5/10/13

From Jim McGuiggan... Worlds in Collision


Worlds in Collision

Israel was taught to believe that one day God would right all wrongs and publicly show his reign over the world in the person of “the Messiah”. This truth had been hinted at as early as Genesis 3 where we’re told about the “seed of the woman” crushing the serpent; and the promise in that truth embraced more than Israel. But it was in Israel that the hope of a Redeemer was clearly developed so it isn’t surprising that the NT speaks of Jesus as peculiarly (though by no means exclusively) related to Israel (see Romans 15:8-9).
The Messiah appeared as the prophet Daniel had indicated (Daniel 2 and 7), when Rome ruled the world. The empire of Rome was not only “the fourth beast” in which the life of the first three beasts continued (Daniel 7:12 and Revelation 13:2 where the sea beast is a composite of the beasts in Daniel 7), it was the form the world spirit had taken in its opposition to God and his redemptive purposes.
When the Messiah came into conflict with Rome he opposed not only a political, social, economic, religious and military power he opposed the invisible and evil power that expressed itself in that empire. Evil empires do again what Adam and Eve did when God granted the humans dominion in and over the creation—they bring chaos and death. Note that Daniel 2:37-38 is Genesis 1:26-27 language and that God raised these empires up and gave them their dominion (see Daniel 4:25, 31-32 and 7:2-3). These Gentile kingdoms like the nation of Israel did not give God the glory and use the dominion in a way that reflected God’s exercise of dominion. Finally Jesus came and the kingdom of God came into conflict with the kingdoms of the world as seen in and represented by Rome (see Revelation 11:15 and 12:10).
Jesus, as John did before him, proclaimed the arrival of the reign (kingdom) of God and Jesus as the true Adam and the true seed of Abraham (1 Corinthians 15:45, Galatians 3:16) manifested the dominion of God by his own holy submission in his life and by healing the sick, freeing the captives and raising the dead in his Holy Father’s name. He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, Luke tells us, and then he sends the apostles out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to make people whole. His entire agenda in glorifying his Father is seen in his work of rescue.
Rome’s exercise of dominion was not the kingdom of God (see the contrast throughout Daniel 7); it brought destruction and death. One of Rome’s servants, Herod Antipas, killed John but heard that Jesus was raising the dead (see Luke 8:40—9:9). As N.T Wright remarked, one power met a greater power. Rome could only kill but the Messiah was the Lord of death. Having heard the confused and confusing proposals about Jesus Herod said, “I beheaded John.”
 Oscar Wilde must have read this section and I think offers his own sense of what happened in Herod’s court on that day. In his play Salome, (about half way through the single act) he has Herod saying, "I forbid him to raise the dead. This man must be found and told I don't allow people to raise the dead." He goes on to say he wouldn't mind a few healings here and there (to clean up the appearance of the place, no doubt) but raising the dead—he forbade that.
Raising the dead was the ultimate violation of his authority. The worst he could do was to bring death but Jesus had a word about that—Matthew 10:28!
The raising of Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus and others was the reign of God confronting and overcoming the power of oppressors and these raisings were a prophecy of a final righting of all wrongs. The resurrection of Jesus Christ to immortality and exaltation is the assurance that the kingdoms of the world have been conquered by One who is returning to obliterate the curse and make everything right.
Since the Church of Jesus Christ is the body of the resurrected Jesus Christ it is the Community of Witness and it is to be the vehicle of change in this world in his name. In its gospel, its ordinances, its liturgy and daily life it is to be the visible reflection of his presence and the promise of his return to end injustice and bring about universal righteousness and shalom.
If we believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead then wherever we go we will stamp those places with his name and say, "Here all wrongs will finally be righted!" Wicked kings, governments and warlords presently have a derived power but in Christ's resurrection we see a greater power and it is a promise of the coming complete restoration of joy and righteousness; a promise that is as sure as his resurrection is true.
The sovereign God has in every generation entrusted the truth of all this to the "little flock," the church of Jesus Christ.
Is that not astonishing?


