Tuesday May 28, 2013 P3 - The best way to guard against idolatry

1 John 5:18-20 ¹⁸ We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. ¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. ²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Over the past few days we have been exploring the definition and danger of idolatry.  The Apostle John in 1 John 5:21 warns his readers to "guard yourselves against idols."  In this short series we discovered first of all that idolatry is whenever you exalt yourself, exchange God and elevate comfort above Him.  We then considered John's discussion of sins that do not lead to death and those that do lead to death as warnings for avoiding idolatry in 1 John 5:16-17.  Today we will finish up our series on idolatry by considering the best way to guard against it. 

Encouraging provisions of grace for guarding against idolatry
1 John 5:18-20 lays out positive encouragements for combatting the seductive danger of idolatry.  The overwhelming thrust is to love Jesus and hate idols.  How can you and I dear Christian guard ourselves against idolatry?

1. Presence of the Holy Spirit.  1 John 5:18a
1 John 5:18a reads - "We know that no one who is born of God sins".  The word translated "sins" is a present tense verb in the Greek that speaks of habitual sin or an ongoing lifestyle of sin.  Christians can still sin after salvation, as John mentions in 1 John 1:8-10.  However a true believer in Jesus Christ will not keep on engaging in a prolonged regiment of sinful behavior without falling under the Lord's discipline and without falling under eventual sorrow for their sin that leads to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7; Hebrews 12:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).  The Holy Spirit is the Agent of the new birth and he is also the One who prevents the Christian from falling into such a state that would result in the loss of their salvation. (John 1:12-13, 16:8-11; Ephesians 1:11-14)

2. The Preserving work of the Father.  1 John 5:18b
1 John 5:18b reads - "but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. "  With the Holy Spirit being the Agent who is present when a person is born again by grace through faith, the Father above is the Author of the new birth. (James 1:18)  Being that God is the beginner of salvation, scripture reveals that He is also the finisher thereof. (Philippians 1:6)  Now this is important to note, since the Father is the one who preserves the believer from drifting so far into sin as to result in irretrievable loss of their salvation. (1 Peter 1:5) 

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 notes:  
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

3. Power of the scriptures.  1 John 5:19
1 John 5:19 states - "We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." Three times in 1 John 5:16-20 we see this repeating phrase: "we know".  Question: how is it that you know anything about the necessary means for guarding yuorself against idolatry?  The scriptures.  The Word of God not only gives you the contents to understand the Christian life, but also the power needed to live it. (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:6; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17)  The Bible reminds you of who you are and Whose you are.  Our trouble anytime we sin is forgetting who we are and Whose we are.  This is why we need constant, daily exposure to the scripture in order to combat sin and walk in victory. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:11; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13)

4. Person of Jesus Christ.  1 John 5:20
Having seen the provisions of the Presence of the Holy Spirit, the Preserving work of God the Father and power of the scriptures as constituting the way in which we can guard against idolatry, lets consider one more provision of grace: The Person of Jesus Christ.  1 John 5:20 states - "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."  Two other passages of scripture can be used to shed light on the significance of this verse.  The first scripture is John 17:3 - "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."  Then secondly, Hebrews 12:2-3 "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  It is Christ Himself in Whom and by Whom we are able to guard ourselves against idolatry.  Whenever you think about it, the only reason why we can be tricked and duped is whenever we fail to take advantage of God's grace ever made available to us.  Thankfully even when we are faithless, He is faithful, for he cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

 

P2 Why Idolatry is so bad

1 John 5:16-17 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.


Review and today's focus
In yesterday's post we defined idolatry by three terms drawn from the scriptures: Exalting oneself, Exchanging God and Enthonement of comfort.  In today's post we will consider why idolatry is so bad? Answering such a question may seem easy. Yet idolatry is so powerful that it can dull our senses if not rooted out and replaced by a complete focus on Jesus Christ.  Jesus locates idolatry in the heart in Matthew 5:18-19 "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies". 


Warnings about Idolatry's dangerous lure
As you read John's 1st Epistle in 1 John 5:16-17, you discover various statements about sin that serve as warnings about the seduction and lure of idolatry.  In 1 John 5:16a we see mention made about "sin not leading to death".  Then in 1 John 5:16b we see reference to a category of sin by the intimidating title: "sin leading unto death".  Then finally, John mentions in 1 John 5:17 that in all reality, all sin is worthy of death.  It is in this three-fold manner of argumentation that John warns his readers about the dangerous and alluring road of idolatry.

