John 19:28-30 - Redemption Accomplished

John 19:28-30

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Message: Redemption Accomplished

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: Being crucified was extremely painful. Adding to this was the problem of hanging on the cross in the Palestinian sun which exposed Jesus also to dehydration. 

Jesus has shown us that this entire process has been a fulfillment of scripture and him asking for something drink also seems to point to an application, but it is not clear. As I read the text in verse 28, it seems to say that now everything had been accomplished according to the scripture and my first reading was that the words of requesting something to drink was something extra. Tabletalk proceeds to find verses in Psalms, and most notably Psalm 69:21. But, the actual meaning of “knowing that all things had already been accomplished” seems to exclude the idea of a further accomplishment. It is as if everything has been accomplished and now he seeks some sort of relief for his physical suffering. 

After receiving the sour wine to quench his thirst, he announced "It is finished" and passed away or died. I feel like I need to be saying more about this other worldly and momentous moment. I love the song by Petra titled It is Finished. The idea that Jesus made this statement is the culmination of all that he came to this earth to do - to be God's authority on earth and to also live as man, in a perfect way, staying free from sin - going to the cross to be the perfect lamb. This is what we know now, but as I have read John, has this been the outcome that Jesus has mentioned or is has it been inferred by what He has said. Meaning, the idea that He would be the payment for sin, is that a message that is apparent? I mean, "it is finished" seems to embody that statement. Otherwise, what else is finished? His time on earth? 

But John did specify this as this book began in John 1:29 as he saw the approaching Jesus  “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus is clearly shown as the entry point for people to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5); believing in Him merits eternal life (John 3:15; 6:40, 47; 10:10; 11:25-26; 17:3; 20:31). Believing Jesus also changes the person's ways and actions (John 7:38; 8:12; 14:11). Believe or you will die in your sins (John 8:24). Keep His word and never see death (8:52; 14:21). Jesus will also lay down His life (John 10:15, 17). His time on earth is temporary (John 12:8; 13:33; 16:17; 20:17). The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin (John 16:8). 

"It is finished." It is like Jesus is saying, I have come and done all that you commanded me to do. And now He will return to the Father. I guess it is interesting that it appears the idea that Jesus died for sins is only a reference by John at the beginning of this gospel with Jesus being the lamb of God. 

Summary: Prophetic scripture has been accomplished and Jesus speaks of his thirst and is quenched of that thirst, gives up His Spirit and proclaims, "It is finished." 

Promise: Dr. R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary John: “When [Jesus] said, ‘It is finished,’ He was saying not just that His life was over but that His mission had been fulfilled. His purpose in coming to earth and going to the cross was accomplished.

Prayer: Lord, I am always trying to understand your truth. As I have studied this gospel I am moved by the words that John has put forth to me - the focus being on Jesus and believing in Him and then great things happening - a full life, a life of great action, and an eternal life ultimately. I know for sure I need to believe in You God and it is through Your Son Jesus that You are made known and I do believe in You. Help me to continue to understand the truth of Your word, the truth of who You are and who I can be in You. Thank you Jesus for living a great life. Keep defining truth in my life. 

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

John 6:66-71 - Persevering Disciples

John 6:66-71

66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" 68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. 

Message: Persevering Disciples

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: I still am amazed by the last lesson and the acknowledgement that the Spirit gives life and opens people's minds and many do not respond in faith and people may profess a faith in God but there life needs to have works in it and when it doesn't people will leave eventually as it now says they have done in verse 66. 

And then Jesus turns to the 12 making sure through a question that they do not want to also go away. This reminds me that the people that were following Jesus was many more than 12 as "disciples" are mentioned and then also "multitudes." Within these groups, these followers, there were some that Jesus acknowledged were not part of His kingdom. So following Him did not guarantee that they would be part of His kingdom. This is important and yet also sobering even today to realize that simply going to church or attending regularly and having the appearance of being a follower of Jesus does not guarantee that someone is indeed a follower. 

For example, yesterday, I was remembering a study from Mark in which Jesus speaks about people who follow Jesus with wrong motives. Some people come to Jesus for motives of their own, to be seen by other people or for selfish reasons. 

