Category Archives: Jesus & The Gospel

The Book That Reads You

Posted on May 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have often heard the quote concerning the Bible, which says, “this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”

If I were to be really honest here, in my shallow faith I always thought this was a relatively dumb saying. There is no way reading a book would control my actions or vice-versa. Sure, reading books shape the mind, but such an absolute statement seemed completely impossible no matter what the book was. This opinion, however, is challenged and changed a little more every time I do get into the Bible and experience it’s power for myself.

If we’re honest, Christians oftentimes say things about the Bible that don’t make sense to non-Christians. Particularly we say things like “it is the Word of God” or “the sword of the Lord,” and that it is “a living book.” Now, we say all this, even though we know that the Bible wasn’t some completed scroll that was handed down from Heaven one day in some mystical setting as the voice of God declared it His instruction manual for life. In fact, we have quite a bit of history recorded, showing that it was penned by various writers over a large period of time in geographically diverse places, nd at the end of the day, we even know that books cannot be alive in the same sense that we as people are alive. We aren’t as crazy as some might think.

For the believer, though, these saying, even though they don’t sound logical, tend to prove true when we actually engage with the Bible.

For those who don’t know, what Christians mean when we say that the Bible is alive and that it will keep us from sin is that out of all the books on the planet, it is the only one that has the Holy Spirit of God confirming it’s truthfulness and testifying to it’s description of reality.

This is demonstrated for the individual in the fact that when a person goes to read the Bible what usually happens is that by the power of God’s Spirit, the Bible reads them instead. In fact, the Bible itself says that looking into the scriptures is like looking into a mirror as it shows us who we are. A wise person walks away and remembers who they are, living out what the scriptures revealed, but a foolish person walks away and forgets who God says they are. (James 1:22-25)

Now of course, for you to find any of  this to be true, you can’t take my words for it. No matter what I say here, you can hold the same opinion that I used to, and think I am just talking a lot of religious talk. However, if you will begin to engage with the Bible regularly – daily – you will find out from your own experience that all of this is true.

For me personally, it isn’t always when I spend time in the Bible that these facts are confirmed, but oftentimes it is revealed in my commitment to spend time in the Bible immediately followed by my avoiding the Bible. The desire will be there, “but first let me just…” This statement can be followed by hours of doing everything else I could possibly find to do whether it’s work, or Facebook, or running errands, or watching T.V.

I always know that the desire to engage is God drawing me in, wanting to spend time with his son, but at the same time I look at myself and know that something isn’t right in my life, and I don’t know that I want the Bible to pull it out and lay it bare. In fact, to make myself feel better, I can easily turn to other Christian books or turn on worship music that are affirming and will make me feel like everything is great. But in the end, no matter how good I feel, when it comes to opening up the Bible and letting it read me in the presence of God, it is always one of the hardest things for me to just sit down and do.

The best comparison to this feeling that I can find is in Genesis 3 when God comes to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had sinned and calls out to the humans, but they are hiding in their shame. Too often we treat the Bible and our prayer life the same way. We know God is there wanting to meet with us, but we just don’t want to face him. That is why our sin will keep us from the Bible.

The reality is, though, that Jesus died for our sins even before the first one was ever committed and that God loves us today, just the way we are. This is what we find in the pages of scripture. Not condemnation, but forgiveness in the face of our sinfulness. We find freedom in dependance on God, and when we do, that is what will keep us from sin.

This is where Christian maturity begins: not hiding in our shame, but accepting His grace in our best moments AND our worst moments.

So are you up for the challenge?

You know that God is drawing you in, wanting to speak to you through His word, and to engage with you in the most intimate way possible. But it’s your move. Will you meet Him there as He calls, or will you keep hiding in the bushes in shame?

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Life in the Book of Acts – Part 3

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

For the last couple of weeks I have been sharing my observations of characteristics and experiences had by the Christians in the book of Acts. If you have missed them, be sure to read part 1 and part 2. And then today, to close it out, here is the final section of the book of Acts, covering chapters 21-28.

