Kregel Publishing, 2002) 108.

[2] A.T. Robertson, Paul and the Intellectuals, The Epistle to the Colossians (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press; 1956) 76.

[3] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Book House, 1994) 107.

[4] Robertson, 77.

[5] Richard R. Melick Jr., The New American Commentary, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman and Holman Publishing, 1991) 248.

[6] Robertson, 77.

[7] Phillips, 114.

[8] Wall, 101.

[9] Melick, 253.

[10] Hendriksen, 109.

[11] Buttrick, 190.

[12] Robertson, 79.

[13] 2 Peter 3:15-16 “ . . . Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

[14] George Buttrick, Gen. Ed., The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1955) 192.

[15] Ibid, 191.

[16] https://www.gotquestions.org/homoousious.html

[17] Robert W. Wall, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series, Colossians and Philemon (Downers Grove, Illinois; Intervarsity Press, 1993) 99.

Gratitude Sermon Series: Week #3 “Gratitude Is a Choice” 1 Peter 1:3-7

Gratitude Series: Week 3

Gratitude Is a Choice

1 Peter 1:3-7

Introduction

An estimated 10,000 physicians have phony foreign medical degrees that brought one broker of fraudulent diplomas $1.5 million over three years, a congressional panel was told. Claude Pepper, Democrat-Florida, said many American citizens may be receiving medical treatment from doctors who lied on their medical school loan applications, and used the money not to go to school but to pay a broker for fake documents claiming they completed school and training.

Pedro DeMesones, who served a three-year prison sentence for mail fraud and conspiracy, told the panel that in three years of “expediting” medical degrees, he provided about 100 clients with false transcripts showing they had fulfilled medical requirements of schools they didn’t attend. “Clients paid me from $5225 to $27,000 for my services, ” DeMesones said. “In all I earned about $1.5 million in those three years. I only got to keep about $500,000 of this total. The rest went for bribes and expenses.”[1]

Wouldn’t you want to know that the doctor you go to is a real doctor and not one that bought a phony degree? Sure you would. Also, wouldn’t you want to know if your faith in Christ is genuine or fake? Peter takes us through this idea in 1 Peter 1:3-7

Prayer

_______________

The real test of thankfulness comes not when things are going great, but when the bottom falls out and things fall apart. The Bible says we should remain full of gratitude for what trials can produce within our lives. Like fire refines and purifies metal, so suffering and difficulty purify our lives as well.

I. Praising God Because of His Promise (vv. 3-5)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled[2], and unfading[3], kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter began this section stating that God is to be blessed because he has caused us to be born again. Our praise and thanksgiving should be directed to God because it is he who gave his Son so that we may have hope.

“The word “blessed” here is eulogétos, a word applied to God alone in the New Testament. We derive the word eulogy from it. It means to praise or speak well of someone. We are to eulogize the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our thoughts and hearts are to rise at every thought of Him.”[4]

The word “According” points to reasons we should be grounded in our salvation – it is because of his great Mercy is not getting what you deserve. How deep, how wide, how immense is God’s span of mercy?

We are born again to “a living hope” – our hope of eternal life is not rooted in superstition, wives’ tales, but in the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ who was dead (not a comma, or swooned, or passed out from blood loss). The hope mentioned here is not “Are you saved?” “I hope so,” No – our assurance of our salvation is a hope in the living Lord. It is a living hope.

Hope is an essential element in human life. “without it even the finest and best which earth can yield is shrouded with a deadly miasma of futility. Lacking a realizable future, our most meaningful experiences of – and our most profound confidences in – reality are but tantalizing projections of our fancy. Of what value is the education of man, the cultivation of his implanted capacities, the arousal of his noblest potentialities, if he at last is enveloped in the dark night of death and the unfeeling grave of extinction?”[5]

“God foresaw the fall of Adam and the subsequent ruin of the human race. He knew what He intended to do about that. When Father, Son, and Spirit decided that they would act in creation, they knew that the time would come when they would have to act in redemption. The plan of redemption also involved regeneration, giving us back in Christ what we had lost in Adam.”[6]

“The human spirit was to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Man would thus be enabled to cooperate with God in all aspects of his life. When sin entered into Adam, however, the Spirit of God departed from the human spirit, leaving Adam, and his race, permanently crippled.”[7] Regeneration happens when that spiritually crippled descendant of Adam receives Christ’s gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit comes into the believer’s soul and serves as proof of salvation in heaven.

