7/08/19 

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Just as coins have two sides, so the life of every Christian is two-sided.  There is the responsibility side and the Spirit of grace side.  There is the “work out your own salvation”.  Each has his life which is both nature and nurture.  Our family in which our life begins, has the first influence, and is molded by the deepest affections which cannot be overly emphasized.  But along with this the daily influence of our culture.  People are the creatures of their culture and are recognizable in accordance with it. But these influences, though they may be causes of actions, are never an excuse for sin.  We all remain responsible.

The Christian has another influence to consider.  It is both always for good and always effectual.  The grace of God received in our sanctification never fails.

Along with the eternal purpose of God which guarantees we will persevere is the work of God in us which prepares as for our eternal well-being.  The wicked person, could he have heaven would not enjoy it.  But the believer has God work as that guarantee we will be prepared for the joys there.

7/04/19 

Ezekiel 1:28c

²⁸ Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

This is a description of the pre-incarnate Mediator-Son in His glory.  There are many statements of His appearances to the Old Testament Prophets.  This appearance and that in Isaiah 6 are two of the most awe inspiring.

This glorious word picture gives the reader some idea of the beauty, purity, and power of the Mediator.  We are left with the certain knowledge that this glorious person speaking to Ezekiel is no less than God appearing visibly.

Having said this there are truths we must recognize.

1.       John 1:18  No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has   made him known.

In any visible representation of God it is One who is in the bosom of the Father that is this revelation.  John 1:1-18 is clear who this is.  It is the Son, the Word, God the creator.

2.      Philippians 2:6-7   ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 

This glory which was the ordinary dress of the pre-incarnate Son is what was relinquished for the servant person by which He was known in the days of His flesh. Even this glory which Ezekiel sees is a humbler position than that of His eternal Godhead in all its’s spiritual wonder.  What a great savior.  What a great salvation.

7/04/19 

John 8:34-36

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵ The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

My favorite national holidays are Thanksgiving and the 4^th of July.  My early memories of the 4^th are of extended-family Bar-B-Qs and firecrackers.  This of course brings the memory of my mother telling my father not to buy the big ones because I would blow my fingers off.  It never happened; some near-misses though.

The text in John 8 contains two certainties.

1.      First to be in sin (unconverted) is to be in bondage.  Those who claim free-will should look closely here.  There is no encouragement to think of freedom while sin is the master.  I can say with confidence there is no place in Scripture where an unbeliever is told they have free-will, while there are ample instances such as the above.

2.       Secondly there is freedom for those who seek it.  That freedom is limited in location.  It is found only in Christ.  That is in the sphere of salvation that He bestows on all who place their trust in Him.  This is a non-legal, non-works, by-faith-only salvation.  “If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed”.  Amen.

7/03/19 

I Samuel 16:18
¹⁸ Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him.

This chapter in I Samuel seems to be out of place chronologically.  The events described are not in a time sequence with what follows.  This to me indicates that the events are a recap of things to come and are not intended to be viewed in chronological sequence.

There are two main points of information to be aware of in this account.

1.       The anointing of David as King by Samuel is of first importance.  Though this was clandestine it can hardly be called secret.  All of Jesse’s family was aware of this and they are not told to keep it secret.  So it is probable that there was some talk of it in that countryside.

2.      In vs 18 the description of David is rather extensive and he is an attractive gifted man.  This description seems to be somewhat later in his experience as he is described as, “a man of valor, a man of war”.

David and Saul’s relationship is hard to identify and follow as there is very little attention given to clear chronology.  But his genius is evident and his presence in Saul’s court is a certainty.  David’s gifts had separated him at an early age.  His genius and piety are equally appreciated.

7/02/19 

Acts 20:28

²⁸ Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. 

The real question concerning the atonement doesn’t seem to be so much with the number included in the sacrifice of Christ, as what, if anything, is accomplished there. 

In a fairly recent confession representing a number of ministers, teachers, seminary officials, and other well-known Christians with sufficient clarity, state there was nothing finished at Christ’s death.  There was a great potential which included everybody who had ever lived, or would live, in the act “if” they responded to the invitation.  But let me state again nothing was actually accomplished.

In the text above this open-ended atonement is plainly contradicted.  The blood of God purchased the church.  Any fair understanding of Luke’s statement is satisfied that the church in this statement is synonymous with believers, the bride, the elect, and those in verse 32 “those who are sanctified”

In I John 2:1 we are told that the blood of Jesus Christ is “saving” any time, any place, and in any condition for the needy sinner.  This is so absolute that it has become the first and greatest commandment, cf I John 3:23.

7/01/19 

Titus 1:2

 ¹Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

²in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal

“Before times eternal”.

There are two big questions in this statement:

1.       To whom could God promise in this situation:

a.       This suggests the Trinity.  And it is as if they are in conference.

b.      It suggests a pre-mundane covenant with the mediator receiving what we can understand as a promise.

2.      That in this pre-mundane setting the salvation of those who are termed “the elect” in verse one.  They are those who are the recipient of the information included in these verses 1:1-3.

3.      This is all dependent on the absolute veracity of God, “who cannot lie”.  The impossibility of God being anything other than truth is the essence of God as His attribute of Truth is His person.  He is truth.

4.      This information is “manifested” or disclosed through Paul’s preaching or by his inspired writings.  It is note-worthy that Paul connects himself to the eternal covenant of Grace in this fashion.  We can say by the inspiration of an Apostle the preaching of the Gospel is at least a part of the eternal purpose of God.  No surprises.

7/03/19 

I Samuel 16:18
¹⁸ Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him.

This chapter in I Samuel seems to be out of place chronologically.  The events described are not in a time sequence with what follows.  This to me indicates that the events are a recap of things to come and are not intended to be viewed in chronological sequence.

There are two main points of information to be aware of in this account.

1.       The anointing of David as King by Samuel is of first importance.  Though this was clandestine it can hardly be called secret.  All of Jesse’s family was aware of this and they are not told to keep it secret.  So it is probable that there was some talk of it in that countryside.

2.      In vs 18 the description of David is rather extensive and he is an attractive gifted man.  This description seems to be somewhat later in his experience as he is described as, “a man of valor, a man of war”.

David and Saul’s relationship is hard to identify and follow as there is very little attention given to clear chronology.  But his genius is evident and his presence in Saul’s court is a certainty.  David’s gifts had separated him at an early age.  His genius and piety are equally appreciated.