And yet, here, it seems odd that Jesus would ask the question to the 12 - "You do not want to go away also, do you?" And yet perhaps God is also asking me, "Will you go away?" When the going gets tough and when the questions come up that you don't like the answer, will I go away? Jesus does not answer every one of my prayer requests for His sovereign reasons and so when this happens, what is my response, to turn away or will I continue to follow. Peter responds, "Where else shall we go?" Jesus is the only to offer eternal life. And He is the Holy One of God. 

Gill's Exposition states here: 

He was promised by God of old, spoken of by the prophets, and expected by the Jews; that anointed prophet Moses had spoken of, that should arise out of Israel, like unto him that anointed priest, who, according to the oath of God, was to be priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek; and that anointed King, whom God has set over his holy hill of Zion.

He is the Holy One. He is the Messiah, the Christ. And yes, Jesus confirms as well, just as He is the Chosen One from God, the disciples are also chosen and yet among these chosen one will not respond in faith. There will be one that will turn away. God chooses but some do not respond. One will betray him. One is of the devil, the accuser, is actually against Me. One who is following Me will at some point not follow Me. 

Jesus is intending for all to check themselves, to examine themselves. We need to do this often and regularly always and not ever assume we have made it. And yet I have questions about this one betrayed: Does Jesus choose some that don't respond in faith and believe Him all of their days? It makes me wonder again the process of salvation among these disciples as there is a calling but at what point did they become part of His kingdom? Can one be saved and then turn away later? 

Summary: After some have left following Jesus, Jesus turns to the 12 for them to examine themselves as he knows one will betray Him at some point and will they all continue to follow Him. 

Promise: Daily, I need to commit myself to Christ and His teaching, to persevere in faith and show that He has chosen me. 

Prayer: Father God, your ways are right and true. You choose people to be Your vessels, to be Your people. You ask Me to follow You but I also need to respond in faith to You and follow You all of my days. You show yourself as the One, the One who gives eternal life and the Holy one of God. I am thankful for those that surround me that remain faithful and I pray Lord that You will continue to bring back many to that saving faith. I think of friends who start out in this way of following You but have not always continued for various selfish reasons. Bring them back to the joy of their salvation. And Lord guide me to never give up and to continue to follow You all of My days. 

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

Philippians 1:6 - The Grace of Perseverance and Glorification

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Message: The Grace of Perseverance and Glorification

Time: Paul likely wrote this epistle at the end of his Roman imprisonment, around 61 or 62 AD. Paul wrote to express his appreciation and affection for the Philippian believers. Paul ministered at Philipi during his second missionary journey, spending about three months in the city and, later visited Philippi briefly on his third missionary journey.

What the Lord is Saying:

The question sometimes arises - "Can I lose my salvation?" This can be asked while still believing in the necessity of salvation by grace. But for someone to ask it, it assumes that the one asking believes that man has the position of being able to distance himself from God, to the point of rejection, after God has saved him.

The issue here then tends to be what precipitates salvation and so far I have studied that man is incapable of becoming righteous on his own. Sin darkens our lives and we are all on the same course of live - sinful living, distance from God. Now one may think that persons are different, some closer to Mother Theresa and others nearer Stalin or Hitler; but the issue is not where one resides on the person righteousness line, but rather the issue is can a person ever on his own make himself righteous before God.

But, we've studied these compelling verses:

• Justification - Titus 3:7 - He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy. We are heirs to salvation; we have received not from what we have done, but from what He has done. 
• Regeneration - Ephesians 2:1-9 - In this passage Paul describes the condition of man in multiple ways as being dead in our sins and that we are made alive in Christ. The shift from man's condition to seated in the heavenly places is entirely God. Our good deeds will never make us worthy of salvation. It is completely a God thing. 
• Reprobation - Romans 9:16 - So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. As the Lord speaks in Exodus 33:19 - I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. If it depended on man, then man would get the glory. It is one or the other. It cannot be a two-way thing where man does a little, God does the rest.
• Predestination - 1 Corinthians 15:22 - In Christ all shall me made alive. This is the pinnacle statement, I believe, of the identification of eternal life for all who are in Christ. In Christ all... In Jesus man now has complete fellowship with God.

Over and over, the message is the same, we are saved by grace.

