Saturday, October 9, 2010

In Defense of God's Grace

Romans 6:1-3

Paul must have faced an enormous amount of opposition to his message of grace, for Romans 6:1 chronicles one of three moments in the book of Romans that Paul defends his gospel from those who feel that he has taken grace to an extreme. Look at the three moments, and notice that Paul defends both his ministry and the power of God’s grace:

“And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) ‘Let us do evil, that good may come?’ Whose damnation is just” (Romans 3:8). – It had been erroneously spread about that Paul was encouraging Christians to sin so that grace would come in. He must have been preaching a lot of grace!

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1) – Answering to his message of abundant grace only two verses prior (5:20), Paul knows that people might take his message of abundant grace and think that sin will naturally follow. “How can it?” he asks. We are dead to sin, so continuing to practice sin is not even an option.

“What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Romans 6:15). Why bring this issue up again if it is not being said of the Apostle Paul? He was obviously facing a day-to-day battle with those who were against his radical stand on God’s grace. In this instance, he shoots down the idea that since we are not under law, we should just go ahead and sin. Perhaps this is what the Jewish world that clung to works and law was accusing Paul of the most.

The reason that a constant defense of God’s grace was needed in Paul’s day, and is still needed today is that the enemy knows the mighty power of God’s redemptive grace. He does not care whether or not the believer fails or falls into sin, for even Satan knows the power of God’s love and favor. Instead, he wants you to believe that God is angry with you or is somehow displeased. If Satan can keep the believer working to achieve goodness and grace then they will always be bound by their flawed performance instead of freed by Jesus’ perfect performance.

How can you and I continue to walk in a sinful lifestyle once we come into a revelation of God’s amazing grace? The answer is, “We can’t!” Paul said in verse 2, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Through the resurrected power of Christ in us, we are dead to the drawing power of sin. Our change has come about not by our dedication or our works, but by His finished work. In other words, our transformation from darkness to light has been an effortless one.

Your knowledge of this awesome transformation is the key to your walking in victory successfully. Paul asks, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3). When you came to Christ, you did not join an organization that tries to live like Jesus; instead, you were placed into the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross, thus you receive all of the benefits that the cross paid for.

Once grace is elevated to the wonderful standard that Paul preached, it will become obvious that sin is the LAST thing that believers want to be involved in. Grace never condones failure, but it removes the guilt from failure, and it provides the means by which that failure can be avoided.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Preach it Again!

Acts 13:37-43

The Apostle Paul went into a synagogue to minister on a Saturday at Antioch. The transcript of his sermon is recorded for us in Acts 13, and it gives us remarkable insight into the preaching style and content of the great Apostle. We have no audio recordings of this great man of course, so we must rely on this nugget of gold from his ministry to see how he preached and what he emphasized.

His sermon opens with God choosing Abraham and exalting the nation of Israel; the Exodus from Egypt; the conquering of Canaan and ministries of Samuel, Saul and David, leading right into the arrival of Jesus. He then ignores the life of Christ and jumps straight to the cross and the resurrection; tying both events to the salvation of mankind and the forgiveness of sins. This is where our little devotion picks up the sermon, for it is here that he leads into his invitation.

His final thrust in the sermon is found in 13:38, 39, where he preaches “forgiveness of sins” and that all who believe “are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses”. He then concludes with a warning that appears in the prophets about men rejecting the work that God will do. Rejection of the message of grace is the final straw in a man’s rejection of God and His love.

When the Jews moved out of the synagogue, the Gentiles that were there clamored to meet Paul and “besought” or “begged” him to come back and preach the same message the next Saturday (Acts 13:42). When the next week arrived, almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God (Acts 13:44) and the Jews turned out to contradict the message that Paul preached. Not much has changed from those who cling to works and religion, for they still contradict the message of grace, always quick to try to add “balance” by pouring in law and personal responsibility. Religion is scared of relationship, for if relationship with God is possible, religion is unnecessary.

The Jews of Antioch saw that it was impossible to stop the Gentiles from believing on Jesus, so they pulled out the big guns so to speak in order to convince the townsfolk that Paul’s message of grace was wrong. To do their bidding, they call on the “devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city” (Acts 13:50). Again, not much has changed. When the church wants to come against the preaching of radical grace, they find the most shining example of the law and works that they can and they send it in a tirade against the Apostles of God’s grace and favor. Ishmael has always persecuted Isaac with his words; don’t feel that it is unusual now.

