Category: The Gospel

The Gospel Provides Forgiveness for the Ultimate Betrayal

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The gospel provides forgiveness for the ultimate betrayal. Peter told his Jewish audience that they had done the unthinkable – killed their promised Messiah!

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. Acts 2:23 (NLT)

The Jews rejected the messianic claims of God’s only begotten Son and murdered him, just as Jesus had predicted.

But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Matthew 21:38–41 (NKJV)

Peter refused to “sugar coat” this ultimate betrayal. He let the full weight of what they did fall squarely upon their shoulders.

Adam and Eve betrayed their Creator and Friend in the Garden by choosing to follow Satan down in the pursuit of a self-directed life.

Faithlessness and betrayal is at the root of all sin, which found its ultimate expression at the cross. Nothing man will ever do can compare to killing God’s only begotten Son!

When we share the gospel, we should bring our hearers face-to-face with our sin of the betrayal of God’s Son, the Messiah King. Even though we did not personally nail him to the cross. the sin of humanity, Jew and Gentile, through the ages is the reason he sacrificed himself.

The gospel calls us to admit our betrayal and rebellion, ask forgiveness, and declare unqualified allegiance to the risen Messiah King of Israel, Jesus the Lord.

When we confess Jesus as the Lord, the Gospel begins to accomplish its purpose in our lives, converting us from devilish independence to surrender to our Creator-Sustainer-Redeemer. Water baptism, our formal declaration of allegiance to the Lord, is the next step, followed by the baptism in the Spirit and a lifetime of loving and serving the King.

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Jesus’ Crucifixion Is God’s Plan to Save the World

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Peter declared that Jesus’ crucifixion was God’s master plan of redemption.

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.Acts 2:23 (NLT)

If we read through the gospels, we quickly learn that Jesus firmly believed in God’s sovereignty in all things. He trusted that nothing could or would happen to him outside of his Father’s will. He told his disciples ahead of time that he would be crucified.

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” John 10:17-18 (NLT)

When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus among the crowds by the river Jordan, he identified him as the Lamb of God, whose crucifixion and resurrection would take away our sins.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NKJV)

Jesus is God’s promised solution to our sin problem that condemns all to eternal death. That is sin’s wages Jesus was not some poor itinerant teacher who got caught up in a political power play that he was impotent to stop. He willingly and knowingly went to the cross to pay for our sins. When he rose again, it proved that his heavenly Father accepted his sacrifice on our behalf.

All who believe that and confess that he is the risen Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

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Healings and Miracles Testify to the Truth of the Gospel

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Peter said that Jesus’ miracles proved that he is the Messiah.

People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.Acts 2:22 (NLT)

Some people discount Jesus’ miracles and relegate them to the realm of mere legend, but the people of that day knew first hand that they were genuine. In fact, Jesus boldly challenged those who doubted his identity as the Messiah to believe in him because of his miracle.

...The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. John 10:25 (NLT)

When we share the gospel, we have the opportunity to bring people face to face with Jesus’ miracle working power, which testifies to God’s love and the truth of the gospel. We should stay alert to the Holy Spirit, who may prompt us to pray for those around us.

If we boldly pray for healing and miracles in Jesus’ name, we give the Holy Spirit a chance to demonstrate God’s love and the truth of our message.

Paul understood that God wants the gospel to be our words accompanied by a demonstration of power through the Holy Spirit.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true... 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)
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God is a real person who communicates with us.

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God is a real person who communicates with people whose hearts are open to him. Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32) in the following part of his gospel proclamation on Pentecost.

But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Acts 2:21 (NLT)

What exactly does it mean to “call on the name of the Lord”?

The Star Wars movie series presents God in an Eastern religion way as an impersonal “force” that can be tapped into by those who have knowledge. The God of the Bible, the true God, is a real Person. Not a human, but a person. Humans are created in his image. We have personality because that is an important aspect of God’s being. Personalities can think and communicate.

God has no problem at all in communicating with us. When we seek him, he tells us that we will find him.

Calling upon the Lord means we pray or speak to him as a genuine personality who listens to us and will respond. Jeremiah the prophet wrote:

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV)

When we share the gospel, we should encourage our hearers to engage Jesus on a personal level by “calling” to him in prayer. We have the sure promise that he will allow us to find him when we seek him with all our hearts.

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Developing Teamwork in the Local Church between Government and the Prophetic Ministry

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In this article I will explore how to develop teamwork between local church government and the prophetic ministry. These two broad categories of responsibility and serving sometimes come into unnecessary conflict due to a lack of understanding of how they should properly relate. The body of Christ functions best when each part works in harmony with the Head, Jesus Christ. God created mankind to experience a wonderful dependence upon him and an interdependence with one another. In the local church, the proper cooperation between government and the prophetic ministry is an example of this.

When government and the prophetic properly work together, great power and authority will be released.

And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; 8 if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8 (NET1)
An Overview of Biblical Government

Another word for church government is the episcopate, which basically means those who oversee.

Peter used this word in speaking about eldership:

Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3 (NET1)

One purpose of the episcopate is to help people grow to maturity in faith and their relationship with the Lord.

Overseers should see their people in a similar way as a father would a son or daughter. The hope and expectation is for the child to grow to maturity and have less and less need for the father in day to day affairs. The relationship will remain intact, but its nature changes dramatically over time as the child grows to maturity and gains greater responsibility and latitude to operate.

I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm. 2 Corinthians 1:24 (NET1)

Our Lord vests responsibility and authority in the episcopate, which includes such leadership ministries as pastor and elder in the local church setting. The writer of Hebrews mentions both aspects of government, leadership and oversight, in the following scripture:

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. Hebrews 13:17 (NET1)

In this article, by “government” I mean those who have oversight and leadership responsibilities in the local assembly.

This would include persons with “five-fold ministry” gifts, such as the pastor, as well as the governing elders. It could also include other leadership people, such as small group leaders, youth leaders, etc., but I will limit this discussion to pastor and elders.

Those in government have been given the overall responsibility to oversee, nurture, and protect the flock. As such, their main gifts likely will be faith, leadership, wisdom, strategy, discerning of spirits, and administration. There should also be a strong teaching component to this ministry of feeding or nurturing the flock. Those in government who are also part of the “five-fold” ministry will also have gifts to build up the body and equip it for ministry through pastoring, teaching, and prophecy, as well as through the apostolic and evangelistic impartation of Christ. Since these five-fold ministers have both a governmental anointing and a ministerial gifting, we will include them with government in this discussion.