Thus, today in answering the question of being able to lose salvation would mean that all of the preceding verses which speak of God saving us was a mistake or could be a mistake. The Roman Catholics believe in grace, but they also believe in a cooperation between God and man in salvation. Thus, the final decision of salvation is upon a person. But, I believe the scripture is clear that man is incapable of choosing and all the work of being made free rests on God.

Yet, we are still called to preach the gospel. We are called to share faith. We are called to make disciples. We are called to not listen to the god of this world - Satan and to receive the message of Jesus. And like I looked at yesterday, we are very strongly compelled to work out our salvation even though it is God doing the work.

Promise: God keeps in salvation all those who He saves. He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. He will finish what He started no matter how it may look on that journey.

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for saving me. I will never understand and help me to not try. But instead I give you praise and glory and honor. Keep me active in preaching because you have called me to preach. Thank you for the truth of Your Word and its compelling words. I praise You. I give you Glory.


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 April is about salvation by grace alone. March was 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 is about the doctrine of God.

James 5:13-18 - Persevere through Prayer

James 5:13-18
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Message: Persevere through Prayer

Time: James is thought to be the brother of Jesus. It is written about AD 45.

What the Lord is Saying: 

1. The Call to Prayer

There are 3 anyone statements: Is anyone suffering? Is anyone cheerful? Is anyone sick? I recalled that James 1 started with the idea that we have trials and the first action to the trial is asking God for wisdom. When we are going through a difficulty, the first response is to talk to God and ask him for help. In this scenario the response to each statement is prayer. Our focus remains on the Lord and looking to Him for help. This idea is central to our faith - we depend on God. We trust in Him. We rely on Him. 

2. The Character of Prayer

The final statement is in response to sickness and calling on the elders of the church to come and pray over the person. He calls on leaders of the church and they anoint him with oil. Oil in Bible times was medicinal and was used to treat lacerations, like the parable of the Samaritan in Luke 10:34. It is used to express concern and it strengthens. Symbolically it is the filling of the Holy Spirit. Is this a practice still today, that is, to anoint people with oil? According to our church, it is still a practice. James is encouraging us in the practie of church leaders interceding for one another. 

We are to have faith, a fervent energetic spirit, and righteousness.

a. Faith is the means of the power of prayer (v. 15 - prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick). Faith is conviction, it is trust, full confidence, and no doubting. Personally, I think it is very hard to pray without any doubt. 

b. Fervent energetic spirit (vs. pray for one another as effective prayer (v. 15-16) we are passionate about what God wants. 

c. A righteous individual (vs. the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much v. 16)

3. The Consequence of Prayer

v. 15 - faith will restore the one who is sick
v. 15 - they will be forgiven him if he committed sins
v. 16 - mutual confession provides healing - confess to one another
v. 16 - prayer can accomplish much 

example is Joni and we are not to put faith in faith; result is a transformed life.


Promise: Prayer can accomplish much, in my life, in other lives.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to learn how to continually pray. Thank you for Hope Church and their pastors and bringing the Word through them. Thank you for Pastor Roy and this message he gave this morning. Teach me now to continue to depend on You and trust you throughout all of life's circumstances. Help me to pray more for in doing this I trust you for the outcomes of life and acknowledge that I am not in control.

Ephesians 1:13-14 - God's Gift of Perseverance

Ephesians 1:13-14
¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Message: God's Gift of Perseverance

Time: Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about 60AD. He wrote to the churches around Ephesus to display the scope of God's eternal plan for all humanity-for Jews and Gentiles alike.

What the Lord is Saying:

The first 3 chapters of Ephesians focus on what a person should believe. Paul here defines faith. He defines grace. In this first chapter, Paul reminds us of what we now have in Christ. He states he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (v.3): 

• He chose us
• He predestined us
• In Him we have redemption through His blood 
• He made known to us the mystery of His will 
• In Him also we have obtained an inheritance 
• In Him you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit 

It is this last point that I focus on today, from this reading. After listening, having believed, I am sealed in Him. The crux or the turning point of faith remains one thing: belief. The turning point of salvation remains here, believing in the gospel, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for the redemption of our lives. And once we believe, it brings in a litany of blessings. And the first step toward believing is listening. I think of a gal in my office who has begun going to church and is enamored by the music and the message. Lord, may she believe. 

