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Paul’s Teaching Endorses Jeremiah’s Prophecy As Part of the New Covenant in his Letter to the Ephesians

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Paul writing to the church at Ephesus to both Jews and Gentile Christians, Jeremiah’s prophecy is found in his teaching as part of the New Covenant that Jesus established in his death, resurrection and ascension.

Jeremiah’s prophecy Chapter 31 verses 31-34. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

God’s covenants and promises were between God and the nation of Israel. The first covenant stemmed from Abram’s relationship with God that from him and Sarah a great nation would emerge and through him all the families (nations) on the earth would be bless themselves. Genesis 12: 1-3

Paul informs the Ephesians that the Gentiles had no covenants with God.

Jeremiah verse 31 ““Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”   

Paul in his letter emphasises to the Gentile Christians that before they came to faith in Jesus that the Gentiles had no covenants with the God of Israel. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2: 11,12.    

God revealed to Paul his purposes and plans, “How the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  Jesus has enabled those whose faith is in him to attain the promise of receiving eternal life. Paul reveals that this news had now been made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. Ephesians 3: 3, 6

Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 32 “Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke.”                                                                                                                                                                                   Jeremiah’s prophecy refers to the incident when God met with Moses on the mountain and gave Moses two tablets of stone on which God had written ten commandments. When Moses returned to the camp at the base of the mountain, he found the people worshipping an idol of a golden calf. In his anger he threw down the stone tablets and broke them. Moses later returned to meet with God on the mountain where he received again the commandments.

Paul reminds both the Jews and the Gentile Christians at Ephesus not to include any gods that they used to worship in their former way of life. Paul writes, “And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2: 1,2.

Gentiles in the first century worshipped more than one god, often believing in the one god that was the supreme god and all the other gods under his rule. Today, many people hold the same view and incorporate the spirituality of different deities along with their god-fearing beliefs.

Verse 32 Jeremiah’s prophecy speaks of God being a husband to Israel. “Though I was their husband, says the Lord.”                                                                                                          Apostle John records in his gospel, the incident when the Pharisees brought before Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. They asked Jesus what should they do to punish her? In his response, Jesus pointed to Jeremiah’s prophecy of a New Covenant. John’s narrative, the woman I believe represents Israel, the wife of God. Jesus, wrote with his finger twice on the ground, representing the two tablets on which the ten commandments were written, and were broken when Moses brought them down from the mountain into the camp where he found the Israelites worshipping the idol. When Jesus asked those present for those without sin to cast the first stone at her, they were convicted of unconfessed sin in their lives and walked away. They were convicted from the heart of the law of commandments written in their hearts. Jesus I believe endorsed Jeremiah’s prophecy. John 8: 1-11. Matthew 5: 17-19

Verse 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts.”  

In the temple at Jerusalem there was a dividing wall separating Jews from Gentiles. On the Jewish side is where the rituals and sacrifices took place. Jesus having made the final sacrifice for sin and had fulfilled the rituals observed by the Jewish law for both Jews and Gentiles. As a result, he removed the wall of separation making peace.

Paul wrote,  For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2: 14-17.                                                                                                            

The New Covenant abolishes the commandments and ordinances that took place at the temple at Jerusalem and removes the barriers from knowing about God to knowing God in a personal way. The cross becomes like a bridge, where we pass over from eternal death to eternal life. It is through our repentance, and by Jesus taking our sin upon himself on the cross and dying in our place. His body broken and his blood shed for forgiveness of sin. So, the cross is where we die to sin and death and receive God’s forgiveness and raised in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Spirit acts upon our faith in Jesus and as a result, a change takes place within a person’s heart. The commandments are not kept as a set of rules, instead they become part of our nature, written in the heart. Ezekiel 11: 19,20. 2 Corinthians 3: 3

Verse 33 “And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  “Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and soul and mind. This is the first and great commandment. Jesus continued saying, And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”   Matthew 22: 37-40                                                                                                                                                                               Paul endorses this commandment, “There is one body and one Spirit; just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, (Jesus) one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4: 4-6

One God- three persons in the one God. Paul teaches: one Spirit, one Lord Jesus, one in the Father who is above all and through all and in all.

Only the perfect sacrifice from God himself could make us right with God. Jesus the Son of God made peace between God and humanity through his one sacrifice of himself and at the service of Holy Communion we remember Jesus establishing the New Covenant in his death and resurrection and in his ascension unifying heaven and the earth.  

Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 34 “And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother.” It is by example we love our neighbour and brother as ourselves with the guidance of the Holy Spirit

God’s covenant with Moses enabled a Jewish person to earn their righteousness through doing good works and keeping the law. The pharisees and lawyers loved God but added laws to justify earning their righteousness by doing good deeds.

Paul writes in Ephesians teaching them of a change in the New Covenant Chapter 2: 9,10 “Not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  

Christians have entered God’s Sabbath day of rest; we cannot work towards earning our place in God’s kingdom. Jesus has secured a place in God’s kingdom in response to having faith in him.

Ephesians Chapter 4: 25-29 “Therefore, putting away falsehood, let everyone speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labour, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”                                               

God’s love in the heart working in every believer by demonstrating their love for their neighbour by acts of kindness and doing charitable deeds that God has prepared for them to do.                                            

Chapter 5: 5 Paul writes, “Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is covetous (that is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Chapter 6: 1,2. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise). This commandment has the promise of living a long life on the earth.

Jeremiah’s prophecy Verse 34 “Saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”                                                                                                                                                                                              Paul writes, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,(the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us.) 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 17,18.

Personal testimony – I made my commitment to follow Jesus nine years prior to receiving the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands at a prayer group meeting. Afterwards, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that God was my Father and I felt one with creation. I realised that God had added substance, reality to my faith because I knew spiritually that the gospels gave a true account about Jesus. Since that wonderful day: I know Jesus is God revealed in the flesh and Jesus is the word of God clothed in the flesh and that he is the Son of God and I know the commandments are written in my heart, the Holy Spirit revealing God’s love and I discern his guidance, revealing Jesus through the word and prompting action through stepping out in faith.

                                                                                                                                                                               Jeremiah’s prophecy verse 34 “Says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”                                                                                                                                                                                                Paul writes, “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us.” Ephesians 1: 7,8. Jesus’ redemption includes sin done in ignorance and generational sin.

