11/5/14

From Jim McGuiggan... GOD, WORLDS & NEW CREATION

GOD, WORLDS & NEW CREATION

This piece is repetitive but I won't apologize for that. It might be more helpful this way. 

We see a man leisurely passing by on a bicycle. What’s he doing? Well, obviously, he’s riding a bike. True, but that’s he doing? He’s going somewhere. True, but what’s he doing? He’s taking exercise. True, but what’s he doing? [He had cardiac bypass surgery 4 weeks earlier.] He’s following his doctor’s advice. True, but that’s he doing? [He has a wife and children who adore him and urge him to take gentle exercise.] He’s pleasing the family he loves and easing their concerns.  These numerous related purposes are part of what he is physically doing.

By cycling he is carrying out a multi-faceted purpose and that purpose cannot be severed from his cycling.

As it’s laid out in the biblical witness the first thing we’ll think about is God as creator.  Then we’ll think of him as redeemer (see Psalm 136 and Genesis 1 & 2 with 3:14-15 understood in light of Romans 16:20 and Revelation 12:1-5).

To allow us to reflect on it the notion of redemption must follow the notion of creation since without someone to redeem there can be no redemption.

Time-bound humans learn and know things in the process of time but God is beyond/outside of time and its limits. For him all things are “present”. Humans, of course, think of the past, present and future because that’s how they experience life; but God is already “in the future” [that is, our future].

All of this means what? It means God doesn’t “come to know” some things; he already knows all that is knowable and he knows it all at the same time. This in turn would have to mean that he knew when he created us that we would “fall” and that he would move to redeem us.

It’s the case that God is the Creator but unless the creation is understood on his terms and lived in within the parameters of his purpose, in a real sense it is no longer his “creation”.

We’re not to think that God created without knowing why he was creating. We can’t have God saying to himself, “I think I’ll make something!” and having created a universe then wondering why he did it. He created to display his glory, he created to share his joy-filled fellowship in the trinity, and so forth. What he made and why he made it are two aspects of one creative act of God.  

His purpose in making is part of the making.

God had Israel build a temple and he purposed it to be a house of prayer and when Israel responded in faithfulness to God the temple was just that. But Israel turned the temple into a place where shameful things occurred and the OT prophets tell us that God left it for it was no longer a home to him. Jesus said they had turned it into a den of thieves.

Understand that the temple building was the same building that God built but now as a result of the corruption of the prophets, priests, kings and general public it was something else. It was a place where thieves and idolaters gathered. Because what he had created for a glorious and blessed purpose was now a center of evil and misrepresented Him, God brought judgment on it. [The same is true of the land of promise and was/is true of the entire planet.]
The creation was to be the theater of God’s glory but corrupted humans turned it into a theater of their shame and wickedness.  It was now a “world” constructed by the sinful minds and plans of humans. 

[See 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4 as illustrations of this use of “world”. From this point on when I mean the corrupt reality I’ll use “world” with inverted commas.]

Such a “world” is now God's world [creation] seen with different eyes and different hearts; it’s a corrupt and corrupting “world” that’s no longer sees God's world [creation] as God meant it to be seen—it’s now a different “world”.
But note: this "world" remains the world God created, with all its structures, authorities and forces and elements, including humans. We have corrupted ourselves and everything we come in contact with.

That different “world” is divided up into kingdoms and empires, some more powerful than others and some more oppressive than others. Wherever these kingdoms are located the people live under the dictation of the powerful. The general public live under the tyrants’ skies, drink from their water and are subject to their taxes, policies and such. Note how this is expressed in Daniel 2:37-38. These kingdoms are localized expressions of the one corrupt “world” with the satanic forces shaping them. They are corrupt “worlds” within the one corrupt and all-encompassing "world”.

In Moses' day and experience one of those localized “worlds” was shaped and governed by a corrupt and corrupting Egyptian faith and coercive power, it was a “world” where oppression of the aliens was thought to be the wise and right thing to do [Exodus 1:8-11]. Or it was a Babylonian or a Persian “world” or a Greek world or Roman “world”.