©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Beware Of Leaven


                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                       Beware Of Leaven (8:14-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. Following the disputation with the Pharisees, Jesus warned His
   disciples...
   a. As they sailed the Sea of Galilee from Dalmanutha to Bethsaida
      - Mk 8:10,13,22
   b. Charging them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of
      Herod - Mk 8:15
   c. Matthew's gospel mentions the Sadducees (often aligned with Herod)
      - Mt 16:6,11-12

2. The disciples at first misunderstood...
   a. They thought it was because they had forgotten to take bread - Mk 8:14-16
   b. Jesus corrected their misunderstanding, reminding them of His
      miracles - Mk 8:17-21
   c. Then they understood that "leaven" referred to "doctrine" cf. Mt 16:11-12

3. Leaven is a good metaphor for doctrine...
   a. Both operate with subtlety
   b. Both are very potent
   c. Both gradually spread their influence

[What doctrines or characteristics of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and
Herodians might Jesus have been warning about?  Are there parallels
today that we would should beware today? Let's start with...]

I. THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES

   A. THE PHARISEES THEN WERE...
      1. A religious and political group noted for its conservatism
         a. They were strict observers of the Law of Moses
         b. They also adopted "the traditions of the elders",
            interpretations of the Law that had been handed down  - cf.
            Mk 7:1-5
      2. Jesus described them as "blind leaders of the blind" - Mt 15:12-14
         a. They made the commandments of God of no effect by their
            traditions - Mt 15:3-6
         b. They were often hypocrites, teaching one thing and
            practicing another - Mt 15:7-8; 16:3; 23:1-4,27-28; cf. Lk 12:1
         c. They did their works to be seen of men - Mt 23:5
         d. They loved the attention and special treatment by others
            - Mt 23:6-7
         d. They wore religious titles - Mt 23:8-10
         e. They prevented others from finding the way to the kingdom of
            heaven - Mt 23:13
         f. They used their religion to make money and impress others
            - Mt 23:14
         g. They didn't make people better, they made them worse! - Mt 23:15
         h. They made distinctions where God did not - Mt 23:16-22
         i. Though sticklers for some commandments, they ignored others
            - Mt 23:23-24
         j. They honored men of God who went before them, but were more
            like those who persecuted the people of God - Mt 23:29-31
      -- They were the more conservative religious group in Jesus' day

   B. THE PHARISEES TODAY ARE THOSE WHO...
      1. Teach and practice traditions of men, instead of the commands
         of God
      2. Teach one thing, while practicing another
      3. Do things to be seen of men, wearing special garments, and
         using religious titles
      4. Do not truly show people the way to the kingdom of heaven
      5. Use religion to make money and impress others
      6. Make distinctions where God has made none
      7. Stress some commands, but neglect others as unnecessary
      -- Religious conservatives are susceptible to being like the
         Pharisees today

[Now let's consider...]

II. THE LEAVEN OF THE SADDUCEES

   A. THE SADDUCEES THEN WERE...
      1. A religious and political group noted for its liberalism
         a. Included many powerful members of the priesthood - Ac 5:17
         b. They insisted only the laws found in the Pentateuch were
            binding
         c. They rejected "the traditions of the elders"
         d. They did not believe in the resurrection, spirits, angels
            - Ac 23:8; Mt 22:23
         e. They did not believe in rewards or punishment after death,
            nor in heaven or hell
      2. Jesus charged them with two faults - Mt 22:23-29
         a. They did not know the Scriptures
            1) Even those scriptures they held to be true!
            2) For Jesus used the Pentateuch to show their error - 
               Mt 22:31-32; Exo 3:6
         b. They did not know the power of God
            1) Like many liberals, they were influenced by rationalism
            2) They assumed that if they could not comprehend something,
               it could not be true
            3) They failed to believe what Gabriel and Jesus both knew:
               that with God, nothing is impossible! - Lk 1:37; Mt 19:26
      -- They were the more liberal religious group in Jesus' day

