As I was researching out a passage for a series I had been working on, I stumbled over what is commonly called a “short”, a video that is relegated to approx. 60 seconds on youtube.
I took a minute to watch and found it to be a very good alternate explanation of predestination for the believer.
As I may have spoken of earlier in my posts, I spent many years consumed with the Calvinistic teaching, only to break free because of men like Dr. Flowers, who offer alternative views that make more sense and glorify God, making Him purer, and more loving.
I do hope you will consider the teaching with an open mind.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
115
ETERNAL LIFE
1 John 1:2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us–
Eternal life is not principally a possession we gain or a condition we enter as we initially trust Christ, but eternal life is the very essence of the Christ.
He is eternal life, and to be found in Him is to be a partaker of eternal life. John tells us that Jesus is eternal life and that eternal life was shown to us while Jesus walked this earth.
I have thought for may years that eternal life speaks of duration of life, and this surely has merit, yet as I walk with Him as feebly as I do, I find that eternal life is a quality of life.
If the concept of our spirit existing forever is true, then eternal life is of no added benefit if the quality of life is not a major consideration. Of course, eternal life speaks of no beginning and no end, and there are some who may claim that humans also had a pre existence, and will exist forever, but I find little evidence of this teaching in the Word.
What I do find evidence of in the Word is the quality of our Savior, the stellar character of His person, the gracious acceptance of those who are against Him, the willingness to bow down to us, bow down ever so far, to meet us in our sorry condition.
As believers, let us consider Who the true eternal life is, that the person of the Christ is eternal life embodied in flesh, the One who gave His life up to manifest eternal life to those who had nothing to give.
He is Eternal Life!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Let’s remind ourselves of the verses we have been exploring before we dive into our second look at it.
1 Timothy 4:1-3
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
In our last post on this passage, we discussed the concept of departing, and that it was not simply describing the one act of apostacy, or better yet, the verse didn’t simply use the term “apostacy” in the passage. In this post, we will look at the message of devotion, of believers devoting themselves to something other than the gospel and the Savior Lord.
Devoting themselves
Devoting. προσέχω proséchō
Paul continues in this verse describing those who are departing as devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. By using the word proséchō, Paul uses a word that is typically translated as that which holds the mind, to pay attention to, to adhere to. It is often translated as beware, pay attention to, and devote. A few examples may be helpful.
The Lord spoke this word many times in His ministry, warning His followers of false prophets (Matthew 7:15), the teaching of the Sadducees and Pharisees (Matthew 16:6), our own religious pride (Matthew 6:1), and of men (Matthew 10:17).
Luke used it also in the book of Acts, where it interestingly describes paying attention to magicians claiming God’s power.
Acts 8:10-11
They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
When we get to Paul’s writing, especially the pastoral epistles, he speaks of devotion to myths and genealogies (1 Timothy 1:4), deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, commands of people who turn away from the truth (Titus 1:14), and wine (1Timothy 3:8).
With this summary of the word proséchō provided, might it be understood that this word is used in relation to outside influences? From being a warning of dangerous lifestyles or teaching, to defining what we are attracted to that is dangerous, this term in many contexts is associated with that which “pulls us away”.
To be pulled away means you have a starting point from which you are pulled away from, further helping us understand this verse as a warning to true believers.
To depart and devote is Paul’s concern in this verse. For believers to depart from the faith and to devote (pay attention) to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons must have been heartbreaking for Paul to describe.
This same term proséchō is not used exclusively in describing a pulling away from the faith, but is also used to direct believers to pay attention to truth.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Drifting away is a very real consequence for us who do not pay attention to what we have heard and know. Do not let it slip!
Finally, Peter provides us a fitting verse to end this scary passage describing the path of believers who are departing and devoting themselves to wrong teachings.
2 Peter 1:19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
114
EQUAL WITH GOD
John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
In John 5:17, Jesus claims for the first time, that God is His own Father. He simply states “My Father is working…
No self respecting Israeli would be audacious enough to claim the eternal and all powerful Creator of all to be His own Father. This was clearly blasphemy in the minds of the learned religious class of Israel, for they had come to a conclusion very early on that Jesus could not be the Messiah.
Of course, if they had no bias against this Rabbi, they may have considered all the prophecies He had fulfilled without His being able to control the circumstances. Prophecies of his birth, of His youth, of His family circumstances and lineage, His miracle working, His unassailable logic in teaching.
God provided ample evidence of His person, and when Jesus simply stated what should have been obvious to unbiased ears, those who had closed their ears and eyes to facts, opened their hearts and mouths to the option of death.
When the Jews stated that He made Himself equal to God, the term equal can be considered in both the quantitative or qualitative sense.
Quantitative as in a math equation, or that two objects have the same number of components, or are equal in weight or number.
Qualitative, as in the quality of two items. This meaning may be closer to the intent, for to be qualitatively equal to God the Father is to claim for Himself all the characteristics of the Most Blessed.
