There is perhaps nothing so uniquely Christian as eternal life. It is one of those features of Christian theology that, in so many ways, sets it apart from every other religious or philosophical system. This distinction comes, at least in part, from the method of receiving this eternal life; namely, through faith in Christ Jesus. It is not about doing something or even knowing something; it is about having a real, personal relationship with the Holy Lord through His Son.
But this, the manner through which eternal life is received by the individual, is not the definition of eternal life; it is only a description of how it is obtained. In truth, so much of Christian theology is consumed, and rightly so, with understanding the initiation of eternal life that comes through faith in Christ. However, we would do well not to neglect that eternal life has, at its core, a content that is quite spectacular.
Understanding eternal life deserves its own consideration, its own description aside form merely talking about how to receive it. That is what I hope to convey here. For this an analogy might serve the best course.
Imagine, for a moment, that your only experience with an orange was with those inedible decorative oranges that some people put in bowls in there homes. But you had never actually tasted an orange. You may, by deduction, understand that the orange is something to eat and maybe even that it has a taste unique to itself. If you are particularly clever you may, through studying what others have said about the orange, begin to ascribe to the orange features it possesses: citric, sweet, juicy, etc.
And while each of those ascriptions would be accurate you yourself would never be speaking of an actual orange, you would only be talking about the orange hypothetically, neither from experience or with any applied knowledge; only theoretical musings. At best you could only say what the orange of your description might be like if you could pick its inedible shape off of the table and eat it, though you'd always be thinking of the same dull decorative orange-thing while you're attempting to describe what the orange may be like (it is very much so akin to describing a particular color to someone who has been born blind).
In the end, however, only upon actually eating the orange would you thus possess true knowledge of the orange itself. It is, in a sense, through tasting the orange that the reality of the orange and its orange-ness become of any real value or accuracy.
Eternal life is sort of like this in that until we possess it through Christ we can only describe it in terms of hypotheticals, never speaking anything accept what might conjecture in ascribing to eternal life what we have reasoned or what has been told us. But in Christ we receive eternal life, meaning that the life possessed in Him is one that is uniquely eternal. Moreover, this life will possess certain 'tastes' unique to it that cannot be sufficiently understood or even communicated by anyone except for those who have tasted it.
Theologically speaking, this comes down to the presence of the Holy Spirit who indwells the believer and initiates a new life. And like tasting an orange for the first time will bring with it a newness of perspective that will inform every other taste, the new life in Christ will influence every facet of the believer's life with a newness, a new taste (keep in mind this is an inadequate analogy for the supreme holiness that is the new birth but the limits of language should never dissuade us from attempting to understand that for which comprehension stands just outside of our grasp).
This is but a scratch in the surface of eternal life, a single droplet into a seas worth of theology. However, I hope that it has at least sparked an internal dialogue within you that you might consider what eternal life 'tastes' like to you. And if you cannot say with any authority or conviction what eternal life is then I urge you to ask a Christ-follower and, even more so, to find out for yourself with a sincere step of faith in your own life. You will be as amazed as the man whose never tasted an orange.
Showing posts with label eternal life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eternal life. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Matthew 24:35–Eternal Words
Matt. 24:35: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
I love this verse. It is a prophecy and a promise made by Jesus Himself. He is challenging His disciples and His critics, as well as the annals of history, that His words are, in fact, eternal. Jesus is God incarnate, He is Immanuel, and because of this everything that comes from Him, being by nature God, is eternal. That is why it is not a mere suggestion that Christ live inside of us as a measure of our eternal life. To be sure, if Jesus' eternal nature is not in us then we must say that we do not yet possess eternal life because of that lacking of the eternal One within us. Remember, we die to ourselves so that we may be made alive in Christ. This is not a suggestion, it is a logical extension of the reality that we are, by nature, not eternal and so in order for us to be made eternal eternity must enter into us. After all, non-eternal creatures cannot create eternal life; it can only be gifted from an eternal source who inputs His life into us. So I say: "Amen! Thank You, Jesus, that Your words are eternal and that they rest within my heart!"
I love this verse. It is a prophecy and a promise made by Jesus Himself. He is challenging His disciples and His critics, as well as the annals of history, that His words are, in fact, eternal. Jesus is God incarnate, He is Immanuel, and because of this everything that comes from Him, being by nature God, is eternal. That is why it is not a mere suggestion that Christ live inside of us as a measure of our eternal life. To be sure, if Jesus' eternal nature is not in us then we must say that we do not yet possess eternal life because of that lacking of the eternal One within us. Remember, we die to ourselves so that we may be made alive in Christ. This is not a suggestion, it is a logical extension of the reality that we are, by nature, not eternal and so in order for us to be made eternal eternity must enter into us. After all, non-eternal creatures cannot create eternal life; it can only be gifted from an eternal source who inputs His life into us. So I say: "Amen! Thank You, Jesus, that Your words are eternal and that they rest within my heart!"