The Spiritual blessings mentioned above all define our new condition in Christ, but the last one, being sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit means that my new new condition has been given a helper. It means that a torch has not simply been passed and I must now run this race on my own. Instead, God remains with me, in the work of the Holy Spirit, enabling me to will and work for his good pleasure. Works have been created for me for in advance. And to carry those works out I will need a helper to guide me into all truth. The natural world will continue to try to place its mark on me and my life, despite my new condition in Christ. I will continually be pulled into the marketplace, to believe what the culture is putting forth for my life. So I need and must have His Presence with me, guiding me, strengthening me, carrying me, instructing me. Thank You God for sending your son, for dying for me, redeeming me, and setting me apart for your will and service. And thank you for not leaving me alone to live and work, but for sending your Spirit to come alongside me and live in Me so that I can navigate each day. Help me to remember this Lord. You are not simply near. You are here, with me.   

Promise: He remains within us to move us effectually to persevere.

Joshua 4:1-9 - Stones of Remembrance

Joshua 4:1-9

¹ “Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, ² “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, ³ and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” ⁴ So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; ⁵ and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. ⁶ Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ ⁷ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

⁸ Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there. ⁹ Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.
Message: Stone of Remembrance

Time: The Story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile. It is framed by two set-piece speeches, the first by God commanding the conquest of the land, and, at the end, the last by Joshua warning of the need for faithful observance of the Law (torah) revealed to Moses.The time is 1406 BC to 1375 BC.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Tabletalk uses this lesson to speak about eternal security. Reformed Christians, however, often use the term perseverance of the saints. Eternal Security can at times refer to easy believe-ism where a person makes a decision for Christ, but after turning away and even going a different way is still considered save. Yes, Reformers think about John 14:15 that mentions that if we love Him we will keep his commandments or at least desire to keep them.

Promise: The Lord has been a provider in the past so he will a provider in the futrue.

Proverbs 26:15 - Finish

Proverbs 26:15 

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. 

Message: Finish

Time:  It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Many of us, especially me are good at starting but bad at finishing. I think of this often in my life. I love to start, but I struggle finishing. Sometimes in reading or studying I see starting as getting a handle on something to see how I will like it. I don’t need to finish every movie I start, but right now even working on painting and other various projects outside, I’m starting to do several of them at once, then hit a rough patch and stopping. Basically, it gets difficult, so I stop. And I end up reverting back to that which is easier. Or I just go start something else. 

Promise: Believe in the outcome. 

Romans 15:5-6 - Paul's Prayer for Harmony

Romans 15:5-6 - ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Message: Paul prayers for the Christian to live in harmony and glorify God

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying: 

In my Bible, Chapter 14 has the heading of "Principles of Christian Liberty" and Chapter 15 is "Practices of Christian Liberty." I suppose I can see a difference in the language although Chapter 14 begins with a practice, "accept the one who is weak in faith," but it is true that most of the chapter has the language of principles. But, there are other words of practice. 

But 15 does begin with the idea of "bear the weaknesses of those without strength. Now, here in verse 5 and 6, Paul gives a prayer to each person in the church at Rome, the Jewish and Gentile Christians. In the prayer he gives the concluding thought. He has given the people many principles.

Also, what I see is the phrase "perseverance and encouragement" is repeated. In verse 4, it spoke of the instruction I am given from Scripture, namely the Old Testament, and here in this verse it is what God gives, though God gives us His Scripture, so He is the author of it in both verses. 

Believers are commanded to persevere. 

• James 1:25 - But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
• Ephesians 6:18 - keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
• I Timothy 6:11 - But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (Perseverance is implied).

The bottom line is we have been given numerous commands, but Paul makes mention here that "God gives perseverance." He is the giver of perseverance. 

Perseverance, as in the previous verse, is defined as patience in respect to things or circumstances. Jerry Bridges states that endurance is the ability to stand up under adversity and perseverance is the ability to progress in spite of the adversity. 

Reading these definitions makes me think that it is clearly a gift that God gives. "God, grant me the perseverance to progress in my walk with You, toward sanctification, through the trials and challenges that get presented before me. I too often think I can do things on my own. Too often I think that I do not need help. But, Lord, remind me that you grant perseverance. I need it and each of my family members need it. Give it." 