   B. THE SADDUCEES TODAY ARE THOSE WHO...
      1. Take portions of God's word, but reject the rest; such as those
         who:
         a. Accept the words of Jesus, but not His apostles - contra 
            Jn 13:10; Ac 2:42; 1Co 14:37
         b. Accept the words of His apostles, but hold that ALL of
            Jesus' teachings in the gospels are Old Covenant teaching
            - contra Mt 28:20; Ac 20:35; 1Ti 5:18b; Lk 10:7
      2. Accept human reason over divine revelation
         a. Who will not accept a Biblical doctrine unless it makes
            sense to them
         b. A dangerous position to hold, since God has chosen to
            confound the wise and arrogant with the foolishness of the
            gospel message - cf. 1Co 1:18-31
         c. Some doctrines revealed may contain elements beyond man's
            ability to fully comprehend (such as the mystery of
            godliness:  God manifested in the flesh - 1Ti 3:16; or the
            nature of the Godhead itself)
         d. A child-like trust is more becoming of a Christian - cf. 
            Mt 18:3; Ps 131:1-3
      3. Rule out the power of God
         a. Rejecting any doctrine, any promise, of the Scriptures if
            conceived as not being possible
         b. Such as the creation, the virgin birth, the miracles of
            Jesus, the resurrection of the dead
         c. But once we accept the premise that with God all things are
            possible, we cannot reject Biblical testimony just because
            it does not fit our preconceived ideas of what is possible
      -- Religious liberals are susceptible to being like the Sadducees
         today

[Finally, let's consider...]

III. THE LEAVEN OF THE HERODIANS

   A. THE HERODIANS THEN WERE...
      1. Jews who supported the dynasty of Herod, though it was mostly a
         puppet of Rome
      2. Not a religious sect, but a political party; secular minded
         rather than spiritually minded
      3. They would align themselves with the Pharisees when convenient
         - Mk 3:6; 12:13
      4. They were often interchangeable with the Sadducees - cf. 
           Mk 8:15 with Mt 16:6
      -- They were politicos first, who used religion to promote their
         cause

   B. THE HERODIANS TODAY ARE THOSE WHO...
      1. Believe the solution lies in politics, not the gospel
      2. Are more interested in worldly matters than the kingdom of God
         a. When the kingdom of God should come first - Mt 6:33; Php 3:20
         b. When we are to be pilgrims and sojourners - 1Pe 2:11-12
         c. Where we are to avoid worldly attachments - 2Co 6:14-7:1
      3. Use religion when convenient to get the support of the masses
      -- Political activists are susceptible to being like the Herodians
         today

CONCLUSION

1. The parallels between then and now are striking...
   a. Pharisees - religious fundamentalists
   b. Sadducees - religious liberals
   c. Herodians - political activists

2. Jesus' warning is sorely needed today...
   a. "Take heed, beware of the leaven..."
   b. For it is so easy to become like those who opposed our Lord

How can we ensure that we do not become like the Pharisees, Sadducees,
or the Herodians?  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
with Jesus and His apostles as our spiritual guides and mentors...


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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From Gary... Now, then and the future


Today is my birthday.  I have reached the 64 year milestone.  The topmost picture was taken last month and the one at the bottom in late 1949 or early 1950.  Like most people, I can remember a few things from very early childhood, but not from this far back.  What were the events surrounding my birth?  Who knows?  Which makes me think of this passage of Scripture from the New Testament...

Luke, Chapter 2
  1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.  2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.  4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;  5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. 

  6  While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.  7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.  8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.  9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.  11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”  13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 
  14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”

  15  When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.  17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.  18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.  19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.  20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them. 

21  When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 

Some of you know me personally, some don't.  But, I can't even imagine someone announcing MY BIRTH.  I am just an ordinary guy, who has done the normal things in life, but thanks to Jesus, I have a happy life.  He taught me all I really know to live and has helped me understand God, The Bible and therefore how to LIVE.  And with his help, I hope to find myself in heaven one day.  My wish for you is that you make it too!!!  God bless!!! Your friend Gary