Paul writes, “Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24

Jesus added a new commandment to ‘love one another.’    Agape love.

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3: 17-19. God reached to the depths of a person’s sin and forgives. Paul writes, God has blessed every Christian with every spiritual blessing in the highest place, heavenly places, in Christ.

Paul’s example of forbearance when writing this letter to the Ephesians, “With all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love.” Ephesians 4: 2

Paul points out the necessity of being trueful, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” Ephesians 4: 15

Jesus dying in agony to fulfil his Father’s will, “Therefore be of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God,” Ephesians 5: 1,2.

Love fulfils the commandments loving God and loving our neighbour as ourselves.

Today, a Christians’ love for God, enables God’s love to flow through his Church, Christ’s body. Christ’s love reaching out to love our neighbour and making Christ known to them by sharing the gospel and by faith in action doing charitable deeds.

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Fishers and Hunters

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Fisherman and the Hunter.

RSV Bible

Jeremiah’s Prophecy

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land which I gave to their fathers” Jeremiah 16: 14,15.

Jeremiah prophesied that the fisher and the hunters would search for the Jewish people scattered across the world, bringing them back to the Promised Land. This was fulfilled through the Persian King Cyrus who encouraged the Jewish exiles in Babylon to return and rebuild their temple at Jerusalem. Ezra 1: 2-4. 2: 1,2. 3: 8.

The rebuilding of the temple was completed in 516 B.C which was 6 years after Darius became king 522 B.C. Ezra 6: 15.

At the time of Jesus

The expectation of God raising the Messiah from among the Jewish people was very great. John records that priests and Levites came to where John was baptising asking him, was he the Christ (Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew)? John 1: 19-27 Luke 3: 15,16.

Andrew disciple of John the Baptist heard John say, “Behold, the Lamb of God’ who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptise with water that he might be revealed to Israel.”

  Andrew then went and told his brother Simon Peter that they ‘had found the Messiah.’ John 1: 29-31,41.

Jeremiah’s prophecy continued, “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, says the Lord, and they shall catch them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks For my eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hid from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.” Jeremiah 16: 16,17.

Jesus fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy, identified as the Messiah by sending out fishermen. Luke recorded Jesus’ fishing with Simon Peter. Luke from his eyewitness accounts writes, “While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he (Jesus) was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. “For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” Luke 5: 1-11

Jesus during his ministry fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy in two ways: Jesus was seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus was gathering those who had fallen away from keeping the Laws of Moses, mainly because of their poverty because they were unable to pay for offerings for sacrifice: grain (cheapest) bird and animal sacrifices. Jesus healed their disabilities: blindness, leprosy, mental illness and disabled and other sicknesses and diseases. Matthew 10: 6. Leviticus 2: 1.

Secondly, Jesus was like the hunter calling people to repent in preparation for the Messiah restoring Israel’s fellowship with God, under the Laws given to Moses by God.

The disciples were fishers and hunters.

Luke recorded Jesus telling his disciples that they would be fishers of men. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.”  Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and preach the kingdom message, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” and to heal the sick. On the return of the 70 disciples, they rejoiced as they shared with Jesus what God had done through their ministry. Jesus rejoiced in His Spirit and thanked God his Father. Luke 9: 1,2,10. 10: 17-21.

The woman of Samaria at Jacob’s Well, having heard from Jesus that he was the Messiah, she went fishing and told her friends in the city saying, ”Come see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? They went out of the city and were coming to him………. When the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; Jesus stayed there two days. And many believed because of his word.” John 4: 25,28-30,40,41.

Jesus’ risen body the temple of God

John wrote that Jesus referred to his body being God’s temple. “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.” John 2: 19-22.

7 examples of Jesus fulfilling the law with its rituals: Jesus fulfilled the Law in himself. He was the light of the world. John 8: 12. The Menorah Candlestick that gave light in the Court of the Priests. Exodus 25: 31-40. 26: 35. Jesus was the Vine. John 15: 1. A Vine: a golden gigantic vine carving above the entrance into the Holy Place. A Edersheim, “The Temple “ Book page 58. Online ‘Read Now’ page 35. Israel, God’s Vineyard. Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin, he was the Passover Lamb that was slain on the day of preparation when the Passover Lambs were killed at the temple. Exodus 12: 1-13. John 1: 29-31.19: 31. Jesus’ blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. Leviticus 1: 3,4. 17: 11. Matthew 26: 28. In his resurrection. Isaiah 26: 19. Luke 24: 7. Jesus produced the seeds, the first fruit of the wheat harvest. Leviticus 23: 9. John 12: 24. Jesus the living water, the wells of Salvation. Isaiah 12: 3,4. John 7: 37-39.

Every day during the Feast of Tabernacles, a priest drew water from the Pool of Siloam and carried it to the temple, where the priest poured the water either side of the altar.

Alfred Edersheim writes, “It was on that day, after the priest had returned from Siloam with his golden pitcher, and for the last time poured its contents to the base of the altar; after the Hallel’ had been sung to the sound of the flute . . . a voice was raised which resounded through the temple, startled the multitude, and carried fear and hatred to the hearts of their leaders. It was Jesus, who stood and cried, saying, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink.” He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” John 7: 37-39. Isaiah 12: 3,4. Alfred Edersheim “The Temple” Book Page 281.

Ezekiel’s prophecy fulfilled by Jesus.

Ezekiel’s prophecy, “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). Ezekiel 47: 1

Jesus fulfilled Ezekiel’s prophecy. The water represents the Holy Spirit flowing from the temple of Jesus’ body. John 20: 20. Luke 3: 16.

“On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink.” He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” “ Now, this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7: 37-39

The apostles received the Holy Spirit on the evening of Jesus’ resurrection and at Pentecost the power of the Holy Spirit. John 20: 20. Luke 24: 49. Acts 2: 1-4.

Ezekiel’s prophecy continued, As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.  He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.  He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.”

 “Then he led me back along the bank of the river.  As I went back, I saw upon the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.  And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea,] the water will become fresh.  And wherever the river[c] goes every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea[d] may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.  Fishermen will stand beside the sea; from En-ge′di to En-eg′laim it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.  But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.  And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47: 3-12.