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Auditioning for Life Eternal
When I was a senior in high school, I was heavily involved in the theatre program at school. Throughout the course of the year, the school held two plays, a variety show, and ended the year with a musical. Because I had been so engrossed in the theatre coupled with my confidence over the strength of my audition in comparison to the other seniors, I was sure that I would have a lead role in the musical. In fact, I was certain of it.
Yet, when the casting sheet was finally posted, I found my name farther down the list than I expected and that I believed that I had deserved. I did receive a lesser part but found it as no conciliation for my disappointment, and as the sheet was posted after classes on Friday, I had all weekend to mope around the house feeling slighted.
Rehearsals were set to begin on Monday, introductions followed by a simple read-through. Our theatre was ran by a couple, I was never really able to connect with the man, but I had a good relationship with his wife. After the rehearsal I confronted her to express my frustration, with the only purpose of vocalizing how I felt.
After listening and explaining that she understood how I felt, she said something to me that I knew cognitively but that I never heard articulated from someone whom I had respected so much. She looked me in the eyes and told me that sometimes, the person who deserves the part is the one who has been working for it for their whole high school careers, and they had earned their leading roles well-before the auditions even took place. This bit of wisdom is a simple and convicting truth.
At the end, once the mortal thread is clipped and we stand before the Holy Lord Almighty's judgment seat, we will face an audition that our eternity depends upon. And though every human will stand before God and give their best effort to "gain" admittance into His eternal presence, God grants the grace of heaven to those who have spent their whole lives in consistent faith. The door to the leading role is Jesus Christ. In fact, He is the only way.
And no matter how disgruntled we may feel because of judgment's reality, God is just and righteous to place us exactly where we may deserve to be. If we have been faithful, we will spend eternity in God's presence, but if we have lived a life apart from Him, we will spend eternity damned, condemned, and tormented away from His presence. In reality, the audition for eternal life is our life itself. Therefore, so that we would not find ourselves brooding like an immature high school senior at being judged for all eternity, let us keep our focus on the play at hand, which is faith in Christ Jesus alone!
Yet, when the casting sheet was finally posted, I found my name farther down the list than I expected and that I believed that I had deserved. I did receive a lesser part but found it as no conciliation for my disappointment, and as the sheet was posted after classes on Friday, I had all weekend to mope around the house feeling slighted.
Rehearsals were set to begin on Monday, introductions followed by a simple read-through. Our theatre was ran by a couple, I was never really able to connect with the man, but I had a good relationship with his wife. After the rehearsal I confronted her to express my frustration, with the only purpose of vocalizing how I felt.
After listening and explaining that she understood how I felt, she said something to me that I knew cognitively but that I never heard articulated from someone whom I had respected so much. She looked me in the eyes and told me that sometimes, the person who deserves the part is the one who has been working for it for their whole high school careers, and they had earned their leading roles well-before the auditions even took place. This bit of wisdom is a simple and convicting truth.
At the end, once the mortal thread is clipped and we stand before the Holy Lord Almighty's judgment seat, we will face an audition that our eternity depends upon. And though every human will stand before God and give their best effort to "gain" admittance into His eternal presence, God grants the grace of heaven to those who have spent their whole lives in consistent faith. The door to the leading role is Jesus Christ. In fact, He is the only way.
And no matter how disgruntled we may feel because of judgment's reality, God is just and righteous to place us exactly where we may deserve to be. If we have been faithful, we will spend eternity in God's presence, but if we have lived a life apart from Him, we will spend eternity damned, condemned, and tormented away from His presence. In reality, the audition for eternal life is our life itself. Therefore, so that we would not find ourselves brooding like an immature high school senior at being judged for all eternity, let us keep our focus on the play at hand, which is faith in Christ Jesus alone!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Waking Up to God
Sometimes the warm cocoon of bedding is nearly impossible to leave. When the alarm clock rings its obnoxious clatter in a concerted effort to either wake me up or just make me angry. Often times it feels more like the latter, and I would rather just stay in bed, holed up against the world hidden behind a covering of blanketed bliss. Unfortunately, as much as any of us would prefer to remain cuddled in a cocoon of covers, life persistently calls us to crawl out and meet the day.