Let me say it again. All of these “worlds” are sinful restructurings of the world God created. When God created the world he made trees, rivers, land, seas, mountains, crops, sunshine, rain and such. He also made humans and social structures, authorities and the like and purposed them to function his way and for his overarching purpose. When we sinfully restructured the world God made, it became a different “world”. Nothing happened to the molecules of the planet or the things on it; nothing happened to the atoms of which space and everything else is made. But we corrupted and corrupting humans saw [and see] these created things as instruments of our sinfulness. We used them to oppress, blackmail, control and threaten the powerless and the voiceless, just as we do today. 

To the degree that we the sinful human family are able, we have made the creation [ourselves included] a fellow servant with us of the world-spirit. It is that “world” that God is opposed to.

“We’re you angry with the trees, the rivers, the mountains, Lord?” Habakkuk 3:8-11 asks when the prophet speaks of God redemptive march through history as he ruined Egypt and Midian. No, in these judgments God is stamping his judgment on “the world” created [structured] by oppressive nations/governments. “This ‘world’ is not my world,” God says, as he sets his hand against it. See Numbers 33:4 and Exodus 12:12 and again below.

God’s judgment against Egypt certainly falls on all the Egyptian people and even those who disagree with government views and policies experience the pain and loss. But God’s judgment on Egypt was not simply against a specific individual [Pharaoh] or individuals [his immediate cronies in the palace and priesthood]—it’s against an entire “world order”. It's against an empire which embodies the anti-God, anti-holiness and anti-life satanic spirit, a "world" led by Pharaoh.

God doesn’t simply want that Pharaoh dead—he wants to pass sentence of an evil "world". That evil “world” is Pharaoh’s “world”—he is the controller and representative of it and people must live in it in the ways that he determines. [Do see the description of the authority God gave to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:37-38.] But this “world”, of which Pharaoh is the visible lord, is inspired by the demonic and satanic so that Pharaoh is the servant of the world-spirit. He is “a god” under the “god of this world” [compare John 12:31 and 2 Corinthians 4:4]. When God brings Pharaoh down his purpose is to bring down Pharaoh’s “world” and God shows this by “attacking” its heavens, sun, earth, river, cattle, governing bodies and their firstborn who would carry on that line.

This is a “world” shaped by gods created by humans who have rejected the one true God and live in opposition to God’s overarching purpose [see Genesis 12:1-3; 22:17-18]; it is the world that God has created but it is a world hijacked by the world-spirit. In this “world” multiple gods are believed to bring blessings and render judgment when they’re angry. These gods [the earth god, the sun god, the wilderness god, the moon god, the god of wisdom, the god of the river, the god of darkness, the god of calamity, the god that gave life and the god of crops and health and hope and so forth]—these gods were said to have created and to sustain the world. This is the “world” and the only “world” known by the Egyptians and Pharaoh and his palace supporters controlled it.
They don’t know the world as Yahweh’s world!

This is the “world” that God brought down! The judgment was no loveless act against Egypt though the Egyptians felt the pain. Fundamentally, it was God against the gods [Exodus 12:12; 15:11; 18:11; Numbers 33:4 and elsewhere]. He wasn’t angry with the cattle or the physical creation or the children of the Egyptians—he was against the “world” in which these people lived.

In these Exodus texts God teaches us the he will not live at peace with such "worlds"—he will make war against them and bring them down. The language of Genesis 1 & 2 is the language of creation and the language of judgment is presented in the form of “uncreation”. See this in passages like Isaiah 13 & 14 [against Babylon], Isaiah 34 [against Edom and other nations], Zephaniah 1, Jeremiah 4:3, 14: 22-26 [against Judah]. In the description of these judgments it is not the creation itself that is attacked—it is the "world" of the Babylonians or the Judeans or in Revelation 21 the "world" of the Romans.

God’s world is his creation viewed by his eyes and for his purposes. There is only one creation, don't you know, but how it is perceived gives it a different nature [note again the remarks above about the temple]. When the Lord Jesus returns, his already existing view of creation, which is the Holy One's view of it, will be visibly and publicly restored and the structures, the authorities and powers will all be dedicated to the service of the Lord God and the knowledge and glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

When Jesus, speaking of his “hour” of the crucifixion, speaks of the judgment of “the world” [John 12:31-32] it is that satanic view and use of God’s creation he has in mind. He isn't talking about the planet being judged!

