Coffee House Chapel #3

[Dan Todd]

March 22

Romans 11:2-5, “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ”

Elijah went through some very trying times, as have believers in all ages. God, rather than chastize Elijah, encouraged him. The Apostle Paul had a deep seated love for Israel, it was his earnest desire that Israel accept Jesus Christ as her Messiah. In fact, Paul said, “ For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” (Romans 9:3) That my friends, is genuine, godly love. Now you might logically think that one who was so concerned for a certain class of people, and who, if it were possible, would be willing to suffer the pains of hell, if that class of people would be saved, would have the “inside track” on leading those people to Christ. Well, if you thought that, then you were wrong. To this day, very few of that class of people (Israel) come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Paul might well have been just as discouraged as Elijah had been, except for the fact that Paul understood the lesson God taught to Elijah, that being that God always has a remnant, and that remnant is often much larger than we think it is.

Many of God’s servants work in difficult areas. I am going to share with you a couple of examples. As a member of a quartet in my college days, we went and sang at a “skid-row” mission. An upper class-man (Keith), who had been saved from a similar life as those who were in that mission, preached Jesus to the men in attendance. At the close of his message, Keith gave an invitation, and one of the men responded with an uplifted hand. Keith did not followup in any manner. On the way back to school, I asked him why he had not pursued the man. Keith explained that the man had been drinking, and his uplifted hand was only an attempt to have a place to sleep that night. You see, one of the rules of that mission was, if you have been drinking, you are not allowed to stay in the mission for a period of days. Glen Siegrist, Baptist Mid-Missions missionary to the Jews has been having a Bible study with two (now elderly) women for years. The ladies enjoy studying the Bible and discussing these things with Glen. I once asked Glen if he had ever asked the ladies if they wanted to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Messiah). His response to me was that the women would gladly make a profession of faith, because they would want to make him (Glen) happy, not because they were convinced the Jesus was indeed their Messiah. Both of those examples could easily cause the men in those ministries to become discouraged, as Elijah had become discouraged.

“If you are thinking or feeling that way, you need to know that God still has His seven thousand who have not bowed down to Baal, that you are therefore not alone and that your work will not be without results.” (Boice) We are called to be people of faith. We must not judge by outward appearances, as did Elijah, rather we are to believe God’s promise. Elijah could not see what God was doing, so he assumed that he was alone. We often fall into that same trap. We cannot see what God is doing, and we assume that we are alone, and then we despair because we believe that we are alone. God had His seven thousand in Elijah’s day, rest assured that God has His “seven thousand” in our day. Calvin wrote, “...for God has a way, accessible to Himself but concealed from us, by which He wonderfully preserves His elect, even when all seems lost.”

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

[Dr. Bob]

Amen. Elijah here needed that.

 

[Dan Todd]

March 23

Romans 11:2-5, “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ”

Elijah was discouraged, and for good reason. Baal worship had infiltrated the ten northern tribes of Israel to the point that Elijah thought he was the lone holdout, the only one who had remained true to Jehovah. The worship of Baal was an excessively wicked form of idolatry.

In Genesis 15, God gave Abram a preview of the history of his descendants. Abram’s offspring would spend 400 years in Egypt and then God would bring them back to the land that He had promised would be Abram’s and his heirs forever. In Genesis 15:19, God says something interesting to Abram, “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” The Amorites were one of the inhabitants of Canaan, and they are often, biblically speaking, synonymous with the term Canaanites. During the 400 year sojourn of Israel in Egypt, God gave the Amorites/Canaanites ample opportunity to turn from their sinful practices to the worship of Jehovah. Rather than turn from their sin, they became more entrenched in their idolatrous practices. Leviticus 18:24-25, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”

It was God’s intention that Israel drive out all the inhabitants of the land, but Israel failed to complete the job. The Canaanites that remained in the land became a snare to Israel, so by the time of Elijah, Baal worship was practiced more than the worship of Jehovah.