Leadership is the ability and grace God gives to a person that enables him (or her) to effectively lead others in the direction God wants them to go.

When a person endowed with leadership vision and gifting comes under the Lordship of Christ, God will give him the responsibility and the authority needed to lead. God’s command to the leader is to be diligent, eager, earnest, and zealous. The great need of the leader is vision, courage, and wisdom.

… if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence… Romans 12:8 (NET1)
Some Generalities about Ministry

“Ministry” includes those people in the church whom God gifts to serve in any capacity, besides governmental oversight.

Another word for these people is the “diaconate.” Ministry is a very broad category, and, for this reason, in this discussion, I will narrow my focus to the prophetic-intercessory ministry. The general principles that apply to it in the governmental-ministerial relationship will be true for every other ministry person, as he or she relates to the oversight team in the church.

Prophetic people have the ability and skill to operate in the gift of prophecy and some other gifts of the Spirit such as the word of knowledge. (Here I am not including “five-fold” ministry “prophets,” which I have made part of governmental oversight. This is not a hard and fast rule, but simply how I have divided things. In this article, I identify the “prophetic” ministry with those who simply are able to operate in the gift of prophecy.)

The prophetic ministry is comprised of those people in the church who have the ability to “hear” God in a special way and pass that along to God’s people for exhortation, edification, and comfort. (1 Cor. 14:3)

The prophetic ministry relates chiefly to the ability to “see” and “hear” and “know,” especially in the spiritual realm.

In the Old Testament, prophets originally were called “seers.” Prophecy requires those who operate in it to receive revelation from God in the form of visions, dreams, thoughts, and words, which they pass along to God’s people, as is appropriate, timely, and edifying. It goes without saying that any such revelation is subject to God’s truth as revealed in the Scriptures.

The LORD said, “Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream. Numbers 12:6 (NET1)

Intercessory prayer people, who have a prophetic gift, can use this spiritual ability to assist them in praying; therefore, the prophetic ministry can include those who operate in intercessory prayer ministry, worship leadership, counseling, and anyone else who believes he or she is hearing from God for the church corporately or for individuals. Prophetic intercessors seem to have a valid ability to gain understanding from God concerning how to pray for individuals and ministries. In the local church, they seem to have insight into what God is doing or going to do or what the enemy may be up to. For this reason they are included in the same group as the prophetic ministry, who may use their gift for personal ministry to individuals and leaders or to speak messages to the entire church during an assembly.

God’s command to the prophetic person is to stay within the limitations of his or her own faith.

And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. Romans 12:6 (NET1)

If we are prophetic, we should never let anyone or a desire to look good lead us to go beyond our faith when prophesying.

The great need for the prophetic person is to be under authority and properly related to the government of the church.

If we are prophetic, we must remember that our ministry is partially to assist the oversight team in their responsibility to lead and oversee as God desires, not to usurp their authority. If we believe we have heard God regarding things that are properly under the purview of the governmental ministry, we should share those things in such a way that leadership will not feel as if we are putting pressure on them. We should always strive to be “under authority” when speaking as representatives of God to the oversight ministry.

The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him. John 7:18 (NET1)
How Government and Ministry Relate

The lead elder or “pastor” in a congregation is normally a person who is gifted in both government and ministry gifts. This person is part of the “five-fold” ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4:11, whose purpose is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. A lead elder’s ministry gift may not be in the realm of the prophetic, but may rather be teaching, pastoring, evangelizing, or that which pertains to the apostolic.

All those whom God calls and appoints to function in church government will have a leadership gift and grace to be able to oversee the church by making judgments and decisions based on the wisdom and understanding God gives.

A person with governmental responsibility and authority from God may or may not have extraordinary pulpit ministry gifts. For example, an elder may not have a strong ministry gifting, such as teaching or preaching, but will have a strong governmental gifting and be able to teach, as needed.

The authority connected with the prophetic or other non-governmental ministry is different from the authority vested in governmental leaders.

Those who prophesy and give revelations from the Lord, unless they are five-fold prophets, generally only have the authority of the message itself; whereas, those in government carry authority in themselves, as delegated representatives of Christ’s authority and as part of their appointment to govern.

(However, this does not mean that leaders are infallible or that I am in any way espousing a domineering authoritarian type of rule in the church. Government has its own checks and balances, which I am not addressing in this article.)

In other words, God asks those in the prophetic diaconate to submit their word or revelation for others to judge with reference to how it agrees with the written Word of God and whether there is a sense that the Spirit is indeed speaking through them. The responsibility to judge prophecy falls especially on those who are prophetically gifted and who have governmental responsibility. The prophetic word or revelation will then stand or fall on its own merits.

The foundation for an effective teamwork between the governmental and prophetic begins with understanding the nature of the authority vested in each and working within those limitations.

Those who have a strong governmental anointing have an ability to discern, interpret, judge wisely, and make sound decisions. The gift of leadership carries with it an ability to discern God’s plan and timing. A leader does receive revelation from God; although, it is not always in exactly the same way as the prophetic person. The leader has vision given by God for what could and should be regarding God’s overall plan. He also has intuition and insight concerning where God is going and when it is time to move forward or wait. This is part of the basis for his or her leadership.

The prophetic person, on the other hand, often sees things and understands God’s plan and purpose long before the time for it to be fulfilled, in order that he or she may pray and prophesy it into being, as opposed to being the actual leader or activator of the event.

Take the example of Samuel and David. Samuel had the prophetic picture and anointed David to be the next king but did not personally have the calling or gifting to be the king. Neither Samuel nor David knew exactly when or how God would bring David’s kingship to pass, however.

The prophetic person may see a revelation painted in broad brush strokes, but lack the governmental wisdom to know how and when the purpose of God will come to pass, or even when the revelation should be made known to others.

The governmental person may not “see” all aspects of the prophetic picture right away, but he or she knows enough about where God is going to discern how the prophetic insight does or does not fit into the overall scheme of things, at least for the moment.

To put it another way, the governmental person often does not see all that the prophetic person sees. The prophetic person often does not understand what the governmental person knows through wisdom and governmental intuition. (When we operate in our God-given gift, we are intuitive, knowing things beyond what we can explain.) This can create a tension that may lead to big problems if a proper teamwork relationship is not established and maintained. Both parties must develop a relationship of trust based on proven faithfulness, which takes time.

How to Build Trust and a Working Relationship

In order to function well in a teamwork relationship, the prophetic person needs to know that the governmental person takes his or her prophetic gifting and ministry seriously, even though what he or she shares may not always be acted upon or even received as a word from God that must be obeyed. The prophetic person also needs to know that the governmental person will seek God about any supposed revelation that is shared.

