God Bless You This Christmas!!!

May you and your loved ones enjoy a blessed Christmas and a joy-filled New Year!

(I'll be offline until January 7, 2008)

Christmas 2007 (Part 4)

This post is the fourth in a multi-part series on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Go to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

As we’ve seen in parts 1-3 of this series, if we’re going to listen to God this Christmas, we must listen to the words of Scripture. We must remember that God has spoken in the past. One of the main reasons the author emphasizes God’s past revelation, however, is to highlight His present revelation. We must not simply remember God’s voice from the past, but we must also realize that God is speaking now!

Verse 2 states that “in these last days, [God] has spoken to us by His Son.” The “last days” are right now for us just as they were for the original readers. God not only speaks now, but he also speaks “to us.” How many times do we hear a good sermon and think, “That’s a good word! So and so needs to hear that, I wish she were here.” We are so quick to pick up on the message that God needs to get across to everyone but us. We need to hear and heed God’s word to us!

God speaks now, God speaks to us, and God speaks through His final word, Who is His Son. This is a singular revelation as opposed to many ways of revelation in the OT…

Remember the guy that missed all the different ways God was trying to speak and help him escape from the flood? Well, there was another man who was hiking in the mountains when he tripped and fell over the edge of a 100 foot high cliff. After falling about 10 feet he miraculously grabbed hold of a root which halted his fall. Hanging on for dear life, he called out, “Help! Is anybody out there?” A voice answered him saying, “Yes, I am here.” The man was a bit spooked and called out, “Who are you?” The voice responded, “I am God. Let go of the root and I will catch you.” The man paused to think for a few moments, his fingers slowly sliding from the root, before desperately screaming, “Anybody else out there?”

The answer given by the book of Hebrews to the man’s final question is an emphatic “No!” Jesus is God’s final word. Even the OT revelation is now to be interpreted in light of who Christ is and what He has done.

That Jesus is our final and authoritative place to listen for God’s word is the message of Hebrews. To an audience facing persecution and the temptation to abandon the distinctives of the Christian faith, the author cries, “Listen to Jesus! Look at who He is! Look at what He’s done!” As we struggle to grasp the true meaning of Christmas, we need to hear the same message!

So who is Jesus according to this passage?

• Jesus is heir of all things (v.2b)
• Jesus is the One through whom God created the world (v.2c)
• Jesus is the radiance (or brightness) of God’s glory (v.3a)
• Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature (v.3a)
• Jesus is the One who upholds the entire universe (from atoms to galaxies) by the word of His power (v.3b)
• Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (v.3d)
• Jesus is greater than the angels (v.4)

WOW! Jesus is qualified to guide and direct our lives!

What has Jesus done? In verse 3, it’s almost easy to miss, but it’s really the center of attention for this part of the verse…Jesus has “made purification for our sins.” This is a statement foreshadowing the author’s development of Jesus as our great High Priest and Sacrifice.

Only Jesus came from heaven, offering himself up as a flawless sacrifice for our sins and tearing the curtain of the temple in two, forever making it possible for us to know God. Without the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross, it is impossible for us to know God and it’s impossible for us to understand the meaning of the baby in the manger whom we celebrate at Christmas. We can’t get to heaven any other way because “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

Who has the authority to speak in your life? Who are you listening to this Christmas season? Which voice out of the crowd claims your primary attention when you are facing some of life’s toughest choices?

Who do you listen to?

· Who do you listen to when you have to decide whether to work late to get ahead or spend some much needed time with your family?

· Who do you listen to when you can either be “cool” or you can be obedient to Jesus?

· Who do you listen to when you’re frustration tempts you to raise your voice in anger to your spouse or your children or your friends?

· Who do you listen to when you have to decide whether to be harsh or gentle with your tongue?

· Who do you listen to when you’re alone, on the Internet “surfing the Web,” and you know that there’s a virtually limitless supply of pornography just three clicks away?

· Who do you listen to when someone asks you to listen to damaging gossip about someone in our church or in your workplace without confronting that person first?

Who do you listen to?

Pray that, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the ear of your life will be focused solely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus is supremely qualified to give us all the loving help and guidance we need in life! He is God’s last and final Word sent to the world as a baby laid in a manger. We can hear him speaking through the pages of Scripture. O that we would grasp the intense love of our qualified intercessor and Lord. What each of us needs this Christmas is a word from God, born in a manger so long ago! May we hear Him...and listen!