Let’s return to this type of ministry, where we tell the sinners in our lives that Jesus has died for the forgiveness of their sins. Only when the church becomes the place of refuge and hope for the unbeliever will it be appealing enough to bring them back. May we never brag when our churches seem hostile towards the unsaved, and they feel condemned and guilty when they enter our midst. Set them free by shining the light of Christ into their lives and showing them the way out. If they reject the brightness of Jesus then there is no hope for them, but are we even trying?

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Bread of Life

John 6:47-58

This sermon by Jesus did a lot to thin out the swelling crowds that were following Him. In fact, when He finished this statement, “Many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:66). What was so controversial about this particular sermon was that Jesus had invited people to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. By saying that He was the bread of Life, He was equating Himself with the manna in the wilderness, given by God to feed mankind. He was also offering a communion meal of bread and blood which had come to mean a permanent relationship for Israelites. As far as they were concerned, they were under an everlasting covenant with God, so to enter communion with Jesus would have been blasphemous.

The words of Jesus in John 6 were also difficult because they were so physically repulsive. “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53), was construed as cannibalistic and sacrilegious. The Jews were to eat nothing unclean, of which human flesh would certainly qualify, and they were also forbidden from drinking blood. Was Jesus endorsing such unbelievable practices?

Noticing that His own disciples were struggling with His words, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?” (John 6:61). He then explained that it was the Spirit that does the quickening in a life, not the flesh. The words that He spoke were spiritual words, meaning that He wanted them to consume His body and drink of His blood spiritually, taking into them all that the body paid for and that the blood purchased.

This does not discount the power of the communion ceremony; but rather reinforces it. When we partake of the bread, we are partaking in what Jesus’ body accomplished for us at the cross. We see our sickness in His body and believe that when we partake, we are taking into us His perfect health and wholeness. When we drink the wine, we are partaking in what Jesus’ blood paid for at the cross. We see our sin covered by His blood, never to be held against us again and we believe that His blood provides safety and security for the believer from the curses of this world.

In John 6, Jesus does not break bread and hand it to the crowd, nor does He pour wine and drink from the cup as a visual of His body and blood. He is not preaching a physical eating and drinking, but rather an act of faith on the part of every man. Totally consume Jesus and what He accomplished. Do not leave any of Him left over. Just as Israel was to eat all of the lamb on Passover night, the saint should take all that Jesus is.

When the Master does break bread and pour wine at the Last Supper, every disciple there remembers this powerful sermon from John 6. As they partook of the bread and wine, they remembered what it stood for and no doubt began to form a doctrinal pillar in their mind regarding the communion ceremony. So important was the bread and wine to the early church that they apparently partook every single time they got together (Acts 2:42). Paul was so convinced of the observance that of all the things that Jesus did, this is the only one that he shared verbatim (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25).

Leave nothing of Jesus on the table today. Consume His love and passion; His grace and favor; His healing and wholeness. It is all available for you; do you want it?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Elevated at Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-37

Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain to pray and while there, He transformed from His physical form to His glorified nature. His countenance changed and His clothes glistened. We call this incident the Transfiguration because Jesus showed the disciples His glorified man, literally transforming before their very eyes. Paul used the same Greek phrase for transfigured (Matthew 17:2) in Romans 12:2 when he tells the Christian to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”.

Moses and Elijah suddenly appeared with Jesus and began to speak of His coming death in Jerusalem. Ever wonder what heaven talks about? In this case, they were speaking of the finished work of Jesus, which was about to be accomplished on the cross. Heaven has always been about Jesus and His beauty and the redemption of mankind.

The story of the Transfiguration gives us a remarkable look at the arrival of grace. Grace is not a doctrine; it is a person, and His name is Jesus! John said that “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17), and Paul said to Titus that “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). A doctrine does not “appear”, but a man does. This shows us that when we speak of grace, we are speaking of Jesus.

