054. “What’s Happening?” A Search for Meaning In Life. Ephesians 3:1-12.

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Jim Holbeck

“What’s happening?” It seems to be way young people communicate today on their mobile (cell) phones.  They utter that particular phrase to find out what their friends are doing. Often the response seems to be “Come on over!” or an invitation to meet up at a later time.  However I felt it had gone a bit too far when our grandson at less than 3 years of age heard us talking excitedly in the kitchen and shouted out, “What’s ‘appening?”

On a broader scale many people are asking the question, “What’s happening? What’s going on in the world.” Some ask the question with real concern as they see so much evil in the world, the breakdown of morality and increasing revolt and rebellion.  I’m going to share with you what’s happening behind the scenes; what is really going on in the world today. It’s hidden. It’s a “mystery” as St Paul wrote many years ago.

Everyone wants to know the secret to mysteries. There was once an episode of “The Saint” on British television with Roger Moore. At the end of each episode he would declare who the murderer was. On this particular night there was an electrical breakdown over much of Britain just as Roger Moore said, “And the murderer is …”. People were in suspense to find out “Who done it.” But the TV didn’t come back on for some hours. Meanwhile the TV studio’s switchboard was besieged with calls from people who wanted to be relieved of their suspense, “Can you please tell us who the murderer was?”  We all like to know the answer to mysteries.

Let me put you out of your suspense by telling you what is going on in the world behind the scenes. It was the same thing that was going on when St Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians.

1).        GOD’S MYSTERIOUS PLAN HAS BEEN REVEALED. 3:1-5.  No one could really recognise what God was doing in the world until Jesus came at that first Christmas. St Paul wrote, Ephesians 3:5  In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind. However the mystery was revealed to those whom God had chosen. 3:5 …as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:  It needed the Holy Spirit to bring enlightenment about God’s plan and purpose for a world in darkness. He revealed what was going on in God’s world; what was happening behind the scenes.

This is what Epiphany Sunday is all about. Epiphany stands for the manifestation or revealing of Christ to the Gentiles (non-Jews). St Paul had been chosen by God to make God’s mystery known to those from Jewish and from Gentile (non-Jewish) backgrounds. He wrote in Ephesians 3:8  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9  and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.  Paul was preaching Christ, and telling Jewish and Gentile believers about the unsearchable, unfathomable, incalculable riches that existed in Him for all who believed from any background.

2).   WHAT ARE GOD’S UNSEARCHABLE RICHES TO US IN CHRIST?  Ephesians 3:6-11.

I).         Paul made them known to all peoples. (Jews and Gentiles).  He wrote, Eph 3:8  Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ. What are the boundless or unsearchable riches in Christ? That all who respond to Christ through the gospel and receive Him, gain these three blessings. They become:-

i). fellow heirs.  As the born-again children of God from every background they share in the same inheritance of Christ. All that God has given to Jesus, is ours in Him. Paul wrote in Romans 8:17, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. It means that we are fellow-heirs with one another and also co-heirs with Christ of all the Father has given to Him.  We may have known the pain of missing out on family inheritances but as believers we have the greatest inheritance this world has ever seen. It is the inheritance that God has given to His Son and to His children in Him. To you and me in the family of God.

ii). members of the same body.  Paul is saying that all believers belong to the one body of Christ, the same body. There is only one body of Christ in the world. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26-29, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.  You and I belong equally to the same body of Christ as the great missionaries Hudson Taylor and William Carey. We belong to the same body of Christ as the great preachers such as John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones and others. We belong to the same body of Christ as Mother Teresa, Billy Graham and all the other great saints or believers throughout history. We BELONG! To God, to the body of Christ and to one another in Him!

iii).  sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus.  Paul wrote in Galatians 3, 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise. What was the blessing of Abraham that would bless all the nations of the earth? It seems to be the gift of the Holy Spirit who would come to indwell all believers in Christ in every generation. Paul had previously written, Gal 3:13  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”– Gal 3:14  so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Jesus had promised that His followers would receive the long-promised gift of the Holy Spirit. As Peter explained on the Day of Pentecost, Act 2:33  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. The promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.  Jesus was anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul was indwelt and empowered by the same Holy Spirit. You and I as believers are anointed and empowered by the same Holy Spirit. The person in Australia who hears about Jesus today and believes in Him receives the same Holy Spirit. The man or woman on the other side of the world who believes in Jesus today, receives the same Holy Spirit. The drunkard crying out to God for mercy and sincerely asking Jesus to come into his life to make him different, receives the same Holy Spirit by believing in Him. The good news is that every person born on this earth from whatever background is a potential candidate to receive the same Holy Spirit of God if they put their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