The Christians:

  • sought out other disciples while visiting new towns — 21:4,7
  • prayed together, for one another — 21:5
  • prophesied, even women — 21:9
  • were warned of danger in advance by the Holy Spirit — 21:4, 10-11
  • were ready to die for the name of Christ — 21:13
  • shared testimonies and rejoiced in stories of salvation — 21:19-20
  • took on religious vows — 21:23-26
  • caused city-wide uprisings — 21:30-36
  • used personal testimony to share the gospel — 22:1-21, 26:4-29
  • saw their testimonies rejected as false — 22:18, 22
  • were appointed by God for Christian life and ministry — 22:14-15
  • fell into trances in the Spirit — 22:17
  • utilized privileges of earthly citizenships — 22:24-29
  • were visited by Christ, post-ascension — 23:11
  • were plotted against to be murdered — 23:12-14
  • took “pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man” — 24:16
  • had the ear of government leaders without exploiting it — 24:22-27
  • professed the resurrection publicly, even in court — 25:19, 26:6-8
  • were found guiltless by governing judges — 25:6, 26:31-32
  • heard the voice of Jesus – 26:14-18
  • believed the Gospel fulfilled Old Testament prophecies — 26:22-23, 28:23-24
  • made life-altering decisions that could have been viewed as mistakes if it wasn’t for God’s directing them — 26:32 in light of 23:11
  • had divine insights — 27:10-11, 31-32
  • still faced the same difficulties through life as unbelievers did — 27:13-20
  • delivered good news through divine insights — 27:22
  • were visited by angels — 27:23-24
  • were protected from physical danger by non-believers — 27:42-43
  • defied pagan superstitions — 28:4-6
  • healed non-believers — 28:8-9
  • used persecution and imprisonment testimonies to share the gospel — 28:17-22
  • welcomed all visitors, even in the midst of trials — 28:30
  • proclaimed the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ with boldness — 28:31

So, after reading through these three posts on life in the book of Acts, what stands out to you the most? Has anything been especially encouraging or caused you to open the Bible and see for yourself? Have I missed anything you think should be added to the list? And maybe, if there is there anything in particular that causes you to want pursue God in a deeper walk with Him or seek for a more spiritually empowered life, be sure to share those things in the comments.

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Life in the Book of Acts – Part 2

Posted on May 1, 2012 | 2 Comments

Last week we began looking through the book of Acts at the characteristics that marked believers and the things they experienced as they followed the Holy Spirit in this new life, then known as “The Way.”

As I have continued in this study in my personal time, it became clear to me that two posts would not be enough to contain it all, so this week we will look at Acts 15-20, and will close out the book next week starting with Paul’s return to Jerusalem, his arrest and the journey to a Roman prison.

As I said last week, not all the things I mention here applied to all believers, and some were not repeated again in scripture. Yet it is still helpful to us to know how our God has moved among His church in the past because though times change, He remains the same.

In Acts 15-20, the Christians:

