2 Chronicles 3 - Solomon Builds the Temple

2 Chronicles 3

Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (verse 1)

Message: Solomon Builds the Temple

Time: 2 Chronicles, like 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and was separated into 2 books in 200 BC when the Septuagint was translated. This book focuses on Judah from 971-586 BC. The chronicler focused on the blessings God bestowed when leaders were faithful to His law. It covers Solomon's ascension to the throne to Judah finally carried into exile in Babylon. 

What the Lord is Saying: It has been a lot of preparation, which is understandable, given the magnitude of the temple. But now in these verses is the beginning of the construction in the fourth year of Solomons reign. 

This first temple will be a historical site, and the writer mentions the significance of the site as a place where the Lord appeared to his father David. Mount Moriah is also where Abraham offered Isaac. The site was also a threshing floor. This was recorded back in I Chronicles 21:18, "Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite." While it is mentioned as Ornan the Jebusite's threshing floor, this was purchased by David as mentioned in 2 Samuel 24:24, "The king (David) said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver." He bought it and built and altar there for it to be a place of worship. 

The threshing floor is a common open space that was used for separating grain. It was an activity that only occurred during harvest time. Threshing separated the edible from the inedible. A reaper or someone that harvests crops would take a bunch of stalks of wheat with one hand, bending over, and then with a sickle in the other hand would slice or cut the base off and then take the remaining stalk and bind it into sheaves. Taking it then to the high hilltop, a sledge board with rocks in holes would beat against the stalks and help loosen them. This would be followed by throwing the stalks somewhat in the air with a winnowing fork and the wind or breeze would do the separation. 

Thus, the valuable grain separated from the worthless chaff by the wind. It is a reminder to me that God separates what is valuable and useful from what is not. Thus, it was a metaphor for God separating that which is ordinary into chosen or wicked. The wind or the Holy Spirit takes someone through the refining process with the result of the Word of God becoming alive in the person by the active agent of God in that person's life. The word takes root in the person. The person is chosen by God. 

Like many metaphors it uses an event or situation that was common in that day to help people understand. For those living in Bible times, grain represented 1/3rd of their diet.

When I think of my life, I don't see that I have accomplished anything spellbinding, but I have been witness to God's goodness through the reading and study of His word. 

Starting in verse 3, the description of the temple begin, starting with the foundation (v. 3), the porch or entrance where someone transitions from the secular to the sacred (v. 4), the main room (v. 5) being a central room where priest performed daily rituals to emphasize the sacredness of the space. For me, in the main room is where I read and study God's word and train myself daily for Godliness (I Timothy 4:7-8). 

Then more specifically is the design of the temple mentioned - the exterior (v. 6), the beams, thresholds, walls, doors (v. 7). 

The holy of holies is mentioned (v.8), the most sacred part of the temple where the priest would enter but one day of the year to offer atonement. This atonement is described in Leviticus 16. It is a vivid description whereby a goal is taken for an offering to "make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities...their transgressions...in regard to all their sins." And following the sacrifice, to "sprinkle some of the blood on the horns of the altar seven times" with "the goat bear on itself all of their iniquities" and then the body is bathed in the water to purify oneself like we do with baptism now. That baptism is another metaphor to show us the death and resurrection of Christ. And bathing oneself occurred prior to going to the Tent of Meeting, the place where we worshipped God. Our lives worship him and we need that baptism in our life. 

And Jesus will be the final scapegoat. "For it is on this day that atonement shall me made for you to cleanse you, you shall be clean from all your sins before the Lord" (verse 30). 

This holy of holies is described in much detail with the cherubim in the room, representing the presence of God in that place. 

Verse 14 mentions the veil where there is separation from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place. 

This same description of the temple is also mentioned in 1 Kings 6. In verse 7 there is a mention of "neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool" used in the building. Thus it was built in silence and also without any instruments of war. Verse 38 mentions a seven year process to build the temple. 

To read of this description and the details and the awe. There should be an approach I have towards God of reverence and awe thinking of all he has done in building this sacred place of worship, first in decoration but ultimately in building me - my self and designing me in the way he has. Our bodies are a temple, designed by Him. 

Summary: Solomon builds the temple in 7 years with the site being on the threshing floor marking the separation God makes in us from the secular to the sacred. 

Promise: We should approach God in worship with reverence and awe. 

Prayer: Lord, I have been busy in my life this past week, taking time many days to get through this study and as I did, took intentional days to think about the threshing floor, the place of separation that you have instituted in my life, that you have made happen. It is only by your mercy and love that I am a child of yours and made for your use. You have washed me in your spirit but also I bathe through baptism into the work of what you have done. I make myself clean so I can go into all the world and make your name known. Lord, thank you for the detail of this temple and raising up me as the temple and raising up your son Jesus to make the most ultimate sacrifice. I have described this to people and it seems funny to them or unusual, but a scapegoat is needed to cover sin. Lord, it is sad how in our day only certain sins are valued and yet thankful that there are any at all that are mentioned and yet there is so much in our life that is corrupt. Thank you for making me a new creature and bathing me anew and afresh to walk in life. Lord, there is so much that you have done and completed. And now I walk in newness of life. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

2 Samuel 21 - Blood Atonement

2 Samuel 21

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, "It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites in death." (verse 1)

Message: Blood Atonement

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: In the last lesson, Sheba rebelled and took with him the Northern Tribe where there was already division with them and the Southern Tribe. David takes this serious and originally sends out Amasa and Joab and Joab kills off Amasa as he doesn't want two leaders and Joab is still devoted to Amasa. They approach Abel-beth-maacah, a fortified city and begin to cut off its supply chains and compromise its fortifications when a woman appears to mediate, not wanting violence but wise counsel. She hears what Joab says and the word about Sheba and immediately cuts his head off and provides it to Joab. With that, Joab returns back to Jerusalem and all is resolved.  