Defining sins that do not lead unto death.  1 John 5:16a
The category of "sin not leading to death" can pave the way to idolatry.  John writes in 1 John 5:16a "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death."  John reminds his readers of their need to be looking out for one another.  What happens when we see another fellow brother or sister doing something that could pose harm to themselves or other's in either the spiritual or physical realms?  Do we say anything?  Jude 22-23 states - "And have mercy on some, who are doubting; ²³ save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh."  When dealing with sin in the church or in our own lives, restoration and mercy is to be the basis rather than retribution.  Galatians 6:1-2 tells us in similarly - "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." 

As you read John's words, they are dealing in areas wherein fellow believers love one another and are praying for each other.  Praying that God will grant repentance and softness of heart to those who are caught up in "sin's that do not lead to death" is encouraged and commanded by John.  As you look throughout his little letter, various sections serve to warn those who are committing sins that are "not unto death".1  As bad as those levels of sin are in 1 John, John is warning his readers of how such escalating levels of sin can drive people into the arms of idolatry.  God's mercy is shown in these texts.  Yet there is a classification of sin which reveals an invisible line that God draws - a line that John terms "sin leading unto death".

Defining the sin that leads unto death
The second category of sin leading unto death demonstrates the ultimate fruit of idolatry.  1 John 5:16b says these frightening words - "There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this."  What could a person do that would have God exercise such extreme measures?  What is the "sin unto death".  Having read commentaries on this text, and even listening to such noted Bible preachers and Dr. John MacArthur, there appears to be two prevailing opinions that have equal footing and scripture support.  In the Bible there are two sinful conditions that can lead to the spiritual or physical deaths of unbelievers and believers: apostasy for unbelievers and sudden physical death for believers. For those who want more details and scriptural study, I have included such details in the endnotes at the end of this post.2  

In the first possibility, the "sin unto death" for the unbeliever is primarily spiritual, whereas the "sin unto death" for the sinning Christian is physical.  Now when John mentions about "not making such a request for those who have committed sins unto death", it does not appear he is forbidding God's people from praying.  Rather all John is saying is that he has no instructions, no advice and no counsel to give from the Lord.  All we can do is pray God will grant persons who are unsaved another chance to believe and be saved.  If that unbeliever does end up believing on Jesus Christ, then clearly they had not apostasized.  Likewise too, for the Christian who has been unrepentant, there are those cases where they heed the Spirit's conviction and respond, prompting the urgent need for mercy and restoration. (compare 1 Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2). 

All sin deserves death
When you really think about what we just discovered about the "sin leading unto death", as well as those "sins that don't lead unto death", does it not make you marvel at God's mercy?  The road to idolatry is paved by sins not leading to death that point in the direction of sin leading unto death.  In one respect we can say the consequences and nature of some sins are worse (leading to death) than others (not leading to death).  However John is quick to point out in 1 John 5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death."  In other  words, all sin, regardless of the category, is deserving of death.  Yet God in His mercy prefers and in the overwhelming majority of cases chooses to draw the line moreso on the side of mercy and patience rather than swift judgment.  The fact that I am here typing this sentence and that you are there reading it demonstrates the incredible mercy of Holy God.  Thanks be to God for the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the Father's Eternal purpose of grace that shields and preserves the child of God. 

As you can see, idolatry is bad because of what people do in pursuing it, and the merciful God that the heart of idolatry finds easy to exchange.  Why would anyone want to trade such a wonderful God for anything is what reveals the insanity and seductive danger of idolatry.  If pursued to its logical and spiritual end - idolatry can kill the person doing it: spiritually and even physically!  This is why John warns his readers to guard themselves against idolatry.  This among the other many reasons we could cite is why idolatry is bad.

Tomorrow we will consider one final question in this series on idolatry: What is the number one way to combat idolatry?

Endnotes____________________

1. It is most likely that these sections in 1 John are written to those people in the church who are professing Christians but who never experienced genuine salvation. John is deeply concerned about such persons, since such activity not only hurts them but hurts the church. Notice the sections:
1. Warnings to Pretenders of the faith. 1 John 1:5-10
2. Warnings to Pleasure Seekers. 1 John 2:15-19
3. Warnings to Practitioners of ongoing sin. 1 John 3:18-10
4. Warnings to those who Persist in error. 1 John 4:3,6,8

Such sections in 1 John serve to depict persons who are participating in ever darkening and debasing levels of sin, who profess to be Christians and who need to know Jesus. The people to whom John is addressing are still alive, thus meaning that they have not yet committed a sin unto death. 