  • Were still seduced by the law — 15:1
  • Did not always agree on the application of some scriptures — 15:2,5
  • Took joy in the salvation testimony of others — 15:3
  • Submitted to apostolic authority — 15:6-11, 19-21
  • Refused to put heavy burdens on new believers/non-Jewish believers — 15:10-11
  • Believed in salvation by Grace alone — 15:11; 18:27
  • Submitted to scriptural authority — 15:15-18
  • Encouraged one another through human means (writing letters) — 15:31
  • Encouraged one another through supernatural means (prophecy) — 15:32
  • Saw ministries split over personal preferences — 15:39
  • Acted contrary to personal liberties for the sake of other’s consciences — 16:3
  • Were sometimes forbidden by God to share to gospel — 16:6-7
  • Received instruction through visions — 16:9-10; 18:9-10
  • Were committed to prayer — 16:13
  • Observed Sabbath rest — 16:13
  • Baptized new converts with water in Jesus’ name — 16:14-15; 19:5
  • Showed great hospitality — 16:15
  • Were followed around by the demonic — 16:16-18
  • Cast out demons — 16:18
  • Upset human economics — 16:18-20
  • Upset local governments — 16:20-22; 17:6-8
  • Were arrested, beaten, and jailed — 16:22-24
  • Worshipped through their trials — 16:25
  • Utilized the privileges they had in earthly citizenships — 16:36-39
  • Upset the Jewish religious leaders, and were followed around and opposed by them — 17:5,13; 18:12-13; 20;19
  • Did not always face controversy head-on — 17:10; 19:30-31
  • Proclaimed the Gospel from the Old Testament — 17:11-12; 18:5, 28
  • Were provoked to action by viewing the idolatry of others — 17:16-21
  • Utilized local culture (art, poetry, folklore) to proclaim truth — 17:23,28
  • Worked to provide for the continuation of the ministry — 18:3-4
  • Were “occupied with the Word” — 18:5
  • Did not take rejection of the Gospel personally — 18:6
  • Were encouraged by God to press on in the mission — 18:9-11
  • Took on religious vows — 18:18
  • Proclaimed the Gospel in established religious arenas — 17:1-2, 10, 19; 18:19; 19;8
  • Strengthened one another as disciples — 18:23
  • Received baptism in the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands — 19:2-6
  • Preached the Kingdom of God boldly — 19:8
  • Were spoken evil of by non-believers — 19:9
  • Spread the Gospel across Asia — 19:10
  • Performed miracles — 19:11
  • Healed and delivered people from demons through inanimate objects that had only touched the believer — 19:12
  • Were mimicked in attempts at power by non-believers — 19:13
  • Were known by name in the demonic realm (for the threat they posed) — 19:15
  • Confessed their false spirituality (witchcraft) and burned the remnants of it — 19:18-19
  • Turned people from handmade idols — 19:26
  • Threatened national idolatry — 19:27
  • Caused riots in whole cities — 19:28-41
  • Preached long sermons (too long?) — 20:7,9
  • Raised the dead — 20:9-10
  • “Served the Lord with humility and with tears” — 20:19
  • Taught the Gospel publicly — 20:20
  • Taught the Gospel in homes — 20:20
  • Expected affliction — 20:23
  • Declared the whole counsel of God — 20:27
  • Expected wolves to come from within the flock — 20:29-30
  • Tried to live like Jesus — 20:35
  • Prayed together for one another — 20:36

(Click here for Part 3)

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Life in the Book of Acts – Part 1

Posted on April 24, 2012 | 5 Comments

Lately I have been spending a lot of time in the book of Acts, just making observations in my journal of the characteristics that marked believers and the things they experienced as they followed the Holy Spirit in this new life.

In this post I share my findings from the first half of the book of Acts. Not all the things I mention here applied to all believers, and some were not repeated again in scripture. Nevertheless, these things are recorded as part of our “family” history. This is the start of the story of the church.

As I share these characteristics this week and next week, I hope you are encouraged to trust more in Christ, to strive for a bolder obedience, and that your faith will increase to see Him move mightily. (Also, if in your own study of Acts, you find anything that I missed, please share it in the comments.)

Here we go.

In Acts 1-14, the Christians:

  • wait on God’s promises, especially for the baptism of the Holy Spirit — 1:4
  • receive power from the Holy Spirit in order to be Christ’s witnesses — 1:8
  • spread the Gospel beyond cultural and national boundaries — 1:8; 11:16-17, 19-21; 12:24; 13:4 to end of Acts
  • are unified together — 1:14; 4:32
  • are devoted to prayer — 1:14; 2:42
  • are filled with the Holy Spirit, both Jewish and gentile converts — 2:4; 10:44-45; 11:16-17
  • are given the ability by the Holy Spirit to speak in tongues — 2:4; 10:46
  • are given the ability to prophesy, dream dreams, and receive visions by the Holy Spirit — 2:17-18; 11:27-28; 13:1-2
  • come under conviction that leads to repentance — 2:37-38
  • sit under spiritual authority (apostles and church elders) — 2:42; 14:23
  • are devoted to fellowship (church community) — 2:42
  • take the Lord’s Supper together regularly — 2:42
  • are in awe of God — 2:43
  • share all their possessions to the point that no one lacks anything — 2:44-45; 4:32-37
  • healed the sick and performed miracles in the name of Jesus (this includes both apostles and non-apostles) — 3:6,16; 4:10, 30; 6:8; 14:8-10
  • were refreshed by the presence of the Lord — 3:20
  • kept getting into trouble with the Jewish religious leaders — 4:1-3
  • feared God more than men — 4:19-20; 5:21, 29; 13:51-52
  • sought God for boldness and received it — 4:29,31
  • continued to be tempted toward sin — 5:1-3
  • still struggled with fear of men — 5:13
  • healed people simply by walking by them — 5:15-16
  • were protected and delivered by angels for God’s mission – 5:19; 12:6-11
  • caused problems for the Jewish religious leaders — 5:26
  • “filled Jerusalem with their teaching” — 5:28
  • rejoiced in suffering and persecution — 5:41-42
  • were continually making more disciples — 6:1; 14:21
  • saw Jewish religious leaders converted — 6:7
  • did not separate the Old Testament from the gospel — 7:1-53
  • were persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, stoned, and killed for their faith — 8:1-3; 12:1-5; 13:50; 14:5-6, 19
  • used signs and wonders to confirm the Gospel message — 8:6; 13:12; 14:3
  • received instructions from angels — 8:26
  • received instructions from the Holy Spirit — 8:29
  • were physically “transported” from location to location by the spirit — 8:39-40
  • were known by their way of life; called people of “the way” — 9:2
  • were saved through visions of Christ — 9:5-6
  • were led through visions to lead others to Christ — 9:10-12
  • were obedient to the Lord and it was met with the miraculous — 9:10-19
  • enlightened the religiously educated by their faith in Christ — 9:22
  • were reconciled with their enemies — 9:26-28
  • used miraculous means for evangelism — 9:32-35
  • were “full of good works and charity” — 9:36; 11:29-30
  • received faith through prayer then commanded reality to follow — 9:40
  • raised the dead back to life — 9:40
  • were set up with divine appointments for evangelism by the Holy Spirit (even to the point that the lost were seeking out the Christians) — 10:1-48
  • went into trances led by the Holy Spirit — 10:10
  • saw ‘truth in action’ through visions from God — 10:10-17, 28
  • received visions that were very specific; not vague (even to the point that in some instances they confused reality for visions) — 10:30-33; (12:9)
  • always shared a “Jesus-as-the-Jewish-Messiah” apologetic — 10:34-43; 13:13-41
  • followed salvation with water baptism — 10:47-48
  • were criticized by those believers still bound to the law — 11:1-3
  • were unified through revelations of the Holy Spirit — 11:1-18
  • began to be called Christians at Antioch — 11:26
  • received miraculous answers to prayer –12:5, 12-17
  • upset the government by following God’s directions — 12:18-19
  • saw God curse and/or kill those who were against Him — 5:1-10; 12:20-23; 13:11
  • sought God through fasting alongside prayer — 13:3; 14:23
  • rebuked those who stood in the way of the Gospel — 13:9
  • were confused with gods because of God’s power in them — 14:11-13
  • refused to receive for themselves the glory due to God alone — 14:14-18
  • were followed from place to place by those antagonistic to the Gospel — 14:19

(Click here for Part 2)

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How to Live Tax-Free

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” (Matthew 17:24-27)

While reading this passage in Matthew, my mind focused in on Jesus’ question to Peter: “From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons, or from others?”

With this being the final week of tax season, I thought Jesus’ teachings may be relevant. However, knowing that Jesus’ teaching to the disciples always focus on the Kingdom of God, I knew the point wasn’t whether or not to pay taxes to the government (sorry…), but rather, it was to get Peter thinking about the way God’s Kingdom works. So, while many of you last-minute-people scramble to get your taxes filed, the question in my mind is, what would be the taxes required of men by Heaven?

As I prayed about this, the only requirement to “pay heaven” that I know of is the Old Testament tithe. This was a legal requirement on the nation of Israel and when they did not fulfill this requirement, they were accused of “robbing God” (Malachi 3:8). So then, the tithe might possibly be viewed as the King of Creation, taxing those who live in His Kingdom.

The distinction in Jesus words, then, comparing things with earthly kingdoms, becomes the fact that sons of the King don’t pay taxes. This is because, as heirs, they already own everything in the kingdom. The same is true with God’s Kingdom as well. We are heirs to it all when we are adopted as Sons through faith in God.

Peasants paying taxes to the Kingdom for the rights He affords them, is different than the Sons of the King owning everything, yet using their resources to advance the Kingdom onward.