Chapter 21 begins with words of a famine in the land for 3 years. David prays to the Lord for his presence and guidance. The Lord responds that this is a consequence of Saul's actions against the Gibeonites violated a covenant made during Joshua's time (Joshua 9). Innocent blood was shed and with that there is a problem that God takes seriously. 

David responds by reaching out to the Gibeonites and seeking restitution with them. David desires to make amends. The Gibeonites recognize this as a serious problem. In Ancient Near Eastern these situations were common and money was often offered, but there is a deeper need here for justice. David agrees he will honor their request. Thus, it is requested to have 7 men of the tribe of Saul be given to them for hanging to satisfy this. 

David spares Mephibosheth because of the oath he made to Jonathan. But David provides to them other children of Saul. And they were given to the Gibeonites, hanged at the beginning of harvest which is often a time of celebration with hopes that this marked a deliverance from the famine. Thus, a blood atonement. In response, one of the mothers of the children, Rizpah mourns the loss and David learns of this he gathers the bones of Saul and Jonathan and well as these children and gathers them so that they receive a proper burial. And thus, God answered their call and the famine was resolved. 

In verse 15, war with the Philistines is mentioned again. David fights with his men but becomes exhausted. Ishbi-benob, one of the giants of the Philistines, sought to kill David. Abishai interceded and struck Ishbi-benob and killed him. And David's men stated that David should never go to war again with them, but stay back as the strategic leader. Another battle occurs and there Sibbecai another one of David's warriors kills another of the Philistine giants Saph. And then another battle with Elhanan (from the same town as David) kills the brother of Goliath. Then another battle and a man with 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot and he was killed by Shimei. Thus, these 4 descendants of Rapha fell at the hands of brave men. 

The Lord was faithful to Israel and continue to provides victory for them against their adversaries. 

Summary: A famine has been in the land for 3 years because Saul's attacking Gibeonites who had a previous covenant with Joshua. In return, 7 men are hanging providing a blood atonement and the famine ends and then wars with the Philistines occur but David's men conquer them. 

Promise: Sin is serious, and the only way for it to be covered is through a blood atonement. 

Prayer: Lord, sin is serious. Let us know this. You have taken care of sin in our lives through a radical blood atonement in Jesus Christ. Let me recognize the seriousness of sin. That it must be dealt with. And it will be dealt with in one way or another and sometimes what occurs in our life points back to that sin and even may impact people that are were not involved originally. Lord, let us realize the significance of that sin even when life seems unfair. You will guard and have guarded your people and will continue to protect them. Be glorified. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 20 - Designating Cities of Refuge

Joshua 20

1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Message: Designating Cities of Refuge

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: Well, this is a short chapter of 9 verses. So far in the previous chapters, cities of Canaan have been divided up according to the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi did not get land because of their status as priests. Now here is a city of refuge. 

The Lord speaks to designate these cities, according to what was spoken through Moses. Number 35 verse 9 states, "Then the Lord spoke to Moses." About? Verses 11 and 12, "you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial." And specific instructions are given. For those who strike others with iron, stone, wood, with hatred, this person will be put to death, but for those that threw something without enmity, he shall go to the city of refuge. And "he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil." As such, the Law, God's law, protects those that kill others unintentionally. 

This happened here Saturday night. I heard out about it through my work. A bus driver was entering the west on-ramp of the interstate and a bicyclist was heading south and the bus struck the cyclist at around 5:30pm. And the man died as a result of his injuries at the hospital. My friend Bobby called me yesterday to say that the principal at their school gave them an announcement that a father of children at the school had died from a cycling accident the night before. He was a missionary to Africa, here in the states temporarily because his son had been sick and was back here getting the son treatment. He had 6 school aged children, the youngest being twin 4 year old girls. His name was Craig.

Joshua 20:2-3 follows through on this designation of cities. It is interesting as it reads in verse 6, "He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled." The death of the High priest (and the covenant recommences with the inauguration of a new High Priest) served as a sort of atonement to the manslayer, restored to the inheritance which had been forfeited by sin. Thus the high priests death took on a meaning like that of Christ, affording restitution of the offender. 

Interesting. I guess I never thought of it like this. Atonement is like a man dying for murdering someone. And this was laid out in the law of God and is carried out today in our courts. Some believing a man will die for killing another while others think the man is set aside in prison to live the rest of his life. But in each case, a life is atoned for another. In Christ, he has atoned for us, for our sins. We have not murdered, but through our sin before a holy God, our offense results in death. "For the wages of sin is death." We place our faith and hope in the work of Jesus Christ so that we can be restored to fellowship with God in heaven. 

Summary: Cities of refuge are now designated in Canaan as a refuge for those individuals that unintentionally take another person's life. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "When we do not support appropriate penalties for the taking of human life, we show disdain for other people and for the Lord in whose image we are made."