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

You usually don’t receive an inheritance unless someone dies. Peter uses several analogies that direct our thinking to death – the word eulogy (blessed), being born again – indicating that we were spiritually dead, a living hope (pointing to Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and then the promise of an inheritance, which again, you don’t receive until someone dies.

Then Peter gives a description of what awaits believers when they die. He describes it as an inheritance.[8] In the Old Testament the inheritance is the land that God promised the people.[9] Abraham is promised an inheritance of the land of Canaan (Gen. 15:18; Acts 7:5; Heb. 11:8).

“In the Promised Land, every Israelite had his own possession, sat under his own fig tree, and enjoyed the fruit of his own vine (1 Kings 4:25).” But this Promised land was never safe and secure. “Marauders from the desert would invade the land and plunder the possessions of the inhabitants.”[10] There was constant fear of insects and drought.

The things we consider wonderful fade – we may have wealth today, but tomorrow the market could crash. We have popularity today but tomorrow the crowds seek to cancel us. We have power today, but tomorrow we are voted out of office, — everything this world has to offer fades, spoils, and decays.

The “Peter used a triple word picture to describe this inheritance. Our inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade. These verbal adjectives indicate that our inheritance is untouched by death, unstained by evil, and unimpaired by time. Our inheritance is death-proof, sin-proof, and time-proof. This inheritance is kept in heaven, for believers.”[11]

How do you explain eternal life, salvation, an inheritance in heaven? Peter has to describe them in negative words (perishing, spoiling, fading) because this is all we understand. “The glory of our heavenly inheritance is so far beyond human conception that the Scriptures must often resort to figures of speech instead of the literal terms or to weak comparisons with earth and thus to negatives, which tell us what will not be in heaven. The realities themselves transcend human language.”[12]

For the believer, the inheritance already exists and is waiting for them in heaven. No matter what difficulties we endure in this life, there awaits an eternal life in the life to come. We don’t have to worry about losing it – for it is God’s power that guards it and keeps it.

This inheritance is also described as a salvation. “Salvation can be defined as being rescued from God’s judgement or wrath on the last day (1 Pet. 4:17; cf. Rom 5:9; 1 Thess. 5:9).[13] Peter describes salvation as something that will be received in the future, it is a promised inheritance.

Salvation is discussed here in three different tenses. “As to the past, it cancels all of our sins, and because of Calvary, it cancels the penalty of sin as well. As to the present, by means of the indwelling Spirit of God, it deals with the power of sin. As to the future, we anticipate the return of Christ and an ultimate end to the very presence of sin.”[14]

The power of God mentioned here does not shield believers from trials, suffering, anguish, or persecution. “It means that God himself guards and watches over our salvation, our inheritance. Our relationship with God now as we grow more like Christ is a foretaste of that salvation which will be revealed when Christ returns.”[15]

Not only does God guard our inheritance in heaven, but he also guards us so that we do not lose our salvation. God does not operate in or upon our faith but above, over, and around us, upon our enemies. “It kept Daniel in the lion’s den, the three men in the fiery furnace, set bounds for Satan in afflicting Job, freed Peter from Herod’s prison, preserved Paul amid dangers, hardships, persecutions, etc. Great and wonderful is this protection of omnipotence, without which we should soon be overwhelmed.”[16]

In the Greek, this verb “shielded” or “guarded” (v. 5) is a military term that can mean either “to protect someone from danger” or “to prevent someone from escaping.” It is the same word used in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”[17]

“guarded through faith”[18]– When we speak of faith, Peter mentions both God’s protective power and human responsibility. Although, God has promised to protect us, we must employ our faith in our fight against the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”

“It is as faith which commits one to the keeping power of God. It is not man’s power but God’s power which, like the watchman of a city gate, guards the security of the one who is trusting in him.”[19]

II. Praising God Because of His Provision (v. 6-7)

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In response to this wonderful inheritance of salvation that is being guarded by God himself, “In this you rejoice” Our response to life, with all its’ pain and suffering is to rejoice, to have gratitude in this life. Peter says that these trials “though now for a little while,” are for a purpose. But to remember that this life is but a speck in light of eternity.

He also explains that there is a purpose behind the various trials. The explains this purpose with the illustration of a goldsmith. “To form a useful object, raw gold must be melted, requiring a temperature of 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit. When the gold is melted, the impurities rise to the surface, where they are skimmed off or burned off.

A goldsmith knows the gold is ready to cast when the liquid gold becomes mirror-like and he can see his face reflected in the surface.”[20] Peter does not mention a refining, only a determining a genuineness.