Who was Baal and his cohort Ashtoreth? They were the gods of fertility. The worship of Baal included the practice of sacred prostitution. This deviant worship practice was meant to entice Baal to have sexual relations with his cohort. Baal relations with Ashtoreth would “guarantee the recurrence of the seasons, with the corresponding blessing on the crops from which came wealth in that society.” (Boice) As wicked as this practice was, the Canaanites practiced another that was infinitely worse, the offering of children as burnt sacrifices. The god Baal, was often a hollow metal statue with cradling arms. A roaring fire would be built inside the idol and children would be placed in his arms. Leviticus 18:21 refers to this practice, “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.” And Jeremiah 32:35 ties this practice to Baal worship, “And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.”

The Canaanites practiced sexual deviancy to get wealth (materialism). The western world (our society) strives to get wealth (materialism) so that we can insure sexual favors. God hated the Canaanite practice of this sin, He also hates our practice of this sin. The Canaanites sacrificed innocent children to get wealth (materialism), the western society (our society) does the same, but today we call it abortion. We dehumanize the unborn baby by calling it a fetus, or an undefined cellular mass. Friends, God hates the abortion of our day - (it is baby killing, no matter what conscience easing description its given), as much as He hated the baby sacrificing of Elijah’s day.

Elijah thought he was alone, but God said that there were seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. We may think we are alone. Our culture may be rushing down the slippery slope to damnation, but God has His remnant, as He had in Elijah’s day. “There are devout people, who are living for God and trying to do the right thing, often in what are terrible circumstances. We should be encouraged to know this, seeking out such persons and encouraging them whenever we can.” (Boice) We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and run the race He has called us to run (Hebrews 12:1-2). “Moreover, let us run it, knowing that one day, like ourselves, all God’s elect people will stand before Him, having conquered this present wicked world.” (Boice)

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

[Dan Todd]

March 24

Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” (John Newton)

That is the first verse of my favorite hymn. I love to sing and think about, meditate upon, and study God’s grace. Boice writes that “two things must characterize any Christian. One is a profound sense of personal sin and unworthiness. The other is an overwhelming awareness of the grace of God.” These two cannot be separated, because without a proper understanding of sin and our unworthiness, we can never appreciate God’s grace. Without a proper understanding of our unworthiness, we think that the good we receive from God is merited or earned. But as we learn to appreciate God’s grace and understand how much God hates sin, we become more aware of our sin, and want to be freed from it.

“The apostle Paul was a trophy of God’s grace, and he never forgot it.” (Boice) Paul was raised in Judaism, and he was an extremely self-righteous man. He “thought that he above all others pleased God.” (Boice) Paul’s self-righteousness made him zealous to the point where he killed and/or imprisoned those who disagreed with him. Paul condoned (supported) those who stoned Stephan, the first Christian martyr. Paul was on his way to Damascus to bind more believers in Jesus, when Jesus hit him upside the head, and got his attention. The salvation of any person is a miracle of grace, but Paul’s salvation could be categorized the miracle of miracles regarding God’s grace.

The greater share of the verses in the Bible on the subject of grace are from the hand of the Apostle Paul. Today, I want you to meditate on verses written by Paul on the subject of grace!

Romans 1:5, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name;”

Romans 3:23-24, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Romans 5:15, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Romans 12:6, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Ephesians 1:5-8, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;”

Thank you Father for your grace, and the gift of your Son, Who purchased our salvation with His own blood.

"Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out poured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair like the sea waves cold, Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, Points to the Refuge, the Mighty Cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide, What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide; Whiter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin." (Julia H. Johnston)

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

[Dr. Bob]

Thanks, Dan. Grace is good!

 

[blackbird]

Thursday, March 25, 2004

I believe I left off looking at these several women gathered at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ!

To Mary of Magdela(thus the name Magdalene) the cross was a place of Redemption! Jesus had cast those seven demons out---and anytime He casts something out---He'll fill the emptiness with Himself!! Mary was now being influenced by the mind of Heaven!!

To Salome, the cross was a place of Reproach! There was a desire in her family for the coming Kingdom--she did not deny that--what she found was that the Kingdom will cost a cross!! "The Cup" leads to "The Cross" leads to "The Kingdom!"