What this means for the Christian is that God, our Father, doesn’t want us to simply pay our tithes or give our offerings out of a religious sense of duty like paying taxes to the government. It certainly doesn’t work as if we are paying the heavenly government’s fees in order to receive some kind of spiritual social security or medicare. Rather, as the Sons and Daughters of the Kingdom, everything we have is to be stewarded so that the building of the Kingdom continues.

This means that our giving comes from a heart of love, and will often exceed well beyond a “legally required” ten percent. It means, that like Christ, we are willing to give all we have and all we are that the mission continues on.

Sonship means that the mission of the Kingdom falls on us – time, effort, and finances. If we don’t feel that responsibility, then perhaps our Sonship is what should be in question, not our heart for charity.

So this year, as you ‘render unto Caesar’ what belongs to him, don’t forget to give God what is His: yourself.

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Because He Lives, We Live!

Posted on April 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

(This is Part 3 of my Easter Weekend series. Click to read Part 1 and Part 2)

This is it. This is the day on which all of eternity shifts. Easter. Resurrection Day. Death is defeated. Jesus lives!

As I have meditated on the resurrection, I am reminded of Peter and John standing before the High Priest of Israel giving account for a lame man being healed. Peter’s simple explanation was, “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.” (Acts 4:10)

That wasn’t just the explanation for the lame man, though. It is, in fact, what every Christian on earth and now in heaven celebrates today. Peter isn’t just telling the story of the lame beggar. It is the story of us all. That is why the prophecy was given hundreds of years before,

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 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.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)

On Friday we celebrated the fact that Jesus took our sins to the grave. Yesterday we saw what it would be like to live in uncertainty with the disciples. Today we celebrate the fact that now, as Jesus rose from the grave, so too in Him we now live.

New life. Freedom from all bondage. Healed. Delivered. Redeemed. In the resurrection of Christ is the death of death for those who believe in Him by faith.

My fear is that this is the point of Easter that too many of us miss: not that we have forgiveness of sins, but that in the resurrection we really do get raised to live a new life now.

When Jesus walked out of that tomb alive it was the start of the restoration of God’s creation.

For the next forty days Jesus stayed with His disciples instructing them on how they are to live now, continuing what He began. Shortly after Jesus ascends to Heaven, God fulfills His promise by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell permanently with all believers, empowering them to live the renewed lives possible in Christ.

This is why what immediately follows the Gospels is the book of Acts. The church begins to turn the world upside down. The disciples, who yesterday were in hiding, worried what would come next, are now preaching Christ to thousands and standing their ground in the face of the religious authority who tell them to stop. Persecution soon comes, but that only multiplies the effect of this message. When God brings the dead to life, what can stop them? And that’s exactly what has happened in us. We were dead, but He has made us live.

Sadly, too many Christians still go through life defeated. Hopeless. Addicted to sin. Just waiting to get to heaven when it will all get better. But Believer, THAT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE NOW!

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

Today, if  you live in Christ then it’s time to come out of your grave.

At the site of the empty tomb, the angel spoke to the women, saying, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:5-6)

The living have no place among the dead. In the same way:

“What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?… Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14 and 7:1)

This is our day, Christian. New life is ours. Let’s believe God and take it for all it’s worth!

What stench of death still clings to you? By that I mean what sin do you still struggle with on a daily basis, or what bondage is holding you back from who Christ is asking you to be?

This Easter take whatever that thing is, show it the empty tomb, and leave it behind. God gave you the right to be an overcomer, and sent His Spirit to empower you to do so.

Easter is the ultimate day of victory for the Christian. Today, go after God, and accept that victory as your own.

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The Darkest Day in Christian History

Posted on April 7, 2012 | 2 Comments

(This is part 2 of my Easter Weekend series. Click here for part 1.)

Put yourself in the place of the twelve disciples for a minute.

For about the last three years you have walked with Jesus and seen every great miracle and heard every teaching he has presented. You have possibly been one of the ones to even hear God testify, “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

After all this time, there is little doubt in your mind that you are walking with the Messiah; the promised King of Israel that would one day come to set the nation free from bondage and oppression and sin.