This claim was completely beyond the Jews comprehension, for they were poisoned with a bias, and made assumptions that were completely unfounded. This dangerous attitude was based in a darkened heart that would not recognize the true God, for they imagined Him as a warrior, and not the servant, as One who would kill, and not save, as One who would separate and not join together.
How far off they were from the Living One!
Bias and assumptions about Jesus can kill you. Please – for your own sake – do not make uniformed decisions about who Jesus is, or listen to gossip about Him, or watch His followers make mistakes, or ignore the One who provided proofs.
Read the record that provides the witness of His person. Read it with an open mind, and ask for insight. Might I suggest taking the gospel of John and as you read, ask hard questions about what the gospel is trying to communicate. Take your time reading it, looking for the message you need to hear.
But don’t simply reject Him because of a bias, or an assumption. For He is equal with God.
Read the Scriptures and believe!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
113
ENTHRONED ON THE PRAISES OF ISRAEL
Psalm 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Psalm 22 is the psalm of the Most Righteous One suffering the greatest injustice possible, and the thoughts and prayers of this One as He endured the path to death.
In all of the pain and suffering, pleas were made to be heard. Prayers were lifted up but unanswered. No one was paying attention, and no one was out there. It seemed that the only response was abandonment, and for the Messiah, this was a fact.
David, when writing this psalm did not, in truth, experience the loneliness the Messiah went through on the cross. God was quiet for David, but for the Messiah, God had turned His back. He was truly alone, more alone than any who had walked the earth.
Yet, no slander was flung onto God, no attack on God’s ways, no character assassination, no hatefulness or scorn thrown on God’s person. None of the common, base reactions to suffering were exercised in the Messiah’s thoughts. In all the raging thoughts racing through His heart and mind while His body is screaming out in pain and agony, not one thought of anger or hatred to the Father was expressed.
In all the quiet, the Messiah knew two things that centered Him, that was foundational for Him.
God is holy. God is Enthroned on the Praises of Israel.
He is King – enthroned of all, yet as the nation praised Him, He became evident for all to see, He became “visible” to all around in the praises of His people.
How can a man suffering think this way? How can a man that is unjustly treated refer to praise to God in the middle of persecution?
It comes down to a truth. God is holy, and He is King. Whether circumstances appear to support this or not, the fact remains, and the One who experienced everything that screamed “God has abandoned Me”, could not be moved from this fact.
God is holy and God is King.
He is Enthroned on the Praises of Israel, bar the circumstances!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
In my travels through the Word, as I come across passages that I have provided my reader to consider in relation to conditional security of the believer, there have been some passages that seemed to support the Once Saved Only Saved (OSAS) teaching. Decades ago, these were the passages I would refer to when I met a “heretic” (such as I have become), positing the position of possible apostacy of true believers. One of my standby’s when defeating the heretic was John 10:28-29. I have sought to explain my thinking in this verse in an earlier post. See Conditional Security – John 10:28-29. There were a number of passages I used to refer to in order to support the OSAS position.
One of the passages I would invariably be faced with in the discussion is the passage we will consider today. I can tell you right now, I remember this passage causing me trouble when it was brought up, and I would typically avoid or deflect the seeming obvious message it carried. (I am quite adept at avoiding that which I did not want to face!)
Two actions are described in the first verse. Departing and Devoting. And of course the subject of the sentence is critical for our correct understanding. Who will depart? Who will devote?
The first item of concern is the subject of departing. It seems obvious that Paul is describing true believers doing the departing since he claims it is an express statement from the Spirit. The Spirit is making a specific statement about this departing and devoting. Paul is instructing Timothy, a man who was a leader in the church, a man who was responsible for oversight of a church body, who needed direction for difficult, unforeseen occurrences in the church. Might apostacy be one of these circumstances that Timothy needed express instruction on? Would there be any reason for instruction to be provided to Timothy for those outside of the church? For those outside of the church, what would they be departing from?
Too many questions erupt if we do not understand that this passage is describing true believers. With that established, let us continue considering departing and devoting
Depart from the faith
To depart. ἀφίστημι aphístēmi.
The Greek word Paul used is not as I first expected. I assumed he would have used ποστασία apostasía for this verse, if he is truly describing a falling away from the faith, a defection of faith. You see, I expected this verse to be describing apostacy, a falling away. Maybe not exactly. Paul, in this verse is describing something a bit different, yet I fear the end result is the same.
Paul, by the express message of the Spirit, used aphístēmi in this verse, describing some departure. Our word in this verse speaks of removal, withdrawal, or a drawing away, and this makes sense as we remember that those drawn away are devoting themselves to something. In my initial understanding of this concept, I think Paul may have used this word because he is highlighting outside influences having the desired effect on believers. May it be more than simply be falling away, or rejecting/ignoring the gospel as in apostacy? Might those under consideration in this verse be lured away, drawn away from the gospel, in order to chase something other than the gospel?