Conversely, a governmental person needs to know that a prophetic person is willing to follow his or her leadership, even if it does not line up with the prophetic person’s understanding. The governmental ministry needs to know that the prophetic ministry is willing to have its revelations judged by those in the governmental ministry, and the prophetic ministry needs to have confidence in the wisdom and discernment of the governmental ministry to properly judge prophetic revelations. Ultimately, this means prophetic people believe that God is able to direct those in government as he wishes.

Leaders should refrain from speaking in a negative way about those in the intercessory/prophetic ministry, and those who are prophetic must learn to uphold their leaders in prayer and with their words and actions.

When the government and prophetic really respect and appreciate one another, a deep bond can develop and the ministry will thrive. One way or another, however, these relationships will be tested. You can count on that.

The Four-legged Table

For a four-legged table to firmly stand, each leg must be in place. The four legs of wise governmental decisions are listed below.

  • The right thing. We must discern what God wants to do. E.g. David discerned that it was good to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 13:5)
  • The right way. We must discern how God wants His will to be done. E.g. David at first failed to understand that the Ark must be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. Instead he placed it on an ox cart. God disciplined Israel for using the wrong method, but later blessed them when the Levites were used to transport the Ark God’s appointed way. (1 Chronicles 13:12; 15:2)
  • The right person. David was correct in wanting to build a proper temple to honor the Lord, but he was not the right person to carry it out. The prophetic ministry revealed that God had selected Solomon instead. David made all the preparations and shared with his son the plans God had revealed to him, making it easier for Solomon to succeed in the enterprise. David was humble enough to accept God’s choice of the right person. So must we be.
  • The right timing. Abraham had a promise from God that he would have a son, but he jumped the gun in his impatience and begot Ishmael. If we get ahead of (or behind) God’s timing, all sorts of problems may result.
So Jesus replied, “My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity! John 7:6 (NET1)

Tension between government and the prophetic is possible at each point. Will God reveal the thing, the way, the person, and the timing through the leader or a prophetic person? We never know in advance and must remain open. God’s timing is perhaps our greatest challenge.

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter… Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NET1)

How often have we rushed into doing something that we knew was God’s will, only to fall on our faces because it was not God’s timing? The prophetic and government must seek God together to discern God’s proper timing.

Timing is everything in the Kingdom of God, and carelessness here can be very detrimental and presumptuous. Prophets and leaders must learn to control their impatience in this area.

Sometimes God might withhold revelation of what to do from a leader because it is not yet time to do anything. The prophetic person may see the revelation long before the leader and need to prayerfully wait until the leader sees it, too, when it is God’s time to act upon it. All this is tied to God’s timing. Both the prophetic and government are tested on this one.

The prophetic person can pray and believe while God waits to reveal the plan to the governmental leader. This requires the prophetic person to have confidence that God will speak effectively to his leaders at the appointed time.

It’s more a trust issue concerning God than regarding the leader; but it may not be perceived that way. The prophetic person may mistrust the leader and think that God is actually speaking but the leader is not hearing. Prophetic ministries may be tempted to judge the leadership at this point and might perhaps launch out on their own, creating a division in the church or team.

Another problem is when the leader may be tempted to do something he is unsure of just because of the influence of the prophetic person. The prophetic person may seem so confident that it can be intimidating to an inexperienced leader, who has not become convinced that God will tell him everything he or she needs to know. Conversely, a leader may become defensive or negative toward a prophetic person and cease being open to their input. The leader must learn to trust in his God-given leadership gift and be open and thankful for input.

Keys to Effective Teamwork
  1. Mutual appreciation and trust
    • It is the leader’s responsibility to cultivate that atmosphere in the church by taking the lead in affirming other ministries and explaining how team ministry happens under God’s authority.
    • It is the prophetic person’s job to earn that trust by properly submitting to authority and returning appreciation to the leader.
  2. Permission
    • The primary responsibility for the welfare of the sheep falls upon the lead elder of the church.
    • If he is wise, he will employ as many people as possible in the task of pastoring, taking advantage of the various pastoral gifts in the church.
    • All those people who co-shepherd with him are doing so “with permission” since they derive their responsibility and authority from the lead elder, who gets his from Christ. We should not be engaged in our own self-directed independent ministry.
    • Delegated authority and ministry must make it their job to make the lead elder successful in his responsibility of shepherding the church.
  3. Deference
    • Those who are assisting the lead elder in ministry and oversight should honor those who are in authority over them.
    • Practically speaking, this involves deferring to them in matters that require higher-level pastoral involvement, such as when there are marital problems or any situation that requires counseling or decision making on a deeper level.
    • In other words, if a delegated ministry or authority has any question at all about how to properly handle a situation, he should defer to the one in authority over him.
    • He or she should follow all guidelines given him by the one in authority.
  4. Freedom
    • The one in authority must clearly define and communicate what are the guidelines he expects those under authority to follow.
    • As a working relationship is developed over time, more and more freedom can be given to the one under authority as they prove themselves faithful.
    • The goal is to produce a ministry team that thoroughly understands its individual roles, and within those roles, has great freedom to operate and initiate. Those under authority will be given authority. The goal is to produce mature ministers who know how to hear God and make decisions without having to be micro-managed.
Conclusion

If we fail to work together, the church will be hurt, the work slowed, and individuals will be held back from ministerial and leadership maturity. The prophetic can never reach its potential unless it works under and alongside church government. The government has the authority that can more fully release the prophetic. In addition, the government will never be able to discern all it needs to without the prophetic. The prophetic has the insight and revelation to help make the government a success.

Tips for Going Forward
  • The governmental ministry should take initiative to teach these principles to the church and especially to those in the prophetic-intercessory ministry. It is good to review these principles with all new members.
  • The governmental ministry should discuss these principles with the governmental and prophetic ministries in the church.
  • Guidelines for ministry should be set up and communicated.
  • The governmental ministry should regularly show their respect for the prophetic ministry in front of the church.
  • People in the prophetic ministry should communicate their desire to be under authority privately and publicly to the church.
  • When governmental leaders override the input of the prophetic ministry, it should be done in the fear of the Lord and with humility.
  • When prophetic ministers think they see or understand something before the governmental ministry does, they must be careful to maintain proper respect for the leadership and not undermine their authority before other people or in their own hearts, giving them space to hear God for themselves.
  • When leaders finally act upon input from the prophetic ministry, the latter should not be surprised that it will appear to be the leader’s own idea. This is part of the humility required of the prophetic ministry.
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Was the Virgin Birth Truly Necessary?