This seems a most appropriate metaphor for belief. Though we would rather hang around in the coma of comfort behind the veil of sinful slumber, God beckons the unbeliever to leave their state of eternal night and to step into the eternal light of His glory. The fleshly, natural self is asleep (dead) to God because of sin. But God calls for us to awaken.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks to this regard. He paraphrases Isaiah, "Awake, O Sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you (Eph. 5:14)." This is fundamental. God desires to light our lives, to illuminate us with the glory of His majesty. However, unless we, by faith, crawl out of our comatose cocoons of sinful slumber, we will be ever-unable to receive Him.
In a sense, we have an advocating heavenly alarm clock in the Holy Spirit who is ringing in an effort to prompt us to awaken from our sin. And, like being awoken in the morning, we have a choice to make: will we either hit the snooze and pull the covers of unbelief over our heads to sleep for all eternity in hell, or will we heed to the prompting of God and awake to meet His day and His light? These are the two choices, and they have everlasting consequences. We should be compelled to awaken so as to embrace the day that the Lord has made, which is belief in the Son, Christ Jesus.
A brief note is in order for those who have already chosen the latter. For those of who have already made our choice to awake from our sinful slumbers and to leave the ignorant envelop of our walking death, there is a sincere and distinct task to wake up those who are still asleep. It is our obligation to the world to, by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, announce that the day has come in Christ Jesus and that everyone should be made awake in order to leave the darkness of death and to live in the light of the Lord. Let us then take seriously the call to awaken to the Lord and to wake others up too!
This seems a most appropriate metaphor for belief. Though we would rather hang around in the coma of comfort behind the veil of sinful slumber, God beckons the unbeliever to leave their state of eternal night and to step into the eternal light of His glory. The fleshly, natural self is asleep (dead) to God because of sin. But God calls for us to awaken.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks to this regard. He paraphrases Isaiah, "Awake, O Sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you (Eph. 5:14)." This is fundamental. God desires to light our lives, to illuminate us with the glory of His majesty. However, unless we, by faith, crawl out of our comatose cocoons of sinful slumber, we will be ever-unable to receive Him.
In a sense, we have an advocating heavenly alarm clock in the Holy Spirit who is ringing in an effort to prompt us to awaken from our sin. And, like being awoken in the morning, we have a choice to make: will we either hit the snooze and pull the covers of unbelief over our heads to sleep for all eternity in hell, or will we heed to the prompting of God and awake to meet His day and His light? These are the two choices, and they have everlasting consequences. We should be compelled to awaken so as to embrace the day that the Lord has made, which is belief in the Son, Christ Jesus.
A brief note is in order for those who have already chosen the latter. For those of who have already made our choice to awake from our sinful slumbers and to leave the ignorant envelop of our walking death, there is a sincere and distinct task to wake up those who are still asleep. It is our obligation to the world to, by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, announce that the day has come in Christ Jesus and that everyone should be made awake in order to leave the darkness of death and to live in the light of the Lord. Let us then take seriously the call to awaken to the Lord and to wake others up too!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Admittance into Eternal Life
Recently, a prominent Minnesota sports radio personality passed away. Known for his rude but oddly endearing behavior, his charm was in his pervasive connections to the pulse of sports in the city and he is currently being memorialized by several of his radio friends on air. It was a tragedy. He was well-known to be quite involved in horse racing and, as we move towards the final Triple Crown race of the season, one of his radio friends was predicting the action, saying that the deceased man would be watching from heaven with a line on the race at the betting table in heaven.
Needless to say, the man's comments had his tongue fixed firmly in his cheek, and I certainly mean no disrespect; however, the reception and sanctity of eternal salvation are at the heart of his statement, whether he knew it or not. What is striking about such a reference to the holiness of eternity with the Holy Lord is not its glibness as much as it is its affirmation about the presumed nature of the divine. Unfortunately, perhaps unbeknownst to many, this misconception is all-too widespread and eternally disastrous.
At the onset, it needs to be stated directly: salvation and life eternal are dependent solely on personal faith in the work of Christ Jesus as the Son of God (John 3:16; Acts. 4:12; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8-10). This cannot be stated more emphatically, unless one has a personal, regenerative relationship with Christ Jesus, they will be NOT enter heaven's pearly gates, they will NOT spend eternity in the presence of the Holy Lord, but they WILL be condemned to torment for all eternity. While this may not seem warm and fuzzy, it is true.
Moreover, no amount of "goodness" in this life has any merit in gaining admittance into eternal life (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:23). There is no thing, nothing, that man can do to earn salvation by a life well lived, or by goodness. It is by His doing that we are predestined to be called sons of the Holy Lord, through the work of Christ Jesus, and only in Christ are we blessed with eternal life and salvation (Eph. 1:3-14).