Christmas 2007 (Part 3)

This post is the third in a multi-part series on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Go to Part 1, Part 2

Here are a few more thoughts relating to the importance of God’s Word for our lives and witness…

Hebrews 4:12
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The older I get, the more the Lord has been challenging me, asking me if I really believe that the Word is living and powerful. Do I really believe that the Word is what pierces the soul? God has been saying, “Do you really trust My Word to speak to the questions and needs of people around you or do you feel like you have to rely on your intellect, or your ability to ‘connect’?”

For example, I’ve been teaching a discipleship class on Wednesday nights for the youth at our church (International, English-speaking). They ask some incredibly insightful questions. They also ask some that are just plain hard! I’ve at least thought about most of the issues they raise, and I usually know something of what evangelical Christians in general believe about the issue. I also have my own ideas and opinions on the issues. The challenge and question for me though concerns where my foundation lies for the views I hold and the things I teach…

As the truth of this verse becomes more real to me, I grow even more confident in the sufficiency of the Word to address every issue that could ever come up! When I am faced with a question from one of the youth, I strive to only give an answer that is grounded in the Word of God. If I don’t know precisely how the Bible speaks to the question, I will find out and then give an answer.

As we obey the command of 1 Peter 3:15 to “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us]”; what are we trusting as our authority. If someone asks us a question about our faith, are we prepared to answer them with the confidence that comes from a solid grounding in Scripture? If we find ourselves in a situation where we are not completely confident of the Bible’s teaching, are we humble enough to admit we don’t know and committed enough to find a biblical answer? Or are we content simply to relate our opinions, whatever their origins?

This Christmas, if we are celebrating with true and intense focus on Christ, we will get questions from family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and classmates. When we answer, I pray we will answer with words of truth that are consciously grounded in Scripture.

Go to Part 4

Christmas 2007 (Part 2)

This post is the second in a multi-part series on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Go to Part 1

In this passage, God is speaking to us through the author of Hebrews. No one is quite sure exactly who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we know that he was likely a leader or pastor writing to a small house church or group of house churches in Rome. The church was probably made up of mostly Jewish people who had become Christians. We do know, because we find this letter in our Bibles that the author speaks the very words of God. God is teaching us, even exhorting us about our need to listen to His voice. This passage contains valuable instruction on how to listen to God so we can hear Him amidst all of the confusion and conflicting messages that come from society, even at Christmastime.

My prayer this Christmas is for us be captured by the amazing reality that God is speaking to us! I pray that He will build in us an earnest longing to hear and obey His voice. If we don’t hear from God this Christmas, all festivities are meaningless.

The first thing we have to do if we’re going to hear God speaking is to remember that God has spoken in the past.

It’s kind of like the man whose house was being threatened by rising flood waters. The waters were rising and the city issued evacuation orders. The man refused to go, claiming that He was trusting God to save him. The waters rose and filled the first floor of his house. He was standing at a second story window when a police boat came and told him to get in and be saved. Again he refused, claiming faith in God’s provision. The rising waters finally forced him to the roof of his house. As the waters were about 3 feet from the peak of his house, a rescue helicopter flew in, dropped a rope ladder and urged him to climb up to safety. Again the man refused because he was convinced God would rescue him. The waters finally rose above the man’s house, and swept him away to his death. When he found himself in heaven, facing God almighty, he asked God, “Why didn’t you rescue me when I had so much trust in you?” God answered saying, “Well I sent you an evacuation order, a boat, and a helicopter! What more do you want?”

This man was waiting on a word from God and he died without realizing it had already come. Not only had God’s word of rescue already come, but it had come in many different ways! Verse one serves two similar functions for the author of Hebrews. It is a reminder to his 1st Century Jewish Christian congregation not to neglect God’s word spoken in the Scriptures, what we refer to as the Old Testament. It also emphasizes the fact that God has spoken in many ways as recorded in the Old Testament.

We too must realize the richness of God’s revelation in the Bible. God has spoken to us in many different ways throughout the pages of Scripture, giving us instructions and stories of people living in real-life. These instructions and stories always tell us something about who God is!

• Who can read the account of God’s creation in Genesis 1 and 2 without being amazed at God’s power and majesty?
• How can we tell the story of the exodus, when God delivered His people from the hands of Pharoah, without getting excited about a God who saves and delivers His people?
• Can anyone miss the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God towards the faithless people of Israel as pictured in the attitude of the prophet Hosea toward his wayward wife Gomer?

The Bible is filled with the words of God that make us rejoice, weep, shudder, and wonder at His goodness, grace, wrath, and might.

