TODAY IN THE WORD
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Read: Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Love is the mark of Christian believers. The gospel is our source of this love, not simply as information but as transformation.
as if by our own power or godliness
If Jesus Christ is in fact raised from the dead, then that resurrection power is available to His followers as we await the time of His return to earth.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
Acts 3:11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Peter and John aren't the same men we've known through the Gospels. In the story found in Acts 3, Peter and John were resolute and confident.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
Acts 3:11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
Peter and John aren't the same men we've known through the Gospels. In the story found in Acts 3, Peter and John were resolute and confident.
Enternal Life
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent
This eternal life isn't a cloying picture of heavenly harps and choirs. We don't have to die to begin eternal life; it begins at the moment we place our faith in Christ.
http://www.awmi.net/bible/joh_17_03
Note 94 at Jn. 17:3: In order to fully understand what eternal life is, it is helpful to understand what it is not. Eternal life is not living forever. Everyone lives forever in either heaven or hell. Also, eternal life is not living forever in the blessings of heaven as opposed to being tormented in hell. John 3:36 and 5:24 show that eternal life is a present tense possession of the believer.
Jesus here defines eternal life as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. As we have already discussed (see note 9 at Jn. 8:32, p. 232; see note 2 at Jn. 10:27, p. 280), this word "know" is speaking of intimacy instead of mere intellectual knowledge. Therefore, eternal life is having an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus the Son.
According to John 3:16, this intimacy with God is what salvation is all about. Forgiveness of our sins is not the point of salvation. This intimacy with the Father is. Of course, Jesus did die to purchase forgiveness for our sins because unforgiven sins blocked us from intimacy with God. Sin was an obstacle that stood between God and us. It had to be dealt with and it was. But anyone who views salvation as only forgiveness of sins and stops there is missing out on eternal life.
Salvation was intended to be presented as the way to come back into harmony with God. Instead, it has often been presented as the way to escape the problems of this life and later the judgment of hell. It is possible to get born again with that kind of thinking, but more often than not, people who get saved through that type of ministry view the Lord as someone to help them in times of crisis and don't come to know Him.
The church has been preaching forgiveness of sins instead of relationship with God. Forgiveness of sins is an essential step to relationship with God which cannot be by- passed, but it is not eternal life. Jesus didn't die for us out of pity for our impending doom, but He died for us out of love for us (Jn. 3:16) -- a love that longed to once again have that intimate communion with man that He had originally created him for (Gen. 3:8; Rev. 4:11).
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent
This eternal life isn't a cloying picture of heavenly harps and choirs. We don't have to die to begin eternal life; it begins at the moment we place our faith in Christ.
http://www.awmi.net/bible/joh_17_03
Note 94 at Jn. 17:3: In order to fully understand what eternal life is, it is helpful to understand what it is not. Eternal life is not living forever. Everyone lives forever in either heaven or hell. Also, eternal life is not living forever in the blessings of heaven as opposed to being tormented in hell. John 3:36 and 5:24 show that eternal life is a present tense possession of the believer.
Jesus here defines eternal life as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. As we have already discussed (see note 9 at Jn. 8:32, p. 232; see note 2 at Jn. 10:27, p. 280), this word "know" is speaking of intimacy instead of mere intellectual knowledge. Therefore, eternal life is having an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus the Son.
According to John 3:16, this intimacy with God is what salvation is all about. Forgiveness of our sins is not the point of salvation. This intimacy with the Father is. Of course, Jesus did die to purchase forgiveness for our sins because unforgiven sins blocked us from intimacy with God. Sin was an obstacle that stood between God and us. It had to be dealt with and it was. But anyone who views salvation as only forgiveness of sins and stops there is missing out on eternal life.
Salvation was intended to be presented as the way to come back into harmony with God. Instead, it has often been presented as the way to escape the problems of this life and later the judgment of hell. It is possible to get born again with that kind of thinking, but more often than not, people who get saved through that type of ministry view the Lord as someone to help them in times of crisis and don't come to know Him.
The church has been preaching forgiveness of sins instead of relationship with God. Forgiveness of sins is an essential step to relationship with God which cannot be by- passed, but it is not eternal life. Jesus didn't die for us out of pity for our impending doom, but He died for us out of love for us (Jn. 3:16) -- a love that longed to once again have that intimate communion with man that He had originally created him for (Gen. 3:8; Rev. 4:11).
John 17 - Jesus Prays
Jesus Prays for Himself (verses 1 - 5)
Jesus Prays for His Disciples (verses 6 - 19)
verse 9 (NIV)
Jesus Prays for His Disciples (verses 6 - 19)
verse 9 (NIV)
Jesus Prays for All Believers (verse 20 -26)I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
Note 97 at Jn. 17:9: Jesus is not praying for the unbelievers. This is not because He doesn't love them. He sacrificed His life for them. There is no greater love than that (Jn. 15:13). He has done everything for them that He can or will do until they receive His gift of salvation. Jesus' ministry, now that He is back with the Father, is to appear in the presence of God, making intercession for us (Heb. 7:25; 9:24).
DAY 289: Psalm 86:13 For get is Your mercy toward me; Mercy is not abstract
Psalm 86:13 (New King James Version)
13 For great is Your mercy toward me,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Matthew 9:10 (NIV) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
Matthew 9:12 (NIV) On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
"Mercy is not abstract; it is particular and personal."
Sin and Sight
A new pair of eys should accompany a "heart" transplant in God.
I should see the situation in a completely new way.
Sin affects the known world: all creation suffers th loss of intimacy with their Creator.
I should see the situation in a completely new way.
Sin affects the known world: all creation suffers th loss of intimacy with their Creator.
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