But somewhere recently, something changed. While you expected a Kingdom to be built – the one Jesus kept saying “is at hand” – He started talking about His approaching death. You’ve tried reasoning with Him about it and He’s said you’re working for the devil. You put up a small fight against the soldiers who came to take him away, and Jesus rebuked you. And now, in the last forty-eight hours, you watched your King being arrested, beaten, humiliated, mocked, and murdered.

Sure, Jesus said that this was coming. He even talked about returning to life in three days, but who knows. Jesus said all kinds of confusing parables, so you aren’t exactly sure what He meant? Besides, even if He did come back to life, the tomb was being guarded. They’d probably just kill Him again.

For the last three years, you have had the best life imaginable, ministering and seeing God move daily. There was joy and freedom being with Jesus. But now, this has gotten serious…

Personally, I cannot imagine a darker day in all of the history of Christianity (or Judaism) than the day the Messiah spent laying dead in the tomb.

His disciples had scattered when they came to arrest Him, and although they were probably dispersed among the crowds overlooking the cross, most never publicly show their face until after the resurrection. In fact, while the eleven remaining disciples hide, it is Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who take to body for burial.

Hiding, afraid for their lives. Do you feel the weight that twenty-four hours can place on the life and faith of a Christian?

So what did they do?

Well, the Bible tells us nothing of this day except that it was a Sabbath. Fortunately for the disciples it meant that even if the religious leaders were going to come after them, it wouldn’t be today.

I am sure in the day’s mixed emotions, the disciples went back and forth between the Spirit and the flesh. There was probably a lot of prayer and recalling the teachings Jesus has spoken. Maybe even some study of the Old Testament prophets. But I also suspect that in a group of fearful men, there were also talks of both fleeing and fighting back. A lot of tears were probably shed. And there was probably a great mix of hope and discouragement.

Today reminds us that for the Christian in the darkest day of their life, an answer from God doesn’t always come when you want it. Sometimes you just have to take what you already know by faith and then wait and see what the morning brings.

(Part 3 will go live at 5am, Easter Day.)

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Crucified

Posted on April 6, 2012 | 4 Comments

(This is part 1 of an Easter weekend blog series)

To Christians, today  is known as “Good Friday,” a  celebrated holiday so called because it is the day that the sacrifice was made for our sins in Jesus willingly dying on the cross. For those of us who have tasted the grace of God, however, felt in the cross of Christ, today holds more grief than good as we realize the weight and consequence of our sin placed on Him.

Today we celebrate the fact that we crucified the Son of God.

As I went to bed last night I went through my normal routine of checking emails and Facebook messages one last time. I spent some time in prayer. Then I climbed into my bed, laying in front of my fan, and settled in for a good night’s rest.

But almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus would have been spent last night in the upper room with His disciples, celebrating the Passover feast. As the disciples did as they had always done, eating the unleavened bread and drinking the wine, celebrating the fact that their sins for the last year were covered by the blood of the sacrificial lamb, Jesus begins to tell them a new Passover story.

He tells them that the bread they are eating now symbolizes His flesh which would be beaten, broken, and torn from his bones, and the wine now represents His blood which would be poured out for them. They knew the promised Messiah had come. But what they were learning is that their new-found King would become their Sacrificial Lamb.

Almost a week ago, Jesus rode into town on a donkey as the people cried “Hosanna!,” “Salvation is Here!,” declaring that Jesus was Lord. He then provokes the religious status quo by turning over the tables in the Temple and talking about it’s destruction and saying, “I’ll rebuild it in three days.”

Though the plan had been to take care of this Jesus after the holiday passed, when the Jewish people start worshipping a man as God, true or not, something has to be done. A plot against Him forms.

After the Passover meal, Jesus excused his betrayer to do that thing which he had been paid to do, then He and the other disciples retired to a quiet garden at Gethsemane. It was at this place we see the weight of our sins that would soon overtake our Lord begin to crush down on Him. As His disciples struggle to keep their eyes open, Jesus goes into the most grievous time of prayer the world has ever seen. The Son of God crying out to His Father, “Daddy, please don’t do this!”

As capillaries begin to rupture under His skin and drops of blood begin forming on his body like sweat – a sign of extreme stress – we hear the words that once and for all set in motion our salvation: “Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.”