Paul says that “some will depart from the faith”. To depart implies leaving a location or position and to seek an alternate goal or end. It also implies the possession of the initial position, that of being in the faith. How can this be? How can those who know the Lord ever walk away, depart, leave Him?
How is it that I have this dangerous heart in me?
In our next post, let’s explore that topic. I hope we can meet again and consider the Bible for the message it has for us.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
ABRAHAM
TESTING
Genesis 22:2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Hebrews 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Abraham’s greatest test is recorded for us in Genesis 22, in the offering up of his son on an altar in obedience to God’s command. This is truly an amazing passage, exhibiting a faith in God that was being stretched to a breaking point.
It was Abraham’s greatest test, but not his only test, for God had been working in Abraham constantly, challenging him in multiple ways. As a matter of fact, the number of tests Abraham lived through is quite illuminating, and more numerous than I assumed.
Abraham left Ur and Haran for an unknown destination at God’s direction
Abraham directed a peaceful separation from Lot and settled at the oaks of Mamre.
Abraham rescued Lot from the five kings. Abraham tithed after the battle for Lot to a mysterious king/priest Melchizedek. He also rejected any provision the king of Sodom offered.
Abraham trusted God’s promise that he would have a son.
Abraham received the promised land by faith, though the fulfillment would not come for many generations.
Abraham circumcised every male in his family.
Abraham welcomed strangers, (angels).
Abraham prayed for Sodom
Abraham admitted to wrongdoing (in front of the king of Egypt) and took the actions needed to set things right.
Abraham negotiated a treaty with Abimelech concerning a well.
Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Abraham was tested through out his walk with God, and we know this is true of the many tests the Lord Jesus faced, (though many of the tests Jesus experienced came from evil men). Nevertheless this life trait of being tested speaks of the similarity between these two individuals in the Word.
Hebrews 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Jesus was tested and passed each test, though the passing of the tests often caused loneliness, misunderstanding and finally great pain, to the point of death!
Abraham’s hopes (Isaac) was set to die in Genesis 22. Jesus life was snuffed out, through an excruciating death. Similar, but not exactly the same, for the Lord took the testing to it’s ultimate conclusion, and came out if it victorious.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
112
ENLARGER OF MY HEART
Psalm 119:32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
In our last post we considered the description of God as the enlarger of Gad, specifically in the geographical opportunities provided that tribe centuries ago.
In this post, we see a personal plea to God for enlarging of the psalmist’s heart. To enlarge is to widen, to expand, and the psalmist speaks of his need to be more than he is.
Consider that the heart is the seat of our emotional life, and as such, for our heart to be enlarged would speak of a expanded commitment in God, a larger swath of our lives to be under God, willing to let Him have His way.
This enlarging of heart is a great thought, a high ideal, a noble goal, but what does it look like when a saint’s heart is enlarged? I would suggest that one possible evidence is the possession of wisdom and knowledge, and I would refer my reader to the following passage.
1 Kings 4:29.
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore,
God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, or in other words, God enlarged Solomon’s capacity and possession of wisdom and understanding. This wisdom and understanding would be evident in a believers life daily, for this is the hallmark of a wise one, continually exercising truth and grace in his life in practical ways.
For God to enlarge our heart will include (but not be restricted to) a growing outworking of practical wisdom in our lives for ourselves and for others. This wisdom will be borne from our widening commitment to God, our trust in His will and our desire to do His pleasure.
And in all that we plead – God – be the One who enlarges our heart!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
111
ENLARGER OF GAD
Deuteronomy 33:20 And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp.
Gad was the seventh son of Jacob and Leah, and as the tribe of Gad was led to the promised land by Moses, they became one of the tribes that settled on the east side of the Jordan, the other being Rueben and half the tribe of Manasseh.
This choice by the tribe of Gad was commended by Moses, for there was no restriction for expansion on the east side of the Jordan. Each of the other tribes of Israel would end up with land allocations between a sea and the Jordan river, providing little if any opportunity for geographical expansion.
This choice of land allocation by Gad is a result of God’s blessing on Gad, on God providing opportunity to Gad in their location to settle. This tribe would also provide valiant soldiers for the later King David in his battles, and their expertise in fighting may be the result of having an open border to the east, always needing to be defended.
God provided Gad the blessing of opportunity, but with opportunities came along responsibilities to guard the land, possibly expand it, and provide skills for the greater good of the entire nation.
It is like that for us today also. Consider the opportunities God has provided you, the associated responsibilities and the skill sets developed for the greater good.
God enlarges Gad, and He seeks to enlarge us in our opportunities, responsibilities, privileges, and blessings to others.
Blessed is the One who enlarges!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
ABRAHAM
NEW NAME
Genesis 17:5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Abram wasn’t looking for a new name, and when the Lord changed it on him, the name change signified something incredible, unbelievable. The name God gave him represented the promise he had just been given by God.