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The virgin birth is one of the key doctrines of Christianity. In this article, I will show why it is so essential and necessary.

The true story of Jesus begins with his mother Mary receiving an incredible announcement from the angel Gabriel.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:26-35 (NLT)

Why would God use something that is seemingly impossible, even ridiculous to some, as the means of bringing His Son into the world? Isn’t the resurrection a big enough hurdle for the modern rational mind without injecting a virgin birth into the Gospel story before we even get started? Why did God ask Mary to endure what was an apparent very large blemish on her character? I feel sure that most doubted her story. She must have endured the critical gaze of those who thought she was a loose woman with an illegitimate son. And how about the pain and confusion this abnormal birth caused Joseph? Couldn’t God have done this some other way? Apparently not.

The Bible reveals that Jesus is the God-Man, fully human and fully God. The human part is easy to grasp. The God element is more difficult and is something we must see by faith and revelation.

After his resurrection, Jesus confronted Thomas the doubter, who previously announced that he would not believe that Jesus rose until he put his fingers in the nail holes and his hand into his side. When Jesus suddenly appeared to him in answer to his request, Thomas blurted out: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) It was rather easy for him to arrive at that conclusion while standing in the presence of the risen Lord. The Holy Spirit must open our spiritual eyes for us to believe.

John the Baptist announced to the world that Jesus is the Lamb of God. What a shocker that message must have been to his listeners! Jesus was to be a human sacrifice! Most who heard those words probably concluded that John was just using poetic language. Even Jesus’ disciples, who heard the Lord tell them repeatedly that he would die on a cross, lived in denial regarding his coming crucifixion. No one grasped up front that Jesus would be God’s blemish-free substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Jesus had to be a man without sin who also was fully God in order to become the perfect sacrifice who could pay the just penalty for our sins.

Jesus also had to become a true man because the first man, Adam, sinned against God and earned the death penalty for the entire human race. Since then every human being has become a co-conspirator by personally sinning. Jesus had to be truly God because only God is perfect enough to make a perfect offering.

In order for Jesus to be a human and at the same time avoid being born with a wicked and debilitating sin nature, which the rest of us inherit from Adam and our own natural fathers, he had to be supernaturally begotten by God with a human mother.

For Christianity to work, this had to be. It is the divine logic. Jesus became the “second Adam,” the spiritual progenitor of a new race of people. His mother was a “standard issue” human being, but his Father was God. He was conceived by the operation of the Holy Spirit, which made him the most unique and important person ever to walk this earth. He had to be in order to accomplish his mission.

Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47 (NLT)
The Miracle of the New Birth

But Jesus is not the only person who has experienced a miraculous birth. His virgin birth prepared the way for a multitude of equally amazing births in which God is also the Father.

Through the miracle of the New Covenant, which was inaugurated by Jesus’ death and resurrection, every person who puts his or her faith in Christ is born miraculously. It’s called the new birth.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:5-7 (NLT)

The only way for a sinful human being to become a child of God is for Christ to be born or formed inside him. The Bible uses different metaphors or images to communicate what happens through the new birth process. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. Obviously, Jesus did not mean that Nicodemus had to go back into his mother’s womb.

The new birth takes place when God’s life is planted inside a person causing him or her to come alive in the spirit.

Paul called it the new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Peter wrote that the new birth is a result of God’s seed being planted inside a person, an obvious analogy to the biological conception process.

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 1 Peter 1:23 (ESV)

The truth God wants us to apprehend is that, through the new birth, we who believe become authentic children of God.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (ESV)

The new birth, like the virgin birth, is not religious jargon. It is real. It is a brand new beginning in God. It is the gateway to eternal life. It is the greatest gift of all!

The Divine Logos, who existed for all eternity as the Only Begotten Son of the Father, chose to become flesh so that we hopelessly estranged and lost humans could become part of the divine family and reconnected to God’s eternal purpose.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, comes to live inside all born again people, giving us the same relationship with the Father  as sons that Jesus has, minus the divinity.

That is why we too can cry out, “Abba, Father,” and have it mean something.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15-16 (ESV)

If you think it’s hard to believe that God would humble himself to become a man, just consider how amazing it is for God to allow humans to become part of his divine family! And it all started with the virgin birth!

Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. Galatians 4:19 (NLT)

In the verse above, Paul takes things a step further. He not only wanted his readers to believe the gospel and be born again; he also was vitally concerned that his disciples be conformed to Christ’s image or likeness in how they thought, spoke, and acted. He understood that our focus should not be on mere outward conformity. Instead, transformation must begin on the inside, in the spirit, where the seed of God is planted and where the Holy Spirit dwells.

It is in the spirit that we are united with God’s Spirit, and it is from there that the life of God permeates our entire being as leaven spreads throughout a lump of dough.

When the life within completes its course, we will look, act, speak, and think like our Lord. He will have been fully formed inside us, conforming us to his image. Then we will have come full circle, so to speak. The Logos (the eternal Word of God, Jesus) became flesh through what is called the incarnation so that humans could become like the divine Logos through the new birth (a repeat of the incarnation) and the ongoing inner transformation by the Spirit.

So, is the virgin birth something essential? Yes, it is, and so is Christ’s resurrection and the new birth. All are miracles from God that have elevated believing humanity out of oppression and hopelessness into the glorious privilege of being children of God!

Why did God use things that are so “abnormal” and, to the world, incredible? It was because there was no other way.

God uses what the world has a hard time believing to deliver those who have faith. Faith itself is a gift from God, something the Holy Spirit imparts. Without God’s gracious help, no one could ever really understand the Gospel message, but when our eyes and hearts are opened, we are born again!

If you have never believed in your heart that Jesus is who the Bible says he is, but something deep inside of you is drawn to this wonderful message of hope, you can ask God’s Spirit to help you. One of his names is the Helper. He will lead you into all truth. He will help you to know Christ through revelation. He will help you to become a true believer. You too can experience the miracle of the new birth, too. Perhaps now is the time for you to offer a prayer from your heart. God will hear you. If you open the door, he will come in.

A Sample Prayer

Dear Lord, I want to be part of your family. I need your help. Holy Spirit please open my spiritual eyes, unstop my deaf ears, and soften my hard heart so that I can believe. Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and change me on the inside. I ask for the forgiveness and life that you died to give me. I surrender my life to you. Now I depend on you to do the rest. Amen.

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Have We Been Inoculated Against the Gospel?