2. For those who are unbelievers, this extreme "sin unto death" is what we call "apostasy". Jesus refers to the sin as "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" in Matthew 12:40-41. In this form of apostasy, the unbeliever, claiming to be a believer, ascribes the work of the Holy Spirit to none other than Satan himself. Hebrews 6 and 10 refers to those professors of Christ who "apostasize" (literally stand opposed), not being able to be renewed again unto repentance". In extreme cases, an unbeliever who persists headlong into rebellion against the appeal of the Gospel, will be left alone by the Holy Spirit's general call to repent and believe. Proverbs 6:14-15 issues this warning about such unbelievers -"Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. ¹⁵ Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing."
Often people will wonder and worry whether or not if they have committed the unpardonable sin. My answer to them is that if they are worrying, they clearly have not committed that sin and that furthermore, such an extreme sin is committed by an unsaved individual whom God has handed over to their degrading passions and warped nature of their minds. (Romans 1)  No true Christian can blaspheme the Holy Spirit,

The second type of "sin unto death" in scripture has to do with genuine Christians who sin so greviously and so persistently against Christ that they suddenly die, physically. Passages in the New Testament speaks about such Christians As Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and some of the Corinthians believers in 1 Corinthians 11:30 who were "falling asleep" or "physically dying" due to having "crossed the line" with God. Proverbs 29:1 issues this chilling statement - "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Can God do such a thing? Absolutely! Why? To ensure the salvation of the Christian.      

P1 Guard Yourself from Idols

1 John 5:21 "Little children, guard yourselves from idols."

What is idolatry? Why is it so bad? What is the number one way to combat it?  These three questions can aid us in walking our way through the final little section of John's first epistle: 1 John 5:16-21.  In 1 John 5:21 we see in six words a simple command: Little children, guard yourselves from idols.  In today's post we will aim to answer that first question: what is idolatry?

The practice of idolatry, what most people think of when understanding idolatry
I am sure when you think of idols, you may envision someone carving out a block of wood or stone and bowing down to it.  Isaiah 44:12-18 describes the insane nature of such a practice: The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. 13The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. 15Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” 17And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” (ESV)

Throughout the Old Testament God warned the people not to make any images or idols of created things. Exodus 20:4 states - “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."  We could look at other passages that deal with the practice of idolatry, however the warped sinful human heart will say: "that may had been idolatry in biblical times, or idolatry practiced by primitive cultures, but this is 21st century, and I don't see such practices being done today."  The practice of idolatry is where we can begin the discussion, however the practice derives from the heart, which is the true source of idolatry. 

What is idolatry?
What is idolatry?  Jared Wilson, writing in the June 2012 issue of Table Talk magazine, writes this penetrating insight: "All sin is idolatry because every sin is an exercise in trust of something or someone other than the one true God to satisfy, fulfill, or bless. It is not difficult to see how violations of commandments two through ten are automatic violations of commandment one. This truth reveals that the hottest “worship war” going is the one taking place daily in the sanctuary of our own hearts. But we must wage this war because none of us is a bystander to idol worship."

Ouch!  We can be those who may not bow down before blocks of wood or stone, however we can still be guilty of committing idolatry.  The Apostle John still had the physical idolatries going on around him when he wrote 1 John, however he was striking at something far deeper.  Below are three texts that can aid us in getting to the definition of idolatry, and why it was John issued such a prohibition against it to end his letter:

1. Exalting yourself
1 Samuel 15:23 says - For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”  King Saul had once again disobeyed God by subsituting his way of doing things with what God had spoken to Him through Samuel.  Samuel's judgment on Saul served to expose the idolatrous nature of his heart - arrogance, pride and self-sufficiency.  The scary thing about Saul's episode is that in form, he was offering sacrifices to the God of Israel at a publically organized event!  To the unsuspecting and unknowing observer, Saul's actions would had been deemed by many people to be commendable.   However Saul had disregarded Samuel's instructions and God's Word in favor of his own perferences and opinion - which is why he was reprimanded by the prophet.  Idolatry's issue is not only to do with the form of what we do, but moreso with the heart.  Dr. Adrian Rogers once noted that if the Devil can get you to do good things in the flesh: whether it be preaching, serving God or doing good things, then his diabolical sheme has been served.  For once I am doing good things in the flesh, the only thing left to do are the bad the things.  Doing anything in the flesh means I am choosing to exalt my own self-interest above God.  In short, Saul chose to exalt himself above God.
 

