Yesterday, we looked at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and His statement; “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
What is repentance? One definition put it well; “to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness.” How does someone change their “thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness”? There must be something outside ourselves that causes us to change our thinking and attitudes. Education (learning) will only give us information about why we need to change our thinking and attitudes, but there are so many sources of education and information; which is the right one? There must be a source of truth that man can trust to be accurate and have authority. Jesus points to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:6). This is in addition to referring to Himself as “the Truth” (14:6). As to the Spirit, “When He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (16:8). Now we can make the connection between the Holy Spirit and repentance. His work in us is to convict our heart of sin (what is wrong in God’s sight) and change our thinking and attitudes with “truth” which then puts us in agreement with God.
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John the Baptist “prepared the way of the Lord” by “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:3-4). We might say that for Israel to be ready to reach their Messiah, they need to prepare themselves through open and public repentance. For far too long, Israel had rebelled against God. About 500 years before, God accursed Israel of dishonoring and despising the name of God through a worship that was “polluted, profane” (Malachi 1:6, 12). Repentance was the only option for correcting their condition.
As Jesus walks into the world scene, conditions were just the same. There were a handful of persons who repented and were waiting for Him, but the general conditions of Israel were the same. In Mark 1:14-15, “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Approximately three and a half years later, and fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came and filled all those who were waiting to be His “witnesses” for making disciples. Through Him, Peter preached a powerful message that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Those who heard were “cut to the heart and said to Peter…what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you”” (2:37-38). The solution to any sinful condition has not changed. Whether it is the world without Christ or the Church that has wandered from the truth of Scripture, the answer is the same; REPENT! In a world that is drunk with its own pride, man-made wisdom and power, it is important for us to accept Paul’s advice for us about the gospel.
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart”” (1 Corinthians 1:18–19). The remainder of this chapter is Paul’s explanation of why the wisdom of this world is “foolish” and God has chosen what the world thinks is foolish, weak, low and despised “to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1:27-29). So strong was Paul’s confidence in the gospel that he tells the church in Rome, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Rome, along with every other form of government proclaims that they have power, but the fact is that there is no power on earth that can compare to the power of the gospel. No power on earth can change a person’s eternal destiny except the power of the gospel. This should make us all bolder in our witness for Jesus Christ. The gospel message in combination with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in us is enough to accomplish God’s purpose — to spread the gospel to every nation, tribe and tongue! For months there have been articles, posts, sermons, conversations, and even heated arguments over this question. I do not want you to think that I assume to be an authority on the subject, but I seek to turn our attention to what Scripture says. Scripture is our ONLY authority on this subject.
Consider what Paul wrote about the gospel to the Corinthian church; “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Remember, this was a church that was fraught with many problems; division, immorality, serious pride in the leaders, lack of love for each other, unforgiveness, and many other issues. Does the gospel address all these issues? It sure does, and more! How can preaching “Jesus Christ and him crucified” and nothing else, cover all these problems? When Paul was with the Ephesian church for three years, he taught them the “gospel of the grace of God” which is the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:24, 27, 31). From those verses alone, we see how dangerous it is to limit the gospel to the salvation of souls. Salvation is the starting place for the gospel, but also includes all God’s truth. Paul told Timothy; “God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). There is only One truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ is that truth (John 14:6). In some of the conversations I have had this week, I realize that many Christians have a “distant” relationship with God rather than an “intimate” one. Should an intimate relationship with God be our desire and goal as Christians and disciples of Jesus? I will try to answer that question.
“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8–9). Jesus explained this same principle in Chapter 10:39; “even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father”” (John 10:38). Jesus repeated this in Chapter 14:10-11. This is also a proof of the perfect unity and oneness in the Godhead. Let me get back to my point. The closer we walk with the Lord and know Him, the more we will know God as our Father. This was one of the first statements Jesus made after the resurrection when He spoke to Mary at the tomb; “go to My brothers and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God” (20:17). God wants this relationship with you through His Son. Do you want that? Tomorrow we will look at the changes in us this close relationship with the Father makes in our lives. In this final blog on employee/employer relationships, I want us to turn to Peter. Most who have worked for employers have experienced some degree of unfairness, mistreatment or as Peter puts it, “masters [who are] unjust” (1 Peter 2:18). Remember that Peter and his family had a fishing business. He may have been a rough employer and was reflecting back on his own treatment of employees who worked for him.
Notice what Peter says about such circumstances; “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (2:19–20). Showing grace to others who do not deserve it is exactly what God has done to us when we “were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Two things are taking place when we are “gracious” to those who do not deserve it. 1) We must remember our lost condition before salvation. 2) We are representing God to those who cause us to “suffering unjustly.” Your challenge may not be an employer or an employee, but I am certain there are like situations in all of our lives that require the same attitude Peter is presenting here. BE GRACIOUS! Yesterday we looked into the relationship between employees and employers and discovered there are principles in Scripture that run counter to generally accepted practices of this world. The foundation of these work ethics is not just ‘good practices,’ they are part of our desire as believers to do “the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5–6). There is more to this idea.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). This work ethic is not just a New Testament concept, because Solomon gave his son instructions like this one; “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24). Another reference is; “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (10:4). If we think about these words carefully, we know they are true. When people observed Jesus and the various work His did, it was said that “they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak”” (Mark 7:37). What would people say about our work? Paul reminds us; “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). This is the ethic that becomes an example to all around us. Does your work cause “astonishment”? It is clear, as we read Scripture, that most, if not all the principles taught in God’s Word would never fit into this world’s systems. Read these two references and ask yourself if they would fit into the policies of the company or busines where you work today.
“Bondservants [employees], obey your earthly masters [employers] with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5–6). “Bondservants [employees], obey in everything those who are your earthly masters [employers], not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord” (Colossians 3:22). Many employers might love employees like this, but this type of attitude is definitely not the normal way of thinking in our day. As followers of Jesus, shouldn’t this be the natural fruit of following Jesus as His disciple? Notice in both Scriptures, Paul presses the point about having a “sincere heart” which is a direct result of the Spirit working in us. In this, God will be glorified, because He is being represented. I realized that yesterday’s blog was almost a duplicate of three days ago. Perhaps the Lord intended that for all of us to realize that God’s glory is absolutely central to our existence. If anything else is a higher priority in our hearts and lives, we miss God’s purpose for us.
In order for us to glorify God, there must be some basic attitudes which we allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate in us. One basic attitude is, who do we aim to please? Paul says to the church in Rome: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”” (Romans 15:1–3). In this passage, Paul places the focus on everyone else, NOT OURSELVES. The world we live in is very ‘self-focused.” Our example is in Christ who “did not please himself.” I find this very challenging! So many of our decisions revolve around how they impact “me” and we forget that the attitude we must follow is that of Jesus. He said, “I seek not my own will but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30). In seeking to do God’s will, we will not please ourselves, but Him. I find it helpful at times just to remind myself of God’s grand purposes. For that reason, I will list some Scriptures below that invite you to meditate on for the next few days and see what they do to enlarge your vision of God’s final purpose and strengthen your faith.
Numbers 14:21 — “All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Psalm 72:19 — “May the whole earth be filled with His glory.” Isaiah 48:11 — “My glory I will not give to another.” Habakkuk 2:14 — “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 — “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 — “We all beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed…” Ephesians 1:12, 14 — “…we…might be to the praise of His glory.” Colossians 1:27 — “God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” May these verses inspire you to think about what brings the most honor and glory to God. Paul makes a profound statement about Abraham; “he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God” (Romans 4:20). Will this be your experience today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life? |
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