Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
While He was on this earth, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. Yet because He loves us, He allowed Himself to be made a curse for us. It is hard to take in this thought.
The law had brought the curse of death and judgement on all who failed to live up to its standard of perfection. We were incapable of meeting those standards. And that is why Jesus had to come. The price was too high for us to pay, so He came to redeem us.
Think of something that you know is right, and yet is hard to do. How does it compare to the sacrifice that Jesus made?
Friday, July 6, 2018
Friday, June 29, 2018
Loved and Gave
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. A simple enough thought. But absolutely world changing. This is the epitome of love right here. Jesus did not need us, but He wanted us. Not because there was anything good in us that was desirable, but because of His mercy, grace, and love.
In all the pantheons of all the false religions, there is no story quite like this. In those false religions, 'gods' are often portrayed as selfish beings. Yet in this story that we know to be true, Jesus loved and gave. What more could we hope for?
Am I living by the faith of the Son of God today? Is His love and generosity alive in me? How am I showing it to those around me?
The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. A simple enough thought. But absolutely world changing. This is the epitome of love right here. Jesus did not need us, but He wanted us. Not because there was anything good in us that was desirable, but because of His mercy, grace, and love.
In all the pantheons of all the false religions, there is no story quite like this. In those false religions, 'gods' are often portrayed as selfish beings. Yet in this story that we know to be true, Jesus loved and gave. What more could we hope for?
Am I living by the faith of the Son of God today? Is His love and generosity alive in me? How am I showing it to those around me?
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Neither Was I Taught
Galatians 1:11-12 "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Paul is writing to a church that is being deceived and led astray by people claiming to preach another "gospel". Through his own testimony, Paul is pointing out that his experience of the Gospel was not through teaching of men, but by revelation of God.
As Christians, the authority of our faith does not rest in man. Every generation has its well-known Christian leaders. People look to these fallen humans for guidance. And while at times they can provide good leadership, they cannot replace the revelation of God. Even back in Paul's day, he makes the point that he didn't even talk to Peter, one of the main leaders of the church, for 3 years after Paul was saved. He didn't need to because his revelation came from God.
This is not to say that we should all be loners who never talk to other Christians or who never listen to what others have to say. It is merely to point out that Christ and the Gospel is sufficient. If that is all we have, that is all we need. And also to make the point that anything that does not line up with the revealed Gospel of Christ is garbage.
What is your experience with the Gospel? Does it depend on other people and their take on the Gospel? Or is it a deep, intimate, one-on-one relationship with Christ?
Paul is writing to a church that is being deceived and led astray by people claiming to preach another "gospel". Through his own testimony, Paul is pointing out that his experience of the Gospel was not through teaching of men, but by revelation of God.
As Christians, the authority of our faith does not rest in man. Every generation has its well-known Christian leaders. People look to these fallen humans for guidance. And while at times they can provide good leadership, they cannot replace the revelation of God. Even back in Paul's day, he makes the point that he didn't even talk to Peter, one of the main leaders of the church, for 3 years after Paul was saved. He didn't need to because his revelation came from God.
This is not to say that we should all be loners who never talk to other Christians or who never listen to what others have to say. It is merely to point out that Christ and the Gospel is sufficient. If that is all we have, that is all we need. And also to make the point that anything that does not line up with the revealed Gospel of Christ is garbage.
What is your experience with the Gospel? Does it depend on other people and their take on the Gospel? Or is it a deep, intimate, one-on-one relationship with Christ?
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Perfect Perfection
2 Corinthians 13:9 "For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection."
2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Since the Bible is translated, doing word studies is an essential tool to understand God's Word. The word 'perfection' in verse 9 has this definition: "a strengthening, perfecting of the soul, a training, disciplining, instructing." If you insert that definition in place of "perfection", it gives the verse a very different meaning.
It's the same with verse 11. Paul's command to be perfect does not mean that we are commanded to be without fault. That is not possible! The word 'perfect' here means, "ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be." Both words have this idea of completion.
We know that while we are not complete yet, one day we will be. In the meantime, it is a process that Jesus is continually moving us through to become more like Him, more complete. So the question is, am I working to train and discipline myself so that I can become what I ought to be?
2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Since the Bible is translated, doing word studies is an essential tool to understand God's Word. The word 'perfection' in verse 9 has this definition: "a strengthening, perfecting of the soul, a training, disciplining, instructing." If you insert that definition in place of "perfection", it gives the verse a very different meaning.
It's the same with verse 11. Paul's command to be perfect does not mean that we are commanded to be without fault. That is not possible! The word 'perfect' here means, "ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be." Both words have this idea of completion.