Prayer: O Father, rich in mercy and love. You show me today the seriousness of life and those who take it, even though unintentional in that taking of life, life is still precious. Our law today is kinder to the unintentional crime. Life remains important. There is grace. There is forgiveness, but according to your ways. Thank you for being a God who is over all and specifies truth into our lives. You are holy and sin must be paid for, in all instances. Thank you for the places of refuge you give us - like our church and being with people of God in many different settings. We are sinners in need of grace and in need of restoration. Thank you Jesus for paying for my sin. Let my life be lived to honor you in all things. I also pray for this man, this family that is now victim of this, and their life which has now forever changed - for those children and for the wife - to bring them comfort and hope for the future, for today, for tomorrow. Be their strength when they have no strength to live. Be the God of mercy to this family. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Various Scriptures - The Cross of Christ

I Corinthians 15:17  

And if Christ has not been raised your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 

Message: Atonement: Our Only Hope

What the Lord is Saying: Why is atonement our only hope? Because our sin makes us imperfect. In order for us to be accepted, our sin must be atoned for. For man to be reconciled to God, sin must be dealt with. This is the consistent message of scripture, beginning in the Old Testament when the blood of animals was the means by which sin was atoned for, ultimately looking forward to the blood a perfect lamb found in Jesus. It is the central idea of the Christian faith - that sin separates us from God and the only way to be reconciled is through trusting that Jesus covers that sin. The idea of atonement is not unique. Everywhere in society we see some sort of atonement occurring. When a person is wronged, people seek to make up in some way for a wrong committed. Prison terms are ways a person's life is atoned for an offense. Fines and penalties in our courts for wrongs committed is a form of atonement. Even saying "sorry" is a form of atonement. In the scope of our relationship with God, as this scripture states, without Jesus rising from the dead, faith in Him has no value. 

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Psalm 85:10 

Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 

Message: Sin our Relationship to God

What the Lord is Saying: God is our creator. We live in the Father's World. In the Garden where he originally placed man and woman, there was complete freedom to live and work and play. There was only one sin to avoid - eating from a fruit tree. Through one man, sin came into the world. When Adam sinned, as our federal head or the representative of the human race, his response becomes our response. Through one act of disobedience all our guilty. Due to each person being imperfect and sinning, the debt cannot be paid by any person that has committed sin. Jesus becomes our federal head - through his infinite worth in satisfying the requirements - his sacrifice becomes a substitute for all, But it can only happen if that gift is received. There must be a payment for sin in the same way we see payments in society through saying sorry, levying fines, and prison sentences. We can be made righteous through the cross. Righteousness and love meet at the cross. 

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Matthew 20:28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. 

Message: The Ransom of Christ

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus came to give his life for all? No, for many. He will restore many from their position of being under the Adamic state of condemnation. Verse 16 of Romans 5 brings the same idea: "For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification." A trespass condemned us all. A free gift (Jesus offering his life for mine) brings justification. Jesus comes to earth to bring a gift to man. Ransom is a payment for the release of someone else. What is owed? Death. We earn death from the wage of sin (Romans 6:23). The ransom payment is the life of Jesus, lived and then his death on the cross. Sin had to be covered and covered completely. 

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Matthew 1:18-21

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of 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.” 

Message: The Extent of the Atonement

What the Lord is Saying: Did God intend for Jesus’ death to atone for all people or only for some? If Jesus died only for some, then all of the some experience the outcome of the atonement. Thus, the atonement was perfect in that God designed it and it achieved its outcome, to save those that benefited from its work. If Jesus died for all and yet not all are saved, then his atonement was in way unsuccessful. And instead it only paved the way and man is responsible for claiming the ransom - with some believing and some not believing. So does God limit the extent of the atonement or man? Scripture points more to God than man. Faith is the instrument, but the gift is from God. 

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I Peter 2:21-25 

21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Message: Two Kinds of Obedience

What the Lord is Saying: There is a distinction that can be made of active obedience and passive obedience. Active is Jesus' work on earth - living a perfect life so that he would be a perfect substitute. Passive is him going to the cross, not of his own doing, but arrested by Jewish officials and sentenced later by Pilate; this was not his doing. By trusting in Jesus or having faith in Him for what He has done, his perfect obedience is transferred over to our account. The penalty is due and the penalty is paid by what Jesus did on the cross and how he lived on his path. 

Summary: The Atonement rescues us by Jesus living a perfect life and ransoming His life so that our life of sin can be paid for by Him and through faith in Him; we are restored from the condemnation we received when Adam sinned to being justified and escaping God's wrath. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 2:18-22 - The Temple of Jesus' Body

John 2:18-22

18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

Message: The Temple of Jesus' Body

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I continue to progress through these readings, it is interesting and worth noting the focus John is making on these texts and what He is sharing about Jesus. Again, he begins John 1 with going back and seeing Jesus before He was Jesus on this earth the way we know Him but with God at creation, creating and even testifying Him as God. Also as the Light, One, Son of God, Lamb of God, King of Israel. John was his forerunner, preparing the Way. And as He came disciples began to follow and then He shows people He is Savior and He is different from anything that have seen before. God is with Him but He is distinct. 

And now John explains the response from the Jews at this day who want to see a sign of His authority. I suppose just asking the money changers and people selling in the temple was not enough. He let them know that they were not part of His father's business, so the Jews ask for a sign. Jesus responds instead with his next message about His body and that in 3 days it will be raised. But the Jews misunderstand and hear "temple" and think it is the literal man-made, bricks and mortar temple that took 46 years to build. (In fact, even during Jesus' days the temple was still being built and would not be completed till after his death and resurrection.) 