 

2. Exchanging God

A second text, Romans 1:22-23 states - "Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."  There we see the second idea associated with a heart of idolatry - replacing or exchanging God.  The arrogant human heart believes it is more beneficial to replace God with a lesser, created thing than to bring glory to God by enjoying Him forever.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, the same exact way, but expecting different results.  The heart of idolatry is insane (both physically as illustrated in Isaiah 44 above and spiritually), because it believes it can gain infinite joy from finite or created things.  Whenever you exchange God, you end up with nothing.

 

3. Enthronement of comfort

Then a third verse, Colossians 3:5, gives us the clearest definition of all -  "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." God gave people drives to carry out His original design of them as individuals, human interractions and ultimately for His glory. Thus the drive for physical intimacy is perfectly normal and acceptable, providing it is expressed within the confines of marriage.  Eating food is a normal drive and quite acceptable, however left unchecked, can lead to gluttony and health issues.  The joy of financial compensation gained from wise investing or hard work is an understandable drive.  However what happens when the so-called "almighty dollar" truly becomes "the almighty dollar"?  All of our drives, when placed ahead of God and enthroned to serve our comforts, is the third component in defining idolatry. The great late Christian Scholar Dr. Francis Shaeffer once quipped that if we are not careful, we will fall victim to our own relentless pursuit of our own comfort and personal affluency.  In other words, in trying to keep up with the Jones', we can end up no being able to keep up - period. 

 

Conclusion

In today's post we defined idolatry by three terms drawn from the scriptures: Exalting oneself, Exchanging God and Enthonement of comfort.  My prayer is that you and I will take heed to John's command to guard ourselves from idols.  In tomorrow's post we will consider the second of our three questions asked at the beginning of this post: Why is idolatry so bad? That may seem obvious, however idolatry is so powerful that if not rooted out and replaced by a complete focus on Jesus Christ, can dull our senses to its danger.

 

 

 

P2 - Top Bible Prophecy #5 Psalm 110 - Christ's Second Coming and Reign

Psalm 110:1 "The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Yesterday we began looking at Psalm 110 as a Prediction of the Kingly Career of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We noted that Psalm 110 is a Top Bible Prophecy due to it being quoted nearly twenty times in the New Testament.  The New Testament authors, according to H.L Wilmington, refer to or quote Psalm 110 in the following passages:
Matthew 22:44, 26:64; Mark 12:36, 14:62, 16:19; Luke 20:42-43, 22:69; Acts 2:34-35; Romans 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:25; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3,13, 8:1, 10:12-13, 12:2.  I would also include Revelation 1:5 and Revelation 19-20 as possible allusions to Psalm 110.  Psalm 110 is required in order to connect the Old Testament predictions about the Messiah to the New Testament revelation that Jesus Christ is and will fulfill such predictions. 

In yesterday's post we saw how Psalm 110:1 predicted what would occur when Jesus ascended into heaven to inaugurate His kingly reign.  We also considered Psalm 110:2-4 as a prediction about Jesus current activity in His Session as our Prophet, Priest and King.  Today we will conclude our study of Psalm 110, noting in Psalm 110:5-7 a prediction of what will be Jesus' second coming and Millennial reign. 

1. Psalm 110:5 predicts the second coming of King Jesus
Psalm 110:5 states - "The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath."  What is it that David was seeing? It would appear that God was showing by predictive prophecy the physical, bodily return of the incarnate Christ at the end of history.  Jesus of course has always been God the Son.  In the Old Testament He would had been with the Father in Heaven in a Pre-incarnate state or "before the human flesh" state.  When He came the first time, He assumed a human nature and thus became "incarnated" or "in the flesh".  When Christ ascended, He being fully God still retained a human, albeit glorified, resurrected human nature. 

We as Christians look forward to Jesus' second coming to this planet, an event spoken of and predicted some 224 places in the Bible.  Revelation 19:11-15 gives us the full description of Christ's second coming - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵ From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”  That underlined phrase in Revelation 19:15 appear to be an allusion to the prophetic glimpse we get of Jesus' return in Psalm 110:5. 