Of course, at the time of the name change, Abram had no children by Sarai, and his only offspring was a young man named Ishmael. Sarai was barren and as a last resort, Sarai struck a bargain with (nagged?) Abraham to lay with Hagar her maid. She must have really wanted a child in the worst way!
Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael to Abram, God appeared to Abram to cut a covenant with him. A covenant with the promise of a multitude of nations to come from his loins. He had one child at this time, a child of a servant not of his wife. And his wife, who would provide a child without dispute, was barren. Old and barren. Quite the promise!
God had the audacity to promise that nations would come from Sarai. Why not Ishmael? In Genesis 17:15-16, God made it clear that Sarai (not Hagar) would produce the nations, that kings would come from her. And Abraham, before any children from Sarai would appear on the scene, would go by the name of Abraham – Father of multitudes, Father of nations!
Talk about wearing your faith! Abraham was now to be known as a father of many, but in experience the father of none, at least by Sarai! (Might Abram hear some mockery when the neighbors are told of the name change?)
Jesus also has a new name, one that we do not know yet. He promises that as we overcome, He will make us a pillar in the temple of God. As a pillar, He will write on us His own new name! Too many mysteries are beyond me in this description of the Lord’s doings, but we do see that a new name is provided to those who have greater things promised in the future, as in Abrams case. How that applies to the Lord Jesus is beyond me.
Yet He will have a new name, and we may find out some day, for the name is written on the pillars (overcomers) of the church for all to see!
He does everything for us, even giving us His new name.
Praise Him for His loving mercy!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
110
DWELLING PLACE
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’
God is described as a place for us to dwell in. To dwell – what may I ask does my reader consider when the term “dwell” occurs in a passage? To find permanence in? To live in, and to be familiar with?
To be described as a dwelling place is to be likened to a habitation or even a refuge, implying a place of safety from danger. The term is sometimes used of an animals den or lair, a place that provides protection from an enemy, a place of permanence for the animal to resort to. Many times, this description implies a place of refuge from danger, and in this passage also, it is in the context of finding protection. It is not simply a place of familiarity and comfort, though a secondary message for the believing one to find encouragement in. The primary message is that of God providing safety for the saint from an enemy.
The fact that He is described as a possession of the saint – He didn’t say “a” dwelling place, but “your” dwelling place – should be a constant encouragement and comfort for the saint.
Remember, the Eternal God is your dwelling place. The eternal God!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
109
DREAD WARRIOR
Jeremiah 20:11 But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.
Out of all the names of God I have considered, this one name has caused me a bit of reluctance to consider.
Why you ask?
To be honest I really don’t know. I look forward to considering the character of our God in these short posts, but to consider God as a dread warrior initially shook me.
I say that as an encouragement to my readers that even if the Word seems to say hard things, things we may not want to look at, it is to our benefit to understand to the best of our ability the truth of His message to us for His sake. We are not to simply try to protect ourselves from a predisposed assumption of what the verse may be saying.
With that said, let us consider this passage and try to understand it’s message for us.
A bit of background for this verse will give us some context.
Jeremiah was called a prophet by God in the midst of a nation that was in the final throws of a death sentence. Judgement was coming onto Israel, and Jeremiah had been preaching this message. Pashur, a leading priest of the nation had struck Jeremiah and thrown him in stocks for this message. Upon his release, Jeremiah declared judgement on Pashur, very specific judgements that would have definitely set a bullseye on his back. Pashur would not allow this to stand and Jeremiah knew what was coming.
In this condition, Jeremiah resolves to quit his prophetic work, stating that he will not make mention of God, nor speak anymore in His name. (Jeremiah 20:9). His inner struggle was great, and he admits that the Word of God was more powerful than his own self interests. God was at war with His prophet!
In this context, we have this statement
But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior.
My initial thoughts were that God was a dread warrior against Jeremiah’s persecutors, and the immediate portion of the verse after this phrase lends itself to this understanding.
But as I consider this passage, I wonder. The previous portion describes God’s effective battle in Jeremiah’s heart, and verse 12 speaks of the Lord’s testing of the righteous.
May Jeremiah be realizing that because God won the victory over his will, that he now understands the God of Israel as a fierce, mighty and awesome God that will accomplish His will, in the righteous first and then the unrighteous? God will win in the righteous one’s heart as with Jeremiah. God will also win (in some manner) with those who fight against God. If those who are against God will not willingly accept the will of God, they to will come to understand that God is a fierce warrior, a dread fear inducing warrior. He is not a negotiating God.
It is to the benefit of all to understand that God is a dread warrior, that He is a warrior for our benefit, though it is often a painful process. May we see Him as the Dread Warrior for our souls, for our lives, for our good, and for His glory.
I am glad I faced this verse, this name of God, and this fear I had. He is a Dread Warrior, fighting for us, and not against us.
May His name be honored in our lives.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
John 17:12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 18:9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”
Was Judas lost or did Jesus keep all his disciples?
It just didn’t make sense for me, and, as a paradox is wont to do, it took me outside of my usual way of thinking.
