Sunday, May 28, 2023

Lives of our Fathers

 


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This is the communion meditation for Legacy Christian Church, 5/28/2023

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History bears weight. Somebody important once said “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I don’t think history repeats, but I do think it often rhymes. History bears weight because you can learn a little about the path you travel, if you take a minute to look at where you came from. Jesus’ genealogy is a representation of the divine right of Jesus to certain titles He claimed.

Jesus’ family tree was not without noteability and notoriety. We all have these strange nuts on our family tree. One day I might tell you about mine. Today, we should consider Jesus’ people. Let’s examine the past to see a select portion of the fathers of the Savior. Abraham: Vs 2: Not always the most noble of character, he’s the father of the people. Right there in verse 3 Abraham’s great grandson: Judah, father of Perez and Zerah, by Tamar.

We go further down, then Matthew records Jesse, the father of David the King.

By naming Jesus as the Son of David, Matthew puts him in line for all sorts of prophecies made about the shoot of Jesse, Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Messiah. It’s always been interesting to me that in the next sentence, he becomes just David: “the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.” David sought God’s heart, but often found his own pleasure. He chased after the temporary and fleeting pleasure of the world.

And so on and so forth. The point of all this genealogy is in verse 17: “So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. “ 14-14-14. That’s not just a terrible lock combination, that’s a clue, Jesus is the authorized King of the Jews (prophecy not withstanding) by legal right, and more importantly, He is the one King promised from long ago. Jesus’ forefathers had a part to play in God’s plan, it didn’t matter who they were or what they had done to achieve their mark on their world. We also have a part to play, but our role is a little different. In the life applications adult Bible fellowship class on Sunday mornings we’ve been looking at Ephesians, and in that book we see and learn something important: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  (9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:8-10 .

God’s got a plan for us too! Good works! If we see our past, we see that our faith comes from evil deeds. Our own story, is one of separation from God, and of opposition to our plan God created for us, until we met Jesus. In Him, we find the fulfilment of God’s purposes. Our sins are forgiven, and our future secured. We take this meal together to remember, just like Jesus said, that we’re in a new covenant. This morning, will you take His body with me, and remember that He is the propitiation for our sins? Will you take the cup and raise it to remember the new covenant written in this blood He shed for us. Hallelujah, Jesus had some interesting Kin, and now, I, and the rest of you too who’ve obeyed His Gospel, have been adopted into His family. Let’s pray.

Monday, April 17, 2023

How am I saved? Because I Repented of my Sins and Confess Jesus! Salvation Part 6

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This is Part 6 of an ongoing series on Salvation. 

In this post we cover a couple of aspects of being saved that are often incompletely understood, Repentance and Confession. I've attempted here to provide a basic, accurate understanding of both with the idea that we can study more together. I hope you learn something, and are edified by this teaching. God has called everyone to repent of their sins, and desires that we all Confess "Jesus is Lord"


A summary of all posts can be found here:

Salvation Page.
Please take your time and read each post in turn, you'll get a better picture of what's going on.

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A.    Repenting of Your Sins.

Do you hate the evil in this world? I do, and I believe God does too. Many people use the excuse of evil to disbelieve in God. I wish they’d consider how their own personal evil affects the world around them. Many times people like to play a game where they compare their sins to the sins of others. When we do this, we neglect one important fact: We sin against God. Let me say that again, We Sin Against God. One more time, just in case, WE SIN AGAINST GOD. He is Holy. He is utterly and completely different from sin. When He created Humans, we owed Him our work, and when we sin, we take from Him. Sin is such a big deal to God, He promises judgement on the wicked. If we are to love God, if we believe His promises of Life to us, we must learn to hate evil, no matter how small, no matter how much we do or continue to do. Our sins required payment, and God’s payment was nothing less than the blood of Jesus: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). I would like to therefore propose to you something maybe you’ve heard before, and maybe not.