Jesus' next two words from the cross was directed to Mary, His earthly mother and to John who is "the Beloved" disciple!

Look over in John 19:25-27

Its interesting that although the world took counsel with each other against the Lord Jesus--Jesus still cared for the world! Aren't you glad that Jesus is Jesus and you're not?? Aren't you glad that Jesus is Jesus and I'm not!

Thinking about Mary--its interesting--

In John's gospel we see her in Chapter 2 in Cana at that wedding---the groom and bride were both "unnamed"---but we find her there at that wedding---speaking---"Whatever He tells you to do, do it!"

But the next time we see her in John's gospel is not until this chapter--Chapter 19! And then, in Chapter 19 she doesn't speak at all!! Not one word!

In John 2--she's involved in a wedding---a feast!

In John 19 she's involved in the sorrow of execution and impending death!

When Jesus was circumsized on the eighth day--it was Simeon who declared in Luke 2:34, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea a sword shall pierce through thy soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

I wonder---if those words of Simeon were now at the forefront of her mind as she stood there at the cross?

I wonder---if Mary realized then that---Jesus was on the cross going "about His Father's business??"

Look at Jesus' words again to Mary and John! Here's what I believe is happening right here! Bible historians believe that Joseph(Mary's husband) had since passed away--leaving Jesus responsible for His widowed mother---and now--here---the earthly ties were being seperated. Jesus was going where Mary wasn't going to be able to go(physically) until Resurrection Day(still somewhere off in OUR future)!

But Jesus wasn't going to leave Mary to be by herself. He was going to leave her in the most trusted beloved hands! He was leaving her under the "watch" of His "Most Beloved" disciple!!

Did you know---that as Born Again Believers---we can be Jesus' "Most Trusted" disciple?? Jesus is simply asking John to "take up where He left off" physically in taking care of His family and earthly mother! John was to be the one at that "hour" on--to admonish and to uplift Mary as a true widow---to continue Jesus' ministry----

You and I under the leadership of the Holy Spirit---are to continue Jesus' ministry---admonishing, uplifting, encouraging, and guiding each other toward the life of Jesus!! Will you do that today??

 

[Dan Todd]

Thank you - Blackbird!

 

[Watchman]

Thank you Blackbird.
Speaking of the Lord seeing to the care of His mother:
Just yesterday my wife and I had in our office a man from a village in Africa where everyone took care of everyone else.
Children could roam wherever they wanted to go without fear of being abused or abducted. Spousal abuse is unheard of because you just don't treat your wife that way. Men do not abandoned their families, the elderly are not put into homes and are never abused, but respected. I listened to this man and wondered if it was his way of life that was primitive and undeveloped, or ours?

 

[blackbird]

Friday, March 25, 2004

We are fast approaching Easter and its season of celebration of the Lord Jesus' Resurrection! In thinking about the season---we've been writing short devotions devoted to the cross and the events transpiring there!

We've looked already at the first three words Jesus spoke from the cross

"Father, forgive!"--a word of Forgivness
"This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise!"--a word of Assurance
"Woman, behold thy son! Son, behold thy mother!"--a word of Compassion

Today---we start focus on the fourth word spoken by Jesus in Matthew 27:45-49

A WORD OF ISOLATION

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"

As we look at the text and surrounding passages--I believe that we have come to perhaps the most theologically "Mind bogglin'" verses in the Bible! A passage that our finite minds--if they were put on overdrive--would burn themselves up--in efforts to understand what's happening.

Today--we ponder "The Darkness!"---in verse 45!

A strange event begins to unfold here---its noontime in this verse! The sun--that ball of fire 93 million miles from here--is at its "Zenith!" At its highest and brightest point of the day!!

Can you imagine?? The sun--giving the Earth all the light it could stand---then reading from verse 44 into verse 45---all of a sudden--"BOOM!" The Solar System's "Light Bulb" refuses to shine!!!!

Suddenly---its "Midnite Dark" at midday!!

Some like to pass this strange event along as simply an Eclipse!! Two things wrong with calling this darkness merely an eclipse--

1) Eclipses do not last for 3 hours at a time!