Moses speaks of the law, while Elijah is representative of the prophets. The Old Testament is full of the Law and the Prophets, while the New Testament is the ministry of Grace. On top of this mountain, the Law and the Prophets became witness to the Righteousness without the Law (Romans 3:21). When Peter expresses a desire to build 3 tabernacles; one for each person, the Lord speaks from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear Him” (Luke 9:35), and there was no one left on the mountain with them except Jesus (Mark 9:8). Peter was placing the value of the Law and the Prophets on equal footing with Grace, and God spoke emphatically that it was Jesus who was to be listened to; not Moses and Elijah. When we try to elevate the Law and the Prophets to the status of God’s Grace, the Law and the Prophets will vanish to relinquish all attention towards Jesus.

What a command of God! Whatever Jesus says, that is what we are supposed to listen to. What is the first statement from Jesus’ mouth following the powerful voice of His Father? “Arise, and be not afraid” (Matthew 17:7). Rise up in who you are and do not fear. What a mandate for the believer today!

Notice that when the Law was given on Mt. Sinai, the people ran away from Moses when he came down the mountain bearing the tables of stone (Exodus 20:18). When Jesus comes down the mountain after His transfiguration, the people run to meet Him (Luke 9:37). Where Law runs man away from the presence of the Lord, Grace runs man towards Him, for Law ministers death, while Grace always ministers life (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).

The lesson for Peter, James and John was an awesome visual, but it was also wrapped up in their names. Peter means “stone”; James is “Jacob” in Hebrew meaning “supplanter”; John is “grace” in Greek. Put them back-to-back-to-back and you have, “The stone (Law) is replaced by grace”. Transfiguration taught it, and God said, “Listen to it!” Awesome!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Get Behind Me, Satan!

Mark 8:33

Jesus spoke these words to Peter, but he was speaking directly to the devil. Just like the curse against the serpent in Eden, both to the animal and to the devil behind the animal, Jesus speaks to Peter in the flesh, but Satan in the spirit. This is not to insinuate that Peter was demon-possessed, but rather that in this particular moment, he was being influenced of the devil.

Peter had just rebuked Jesus for saying that he was going to die and then rise again. He had no understanding as to the real reason that Jesus was on earth. He was not here to overthrow Rome and restore the Jewish state. He was here, however, to die as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. The cross was the apex of the mission of Jesus, and Peter rebuking the Lord for saying that He would die was the equivalent of denying the finished work of the cross. It bothered Jesus then, and it bothers Him now!

It was Satan who influenced Peter in this moment, for I believe that Satan was as scared of the cross happening as you and I would be if we knew that we were going to be on it. Many erroneously think that the cross was a victory for Satan, but there is ample evidence to show that he did not understand the import of what was happening at Calvary. Satan no doubt wanted Jesus silenced and stopped, but he also knew that one man would die for the sins of the whole world, and this was most likely that event.

Earlier, at the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus, Satan had offered Jesus the entire world if He would only bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:8,9). Jesus would get the entire world into His hands if He laid His life down on the cross, and He knew it. Certainly Satan must have had an idea of this as well, offering Jesus a chance to have it all without the price of the cross. Why would Satan do this unless he had a good idea about the power of the finished work?

Make no mistake, whether the devil knew what the cross was going to do when it happened or not, he certainly knows what the cross DID. It was the place of his great defeat; the crushing of his skull. When the Bible promised that Satan would bruise the heel of Jesus, it is not insinuating that Satan would have some amount of victory at the cross, for the word for bruise there in Hebrew is “lie in wait for”. Satan could do little more than grab at the heel of Jesus, while Jesus crushed his head on the cross.

Do not think that you are immune from turning your attention away from the power of the finished work just because you have heard it a time or two. There is a need for a constant viewing of Christ’s loveliness if we are to be free in His glorious liberty. Our head needs turned toward Him and His accomplishment, away from our wounds, and onto His. Peter has just declared that Christ was the Son of the living God, and had been commended for receiving this knowledge of the Lord, when he turns right around and rebukes the Lord. In one breath he speaks such beautiful words of our Lords loveliness, and in the next, he is rebuking and being rebuked by the Lord. Be on guard that the finished work stays lovely in your eyes.

Go forth in the righteousness of Christ that defines who you are; careful to keep the beautiful finished work ever more beautiful in your sights.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Give Your Peace

Matthew 10:13
Just before He went to the cross, Jesus made this powerful statement to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 15:27). What a moment this must have been! The disciples had never seen Jesus stressed out or overwhelmed. He was the model of perfect peace and harmony, and He is now giving that same peace to mere man. He has also attached the promise that His peace is given in a different manner than the world gives. Peace on this earth is found only with the absence of conflict. Peace from Jesus is constant; conflict or not.