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If we are inoculated against a disease, we are given a weak form of it to stimulate the development of antibodies so that later we will be able to defend ourselves against the actual disease. Is it possible to be inoculated against the gospel?

Some who call themselves Christian quite often act no differently from those who do not confess the name of Jesus. Why is that? Our opinions have little consequence, but our convictions are what really matter. A conviction is the result of our believing in something or someone so strongly that we feel compelled to act upon it. Conviction leads to commitment. Belief without commitment to act is not the faith of the Bible.

If  our profession of faith in Jesus the Lord does not change how we live, it likely was not accompanied by faith in our hearts.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NLT)

The confession part is relatively easy. We can intellectually agree that we want to escape hell and go to heaven without ever received true revelation of who Jesus is. People can say all sort of things with their mouths, but only God knows what is happening at the heart level.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:14–20 (NLT)

From a spiritual point of view, if we are not changed, the gospel has done us no good. In fact, it may have actually harmed us because at the Last Judgment we will be held accountable for knowing the truth and rejecting it.

I call this being “inoculated” against the gospel.

This can happen if we understand just enough of the truth to be deceived into thinking we are just fine with God, without ever seeing who Christ is by revelation in our hearts or truly acknowledging him as Lord as well as Savior.

Consider the following words of Jesus:

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV)

Sadly, the condition of being lukewarm describes countless churchgoers. It means we have little or no ardor or zeal, no joyful desire to follow Jesus wherever he may lead, no wish to dedicate our lives for his glory, and no willingness to sacrifice and suffer for him as may be required.

Lukewarm people are loyal to themselves, not to Jesus.

Do Christians live much differently than those who do not confess Christ? I quote from The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why don’t Christians live what they preach? by Ronald J. Sider.

To say there is a crisis of disobedience in the evangelical world today is to dangerously understate the problem. Born-again Christians divorce at about the same rate as everyone else. Self-centered materialism is seducing evangelicals and rapidly destroying our earlier, slightly more generous giving. Only 6 percent of born-again Christians tithe. Born-again Christians justify and engage in sexual promiscuity (both premarital sex and adultery) at astonishing rates. Racism and perhaps physical abuse of wives seems to be worse in evangelical circles than elsewhere. This is scandalous behavior for people who claim to be born-again by the Holy Spirit and to enjoy the very presence of the Risen Lord in their lives.

In light of the foregoing statistics, it is not surprising that born-again Christians spend seven times more hours each week in front of their televisions than they spend in Bible reading, prayer, and worship.1 Only 9 percent of born-again adults and 2 percent of born-again teenagers have a biblical worldview.2

Perhaps it is not surprising either that non-Christians have a very negative view of evangelicals. In a recent poll, Barna asked non-Christians about their attitudes toward different groups of Christians. Only 44 percent have a positive view of Christian clergy. Just 32 percent have a positive view of born-again Christians. And a mere 22 percent have a positive view of evangelicals.3

Evangelicals rightly rejected theological liberalism because it denied the miraculous. In response, we insisted that miracle was central to biblical faith at numerous points including the supernatural moral transformation of broken sinners. Now our very lifestyle as evangelicals is a ringing practical denial of the miraculous in our lives. Satan must laugh in sneerful derision. God’s people can only weep.

The Core Issue: Do We Know Who Jesus Is?

At one point during Jesus’ three-year itinerant ministry, he asked his disciples a very important question.

  • Who do you say I am?

People in Jesus’ day, and through the years, have held various opinions about Jesus’ identity. His contemporaries regarded him as a prophet and a teacher. Some even thought that he was the long awaited Messiah, the coming king in the line of David. Others saw him as a trouble maker, a dangerous imposter, a blasphemer, or a threat to political stability and Israel’s favored status with Rome.

The question of Jesus’ identity is the most important one in our lives. How we answer that question will determine how we live.

If our answer regarding Jesus’ identity does not make a practical difference in our lives, we can know for sure that we do not yet know him as the Bible presents him – the Risen Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

The proper and expected response made by those who wake up to who Jesus truly is will be to lay down all previous plans and dreams in order follow him wherever he may lead.

Becoming a follower of Christ is like signing a blank check and handing it to the Lord with the understanding that he can and will fill in the amount when and how he decides.

This no doubt sounds extreme to those who have grown accustomed to a mere “churchianity” that requires no more of us than some level of church attendance, giving, and, perhaps, serving in some capacity at scheduled services.

When Jesus asked his disciple band, “Who do you say that I am?,” Peter responded in a way that has reverberated through the ages.

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17 (ESV)

The word “Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word “messiah,” which means anointed one. The implication was that he was and is the promised king in David’s line. The Jews eagerly waited for this Messiah King who, they thought, would liberate them from Roman tyranny and restore Israel’s political, social, and spiritual fortunes. The phrase “son of God” most likely was another way of saying he was the Messiah. Jesus acknowledged that Peter received this revelation from his heavenly Father.

This was how Jesus gauged the activity of the Spirit in his disciples. Had they yet seen and understood who he really was and is? The same is true today. Have we yet seen as we should?

Peter was ready to follow his messianic king all the way to victory, even if he died along the way. Peter’s view of Jesus propelled him forward as a faithful follower. However, Peter’s understanding of Christ’s identity was still incomplete and insufficient to give him the strength to keep going during the difficult tests that lay ahead. When the populace welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem just prior to his crucifixion, they viewed him hopefully in the same light as Peter. The Bible records that they shouted:

…“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10  And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11  And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:9-11 (ESV)

They believed Jesus was a prophet, the coming messianic king, but, like Peter, their understanding was not complete or sufficient, and, unfortunately, many who claim the name of Christian today also have an incomplete understanding of who Jesus is.

When Jesus did not deliver the expected “goods” 2000 years ago, the people quickly turned on him and assisted the Jewish rulers in putting him to death. People are eager to follow someone who will give them success, wealth, health, and power, but Jesus did the very opposite. He offered his disciples the opportunity to suffer for his name as they took the gospel message to the ends of the earth.

Today many so called Christians face similar crises of faith when Jesus does not turn out to be who we expected.

What Peter did not understand is that Jesus is not only the prophet and the expected messianic king, but he is also the Lamb of God and the prophesied Son of Man, the victorious Lord of Lords mentioned in the Book of Daniel. Peter did not realize that Jesus had to suffer as God’s Lamb in order to restore us back to a right relationship with his heavenly Father. This was confusing and offensive to Peter. Jesus’ arrest in the garden, shook Peter’s faith to the core. He was ready to fight for his messiah king, but not at all prepared to watch him die as God’s Lamb. Unknown to Peter, suffering had to precede glory. The cross had to come before the resurrection. The Lamb ministry prepared the way for Christ’s glorious role as the risen Son of Man.