But Jesus was equating the temple with Him. He is the temple. He is the one to be worshipped. Another remarkable statement as the temple is likened to our body as well. But right now, looking at Jesus as the temple. The temple was the place to meet God, offer sacrifices, do the work of God. The old covenant tabernacle began then King Solomon supervised the building of the temple in Jerusalem with the temple similar to the design of the tabernacle. And so these Jews knew that changing the temple was significant. Jesus had shaken things up by cleansing the temple of those selling goods. And so Jesus as the temple (explained by John; spoken by Jesus, but clarified by John) meant that no more temples were needed. RC Sproul stated, "Christ is the temple, and all men are commanded to come to Him in order to worship and serve the one true God." 

Jesus speaks of 3 days. The number 3 is significant in scripture and as I study these passages I need to remember the significance of the number 3 and look for other examples of it. 

Summary: The final temple is Jesus, His body, that will bear our atonement for sin, once for all and then He will rise in 3 days. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "The only temple we should be looking forward to is the temple that is Christ’s body, which we will see in the new heaven and earth. The temple pointed to Christ and it is fulfilled in Christ and His church, so let us love Christ and His people."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I read your Words I can't help but have this sense of urgency for others to have the understanding of who You are and what you have said about You. Lord, I believe this is true and if it is, it changes lives. So change lives Lord and show me how I need to be involved. Thank you for this passage and for speaking the way You did and giving us clarity and understanding for who You are. Help me to speak these truths to others and show the clarity of Who you are. And will always be and who I am in Christ. 

John 1:35-39 - Becoming Disciples of Jesus

John 1:35-39

35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

Message: Becoming Disciples of Jesus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: John repeats the words he spoke in verse 29 when "he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" This time in front of two of his disciples -- "Behold, the Lamb of God!". His eyes focused on Jesus. The disciples heard and followed Jesus as well, wondering where He was staying. 

John clearly is communicating here that the chief reason for Jesus coming is to take away sin. His first mention of Jesus is him being the Lamb of God. This seems to be the central idea about Jesus that we need to remember. 

The previous process for the removal of sin was cumbersome. The temple or tabernacle was built for this purpose. There were 3 parts to the tabernacle - Most Holy Place (the top of the mountain), Holy Place (side of the mountain), and Courtyard (foot of the mountain). The Priests were made holy before entering the Holy Place past a curtain or veil. The sacrifice was made and then the priests were daubed with blood from sacrifices to be cleansed from defilement of sin. Every day, twice a day, they had to be re-consecrated to be in the temple. Annually, on the Day of Atonement, the priest would take blood to apply to mercy seat on top of the ark. And this was the process to remove sin. It had to be repeated annually. Hebrews 10:19 reminds us that because of Jesus and because of His blood shed on the cross, "we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus."

And so this is the proclamation of Jesus as the Lamb of God. He is not yet gone to the cross, but John mentions that He will and based upon that promise he can baptize people prior and they experience a changed life, just as we are baptized and receive Christ now for a changed life. 

The simple aspect of this passage is the disciples followed Jesus. What occurred here is John directed people to Jesus and those followed. Here it is 2 unnamed disciples. There is conjecture that one is Andrew, Simon Peter's brother identified in verse 40 - "One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother." The other is unnamed and some have thought this was John, the author, the son of Zebedee as he never identifies himself by name in this gospel.  

Summary: John showed two disciples Jesus, proclaiming Him as the Lamb of God, and they followed Jesus. 

Promise: If we are to be true disciples of God’s Word, then we must likewise follow Christ. 

Prayer: O Father, I thank you for the testimony of John that speaks to me of Jesus being the Lamb of God, our Savior and Lord. He took the sacrifice on the cross for me, and provided the way for me to be accepted by You God. Never let me lose the significance of this. And help me to always think of sin as something serious that I am to avoid in my life. You Jesus are my substitute and have provided the way for me to have eternal life. So I follow You. In response to this, I follow You. All my days I am to be focused on this. Thank you for time in Your word, for training me. 

John 1:16-18 - The Full and Final Revelation of God

John 1:16-18

16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Message: The Full and Final Revelation of God

Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I have been studying, John bore witness of Jesus and was His forerunner, preparing the way. We are all to be like John the Baptist and bear testimony of Him. In building off of the previous lesson, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory." Through Jesus or by way of Jesus we see the glory of God. 

In verse 16, "For of His fullness we have all received." It parallels Paul's words in Colossians 2:9, "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and ye are complete in Him (NKJV)." This is a remarkable statement that Jesus dwells all the fulness of the Godhead. Again, this is a clear declaration that Jesus possesses all that God possesses. And so in receiving Jesus (v. 12) we all receive God. What amazing words these are and what a clear connection there is here of God and Jesus. 

I love reading from Alexander Maclaren's and his words on this passage are great:

• for this is the very centre and heart of Christianity, that in Him who is Christianity God is not merely made known, but given; not merely beheld, but possessed.
• Christ is more than all His gifts. All His gifts are treasured up in Him and inseparable from Him. We get Jesus Christ Himself.