When Paul says that Jesus in self-giving love, in accordance with the Father’s will, brought us forgiveness that he might deliver us “from this present evil world [aion, here the equivalent of kosmos]” he’s speaking of the demonic view, shape and use of God’s creation—Galatians 1:3-4, KJV.

When Paul speaks in Galatians 6:14 about “the world” being crucified by Jesus he is speaking of the satanic restructuring of God’s creation.

When Peter speaks of the dismantling of the world it is “the world” of the wicked he is speaking about [2 Peter 2:5; 3:6-12]. In crucifying the "world" Jesus is doing in a final and universal way what God had been doing in the judgments of former ages when he brought down individual "worlds".

Babylon, Persia and the rest were powers/authorities God raised up [see Daniel 7:2 where God works on the seas that stand for the clashing nations --and Isaiah 17:12-13]. They were given authority to serve God for the benefit of his creatures but they corrupted themselves and God brought them down. He ended their "worlds". 

When such passages are followed by a new heaven and a new earth we’re not to think of a literal destruction of the planet followed by a literal new creation of a planet earth and a heaven. See Isaiah 65 & 66; 2 Peter 2 & 3 and Revelation 21-22 as illustrations of the point. 

The new heaven and earth speech in scripture follows the speech of "uncreation," which is the speech used to describe the destruction of evil empires and powers. In "new creation" speech we hear of the restoration of the structures and elements that make this creation God’s world again under his righteous reign.

Every “world” that God dismantles throughout the ages is an assurance that no tyranny or oppression or lie lives forever. The judgment on that “world” is not just a judgment on a particular individual but on the “world” that that individual helps construct and rules over in the spirit of the satanic powers.
In Jesus Christ the satanic and demonic powers have been defeated, the planet/creation is now fully understood by one of us—a human, who is God being a human. Jesus sees creation as it should be seen, governs it how it should be governed [with the Holy Father's overarching purpose in mind] and is bringing it all to a glorious fulfillment in a coming day.

With Jesus a “new creation” has begun, the evil "world" has been crucified and all those who are in him are NOW a part of a new creation. That new creation that now exists by virtue of Jesus killing “the world” and becoming Lord of All will one day be seen and understood and lived in as the blessed, immortal Lord Jesus already sees, understands and reigns over it. We will share his reign with him if indeed we suffer with him [Romans 8:16-17 and what follows all the way to verse 31]. 

The glory of those who are his Body is to conform to his personal experience [Romans 8:29]suffering and then glory follows!

©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, theabidingword.com.

No Joking Matter by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1640

No Joking Matter

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

I love being a Christian. I love thinking about, talking about, and singing about Christ and His church. I love to laugh and have fun with God’s people. I enjoy cutting up with my colleagues. I love to interact with non-Christians. I enjoy clean jokes (and find myself occasionally telling ones that are not as humorous as I once thought). Christians can kindly tease about our favorite football team’s most recent loss or our most embarrassing moments. Indeed, there is “a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). After all, “A merry heart does good, like medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
As enjoyable as it is to joke around and have fun, and as appropriate as it may be to break the ice with an amusing story, Christians must be careful that we don’t make light and joke around about serious, spiritual, eternally important things, especially when such remarks are unnecessarily offensive. Such inappropriate words at inappropriate times can have very unfortunate consequences.
I was 17 years old, playing summer-league baseball in Oklahoma, when I had the opportunity to visit and worship with a church one Sunday morning a few hours from home. I had the privilege that day to be accompanied by two friends who were not members of the Lord’s church. They had graciously come with me because I needed a ride to worship, and they volunteered to drive me and stay with me until the close of the worship service. Only a few minutes after walking into the building, however, the mood was severely darkened when a member of that church greeted us with a joke about some individuals he knew from our hometown who were of a different religion—with the emphasis being on their religion. It just so happened, the two individuals with me that morning were of that same religious persuasion.
Needless to say, my friends were highly offended by such a greeting from someone who called himself a Christian. And, sadly, they did not get over the insensitive “welcome” very quickly. In fact, it seems they have never gotten over it. Nearly 20 years later I ran into one of these men while visiting family back in Oklahoma. One of the first things he said to me was: “So-and-so was just talking the other day about that time you invited us to come to church with you and that guy greeted us by jokingly condemning our religion.”
By no means am I suggesting that Christians should not unashamedly teach the truth, or that we should not defend the faith whenever given the opportunity. Nor am I suggesting that I have always said things the right ways at the right times. (I’ve certainly failed miserably on this account more times than I like to remember.) What I do know is that God has instructed us to teach “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). He has commanded us to defend the faith “with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). Paul taught the saints in Colosse: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (4:6). Similarly, the wise man taught: “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up” (Ecclesiastes 10:12).
We should never be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16); we should never pass up an opportunity to teach the Word of God—but may God help us to do so with “all longsuffering” (2 Timothy 4:2, NKJV), and “with great patience” (NASB). Remember, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