The role of suffering is not understood by many of us. We are willing to give allegiance to someone who will bless us, but not to a Lord who might requires us to suffer. (2 Timothy 2:12)

Who Is Jesus to Us?

Conversely, many us who call ourselves Christians only see Jesus as the crucified Lamb of God who provides forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. We do not truly believe or act as if he is the undisputed Lord of all. We may attend church services on a regular basis and give to the ministry, but otherwise we are content to live as if Jesus has no actual claim upon the rest of our lives.

We act as if we believe that Jesus simply wants to get us to heaven, but has no great interest in how we live here and now.

Jesus’ resurrection changed everything. According to Paul, he arose in power in order to bring the nations to “the obedience of faith.” (Romans 1:4-5)

Faith has two components. One is agreeing with and receiving God’s truth about Jesus. The other is declaring allegiance to the King.

If our belief in Christ does not result in our declaring unqualified allegiance to him, we have not really believed.

Confessing that Jesus is Lord is the door through which every child of God must pass in order to partake of the new birth and salvation. (Romans 10:9) It is instructive that Paul did not tell us to confess that Jesus is God’s Lamb and our Savior. He told us to confess his lordship. The early Christians were not put to death for proclaiming that Jesus was their personal Savior. No, they refused to back off from declaring that he was and is Lord, even over Caesar.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48  he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49  But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49 (ESV)

In Jesus’ day, plenty of people were ready to call him Lord, but far fewer were prepared to live as if they meant it. If Jesus is our Lord, he asks us to bring every area of our lives under his dominion. This is the nature of true repentance.

Those who simply want a free pass into heaven without surrendering their lives to Jesus’ lordship cannot truthfully call themselves disciples. Maybe they can claim the title of “believer,” but even that is suspect, if we translate faith as allegiance.

Conclusion

The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that salvation is by faith-allegiance to Christ in light of his finished work on the cross and his resurrection. Paul summarized:

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

I firmly believe in the doctrine of justification by faith. By placing our faith in Christ and his finished work, we partake of all the benefits of what he did and who he is. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside every disciple to begin a lifelong transformation process of conforming us to think, speak, feel, and act as Jesus. Jesus made it very clear, however, that wolves disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing.

Only God knows the heart. We must judge by what we observe. As Jesus said, we can know people by their “fruit,” in other words, by what they do.

True faith bears good fruit (the fruit of the Spirit, the results of our ongoing character transformation); whereas, a bad tree produces bad fruit. (Jesus’ own words) It’s important for us who claim the name of Christ to be fruit inspectors, beginning with our own tree. Do our lives match our profession? Do we live as if we truly believe that Jesus is Lord of Lords, or have we settled for something far less? What would happen if the entire church would start living as if we believed that Jesus is the coming glorious Son of Man instead of a mere personal savior? Why don’t we find out?

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How we see Jesus will determine our eternity.

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When we consider Jesus, what do we see, a man, a prophet, a teacher, a blasphemer, a fool, or someone great beyond comprehension?

How we see Jesus will determine our eternity.

For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40 (NASB)

Jesus told us that seeing who he really is by revelation will lead to our having faith and pledging our allegiance to him. Unless the Spirit of God opens our eyes to behold Jesus correctly, we may miss him entirely, just as most of the Jewish leaders of his day did. Some of them regarded him as a blasphemer who was a threat to the nation. Others regarded him as a fool, even those of his own family at times. Others said he was demonized. His disciples, however, followed him because they saw him in a far different light by revelation from the Holy Spirit.

The magi saw a king. John the Baptist saw the Lamb of God, the Baptizer in the Spirit, and the Messianic Son of God. The first disciples imperfectly glimpsed him as their hoped for Messiah (John 1:43-49). Peter famously proclaimed him to be the Messiah, when Jesus asked him who did men say he was. (Matthew 16:15-20) Few understood that the Lamb of God ministry required him to die upon the cross for our sins. The rest of the disciples tried to skip that and go straight to his exalted kingship, not realizing that suffering had to precede glory. (Luke 24:25-26) When Jesus rose from the grave, his followers saw him in an entirely new light. Their eyes were opened to see some of his glory, just as God had previewed to Peter, James, and John on the mount of transfiguration.

Each revelation we receive regarding Christ’s identity impacts us deeply.

Today many see him as the Lamb of God who died for our sins. We love Jesus deeply for the sacrifice he made on our behalf. This is the beginning of our revelation of Jesus true identity. Seeing him as the glorious risen Lord inspires us to worship and surrender our lives to him. Seeing him as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit empowers us to be his witnesses and join his disciple making army in fulfilling the Great Commission. But there is another revelation the Spirit wishes to impart to us. It is the one Jesus self-identified with when he stood on trial before the Sanhedrin.

How amazing it will be one day to see him as the glorious Son of Man who will come in glory on the Last Day to judge the living and the dead!

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63  But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64  Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65  Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. Matthew 26:62-65 (NLT)

We have heard what John the Baptist said about Jesus. We have read what Peter said about Jesus, but should we not be even more interested in what Jesus had to say about himself when the chips were down?

Jesus told his tormentors that he was and is the divine being prophesied in Daniel who will one day judge all men,  including those who were condemning him. This claim was so outlandish in the eyes of the Jewish leaders that they pronounced him to be a blasphemer and condemned him to death. Can you imagine telling God’s only begotten Son, the eternal Word of God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, that he is a blasphemer? And yet, that is exactly what they did!

If you see Jesus as he really is, you will fall down and worship him. If you do not, you will either ignore, despise, or want to kill him.

Followers of Christ are rarely persecuted for claiming that Jesus is their personal savior. We might be ridiculed or pitied for having such a belief, but probably will not be perceived as being much of a threat. But when we proclaim Christ’s divinity, lordship, and dominion over all creation, that is another matter altogether.

The Son of Man revelation is a fault line that divides humanity. We must choose one side or another as we wait for the great unveiling of the truth at his Second Coming.

The  word “apocalypse” means a revealing, the uncovering of something previously hidden.

The Second Coming will be a grand revelation or uncovering of the truth about Jesus.