Encouragement is the calling of one's side. Encouragement is our chief aim. Throughout chapter 14 the underlying thought is to give to your brother in Christ. I am to encourage my brother and so I must be careful that my actions properly encourage. And all the while I need to realize that God gives encouragement. My ability to comfort, to exhort, to bring solace, all comes from God. 

God is the giver for the purpose of:

• me being of the same mind with one another
• me glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

This is my aim to be of the same mind with one another (love one another) and then glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (love the Lord God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength). The message continues to be the same thought.  

Promise: Pray often for the peace and unity of the Body of Christ.  
 

Romans 8:23-25 - Our Longing for Bodily Redemption

Romans 8:23-25 - 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Message:Hope sustains

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Set up
"And not only this," - that has to be best statement so far in the book of Romans. No wait, there is more. The chairman of detail and explanations, Paul, tells us to hold onto our hats and get ready for more.

In this section of Romans Paul continues to remind us that our current suffering is nothing compared to our future glory. And all of creation wants this future glory. But, for now man lives in the pains and groaning of this present life (even though we try so hard to make out that nothing is wrong). 

In verse 22 was the proclamation that whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth. Every one. No one is exempt. The pain that a woman experiences in childbirth sure does look excruciating. I don't like pain. I don't like being uncomfortable and that pain looks very uncomfortable. And glory awaits at the end of the pain so I guess what is remembered is not so much the pain but the aftermath of the pain. Paul I think there is also wanting people to see that that utter pain and discomfort is what mankind is experiencing through time. But, deliverance awaits man if man will take it. And Christ followers possess the answer. We must share it with others. We must at least try.

First fruits
Verse 23 shifts to the Christian. Verse 22 was all of creation. Verse 23 is the follower or those in Christ, having been justified or made right with God. And in this verse, the calling card of the Christian is they have "the first fruits of the Spirit." This is a key phrase and in this verse, Paul obviously chose His words carefully. He could have said anything, so why did he say this?

First fruits represent the beginning of the harvest for the Israelites that is often offered as a sacrifice. God only wanted what was best. Even in our tithing to the Lord, I need to get paid and immediately give. He should get what is first out of my pocketbook. He is the priority.

Exodus 23:19 - “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.

Leviticus 23:10 - “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.

Deuteronomy 18:4 “You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.

Deuteronomy 26:1-4 - “Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and live in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare this day to the Lord my God that I have entered the land which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’ Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.

So Paul takes this idea of first fruits and basically turns it around to express to me what I have received by way of my faith in believing in Jesus and what he did for me that I could not do. Just as God received the first fruits, I have basically received the first fruits. So I have what is most important in regards to my belief in Christ.  Are there future glories? Yes indeed, but what I have now is the best. Once again that should be a reminder to the Christian that nothing can separate us from God once we have placed our trust in Him.

Of the Spirit
But it is not just the first fruits by themselves but it is the first fruits of the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.

I have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just from Paul's words I know that I have something pretty amazing in having the Holy Spirit. Again, I have what I need to now live in peace beyond the pains and groans of childbirth. The Holy Spirit has been pledged or given to me. I have it and it is the promise that I have being sealed in God. God is with me.

We wait eagerly
The Christian waits eagerly, just as the non-Christan wants to see the true Christians in verse 21. The Christian is waiting eagerly for his full adoption as sons of God that will come upon his glorification. This is not to be confused with us being declared as adopted in verse 15. That was in the present tense when it spoke of our adoption at our justification.

We hope
In verses 24 and 25 the word "hope" is mentioned 5 times. The opposite of futility seems to be hope. And Paul wants to make it clear to us that our lives are about hope. We have been saved in hope. But, hope isn't what we see. It is in the unseen. That needs to be clearly understood that our focus is on the unseen, but the surety of it.


Promise: Tabletalk, June 25, 2014, "Since we know that we will be glorified, we can endure all of our shortcomings in the present, repenting over them as we look forward to what is to come."