2) In Luke 23:45 it says that the sun was "darkened!" An eclipse does not darken the sun! The moon covers the sun but the sun is still giving light!! You go back behind the moon during an eclipse---and you'll discover that the sun is burning "bright as before!"

"Well, Brother David! What do you suppose happened here in this verse??"

Well, Physically!!! God just gave a command----and the sun obeyed!!! Amen??

But what for?? Why the darkness?? I believe there is a spiritual reason behind the physcial event that transpired here!!

1) God was giving the world what it wanted

John 3:19 reads, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

Friend! Mankind is here at the cross---refusing the Light!! And when light is refused, darkness increases!

John 1:9 & 11 reads that the True Light "lighteth every man that cometh into the world. v. 11, "He came unto His own and His own received Him not."

What are you doing when you don't receive Him?? To not receive the light---is to refuse the light!!

2) God was marking in Time---the Eternal Day of the Lord

All through the Bible---darkness is often given as a sign of God's impending judgment!

Isaiah spoke of this dark day coming--in:

Isaiah 5:30 & 13:10

Amos saw the Day of the Lord approaching--in:

Amos 5:20

Zephaniah said it himself in:

Zephaniah 1:14

The thing that gets me is this:-----looking at this verse in Matthew 27 and the darkness that had never been seen before---

The people surrounding the cross---the soldiers, the priests, the bystanders---in their rejection of the True Light had surrounded themselves with darkness!!! They were sitting in the dark---tragic thing is---I read nowhere where it was bothering them in the least bit to do it!! "Midnite Dark" at midday---and they never noticed!!!

Friend---you are in a tragic "State of Affairs" when you can sit in spiritual darkness--and not have it bother you!! You are in a sad state of affairs when you can live in sin---and not be driven to conviction!! If you're living like that---God is giving you ample opportunity to turn away from the darkness---and point your face toward the S-O-N of Heaven!! Will you do that today??

Give praise to Jesus Christ---the True Light from Glory today!!!

 

[blackbird]

Saturday, March 27, 2004

A WORD OF ISOLATION(Continued)

Matthew 27:45-49

We spoke already about the strange darkness that gripped the world while Jesus was on the cross!! The Solar System's "Light Bulb" refused to give its light!! And here's more----the four gospels do not mention---but the Old Testament prophets spoke also of the stars in heaven refusing to "twinkle" also---(scan the verses in our text in the post above this one)

So, we have seen the DARKNESS surrounding Him

Lets see for a minute:

THE DESPAIR NEVER KNOWN BEFORE

Matthew 27:46

This verse is not as difficult to explain--as it is to comprehend----Our finite minds cannot grasp the action and reaction between infinite Father and infinite Son there at the cross!!

In verse 46---something is happening that has never happened before---no, not since Eternity Past!! There seems to be a deep divide!! A seperation!

To explain verse 46 a little clearer---lets go to Leviticus 16. This chapter deals with the Day of Atonement and the Scape Goat! In the figure of the Scape Goat--I believe we can understand better of what's going on in God's DARK there on Dreadful Calvary!!

Ont the Day of Atonement---Aaron was to select two goats and cast lots over them! One lot would fall upon what was called "The Lord's Goat" which became a sin offering to Him! The other goat became known as the Scape Goat!

Aaron would take this Scape Goat and lay his hands upon its head---and one by one---the people would confess their sins to Aaron---and in a figure---the sins of the people would be "transferred" to the Scape Goat!

When the last sin and the last transgression of the last person in Israel was confessed before Aaron---the Scape Goat was led out of the city into the wilderness---and was abandoned!!! Leviticus 16:22, "And the goat shall bear upon him all the iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness."

That Scape Goat in a figure pointed to reality!! Where Jesus would come as Heaven's "Scape Goat!"

What's happening in the text??

1Peter 2:24 says that Jesus bore "our sins in His own body on the tree."