When he returns on the clouds with glory, the Bible says that every eye will see him as he truly is, requiring every knee to bow to him. He will judge every person who ever lived, assigning them to their eternal destinies. Right now, Jesus’ true identity is hidden from the vast majority of people. They cannot see him seated on the throne of God waiting until his enemies be made his footstool. (Acts 2:34-36)

Only those whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit know who he is, and we only know imperfectly. When he returns, unbelievers will suddenly realize how mistaken they had been, and we who know him imperfectly will all know as we are known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

God designed things this way as a judgment upon the cleverness of those whose hearts are not submitted to God.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27  “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:25-27 (NLT)

Only the pure of heart are able to see God, and only God can purify our hearts.

No one deserves to have his or her spiritual eyes opened, but God in his mercy chooses to do so for many. The good news is that if we are at all drawn to Jesus, it is because the Spirit is at work in us. Jesus said he will never cast aside anyone who comes to him. (John 6:37) The Holy Spirit is the one who opens our eyes to behold Jesus as he really is.

I asked him over fifty years ago to reveal to me if Jesus is really the one the Bible says he is. It did not take long for that prayer to be answered, about two weeks! How about you? Are you hungry to know Jesus’ true identity? if you already believe in him, do you want the Spirit to reveal more to you?

The greater our revelation of Jesus, the greater our love and commitment to him will be.

Commitment without revelation is simply legalism. Revelation without commitment is a plant with no roots. Jesus came to satisfy the hungry heart. He will not let us down if we seek him.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)
Prayer

Holy Spirit, I want to see Jesus as he really is. Open my spiritual eyes, unstop my ears, and soften my heart that I may behold him in his glory. Change me forever and let me be sold out to him with nothing holding me back. Amen.

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When the Lamb Became a Lion

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Jesus died on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God, but when he rose from the dead he did so as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

In C.S. Lewis’ classic, The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan the lion represents Jesus Christ. Aslan allows himself to be put to death by the evil witch, but returned to life to destroy her rule and release all those who had been enslaved through her magic. Below is one of the more memorable passages.

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

People like to imagine that Jesus is quite safe, sort of a household god who can be relied upon to rescue us from hell and take care of our needs along the way. However, just as was the case with Aslan, Jesus has never been really “safe.” It can be extremely unnerving to be his follower, and we never know what he may do or ask us to do next. But he is always good, and he is the King whose glory and power now fill all things. When he emerged from the tomb, the Lamb had become a Lion.

The Lamb of God

Just as John the Baptist prophesied, Jesus died on the cross as the Lamb of God, taking upon himself the guilt and punishment for our rebellion against God.

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NLT)

Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God was the safest for us and the most costly for him. He did nothing to retaliate against his accusers and oppressors. He gave no demonstration of his power and authority. He simply and quietly submitted to death at their hands to fulfill God’s plan. Some people imagine that is how he always is.

His first coming to the earth accomplished God’s purpose to redeem and reconcile a remnant of humanity back to the Father and bring the world back under God’s proper authority and dominion as the Second Adam, the head and source of a new race of people through the new birth.

As the Lamb, Jesus did all the heavy lifting on our behalf. By rebelling against God, we earned the sentence of death, which is the unavoidable consequence of sin. Father God asked Jesus to lay down his life for us by taking upon himself God’s righteous anger and condemnation against our sin.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6 (NLT)

The law of sin and death is part of the law of sowing and reaping. If we sin, we die. By taking our just condemnation upon himself, Jesus released us from the law of sin and death.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

Instead of remaining under God’s judgment, according to Romans 8:1-2, we who believe are now under a new law, which is called the law of the Spirit of life.

It might be summarized as follows: we sinned, Jesus died, and now we live. Quite a deal the Lamb worked out for us! As Jesus put it:

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

The only way we can pass from death to life is because Jesus already did. He died and rose again. When we put our faith and allegiance in Christ, we participate in his victory over sin and the grave!

As God’s Lamb, Jesus invites us to come to him and be released from the burden of our sin and the requirement to perfectly keep the Law.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

This is the “safe” Jesus, the Lamb who laid down his life for us and offers rest for our weary souls.

This is the one who bears our burdens for us and takes care not to overload us. This is the only way many people know Jesus, but it is only part of the story. The Lamb is also a Lion.

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

When Jesus rose from the dead, he emerged from the tomb as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. John the Revelator was privileged to see a vision of the risen Lamb who had become a Lion and passed it on to us.

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5  But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6  Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered,... 7  He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8  And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9  And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10  And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” 11  Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12  And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13  And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:4-13 (NLT)

This amazing vision reveals that the risen and ascended Jesus still retains his identity as God’s Lamb, but in a transformed way. Even though the Lamb carries the marks of death, he is alive and is also a glorious lion-like figure.

This visionary symbol takes us back to the first book of the Bible when Jacob blessed his sons upon his deathbed, looking far into the future as a prophet.

Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10  The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor. Genesis 49:9-10 (NLT)

As you no doubt guessed, in Matthew’s gospel, although Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Joseph, Jesus’ adoptive father, descended from the tribe of Judah, provided Jesus with full legal rights as a member of that tribe. He was the one about whom Jacob prophesied in Genesis. He is the Lion, the King whom all nations will honor.

When Jesus rose from the dead, Paul said he was declared to be the Son of God, which can be understood as the long awaited divine Messianic King descended from King David.

and he [Jesus] was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ [Messiah] our Lord. Romans 1:4 (NLT)

Before his resurrection, Isaiah prophesied that he would be despised and rejected by men, which happened. (Isaiah 53:3)

But now, having risen from the dead, Jesus is not one to take lightly. He is the Lord.

King David wrote these prophetic words centuries ago as he, by the Spirit, looked forward to the Lamb who became the Lion King.

Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! 11  Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12  Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him! Psalm 2:10-12 (NLT)

This is not the safe version of Jesus. This is not Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane who passively yielded to the soldiers. This passage paints a picture of the coming King who will exact vengeance upon his enemies. Do we know this Jesus?

The lion-like Messianic King is a dangerous person for those who resist his rule. He is still the Lamb for those who know him as their shepherd, though. The choice is ours regarding how we will know and experience him.

The Glorious Son of Man

Paul wrote that one day every knee will bow to Jesus and every mouth acknowledge his majesty and glory. This will happen when he returns in the clouds with his people and the angels at his side to execute God’s righteous judgment upon all people both living and the dead.

The Lamb who became a Lion will appear in the sky as the glorious Son of Man, whom Daniel the prophet saw prophetically and wrote about so long ago.

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14  He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT)

When Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin the night before his crucifixion, he humbled himself by allowing a mockery of a human court to judge him, God’s Son, as a blasphemer and sentence him to a brutal death. But before they led him away to die as God’s Lamb, our Lord’s gave his final testimony before that court, identifying himself as the Son of Man in Daniel’s prophecy.