All this being true and objective, found to be sure in His Holy Word, there is a spreading heretical doctrine that would delude the Gospel of its power and of its truth. This heresy would like the world and its inhabitants to believe that the only requirement of admittance into heaven is death itself. Far be it! A variation of this would state that if a man lives a reasonably good life, then God would have to let Him into heaven. Woe to the men and women led astray by this teaching, for it is an accursed lie!
The difficulty with death is that it reminds humans of their feeble mortality and recalls their utter dependence on a transcendent God. However, even in these moments of ultimate clarity, many would rather pull tighter the veil to conceal the truth that they need God on their side, instead of drawing in humble, repentant faith to Him. In truth, the nature of eternity and God is the utmost pinnacle concern for every human that has and that will ever live. We do not want to leave the state of our eternal affairs so up in the air. Assurance is found in Christ Jesus and He alone. Either we can neglect the truth as poppycock or we can repent and turn to Him in faith. These are the only two possibilities.
Apart from making further appeals to Scripture, perhaps a picture of the situation may be of benefit. Consider an American who goes to the White House and begins knocking on the door. As the Secret Service agents sight their sidearms on the man, the man throws his hands up cooly, exclaiming that he voted for the President, that he knows all about the President, and that he should be allowed to come in based on those credentials.
Certainly, only if the President knows the man personally will the man stand a chance at entrance. Similarly, only if God knows us can we enter in. Let us be then sure that He knows us personally, and let us pass this pertinent bit of information along to everyone, for their very eternal lives depend on it!
Needless to say, the man's comments had his tongue fixed firmly in his cheek, and I certainly mean no disrespect; however, the reception and sanctity of eternal salvation are at the heart of his statement, whether he knew it or not. What is striking about such a reference to the holiness of eternity with the Holy Lord is not its glibness as much as it is its affirmation about the presumed nature of the divine. Unfortunately, perhaps unbeknownst to many, this misconception is all-too widespread and eternally disastrous.
At the onset, it needs to be stated directly: salvation and life eternal are dependent solely on personal faith in the work of Christ Jesus as the Son of God (John 3:16; Acts. 4:12; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8-10). This cannot be stated more emphatically, unless one has a personal, regenerative relationship with Christ Jesus, they will be NOT enter heaven's pearly gates, they will NOT spend eternity in the presence of the Holy Lord, but they WILL be condemned to torment for all eternity. While this may not seem warm and fuzzy, it is true.
Moreover, no amount of "goodness" in this life has any merit in gaining admittance into eternal life (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:23). There is no thing, nothing, that man can do to earn salvation by a life well lived, or by goodness. It is by His doing that we are predestined to be called sons of the Holy Lord, through the work of Christ Jesus, and only in Christ are we blessed with eternal life and salvation (Eph. 1:3-14).
All this being true and objective, found to be sure in His Holy Word, there is a spreading heretical doctrine that would delude the Gospel of its power and of its truth. This heresy would like the world and its inhabitants to believe that the only requirement of admittance into heaven is death itself. Far be it! A variation of this would state that if a man lives a reasonably good life, then God would have to let Him into heaven. Woe to the men and women led astray by this teaching, for it is an accursed lie!
The difficulty with death is that it reminds humans of their feeble mortality and recalls their utter dependence on a transcendent God. However, even in these moments of ultimate clarity, many would rather pull tighter the veil to conceal the truth that they need God on their side, instead of drawing in humble, repentant faith to Him. In truth, the nature of eternity and God is the utmost pinnacle concern for every human that has and that will ever live. We do not want to leave the state of our eternal affairs so up in the air. Assurance is found in Christ Jesus and He alone. Either we can neglect the truth as poppycock or we can repent and turn to Him in faith. These are the only two possibilities.
Apart from making further appeals to Scripture, perhaps a picture of the situation may be of benefit. Consider an American who goes to the White House and begins knocking on the door. As the Secret Service agents sight their sidearms on the man, the man throws his hands up cooly, exclaiming that he voted for the President, that he knows all about the President, and that he should be allowed to come in based on those credentials.
Certainly, only if the President knows the man personally will the man stand a chance at entrance. Similarly, only if God knows us can we enter in. Let us be then sure that He knows us personally, and let us pass this pertinent bit of information along to everyone, for their very eternal lives depend on it!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Eternal Life Defined
Eternal life is one of the distinctives of Christianity. It, eternal life, is one of the unique features of Christianity: God bestows life eternal on all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:16, 36). It would however be incorrect to think of eternal life as the primary result of belief in Jesus. Instead, eternal life arises out of right relationship with the source of life, the Lord.