From Mark Copeland... Prayer That Pleases God (Matthew 6:5-15)

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                    Prayer That Pleases God (6:5-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. A wonderful privilege enjoyed by the children of God is prayer...
   a. Through prayer we can receive mercy and grace to help in time of
      need - He 4:14-16
   b. Through prayer we can find peace that guards our hearts and mind
      - Php 4:6-7

2. But the privilege of prayer assumes God will heed our prayers...
   a. Not all prayers are acceptable to God - cf. Pr 28:9
   b. Indeed, God does not hear the prayers of all men - cf. Isa 59:
      1-2; 1Pe 3:12
   c. Jesus described the prayer of one man which did not please God
      - Lk 18:9-14

3. Do we know what qualifies as "Prayer That Pleases God"?
   a. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus had much to say about prayer
   b. Especially the kind of prayer which finds favor in God's sight

[In this study, let's take a look at Mt 6:5-15, where Jesus taught
His disciples regarding prayer.  First, we find Jesus telling us...]

I. WHAT "NOT" TO DO IN REGARDS TO PRAYER

   A. DO NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES...
      1. Who love to pray...
         a. Standing in the synagogues
         b. On the corners of the streets
      2. This they do "that they may be seen of men" - Mt 6:5

   B. "THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD..."
      1. That is, they are indeed seen by men
      2. But that is the extent of their reward (the praise of men)
      3. They have no reward or blessing from God!

   C. JESUS IS NOT CONDEMNING ALL PUBLIC PRAYING...
      1. Evident from the fact that He Himself prayed in public - Mt 11:25; Jn 11:41
      2. As did Paul - Ac 27:35

[The emphasis is the same as stated in Mt 6:1, "do not do your [deeds
of righteousness] before men, TO BE SEEN BY THEM."

How, then, are we to pray as to be heard by God?]

II. PRAYER THAT PLEASES GOD

   A. OFFERED "TO BE SEEN OF GOD," NOT MEN...
      1. This is the main idea of "praying in secret" - Mt 6:6
      2. "The sincere and humble worshiper, one who is not interested
         in making a public display for the sake of enhancing his
         prestige, will find the secluded nook or den to be most
         appropriate for his devotions." (unknown)
      3. The person who prays much in secret is praying to be seen of
         God, not men!

   B. OFFERED "TO BE HEARD OF GOD," NOT MEN...
      1. Avoiding the use of "vain repetitions" - Mt 6:7
         a. As was often practiced by the heathen religions
         b. "The heathen tried to tire out their gods with such endless
            prayers. Mere formulas were repeated over and over again;
            the Jews had such prayer formulas, Catholics also have
            them in the form of their rosary." (Lenski)
      2. This is not condemning all repetition, but "vain" (insincere,
         useless) repetition
         a. Jesus repeated Himself in prayer at Gethsemane - Mt 26:
            36-44
         b. Paul repeated his requests concerning his "thorn in the
            flesh" - 2Co 12:7-8
      3. Since "your Father knows the things you have need of before
         you ask Him," prayers to be heard by God do not have to be
         filled with superfluous words
         a. Have you ever noted the brevity of prayers recorded in the
            Scriptures?
         b. God is not swayed the by quantity of words, but by the
            quality of the heart!