The apostles and followers of Jesus were fishermen and hunters, they reached out with the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and proclaiming if the leaders and people repented God would send the appointed Christ, Jesus. Acts 3: 20.

Thousands of Jews and Proselytes received Jesus as their Saviour, Messiah and received Jesus’ Baptism of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling Joel’s prophecy in the last days the Holy Spirit would be poured out and people would dream dreams and prophesy. Joel 2: 28. Acts 2: 1-4, 17,18,37-39.

Ezekiel describes the water flowing out towards the Dead Sea and the waters of the Salt Sea becoming fresh water. This represented the apostles proclaiming the good news transforming people’s hearts to know that Jesus is Israel’s Saviour, the promised Messiah. The fishermen would spread their nets and catch all kinds of fish. The people from towns around Jerusalem came to Jerusalem (It is 53 miles from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.) “The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” Acts 5: 16. The apostles fulfilled Ezekiel’s prophecy they were expecting Jesus to return within their generation. Mark 13: 30.

The church today is fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.

Today’s church the fishers of men, women and children and Hunters sent out to find the lost, these are the people from across the world, turning to Jesus Christ in belief that he is the Saviour of the world.

The river flowing out from Christ to his body of believers. The message of faith in Jesus: accepting Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him will receive eternal life.” John 3: 16.

The measurement of depth of the river represents the levels of a Christians commitment to Jesus.

The hunter                                                                                                                                                                  Ankle deep – sin in life stopping a deeper relationship with the Lord.                                                              Knee deep – A Christian decides the percentage of their time they will give to the Lord’s work. Luke records the man about to embark on a mission saying, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his/her hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 61,62.                                                                                                Waist deep – Fervent in prayer and responding to God’s call to go and tell the good news of God’s saving love.

From the fisher, the river of life flows out, all kinds of fish live in the river. The tree roots taking water from the river are those Christians who are fulfilling their calling to serve Jesus. Those Christians who are passionate about people coming to know Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The hunter – the water reaches the lake of salt, it is like the church meeting unbelievers.

The person of the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, the sin of unbelief in Jesus. The righteousness of God, through the transforming of the heart, the laws of God written in the heart of a person. Judgement: The Bible indicates that God will judge every person who has ever lived on the earth. Christians come before the judgement seat of Christ. John 16: 8-11. Romans 2: 4-7, 29. Revelation 20: 11-15. 1 Corinthians 3: 12-15. 4: 5.

The fishermen are fishing and spreading their nets – Christians sharing the gospel and many people coming to faith in Jesus.

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Jesus Calling Out the Church.

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For the last three years I have received further understanding from the scriptures concerning ‘The Messiah’s Secret’. The Holy Spirit has revealed more concerning the question as to why Jesus did not return with the generation of the Apostles? This blog is the most recent that I felt I must share with my brothers and sisters in Christ’s body, the Church.

Matthew recorded the disciples asking Jesus the question about the signs of his return and the last days. It is followed by Jesus telling them that God the Father only knows when he will return. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”[1] Jesus continues and gives the example of Noah being commanded by God to build an ark, as God was going to flood the land. Noah went through the process of building the ark and filling the ark with animals and all kinds of creatures. We understand that God was grieved in his heart at the depth of humanities wickedness. Every intent of thought in the heart was continually evil. Noah walked with God and believed God when God said he was going to destroy the earth with a flood.[2] Jesus seems to stress that the flood came upon them suddenly. “For in seven days I will send rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights. . . And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.”

Matthew continues, Jesus’ parable, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time.”

The faithful and wise servant, the apostle Peter, at Pentecost proclaimed the food, the good news that would bring Spirit and life to thousands of people, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ (Messiah), this Jesus whom you crucified.”[3] After he had spoken 3,000 Jews and pros accepted Jesus as their Messiah and were baptised into Jesus’ baptism receiving the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ warning, “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Truly, I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions. But if that evil servant says to himself, “My master is delayed and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. And will punish him with the hypocrites, there men will weep and nash their teeth.[4]

The Sadducees, the leaders of the Sanhedrin in their attitude towards the apostles were like the people in Noah’s day, they did not believe Noah’s message about the flood  and the Sadducees did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah. When they heard of the miracles and healings taking place at the hands of the apostles. Luke records their response, “But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison.”

The Sadducees were expecting the Messiah to be a man like Moses: a great leader and who would keep the law and circumcision. Theydid not believe in the resurrection of the dead.[5] The continuing discussion by the Jewish Christians over Gentile circumcision and keeping the Laws of Moses, I believe the Jews could see the church was divided on this issue. The apostles message fell on deaf ears.

Peter did not like being challenged by questions that caused him to step out of line with the law. Yet, when he received the vision at Joppa he stepped out in faith and accompanied the two men to Gentile Cornelius home, where after hearing about Jesus Cornelius and his whole household received the Holy Spirit and were baptised. Peter afterwards was criticised by the Circumcision Party for eating with uncircumcised men. Peter gave his account of the vision he had received from God and his meeting with Cornelius and his family. Peter realised that the Holy Spirit had come upon them, in the same way as the apostles and followers had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter said to them, “If God gave them the same gift as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to withstand God?” [6] Paul’s letter to the Galatians reveals that Peter at Antioch, sat and ate with the Gentile converts, but when James arrived with other members of the Circumcision Party, Peter separated himself from the Gentiles.[7] Peter in his second letter wrote, that Paul’s words were found to be hard to understand.[8]

Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles, in his letter to the Ephesians he writes, “The Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”[9]

Paul taught faith and grace, “A Christian is not under law, but is under grace.” Faith in Jesus that he is the Son of God, the Messiah. Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin and it’s causes. Matthew 18: 6. Through repentance and faith we die to sin and by grace we are raised in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection. The same message to the Jews in the churches he and Barnabas had planted. On Paul’s visit to the church at Jerusalem, Paul was and instructed by James, the Lord’s brother and the elders not to teach that Jews that were among the Gentiles to forsake Moses or calling them not to circumcise their children or observe their customs.[10] Instead of uniting the church by faith and grace, the apostles at Jerusalem were separating the Christian Jews from the Christian Gentiles.

I believe Jesus did not return within the lifetime of Jesus’ apostles because of the continuing insistence, by the Jewish leaders of early church over Gentile circumcision and keeping the Laws of Moses. 