John says that we all receive "grace upon grace." From Tabletalk, "Interestingly, this phrase may be better translated “grace instead of grace,” suggesting the exchange of one kind of “lesser” grace, for “greater” grace." The greater grace is the grace of the New Covenant. Grace was present in the old Covenant. In the sacrificial system of the altar of the burnt offerings there were repeated sacrifices and then annually through the atonement; thus, we received a substitute for our sins. This was a form of grace for even in the sacrifice grace was imparted to people through the suffering of another: an animal. Man even in that situation was made right with God through no part of his own. But now in Jesus the grace is greater because it is once and for all. It is complete and never has to be repeated. Thus, John is mentioning the promise and the sacrifice of Jesus which to this point has not occurred but had occurred at the time of John's writing. 

What a wonderful statement and idea this is that I had not put together previously. Even the Mosaic Law had grace. It speaks to the consistency of scripture. The message of the Bible is the same from Old to New Covenant, Old to New Testament. Grace went form annual to everlasting. As stated in verse 17, "grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." What a powerful statement. 

And even more clearly - "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained." In Jesus we know God. Only Jesus. Exodus 33:20, "But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” No one can see God and live and so with Jesus, in Jesus we see the fullness, the glory, all that God is. 

Summary: All that we know of God we have in Christ. His grace is everlasting and greater than repeated annually. 

Promise: Let us rejoice to be partakers of the new covenant and look to Christ for the fullest revelation of God.

Prayer: O Father God, you are glorious and your message is complete and penetrates my entire being. I have such reverence and fear of God and yet Jesus it clearly states in Your word that the fullness of God is found in You. Thank you for the consistency of your scripture and how grace is interwoven throughout the Bible. Lord, may the clarity of Your Word shine forth into people's lives. May you pull the blinders off of people and remove any obstacles. We want to behold You and You alone. All truth is complete in You. 

My Utmost for His Highest - June 22nd - The Undeviating Test

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. - Matthew 7:2

    This statement is not a haphazard guess, it is an eternal law of God. Whatever judgment you give, it is measured to you again. There is a difference between retaliation and retribution. Jesus says that the basis of life is retribution — “with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” If you have been shrewd in finding out the defects in others, remember that will be exactly the measure given to you. Life serves back in the coin you pay. This law works from God’s throne downwards (cf. Psalm 18:25-26).

    Romans 2:1 applies it in a still more definite way, and says that the one who criticises another is guilty of the very same thing. God looks not only at the act, He looks at the possibility. We do not believe the statements of the Bible to begin with. For instance, do we believe this statement, that the things we criticise in others we are guilty of ourselves? The reason we see hypocrisy and fraud and unreality in others is because they are all in our own hearts. The great characteristic of a saint is humility — “Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God, therefore I have no right to judge.”

    Jesus says — “Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matthew 7:1)”; if you do judge, it will be measured to you exactly as you have judged. Who of us would dare to stand before God and say — “My God, judge me as I have judged my fellow men?” We have judged our fellow men as sinners; if God should judge us like that we would be in hell. God judges us through the marvellous Atonement of Jesus Christ.

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My Utmost for His Highest - June 21 - The Ministry of the Interior

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; - I Peter 2:9

    By what right do we become “a royal priesthood”? By the right of the Atonement. Are we prepared to leave ourselves resolutely alone and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centred, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God. Until we get into a right relationship to God, it is a case of hanging on by the skin of our teeth, and we say — “What a wonderful victory I have got!” There is nothing indicative of the miracle of Redemption in that. Launch out in reckless belief that the Redemption is complete, and then bother no more about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ said — pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints, pray for all men. Pray on the realisation that you are only perfect in Christ Jesus, not on this plea — “O Lord, I have done my best, please hear me.”

    How long is it going to take God to free us from the morbid habit of thinking about ourselves? We must get sick unto death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God can tell us about ourselves. We cannot touch the depths of meanness in ourselves. There is only one place where we are right, and that is in Christ Jesus. When we are there, then we have to pour out for all we are worth in this ministry of the interior.

My Notes

Multiple thoughts here. How is it that I am chosen and a royal priesthood? Definitely because of anything in me so never think about myself as doing that work. I am only right in Christ Jesus. Ministry starts from the interior. This is where prayer starts. And this is what our lives are to be about - listening to the Holy Spirit speak to us and tell us who we are to be praying for. 

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My Utmost for His Highest - June 20th - Have You Come to "When" Yet?

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. - Job 42:10

    The plaintive, self-centred, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. “Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.” I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession. There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it.

    If you are not getting the hundredfold more (Matthew 19:29), not getting insight into God’s word, then start praying for your friends, enter into the ministry of the interior. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realised in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now.

Mom's Notes

Job 42:10 - the word "turned" is 'made him prosperous again.' 

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My Utmost for His Highest - May 4th - Vicarious Intercession

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. - Hebrews 10:19

    Beware of imagining that intercession means bringing our personal sympathies into the presence of God and demanding that He does what we ask. Our approach to God is due entirely to the vicarious identification of our Lord with sin. We have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."

    Spiritual stubbornness is the most effectual hindrance to intercession, because it is based on sympathy with that in ourselves and in others that we do not think needs atoning for. We have the notion that there are certain right and virtuous things in us which do not need to be based on the Atonement, and just in the domain of "stodge" that is produced by this idea we cannot intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God's interests in others, we get petulant with God; we are always ready with our own ideas, and intercession becomes the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means the radical alteration of all our sympathies. Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God's interests in others for our natural sympathy with them.