   C. OFFERED ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN...
      1. The phrase "in this manner" suggests that this prayer...
         a. Is a pattern for praying
         b. Not a liturgical exercise as sometimes practiced
      2. The pattern of proper prayer:
         a. First, simplicity
            1) Notice the word "therefore"
               a) It connects what follows with what was said before
               b) Jesus' pattern for prayer is an "illustration" in
                  contrast to the "many words" used by the heathen
            2) In the prayer itself, note the brevity of words
         b. Then, in its content, proper prayer includes...
            1) Reverence for God and His "Name" (i.e., His being and
               character) - Mt 6:9
            2) Prayer for the progress of God's Kingdom and His Will on
               the earth - Mt 6:10
            3) Asking for physical necessities - Mt 6:11
            4) Also, our spiritual needs
               a) Forgiveness of sins - Mt 6:12
               b) Protection and deliverance from evil - Mt 6:13
            5) Praising God - Mt 6:13

   D. OFFERED WITH A MERCIFUL SPIRIT...
      1. As indicated in the pattern prayer itself - Mt 6:12,14-15
      2. Otherwise, we cannot expect mercy for ourselves - cf. Mt 18:
         21-23; Jm 2:13
      3. This must be very important to Jesus, for this is the only
         part of the pattern upon which He elaborates!

CONCLUSION

1. This is not the only occasion in which Jesus taught on prayer...
   a. Later, His disciples would ask Him to teach them to pray - Lk 11:
      1-4
   b. He taught them about the importance of persistence, faith and
      humility in prayer - Lk 11:5-13; 18:1-14

2. But in this sermon Jesus sought to stress prayer that is designed...
   a. To be seen by God, not man
   b. To be heard by God, not man
   -- Who knows better what kind of prayer that is, than He who now
      sits at the right hand of God!

If we believe that God hears prayer (Ps 65:2) and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (He 11:6), then let's be sure
we offer the kind of "Prayer That Pleases God"!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... Charity That Pleases God (Matthew 6:1-4)

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                    Charity That Pleases God (6:1-4)

INTRODUCTION

1. Are you a charitable person?
   a. If so, are you sure that your charity is pleasing to God?
   b. Were you aware that some forms of charity actually displease God?

2. In Jesus' day, there were religious people who were extremely 
   charitable...
   a. The Pharisees, for example, would give ten percent to God - e.g.,
      Lk 18:11-12
   b. They tithed even the smallest of seeds - Lk 11:42
   -- But as indicated in these two cases, not all charity or giving
      pleased God

3. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught His disciples to have a
   righteousness which exceeded that of the Pharisees - Mt 5:20
   a. Jesus first contrasted the "righteousness of the kingdom" with
      what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching
   b. He then contrasted what He expected of His disciples with what
      the scribes and Pharisees were practicing

[In Mt 6:1-4, we find the first of several examples concerning the
practice of righteousness.  In it, we learn about "Charity That Pleases
God."   Note first what Jesus taught about...]

I. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE GOVERNING ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (1)

   A. CONCERNING THIS VERSE...
      1. Some manuscripts, upon which the KJV and NKJV are based, have
         the Greek word eleemosunen
         a. Translated "alms", or "charitable deeds"
         b. Which would make this verse refer specifically to 
            almsgiving, or charitable deeds
      2. Older manuscripts, upon which the ASV and NASV are based, have
         the Greek word dikaiosunen
         a. Translated "righteousness"
         b. Which would make verse one speaking in general terms, 
            establishing the principle to be applied to ALL acts of 
            righteousness
      -- Textual support seems strongest for dikaiosunen, making verse
         one an introductory statement concerning all righteous acts

   B. THE BASIC PRINCIPLE...
      1. Stated simply:  we are not to do acts of righteousness to be
         seen of men - Mt 6:1a
         a. Note:  It is NOT to completely avoid ANY practice of 
            righteousness before men - cf. Mt 5:16
         b. Rather, it is to avoid doing them JUST TO BE SEEN OF MEN
      2. Therefore, it is proper to do good works before men...
         a. When we are trying to secure praise for GOD
         b. But not when we are trying to secure praise for OURSELVES!

   C. CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING THIS BASIC PRINCIPLE...
      1. If, in the innermost being of your heart, you do not mean to
         please and glorify God, He will not reward you!
      2. What reward you may have (cf. Mt 6:2,5,16) will be limited to
         the praise of men

[Let's now consider how Jesus applies this to the matter of charitable
deeds...]