In John 17:12, Jesus speaks of the loss of Judas, the son of destruction. One chapter later, Jesus states that He has not lost one that the Father gave Him.
Is this confusing? Is this a difficulty in my initial understanding? I think so, and as such, I would like to try to explain how this paradox, this seeming contradiction, is resolved in my thoughts.
Some of the fog lifted when I considered the verse in chapter 17, when Jesus speaks of Judas being lost. This is the same word we have seen when we looked at the word “perish” in John 3:16. For a refresher, check an earlier post called Perishing in Eternal Torment.
The term “lost” used by Jesus when referring to Judas, may be translated in many ways, but does not have to mean perishing in eternal torment. A good example of the broadness of this term’s meaning may be found in Luke 21:18, Jesus speaks of one hair being lost.
Luke 21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
This is the same term Jesus used when speaking of Judas. It can mean anything from simple loss, death, suffering or destruction. But it does not always imply suffering unending eternal torment, which is what I typically understand when I read John 17:12. I always read it that Judas must be perishing, lost to hell, and forever without any hope.
I do not know what happened to Judas after the tossing of the coins back at the priests, other than his self destruction in the potters field. His physical death could very well be considered his act of being lost in and of itself.
I suppose what I am trying to explain is that in John 17:12, Jesus said Judas was the son of destruction, and that he had been lost. Judas was the son of destruction in that he followed through with this characteristic of destruction upon his own life.
Yet in John 18:9, Jesus states that He lost not one. Is there a different level Jesus is speaking of, in that the physical life Judas sacrificed was not the keeping Jesus spoke of.
One very interesting side note, is that both of these verses speak of Judas and the situation he existed in, as being part of the fulfillment of God’s Word.
It was the fulfillment of Scripture that Judas had been lost, (John 17:12), and the fulfillment of the Word of Jesus when He spoke “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one” (John 18:9). Judas was a key in the fulfillment of God’s Word.
In summary, Judas’ lostness may be referring to his early demise, his self inflicted destruction, and the statement of the Lord which He spoke as Judas was in the crowd in the garden, that not one of his followers were lost may include the thought of Judas’ eventual restoration.
Nevertheless, these two verses are worthy of considering, and if you have a different take on this paradox, please do not hesitate to reach out and let me know.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
ABRAHAM
SACRIFICER
Genesis 22:10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
Hebrews 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
We are looking at the character of Abraham is relation the sacrificing for God. There are multiple passages where Abraham made sacrifice but I have chosen the greatest sacrifice he sought to provide His God for our text to review this time.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice his Son, and we often, rightly so, consider Abraham to be a type for God the Father. There is some room to consider Abraham to be a type of Jesus in this passage also, for as we consider Hebrews 10:12, notice that Jesus Himself offered a single sacrifice. He was acting as the One making the sacrifice, very similar to Abraham.
Upon this offering on the altar, He not only made the sacrifice, He was the sacrifice. This is too much for me to comprehend, and yet the Word speaks of this dual activity by the Master.
So not only was He the sacrifice, He was the Sacrificer, and proved to be the Greater than Abraham even in Abraham’s greatest sacrifice!
He is beyond comprehension, when considered in light of the Word’s testimony of His life and death, His love and grace to us, and His commitment to the Will of God!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
108
DOOR OF THE SHEEP
John 10:7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
In our last post, we spoke of a general message presented when the term “door” is mentioned. We looked at the fact that a door represents an opening to an area or place that would otherwise be restricted.
The same is true with this descriptor of God, and without repeating myself, I would like to consider the aspect of the sheep in this description of our God.
But before that, note that Jesus is very restrictive here in His self Description. No other way into the sheepfold other than Him. He is the Door. But He is the Door for the sheep.
He had just finished explaining His identity of being the Good Shepherd, and repeats the general teaching, modifying it to represent himself as the door of the sheep. His earlier teaching spoke of the sheep having entered and leaving the sheepfold (vs 3) so this passage isn’t necessarily speaking of a salvation experience, but of maintaining a relationship with God through Jesus. The Sheep follow Jesus, they know His name, and they enter their safe environment through His person.
He is the Good Shepherd leading the sheep and the Access/Door through which the sheep enter into the sheepfold, a safe environment for the sheep.
The Lord peppers throughout His message the dangers of strangers, thieves and robbers attacking the sheep. His Self description typifies His saving nature for His people.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
Our next set of names (#4 through #22) are considered His compound names, which typically uses His primary name and attaches a specific descriptor to it. These are the names that originally got me chasing this topic, and now it has developed into a much bigger study than the original intent, but I digress, for I have already mentioned this!
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly was a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
107
DOOR OF FAITH
Acts 14:27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Our next two names or descriptions of God speak of a door. Although obvious, it may be good to consider what a door is.
A door is an opening. An opening to a specific area or place that cannot be entered without use of this door. A door implies walls (or restrictions of some type) everywhere else, walls that restrict one from entering an area or place. A door can also be temporarily closed to restrict from entry into an area or place.
