Category Archives: Bible Exposition

A Church Without Masks

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he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

2 Cor 1: 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

I think it might be safe to say that these three passages would rarely have been put together in a sermon, but I hope you will see there is some sort of method in my madness today. I want to talk about three things. Three facts.. Three things we know:

1. JESUS IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH
2. IT IS A CHURCH BUILT ON GRACE
3. THIS GRACE IS FOR SINNERS

These facts are so well known that we think we know them. I am suggesting that the Church at large has rarely known them, except in a superficial way, or if these things have been known, they have been rarely applied in the life of the Church.

Often when a person encounters Christ and begins his trek through this world as a follower of Him.. as he enters the Church, he is handed a mask, which he is expected to wear to each service.

If he forgets to wear it for the first few services, allowances are made. “He’s new, its ok” someone might say.. Quickly though he learns the rhetoric, the jargon, the lingo… when asked how he is doing, he learns to say “I’m blessed” “it is well with my soul…” “God is good, all the time…” and over time, he understands that talking like this is what will allow him to be accepted by the group…

How this must grieve the Lord.. Jesus is building His Church with real people who are often hurting and in pain… and His Church is supposed to be the one place where sinners can own their sin and still be loved, a place where we can be imperfect and flawed, while at the same time exalting in the perfect Savior.

The Apostle Paul wanted his readers to know that he had experienced such a hard time that he despaired he would even come out of the experience alive. He was

1. Afflicted
2. Perplexed
3. Persecuted
4. Struck down
5. Carrying in the body the death of Jesus
6. Given over to death
7. His outward self (body) wasting away

Can one of God’s children say this kind of thing? Not only a child of God, but an Apostle! Continue reading →

Allowing Romans 9 to speak for itself

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bible06As the Apostle Paul transitions into what we now call Romans 9 we should recall that there were no chapter and verse divisions in the original text. He is not starting a new theme but answering the question … if (or rather, since) God has an elect people who can never be separated from the love of God (which is what Romans 8 has just stated), what happened with the Jews? Weren’t they God’s elect people too?

History records that most of the Jews failed to recognize their own Messiah when He came… How can what Paul has written be true if God’s own people failed to receive Messiah when He came (and therefore are unsaved – Romans 10:1)? Hasn’t God’s promise failed to materialize for these people? What about the Jews Paul?

Paul was no ivory tower academician who had merely great intellectual acumen but no heart felt concern for people. Paul had a very real sympathy and compassion for his fellow countrymen and if it were possible (which of course it was not) he would have forfeited his own salvation if it would mean that his own people would be redeemed. He felt the issue very deeply.

Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

The Jews had unique privileges which were enjoyed by no other people on earth. Paul lists eight distinct and unique benefits:

4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Much time could be spent outlining all the things the people of Israel had going for them. So why is it that we observe such a great many Jews rejecting Messiah? Paul wants to answer that question and does so by stating in very categorical terms that God has not in any way failed to keep His promise.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

Notice what Paul is doing here in this verse. He tells us that God’s word has not in any way failed and now explains WHY this is the case. The word “for” is used to show the reason why the word of God has not failed.

Why has the word of God not failed?

The answer: because “not all Israel is Israel” or “not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.”

That is quite a statement and one we must understand because Paul is about to take the next many verses to illustrate and prove this exact point.

He is about to show us that it in biblical history, it has always been this way. Continue reading →