II. CONCERNING CHARITABLE DEEDS (2-4)

   A. WHAT "NOT" TO DO...
      1. Don't be like the "hypocrites" (literally, "actors") - Mt 6:2a
         a. Who sound trumpets in the synagogues and streets
         b. Who are looking to be honored by men
      2. "They have their reward" - Mt 6:2b
         a. They receive exactly (and only) what they wanted:  the 
            praise of men
         b. But remember verse one...
            1) They have no reward from the Father in heaven
            2) Neither in the present or in the future!

   B. CHARITY THAT PLEASES GOD...
      1. "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"
         - Mt 6:3
         a. This involves avoiding not only the praise of others, but
            self praise as well
         b. Some thoughts by others on what this metaphor means:
            1) "The right [hand], [represents] me with my good deed;
               the left, me with my good opinion about my deed." 
               (Lenksi)
            2) "The expression probably refers to the fact that as much
               as possible a person must keep his voluntary 
               contribution a secret not only to others but even to
               himself; that is, he should forget about it, instead of
               saying in his heart, `What a good man, woman, boy, girl,
               am I!'" (Hendricksen)
         c. How can one develop the ability to give in this way?
            1) Perhaps by giving so often it becomes "second nature"
            2) So that you do it without much thought (just as with 
               anything you do often)
      2. Note: Jesus is not condemning public giving per se - cf. Ac 2:
         44-45; 4:34-37
         a. He is condemning the spirit which seeks publicity
         b. He is teaching "secret-giving" in the sense of "secret to
            one's self"
         c. "The true Christian cares not how much men hear of his
            public charities, nor how little they hear of his private
            ones." (Toplady)

   C. THE REWARD FOR CHARITY THAT PLEASES GOD...
      1. "Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you 
         openly." - Mt 6:4
      2. The reward may be experienced to some degree in this life - Psa 41:1-3
      3. Without a doubt it will be experienced on the day of judgment
         a. For every secret thing will be made known - Ec 12:14
         b. We will experience the benefit of the good we have done 
            - 2Co 5:10
   
CONCLUSION

1. Christians who have been blessed materially have been given a charge
   to be "rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" - 1 Ti 6:17-19

2. But if we desire that our charity will indeed store up "a good
   foundation for the time to come"...
   a. We must be sure to practice "Charity That Pleases God"
   b. We must learn to give, not to be seen of men, but to glorify God
   c. We must learn to give without self-praise for what we are doing

Do our charitable deeds exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees in
Jesus' day, not only in quantity, but in the quality of our giving? May
the Lord keep us free from the giving of hypocrites!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... Acting Like Our Father (Matthew 5:43-48)

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                    Acting Like Our Father (5:43-48)

INTRODUCTION

1. When Jesus spoke about "Responding To Evil", He laid down two 
   principles:
   a. Do not resist an evil person - Mt 5:39a
   b. Respond to evil by doing good - Mt 5:39b-42

2. This is certainly a challenging task Jesus put before His 
   disciples...
   a. It is tempting to respond to evil in kind
   b. Especially when the mistreatment comes from an enemy!

3. But in the text for this lesson (Mt 5:43-48)...
   a. We find Jesus teaching concerning the treatment of our enemies
   b. We are told why we ought to act in the manner described in Mt 5:
      38-42

[Keeping in mind the context of the sermon on the mount, let's first
compare...]

I. THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION

   A. THE LAW DID NOT SAY "HATE YOUR ENEMY"...
      1. It did teach to "love your neighbor as yourself" - Lev 19:18
      2. But it also taught kindness was to be shown to your enemy
         - Exo 23:4-5; Pr 25:21-22

   B. THE TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION HAD MISAPPLIED THE LAW...
      1. Though it did enjoin the command to "love your neighbor"...
      2. It inferred from this command one had the right to "hate your 
         enemy" - Mt 5:43
         a. "This phrase is not in Leviticus 19:18, but is a rabbinical
            inference which Jesus repudiates bluntly. The Talmud says
            nothing of love to enemies." (Word Pictures In The New
            Testament, Vol. I, Robertson)
         b. "The rabbis corrupted Lev. 19:18, which sums up the Law of
            Israel, by adding `and hate your enemy.'  By thus tampering
            with Scripture, they  intended to define their neighbors to
            include only Jews and to exclude Samaritans and Gentiles."
            (Believers' Study Bible)
         
[Having noted the difference between what the Law actually taught and
the wrong interpretation given by the scribes and Pharisees, let's now
consider what Jesus taught on...]