Friend!! Every person who has ever lived since Adam--down to the last person who will be born of a woman---our sins---the sins of the collective world of Adam----was placed upon Jesus there at the cross---He is Heaven's Scape Goat----at this point on the cross in the wilderness----abandoned by the Father!!!

Every sin that has ever been committed---or that will be committed in the future----every sin that has ever darkened the human soul---the Father at that point on Jesus' cross---took those sins and FLUNG them upon Jesus!!! 2Corinthians 5:21, "For He(the Father) hath made Him(the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin;that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

On the cross of Calvary---Jesus didn not cease to exist as God! God wasn't at the cross--ripping Jesus diety away from Him!! Jesus didn't surrender His diety---neither did He cease being part of the Trinity!!

What was abandoned at the cross---was the intimate fellowship that the Son enjoyed with the Father from eternity past!! He suffered in anguish---not from the sacerations on His back or the crown of thorns on His head nor from the feel of the nails in His hands and feet-----but from the seperated fellowship with the Father---when He became sin for us!!

Look at that verse again in 2Corinthians 5:21--"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

He was made sin---so that you could be made righteous before God!! Amen?? No other way--but that He had to become sin!!! No other approach to the throne of God but by the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

[Watchman]

Amen Blackbird.
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12

 

[Dan Todd]

March 28

Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

The Apostle Paul is the greatest biblical apologist for grace. He understood that without grace, he would have been lost, condemned, and on his way to everlasting hell.

Ephesians 2:4-8, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Ephesians 3:7-8, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

2 Timothy 1:9-10, “ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”

Boice writes, “Paul’s love of this doctrine is the only reason I can think of for his having included the words about grace that we find in Romans 11:6. I say this because they are really unnecessary at this point of the argument.”

Charles Hodge calls our text an exegetical comment on verse 5, because Paul had already made the point about grace - “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” That verse built on verse 4, which does not merely say that there were seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal, but that God had “reserved to [himself] seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” “This is the work of God, and it is a gracious work.” (Boice)

There are at least four reasons why Paul added this verse to Romans 11:

1. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Word, Paul was only the human instrument.

2. Paul’s great love for this doctrine (which he treated at great length in Romans 5-6).

3. Because Paul knew how difficult is was/would be for sinners to accept grace.

4. Because of how inclined we (sinners - which includes all of us) are to add works to it.

We need to understand that salvation (in Elijah’s day - in Paul’s day - in our day) is all of God and none of us. Ephesians 2:5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved” One of my favorite phrases when comparing God’s part with our part in our salvation is - “Dead people don’t do stuff!” Friends, it is all of God and none of us!

The Jews in Paul’s day would have given the seven thousand some of the credit for not bowing the knee to Baal, so Paul wrote that God had “reserved” those ones to Himself. We think the same way. We want to give them (and by extension - ourselves) credit for being faithful. Paul wants us to “understand that even the remnant exists by God’s grace only. It is not that some had it in them to be faithful while others did not. It is rather that God chose the remnant to believe.” (Boice)

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

[Watchman]

Thanks Dan.
Eph.2:8&9 is in my profile as my favorite passage. God, in giving His Son, has provided us with such a great gift, to live with Him forever!
How, exactly, that gift comes to be ours should not be such a big divisional issue.

 

[blackbird]

March 29, 2004

"Funny That Caiaphas Should Say That!"
John 11:49-50

We've been trying to capture moments at Calvary! And right in the middle of my devotions I've been sharing with you--I stumbled across a portion of scripture that I want to share also---still has to do with the crucifixion and points leading up to it!

The story line picks up in John's gospel--Chapter 11! All familiar chapter text---Early on in the chapter Lazarus is raised from the dead by Jesus!

Notice in verse 45 of John 11---many who witnessed the raising--believed! Jews who were Jews "outwardly" were now finding out what its like to be a Jew "inwardly!"--Just like the Apostle Paul explains in the Epistle to the people in Rome!

But notice now in verse 46---some couldn't stand it but that they had to go "snitch" on Jesus to those lovely Pharasees---started telling them about Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave!!