II).        The church is to make the “mystery” known to all in the universe. Paul wrote, Eph 3:10  so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.  The “church” (Greek word “ekklēsía”) means the “called out ones”. They are called out of the unbelieving world to trust in Christ and to belong to the family of God.  It includes all who belong to God through putting their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord from every generation, from every locality, from every background. It includes you and me as believers. We have a job to do, to make Christ known in the world. That is God’s mysterious secret plan and purpose that is going on behind the scenes. Despite everything else that might be happening in the world He is at work bringing more and more people from every nation into His family. He is filling them with His Holy Spirit and He is using them to share Him with others.

3).        WHAT IT MEANS FOR US TODAY. 3:12.  Paul concludes this section in Eph 3:12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. Every believer has direct access to God through Christ. I discovered that on New Year’s Eve 53 years ago when I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my life to be my Saviour and Lord. I realised then that I did have access to God. As the days went on I came to understand that I could come to God in boldness and confidence, not in arrogance.  I discovered that He wanted me to come to Him at any time and in any place in adoration, praise, thanksgiving and in prayer.  From that moment on New Year’s Eve, 53 years ago, life has meant sharing with others the mystery of Christ; that people from any background (even from a Gentile background like myself) can come to God through Him. They too can receive the same Holy Spirit of God I received, to enable them to know God, to love God and to serve God in His purposes in the world.

The Greek word for “mystery” (mustērion) means an open secret for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, all those enlightened and made alive by the Spirit of God.  The mystery of “What’s happening?” is solved.  The hidden things are now clear, but only to those who receive God’s offer of His Son into their lives and are born again of the Spirit of God. Only they really understand “What’s happening” in God’s world. Because God has made them part of what He is doing! You can become part of His plan by receiving Christ as Saviour and allowing Him to guide you by His Spirit to fulfil your particular role in His purposes in the world.

Blog No. 54. Jim Holbeck.  Posted on New Year’s Day, Sunday 1st January 2012

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053. Who Is The Jesus Christ Of Christmas? Luke 2:10-12

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

An angel spoke to shepherds on that first Christmas Day. He gave them a message that spoke volumes about Jesus. The angel said, Luke 2:10 “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

The Christmas event? A baby would be born in lowly circumstances in Bethlehem.

The Christmas meaning? This child would be a Saviour. He was the Christ, the Messiah or the Anointed One. He was and would be Lord. We look briefly at what those terms mean.

1). Jesus The Saviour. His name indicated His mission; Jesus means “One who saves”. He came to save His people. It was the name given by an angel when Mary was told she was to bear the Christ-child, Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Joseph her betrothed was also told by an angel to call the infant “Jesus”, and explained that His name signified His role as “Saviour”, Matthew 1:20, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

The word for “save” is (sōzō) which can have the meanings to save, to heal, to preserve, to make whole. It is used more than 30 times in the gospels to describe people being delivered from demons, danger or death. There are about 20 references to spiritual salvation. Others refer to healing such as Mark 5:28, 34 (the healing of the woman with the flow of blood) , Mk 6:56 (the healing of many in the region of Gennesaret) , Mk 10:52 the healing of blind Bartimaeus, and James 5:15 (healing through the prayers and anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, by Christian elders.)

The nouns “sōtērios” (salvation) and “sōtēr” (saviour) were both used with special reference to Jesus. He was the “Saviour” who came to “save” His people and to make “salvation” available to all those who would put their trust in Him. He spoke of His mission as a saving mission to the world, Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” AND John 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

2). Jesus the Christ. The word “Christ” stems from (chríō) to “anoint”. The noun is “Christos” meaning “the anointed”. The term was used in the Old Testament for those who were anointed for office such as prophets, priest, kings and others. It was also used to describe the coming “Messiah” in prophetic passages in the Old Testament. For example the coming “anointed” one, the Messiah, was spoken of in Isaiah 61 verses 1 and 2, The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn. Jesus declared that this prophecy had been fulfilled in Himself in Luke 4:16-21. He had read this passage from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue and then added, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Others recognised Him as the Messiah, the Christ. Andrew said to his brother Simon Peter in John 1:41 “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ)”. Peter himself was later to recognise Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, as he declared on the road to Caesarea Philippi, Mat 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus accepted the veracity of this declaration as He replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. A divine revelation had been given to Peter about Jesus. Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One.