So with Jesus coming back to earth, what will He then do? Note how Psalm 110:6-7 predicts what is called the Millennial Reign of Christ.

2. Psalm 110:6-7 Predicts Christ's Millennial Reign
The Holy Spirit through David says in Psalm 110:6-7 - "He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. ⁷ He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head."  From other Bible passages we understand that Jesus is reigning spiritually in Heaven right now, over and through His church. He has already inaugurated His reign over the Kings of the earth. (Revelation 1:5) Jesus is King over this planet by Right in Heaven. 

According to what we see in the New Testament, Jesus will bring the Kingdom of Heaven back to this world and will initiate the earthly phase of His Kingly Reign, wherein His reign will become one of fact. Psalm 110:6-7 predicts this aspect, one which will be physical, earthly and last 1,000 years.  Two passages in the New Testament are prime examples of the Divine commentary we see of Psalm 110:6-7. 

First let the reader note 1 Corinthians 15:25-28: "For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be abolished is death. ²⁷ For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all."

Amazingly 1 Corinthians 15:25-28 matches quite well with the second passage of Revelation 20:6-11 ⁶ Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. ⁷ When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, ⁸ and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. ⁹ And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. "

The underlined phrases in both passages point back to statements in Psalm 110.  1 Corinthians 15:25-28 and Revelation 20 together unfold how long Christ will reign physcially once He returns to this earth.  The physical aspect of His reign is necessary to fulfill the gradual and complete defeat of every enemy by Christ, including the Anti-Christ at His second coming, death and then Satan towards the end of His Millennial reign. 

Conclusion
Psalm 110 has been deemed a Top Bible Prophecy due to the fact it predicted the Kingly career of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It first predicted what would be His Ascension in Psalm 110:1.  Next it predicted His current session or activity as our prophet, priest and King in Psalm 110:2-4.  Thirdly it predicts Christ will return to execute judgment in Psalm 110:5.  Then finally it predicts what will be Christ's Millennial or 1,000 year reign in Psalm 110:6-7.   

 

P1 - Top Bible Prophecy #5 Psalm 110 - Jesus' Ascension and Session

Psalm 110:1 "The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

In weeks past I have periodically written some blogs on key passages in the Bible that I am deeming: "Top Bible Prophecies".  These texts are designated by this name due to their scope and range of use throughout the rest of the Bible.  Furthermore, a Top Bible Prophecy is deemed one because it brings into focus the ministry and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in both His first and second comings.  In this continuing study, we have considered four such passages or Top Bible Prophecies thus far.  I included the date on which they were blogged in case the reader may want to review them:

1. Genesis 3:15 - Blogged on April 12, 2013
2. Genesis 12:1-7 - Blogged on April 18 & 19 2013
3. Deuteronomy 30:1-10 - Blogged on May 1, 2013
4. 2 Samuel 7:8-16 - Blogged on May 2, 2013

Of all the Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament, Psalm 110 tops the list as the most quoted (at least 18 times).  Furthermore, Psalm 110 enables us to connect the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7:8-16 (Top Prophecy #4) directly to the Kingly Career of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  As you will see, the New Testament Authors quote Psalm 110 the most, since by Divine inspiration the Holy Spirit revealed to them that what Christ is doing in this present age and what He will do in the coming Millennial age.  In today's blog we will focus on those areas that Psalm 110 predicts concerning Christ's ascension and current activity in Heaven (what we call His session).

How Jesus connects Himself as the Fulfillment of Psalm 110
Before we outline Psalm 110, let the reader note how the Lord Jesus Himself connects His life and ministry to Psalm 110.  In Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus engages in the following discussion with His opponents, the Pharisees:

"Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: ⁴² “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.” ⁴³ He *said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ⁴⁴ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’? ⁴⁵ If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” ⁴⁶ No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question."