In the following verses---the Pharasees "counsel" each other---don't you just love that??!!!(pun intended here!!) They've got to figure out a way to "stab" Jesus "in the back!" They reason something along the lines, "If Jesus keeps this up--if the dead keep risin' up---Rome is gonna come and put us down!! And we can't have that!!"

You know what those Pharasee's should have been doing??? They should have been planning their next "Evangelistic Crusade" and seeing if they could get Jesus to come preach for 'um!!

They feared Rome more than the feared God!! And they sought opportunity to destroy Jesus! Friend, listen! You just let someone come in and do something that appears as if in the long run--that something will remove you from power---and the "Pharasee" in you will rise up to dominate!!

All you have to do is start acting a little bit like Jesus---and you'll see who'll start acting like a Pharasee around you!!

This is where Caiaphas "chimes" in!! I see Caiaphas as a "know-it-all"---do you know any "know-it-all's??"

In verses 49-50---I believe here is where Caiaphas "preached" the gospel---but yet the "know-it-all"(Caiaphas) didn't know that he had just preached it!!

Read verses 49-50!! Caiaphas' little plan called for a crucifixion down the line for Jesus! Caiaphas wasn't fulfilling prophecy here in his words---he was being mean--and hateful---and wanted Jesus "out of the way!!"

But here's the hidden message in Caiaphas' words---look at verse 50! At that little phrase, "for the people"

Then look at the word "for" in that phrase!

In this context in this verse, the word "for" comes from the Greek word, "huper" and means this: One who would literally stretch his body upon the body of a friend to protect him from a weapon."

In the little phrase "for the people" we can see by faith---the very fact of what Jesus came to do!!

Jesus came, dear friend to "stretch Himself out across you" to protect you from something!!

Jesus stretched Himself out across you and took upon Himself---the weapon that God intended for you!! See?? God has to punish sin and judge sin and destroy sin!! And on the cross---Jesus "stretched Himself out" across you---and took your punishment that God intended to give you!! On the cross---He absorbed Hell for you!! On the cross--He hung in darkness---so that you can stand in the light of God! On the cross---He died---so that you can live!!

You know that song by Charles Gabriel---"I Stand Amazed in the Presence"---sing this line with me:

He took my sins and my sorrows/He made them His very own/He bore the burden to Calvary/And suffered and died alone

How marvelous!
How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be!
How marvelous!
how wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!

 

[Dan Todd]

Oh what a Savior!

 

[Dan Todd]

March 30

Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

Our text gives us the “oil and water” of theological debates! The terms grace and works, according to Paul, are mutually exclusive. These two terms are so diametrically opposed that there is no hope in ever bringing them together. “So if a person is to be saved by grace, it cannot be by works; otherwise, grace is not grace. Conversely, if a person is to be saved by works, it cannot be by grace; otherwise, work would not be work.” (Boice)

John Calvin wrote in “The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Romans and to the Thessalonians” (as translated by Ross MacKenzie), “The grace of God and the merit of works are so opposed to one another that if we establish one we destroy the other. If, then, we cannot allow any consideration of works in election without obscuring the unmerited goodness of God, which Paul so greatly desired to commend to us in election, those fanatics, who make the worthiness which God foresees in us the cause of our election, must consider what answer they are to give to Paul. Whether it is past or future works which we are considering, Paul’s statement that grace leaves no room for works will always resound in our ears .... He states that God was led to make this distinction for no other reason than His own good pleasure, and contends that any concession given to works detracts to that extent from grace.”

I am aware that many of my BB friends and others, are not in agreement with my understanding of the doctrine of election. I did not always agree with my understanding either! There was a time that I would argue against the idea that God chooses, based solely on His own purposes, who would be saved, and that this choice is solely according to His marvelous grace.

I must tell you that I do not understand the whys and wherefores of election. I do not understand why God chose me. I simply believe what God says in His word, even though it goes against ever fiber of my human understanding and desires.

I certainly cannot deny that God made me - “Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” (Isaiah 29:16)

In Romans 9, Paul gives an illustration of election with his discussion of Jacob and Esau. Before they were born, one was chosen to salvation and one was not, so “that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth” (Romans 9:11). Paul goes on to say, “O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9:20-23).