           When you sin, Jesus’ suffering on the cross was that much more. When you sin today, Jesus’ suffering was that much more then. God isn’t limited by time and space, but has been working since even the very foundation of this world to bring all to Him. His efforts have been all because of your sin. God does not desire that we continue in this sin! It is an affront to His Holy nature, and sin is against the purposes for which He has created you. Sin brings death, and God brings life. Therefore, if we would receive life from Him, we must rid ourselves of the cause of death, and put aside our sins! Jesus says it like this: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.[1] He wanted to stress that point of repentance so much that He repeats that instruction to repent in Luke 13:5! When a woman caught in adultery is brought before Him, He does not condemn her, instead He calls her to repentance saying, “from now on sin no more”. The Apostles echo Jesus’ instructions to repentance. When the crowd on the day of Pentecost asks, “What should we do?” Peter replies for them to “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Not long after, he tells people gathered at Solomon’s Portico: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out…” Since we are to repent, two questions obviously present themselves for consideration. What is repentance? How do we repent? In considering these things, we will look at scripture for definitions, and we will also need to look within ourselves. I have to warn you, in either case, you may find some things out about yourself that are unpleasant. I know I will. That’s the point. When we define repentance, we are defining new life.

“Repent” in the New Testament, as Jesus commanded, as the Apostles taught literally means “Change your mind”. When Jesus says “repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” He wants you to change your mind! When Peter says “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins” he wanted those people (and us, the promise is for all who the Lord God calls) to change their minds. When God delays Judgement on this earth, the delay is because He desires all to change their minds! (2 Peter 3:9) We need to change our minds about who Jesus is. If Jesus is, in your mind, just a good man/teacher/prophet, but is not the son of God: Change your mind! If Jesus is, in your mind, one choice among many: Change your mind! If Jesus is not Lord of your mind: Change your mind! Paul describes repentance without saying repentance like this:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [2]

In this description we begin to answer the how of repentance. When we change our minds, we change our actions. When we change our actions, we begin to see things God’s way. As we begin to see God’s way, we find more and more in us that needs to change! That’s repentance. We constantly change and move toward God. We must move away from worldly thinking. This affects our entire being, especially when you consider all the things the world does that are good, but subtly warped away from God’s purposes. We must change our minds.

Much of what we do as Christians is the same from person to person. We believe the same things about Jesus, we confess the same things about Jesus, we’re all baptized into the same body of Christ, but repentance takes things to a more personal level. Just as we are all individuals, we have individual sin, and circumstances that need to be handled. In short, no one can really tell you how to repent, but they can hold you to account that you do repent. That’s part of what makes our relationships in church fellowship so special. We all have different weaknesses and in Christ, we can complement and build each other up in holiness and love. To know what you need to repent of, look to Scripture. God’s word is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.[3]” By reading, learning, and practicing scripture, we build the habits we need to excel in all the good works God has for us to do. Changing our minds through repentance brings the church together in a very powerful way. We see and do God’s will through His word, and we begin to understand the cost to God for Him to extend to us His Grace.

What do you need to change in your mind, so that it changes your actions?

B.     Because we Confess that Faith

Jesus said, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.[4]” There’s something specific about Jesus that we must identify. Confession is linked to faith in that we apply our faith with our voice. The things we confess are what we believe about Jesus. We believe Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. That simple but dividing statement is what begins to set Christians apart from other people and religions. Most religions require some sort of faith, and a turning away from sin and “the old ways”, but Christianity requires that we Believe in Jesus and Proclaim this to others. We also confess that Jesus is Lord. When we make that confession, we must understand that Jesus is in Heaven, at the right hand of God, ready to bring judgement for the world, and deliverance to His people. I love the description of Jesus in Revelation 19:

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Many before Jesus have attempted to wear the title of King of kings, Lord of lords. Nobody obtained their Kingdom quite like Jesus. Jesus did not consider using His status of equal with God, but instead used obedience to the Father to achieve His Lordship, so that every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Confession and repentance go hand in hand. Simply put, if you change, people need to know why. Conversely, if you say you have a reason to change, they need to see the change. If you believe Jesus, and if you believe what He says, you will believe Him when He talks about repentance, and you will confess Him before others. This confession is a continual process, usually starting with a formal announcement to the Church at Large that you believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God, that He is your Lord and savior. It continues in confessing His lordship when before others. I did this when I was about ten and a half, before the congregation of Alexandria Christian Church on June 12, 1988. I confessed to them that I believe that Jesus is THE Christ, the SON of the Living God. My confession echoed Peter’s words to Jesus when Jesus asked His disciples, “who do you say that I am?” Who do you say Jesus is, is He the Christ? We also must acknowledge Jesus is King to the world. This is a little trickier. When the Apostles were first taking the Gospel message to people, the message itself was contraband. It denied a central tenet of the state: that Caesar is a god. Many Christians were persecuted for their “atheism” by the state. Their confession was serious business, something they didn’t take lightly, nor did they give it without considering what Jesus said about suffering for His name. Even in modern times, the government doesn’t like competition. Throughout history, the state has opposed the church, to the point where people must keep their church meetings secret. In America, we have “freedom of speech” and “freedom of religion” but much of that freedom is restricted by rules, laws and social norms meant to enforce the de facto state religion of pluralism and humanistic philosophy. Some people will look at you crazy if you confess that Jesus is the King of kings. They believe they have no king but themselves. We seek to be different. We seek to align ourselves with the Creator of the Heavens and the earth. We seek the King who set Himself aside to do God’s will, and who then rose from the dead to proclaim full life to those who believe.

We’ve talked so far about faith, repentance, and confession. These things are all part of the obedience to the Gospel, but they’re not the full story. Jesus and the Apostles, have left us with one more thing to think about before we can say we’re done. We’ve talked about what we do when we believe, repent, and confess, but now we must consider what God does with us when we’re baptized into the Body of Christ.



[1] Luke 13:2,3

[2] Romans 12:1-2

[3] 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

[4] Luke 12:8,9

Monday, April 10, 2023

Missed the Deadline

 I tried getting today's post about Salvation ready over the weekend, but it did not happen. When I started posting the series, I was about 2/3rds the way through it, but this post is the one I'd done the least amount of work on. I had a non-specific outline. I did put a lot of work in on it though, still needs some content and a little polishing. I should have it out this week. I enjoy writing these posts. It makes me think about what I've done as a Christian, both good and bad. I think over all, it's brought me closer to what the Lord wants to do in my life. He's got work for me to do.

Anyway,

It's a good time to think and engage the series, you can find every post here, and a general idea of what is coming up next:

Salvation Post List

Feel free to ask questions, provide feedback, or schedule a one-on-one or small group discussion.

Christians everywhere need to be on the same page on this business.

Monday, April 03, 2023

How Does Salvation Happen? Through Faith in Jesus! Salvation Part 5





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This is Part 5 of an ongoing series on Salvation. 

This post is especially appropriate for the day after Palm Sunday. Jesus entered Jerusalem, and everyone had Messiah Fever! They expected Jesus to be something He wasn't, an earthly King with and earthly throne. That's not what Jesus came to do though. In this post in particular, we talk about 3 things to believe about Jesus. Has anyone ever taught you to believe like this? These tenets are core elements of Christian faith, the faith that saves you from your sins. If you want the guarantee of eternal live, you should consider them.

A summary of all posts can be found here:

Salvation Page.
Please take your time and read each post in turn, you'll get a better picture of what's going on.

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Salvation is Through Faith in Jesus

The Bible asks us to believe many things about Jesus. By believe, we mean that we assert something is true, we trust that result, and it produces good fruit in us. Let’s look at three things you must believe about Jesus if you want to be saved by the Grace of God through the righteousness of Jesus. These three beliefs are what drive me to be a disciple of Christ. I am someone who follows Jesus wholly, completely devoted to Him and His teaching. I do this because I see what Jesus did in the past, I know what He’s done for us today, and I look forward to what He’s doing in the future.

1. Jesus is the Son of God.

In Matthew 16:13 Jesus asks a question of His disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” He asks them this to contrast His disciples with the people of the world. In this world people believe things about Jesus that tie Him to the world, but not to their souls. He’s a good man, a good prophet, one who showed us great teachings. For some, He’s a political malcontent opposing the state and status quo. Jesus then asks them to tell Him who they say He is, and the answer is astonishing. Matthew records Peter’s answer forever: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” The identity of Jesus is the well from which the living water flows. Our salvation comes from who Jesus is. By God’s Grace Jesus’ righteousness is the substitute for our sins, if we obey the Gospel given to us by God’s son.