Many have summed up the work of Jesus as the Messiah, as the Anointed One, as the Saviour of the world, using the following terms.

  • Jesus has saved us from the Penalty of our sins by His death on the cross.
  • He saves us from the Power of sin by the power of his life in us as believers.
  • He will save us from the Presence of sin when He returns in glory to take us to be with Him forever.

As one song rightly puts it, “Halleluia, what a Saviour!”

3). Jesus The Lord. The angel said to the shepherds, Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. What did he mean by calling the Christ-child, “the Lord”? How could such a little infant be anything but a tiny vulnerable human?

There had been prophecies in the Old Testament about a child to be born who would be a majestic figure. For example Isaiah 9:6, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Jesus was this promised child. He would become great.

But He had been great from all eternity. In fact John begins his Gospel with the words, John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. He also described later in the same chapter what happened to this “word”; And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14. Jesus the eternal word became a human in the world He had created.

He was Lord, equal with God. But He humbled Himself to become a human so that He might die as a human for humans. But death couldn’t hold Him. He rose from the dead, the victor over death and evil. St Paul put it in graphic language in Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus IS Lord.

What a wonderful message the angel gave to the shepherds that evening. Only later would they come to realise the immensity of the truth he gave them in such concise words.

We too need to recognise who Jesus is, so that if He were to come in our lifetime, we would cry out with love and adoration and praise, “Welcome, Lord Jesus!” Much better than to say with others who had no time for Jesus in this life, “O dear! He WAS Lord after all!”

Blog 053. Jim Holbeck. Posted on Christmas Eve, 24th December 2011

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052. A Prayer Based On 2 Peter 3:8-14. Being Prepared for Jesus’ Coming

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

In this passage from verses 8 to 14, St Peter outlines a number of important truths. One is that the “apparent” delay in the second coming of Jesus means that God is giving people a chance to repent of their sins and turn back to Him, 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Another truth is that the second coming is sure to come and people need to be prepared for it. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness. As they prepare for His coming they need to be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

How can we become more holy and godly? How can we become more without spot or blemish and at peace? By asking God in prayer to make us more like that!

A Prayer to pray

“Heavenly Father, I thank You that at His first coming, Jesus came and died, so that I might have forgiveness and eternal life by receiving Him. As I prepare for His second coming in power and glory, enable me to become the person You want me to be.

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I might become more holy, more godly, more at peace with You as I live for You in Your world.

Fill me with Your love, so that I might be motivated and empowered by Your Spirit to live the life, to talk the talk and to walk the walk You want me to.

Enable me by Your Spirit to help others come to repentance and faith in You, so that they too might be ready for His coming in glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN”

Blog No.052. Jim Holbeck. Posted on Saturday 17th December 2011

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051. A Prayer Based On Romans 12:1-2. Total Commitment

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Jim Holbeck
Romans 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

 Heavenly Father, I thank You for all the mercies You have bestowed on me.

I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins and for the gift of eternal life You have given me in Your Son Jesus Christ.

I thank You that He gave Himself for me, so that I might give myself to You.

I now present to You, all I am and all I have, as a living sacrifice to You. It’s my logical response to Your love for me. It’s my spiritual act of worship to You.

Transform me as a person by renewing my mind by Your Spirit, so that I think the way You want me to think about everything, especially about You and about Your will.

Give me discernment by Your Spirit, as I seek to put Your will into practice in my everyday life. Enable me to recognise Your will, and discover as I seek to do it, that it truly is good, acceptable and perfect.

I ask these things so that You may be honoured and glorified, in and through my life, in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.

 Blog No.051.   Posted by Jim Holbeck.   Saturday 17th December 2011

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050. Homophobia. Who Is Guilty? A Surprising Possibility!