Appeal to the Word of God was extremely important to the author’s arguments concerning Christ. It is impossible to read through the book of Hebrews without being almost overwhelmed at the abundance of OT quotations and allusions. One commentator suggests that there are thirty-one explicit quotations and four more implicit quotations, a minimum of thirty-seven allusions to OT passages, nineteen instances where OT material is summarized and thirteen more where a biblical name or topic is cited without reference to a specific context.” The author grounds everything in Scripture. It must be the same for us today.

If we don’t speak the message from the Word of God, we simply give our opinions and our words lack the power and authority that comes only from the very words of God given to us in the Bible.

Go to Part 3

Christmas 2007 (Part 1)

How can we cut through all of the mess in order to emphasize the real meaning of Christmas?

It was God in the manger!

I can’t begin to understand the mind-blowing concept that GOD was born in a manger…not a warm, cozy bed…A feeding trough in a BARN! How can the baby worthy of receiving gold, frankincense and myrrh have, as His first bed, a food bin for cattle?

I believe the dismal, dirty circumstances of Jesus’ birth serve to remind us about how amazing and incredible it is that the God of the universe chose to become human! How can that be? I don’t think our minds will ever be able to comprehend the realities involved. As John MacArthur writes in his book The Miracle of Christmas:

“[No one can] explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant.

He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.

For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God.”

The good news of Christmas is that God has spoken in the person of Jesus!

One Christmas memory from my teenage years is related to sports. My sport of choice was wrestling. Now, you might be wondering why in the world I had a desire to dress up in odd-looking underwear, weird shoes, and foam bowls on my ears so that I could roll around on a mat for 6 minutes with another sweaty guy! The key factor was that the other guy was always about the same size as me…very important for an American high school kid who only weighed 119lbs! (I’ve grown a bit since)

So…it was my Senior year. Semi-finals of the Christmas Wrestling Tournament held at my high school. Overflowing stands filled with fans. Final period. Thirty seconds left. Down by one point....

These were the conditions that I faced as I stood face-to-face with my opponent. Me knowing I had to take him down to win. Him knowing he just had to hold out thirty more seconds and he was in the finals of the biggest mid-season tournament in our town. In the midst of the thunder of the cheers and the thoughts inside my head, there was one voice that stood out. One voice that I had been trained to listen to and listen for. That was the voice of my wrestling coach. The words I heard were “SHOOT, SHOOT!!!” And so I did, I dove for my opponent’s legs. It was the only way for me to possibly win the match...

I wish I could say I got the take down, but I can’t. I shot for his legs, but time ran out and I didn’t score. Instead, I became a missionary! The thing that will always stand out to me, however, is the loud, clear voice of my coach...and his later congratulations for an excellent match in which I tried my best.

Do you ever feel like you’re in the final period in your Christian life and everyone is shouting at you? Do you ever feel confused by all the many voices? Don’t you long for a clear, definitive voice of guidance in your life as a disciple of Christ?

As Christians, I know we need a clear, guiding voice at Christmastime! We’re swimming in a sea of secularism and other religions in places where so much of ‘Christmas’ seems to involve shopping and Santa Clause! We’re truly in danger of missing the true meaning of Christmas!

In Hebrews 1:1-4, the author tells us that because God has spoken finally and supremely in His Son, Jesus Christ, we must listen to Jesus’ voice above all others in addressing the concerns of daily Christian life and the concerns of God’s church. In the next few posts, we’ll take a look at what God is saying in these verses and how it relates to our lives.

Hebrews 1:1-4
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (ESV)

Go to Part 2

Signs of Christmas Confusion

On a lighter note...

1. Your child looks at the nativity scene nestled serenely beneath your tree and says, “What’s that camel doing in Santa’s workshop?”

2. Little Johnny is writing a letter to Baby Jesus at the North Pole, asking for a pony like the one Mary Christmas rode in the pageant at church last year. You gently correct Johnny’s error: it was a donkey.

3. You sing “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “Frosty, the Snowman.”

4. Your pre-schooler adds a green Play-Doh creature to your manger scene insisting, “Mommy, you forgot the Grinch.

5. In the plywood caravan of magi on your roof, the lead camel sports a red 200-watt nose.

6. Your kindergartner comes home with a story that wise guys from back East (probably from Brooklyn) gave the first Hanukkah presents to three kids named Golda, Frankenstein, and Murray.

7. You’ve been searching your Bible for the story of Amahl and the Night Visitors.

8. You’re surprised when it isn’t eggnog in those tiny cups at communion.

9. Your spouse repaints the front yard nativity scene and gives Joseph a red suit and white beard.

10. You remember the Bible says Jesus was living in a “house” when the wise men arrived; this explains how they were able to come down the chimney.