Much of the apostle John's writings deal with the theology of eternal life. In his Gospel, he defines eternal life: "And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3)." John's clear and divinely-inspired definition of life eternal is straight-forward and wholly reliant on relationship.
In this sense, eternal life is the result of relationship with the Lord, of truly knowing God. God is the source and giver of all life. Therefore, when we are in right relationship with Him, meaning that we live in Him, then naturally it follows that we will be living life eternal. In reality, eternal life is not a future, post-death state but begins at the moment of conversion and continues throughout our fleshly lives carrying us into eternity with Him.
Contrasting eternal life is eternal death. If eternal life is defined as knowing God, eternal death would be defined as the antithesis, not knowing God. This supreme lack of life that is based on the lack of knowing God is the result of separation from the Lord, characterized by a life of unrepentant sin. More direct would be to refer to this separation as eternal damnation. Hell.
Hell, then being understood as eternal death by separation from eternal life, is a matter of relationship in knowing the eternal Lord. Thus hell should not be thought of solely as punishment for a life of sin, rather, hell is the culmination of a life that refuses relationship with the Lord. Making the choice to refuse the Lord is the cost of love.
If we were not able to choose against God, then we would be unable to choose to love Him. But since God so loves us, He gave us the ability to choose or neglect Him. He loves us enough to let us deny Him or neglect His affection. Hell then is God's ultimate show of love. Why would an all-good loving God pull sinners kicking and screaming into His presence when they refuse it? Instead, the Lord gives humans the freedom to refuse His love and to deny any relationship, resulting in eternal death.
Ultimately, eternal life comes as a result of a right relationship to the Lord. Thus, when we believe unto Jesus as the Son of God, we are blessed to enter into relationship with God. As result of this relationship we are given eternal life. Eternal life is a gift based on our knowledge of God. Let us then press forward to know the Lord and be blessed by eternal life in Him!
Much of the apostle John's writings deal with the theology of eternal life. In his Gospel, he defines eternal life: "And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3)." John's clear and divinely-inspired definition of life eternal is straight-forward and wholly reliant on relationship.
In this sense, eternal life is the result of relationship with the Lord, of truly knowing God. God is the source and giver of all life. Therefore, when we are in right relationship with Him, meaning that we live in Him, then naturally it follows that we will be living life eternal. In reality, eternal life is not a future, post-death state but begins at the moment of conversion and continues throughout our fleshly lives carrying us into eternity with Him.
Contrasting eternal life is eternal death. If eternal life is defined as knowing God, eternal death would be defined as the antithesis, not knowing God. This supreme lack of life that is based on the lack of knowing God is the result of separation from the Lord, characterized by a life of unrepentant sin. More direct would be to refer to this separation as eternal damnation. Hell.
Hell, then being understood as eternal death by separation from eternal life, is a matter of relationship in knowing the eternal Lord. Thus hell should not be thought of solely as punishment for a life of sin, rather, hell is the culmination of a life that refuses relationship with the Lord. Making the choice to refuse the Lord is the cost of love.
If we were not able to choose against God, then we would be unable to choose to love Him. But since God so loves us, He gave us the ability to choose or neglect Him. He loves us enough to let us deny Him or neglect His affection. Hell then is God's ultimate show of love. Why would an all-good loving God pull sinners kicking and screaming into His presence when they refuse it? Instead, the Lord gives humans the freedom to refuse His love and to deny any relationship, resulting in eternal death.
Ultimately, eternal life comes as a result of a right relationship to the Lord. Thus, when we believe unto Jesus as the Son of God, we are blessed to enter into relationship with God. As result of this relationship we are given eternal life. Eternal life is a gift based on our knowledge of God. Let us then press forward to know the Lord and be blessed by eternal life in Him!
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Exiled Elect
In the 6th century B.C., the Jewish people were conquered and displaced in an exile of national proportions and theological implications. The exile was not and should not be thought of as merely one nation conquering another. Instead, the exile is rife with theology and relevance. moreover, throughout the Scriptures, the language of the exile is sobering and prevalent.
In the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, the Mosaic Law was given and came to be the governing authority and religious framework for all of Israel. This law was part of a conditional covenant between God and Israel, known as the Mosaic Covenant. The stipulations and conditions of this covenant are clearly laid out and defined in Deuteronomy. The striking feature of this covenant is that there are distinct requirements of obedience and devotion. Plainly stated, if the Israelites were obedient then they would be blessed; however, if they were disobedient to the covenant's requirements, then they would be cursed and exiled in judgment.