At some point the apostle’s mission to the circumcised Jews and to the uncircumcised Gentiles had to be united before Jesus’ return, becoming one in Jesus the Messiah.

Jesus prayed for his disciples, “Holy Father, keep them through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are one.”[11] Jesus continued praying for those who believed the apostles words about him. They would also become one with Jesus and the Father. Jesus’ prayer, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they all may be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

The Jewish peoplewho believe through the apostles’ word and those who believed their words about Jesus were both Jews and Gentiles. United, becoming one in belief that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ.[12] John in his first letter wrote, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in Christ.” [13]

John the last remaining apostle

John wrote in his gospel, “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to those who did believe in his name, he gave them power to become children of God.”[14] 

John gives us a clear statement of fact; Jesus came to his own people as their Messiah, but the leaders of that generation failed to recognise Jesus as their Messiah.                                                                                                           The Jewish leaders failed to recognise the prophesies that related to the death of the Messiah. John recorded the prophesies that he saw for himself were fulfilled at the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus. He writes, “He who saw it borne witness -his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth-that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” And again, another scripture says, “They shall look upon him whom they have pierced.”[15]  The Psalmist and Zechariah’s prophesies that spoke of the death of their Messiah.

John does not record in his gospel, this conversation between Jesus and his disciples about the signs of his coming. I believe John realised when he wrote his gospel that Jesus would not be returning within the apostles’ generation. John writes, “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.” It was a national calling to the Jewish nation, to receive Jesus as their Messiah and King. The Jewish leaders did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God as he claimed to be and that he was not their Messiah. The apostles were arrested and at their trial Peter and the apostles testified before the council. “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”[16] In response to hearing Peter’s words the Sadducees threatened to kill the apostles.

John knew that God’s New Covenant redeemed the individual person, through faith in Jesus’ blood paying the price for our sin and its’ causes.

John writes, “But to those who did believe in his name, he gave them power to become the children of God.” The Lamb of God has redeemed whosoever, from knowing about God to knowing Him in a personal way. Jesus in his prayer stated, “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life, that they know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”[17] God had included all people who believed in Jesus. John wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” These anointed words have brought many Jews and Gentiles to know God as their personal Saviour.

John continued, “Who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.”[18] John like Paul discerned that the Gentiles who were not descendants of Abraham were included in the New Covenant. God had fulfilled his promise to Abraham. “And by you (Abraham) all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.”[19]

John is saying it is now personal salvation. “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.[20] John remembered Jesus’ prayer and discerned that Jesus had included the Gentiles who would believe the apostles’ testimony and the words and prophesies that they had seen fulfilled in Jesus and those prophesies that are yet to be fulfilled.

The Holy Spirit preparing the church for Jesus calling out of the church.

Mark writes,”But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”[21]

Matthew recorded Jesus’ words that Jesus related to the apostles and followers being gathered up by the angels at his appearing.

Jesus said, “Two men will be in the field; one taken, and one is left. Two women will be griding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”[22]

I believe Jesus points to personal salvation of the two people taken up from different places: the man in the field and the woman grinding at the mill.  The man and the woman taken up from the earth was in response to Jesus calling out his church. I believe that both believed that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is the Messiah.

Those who were left were lost, perhaps they had not continued in their belief in Jesus, or they believed that Jesus was just a prophet.

The Holy Spirit is preparing Christians for Jesus calling out of the church. The heart of every Christian wholly Christ centred.

Jesus words, “A house divided against itself will not stand.” A Christian’s belief in Jesus’ identity is paramount, it is necessary to be wholly truthful about our beliefs. If we maintain, and not waver over our belief in Jesus, we will be in the house of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as the Triune God, ‘Elohim’ and Jesus is Lord – Jesus is Jehovah. Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.”[23]

Both John and Paul wrote that every Christian is a member of Christ’s body. John recorded Jesus’ words concerning Jesus’ body being the temple of God. In conversation with the Jews “Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days!” But Jesus spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore, he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.”[24]

 The apostle Paul gives reference to the church and its’ members being the temple of Christ’s body. Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”[25]

Paul also wrote in his letter to the Romans, ”For just as the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit, we were all baptised into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and were made to drink of the one Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit uniting of the body of believers.

The Ecumenical Movement was founded in 1910 at the World Missionary Conference in Scotland.

(Ecumenical – promoting or relating to unity among the world’s Christian Churches).

The Anglican – Methodist Covenant 2001.

Common statement of the Formal Conversations between the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the Church of England (GS1409).

“The Revd. Prebendary Dr Paul Avis General Secretary for Christian Unity. 2003. Paul Avis states,“They were not tasked with constructing a unity scheme but rather with taking significant bilateral step towards the ultimate goal of the full visible unity of Christ’s Church.”

For the Church to fulfil Jesus’ prayer of the church being one in Christ. We will at some point in the future remove, put aside the denominational labels.

Paul maintains personal salvation in the body of Christ when he writes, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

In his letter to the church at Rome he writes, “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”  [26]    

Salvation means – Individually every Christian has been redeemed from sin and it’s causes, through repentance and faith in Jesus. We are raised up in forgiveness, in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection. We are complete in Christ, the seed of faith planted in our heart through faith in Jesus.[27] The seed is watered and receives nourishment through the living words in the Bible Each Christian is Christ-like having his Spirit and the Holy Spirit’s gifts.

Thank you, Jesus, for your revealed word, may it be to all who read this book, a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. May it bring understanding to those seeking to know why Jesus kept his death and resurrection a secret. Giving hope to those who are being called by God to witness Jesus’ resurrection and the gift of eternal life.

[1] Matthew 24: 36

[2] Genesis 6: 5-8, 14-21. 7: 4,10.

[3] Acts 2: 36. John 6: 63.

[4] Matthew 45-51.

[5] Acts 23: 6-10.

[6] Acts 11: 1-17.

[7] Galatians 2: 12

[8] 2 Peter

[9] Ephesians 3: 6

[10] Ats 21: 21.

[11] John 17: 11,20, 21

[12]  Romans 2: 9, 10.  3: 29.

[13] 1 John 4: 15.

[14] John 1 v 11

[15] John 19: 35-37. Psalm34: 20. Zechariah 12: 10.