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

A “homophobe” is described in some dictionaries as “a person who hates or fears homosexual people.” There are many in the homosexual world who say that those who do not accept homosexuality as a life-style or who say homosexual activities are wrong, are guilty of homophobic attitudes or hate towards them. Thus they see many Christians, Jews, Muslims and others who reject homosexual practice as being homophobic and guilty of hatred.

If we live in a world where there is no God, there can be no absolutes.  Where there are no absolutes, everything is relative. People in such a world simply conform as much as possible (mainly to their own advantage) to the changing cultural patterns of the day. Those who criticise or condemn the behaviour of their fellow humans are seen as biased and bigoted. Who are they to pass judgment on another person’s behaviour if there are no absolutes to follow?  So, it is argued, in a world where everyone is free to do their own thing, people shouldn’t be critical of the behaviour of others who live differently from themselves. It would mean in such a world, that no one is in a position to criticise anyone else. In such a world different kinds of sexual activity among consenting people would have no value judgments placed on them.

BUT WHAT IF (and it would naturally be a very big ‘if’) there happened to be a God in charge of this world? One who created it? One who made certain demands of His creatures? What if this God has revealed Himself in His creation? What if He has given messages describing what He wanted to people like Moses and the prophets? What if this God gave them commandments like the Ten Commandments and many other commandments over a period of centuries? What if He has declared many things to be wrong in His sight? What if He caused to be written, the words to males in Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And also in Lev 20:13  If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.

What if He inspired St Paul to record His will in the book of Romans where Paul states that homosexual behaviour is part of the result of the general judgment of God upon people who reject Him. Judgment in the sense that He has deliberately allowed people to do what they wanted to do, to exercise their free-will as they rebelled against Him and against His will for humans. The three verses in Romans chapter 1 stating that “God gave them up” or “handed them over” don’t mean that God has “given up” on such people. Rather He “delivered them over” or allowed them to fulfil their own will while rejecting His will, Rom 1:26  “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; Rom 1:27  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” What if this God is saying that homosexual activity is not in accord with the purpose for which He created the different sexes in His world?

What if this God saw homosexual practice as part of a general rebellion by humans against His will, as seen in all the behaviours that He considers debased, Rom 1:28  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29  They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31  foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless? What if this God includes homosexual activity as part of the general rebellion of humans against their creator?  What if He also condemned them for giving approval to others who also practiced the same things, as St Paul wrote in Rom 1:32, “Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them?”

In such a world, with such a God, it could appear that the homophobic people (those who hate homosexuals, by their definition) are those who engage in homosexual activity. Why? Because they involve other people in activity that this God has declared to be contrary to His will.

So the “surprising possibility” might be this. If there is a God who created this world, then many of those who try to warn and discourage those engaged in homosexual activity are those who truly care about them. They care enough about them to be concerned for their present welfare and for their eternal future. On the other hand it would mean that the real homophobes (those acting with hatred towards homosexuals) in this world in which God exists, would be those who involve and encourage others in their homosexual activities! If this is God’s world then to deliberately encourage another person to participate in sexual activities condemned by Him would never be an act of love in the sight of such a God.

Mind you, if there is no God, then none of this matters one little bit. In such a world you are free to make your own choices in life about everything. But what if God does exist and has revealed His will for how the humans He created are to behave? For many people this would be the classic inconvenient truth! Better in the eyes of many such people to deny the existence of God. Better to mock Bible teaching. Better to prevent young people from hearing Bible truths which speak of these “inconvenient” truths. Better in the eyes of such people to besmirch the character and motives of those who would seek to help them understand this truth, that in a world in which God exists, actions and attitudes have consequences.

If God did exist then it means we would have the awesome responsibility of living in the way He meant us to live, and not contrary to it.  It would mean that people would need to seek His help to refrain from all sexual activity outside His will, AND from all the other things St Paul mentioned in Romans 1:28-31 as coming from a debased mind. Things such as all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossip, slander, hatred towards God, insolence, haughtiness, boasting, new forms of evil, disobedience to parents, foolishness, faithlessness, heartlessness, ruthlessness. Only a God who existed could enable people to refrain from all these things. From all the indications in the Bible, the God of the Bible would be delighted to help those who asked for His help. Many of my friends who once cried out to Him for help, have found He is always ready to help those who humbly turn to Him. Not only that but they have found that He is able to keep on strengthening them to live in the way He always wanted them to live.