Unfortunately, the Israelites fell into continued covenant infidelity and centuries of disobedience. Because of their disobedience the Israelites were sent into exile, first the ten northern tribes of Israel by the Assyrians followed by the southern Judeans by the Babylonians (by this time the Simeonites had been assimilated into the Judean tribe). As a result of the exile(s), Israel spent some 70 years displaced from their Promised Land.
It is important to remember that the exile is just about the physical dispersion of Israel out of the Promised Land but, much more so, it is a theological construct, a framework for understanding the nature of God's people in the world, displaced from their Promised Land. The exile is thus a way to explain the dislocation of believers from the promises of God.
The apostle Peter, in his first epistle, uses the language of exile and dispersion in relation to Christians living in the world (1 Pet. 1:1). In this, the exile is not just a past event in Israel's history but it is a object lesson for understanding how believers live in the world today. The exile refers to how believers are separated from the whole fulfillment of God's promises.
As believers, we have been blessed with a right relationship with the Lord. All this is true, however, the status of our right relationship is only in part while we are still leashed to this fleshly mortal coil. The reality is that we will not receive the completeness of God's promises until our final rest in death. In a very real sense, Christians live this life in exile, awaiting our return to the promises of God and our restorations to the wholeness of His grace. Throughout this, it is vital that we are patient in our waiting, that we would hold fast to the fulfillment of God's promises and our release from the exile of this world.
In the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, the Mosaic Law was given and came to be the governing authority and religious framework for all of Israel. This law was part of a conditional covenant between God and Israel, known as the Mosaic Covenant. The stipulations and conditions of this covenant are clearly laid out and defined in Deuteronomy. The striking feature of this covenant is that there are distinct requirements of obedience and devotion. Plainly stated, if the Israelites were obedient then they would be blessed; however, if they were disobedient to the covenant's requirements, then they would be cursed and exiled in judgment.
Unfortunately, the Israelites fell into continued covenant infidelity and centuries of disobedience. Because of their disobedience the Israelites were sent into exile, first the ten northern tribes of Israel by the Assyrians followed by the southern Judeans by the Babylonians (by this time the Simeonites had been assimilated into the Judean tribe). As a result of the exile(s), Israel spent some 70 years displaced from their Promised Land.
It is important to remember that the exile is just about the physical dispersion of Israel out of the Promised Land but, much more so, it is a theological construct, a framework for understanding the nature of God's people in the world, displaced from their Promised Land. The exile is thus a way to explain the dislocation of believers from the promises of God.
The apostle Peter, in his first epistle, uses the language of exile and dispersion in relation to Christians living in the world (1 Pet. 1:1). In this, the exile is not just a past event in Israel's history but it is a object lesson for understanding how believers live in the world today. The exile refers to how believers are separated from the whole fulfillment of God's promises.
As believers, we have been blessed with a right relationship with the Lord. All this is true, however, the status of our right relationship is only in part while we are still leashed to this fleshly mortal coil. The reality is that we will not receive the completeness of God's promises until our final rest in death. In a very real sense, Christians live this life in exile, awaiting our return to the promises of God and our restorations to the wholeness of His grace. Throughout this, it is vital that we are patient in our waiting, that we would hold fast to the fulfillment of God's promises and our release from the exile of this world.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Rest for the Redeemed
Rest, a time of refreshment, relaxation, and recovery. The seal of the Mosaic covenant was the keeping of the sabbath. The sabbath represented the seventh-day rest of creation. On every seventh day the Israelites were reminded of God's sovereign work of creation. Thus, the cycle of the week was a constant reminder of the Lord and the people's dependence on His provision and sovereignty.
The sabbath day was a day of rest but it served as much more than a mere "day off." It was a theological construct. On the sabbath, no work was to be done so that the people could focus on the Lord and His providence. Sabbath rest was a requirement and a seal of the covenant but it was to be surpassed by another, Promised Rest, that was to accompany the Promised Land. The Promised Land was to be paired with a Promised Rest. Unfortunately, due to covenant infidelity, the Israelites never saw the fulfillment of the Promised Rest.
This understanding of rest was amended under the New Covenant. The sabbath, and its theology, was changed by a new law, the law of Christ and grace. Under this new law, the rest for believers is not cyclical in the same sense but it is determined and bestowed by the Lord (Matt. 11:28-29). Rest is no longer dependent on the cycle of the week but is a constant state of being, a state of rest. Our rest is wholly dependent on the Lord alone. It is our reliance on the Lord that gives us our rest.