[16] John 5: 16-18, 28-32.Acts 5: 17,18,27-33.

[17] John 17: 1-3.

[18] John 1: 11-13.

[19] Genesis 12: 3.

[20] John 1: 11-13.

[21] Mark 13: 24-27

[22] Matthew 24: 36,40,41

[23] John 10: 30

[24] John 2: 19-22.

[25] 1 Corinthians 3: 16.

[26] 1 Corinthians 12: 27. Romans 12: 4,5.

[27]

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Taking the Fear out of Hearts and Minds.

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Recently, someone asked me, did I know the prophesies in the Bible that relate to our present-day crisis’ in the world?

The Bible gives us insight, prophesies that relate to our present-day, situations and events that are taking place in the world.

Sadly, there are people proclaiming ‘the end of the world is near.’ They will say look at the state of the world: floods, famine and a dictator threatening nuclear war to take over a small area of land belonging to another country. Preachers, using scriptures to make people fear and believe that it will take place soon.                       

Yes, we are looking for answers to climate change that is affecting the world. We recognize the serious problems involved; sea levels rising, and the scorched earth devastating crops across the world. I believe world leaders will find ways to reduce carbon levels and to adapt to these changes.

In the longer term, out of necessity world leaders will come together and form a one world government and it is some time off. It is a recognizable Bible prophecy of a one world government, not like the United Nations comprising of all nations, but of a small number of world leaders, kings that the Apostle John saw in his vision.

The angel interpreted Apostle John’s revelation, “And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as for one hour, together with the beast.” Revelation 17: 12. The ten kings’ prophecy refers to ‘a one world government.’ When it takes place many will identify with this Bible prophesies by billions of people across the world. The beast, the antichrist, will emerge from among the ten kings. At some point during or after this beast identifies himself, Jesus, will call out of the church, before his return to the earth.

God’s love gives us hope, as we look to the scriptures, his love reaches out through Jesus to take away fear. Jesus in his gentle humility, gives us freedom to choose whether we accept him or not as the Saviour of the world.

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Thaddaeus asked Jesus why did he not show himself to the world.

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Thaddaeus – The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.

Judas the son of James also known as Thaddaeus, in his conversation with Jesus at the last supper Thaddaeus asked Jesus, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 22-24. Luke 6: 16. Matthew 10: 2-4.

Jesus told his disciples that he was going away to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. Thomas asked Jesus to show them the way to the Father. Jesus said that the way to the Father was to believe the words that he had taught them during his ministry. Truthful words, that were living words, that give eternal life. Jesus had previously told his disciples that his words were Spirit and life. John 6: 63.

Jesus continued to say while he was away, he would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to them, but the people in the world could neither see or know the Holy Spirit. The reason was because at that time, the people had not the words of Jesus abiding in them, only the disciples had heard the words from Jesus. The people could not understand the parables. Jesus explained the parables to his disciples.

Thaddaeus did not understand why Jesus would not show himself to the world by publicly stating that he was the Messiah. Jesus’ own brothers had thought the same, saying, “For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, (healing and miracles) show yourself to the world.” John added that “his brothers did not believe in him,”  John 7: 3-5.

There was confusion among the people because Jesus and his disciples did not publicly proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks.” The Dispersion was reference to the Jews that had at some point in history exiled across the known world. For instance, after the second world war, many Jewish people living in European countries were displaced and came to live in Manchester, England. The Jews retain their identity as Jews. Polish Jews, Russian Jews etc. Peter wrote his first letter to the exiled Jews of the Dispersion in Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. John 7: 35, 36. 1 Peter 1: 1.

I believe that Jesus did not show himself to the world because he had to die at Jerusalem. The prophesies that revealed the death and resurrection of the Messiah God hid them from the understanding of disciples and people. The Jews were taught from the law that the Messiah would not die, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain for ever.” John 12: 34.

The man in in the crowd indicated that the Son of Man and the Messiah are the same person. “The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain for ever. How can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” The crowd, the people were taught that the Messiah when he was revealed would remain for ever on the earth.

This is confirmed when Jesus was dying on the cross, “The Chief Priests mocked Jesus to one another with the scribes, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 31,32. The leaders of Israel did not believe that the Messiah would die before completing his mission to save Israel and establish God’s kingdom, fulling John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ message “Repent, the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3: 1,2. Mark wrote, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.” Mark 1: 15.

In Acts 3 Peter speaking to the crowd gathered at Solomon’s Portico, informed the people that they had acted ignorance when they handed Jesus over to the Romans, who crucified Jesus. If they repented of their ignorance, then their sins would be blotted out, wiped clean and God would send the ‘times of refreshing’ the restoration of the land and throne of king David by the Messiah. “And that he (God) may send the Christ (Messiah) appointed for  you, Jesus.”  Now was the time for the Jewish leaders to accept Jesus as the Nation’s Messiah. To the Jews at that time, it was a national calling to accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Jews were a nation of priests, they were to take the kingdom message of the Messiah to the rest of the world. Acts 3: 17-21. Exodus 19: 6.   Matthew 28: 19. Luke 24: 47.

Jesus’ promise the Holy Spirit came true when he came into the world at Pentecost. Also, the promise of God indwelling the believer through hearing and receiving God’s word spoken by Jesus to his disciples, “Those who believe on their word,” the disciples repeating and recording Jesus’ words that are found in the Gospels. These words in Jesus’ prayer recorded by John are true, “And this is eternal life, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” Every Christian may know God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the indwelling presence of God, through faith in Jesus. John 17: 3, 20.

Prayer.

God, please give me understanding of these words that Jesus gave his disciples recorded by John. “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him and make our home with him.” I want to be right with God, so I am sorry for sin in my life, please forgive me, and take me, fill me with your loving presence in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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The Messiah’s Jubilee

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At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world; it is also a celebration of the Messiah’s Jubilee, Jesus coming into our hearts as our redeemer, Lord and Saviour.

In the Bible the Jewish Jubilee took place every 50 years, under the Law of Moses. It commenced on the Day of Atonement. The fields were left fallow, and the people were to eat from last year’s harvest. Hired servants who had been working off their debt, had their debt cancelled. Inheritances were restored, the land returned to the original owners, and slaves set free.[1] God’s justice and generosity demonstrated under law was a shadow of what was to come in with the Messiah’s Jubilee.