2. Jesus Died for our sins, was buried and Rose again on the third day.

At the heart of Christianity is Good News. The Good News is sometimes called “The Gospel”, and it’s what I wish to proclaim with my whole life until I either die, or Jesus returns. The Gospel is an assertion about the power of God at work through His Grace. God knows we have a sin problem, and He knows that He’s the only one who can solve it. Listen to how the Apostle Paul taught this assertion:


“1Co 15:1-4 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, (2) and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”


Paul then describes the list of people who saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion. These were people who wept at His flogging, and who saw His dead body. They wrapped Him in linen and spices and put Him in a tomb. Then, He is alive! All at once! There were people who saw Jesus alive who didn’t believe him at first, like his own brother, and Paul himself, who experienced Jesus late “as one untimely born.” The thing is, just dying, and coming back, that’s nothing new. In the Old Testament, God raised people from the dead, and while Jesus was here, He resurrected people from the dead. Jesus’ special case is that He died for a reason, promised of old, and He’s never dying again. The Word of God in the Old Testament is full of clues that show us who Jesus was, and what He’s going to do. The Apostle Paul was skilled at showing people in his day how the Old Testament promised the coming of Jesus. In one example, while on a missionary journey to tell people about Jesus, he stopped at a Synagogue and gave a quick Bible lesson:


Acts 13:14-43 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. (15) After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” (16) So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. (17) The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. (18) And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. (19) And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. (20) All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. (21) Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. (22) And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ (23) Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. (24) Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (25) And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ (26) “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. (27) For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. (28) And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. (29) And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. (30) But God raised him from the dead, (31) and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. (32) And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, (33) this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ (34) And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ (35) Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ (36) For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, (37) but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. (38) Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (39) and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (40) Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: (41) “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’” (42) As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. (43) And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.


Notice how Paul presents the truth, the religious leaders of his day didn’t know it, but they were fulfilling prophecy with their treatment of Jesus. So many times, we have a part to play in God’s plan, and we are unaware. These people received the word with an eager longing in part because they were expecting Jesus to come, and there were people to proclaim Jesus. When Jesus came to earth, many rejected Him because He wasn’t what they were looking for. Enough people saw who Jesus was though, and their belief grew until they acted. They followed Him when He was here, they believed His words because they saw His miracles, and when He was resurrected, they proclaimed the Truth until they died. We Christians today proclaim that same thing, Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. There’s more to say about this. You might want to look at how God’s Scriptures promised Jesus. I’d love to talk to you about it. Study of the promise of Jesus is a subject beyond this post. It’s a wonderful journey that starts in Genesis, and weaves all the way through Malachi. Let’s schedule a time to study this together soon.


3. Jesus is coming back to judge the living and the dead.

The promise of Jesus’ return is given as soon as He’s gone. Acts 1:10-11 says “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, (11) and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ “ There’s a lot of disagreement of when and how judgement takes place, but most Christians believe the writer of Hebrews when they say: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (28) so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” The Bible promises you will face judgment when you die. In this world, you’ll be judged as well by those who come after you. Their judgement is imperfect, but it’s there. God’s judgement is perfect and able to show everyone the truth. Jesus said it like this in the gospel of John: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” Jesus’ words are the words of God, can you measure up to them?

I have met a lot of people who want to know the will of what they would call Divine. They will engage in all manners of sophisticated superstition, and capricious rituals to guess at the will of God. From childish “cootie catchers” to horoscopes, and “tv psychics”, they all seek after something found in the Bible, spoken in plain language. Listen to Jesus’ teaching at the end of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 7:24-27:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

How will you be judged? Wise or foolish? Jesus says if you do what He says, you are wise. If you don’t do what He said, you’re foolish. Let’s talk more about being wise and foolish together sometime.


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Next Post:

How are We Saved? When We Repent of Our Sins and Confess Jesus is Lord.

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