Additionally, the Promised Rest under Christ has a future fulfillment much like the Israelites' rest had a future fulfillment in the Promised Land. For Christians, rest has its ultimate realization in the eternal presence of the Holy Lord. This means that the rest we have now is only a part but to be made whole later in the Lord.
Rest, defined, refers to a time of relaxation and relief. Rest is often understood in relation to a particular activity or time but, as has been shown, rest is not defined in terms of activities or times. Rather, rest in Christ is a lifestyle, an attitude towards life itself, an utter reliance on the Lord. Rest is then paired with our understandings of hope and peace.
In Christ, rest is not occasion-dependent but is continuous because it is based on our reliance on the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Christians live in a state of rest because the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, is the giver of rest. Rest is one of the beautiful gifts that God bestows. Let us strive to live in the Spirit and thus live continuously in His rest.
The sabbath day was a day of rest but it served as much more than a mere "day off." It was a theological construct. On the sabbath, no work was to be done so that the people could focus on the Lord and His providence. Sabbath rest was a requirement and a seal of the covenant but it was to be surpassed by another, Promised Rest, that was to accompany the Promised Land. The Promised Land was to be paired with a Promised Rest. Unfortunately, due to covenant infidelity, the Israelites never saw the fulfillment of the Promised Rest.
This understanding of rest was amended under the New Covenant. The sabbath, and its theology, was changed by a new law, the law of Christ and grace. Under this new law, the rest for believers is not cyclical in the same sense but it is determined and bestowed by the Lord (Matt. 11:28-29). Rest is no longer dependent on the cycle of the week but is a constant state of being, a state of rest. Our rest is wholly dependent on the Lord alone. It is our reliance on the Lord that gives us our rest.
Additionally, the Promised Rest under Christ has a future fulfillment much like the Israelites' rest had a future fulfillment in the Promised Land. For Christians, rest has its ultimate realization in the eternal presence of the Holy Lord. This means that the rest we have now is only a part but to be made whole later in the Lord.
Rest, defined, refers to a time of relaxation and relief. Rest is often understood in relation to a particular activity or time but, as has been shown, rest is not defined in terms of activities or times. Rather, rest in Christ is a lifestyle, an attitude towards life itself, an utter reliance on the Lord. Rest is then paired with our understandings of hope and peace.
In Christ, rest is not occasion-dependent but is continuous because it is based on our reliance on the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Christians live in a state of rest because the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, is the giver of rest. Rest is one of the beautiful gifts that God bestows. Let us strive to live in the Spirit and thus live continuously in His rest.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christ's Christmas
Some 2,000 years ago, in a small rural suburb of Jerusalem, a woman and her soon-to-be husband arrive at an inn but there is no vacancy available. The woman, though a virgin, was quite pregnant and the baby's delivery imminent and near.
Months earlier, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, had come to the woman and prophesied that the Lord Most High would descend upon her and she would bear a child, the Son of God, and that she would call His name, Jesus, meaning God saves. The man she was betrothed to discovered that she was with child and, though he thought of divorcing her, when an angel came to him, in a dream, revealed that his betrothed's child was the Christ, the Messiah who would save all mankind from their sin.
At this time, near the end of the young woman's pregnancy, the emperor issued a decree requiring that everyone return to their ancestry's land to be censored. The man took his pregnant fiance to the place of his ancestry, to Bethlehem. The trip was arduous and long. Upon arrival, the woman realized that it was time: she was going to deliver her child.
Although the inn was full, a man offered the couple a cave that served as a stable for livestock for them to stay in. The woman delivered her child, an infant boy. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a trough.
Meanwhile, shepherds nearby were watching their sheep by night as an angel of the Lord appeared before them and told them that in Bethlehem a child was born. The angel told the shepherds to go to the town and to offer praises to the newborn as He was to be the Messiah, the savior of all mankind. They left their flocks and the fields to find the couple and their child in the stable, the infant resting in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was just how the angel had prophesied it to be.
The Christmas story is repeated yearly in the Christian calendar. It is the beginning of Jesus' life and His ministry. At this time, the 25th of December, let us take time to remember Christ, to remember the dozens of prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth, let alone His life. A time to remember that God is sovereign and holy, and that He condescended into humanity for the purpose of redeeming His children from sin. Now we can enter into right relationship with Him by Him and for Him. Truly, this is what Christmas is all about.