The Messiah’s Jubilee was referred to as the “Year of Liberty”[2] or “The Year of Redemption”[3] or “The year of the Lord’s favour.”[4] Jesus, at the beginning of his ministry, went into the synagogue at Nazareth where he read from the book of Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’s favour.”[5]

During his ministry Jesus was setting people free from all kinds of bondage and bringing them into the glorious liberty of Jubilee.  Jesus’ parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, were about restoration and celebration. “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”[6] And in the parable of the lost coin: “Rejoice with me, for I have found my coin which was lost.” [7] The parable of the (prodigal) lost son: “Bring the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet and bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let us be merry, for this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost and is found, and they began to make merry.” [8]

The Messiah’s Jubilee is also a celebration of Jesus coming into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour.

We celebrate with those across the world who share our faith in Jesus. They, like us, have entered the Messiah’s Jubilee. Having been released, set free from all that used to enslave us. Our debt of sin has been paid for by Jesus on the cross, and we have entered the freedom of God’s forgiveness. We are joint heirs with Christ, sharing Jesus’ complete work of salvation and entering into the ‘Rest of God.”   

[1] Leviticus 25: 39

[2] Ezekiel 46: 17

[3] Isaiah 63:  4

[4] Luke 4: 18, 19

[5] Luke 4: 18, 19. Isaiah 61: 1, 2

[6] Luke 15: 4

[7] Luke 15:  9

[8] Luke 15: 24

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The Dynamic Christian Cycle

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Dynamic means – A force that simulates change within a system. (Online dictionary)

Christians believe that God is the dynamic force.

The seasons of the year run in cycles and within that cycle Christians beklieve that God is the dynamic force and changes take place: from Winter’s death, into Spring’s resurrection of new life. Summer brings forth fragrant flowers to produce Autumn fruits.

Another cycle the days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

We put in place on certain days of the week things that we do regularly like going to church, a weekly Bible study, the supermarket, or visit a friend.

Christian belief cycles.

In our lives, we put in place structures that give a pattern or process that formulates our beliefs.

Many Christians believe that good deeds are required to be a Christian, and we must keep the commandments as a structure, a set of rules to be assured of our place in heaven. However, we have the example of Jesus that reveals that keeping a set of rules will not give us a place in heaven. Jesus broke the rules, he demonstrated to his disciples and to us today, that it is by faith in him we obtain a place in Heaven.

Blind Man healed   Pool of Siloam John 9: 1-41.

On the Sabbath day, Jesus, and his disciples where walking past the Pool of Siloam, when they noticed a man who was blind sat by the pool. He was hoping for someone to put him in the pool, because when God stirred the water, the people in the water were healed. He hoped to be healed of his blindness. Jesus without hesitation, spat on the ground and  mixed his spittle with the dust and made clay. With it he anointed the man’s eyes saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” So, the man felt his way to the edge of the pool and washed his face in the water and straight away as the clay fell from his eyes, he could see.

His neighbours when they saw the man could see, they were amazed. He told them what had happened at the pool, and they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” His neighbour suggested that he should tell his good news to the Pharisees. The Pharisees asked how did he receive his sight? He told them what had taken place that day at the pool. But they were not pleased, the man should not have made the clay to anoint his eyes, as all manner of work was forbidden on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees did not believe that he had been born blind, so they asked to speak to his parents to prove he had been born blind. The man’s parents confirmed his story.  Exodus 31: 12-17.

The Pharisees spoke to the man again inquiring how had he received his sight. The man in his frustration asked them, “Did they want to be his disciples? They replied that they did not know this man or where he had come from.

When Jesus found the man, He made his identity known to him, He was the Son of Man, the Messiah. The man went and told the Pharisees that it was Jesus who had healed his blindness.

Below the Disfunctional Cycle and the Dynamic Cycle.

A disfuctional cycle

The Disfunctional Cycle on the left.

The Pharisees kept the commandments as a set of rules. By following this pattern, they earned their place in heaven by keeping the law of Moses, with its rituals and sacrifices.                                            Jesus making the clay and placing it on the blind man’s eyes, broke the Sabbath day laws. Deuteronomy 5: 13, 14. Jesus was peeling away the Pharisees added rules to the laws given to Moses by God. Jesus’ actions did not make him popular with the Pharisees. They were blind by keeping a set of rules. Before and after his resurrection they did not recognise Jesus as their Messiah.

The Dynamic Cycle on the right.

Jesus believed that it was right to do good on the Sabbath Day. Luke 6: 9 Jesus proved he was right by his ministry being sustained by God on the Sabbath day. He demonstrated compassion for the outcast in society, like the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Jesus revealed his identity to the man. By his achievements he was showing the true interpretation of the Laws given to Moses by God.

Below: A Christian’s  Disfunctional Cycle and the Dynamic Cycle

A dynamic christian cycle

The Disfunctional Cycle on the left.

Many Christians believe that we are accepted by God as we declare our faith by doing good deeds. Our faith is not sustained by the gospel message being hidden out of sight. Christians today are blind by keeping the commandments as a set of rules. A Christian that wants to be identified with success rather than failure. The need to achieve to satisfy the need to be accepted and the cycle starts again.

The Dynamic Cycle on the right.

Our place in heaven does not depend on us being a good person doing good deeds, it is by faith in Jesus what Jesus accomplished in the process of his death and resurrection.

A person is accepted into God’s kingdom through their faith in Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, he broke and removed the barrier of our separation from God. The Bible tells us that we are created to have fellowship with God. Moses knew this, when he wrote in the first book of the Bible ‘Genesis’ his inspired story of Adam and Eve. They were created immortal, but succumbed to the devil’s temptation, as a result mortality entered humanities cycle Winters death separated us from knowing God to knowing about God. John the Apostle tells us that Jesus knew he had been born as one of us to restore our fellowship with God. John recorded Jesus’ prayer, “Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” God wants us to know him and have the continuity of fellowship for all eternity. For this to happen Jesus bore on the cross all, everything that stood against us blocking us to know God in a personal way. Jesus’ resurrection is like Spring, he rose from the dead, he won the victory over all that separated us from God. So, we cannot earn our place in heaven by doing good works. It is through having faith, our belief in Jesus. He is like the fragrant summer flower, from him we receive as a love gift from God our place in heaven our eternal home. Autumn’s fruit stems from our faith in God and Jesus, we receive the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. John 17: 3. 3: 16.