Blog No.050. Posted by Jim Holbeck. Friday 16th November 2011

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049. FORGIVENESS. Guilt Cleansed And Forgiven. Jeremiah 33:8

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

“I feel so guilty!” That has been the cry of many people in counselling situations. They feel guilty because they ARE guilty before God. But how do they get rid of the guilt they feel? There is an answer in Jeremiah 33:8, I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. We have seen many references in previous articles to sins being forgiven. Jeremiah here introduces another concept regarding forgiveness. Those confessing their sins could know that their guilt had been forgiven, but in addition they could also have a sense of being “cleansed” of the guilt of their sin and rebellion.

The combination of “cleanse” (Hebrew “taher”) and “sin” (Hebrew “avon”) is also found in Joshua 22:17, and in Ezekiel 36:33. Just a quick look at those verses to get a sense of what “cleanse” might involve.

In  Jos 22:17 Phinehas challenged the hearers  Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.  He was referring to the sin committed at Peor when the people of God rebelled against Him and punishment ensued. Now later another group appeared to be heading towards rebellion. Phinehas asks the group involved whether or not they had really cleansed themselves from the sin of Peor. If they had they really cleansed themselves (obviously through repentance) then they would not now be acting in rebellion against God. However their actions were not rebellious and no action was taken against them. What is interesting in the account is the link between forgiveness and cleansing. If they really had repented and then acted on their forgiveness from God, they would have been “cleansed” (in the sense of not wanting to commit a similar sin again). True repentance brings a cleansing that in turn brings liberation and a determination to do the right thing.

In Ezekiel 36:33 God promised that when He cleansed the nation from their iniquities He would bring material blessing to the nation whom He had forgiven. God’s cleansing from sin opens the door to even more blessing. Eze 36:33  “Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.

In our verse for this article in Jeremiah 33:8, there is the phrase about God cleansing the people from all the guilt of their sin. Then later in the same verse, God says that He would forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. In both cases it is not only the sin that is cleansed or forgiven but the guilt as well. “Cleanse” (Hebrew” taher”) was used for the ritual cleansing of either things or people in Leviticus. But here it seems to refer to the release from sin and from the guilt deriving from it. They could not cleanse themselves, but God could make them clean and give them a sense of being clean. Guilt is both what God sees in people as they sin, and also what people may feel about their sins.

These two concepts of forgiveness and cleansing are seen together in the New Testament in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is wonderful to be able to point out to people who confess their sins to God and ask for His forgiveness, that they can experience freedom from the guilt of sin as well. Forgiveness means the sins are gone. Cleansing means that the defilement that sin always brings can also be dealt with.  John Bunyan summed it up well in his “Pilgrim’s Progress” as he has Christian recognising release from the burden and guilt of sin,

“Thus far did I come laden with my sin;
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in
Till I came hither: What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest Cross! blest sepulcher! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!”

Blog No.049.  Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Saturday 26th November 2011

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048. FORGIVENESS. Iniquity Forgiven, Sin Not Remembered. Jeremiah 31:34.

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

How releasing it would be to know that one’s iniquities had been forgiven and that God had promised not to remember one’s sins any more. That is precisely what God promised through Jeremiah in Jer 31:34, For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”  (Isaiah had previously written something similar when he wrote in Isa 43:25  “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.”)  We note here that the same words are used in both passages for “not remembering” and for “sins”.

What then does Jeremiah mean by “For I will forgive their iniquity.” In the Hebrew Bible “forgive” is “salach” which we have looked at before in an earlier article. It has the meaning to forgive and pardon and is always used of God forgiving, pardoning or sparing. In the Greek LXX (Septuagint version) the word is from “híleōs”  and means to show mercy, to be propitious, to pardon. It is one of those verses in both Greek and Hebrew versions that the grace of God is seen in God’s willingness to forgive guilty people.

“Iniquity” in Hebrew is “avon” and is a word denoting conscious wrongdoing and the guilt deriving from that. It has the sense of deliberate intention to do evil. In the Greek version (LXX) the word is “adikia”  which can mean acting unjustly and perhaps bringing harm to another person through injustice. What a blessed truth that God can show mercy to those who have turned from His way and can forgive the sins they deliberately committed against Him or against their fellow humans.