What Jesus does is quote Psalm 110:1.  In the context of Matthew 22, Jesus discusses the nature of the Kingdom by beginning with a parable about a king and a wedding feast for his son.  Undoubtedly the parable's point is to illustrate that Christ is the Son Whom was to be rejected by those who refused to honor the invitation sent out by the Father.  He is the King who by right isKing over all kings, including Caesar.  Eventually the opponents of Jesus attempt to trap him in a series of questions.  In Matthew 22:42-46, Jesus turns the tables, using Psalm 110:1 to point to Himself as the fulfillment of God's Covenant with David.  Because of their unbelief, the Pharisees totally missed Jesus' point.  However the followers of Christ and the New Testament would, by the Spirit's work of Divine Inspiration of the New Testament, quickly connect the dots.  By the time you journey through Acts, 21 New Testament Epistles and the Book of Revelation, virtually every verse in Psalm 110 is quoted to reveal Jesus' Kingly Career following His ascension in to Heaven. 

The Kingly Career of Jesus Christ in Psalm 110 and the New Testament
So how does the New Testament use Psalm 110 to reveal the Kingly Career of the Lord Jesus Christ? Note the following outline of Psalm 110 and accompanying New Testament verses that unfold the following predictions of His Kingly Career:

1. The Ascension of King Jesus.  Psalm 110:1
In Acts 1:11-12 we see the Lord Jesus Christ ascend into heaven before the eyes of His disciples.  What happened following that event?  The remainder of the nearly twenty quotations of Psalm 110 in the New Testament endeavor to explain what took place after Jesus disappeared from His disciple's sight.  Below are some more notable examples in which I have underlined the portions of Psalm 110:1 that are quoted by the New Testament authors.  According to Acts 2:34-36 we read: "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,³⁵ Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ ³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Following the wording of Psalm 110:1, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:25-28 - For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be abolished is death. ²⁷ For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. In Ephesians 1:20-21 the Holy Ghost states - "which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."  Jesus is seated at the Father's right hand, ruling spiritually in Heaven and waiting to bring the Kingdom to earth in order to subdue all his enemies and reign until everything is made the footstool of His feet.   What follows in the remainder of Psalm 110:2-7 is an unfolding and explanation of Psalm 110:1.

Clearly then Christ's ascension into Heaven was not merely His leaving this planet to go to heaven and wait until the Father tells Him to return to earth.  Jesus is right now very busy and active in Heaven at the Father's right hand, which leads us to the second predicted event of Jesus' kingly career, namely...
 
2. The Session of King Jesus.  Psalm 110:2-4
When a judge comes into a courtroom, the Officer of the Court will say: "All rise, the court is now in session".  To be in session means that a supreme authority is presiding over a group of people. As Christ awaits to come to earth, He presently occupies Three Official positions as spelled out here in Psalm 110:2-4 and their corresponding New Testament fulfillments:

a. Jesus Christ is Ruling spiritually as King.  
When Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, He became Legally and by right King on the Throne of David. Psalm 110:2 "The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”  According to Acts 2:34-36, Jesus began reigning spiritually at His ascension.  Revelation 1:5 calls Jesus right now the "Ruler over the kings of the earth".  As Spiritual Ruler over the world through His church, Jesus is awaiting to bring His Kingdom here to earth, wherin He will set up His earthly Kingdom and reign for 1,000 years. 

b. Jesus Christ is the Prophet who Reveals God through the scriptures
Psalm 110:3 predicts - "Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew."  That phrase "Holy Array" in the original Hebrew speaks of a pure and unique display of Supernatural power. Hebrews 1:1-2 shows how Jesus fulfills this: "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world."  By being the "appointed heir of all things", Jesus Christ is fulfilling this aspect of Psalm 110 by revealing God since He Himself shares in the same nature as God and is God revealed in human flesh. (1 Timothy 3:16)

c. Jesus Christ is the Priest who mediates between believers and God. 
Psalm 110:4 -  "The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Who is Melchizedek?  We first meet this mysterious figure way back in Genesis 14, following Abraham's defeat of 5 pagan kings.  Upon his return back from battle, Abraham is met by the King of Salem, Melechizedek.  Melchizedek blesses him, and Abraham in turn gives him a tithe of the spoils of victory.  Then without warning Melchizedek dissapears off the radar screen of Biblical history, only to be mentioned again in Psalm 110:4, a thousand years after Abraham!  Clearly Melchizedek is not just any human King or Priest, since He is depicted in eternity with Jehovah God.  Once again he dissapears, with ten more centuries of time passing until Hebrews 5-7.  It is in those chapters we discover the true identity of Melchizedek.  In short, He is Jesus Christ the High Priest of Heaven, whose priesthood exceeds the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament.  Because Jesus is functioning as High Priest in Heaven right now, He is our advocate in prayer. (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1-2)

In tomorrow's post we will feature the remainder of Psalm 110 and the appropriate New Testament passages that will unfold two more predicted events of Christ's Kingly Career: namely His Second Coming (Psalm 110:5) and Millennial Reign (Psalm 110:6-7). 