Christians follow Jesus’ pattern by acting in faith in our fellowship with God.

Faith is like the process of posting a letter.

The Post Office require a stamp on the envelop along with the address. We post it in the post box. The postal worker collects the letters and take them to the sorting office, from there the letters are delivered to their destination. If we expect a reply from the letter we sent. We have faith that in due course we will receive a reply, a letter through our letterbox.

Christians follow Jesus.

The Holy Spirit acts on our faith in Jesus’ recorded words that are living words. It is often as we apply Jesus’ teaching to a situation we are facing, faith, works within our heart,(Spirit) mind and will, as they come together in agreement, to convict us if it is the right or wrong decision we are making. John 14: 15-21, 17: 20-23.

It is through faith working in our heart that enables God to write his law in our heart.

God transforms our nature so that we feel how God feels about sin, it is aberrant to us. Our faith enables us to yield ourselves to God’s will. It is like the tree that bends its branches in the direction of the wind, as we reciprocate our love towards God. Jeremiah 31: 31-34. Hebrews 8: 8-12.

Faith in Jesus means we become dependent on God.

Every young child looks to the adult to take care and provide for his/her needs. Our Father God wants us to look to him for our needs. Faith believes when we pray bringing our requests to God, we access those spiritual blessing in heavenly places through God’s love for us. Ephesians 1: 3.

Our famers work with the patterns of the seasons. We are more aware now of the importance of the seasons, with the earth’s temperature rising, through our use of CO’2. Droughts and floods are increasing, sea levels are rising, the realisation that the food cycles are being damaged and lost, and how humanity depends on those cycles of the seasons to sustain life on earth.

Bible prophesies assure us that life on earth has a future.

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The depth of Jesus’ love for us.

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Augustine wrote on the Trinity, “Now when I, who am asking about this, love anything, there are three things present: I myself, what I love, and love itself. For I cannot love unless I love a lover; for there is no love where nothing is loved. So, there are three things: the lover, the loved and the love.” (Agape love)

The person with major sin in their life, struggle to believe that God will forgive and free them from the guilt, the condemnation that binds them. In the parable of the labourers in the Vineyard those who had worked only for an hour, received the same wage as the labourer who had worked all day. Matthew 20: 1-16.

God in His mercy applies this formular to a person whose sin is minor compared with someone who has major sin in their life. God forgives both their sin.

Under Jewish law the gravity of the sin, the greater the punishment. Under grace in the New Covenant, God forgives through Jesus’ love, in the varying depth of his love forgives both.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians to know the breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love. The Lord can forgive the worst atrocity, such is the depth of God’s love for a person. Ephesians 3: 18.

“How deep the Father’s Love for us” Stuart Townsend

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “And that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, length, height and depth of God’s love.” Paul knew this from his own life, he experienced God’s love reaching down to the depth of his sin, in the breadth and length of his life and through forgiveness, reaching to the heights of eternity,  knowing Jesus as his Saviour and Lord.

Paul prayed for this to be our experience, whether in our own lives or when bringing a person to faith in Jesus.

Prayer

May every Christian experience  knowing they are rooted and grounded in God’s love, through the Holy Spirit reaching out through our lives to the lost. May every Christian know the breadth, length, height, and depth of Jesus’ love for us, dying for our sin and experience this in bringing a person to faith in Christ our Lord. Amen

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James and the Royal Law

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James was he under Law?

James, the Lord’s brother, had seen in a vision of the risen Jesus and because he had seen the risen Jesus he was regarded as an apostle. [1] After the ascension he joined the believers in the house at Jerusalem.  “All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” [2]

James’ Royal law advocated: circumcision for Jewish Christians and to love God and to observe the Laws of Moses fulfilled in love. He occupied a prominent if not the chief place in the church at Jerusalem, being the president of the first council.  [4]

James’ teaching: James taught the ‘Royal Law.’ Jesus’ words in his conversation with the lawyer, “And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend, all the law and the prophets.”[5]   

James advised Jewish Christians to show good works in meekness and wisdom, that reflect the nature of the righteousness of God. To show no partiality between rich and poor as the royal law was to “Love your neighbour as yourself.” James said, “”But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James continues to say that the law penalises whether sin is great or small. James taught that the law was fulfilled in loving God. God’s mercy and love fulfilled the law. James taught that Christians should confess their sins to one another and God would forgive them. The early church held ‘Communion Services, the breaking of bread and prayers in their homes. They attended the temple to meet with other Christians and to listen to the apostles preach and teach the words of Jesus. James 8-13. Acts 2: 42-46.

Secondly, James taught that the most important lessons a Christian can learn, faith without works does not reflect Christ. If someone is hungry then we should feed them as kind words are not enough.

He gave the example of Abraham who put his faith into practice when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, but God intervened, a ram was provided by God and was sacrificed instead of Isaac. Abraham believed in the resurrection he believed that he would have raised Isaac in order to fulfil his promise to him that through his heir a great nation would be brought into being by God. [6]

Also, Rahab the prostitute whose faith was justified by works when she hid the Israelite spies from the king of Jericho’s men. [7]

The prayer of faith will raise up a person from the depths to which they have sunk doubts, fears, divisions and sickness. “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” [8]

Paul’s teaching on the New Covenant: circumcision of the heart, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning thoughts and intentions of the heart.” [9] A person Jew or Gentile whose nature has been transformed by being a new creation in Christ. [10] Convicted of sin through feeling how God feels about sin. Jesus’ baptism: dying to sin with Christ and being raised up in the likeness of his resurrection.[11] To live by faith and to be dependant of God’s grace. For example: the disciples were sent out with the kingdom message and heal the sick. Jesus instructed them to take nothing with them, to rely on God’s grace to supply their needs. The people who received the good news from them out of love and gratitude supplying meals and a bed for the night. [12]

James wrote that a person showing partiality between rich and poor commits a sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Whereas under grace the law written in the heart a person is convicted by the heart and Spirit.