Romans 5:3-5 - Our Christian Hope

Romans 5:3-5 - 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Message: We get to exult in our tribulations.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord Says:

The Set Up
Verse 3 begins with, "And not only this." As if verse 2 wasn't enough. Verse 2 told me that I exult in the hope of the glory of God. In verse 1, I am told that I have peace with God. I have a peace that will always be there. It is not going anywhere. In verse 2, I have been admitted into grace; I have been given the best access card ever that will get me into grace. Grace is God's Riches at Christ's Expense. I get all the blessings of grace and this realization moves me to exult--to lift up--in hope (the certainty of the future), of the glory of God.

May I never dull of giving thanks to God for what He has given me. When I think about it, I don't comprehend it. I know me and I look at me and don't know why God would give this to me and not others. I look at others, I see them and can't figure out why He would choose me. But, I stand forever amazed and grateful and pray that I would not just hold this new life to myself, but would share it with others. Prayer needs to be a daily habit in my life and often I find so many other things to fill my life. But God wants me to pray and teaches me to pray in His word and so prayer needs to be a bigger part of my life. Thank you God for moving us as a family to pray, but I still have so much more free time to spend praying. I pray right now that I wouldn't lose sight of this.

Exult in Tribulations
Now I move to verse 3 and see the words "and not only this." You mean, there is more. The word exult is to boast in a position I now possess. The dictionary says exult is to show or feel a lively triumphant joy. And Paul is showing me that I get to and will exult in tribulations. Say what? Yes, show or feel a lively triumphant joy in my tribulations. Boast in the fact that I possess now tribulations. I still can't comprehend this. I've learned this before. I've studied James and seen that I am to count it joy when I experience trials and now here I see I can exult in tribulations. But, I rarely do this. I run from tribulations. And yet tribulations often drive me to my knees to pray. Think about it. Often, I don't pray as I should and yet when a tribulation comes I run to my knees to pray about it. So, obviously, having the tribulation is a positive for it got my focus more securely on the need to pray. God should never be my last priority, but He should always be my first priority.

It is one thing to submit to and endure tribulations without complaint, but it is quite another thing to embrace tribulations with exult. Everyone wants to live a problem free life and yet what Paul is stating here is the contrary thought that we can boast in the fact we have a tribulation.

I think of all those people I converse with online and prayer requests are there due to them wanting to get out of, as quickly as possible, a trial in their life. But, what if God has them right where he wants them? Maybe their perspective is to look through the tribulation to see what God can do with it. But, it is not that their is joy in having a tribulation, but it moves us to greater dependence and expecting God's deliverance from it. Hodge states, "The Christian feels that suffering themselves are an offering and a blessing." And this is a consistent them in the Bible. Matthew states, "Blessed are those that mourn." Ecclesiastes states, "Sorrow is better than laughter for when a face is sad, a heart may be happy." 

Tribulation is the Greek word thlipsis. It is not a mile discomfort, but a great difficulty. It is derived from the word which means to crush or break together with the idea of breaking. According to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused to plead guilty, had heavy weights pressed on their breasts, and were pressed and crushed to death. Thlipsis is uses 45 times in the New Testament. It has the idea of squeezing grapes in order to extract the sweet juice.

Tribulation breeds patience
Patience seems to be the one trait that all people struggle with the most. Our culture, of late, has bent itself more and more on the notion that immediate gratification is the norm. Movies are a great example of this. Often my children will sit down to watch an old movie with me and the story will move slowly. There will be dialogue and discussion. It will slowly build up to a climax. I contrast this to the action adventure movies they often watch where their is excitement at every turn. There are fights and explosions constantly. The push to video games is a push to enjoy things more immediately. Learning often needs patience and many are not patient. Books are not being read anymore because they take too long. We'd rather have a quick summary. I don't think that it is that learning is despised as much as there is a desire to get on with the things in life we state we enjoy and entertain us. All of these things and more I feel are breeding impatience in people.

And yet, from these verses we see that tribulation breeds or brings about patience. It has been said that the best way to learn patience is to go through a difficult situation. Can you imagine praying that a person would experience toil so that they may learn patience? "Oh Lord, would you send a trial into this person's life?" That prayer would never be prayed. A person would be laughed out of church for praying this.