The language of this illustration may also refer to the first-century process of making pottery. Potters baked clay pots to give them strength. The process sometimes cracked pots that had flaws, but the ones that survived the process were marked with the Greek word Peter used here (dokimos) for “genuine.”

“Sufferings function as the crucible for faith.”[21] Our tested faith by the trials of life will prove to be far more valuable than gold when Christ returns, “at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Earlier, in verse 5 where it says, “to be revealed in the last time” is where we get the word apocalypse – “ready to be revealed” is a day when Christ is revealed in all his glory and power.

The sufferings and trials that we endure here and now are purifying and giving value to our faith, that will last for all of eternity. The faith we take with us, that has been found genuine, refined and purified will be with us forever.

We are to value the trials because they reveal our flaws and impurities. They are an opportunity to change. But Peter explains, “What God now finds is what pertains to the reward of grace which he will bestow upon us at the last day.”[22] While I am here, I can change and become more like Christ, and God is working to make me more like Christ (through trials).

When it was time for me to get an engagement ring for Kimberly, I drove and hour and half to a business building where I was buzzed in to meet with Tom Neville in Montgomery, Alabama. Tom is a retired NFL football player and opened his jewelry business in 1983.

He met with just me, and walked me through the different kinds of diamonds, colors, how they were classified and got out trays of diamonds for me to look at and for me to pick the right one. Even later after she said yes, he mailed me three diamond wraps for Kimberly’s wedding ring. But one of the things that stuck was that there are no natural flawless diamonds – every natural diamond is flawed, it just to what degree; can you see it with normal eyes, or does it require a microscope?

A diamond after years of tremendous pressure is fixed. It is then shaped to the shape the jeweler desires. It can’t change, continued pressure does nothing to it. Gold can be purified, and purified, and purified. Gold and diamonds have impurities, but only one can change that.

_____________________

[1] Spokesman Review, December 8, 1984

[2] “The Greek word amiantos, which means undefiled, refers to a mineral found among the rocks and made into a fire-resisting fabric. Though soiled, it turned pure white when placed in the fire. Romans paid generously for it; in it they wrapped the remains of their dead, so that in cremation the precious ashes would be preserved in a fabric unaffected by the consuming fire. The Christian’s inheritance is free from the taint of defilement; it is unaffected by the fiery judgement.” George Arthur Buttrick, Gen. Ed. The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1957) 94.

[3] “The Greek modifiers (imperishable, undefiled, unfading) all begin with the letter “a” imparting the kind of alliteration frequently used in sermons: aphtharton, amianton, amaranton.” Clifton Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 12 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1972) 151.

[4] John Phillips, Exploring The Epistles of Peter (Grand Rapids Michigan; Kregel Publishing, 2005) 36.

[5] Buttrick, 92.

[6] Phillips, 38.

[7] Ibid, 39.

[8] “Peter uses an astonishing variety of expressions for the coming salvation of the end-time. (for example, “a living hope” [1:3], God’s “wonderful light” [2:9], “the gracious gift of life” [3:7], “inherit a blessing” [3:9], “crown of glory” [5:4], and “eternal glory” [5:10]. (Kistemaker, 44)

[9] Num 32:19; Deut. 2:12; 12:9; 25:19; 26:1; Josh 11:23; Ps 105:11; Acts 7:5

[10] Simon J. Kistmaker, New Testament Commentary, Peter and Jude (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Book House, 1987) 43.

[11] Max Anders, Gen. Ed., Holman New Testament Commentary, 1&2 Peter, 1,2,3, John, Jude (Nashville, Tennessee; Holman Reference, 1999) 8.

[12] R.C. Lenski, The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Epistles of Peter, the three Epistles of John, and the Epistle of Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1966) 34.

[13] Thomas R. Schreiner, The New American Commentary, 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman Publishing, 2003) 63.

[14] Phillips, 47.

[15] Anders, 8.

[16] Lenski, 36.

[17] Kistemaker, 44.

[18] Revelation chapters 2-3 seem to indicate that there are angels for each church? Are there angels that stand guard for churches today?

[19] Allen, 151.

[20] Ibid, 9.

[21] Thomas R. Schreiner, The New American Commentary, 1,2 Peter, Jude (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003) 67.

[22] Lenski, 40.

A Quick Comment About Bible Teaching – Isogesis

Isogesis – This is where we bring our own presuppositions, opinions, backgrounds, biases, etc. to the text and make it say what we want it to say, instead of letting the text speak for itself.