The magnitude of God’s grace in forgiveness is in the final phrase of the verse,  “and I will remember their sin no more.” This implies on God’s part the intention to not bring that person’s sin back against them again. God as the Omniscient (all knowing) One cannot forget anything but He can choose not to recall things in order to use them against people again.

When God forgives He does so deliberately with no intention of later holding those sins against the people. The Hebrew word “zakar” and the  Greek word, “mimnēskō” both have that sense of remembering or recalling to memory. God will not recall those sins again.   What a contrast with the human tendency to keep on recalling to our minds the sins that others have committed against us, and even using those things against that person over and over again.  We will see in later articles that God can give us the grace to forgive in the same way He does, but we need His grace to do so.

Blog No.048.   Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Saturday 26th November 2011

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047. Outline of Ephesians 6:9-24. Spiritual Warfare

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Paul had just written of the mutual submission that the people of God ought to have for one another in the various groupings in the Christian family. Now he looks outside that family to the challenge of the world outside the Christian church. The believers needed to know the strength that only God could give them to live and minister in that world.

1).        THE COMMAND TO BE STRONG.  Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord (Greek word is endynamousthe from dunamis meaning power.) Paul was able to command his readers to be strengthened because he himself had looked to God for strength and had indeed been strengthened by Him.  He used the same word in these verses, Phil 4:13, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me;  1Tim 1:12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me; 2Tim 4:17  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.

Verse 10 continues, …and in the strength (Gk. kratei) of his might (Gk. ischuos). These words are also found together in Eph 1:19. The first word is used only of God but the second can mean indwelling strength. God is the source of both. Paul wants his readers to look to God to receive His strength.

i).         How can they be strengthened? Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour (Gk. panoplía)  of God. (This is the armour that God supplies as we turn to Him for help).  …that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (We note that we are to “stand” not “charge”. The reason being that the battle has been won on the cross and believers are to stand in that victory, Col 2:15  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

ii).        Why do they need to be strengthened? To be able to take part in a spiritual battle against spiritual forces. Eph 6:12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Whatever power might exist, Christ’s power is always supreme. They needed His power not their own in overcoming evil.

 2).        THE COMMAND TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

Eph 6:13  Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

i).         The pieces of armour

  • Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.  It involves knowing and living by the truth in true integrity.
  • Eph 6:15  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Being at peace with God and being ready to share the gospel of peace equips believers for any sudden challenge that may emerge.
  • Eph 6:16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Our faith shields us against all the accusations Satan as Diabolos (the Accuser) might hurl at us.
  • Eph 6:17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The assurance of our salvation enables us to stand confidently against that which would seek to destroy us. In addition, the word of God (the sword of the Spirit), as we live by it, enables us to defend our position. It also becomes our offensive weapon in breaking down the barriers of ignorance and deceit and falsehood.

Paul simplified the meaning of all this armour when he told the Roman believers, Rom13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. When we are clothed with Christ or have put on the armour of God we can stand firm in victory over the forces of evil.    

ii).        Prayer

  • How to pray. Eph 6:18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Praying “in the Spirit” is perhaps a wider term than praying in tongues. It means being led and guided by the Spirit of God as we pray. Paul elsewhere had shown the place of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to pray according to the will of God, Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
  • For whom to pray. Prayer is not for selfish purposes. It enables us to become involved in what God is doing or wants to do in particular situations. Thus we must be ready to pray at all times and to pray for all believers as He leads us by His Spirit. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
  • What to pray. Paul knew that his death could come at any time. He wanted to make the most of the time he had left. He didn’t want to miss out on any opportunity of sharing Christ with others. He asked that people might pray that he be given boldness to share the gospel message. Eph 6:19  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, Eph 6:20  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

 PERSONAL NEWS

i).         Why he wrote the letter. He wanted his readers in Ephesus to know his present situation.  Eph 6:21  So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing,

ii).        Why he sent Tychicus with the message. Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22  I have sent him to you for this very purpose,

iii).       For what purpose did Tychicus  come? To inform them in Ephesus and to encourage them. that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