Jesus in Luke's Gospel P3 - The Savior's Supper

Luke 22:15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer

Introduction - The Savior of Luke
For the past several days we have been exploring the Gospel of Luke.  We first noted some major themes and an outline of the Book in Part 1, followed by a survey of how Luke portrays Jesus entering into humanity's plight and pain in Part 2.  In this final part of our series on Luke, we want to go to that scene on the night before Jesus' crucifixion.  Truly and significantly the Lord's Supper in Luke brings together everything that we have looked at over the past couple of days.  Luke uses the title "Savior" to describe Jesus more than any other Gospel writer, using it at least twice in his Gospel (Luke 1:47; 2:11) and at least twice again in his companion volume Acts (5:31; 13:23).1  Luke 19:10 is the chief verse of Luke's Gospel that describes the Saving work and effort of Jesus - "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

As we consider the Lord's Supper scene in Luke, what kind of Savior do we meet?  Based off of those two key words in Luke 19:10 ("seek" and "save"), we encounter the Willing and Working Savior.  The Willingness of Jesus is scene throughout Luke's Gospel, finding its most tenderest expression in Luke 22.  Then the Work of the Savior is expressed in Luke 22 that will anticipate the work Christ would accomplish in Luke 23-24. 

Jesus the Willing Savior.  Luke 1-22
In Luke 22:15 Jesus says to His disciples - "And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  The underlined phrase "earnestly desired" is the NASB attempt to capture the tone and emphasis of Jesus.  As Luke was writing this Gospel in the original Greek, He undoubtedly would had written down what he gained from his interview with eyewitnesses who were there on that night.  The Greek text repeats the words translated "desire" twice, emphasizing how willing and eager Jesus really was to enter into this meal with his disciples.

Jesus' willingness to be the Savior is certainly captured by Luke throughout his gospel.  From beginning to end Jesus exhibited an absolute willingness to be the Savior and to do His Father's Will as a brief survey of key passages will demonstrate:

-Jesus' entry into time by way of the virgin birth.  Luke 1:31-34
-Jesus entry into the bloodline of humanity as the New Adam.  Lk 3:23-38
-Jesus' willing identity with his people in His baptism.  Lk 3:21-22
-Jesus willingness to minister to the hurting.  Lk 4:18-19
-Jesus willingness to press onward to the cross.  Lk 9:51 and 19:28
-Jesus willingness to eat with his disciples.  Lk 22:41-44
-Jesus' willingness to do His Father's will.  Lk 22:41-44 

With the willingness of Jesus our Savior revealed at Luke's scene of the Lord's Supper, we see a second aspect of the Savior in this scene, namely...

Jesus the Working Savior.  Luke 22:19-38
As you go down through the text of the Lord's Supper Scene, as well as the scene wherein Jesus is praying in Gethsemene, you find out statements about Jesus' work.  What kind of work was Jesus aiming to accomplish as the willing and working Savior? 

1. Redemptive Work.  22:19-20
His institution of the Lord's Supper, with the bread and fruit of the vine, points to the redemption He would accomplish.  The fact He says "this is my body" and "this is my blood" treats His redemptive work as an already done deal, even though He had not yet done it.

2. Great Work.  22:29-30
His words to His disciples not only dealt with the work He was looking to accomplish on the cross, but also what He aimed to do in the future when He would come again.  What He accomplished in His First coming would pave the way for Him to return and exercise Judgment and Rulership as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

3. Preserving Work.  22:31-32
His prayer for Peter's faith not to fail reminds us that Jesus' Work as Savior preserves His saints.

4. Finished work.  22:37-38
Not by sword nor by force would the Kingdom of God and Christ's work be accomplished.  Rather He alone could finish it, which is why He told the dsiciples to put away their swords.

It is these two themes of Jesus as a Willing Savior and a Working Savior that we meet at the Lord's Supper in Luke's Gospel.

Endnotes_______________

1. These counts are based upon the amount of times the title "Savior" occurs in the original text of Luke and Acts.  English translations may have the title listed in more places, since other phrases in the original language in other spots can easily translate "Savior" in English.