Many will argue that God forsaw the believer’s good works, or that God forsaw the believer’s faith, and then chose them based on what He forsaw. The first idea repudiates the gospel - as it makes our salvation based on works. The second idea makes faith a work and also repudiates or excludes grace.

Boice writes, “What shall we say about faith, then? Where does it come in? The answer is that faith is a result of regeneration or the new birth and is therefore the product and not the cause of God’s election.” Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Note that according to verse 8 - even our faith is a gift from God.

Amazing grace – how sweet the sound –
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.

In Christ,
Dan Todd

 

[Watchman]

Thanks Dan.
Here is a subject that God-fearing people on both sides has debated now for centuries, and will continue to do so until the Lord's return.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Amen Dan. Appreciate the good reminder.

 

[blackbird]

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

We've been looking at our devotions at dark Calvary! Of course, we know now that Calvary was where God did His best---but man did his worst!

This 5th word found in John 19:28 is a word of Identification---lets look at it for a few minutes! We see in this statement by Jesus:

THE IDENTITY OF THE HUMAN ONE

In verse 28--these two words clearly show us that Jesus was fully human! Its interesting---that John records in his gospel--two accounts of Jesus thirsting---as a human!! John 4 and here! At the beginning of His ministry and at the end of His ministry!

There's this belief that is grasped by some---that is called Nosticism! (this world is full of -ism's, isn't it?? But one day--every "-ism" will become a "was'um" when Jesus returns! Amen??)

Nostics refuse to believe that Jesus was fully human---that He only appeared to be human! (Like some Star Trek hologram or something!)

But listen! Nostic "pictures" can't eat--like Jesus did!

Nostic "pictures" can't sleep--like Jesus did!
Nostic "pictures can't weep--like Jesus did!

The Bible calls this fleshly appearance by the Word--a GREAT MYSTERY--that a lost and dying world can't reason out--until they've been saved and the Holy Spirit guides them into that truth! 1Timothy 3:16 reads, "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh."

The Bible shows the WORD made flesh---at Jesus' birth in Bethleham! At twelve years of age in Jerusalem! At 30 years of age at River Jordan! And then at 33 years of age at dark Calvary!

But here in our text--the Word fully identifies with human flesh--and as a man--Jesus had a thirst! He had a desire that upon the cross---needed filling!

I can't paint a picture extreme enough to grab the intensity if His thirst! Sure, Jesus thirsted before as a human---thirst is a continueing thing in the physical realm! But here in our text---no one has ever thirsted to this degree before--until here!! I believe with all my heart--that Jesus was experienceing a thirst---that no human being has ever experienced before! He was experienceing the thrist of all thirsts!!

Jesus was fully human--and as fully human He had to experience--the fullest extent of human suffering and sorrow! So we see Jesus--fully human--suffering thirst to the fullest degree!

Can you imagine?? The HOLIEST of all--now on the cross--and He is the Thirstiest of all!!

So we see the physical suffering of Jesus---as a human--dehydration to the fullest point! As a human--thirsting like any other human! In all points He became as one of us---yet without sin!!

As a human--there is nothing in this world of ours--that He did not experience---yet remained "The Sinless One!" All five of Jesus' physical senses were touched by the cruel world---yet He remained "spotless" untainted by corruption!

That's Jesus---as a human--suffering to the fullest degree! Yet--for the JOY that was laid up before Him---endured the cross of shame---to set the captives free!!

I'm going to stop here now---and finish the rest tomorrow---but here's what we need to do today!! Whatever you confront in your world today---in the flesh---Jesus has already confronted---you may find yourself in the middle of some calamity--Jesus knows how to rescue you! In the middle of some controversy---Jesus knows how to rescue you! In the middle of some celebration---He knows how to celebrate with you!! Let Him go with you---take Him wherever you go today!! In His precious name!! Amen??

 

[Dan Todd]

It's difficult to comprehend the human suffering Christ went through - but it's impossible to understand the divine suffering He went through!

Thank you Blackbird!