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” 63  But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64  Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65  Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. Matthew 26:62-65 (NLT)

When the Lamb of God who was slain returns  in the clouds as the mighty Lord of Lords, the Lion of Judah, and the glorious Son of Man, those who accused and condemned him come before him to be held accountable for what they said and did. What do you think they will say? Will they still despise him? Will they not fall on their faces in absolute dread and horror for their heinous crime of rejecting the Messiah and putting him to death? And what about those of us who still refuse his offer of forgiveness and still choose not to acknowledge his Lordship? What will we say on that day?

Conclusion

Christ’s resurrection was a great day in the history of the world.

But consider this. As great as the resurrection was, the Second Coming will be even more glorious.His resurrection was witnessed by a few, but his glorious return will be seen by the whole earth.

When Jesus sits on the judgment seat as the glorious Son of Man, every person who ever lived will be forced to acknowledge his glory and greatness. We presently have the privilege of acknowledging his glorious lordship before that terrible day of the Lord. All those who choose to put their trust and allegiance in Christ and surrender their lives to his loving rule will be saved from their sins and brought into the family of God. His Second Coming will hold no terror for us, because as God’s Lamb he took our condemnation upon himself, bringing us into a proper alignment with him.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:16-18 (NLT)

The gospel is an invitation to lay down our rebellion against God and enter into a love-servant relationship with the Lamb who became the Lion King of Judah.

The greatest transforming power in the universe if God’s love. It is the key to everything, and it is only available through the Lamb of God.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT)

If you have never done so, let today be the day that you publicly acknowledge that he is both your Lord and your Savior, your Lion and Lamb. Don’t miss this golden opportunity! If you have already confessed that Jesus is the Lord, recommit yourself to follow him with all your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you a bold witness to his lordship.

Prayer

Jesus, you are far greater and more glorious than I previously imagined. I choose to bow my knee before you. I acknowledge that you are the Lord. I thank you for dying for my sins as God’s Lamb. I receive your forgiveness and the life you provide in your Spirit. Help me to live for you from this day forward. Amen.

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Water Baptism: Our Pledge of Allegiance to the King

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Water baptism is a public pledge of allegiance to Jesus the King.

One of the core parts of the Gospel is that Jesus fulfilled God’s promise to King David that one of his descendants would occupy Israel’s throne forever.

“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13  “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-13 (NASB)

When Jesus rose from the dead, he was confirmed as the promised Davidic King, the Jewish Messiah, the glorious Lord of Lords, who now sits at God’s right hand, possessing all authority in heaven and earth and ruling over his kingdom until his enemies are completely subdued. One day he will come again as the glorious Son of Man in Daniel 7:13-14 to judge the living and the dead and share his glory and authority with those who declare their allegiance to him.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

The only proper response to make to such a Person is to give him our allegiance, trust, love, and loyal service.

An Old Testament Example of Pledging Allegiance

When David, the called and anointed but yet to be crowned king of Israel, was hiding in the wilderness to escape King Saul’s jealous and murderous pursuit, men began to recognize David’s leadership and calling and realized that he was the future king of Israel. They heard about Samuel’s prophecy over him and how that prophet had poured oil over his head to anoint him as Israel’s future king. They knew that David had killed the giant and led Israel’s armies to victory over her enemies. The Holy Spirit inspired many to join his rag tag band of believers in the wilderness.

One such man was a leader named Amasai, who approached David at his hideout. When David questioned his intentions, whether he came as friend or foe, the Bible says that Amasai was “clothed” with the Holy Spirit, which means that Amasai become a spokesman for God at that moment. What came out of his mouth was a huge encouragement to David on two accounts. Here is what he said, which has been recorded for our benefit.

Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops. 1 Chronicles 12:18 (ESV)

On the one hand, Amasai spoke words of affirmation and encouragement to David. He prophesied that God would give David and his supporters success (shalom) in every way – peace, prosperity, health, wholeness, and victory. When he said, “your God helps you,” he described perfectly one of the most important ministries of God’s Spirit, whom Jesus called the “Helper” in John 14:16. He is the one who is called alongside and now lives inside true believers to enable us to enjoy God’s presence and fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. David was in a very stressful and discouraging situation, and these words must have refreshed his soul.

In addition, Amasai’s words were a  declaration of allegiance to King David and a model for us with respect to King Jesus, David’s promised descendant. It was a threefold declaration of faith: an acknowledgement of David’s identity as king, a profession of loyalty, and a dedication to service. This is what it means to “believe” in our Lord.

Being a Christian is much more than agreeing with a doctrinal statement of faith: it is trust in and loyalty to the risen King.

The Gospel Call to Allegiance

A good Gospel presentation should include the declaration that after his resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven and now sits at God’s right hand as the reigning Lord of all, who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Peter preached these words to Cornelius in the first Gospel presentation to Gentiles with the promise that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43) It should be clear that the belief to which Peter refers is that Jesus is Lord of all. Paul confirms this in his famous rendering of the essence of what it means to become a follower of Christ.

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

We confess what we believe; so, if we confess that Jesus is Lord, it is because that is what we believe. Confession of Christ’s lordship presupposes that we properly respond as his subjects, which is to give allegiance, honor, trust, love, and obedient service to him. Those who do this are forgiven of their sins of disobedience and disloyalty to God and his Messiah King. It’s really very simple, but often misunderstood. We are not asked merely to confess that Jesus is our merciful Savior who died for our sins as God’s Lamb, but who does not require anything from us. Rather, we are told to confess that he is Lord, which presupposes our love, loyalty, and obedience.

Any Gospel presentation that does not major on Christ’s identity as the risen Lord is deficient. Our response to this amazing news must include a declaration of allegiance to the Lord, or we are little more than Christian consumers who are looking for a “get out of jail free” card.

When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge his true identity, declare our allegiance, and devote ourselves to a lifetime of service, just as Amasai did toward King David so long ago.

Water baptism is our public formal declaration of allegiance to King Jesus.

It is one thing to privately ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, but something else altogether to seal it by being baptized in water. Have you stood up for Jesus in public yet?

Prayer

You may wish to pray the following as a prelude to taking the step of publicly declaring allegiance to King Jesus.

Jesus, I recognize you are indeed Lord of all, just as the Bible says. When you rose from the dead and ascended to God’s right hand, you became my Lord. I bow my knee to you and pledge my loyalty to you. I give my life to you to use me as you see fit. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life! Help me to tell others about this great Good News and help them to be disciples, too. Holy Spirit, fill me and empower me to live the Christ life and to be a fisher of men. Amen.

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