Tribulation brings about perseverance
At the end of verse 3, it states that tribulation brings about perseverance. Perseverance is to abide or remain under a discipline. Or subjecting myself to something that I would naturally rebel. In tribulation, I experience pressures, but perseverance is to not focus on the pressures, but to focus beyond them. It is the realization that out of evil God brings good.

The difficulties in our lives,
The obstacles we face,
Give God the opportunity,
To show His power and grace.

Do I accept God's dealings with me as being good? Do I desire to get out of a tribulation as quickly as possible or do I trust God through it, asking for His timing in the deliverance? Do I have confidence in God that He will deliver me or do I try to find my own ways of getting out of the trial?

Perseverance, proven character
In verse 4, Proven character is the Greek word dokime and in secular Greek it was used to describe metals that had been tested and determined to be pure. How do we know that our faith is real? Take it through a trial and see what comes out on the other side.

I know of many people that I thought were formerly of the faith of Christianity, but are not now. I wonder if what happened in their lives is trials came there way or questions about their faith came and rather than enduring them and coming out stronger on the other side, they instead punted their faith.

People punt so many things in their life that were once a commitment. Marriage is something that seems to have really been hurt over the last 50 years. It seems that marriage often happens for the wrong reasons. I remember counseling a man a couple of years ago and his marriage was barely hanging on, it wasn't surviving the trials, and when I discovered how the marriage began, he told me that they were attracted to one another and had sex quickly, the wife got pregnant and they got married. It started on a shaky foundation. It was a marriage by name, but when trials came it got weak. I'm not saying God couldn't save it and purify it, but without two people submitting to the Lord, at all, it failed.

Proven character, hope
In these verses, it has gone from tribulation, joy, patience, perseverance, proven character, and now it comes to hope. In our faith, we can almost welcome tribulation because we know it is going to cause us to depend on God. And through it, it will breed patience in our life. And I can work it out in my life because I can persevere or focus not on the pressures that I am experiencing, but the result that will come. And through this process I can know that, by depending on the Lord, I will be shown as the real thing. And this gives me hope.

When I know that I am pure and know that I can make it through trials, it confirms that I am child of God. Getting through the trials gives me that hope and assurance that God is there and in control. It anchors me in my faith.

I talk to so many people online that state, "I don't feel like a Christian. Things aren't working out in my life." That a testimony right there that a person has believed something different from the Gospel of the Bible. It is not to make life easy, but to move us to depend on our Lord and thereby confirm our faith and our future in Christ.

Do I accept everything that comes into my life as coming from the Lord? Do I give thanks (Ro1:20)?  And not only accept it, but rejoice in it?

Hope does not disappoint
Hope is the desire for some future good with the expectation of obtaining it. Psalm 40:1 has always been a favorite verse to me (Mostly because U2 introduced me to it in the song "40" on the War album). It states, "I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined to me and heard my cry." The Lord did not disappoint. He was there. And He came through. That passage later says, "He put a new song in my mouth."

I am a Christian. I know this. God has taken me through trials. And has confirmed Him in me. And this confirmation does not disappoint. In future times, it continues to show me that He is actually what I need.

Faith, Hope, and (now) Love
Here in verse 5, Paul culminates the look at tribulations to show us that they are there because God loves us. His love is being poured out on us and the testimony we have of that love is tribulation.

We want the patience of Job. But, we don't want the trials that Job faced. And yet, Job is a great testimony of how much God loved him. That's amazing. God pours out his love on us in the form of tribulations. God showed us His great love for us by sending His Son. And now God showers us and waters us more, pouring His love out to us. In verse 1, it was peace. verse 2, it was joy and now God confirms His love through training us to be patient, to confirm His love, our hope in the future, because God is there for us.

Through the Holy Spirit
So much is made of the Holy Spirit and the sensationalism of Him, to bring about riches and abundance and healing in our lives. And yet here, the Holy Spirit is working through tribulations. Through pressures. God's love is poured out into our lives through the Holy Spirit. This is the first mention of the Holy Spirit by Paul. And it comes on the heals of Paul showing us what the believer has received in being justified. He has received the Holy Spirit. He didn't have to ask for him or pray for him, he received it upon being justified.

Promise: The Holy Spirit entered my life because I was born of God. And He has the best in store for me.