Merry Christmas!

From 'A View From the Back Pew' by Delia Stewart

New Album: The Altar and the Door

My friend introduced me to a great new album by Casting Crowns while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago. Last week, I downloaded the entire album from iTunes and I love it. Musically, the album has style (go here and click on 'Listen to samples' to get a taste). The lyrics, however, are what really get me because they're pretty deep and they don't pull any punches...

Here are the lyrics for the most popular song on the album:

East To West
Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'Cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other

Predestination (Part 4)

Today, I came across a meditation on Acts 16:14 written by John Piper and I was amazed at how well it fits with what I posted yesterday relating to how predestination and evangelism fit together because they are both taught in the Bible. Piper's article adds more Biblical weight to what I said yesterday as he explains why some who heard Paul's Gospel message did not believe and why some believed. If yesterday's post intrigued you in any way, I encourage you to give Piper's article a read: How the Lord of Life Gives Life

Predestination (Part 3)

If predestination is true, why are you wasting your life as a missionary? God's going to do it all, right?

The simplest explanation for why belief in predestination does not conflict with active evangelistic efforts is that the Bible teaches both. As Bible-believing Christians, we must be careful to believe and defend everything the Bible teaches, nothing less and nothing more. Even though it seems ‘logical’ that belief in predestination renders evangelism meaningless, that view goes beyond the Bible. We must be willing to live with mystery in our lives, realizing that we won’t be able to explain and completely understand how every clear teaching of the Bible fits together with every other clear teaching of the Bible.

Another way to look at things is to realize that God, the One who predestines, has every right to choose the way he works out the salvation of those whom He chooses. According to the Bible, the ONLY way God chooses to effect salvation in those who are chosen is by connecting that person with the Gospel truth (via evangelistic witness, Bible reading, etc.) in such a way that willing, joyful faith is birthed in the heart of that person. In other words, evangelism is THE key tool used by the Holy Spirit to work salvation in all who are chosen.

Predestination (Part 2)

This post will be more meaningful if you read Part 1 and Romans 9 first...

In my view, unless simply ignore what the words of Romans 9 are clearly saying or do some very fancy interpretation, you will find that God makes a sovereign choice, according to His purposes and wisdom, about individual destinies. In other words, predestination is clearly taught in the Bible.

The most important truth to remember in this whole debate is that every human (except Jesus) is, by nature, a rebel traitor against God who deserves eternal punishment. If we want to speak of fairness, the only fair thing is for every human to be condemned to hell. What is manifestly unfair is that Jesus, sinless and perfect, was crucified on a Cross. If only one human in history was ever saved (say, for example, the criminal on the Cross with Jesus), God would be just to send everyone else to hell because they would all remain rebels. For God to choose some to be saved does not cause God to be unfair or mean to those who are not chosen (all remain deserving of hell because all are rebels); instead, God's choice magnifies His mercy.

It’s important to remember that all who believe in Christ alone for salvation are our brothers and sisters in Christ. This issue should always be discussed with gentleness and humility. Also, we should remember that our primary task as Christians is to tell those who are lost how they can be saved, not to convince Christians to believe in predestination (or any other aspect of a particular theological system). Still, this debate has serious implications on how we view God, especially in how we view God in relation to ourselves. Are we going to be God-centered in our Christianity or man-centered?

Predestination (Part 1)

Recently, I had a short email conversation with someone who was interested in my views regarding predestination. I've adapted my responses for others who might be interested in the subject...

Is predestination true? Does the Bible really teach that God chooses who will be saved and who won't?

I'll answer this question in two parts...

If you believe the Bible is true, read Romans 9, seeking to dispense with any preconceived notions about what is ‘obviously true’ or what is ‘fair’. Interpret the chapter in a straightforward manner and you will have your answer about predestination. Before you read Romans 9, you should know a few Bible words that relate to the predestination issue:

Election: This is a Bible term for God’s overall work of predestination. I.e. God elects (chooses, selects, picks) those who will be saved.

Calling: This is what God does in the life of one who is predestined/elected/chosen which ensures they will believe.

Now, read Romans 9, being mindful of these definitions. What do you think? Pray about the meaning of this chapter (especially vv. 6-26) and record your thoughts on the matter (preferably before reading part 2).

Back online on December 10

Due to vacation and work travel last week and this week, I will be unable to post. I look forward to sharing regularly again starting December 10. Blessings!