Paul taught his disciples to have prayer conversations with the Lord before stepping out in faith. Listening to the Holy Spirit guidance and not to be reliant on a person’s own strength, but to be strengthened with the might of the Holy Spirit, [13] which was essential to fulfil their commission.

Paul and Silas were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. Paul saw in a vision a man from Macedonia beckoning him to go and help them. Paul interpreted the vision to mean that they were called by God to go to Macedonia and preach the gospel to them.[14]

Some years later Paul felt led by the Spirit go to Jerusalem, he was accompanied by Luke. When they arrived at Caesarea they stayed at Philip the evangelist’s home. While they were there Agabus dropped by, Agabus’ prophecy that Paul would be bound imprisoned at Rome. Paul said that he was prepared to die for his faith in Jesus.

The day after Paul and those with him had arrived at Jerusalem, James and the elders of the Jerusalem Church greeted Paul and his companions. Paul shared with James and the elders what the Lord had been accomplishing among the Gentile Churches and everyone present glorified God.

However, James expressed his concern for the Christian Jews who had complained to the Church at Jerusalem that the Jews among the Gentiles were being taught not to circumcise their children and not to observe the laws of Moses. James told Paul to comply with the law by making a special vow, that of the Nazarite along with four other men This vow included the shaving their heads, he was asked to pay the costs of the four men.[15] James then said, “Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but you yourself live in observance of the law.” Paul did as he was instructed, he took the vow.

We might ask ourselves why did Paul not insist on teaching the New Covenant message to both Jews and Gentiles?

Paul taught that a Christian should respect those who are in authority over us. [16]But what would Jesus have done?

I am reminded of Paul’s words, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the Jews I became a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under law I became as one under law- I though not being myself under law-in order to win the Jews. I might win those under law. To those outside the law – I became as one outside the law-not being without the law toward God but under the law of Christ- that I might win those outside the law.”[17]

But did he win the Jewish Christian Apostles to his view of the New Covenant?

Peter wrote that some of Paul’s teachings were hard to understand.[18]

Also, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he stressed the importance of keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”[19]

After Paul completed  the vow, some Asian Jews saw him and stirred up the crowd, accusing him of taking a Greek man into the Temple, which was not true. The crowd seized Paul and began to beat him. The disturbance came to the notice of Tribune and soldiers and centurions where sent and rescued Paul. They brought Paul to the barracks. Paul asked if he could address the crowd. Paul spoke in Hebrew and shared with them his testimony: from when he arrested Christians to himself becoming a Christian. The crowd erupted and shouted against Paul. They tied him up, he spoke to the centurion saying, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and un-condemned?”  Paul was held in the barracks.[20]

Agabus’ prophecy was fulfilled because Paul chose to do what he believed was God’s will for him.

[1] 1 Corinthians 15: 7.

[2] Acts 1: 14.

[3] James 2: 8.

[4] Acts 15: 13, 19.

[5] Matthew 22: 35-40.

[6] Genesis 22: 1-18. Hebrews 11: 17-19.

[7] Joshua 2: 1-7

[8] James 5:13-16.

[9] Hebrews 4: 12.

[10] Ephesians 4:24.

[11] Ephesians 2: 5-10. Colossians 2: 8-12.

[12] Matthew 10: 1-15.

[13] Ephesians 3: 16, 17.

[14] Acts 16: 6-10.

[15] Acts 21: 17-26.  Numbers 6: 2

[16] Romans 13: 1.

[17] 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23.

[18] 2 Peter 3: 16.

[19] Ephesians 4: 1-3.

[20] Acts 22.

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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed

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In Jesus’ ministry, God’s plan was not clearly laid out to the Jewish leaders by God, because they had a history of letting God down throughout the Old Testament.

The Psalmist explained why God would hide his message in a parable. “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!  I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders which he has wrought. He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, but tell their children in the next generation, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.”[1]

The Hebrew Scriptures again and again describes a process of the Jewish people moving away from God. God then offering terms to bring them back from their disobedience. This is often followed by repentance and restoration of the Jewish people as God’s nation.

The New Testament breaks the mould. The Jewish people have moved away again, and God offers there restoration not through prophets, but the Messiah. This person who they do not recognise as their Messiah does not make ‘the terms’ he talks in parables, and they had to work it out for themselves. This is the ultimate test which the Jewish people fail and the Gentiles pass.

The Jewish people are so entrenched in the law they cannot make the transition from being under law to being under grace. The law written in stone to being written in their hearts, burnt sacrifices being replaced  with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

God tests the faith of his people and their faith in Jesus and the New Testament.

During Jesus’ ministry he often would communicate through a parable, by telling a story that related to their surroundings. In the story there would be a hidden message that those listening would not understand.

“Jesus said, “This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”[2]

The Messiah’s Secret was hidden in the parable of the Sower: John recorded Jesus saying, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”[3] Jesus referred to himself as being the seed that would die on the cross and in his resurrection bring forth a harvest.

The mysterious element in the kingdom of God.

The wheat seed has first to die before it can produce a harvest. The seed is kept in storage and shrivels and dies.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies.”

Jesus and his disciples after the Passover meal went into the Garden of Gethsemane, There Jesus wrestled with his will. The devil was tempting him to preserve his own life. He said, “Father if you are willing remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” Earlier in conversation with his disciples Jesus had indicated that he was going to be betrayed into the hands of those who opposed him. Jesus knew that in order to fulfil scripture he was to die as a criminal. [4]

The seed, “It remains alone.”

In the darkness of the soil, the rain releases the nutriments in the soil and the heat from the sun it begins to germinate. In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested his disciples fled, his friends forsook him, he was on his own. On the cross, moments before his death he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus bearing the sin of the world was separated from God his Father. The seed died alone, buried into the darkness.

Jesus was taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, they carried him to the tomb that belonged to Joseph where they wrapped his body with linen cloth and spices.[5]

“But if it dies it bears much fruit.”

The new shoots rise to the surface. From just one wheat seed the plant produces an abundance of seeds.

On the third day God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus the first fruit of the resurrection. The church has been bearing the fruit of Jesus’ resurrection for more than 2,000 years.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

[1] Psalm 78: 1-8.

[2] Matt 13: 34, 35.Psalm 78: 2.

[3] John 12: 24.

[4] Luke 22: 37, 42. Isaiah 53: 12.

[5] John19:38-42.