II. HOW TO TREAT OUR ENEMIES

   A. JESUS REQUIRES THAT WE...
      1. "Love" our enemies
         a. Not hate them
         b. Rather, show "active good will" towards them
      2. "Bless" those who curse us
         a. They may speak evil of us
         b. But in response we are to speak kindly of them
      3. "Do good" to those who hate us
         a. They may either ignore us or do evil things to us
         b. Yet we are to treat them kindly in either case
      4. "Pray" for those who spitefully use us and persecute us
         a. Notice, we are to pray FOR them, not just about them
         b. I.e., pray for their well-being, salvation, etc.

   B. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF THE PRINCIPLES IN VERSES 39-42...
      1. Don't seek vengeance!
      2. Don't resist an evil person!
      3. Instead, react by manifesting aggressive love!

[Why should we respond to our enemies in this way?  Jesus goes on to
provide...]

III. REASONS TO REACT IN THIS WAY

   A. "THAT YOU MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN"...
      1. That is, to demonstrate ourselves to be truly His children! 
         - Mt 5:45a
      2. What is our Father like?
         a. He gives material blessings to both the evil and the good,
            both the righteous and the unrighteous - Mt 5:45b
         b. He is kind to the unthankful and evil - Lk 6:35-36
         c. He offered His Son while we were yet sinners and enemies! 
            - Ro 5:8,10
         d. He loved us before we loved Him - 1Jn 4:10
      3. As taught elsewhere, we are to imitate our Heavenly Father 
         - 1Jn 4:11; Ep 4:31-5:2

   B. TO BE DIFFERENT THAN "TAX-COLLECTORS"...
      1. In Jesus' day, they were despised by the Jews, because they
         made themselves rich by collecting taxes from their fellow-men
         for the Roman government
      2. And yet, these tax-collectors would...
         a. Love those who loved them
         b. Greet cordially those who greeted them
      3. We are no different if our love is limited to our "brethren" 
         or "friends"! - Mt 5:46-47

   C. TO BE "PERFECT" AS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT...
      1. The word "perfect" means "brought to completion, full-grown,
         lacking nothing"
      2. In this context, it has reference to the matter of showing 
         love and mercy; note the parallel passage:
         a. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is
            merciful." - Lk 6:36
         b. "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in
            heaven is perfect." - Mt 5:48
      3. When we display love and mercy to our enemies...
         a. We are "complete," "full-grown" in demonstrating love
         b. Just like our Father when He shows kindness to evil and
            unthankful men!

CONCLUSION

1. If we really want to be...
   a. "sons of your Father in heaven"
   b. "perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect"

2. It is imperative that we be influenced...
   a. More by the teachings and example of the Son of God
   b. Than by the attitudes and example of the "tax-collectors"!

Are you "Acting Like Our Father" who is in heaven?  Or do you emulate
the most carnal people around us?  May the "sayings" (cf. Mt 7:28) of
our Lord provoke us to consider the proper way to respond to our 
enemies and to any who might abuse us!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Beauty is not everything!!!










































We used to have a small aquarium, but the fish all died over time. However, they were beautiful, graceful creatures, like these Beta's.  But, their beauty belied their temperament; as they could be very, very aggressive!!!  So it is in the spiritual realm as well...

2 Corinthians, Chapter 11  (WEB)
1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough. 5 For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles. 6 But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge? 8 I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you. 9 When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Beware, just because someone says that they are religious, doesn't mean they are true followers of Christ!!!  Paul says more to the subject in another letter...

Galatians, Chapter 1 (WEB)
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2 and all the brothers * who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father— 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”; 7 and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. 9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

Question: How can I know the truth?  Again, let us turn to the Scriptures...

Matthew, Chapter 7 (WEB)
13 "“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. " 14 "How" * "narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it."
15 "“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. " 16 "By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? " 17 "Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. " 18 "A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. " 19 "Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. " 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. " 21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. " 22 "Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ " 23 "Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’"
24 "“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. " 25 "The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. " 26 "Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. " 27 "The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”"

Follow the plain teaching of the Scriptures; examine, test and ruminate on their meaning!!!  Listen to the words of Jesus and his followers- obey the truth that they teach!!!  Enough said!!!