    Am I stubborn or substituted? Petted or perfect in my relationship to God? Sulky or spiritual? Determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

Mom's thoughts

Brooke's birthday

My thoughts

He continues to speak of prayer and the way we approach God. Sympathy (5) is spoken of again. And identifying ourselves with Him (Jesus our Lord).  Jesus and His atonement or sacrifice is also mentioned. By identifying with Jesus and with sin, we are radically altered of all our sympathies. What is God's interest in others? 

Hebrews 2:17 - Christ Our Priest

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 

Message: Christ Our Priest

Time: The authorship of this book is shrouded in mystery, though its Jewish composition can still nail down its authorship to AD 64-69, as the book does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. It has references to Jewish customs and the Old Testament, so most likely was sent to a Jewish community.  

What the Lord is Saying: 

Charles Swindoll states that "Hebrews clearly lays out the present priestly ministry of Christ in the life of the believer. Jesus is both the divine Son of God and completely human, and in His priestly role He clears the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer."

Only chapter 1, 10, 11, and 13 do not mention this role of priest of Jesus in Hebrews. 

My study so far has been of Christ Alone as the one who saves us. I've looked at His attributes, His work or obedience, and now have shifted to His titles - as our Prophet and now our Priest. The priest is a title that meant a great deal to the Jewish community for a high priest acted as a representative on earth of God. They brought sacrifices to cover sin and it is interesting the Catholic Church carried on this role in similar ways. The Day of Atonement was one of the most significant days as annually it represented the cleansing of people - to maintain the covenant relationship between the Israelites and the Lord. 

Even up to the time of the Reformation this office of Priest was one of the stark identifiers in what Martin Luther saw as a problem with the Roman Catholic church - that man needed a go-between to get to God or be absolved of sin. What is a mystery is how the priests role continues to institute or give the idea that the priest must receive penance and be the intercessor between God and Man. For me, God remains a mystery in many people's lives so they are looking for any type of authority to help them understand God and so the Priest becomes that authority and what we do then is listen to whatever the person has to say. 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism written in 1646 and 1647 states, "Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us (WSC 25)." In today's text, Jesus is made like his brothers in all things, so God becomes a man and lives as a man. So that he might become a merciful and high priest - the problem with the continuous role of priest is the priest offers something temporary. Old covenant priests repeated their sacrifices annually, by replacing the penalty of sin with the blood of an animal. The practice was to retrieve an unblemished animal, so to find an animal that is as perfect as possible and this blood atoned for sin. The Messiah is one that releases people from captivity. Man is captive to his flesh and because of this will always be imperfect. Jesus as Messiah releases man by offering Himself and offers a perfect version of man - one without sin. Thus, Jesus is our High Priest. I'm not sure people think that the priest today is meant to replace Jesus, but it gives that impression. Why would we continue to use someone like a priest that is not all sufficient?  

Promise: Jesus cannot fail to save the elect. He offers true atonement for sin. Jesus through His sacrifice regained for men and women a relationship with God. 

Prayer: Lord, it saddens me to see how you are misunderstood in our world, but I suppose this is what happens when eyes are blinded to the truth and it is apparent. It is hard to be part of a remnant at times for the majority is what we often want to be about. But the reality is, as we work and live in our world, we as Christians are a minority and what we think and believe about life and living and salvation is somewhat unique. I pray that the message of the Gospel would penetrate people's lives and for those you place in my place, you would help me be a conduit of information for the truth of who You are. Thank you for using me in the way you have, for even using this blog to help communicate to others. Help me to continue to be a light to those in need. Be glorified always. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation, Obedience under the Law, Obedience in Suffering, Christ Our Prophet, Christ the Priest

My Utmost for His Highest - October 20 - Is God's Will My Will?

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. - I Thessalonians 4:3

It is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me; is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me all that has been made possible by the Atonement? Am I willing to let Jesus be made sanctification to me, and to let the life of Jesus be manifested in my mortal flesh? Beware of saying--Oh, I am longing to be sanctified. You are not, stop longing and make it a matter of transaction,--"Nothing in my hands I bring." Receive Jesus Christ to be made sanctification to you in implicit faith, and the great marvel of the Atonement of Jesus will be made real in you. All that Jesus made possible is made mine by the free loving gift of God on the ground of what He performed, my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification (Romans 5:8 - But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us). No wonder Paul says nothing is "able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39)." 

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is done only through the superb Atonement of Christ. Never put the effect as the cause. The effect in me is obedience and service and prayer, and is the outcome of speechless thanks and adoration for the marvelous sanctification wrought out in me because of the Atonement. 

My Utmost for His Highest - October 15 - The Key to the Missionary Message

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:2

The key to the missionary message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus. Take any phase of Christ’s work--the healing phase, the saving and sanctifying phase; there is nothing limitless about those. "The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!”— that is limitless (John 1:29). The missionary message is the limitless significance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is one who is soaked in that revelation.

The real key to the missionary’s message is the “remissionary” aspect of Christ’s life, not His kindness, His goodness, or even His revealing of the fatherhood of God to us. “…repentance and remission of sins should be preached…to all nations…” (Luke 24:47). The greatest message of limitless importance is that “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins….” The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.” When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.