Months earlier, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, had come to the woman and prophesied that the Lord Most High would descend upon her and she would bear a child, the Son of God, and that she would call His name, Jesus, meaning God saves. The man she was betrothed to discovered that she was with child and, though he thought of divorcing her, when an angel came to him, in a dream, revealed that his betrothed's child was the Christ, the Messiah who would save all mankind from their sin.
At this time, near the end of the young woman's pregnancy, the emperor issued a decree requiring that everyone return to their ancestry's land to be censored. The man took his pregnant fiance to the place of his ancestry, to Bethlehem. The trip was arduous and long. Upon arrival, the woman realized that it was time: she was going to deliver her child.
Although the inn was full, a man offered the couple a cave that served as a stable for livestock for them to stay in. The woman delivered her child, an infant boy. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a trough.
Meanwhile, shepherds nearby were watching their sheep by night as an angel of the Lord appeared before them and told them that in Bethlehem a child was born. The angel told the shepherds to go to the town and to offer praises to the newborn as He was to be the Messiah, the savior of all mankind. They left their flocks and the fields to find the couple and their child in the stable, the infant resting in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was just how the angel had prophesied it to be.
The Christmas story is repeated yearly in the Christian calendar. It is the beginning of Jesus' life and His ministry. At this time, the 25th of December, let us take time to remember Christ, to remember the dozens of prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth, let alone His life. A time to remember that God is sovereign and holy, and that He condescended into humanity for the purpose of redeeming His children from sin. Now we can enter into right relationship with Him by Him and for Him. Truly, this is what Christmas is all about.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Life Eternal
John 3:16, one of the most known and memorized verses of the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life." John, more than any other NT author, is clear that the reward given to Christians for belief in Jesus is eternal life (John 10:28; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-12). Moreover, those that do not have the son do not have eternal life but its converse: eternal death and damnation.
Although eternal life is significant and an essential teaching of the New Testament, it is important to note that eternal life is not the purpose of confession and belief in Christ. Eternal life is a side effect of a right relationship with God. Think of it logically, God is life and the Holy Spirit resides in believers; therefore, believers are blessed with eternal life as a result of their relationship with the Lord.
Again, eternal life is not the purpose of belief, it is a side effect of belief. The purpose and end of belief in Christ is a reconciled right relationship with the Lord. This, in and of itself, is the most wonderful and amazing gift that confession and belief in Jesus provides for Christians. It is the right relationship with God that belief offers; a side effect of that relationship is eternal life.
God is the giver, the Lord of life. Death is a result of sin. In Eden, Adam and Eve had eternal life because they were in right relationship with God but, due to the Fall, their relationship was damaged and their eternal life revoked as a result. Because the Lord is life, when we are obedient to Him, His will and Word, we will be blessed. Part of His blessing is life, eternal life.
Because eternal life is a side effect of right relationship with the Lord, the giver of life, eternal life is not an "after death" venture. Instead, eternal life is the life we now live in preparation for our lives after the ceasing of this mortal coil. In essence we should strive to live in a constant state of eternal life. In reality, this means that we will pursue a right relationship with the Lord. Remember, not only is eternal life a side effect of a right relationship with God through Jesus, but it is a life to be lived now not after death. Therefore, let us be diligent to live lives pleasing to Him and to His will.
Although eternal life is significant and an essential teaching of the New Testament, it is important to note that eternal life is not the purpose of confession and belief in Christ. Eternal life is a side effect of a right relationship with God. Think of it logically, God is life and the Holy Spirit resides in believers; therefore, believers are blessed with eternal life as a result of their relationship with the Lord.
Again, eternal life is not the purpose of belief, it is a side effect of belief. The purpose and end of belief in Christ is a reconciled right relationship with the Lord. This, in and of itself, is the most wonderful and amazing gift that confession and belief in Jesus provides for Christians. It is the right relationship with God that belief offers; a side effect of that relationship is eternal life.
God is the giver, the Lord of life. Death is a result of sin. In Eden, Adam and Eve had eternal life because they were in right relationship with God but, due to the Fall, their relationship was damaged and their eternal life revoked as a result. Because the Lord is life, when we are obedient to Him, His will and Word, we will be blessed. Part of His blessing is life, eternal life.
Because eternal life is a side effect of right relationship with the Lord, the giver of life, eternal life is not an "after death" venture. Instead, eternal life is the life we now live in preparation for our lives after the ceasing of this mortal coil. In essence we should strive to live in a constant state of eternal life. In reality, this means that we will pursue a right relationship with the Lord. Remember, not only is eternal life a side effect of a right relationship with God through Jesus, but it is a life to be lived now not after death. Therefore, let us be diligent to live lives pleasing to Him and to His will.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