Soon the religious militia shows up in the garden to take Jesus away. The disciples flee and hide, as Jesus spends the rest of that night in prison being tormented by the guards.

As morning arises Jesus is taken before both Pilate and Herod to be charged for his blasphemies. Neither ruler finds him guilty, but the crowds who a week ago were shouting “King,” now screamed “Crucify.”

After being beaten until He no longer resembled a man, Jesus picked up His cross and began the long walk up the mountain called Calvary. Falling under the weight, others were forced to carry his cross as Jesus struggled towards His own death.

By noon, Jesus was nailed to the cross and hung between two thieves. The crowds mocked and spat at Him. Even his fellow criminals taunted Him. “If You are the Son of God, then come down off that cross.”

Though He could have come down, Jesus remained.

Darkness had covered the city as creation watched it’s Creator being murdered for crimes He did not commit. As the sin of the world came to rest on Jesus, the Father in Heaven turned His face away from His only Son. “Father, why have You forsaken me?”

Around 3pm Jesus looked to the skies and cried out one last time, “It is finished.” As He breathed His last breath the earth shook. Rocks crumbled. Tombs opened with the dead coming out alive. And inside the temple, the veil that for centuries had kept man separated from the Holy of Holies – the dwelling place of God’s Spirit – was torn in two, from top to bottom, giving all humanity access to the Father.

The guard who watched Jesus die, seeing nature grieve, said, “Surely, this was the Son of God.”

His body was taken and laid in a tomb. A stone was placed over the entrance, and the religious leaders sent a guard to watch the body.

On Good Friday, our sin-debt was hung on that cross, punished by God, and taken to the grave. Our curse was dealt with by the only One born of woman who didn’t deserve to die. And Jesus words to Nicodemus finally carry their full weight, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son…”

Jesus – our God – was dead.

(Click here to go to Part 2 of the series)

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Rules Don’t Equal Righteousness

Posted on March 27, 2012 | 2 Comments

What is the essence of true spirituality? What does it look like for someone to live out  in the world the life they received through new (spiritual) birth in Christ?

These questions have been weighing on my mind a lot lately as I have been discussing with others the call of the Christian as an individual and the capacity for great impact by Christianity on the wold.

Talking to one of the workers in the guesthouse I am staying at, it was explained to me the differences between Catholics and Evangelical Christians teachings in Haiti (at least according to his perceptions). He said that both groups worship the same God, and share the same bible, but the Catholics don’t believe there is any requirements placed on your life beyond faith, so you can live your life any way you want with no restriction. The Evangelicals on the other hand call people to change their actions through lists of restrictions and rules that one must obey to be a believer.

Now, certainly I disagree with the Catholic view as presented to me, as I know Christianity calls us to marked life change. However, though I would consider myself to be Evangelical, I don’t agree with a call to a new set of rules and regulations that one must obey to be a believer either.

I think all of these thoughts floating around in my brain came to a head the other night when one of my good friends posted to twitter: “If the ‘fruits of the Spirit’ happened w/o human thought and moral effort, why did Paul list them and urge the Galatians to develop them?”

Now, I know my friend’s heart was not at all a press for legalistic rules and regulations to  lead us by “works” to that spiritual fruit, although that was my first interpretation of the quote. And as I have not had a chance to talk through the issue with him, I won’t even assume to speak for his intentions. I only quote it hear to say it directed things I had already been meditating on this week to the point of having to sort through this issue.

Upon reading his quote my mind immediately went to Paul’s quote in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

My fear is that too often in Christianity we push people toward fleshly discipline as a way of maturing them spiritually. However, Paul himself says that never works:

“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23)

In fact, as I recently read through the book of Colossians, I made the following notes in my journal (with minor edits here for readability):

Don’t be deceived by spiritual looking actions no matter how universally they are taught or commanded. They don’t carry any real spiritual authority or power, or impart Christ-life to the soul. (Col 2:16-23)

Instead, realize that your life is in Christ who dwells in Heaven, sitting on the throne that is above all thrones. So then, to live “on earth as it is in heaven” means that our lives are lived from heaven to earth (Col 3:1-4), and so, like Christ did, we determine to follow the Spirit as He prompts us to “do the will of our Father.”