A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master. He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim “the Lamb of God.” It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, “Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,” but, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). And this is the gospel— “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

-- Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

My Thoughts

Propitiation means that Jesus Christ atones or returned man to a right standing with God. By man sinning, he was sent out from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23). Jesus brought us back. He averted God's wrath from man by God Himself presenting Himself (in Jesus Christ) as that which will turn away His righteous wrath against our sin. In Greek mythology, propitiation has the idea of present a gift to the gods, so as to turn away the displeasure of the gods. 

I Corinthians 15:22 - Are We Born Free?

I Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Message: Are We Born Free?

Time: Four years prior to writing the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, the apostle had spent eighteen months in Corinth, so he was intimately familiar with the church and many of its congregants. Paul penned his letter in AD 55, just as he was planning to leave Ephesus for Macedonia. Paul made it clear that he was willing to risk the good opinion of some in order to help cleanse the sin that tainted the church.

What the Lord is Saying:

This lesson raises an interesting question that has been debated over the years, namely whether man is born a sinner or born free. In this lesson, I will follow the lesson given by RC Sproul and his series Willing to Believe and the 3rd lesson Are We Born Free?.

Man is born a sinner
In I Corinthians 15:22, it states very simply that in Adam (due to his sin) all die, and coversely in Christ all will be made alive. On both fronts mankind is not the beginning of sin nor the end of sin - meaning it is through two men. We become part of sin by Adam sinning and we can be clear of sin through Jesus. Thus, after Adam sins, mankind is now a sinner. The secret to me was being in the garden. Once he is thrown out of the garden, he loses his goodness. And then only in Christ can we be made alive again.

Man is born with a good nature
Rather, mankind believes man's nature is fine or good. Therefore, life is about improvement and attainment and making our lives more comfortable, more safe, more contented, and eventually more entertained and pleasurable. And we think we are the one's that make this happen.

Pelagius
There was a British monk names Pelagius who lived 354-420. He was very concerned about moral laxity in the church. Pelagius was from the British Isles and he traveled and lived in Rome (Italy). He was concerned about the cavalier attitude among the Christians and the Clergy in the City. He was zealous for the achievement of righteousness. Thus, he was similar in a way to Pharisees and like the Puritans of today. Their motives were to restore the covenant of truth. Eventually the Pharisees became self-righteous and this is similar to the thinking of Pelagius.

What provoked Pelagius was a response to Saint Augustine's prayer - "O God, grant what thou commandest and command what thou thus desires." Pelagius was fine with the last part of this prayer, but not the first. The problem he had was Augustine saying 'grant' or give me the gift or help me or provide me the grace to be able to do what you command. Augustine believed man is unable to obey the commands of God unless God grants him grace. But Pelagius thought that whatever God commands is an obligation for man to obey.

He thought that man is just and God only commands us to do something we are able to do. But Augustine thought that the effects of the fall meant we lost our power to complete obedience. Adam had it in creation, but Adam fell and with his fall the entire race fell and so now we are born with a sin nature and we are no longer morally able to obey the law of God perfectly. Thus, in light of the fall we need grace whereby God forgives us. Pelagius thought that Adam was created good. He had the freedom or power to obey or disobey - to do good or evil. When he chose to do evil, that choice did not change his nature. Thus, every person is born in the same condition that Adam was born into. Thus, sinning changed our nature. Rather than Augustine saying that we are born sinners. Thus, according to Pelagius man can do good or evil. Sin affects man, but not at the core. A Gallup Poll among evangelicals responded that 2/3rds believe they are basically good.

Thus, when Adam sinned, Pelagius thought nothing was transferred onto the human race.

Pelagius was not opposed to grace and there is nothing wrong with praying for grace, but grace facilitates obedience or righteousness. Thus, with the help of grace it is easier to live a live of moral perfection. It helps, but it is not required.

He went on to argue that some people can live perfect lives and many have lived this way without the benefit of grace. Paul says, "There is none righteous, no not one." Instead many are righteous is what Pelagius thought.

What is at stake here is the entire concept of our salvation. With Pelagius grace is not completely essential. It paves the way to legalism in which man can be righteous in and of themselves. Thus, self-righteousness. Thus, it makes us wonder the need even of Jesus and being declared just by Him. Thus, we are justified by our own righteousness and our own free will. Thus, the chief way that Christ works is providing us an example of how to live. Jesus shows us the right way to achieve righteousness.

But before we can be saved, we first must understand our need for salvation and we must understand we are debtors that cannot pay the debt. But, Pelagius says we can pay the debt. Augustine saw this as a heresy. Thus, is grace a prerequisite for salvation or an aid?

Promise: We must have a strong, biblical doctrine of sin otherwise our view of ourselves will be stronger than it should be. Only in Christ can we obey, but many think like Pelagius that God only puts forth a command if he thinks his people can do it. But as sinners we cannot do obedience apart from Him and therefore he is just to condemn us.

Prayer: Lord, there is a fine line in this discussion between truth and lie. There remains a tendency in people to believe they are good and that You are simply the conductor telling them what to do and then sitting back to see what will happen. God you are holy and I am not. I can only be holy with your aid and you working through me. Help me to champion this message. Help me to focus n this truth in my life.

Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Trinity and Atonement

Hebrews 9:13-14
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Message: The Trinity and Atonement

Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution.The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I have been learning, the co-working of the three persons of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit) is known as the doctrine of inseparable operations. All are identical in their attributes, yet each has distinguishable manifestations. As we study scripture, we must agree it is all God-breathed so it reveals to us things of God.