 CLOSING GREETINGS

i).         Peace, love, faith. He wanted them to know God’s peace and love. Eph 6:23  Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

ii).        Grace. He and they had been the recipients of God’s amazing grace. He desired that they might continue to know His enduring grace and love as they in turn continued to love Jesus, Eph 6:24  Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Blog No.047. Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Wednesday 23rd November 2011

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046. Outline of Ephesians 6:1-9. Mutual Submission In The Body Of Christ. (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

This section of the epistle is based on the command in Ephesian 5:18, And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. Paul writes that one of the four consequences of being filled with the Spirit is that believers submit to one another, Eph 5:21  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. It is part of the mutual submission seen in the major groupings in the Christian family. We have already seen that submission referred to in the previous article in the mutual submission between husbands and wives. Now comes the next set of relationships showing the obligations that members of the Christian family have to each other.

1).        Children Living in Submission to Parents. 6:1-3

i).         It is the right thing to do. Eph 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (See Note 1).

ii).       Is a rewarding thing to do. Eph 6:2  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), Eph 6:3  “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (See Note 2).

2).        Fathers’ Responsibilities Towards Their  Children. 6:4

i).      The wrong approach. Eph 6:4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (See Note 3).

ii).     The right approach. but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (See Note 4).

3).        Slaves’ Submission To Their Masters. 6:5-8

Why should they obey their masters? Eph 6:5  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (See Note 5).

How should they obey? Eph 6:6  not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (See Note 6).

Whom should they seek to please?  Eph 6:7  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (See Note 7).

What benefit is there in obeying? Eph 6:8  knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

4).        Masters’ Obligations To Their Slaves. 6:9

How to treat them. Eph 6:9  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening,

Why? knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (See note 8).

NOTES:

Note 1. “right” here is (dikaios), meaning here that it is right in the eyes of the Lord, or according to His will.

Note 2. This commandment was in the Decalogue or 10 Commandments given to Moses. (Exodus 20:12; Deut 5:16). Disobedience to parents was taken very seriously as we see in Deuteronomy 21:18-21.

Note 3. “provoke” (parorgízō) can mean to irritate or stir up to anger. Fathers had a duty not to “bait” their children or act towards them in such a way that they  responded in anger.

Note 4. “discipline” is (paideia) used mainly for the  training of a child and includes the concept of chastening or correction.  “Instruction” is ( nouthesia) which also includes the idea of correction.

Note 5. “Sincere” is (haplótēs).  This means being single-minded  or faithful.  Their single-mindedness in serving their masters  should be the single-mindedness they would show in serving Christ Himself.

Note 6.  The HCSB puts it, Eph 6:6  Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

Note 7. Believers should serve Christ in all they do, even when it is working for a secular boss.

Note 8. Paul saw Christian slaves and masters as brothers in Christ and both subject to their Heavenly Master. Submission to Him meant submission to each other in Him. Threatening was not appropriate for brothers in Christ.

 Blog No.046.  Jim Holbeck. Posted on Wednesday 23rd November 2011

 

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045. Outline of Ephesians 5:21-33. Mutual Submission In The Body Of Christ. (Part 1 of 2).

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

The man licked his lips and ran off to share with his wife the verse he had just found in the Bible, “Wives, be subject to your husbands.” Now to get his own way! In his mind, she was meant to meekly obey him. He soon discovered that it wasn’t that simple! The verse had a context. The context had other truths. Truths that meant he had very, very real demanding obligations towards his wife. His responsibilities were even more demanding than hers.

We have to read these verses from 5:22 onwards in their context. They follow from the command in verse 18, And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. We saw in the previous article that four things follow from this “filling. They are linked to the main verb “be filled” in verse 18 by a series of participles indicating the result of being filled with the Spirit.  i). Eph 5:19  addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ii). singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, iii). Eph 5:20  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, iv). Eph 5:21  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

It is at this point  from verse 21 onwards that Paul spells out in detail what that mutual submission to one another looks like in practice. He outlines the submission required in the major groupings in the body of Christ.  (5:22-24 Wives to husbands.) (5:25-33 Husbands to wives.) (6:1-3 Children to parents). (6:4 Fathers to children). (6:5-8 Slaves to masters.) (6:9 Masters to slaves.) We look here at those in Chapter 5.  (I will include most of the scripture verses to show how they fit into the over-all picture).