Armed with this peace, the disciples were equipped to face a world that would not always accept them or their message. In fact, on another occasion, Jesus told them that they would be hated of all men for His name’s sake (Matthew 10:22). Knowing that the world would reject them, they are now armed with the one thing that will help them through that rejection.

Christ’s finished work at the cross bought peace for the believer. Since we are justified by our faith in Jesus, we have been given peace with God through the finished work of Christ (Romans 5:1). Calvary bought our peace because it took the brunt of God’s wrath and anger against the sin of the world and it poured it onto and into Jesus. Now that God’s wrath has been appeased, we are able to come boldly before the Father due to the precious blood of the Son.

This peace is so tangible and so real, that it is literally a commodity that the believer has at his or her disposal. When Jesus gave instructions to the disciples about how they were to minister, He instructed them to salute the house that they enter (Matthew 10:12). This salute was more than a gesture and a few words, but was frequently a prolonged event characterized by embracing and kissing. It was Jesus’ way of telling the disciples to pour love onto those who opened their homes to them.

Once the minister was settled into a home, he would begin to share the good news of Jesus, which would either be accepted by the residents or rejected in turn. If the message was accepted then that was great news for both the minister and his audience. That house was deemed “worthy” of such a disciple and he was to “let your peace come upon it” (Matthew 10:13). If they rejected the message, he was to “let your peace return to you”.

The disciple was not to rise up in anger against the house and pronounce some sort of curse of doom against it. This is unnecessary, since the curse of the law will fall squarely on those who reject Jesus as their Savior. You need not add to the worst curse of all just because your message has been cast aside. Besides, New Covenant preachers will bless and curse not (Romans 12:14).

You can give of your peace to someone else today. You are a helper of their joy (2 Corinthians 1:24), so follow after the things which make for peace in their life (Romans 14:19). Give your peace to those who will accept it, for freely has His peace been given to you!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

No Sweat

Ezekiel 44:18

God spoke to Ezekiel concerning the functions of the temple that should be enforced when Israel returned from their scattering. These instructions were to be followed by the Lord’s priests and they were inter-mingled with prophecies of the future millennial reign of our Lord Jesus.

The garments of the priesthood are given in vivid detail in Exodus 28 and this passage in Ezekiel gives us a greater insight into the specific fabric for the garments. When the priest entered into the gates of the inner court of the temple, they were to be wearing linen garments. This garment covered them from neck to toe, including the length of their arms. The linen was a representation of the righteousness of God, and it is also the garment that the soldiers did not tear at the cross when they gambled for Jesus’ clothes. By leaving it untorn, they were unwittingly leaving the priestly garment for Jesus to wear symbolically, for Caiaphas had just torn his the night before, leaving the office of High Priest vacant (Matthew 26:65). Jesus filled that office for us, becoming our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14).

No wool was to be on the body of the priests because it does not breathe well, and it tends to cause the body to sweat. Sweat was a part of the curse that God put upon man in the Garden when He told Adam, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground” (Genesis 3:19). Adam had chosen to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and by this disobedience; sin had entered into the family of man. Sweat was a result of the work that man had to do to survive, thus a symbol of his fallen state.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat as it were great drops of blood (Luke 22:44) as He prayed about His upcoming death at the cross. His precious blood mingled with the sweat of man’s curse, thus paying for that curse to be lifted. Because of the work of Jesus in one Garden, the failure of man in the first Garden has been done away! We are free from working to survive as Jesus has finished the work on our behalf.

Jesus is our bread of heaven, and He requires no work on our part to receive that bread. Adam, which characterizes every man in a fallen, sinful state, had to eat his bread by his own sweat and efforts. You and I, as New Covenant believers, eat the bread of heaven with no effort of our own. We have the daily manna of Jesus and His finished work and we can partake of it freely.

You do not live by your efforts in the kingdom of God. You are no more righteous or holy at this moment by your religious activity than you were the moment that you said “Yes” to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The finished work of Jesus has freed you from stressing about your job, your income, your children or your future. He bore the labor, so you can have the fruit. You have asked for a fish (blessing), do you think your heavenly Father will give you a serpent (curse)?