Romans 8:32 - He (God) who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Hebrews 9:14 - the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God

Both of these texts share parallel ideas. God and God the Son offer up the Son for redemption and they do so in the Spirit (Acts 10:38 - Jesus of Nazareth, God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit). Atonement is from the Father through the Son offering in the Spirit for our salvation. But, only the Son suffered. The Father and the Spirit did not suffer on the cross. Christ suffered as a man but not according to His deity. Christ was able to offer himself because of the spirit in Him while the animals did it according to flesh. The Spirit here is not conclusively the Holy Spirit but could also mention a divine presence as some manuscripts translate this as eternal spirit.

Hebrews 9 is about the regulations imposed by the tabernacle. 9:7 says - the high priest once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The writer talks about this practice but then offers that Christ appeared as a high priest...through the greater and more perfect tabernacle... through His own blood...once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. If the act of the animals was great, how much greater is this act of Jesus (v. 13-14). Jesus obtained for us eternal redemption.

It is not simply that this act by Jesus has a longer reaching permanency, but the sins offered include the conscience as verse 14 says - you conscience cleansed from dead works. The blood of Christ purifies not only outwardly, but inwardly. His sacrifice was without blemish to God. There was no spot or blemish, but it was a perfect offering.

We can only truly serve the Lord if all of our dead works have been paid for by the blood of Christ. Under the law there was no service possible until cleansing was performed, but in Christ the cleansing is eternal and complete.

Promise: Christ suffered as man, but because of the work of the Spirit, cleansed us perfectly and completely from all of our past, present, and future sins. He completely satisfied the wrath of God.

Prayer: Thank you for dying for me Jesus and providing the way for me to have eternal union with God. My eternal home is now secure for all time. I thank you God for your great love for me in delivering Jesus up for me. Thank  you for the work of your spirit in raising Jesus from the dead. Help me to pass this onto others in my life and not be silent.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - The Vain Search for a Righteous Man

Ecclesiastes 7:20
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

Message: The vain search for a righteous man

Time: Ecclesiastes: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

From Tabletalk lesson of the same title:

The doctrine of total depravity emphasizes that sin corrupts everything about us, including our hearts, minds, and wills. Consequently, since wickedness has perverted us so thoroughly, not one of us will make it through life without having sinned. We will commit sins of omission (failing to do good) and sins of commission (transgressing what is good), for no one “does good” (omission) and “never sins” (commission).

I notice this at my job, at work, especially in the discipline that I find myself to be in, accounting, and government accounting at that, which is generally under the rule of auditors and reviewers. These individuals of oversight are constantly reviewing work to determine what you are not doing right, what rules you have failed to follow in carrying out your duties. It's interesting because it doesn't matter how well we might be doing something, if we goof up one time, and they happen to check on it, then it is assumed we have not done anything right.

This can be difficult because we want to be viewed as above reproach. We measure ourselves often by having adhered to all the rules. It's hard at times as it knocks at our pride, at our since of hard work, and the reality that our best is not ever viewed as enough.

Scripture is clear that mistakes will happen. We will live in a way that is not right. As hard as we try, we are not perfect. Yet, people view themselves often by noting they are good enough or have done more wrong than right -- and so they get a good grade. They view their spiritual condition like sitting in a school classroom, with the teacher passing out the grades from the recent test. Everyone in the class, except maybe one is hoping that they at least didn't fail, but others have higher standards. In the end, the performance expectation is not perfection, but generally passing with a high grade. This is somewhat hard to digest because we as people tend to view ourselves similar to the way the world defines it, arriving at the pearly gates with a perspective of being more right than wrong, in how our life has been lived.

Yet, it really looks more like the accountant and the auditor and finding one error. The intent of salvation and being accepted by God is not on the basis of how good we are. But, rather, whether there is any sin in us. One imperfection makes us unacceptable, even though the reality is we have many more than one imperfections. Solomon here, the Preacher. simply notices something that he has noticed throughout this 7th chapter, that what we see or know is not always the truth, and no one never sins. Yet God is holy and so everyone needs a substitute or a way to be redeemed. That is the simple truth of the Gospel: I have sinned. I am not perfect. I need a Savior. God has provided the means for me to be accepted by Him. I have a decision to trust and obey. There is no other way.

Promise: We can find no person that has never sinned.

Ezekiel 45

Message: (A continuation from Ezekiel 44) Division of the Land, Rules for the Princes, Special Offerings and Celebrations

Time: This continues the Lord's message to Ezekiel through a vision.

What the Lord is Saying:

What the Lord gives us as a gift, his provision, also includes a portion or section which is to be set aside for His purpose. Here that purpose is a temple. And within that temple is a place that is Most Holy. All the parts of the temple have specific purposes. And each member of the tribe of Israel will be allotted a portion.

To the princes of Israel: Do what is just and right. Stop acting with violence and oppression. Be honest in your dealing with them and give them what they each are due.

And the prince will receive from you an offering or tax from what you have. And other offerings given for atonement. All people must bring these offerings. There is atonement for sins of error and ignorance. And then there are other periods where a celebration (Passover) must be held for 7 days. And for these seven days there are rules of offerings.

Promise: God is our provider, but also in His provision are rules as to how we are to give back to Him and provide atonement for our errors. He provides it all.