The Jewish church was gathering, and hearing reports of the missionaries journeys and adventures, and the news was huge! God has provided a door to the Gentiles.
Gentiles were becoming believers! No mention of the Gentiles becoming Jews though, for the message was that they were not being circumcised, or that they were building synagogues, or that there was a need for teachers of the Torah.
No – the message was as simple as it was radical. They were entering into the family of disciples, the family of God through a door of faith!
God was not providing them any other way into the family other than through the Door of Faith. No other way than through faith in the Risen Son of God. No other door is mentioned of. The only door was the door of faith, and this door of faith, is the crucified and risen Savior.
He is the Only Way, the Only Door!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Matthew 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Is it hard or easy? In Matthew 7:14, Jesus speaks of the way as being hard, and yet in Matthew 11:30, He encourages us by stating the yoke is easy.
It just didn’t make sense for me, and, as a paradox is wont to do, it took me outside of my usual way of thinking.
Is it hard or easy?
First off, lets take a moment to consider what a “way” is, and after we understand this, we can compare Matthew 11:30 with our understanding of His yoke.
A “way” is a road, a path, a track, a route or a course upon which one travels from point A to point B. Each and every day, we are experiencing opportunities to choose different “ways”, or paths to an end result or place. Each and every person has these opportunities.
What I have come to realize is that without an end goal clearly identified in my mind, I will always choose the easy way, the way of no difficulty, the way of no confrontation, the way of no conflict, the way of no problems. The easy way. So you see, if I have no goal, no problems! The way is easy, not hard!
Jesus, in this passage of Matthew 7, is speaking of a principled life, of the difficulty of living a life that has a goal. Not just any goal, but one that is focused on the narrow gate, the path that leads to life.
In Matthew 11:30, I believe He is now focusing His disciples (and us) on the specific goal of a believers life. Matthew 7 speaks of a general goal and the hardness of the path to get to life. It doesn’t speak of the motivation, the strength, the guidance of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus that is with us in travelling the hard path.
We must admit that if we have come to understand the proper goal, that is to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, the path will be difficult. The path, to be blunt, will be impossible! We are weak, crippled people that have the pension to wander, to be distracted, to fall off the path.
In Matthew 11:30, Jesus is providing Himself. It is no longer a teaching of the path, but of the One who carries us along the path, and of the character of the Savior.
As we come to know Him as the gentle and lowly Servant, we recognize many of the hardships along the hard path are taken up by Him. He is good, and we desperately need to consider His invitation
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The path is hard, but the burdens of the path are lightened by our Servant Savior!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
ABRAHAM
UNIVERSAL BLESSINGS
Genesis 12:2-3 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Galatians 3:14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Abraham was a channel of blessing to the nation of Israel, in that he was the father of the nation, and was the friend of God, establishing a relationship that the nation of Israel has depended on most of their existence.
He became a divider of the nations, in that any who blessed Abraham would be blessed, and any who cursed Abraham would be cursed. Two groups of nations, based on the reception they had to Abraham.
Yet as we read this passage, it is important to notice that the blessing is personal, not necessarily national. Some may think, as I used to, that if a nation acted favorably to the nation of Israel, those of the physical family of Abraham, it would have the blessing of God. This may be true, but I am not sure this verse specifically states that.
It is a personal promise of a person blessing Abraham, or cursing Abraham. Sure, Abraham will become a great nation, but it is the singular person that this promise refers to. This positive attitude towards Abraham opens up a “blank check” type of promise from God of an undefined general blessing. Reread the verses and consider!
Is it not even truer for the Lord Jesus. One person’s attitude toward the Lord Jesus opens up untold blessings, greater than we can imagine, and as Galatians states, this blessing that was through Abraham can be found in Christ Jesus.
Abraham was a conduit for blessing from God, but once Jesus Christ the Lord lived and died for us, even resurrecting three days later, the conduit of Abraham for blessing from God was no longer needed, for all blessings may only be found in the Messiah.
Consider the difference.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
106
DIVINE BEING
Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
Paul is addressing the men of Athens, having arrived there directly from Berea, an area where Paul was challenged with every teaching he provided by his audience checking the Word, to see if his teaching aligned with their authorities.
Arriving in Athens, his audience is not of the Jewish flavor, but of the Athenian philosophy bent, an audience that was not steeped in Jewish law but in human reasoning and philosophy. He doesn’t have a foundation of Old Testament understanding in the audience to teach from, so he uses what connection he can find with these men, and builds his message from there. There is wisdom in this approach for our use!
He speaks of his travels within the city, and refers to idols that have been constructed, especially an idol to the unknown god, and he latches onto this to begin his teaching. Note that he does not condemn these people for idolatry. Something to remember as we share the gospel with those in our world!
Foundational logic, the language of the philosopher, was being used for the sake of communicating to the audience, speaking of the creator God as necessary for their worldview, and then their own philosophy to leverage the audiences thoughts to a personal God.