The natural outflow of this spiritual obedience as opposed to the keeping of fleshly rules, is that it will put to death what is earthly in us (Col. 3:5-11) and we will put on the heavenly nature we have in us because we are now in Him (Col. 3:12-17) This isn’t supposed to be dead religion that we live in. Instead, it truly is us discovering that we live a new, abundant, and spiritually overcoming life as Christ lives through us.

The reality is that Christ does call us to repentance (Matt. 4:17). He calls us to be holy just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). And he desires that our lives will be marked by obedience to Him (Matt. 28:20). The question is, what actions on our part will actually take us there.

I am convinced that the quickest way toward a renewed life is not to cultivate rules and regulations that make us look holy or pious, but to in fact, cultivate a spiritual intimacy with God in prayer and learn to walk daily as He leads us, allowing Him to renew us in His image. This does indeed take action on our part. But I find that these actions are more grounded in the New Testament practice of the faith, than most of the modern commands we find in too many churches. So instead of the old Baptist creed, “We don’t drink, and we don’t chew, and we don’t date the girls that do,” we are told, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17), “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25), and “Let all that you do be done in love”, on which hangs all the Old Testament law (1 Cor. 16:14; Matt. 22:37-40). These then, should be where the majority of our spiritual pursuits lie.

Or to put it very simply, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17)

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Christ in You: The Hope of The World

Posted on March 20, 2012 | 3 Comments

I have slowly been working my way through a very large book called, “John G. Lake: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings” compiled by Roberts Liardon. Last night, as I read one of Pastor Lake’s sermons from April 26, 1914, I was stirred to pray that God would give me the grace to become the type of person being talked about in his message.

One small paragraph caught my attention while looking over my highlights, and grieved me that this may very well be the type of Christian I, and many of you, feel most comfortable becoming. He said:

“The Spirit of the Lord, as we prayed, told my soul that the peculiar sin of the present hour among the children of God is a peculiar spiritual lethargy that has been permitted to gradually steal over our souls, robbing us of the quickened consciousness and understanding of the blessed Holy Ghost and of His peculiar presence. That instead of lifting our hearts and welcoming Him, we have descended into a study of the understanding of His ways and works and methods until a dimness has come over our spirits.”

What he says there is that too many of us fall into a category of Christians who spend all our time seeking head-knowledge of what the Gospel means and how it should be lived out, but we seldom pull our heads out of the books and pursue life-knowledge of the Gospel. We study, but we don’t act on what we find.

This brings to mind the famous quote by G.K. Chesterton, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” I think that is true to what I am saying, but also not quite complete. If I were to dare add to his words, it would say, “it has been found difficult, uncomfortable, humiliating, and threatening to the preservation of our egos and status, and left untried.”

As I read the words of Pastor Lake, and was praying that I would not be the type of Christian who is consumed only by spiritual head-knowledge, God brought to mind the verse of scripture that says, “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

Immediately I flipped over the that passage to see what God was wanting to say to me, but before I even got there, I felt like God told me the problem is that I have held a wrong view of this truth. What He showed me is that I have tended to think of it that Christ lives in me and this is the hope of glory in my own salvation. The Holy Spirit, however, pressed on me that I am already sealed for salvation. It is now Christ living in me that is the hope of glory for the people around me. Christ is in me so that He can leak out through my actions and interactions with others, making Himself known to the world

It is Christ living in us that allows us to fulfill the command to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

The problem with the head-knowledge Christian is that they study and study to make sure they have Christ inside and understand the depths of that truth, but they never live a life where Christ leaks out of them and touches others, offering the hope of glory to the lost world.

If Christ is living in you, it is so that you can live Him out in the world. This is why Paul goes on to say in verses 28-29 that it is “Him we proclaim…” and, “For this I toil, struggling with all HIS energy that HE powerfully works within me.”

Now, don’t misunderstand me. It is a good thing to spend time in prayer, and in the Word, and even in the books written by so many of our great Christian heroes. We need to have a biblically grounded view of the spiritual life. But it is only beneficial if it leads us to a life overflowing with the reality of Christ in us. That is the hope for the world, and that is when we will be most useful to the Kingdom of God.

Christ is living in you. That is where the hope for the world is found. Let Him leak out!

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