We know that while we are not complete yet, one day we will be. In the meantime, it is a process that Jesus is continually moving us through to become more like Him, more complete. So the question is, am I working to train and discipline myself so that I can become what I ought to be?
Monday, June 25, 2018
Examine Yourselves
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
Examine: "to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself"
Prove: "to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals"
Saying you are a Christian is not enough. When it comes to situations where your eternal destiny is on the line, taking a long, hard, close look it warranted.
I love the part of the definition above that speaks of scrutinizing to see if something is genuine. I think of an expensive piece of artwork. Even the best can be forged, however a forged piece of art is worthless and a fraud. The last thing that we want is for our relationship with Christ to be a fraud.
Testing metals can sometimes involve extreme stress or heat. Are you willing to put yourself through that to insure that you are indeed in the faith?
Examine: "to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself"
Prove: "to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals"
Saying you are a Christian is not enough. When it comes to situations where your eternal destiny is on the line, taking a long, hard, close look it warranted.
I love the part of the definition above that speaks of scrutinizing to see if something is genuine. I think of an expensive piece of artwork. Even the best can be forged, however a forged piece of art is worthless and a fraud. The last thing that we want is for our relationship with Christ to be a fraud.
Testing metals can sometimes involve extreme stress or heat. Are you willing to put yourself through that to insure that you are indeed in the faith?
Monday, June 18, 2018
Chapter 11
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Chapter 11 provides a lot of context for this verse. I think usually it's just talked about in reference to Paul's thorn in the flesh. But for many verses prior to that, Paul is going over a long list of trials and tribulations that he has had to endure. His thorn in the flesh was a big part of this, no doubt, however if takes the previous chapter to really help us understand the full depth and scope of what Paul endured to come to this understanding.
And that's the beautiful thing about the Scriptures. They are here for us to teach us and instruct us so that we can learn through the experience of others. And not only that, so that after having learned, when we experience something similar, we can know that God is faithful and will remain faithful no matter what we go through.
We like to think about His grace being sufficient, His strength being made perfect in our weakness, His power resting on us, being strong despite our weakness, but what we don't like near as much is the rest of the verse. Chapter 11 was necessary for Paul to truly experience His strength and power. If we want the promises here in 12:9-10, we must take pleasure in our infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distresses when they come for Christ's sake.
What things am I suffering for Christ's sake? Am I glorying in them? If there's nothing, thank God, but maybe also take stock of your life. Is it a life different enough for the world to even notice?
Chapter 11 provides a lot of context for this verse. I think usually it's just talked about in reference to Paul's thorn in the flesh. But for many verses prior to that, Paul is going over a long list of trials and tribulations that he has had to endure. His thorn in the flesh was a big part of this, no doubt, however if takes the previous chapter to really help us understand the full depth and scope of what Paul endured to come to this understanding.
And that's the beautiful thing about the Scriptures. They are here for us to teach us and instruct us so that we can learn through the experience of others. And not only that, so that after having learned, when we experience something similar, we can know that God is faithful and will remain faithful no matter what we go through.
We like to think about His grace being sufficient, His strength being made perfect in our weakness, His power resting on us, being strong despite our weakness, but what we don't like near as much is the rest of the verse. Chapter 11 was necessary for Paul to truly experience His strength and power. If we want the promises here in 12:9-10, we must take pleasure in our infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distresses when they come for Christ's sake.
What things am I suffering for Christ's sake? Am I glorying in them? If there's nothing, thank God, but maybe also take stock of your life. Is it a life different enough for the world to even notice?
Friday, June 15, 2018
Glory: Verb
2 Corinthians 10:17 "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
The verb "glory" here means, to "(make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice." The word has the picture of actually standing in His presence and what we would do if we were there. In this day and age of equality, I think we've largely lost the concept of what it means to glory in something because most of what we see on a daily basis is pretty normal.
But the God we serve is not normal. When we are humble (having a proper perspective of ourselves in light of Who God is) then we will see the need to glory in Him and not in anything else. Make your boast in what He has done. Tell other proudly of how God has acted on your behalf. Rejoice in what He has done. Find in His actions your source of joy.
In what am I glorying today? Do I even know how to glory?
The verb "glory" here means, to "(make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice." The word has the picture of actually standing in His presence and what we would do if we were there. In this day and age of equality, I think we've largely lost the concept of what it means to glory in something because most of what we see on a daily basis is pretty normal.
But the God we serve is not normal. When we are humble (having a proper perspective of ourselves in light of Who God is) then we will see the need to glory in Him and not in anything else. Make your boast in what He has done. Tell other proudly of how God has acted on your behalf. Rejoice in what He has done. Find in His actions your source of joy.
In what am I glorying today? Do I even know how to glory?
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