“In him we live and move and have our being” is likely a portion of a poem by the Cretan poet Epimenides, and “For we are indeed his offspring.” is taken from a poet by the name of Aratus. Both of these authorities would have been well known to the audience and made a connection for them with Paul’s thoughts.
Logically speaking, if these poets message, generally accepted by the audience, the outcome would be there is a God out there that is not created as an idol is, but is a being. There would be similarities to human beings, but this God would of course be divine. as an extension of this argument, based on their very own accepted teaching, a greater being than us has to be present, has to exist.
Paul uses “divine” to introduce this God to the audience, for he is trying to build a logical connection for the audience of a personal God that exists. For the Greek philosopher, to refer to a divine being is similar to our cultural understanding of the same. Generally a very nebulous descriptor other than being greater than us.
Paul does not let the audience think “generally” about this god for long, for immediately, after laying a foundation of connection for the Greek audience of a living God, he introduces judgement on their ignorance (not idolatry) and a call to repent. And the basis of this judgment and call to repentance is a Man who has risen from the dead.
Paul presents a lot of specific doctrine to the audience after establishing the existence of the Divine Being!
The Divine Being is a patient God, overlooking ignorance, a God who expects repentance upon information provided, a God who is righteous, a God who will judge the world properly, a God that supplies facts, for He has not only appointed a specific Man to perform the judgement, but has provided a series of eye witness historical occurrences backing up the claim of the resurrection of this Judge. He has given assurance of the Judge’s identity by the resurrection!
Upon the resurrection news, the audience split. A Divine Being who raises a man from the dead was unheard of, and this teaching cannot be the result of simple logic or reasoning. To go from a Divine Being to a Judge (Jesus Christ) raised from the dead requires repentance and FAITH, not simply logical reasoning only. Some in the audience were not ready to explore this line of reasoning!
But the true Divine Being has raised Jesus from the dead. The audiences response is like that of today. Open to hearing more, or mockery.
Are you open to hearing more?
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
105
DISTINGUISHED AMONG TEN THOUSAND
Song of Songs 5:10 [She] My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.
To be honest with you, I find the Song of Solomon rich in descriptive names for the Lord, much richer than I first imagined, and I am thankful for this study that I have the privilege to consider the names and descriptions of our God from the Word.
This particular name speaks of a quantity, and as you may remember, I leaned to a woodenly literal interpretation of the Word for many years, having been influenced by a modern interpretation of eschatology.
Nevertheless, this passage would have brought to mind a group of men, specifically 10,000, of which her beloved would be the fairest, would be distinguished within that group. How foolish to force my technical mindset on this poetic expression of wonder.
Her lover is the most distinguished of all. The note of ten thousand was essentially the same as someone in our our society speaking of trillions, or even a googol (ten duotrigintillion). Sorry – I slipped into my tech head again!
This poor farm girl was elevating her lover to the highest honor. You see, to be distinguished is to be raised above others, to be eminent, celebrated or well known based on past achievements. This poor farm girl, that had caught Solomons eye, must have thought of the king as out of this world.
As the church, we have a King that is so much more than simply an earthly ruler, but who truly is out of this world, has been given all authority, who is resurrected, never to die again, and that truly is raised above all contenders for the title of distinguished!
He is DISTINGUISHED AMONG (more than) TEN DUOTRIGINTILLION!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Two verses arrest my reading of this passage when considering conditional security. Both of these verses employ the English word destroy. Lets take a look at these verses for a few minutes.
15 For if your brother is grieved …By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
“Destroy” in verse 15, is the Greek word ἀπόλλυμιapóllymi. I have provided a survey of this word through the New Testament in an earlier post (See Perishing in Eternal Torment). In that post I tried to correct my then current understanding of perishing, as this is one of the ways apóllymi is translated.
Paul is speaking in verse 15 of our walk of love towards those for whom Christ died. The general context is that of mature believers behavior for the sake of the immature, those who may still require foundational stability in their walk with the Master.
Is Paul describing a hypothetical situation where a mature believer impacts a young convert by his actions (fueled by a mature understanding of the gospel and it’s impacts on our lives!), and the result would be that the young convert would walk away from Christ? That in the young believers decision to walk away, (based on the behavior of the mature believer), this young believer would be destroyed? Is this what Paul is saying?
Let us move on to the second verse we find “destroy” in this passage.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
In verse 15, we find the one destroyed as “one for whom Christ died”. Here Paul associated this destruction with the work of God. Different? Possibly. I tend to think Paul is referring to a singular believer and his response due to the mature believers behavior that is questionable in the young converts life.
Nevertheless, this “destroy” is a different word than in verse 15. In verse 20, Paul uses the Greek word “καταλύωkatalýō“. This term is translated as destroy (obviously) but also has the meaning of to subvert or overthrow, to render vain or to deprive of success.
What are we to make of this difference? Whatever the finer points of the different words, it is obvious to me that as a mature believer I need to consider my behavior when near younger believers.