1).        The Submission Of Wives To Husbands.  (We note of course that Paul is not talking here about submission of women to men. Rather he is talking about the deep loving intimate relationship of Christian marriage). Eph 5:22  Wives, submit to your own husbands. But what does the verse really say? There is no “submit” between “wives” and “husbands”. The Lexham New Testament translates it correctly as Eph 5:21  being subject to one another [out of reverence for] Christ 22  –wives to their own husbands as to the Lord. It is not the stark “Wives be subject to your husbands” seen in many translations. Rather it is the softer translation seen in the Lexham version.

  • Why should they be submissive in this way? Paul explains, 23  because the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church (he himself being the Saviour of the body). There is both unity and order in their relationship. They belong to each other. They each have responsibilities towards the other in their mutual submission.
  • In what measure are they to be submissive? “as to the Lord”. (As though they were doing it to Christ Himself or for Him).
  • Why should she? Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife. What pattern of “headship” is she to submit to? Submission to headship such as that of the church (the body of Christ) to Christ (the head of the body), even as Christ is the head of the church, his body
  • What has the head (Christ) done for the body? and is himself its Saviour. His sacrificial death on the cross provided salvation and forgiveness for the people of God, the body of Christ.
  • Paul reaffirmed the principle of submission as he compared the submission of wives to husbands with the submission of the church to Christ, Eph 5:24,  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives (should submit) in everything to their husbands. But even here we note that there is no “be subject” or “should submit” in the original Greek. It is the softer “wives in everything to their husbands”. But it is still submission nevertheless as part of the mutual submission in the body of Christ.

 2).        The Submission Of Husbands To Wives. Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives. In what measure?  as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. The husband has to love his wife with a sacrificial totally self-giving love, even being willing to die for her if necessary.   He has to have the same attitude of self-giving love seen in Jesus’ love for His people in Philippians 2:3-8,  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. As the husband looks to the best interests of his wife, he too may find such commitment very sacrificial on his part. But he does it in his love for her as part of his submission to the will of God for him as a Christian husband.

  • The purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice for the church? Eph 5:26  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
  • We see here Christ’s ultimate purpose as the head of the body. Eph 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. The husband’s protective self-giving love should provide the safe environment for his wife to grow more fully into the grace of God.
  • Christ as the head loved His body the church. Husbands need to love their wives in the same way. Eph 5:28  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
  • Husbands love their own bodies in nourishing them and protecting them.  Eph 5:29  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,
  • The pattern to follow?  Nourishing and cherishing his wife,  just as Christ does the church,
  • Why do husbands need to do this? Because husbands and wives are both members of the body He loves and cherishes. Eph 5:30  because we are members of his body.

The prime commitment of husbands is to their wives. She becomes his number 1 human. priority.  Eph 5:31  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The magnitude of this commitment? The commitment of Christ to the church!  Eph 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

3).        The Overall Principles To Be Acted On.

  • Husbands are to love their wives as themselves. Giving her (at the very least) the same detailed attention he gives to himself and to his own needs.  Eph 5:33  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself.  In meeting her needs as he should, he discovers his own needs can be met.  It is a more personal application of the general principle in the second Great Commandment, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Mat 22:39 
  • Wives are to respect their husbands. and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Respect” here is “phobos” which can be translated as “reverence” rather than “fear”. She can respect and even reverence him because he has a truly awesome responsibility before God. He has to be like Christ to his wife and to love her with Christ’s love.  He needs all the support he can get from his wife as he seeks to fulfil that great obligation and privilege to love her with the love of God.

Is it possible to love and submit in this way in practice?  One wife said, “I would be willing to submit myself completely to a husband who loves me as much as Christ loves the church”. What love that would be! Caring! Protective! Unselfish! Self-giving! How much easier it would be for any wife to submit to a husband with a truly genuine Christ-like love, life and behaviour.

It behoves every Christian husband and wife to pray that the truth of Romans 5:5 is fulfilled in them, And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. His love is poured into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, that it might flow out through us to touch the lives of our loved ones, especially our husbands or wives. We are to love them with the love of God as part of our mutual submission.

Blog No.045.        Jim Holbeck.      Posted on Tuesday 22nd November 2011

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