For a younger believer to be influenced by my allowed actions, to a point of destruction, is a perilous situation for not only the younger believer, but also for myself. When the outcome of my allowed behavior is translated by others to their harm, I am not walking in love.
For the immature believer to be grieved (v15) or to stumble (v 20) by my actions, (though they may be perfectly allowed before God), is a restriction that I should thoughtfully and willingly take on as a light burden. We should remember that the Lord continues to take on our misunderstandings, errors and confusion in order to grow us.
As Paul so aptly states in verse 16
.. do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.
Let’s be a bit more like the Master today, and consider those who need a model of service and not be a master of my own circumstances only.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
104
DISCLOSURER OF THE PURPOSE OF OUR HEARTS
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
What a wonderfully scary blessing we find in this verse. Scary? Yes if you read it the way I expect Paul to write it!
You know ..”each one will receive his condemnation from God” You know – He will disclose the purposes of our heart! How could He not condemn us!
No no no – the text says commendation, which granted, it does sounds like the word I expected, but has such a different message associated with it.
This verse, though describing hidden things being revealed and purposes of the heart being disclosed, does not go to the naturally expected message of judgement and condemnation, but is a grace filled promise of commendation from the very One who will reveal hidden things, even the purposes of our hearts!
And yet we know that He currently knows the things hidden in darkness, and He currently knows the purposes of our hearts! So what is Paul trying to teach us and the Corinthians?
Only that this revealing of our hidden things, and the revealing of our hearts purposes to us will only increase our love for Him, our understanding of the depth of our position before Him, of our stability before Him, of understanding His deep commitment of grace to us.
He truly is One who is beyond our understanding! How can He be so full of grace and yet continue to exhibit acts of constant grace, grace upon grace!
May His name be praised, and lifted up!
He commends those who do not deserve to know Him and yet He finds opportunity to commend us!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
103
DEW TO ISRAEL
Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
The prophet Hosea had a tough calling, not only in speaking truth to power, but his own personal life was laden with sorrow, humiliation and heartbreak.
Of course each heartbreak that Hosea experienced represented the heartbreak God suffered as his wife lived a life of adultery, turning to idols instead of the true God.
With this background of pain and disappointment being experienced by Hosea, and more so by God, we come to a passage in Hosea that speaks of the dew to Israel. Some translations refer to this wetness as a night mist, and it is that moisture that resides on the ground after a cool night, with the humidity falling out of the air and settling gently on the ground, the grass and the leaves of the foliage.
Yes, the dew can be explained by the hydrological cycle, but to experience it is another matter. My wife and I have a small home north of us where we go to escape, and the grass is longer, wilder, and (in my opinion) greener than anywhere else I know. In the early mornings, after a scorching hot day before, the night mist settles, and as the sun comes up, glistens on the droplets. It is a sight for the tired and weary, showing the beauty of God’s creation.
God is describing Himself as a dew for Israel, even though they have broken His heart, disobeyed His will and acted the adulterous wife. His dew is refreshing, cooling, beautiful and undeserved.
Yet that is the God we serve.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
1 Corinthians 2:15 – The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
1 Corinthians 6:2 – …do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
Are we to judge or not? (I tend to lean toward one side of this seeming contradiction)
It just didn’t make sense for me, and, as a paradox is wont to do, it took me outside of my usual way of thinking.
Matthew 7:1 is one of the most quoted verses of the Bible in our culture, and is used to disarm Christians in virtually every situation, saying Jesus commanded us to “Judge NOT”. And we should take this, along with every word of Jesus very seriously, but we need to try to understand what he meant and not necessarily what some may have wanted Him to say.
You see, in Matthew 7:1, when Jesus commanded followers to “judge not”, He was using a word for judge that is associated with condemnation. It is the same word found in the famous verses of John 3 – which is next to the most quoted verse in the Bible – John 3:16.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Jesus mission was not to condemn, and so it should be with believers.
Ok Carl, then what about the other verses that tell believers they are to judge, like the two verses above found in 1 Corinthians?
It helps me to differentiate the two general commands by remembering that we are not to condemn, yet we are discern.
A good example would be if my neighbor was telling me he never drinks alcohol, and yet I see him in the bars on Friday and Saturday night, I can rightly discern (judge) that he is a liar, and possibly a drunk!
What I cannot do is to condemn him, judge him as unworthy of the gospel, either by ignoring what I see (not hear) or by rejecting him, assuming I am better than him.
The difference is critical, for we are to discern the environment we live in, the people we associate with and the lives we ourselves live, and yet we are to always seek the good of others, not condemning any one, for that is the Lord’s prerogative only!
Be wise as serpents (discerning!)
Be innocent as doves. (non judgy!)
As I mentioned at the start, I imagine you understand where I tend to end up in this paradox, for I have often taken to using the gavel on those around me, building walls, making myself feel good, and ending up lonely. Not the choice of the wise!
What side do you prefer?
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion
