Isaiah 41:21-23 "Present your case,” the LORD says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,”
The King of Jacob says. 22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;
As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together."
In yesterday's blog we began looking at the accuracy of scripture in matters of history and current evidence as it pertained to the Tower of Babel incident recorded in Genesis 11. The overall aim of this small series of blogs is not only to shed some light on that event, but to also demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the Biblical text. The above text gives a test and challenge to anyone claiming Divine origin for any document or truth: namely say something accurate about the past, the present, the future and point it all to the God of the Bible.
We have seen that the Bible alone can do this, since in comparison to outside historical sources and current evidence, the Bible does indeed demonstrate accuracy and reliability. What of the future? What does the Bible have to say about the future in light of what took place at the tower of Babel?
From Babel came forth Babylon
Throughout history Babel would become the Empire of Babylon. We read of this empire in the Bible books such as Daniel, Jeremiah and Habakkuk. Other Bible books mention the taking of the Jews into Exile into Babylon, along with their return from that exile in Ezra and Nehemiah. Babylon was begun by Nimrod, and remerged again in Daniel's day under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
Babylon is a picture of the current world system opposed to the believer
In 1 John 2:15-17 we see a description of the Christian's three-fold enemy: The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. The lust of the eyes parallels mankind's desire for material possessions, an economic idolatry. The lust of the flesh corresponds to mankind's desire for power, political idolatry. And the Pride of life speaks to man's desire for religion without the God of the Bible - thus religious idolatry.
Babel and its rebellion sets forth the pattern in which humanity, apart from God's grace is lost and in darkness. It also explains the three-fold rebellion that mankind had and still has against God: economic, political and religious: Economic in refusing to acknowledge God's ownership of their lives; Political in refusing to acknowledge His kingship and religious, refusing to trust in Christ by faith alone.
The Christian's walk through this world requires the power of the Spirit, the cross and the scriptures, as well as other Christians, since this world system, a "babylon of sorts", is hostile to the Christian. It is our responsibility to be salt and light, and to let our light so shine before men so that they may see our works and give praise to the Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
Babylon as the system will give away to Babylon the Great
After the Perisans had conquered the Babylonians, Babylon as a historical empire faded off the scene. However In Revelation 17 and 18 we see prophecies concerning the arising of a future empire that the Bible calls "Babylon the Great". Babylon the Great can be best understood under three headings: Economic, Political and Religious Babylon. In those two chapters, the world system will be unified under one man, the Anti-Christ, who will be the head over the economic, political and religious interests of mankind. Just as in Genesis 11, mankind will once again attempt to unite together in rebellion against God.
With the Bible accurately making sense of the past, as well as explaining why things are presently, we can rest assured that the description of the future is also trustworthy. Thankfully, Christ will return to defeat Babylon the Great. All true Christians will not have to suffer the doom recorded in those chapters. (Please compare 1 Thessalonians 1:10) If anything, whatever is done for man's glory in earth will past, but whatever is done for Christ will last.
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Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
The Tower of Babel: Evidence of Scripture's Accuracy
Genesis 11:4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
How accurate is the Bible
In today's blog I want us to briefly consider how accurate and reliable the Bible is in explaining historical events, present situations and future realities. We will be using the tower of Babel as our case study, noting how all that proceeded from that one event is proof that the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel really did happen. The Bible alone can be termed God's book, since its reliability and accuracy is unmatched.
1. Historical sources confirming the existence of Babel
When we read Genesis 11, we are seeing the combined efforts of all men who were descended from the bloodlines of Noah's sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. With the context of Genesis 10 as a backdrop, we know that in all, 70 different nations were represented. Nimrod, the leader of this rebellious movement, concucted not only the building of this tower of Babel, but also the raising up of the Babylonian city, culture and lifestyle. From this one man, and one movement, would derive all of the religious, political and economic efforts of mankind in rebellion against God.
The Bible tells us in Genesis 11:8 "So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city." Thus this great tower, representing humanity's economic, religious and political anarchy, was ceased in its construction. Mankind dispersed, speaking different languages. But how historical was this event? Was it true? Consider the testimonies throughout world history that refer to this tower:
1. We have discovered sources upon which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the King who reigned in Daniel, had made efforts to reconstruct the tower of babylon which is spoken of in Genesis 11.
2. Herodotus, a Greek Historian writing in 450 b.c, speaks of the existence of a mound of ruins in Babylonia in his day. He describes the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon", one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as being associated with this site.
3. Strabo, another Greek Historian, writes in his book "Geography" a physical description of all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean world in the 1st century A.D. Writing in around the days of Jesus, Strabo describes the ruins of a tower that was 1/4 of a mile at its base and over 600 feet high. Strabo calls this tower the tower of Jupiter of Belus. Belus is Greek designation tower the world "Babylon" or Babel.
Clearly these sources outside of the Bible, composed by men who were not sympathetic to scripture, confirm the existence of this tower. The ancient Babylonians used the term "Babel" in reference to what they believed to be "a gateway to the gods". However the Bible reveals that the term "babel" ended up referring more to "confusion". Indeed, if God had not stepped in and judged mankind at Babel, mankind would had destroyed themselves.
2. Present day evidence for the existence of Babel
With historical testimony affirming the accuracy of the biblical record, what about current-present day evidence?
1. We know from the most recent studies in linguistics that scientists have traced the origins of all modern languages to the area surrounding modern day Iraq and Baghdad - the ancient site of the Tower of Babel. In fact Linguists divide the earth's nearly 7,000 language groups into two general language families - both of which derive from the descendants Noah's sons: Hamio-Semtic (from Ham and Shem, all of the Middle Eastern and Asiatic Languages, like Chinese and Hebrew for instance) and Indo-European (from Japheth, all of the European and Mediterranean languages, such as Russian and Greek).
2. The existence of "towers reaching to the heavens" existing all over the world tells us that man, though dispersed, still carried the rebellious message of Babel in his heart. In Egypt, we have the Pyramids; in Mexico, the mighty Aztec Zigurrauts; In South America, the Mayan ruins; each of these being but examples of shrines devoted to men placing themselves as objects of worship and idolatry.
3. Google Earth is a website where one can download pictures of any place on earth. If you type in the site just South of Modern day Baghdad, Iraq, you will arrive at the ancient site of the tower of Babel. This site, called "Etemenanki" (tower of Marduk), can be found and viewed as a rather large mound of stone and ruins some 60 or so miles South of Baghdad.
So clearly then we have evidence that we can view in our current day and time that this event had occured, and that it also explains the existence of other objects and sites throughout the world. Once again the Bible is affirmed as being fully reliable and accurate in matters of history and science. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:18: "18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
In tomorrows blog, we will look at the future realities described by scripture that speaks of the world's present situation in light of prophecy connected to Babylon the Great and the Tower of Babel.
How accurate is the Bible
In today's blog I want us to briefly consider how accurate and reliable the Bible is in explaining historical events, present situations and future realities. We will be using the tower of Babel as our case study, noting how all that proceeded from that one event is proof that the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel really did happen. The Bible alone can be termed God's book, since its reliability and accuracy is unmatched.
1. Historical sources confirming the existence of Babel
When we read Genesis 11, we are seeing the combined efforts of all men who were descended from the bloodlines of Noah's sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. With the context of Genesis 10 as a backdrop, we know that in all, 70 different nations were represented. Nimrod, the leader of this rebellious movement, concucted not only the building of this tower of Babel, but also the raising up of the Babylonian city, culture and lifestyle. From this one man, and one movement, would derive all of the religious, political and economic efforts of mankind in rebellion against God.
The Bible tells us in Genesis 11:8 "So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city." Thus this great tower, representing humanity's economic, religious and political anarchy, was ceased in its construction. Mankind dispersed, speaking different languages. But how historical was this event? Was it true? Consider the testimonies throughout world history that refer to this tower:
1. We have discovered sources upon which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the King who reigned in Daniel, had made efforts to reconstruct the tower of babylon which is spoken of in Genesis 11.
2. Herodotus, a Greek Historian writing in 450 b.c, speaks of the existence of a mound of ruins in Babylonia in his day. He describes the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon", one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as being associated with this site.
3. Strabo, another Greek Historian, writes in his book "Geography" a physical description of all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean world in the 1st century A.D. Writing in around the days of Jesus, Strabo describes the ruins of a tower that was 1/4 of a mile at its base and over 600 feet high. Strabo calls this tower the tower of Jupiter of Belus. Belus is Greek designation tower the world "Babylon" or Babel.
Clearly these sources outside of the Bible, composed by men who were not sympathetic to scripture, confirm the existence of this tower. The ancient Babylonians used the term "Babel" in reference to what they believed to be "a gateway to the gods". However the Bible reveals that the term "babel" ended up referring more to "confusion". Indeed, if God had not stepped in and judged mankind at Babel, mankind would had destroyed themselves.
2. Present day evidence for the existence of Babel
With historical testimony affirming the accuracy of the biblical record, what about current-present day evidence?
1. We know from the most recent studies in linguistics that scientists have traced the origins of all modern languages to the area surrounding modern day Iraq and Baghdad - the ancient site of the Tower of Babel. In fact Linguists divide the earth's nearly 7,000 language groups into two general language families - both of which derive from the descendants Noah's sons: Hamio-Semtic (from Ham and Shem, all of the Middle Eastern and Asiatic Languages, like Chinese and Hebrew for instance) and Indo-European (from Japheth, all of the European and Mediterranean languages, such as Russian and Greek).
2. The existence of "towers reaching to the heavens" existing all over the world tells us that man, though dispersed, still carried the rebellious message of Babel in his heart. In Egypt, we have the Pyramids; in Mexico, the mighty Aztec Zigurrauts; In South America, the Mayan ruins; each of these being but examples of shrines devoted to men placing themselves as objects of worship and idolatry.
3. Google Earth is a website where one can download pictures of any place on earth. If you type in the site just South of Modern day Baghdad, Iraq, you will arrive at the ancient site of the tower of Babel. This site, called "Etemenanki" (tower of Marduk), can be found and viewed as a rather large mound of stone and ruins some 60 or so miles South of Baghdad.
So clearly then we have evidence that we can view in our current day and time that this event had occured, and that it also explains the existence of other objects and sites throughout the world. Once again the Bible is affirmed as being fully reliable and accurate in matters of history and science. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:18: "18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
In tomorrows blog, we will look at the future realities described by scripture that speaks of the world's present situation in light of prophecy connected to Babylon the Great and the Tower of Babel.
Friday, August 19, 2011
How God is the Christian's Mighty Fortress
The Bible describes seven ways in which the Lord works in preserving and sustaining the Christian. I have found these verses to be helpful in reminding me of just how close God is to me even when I don't feel that He is close. As a Christian you can have the confidence from these texts that you are not only "God called" but "God walled".
1. The Lord is always with us (Matthew 28:20)
2. The Lord is above us watching over us (Ephesians 1:20-21)
3. The Lord is beneath us holding us up (Deuteronomy 33:27)
4. The Lord is before us leading us as the Good Shepherd (John 10:4)
5. The Lord is behind us protecting us from our past (Exodus 14:19; Psalm 23:8)
6. The Lord is around us on every side (Psalm 34:7)
7. The Lord is within us, enabling us to live the Christian life (Galatians 2:20)
1. The Lord is always with us (Matthew 28:20)
2. The Lord is above us watching over us (Ephesians 1:20-21)
3. The Lord is beneath us holding us up (Deuteronomy 33:27)
4. The Lord is before us leading us as the Good Shepherd (John 10:4)
5. The Lord is behind us protecting us from our past (Exodus 14:19; Psalm 23:8)
6. The Lord is around us on every side (Psalm 34:7)
7. The Lord is within us, enabling us to live the Christian life (Galatians 2:20)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Hope for the Weary Soul
I can trust God when....
EVIL SEEMS TO HAVE THE UPPER HANDPsalm 37:1-4 1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
I FEEL OVERWHELMEDRomans 8:28 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I AM DISCOURAGED2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
I AM AFRAIDPsalm 27:1 1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
I AM ANXIOUS1 Peter 5:7 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
I NEED GUIDANCEProverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
MY BURDENS SEEM HEAVYMatthew 11:28-30 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
EVIL SEEMS TO HAVE THE UPPER HANDPsalm 37:1-4 1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
I FEEL OVERWHELMEDRomans 8:28 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I AM DISCOURAGED2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
I AM AFRAIDPsalm 27:1 1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
I AM ANXIOUS1 Peter 5:7 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
I NEED GUIDANCEProverbs 3:5-6 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
MY BURDENS SEEM HEAVYMatthew 11:28-30 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
God the Great Missionary's Mission
Christianity's personal Great Commission
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
In this past several series of blogs we have been sketching out the Eternal Career of God the Great Missionary. Today we will be concluding our brief look at God the Great Missionary by noting how God aims to use Christians in His activity as the Great Missionary.
The Triune God - The Author of Reconciliation
Note the three phrases I underscored in the above text. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 stands out as the believer's personal great commission. If we identify the Great Commission's pedigree beginning at Genesis 12:1-3 and being reitterated by Jesus to the Apostles in Matthew 28:18-20, then we can say that it is being personalized here in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. The theme of course is reconciliation. God's act of reconciliation was His idea from Eternity. There is no contradiction between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
It wasn't that God the Son was alone in His compassion towards unsaved human beings, with God the Father being unwilling and angry and the Holy Spirit having to decide between the two. Rather all three Persons of the Trinity, sharing in the same undivided divine Life as God, chose to act. The Father planned reconciliation, the Son purchased reconciliation and the Holy Spirit applies reconciliation by gifting folks with faith and repentance to believe on their Reconciler.
God's use of believer's in His mission
From the three underlined phrases above, I want you to note the three aspects of how God the Great Missionary desires to use all true Christians in His great missionary cause:
1. The Mission's purpose is supplied by Him 5:17-18
-God is desiring to take those whom He has set His affections upon and make them new creatures. If any man be in Christ refers to the reception of such truth by faith. The purpose of all this, the gifting of faith and the actual reconciliation of believers to their Savior is all from God.
2. The Mission is personal 5:19
-God has given us this ministry of reconciliation. This reveals just how personally involved God desires every Christian to be in this endeavor to reach the world for Jesus Christ.
3. The Mission is powerful 5:20-21
-The most remarkable thing about this text is that it is God who is making the appeal through us. Missions truly alligns Christianity with the heart of God.
-To realize that the salvation of sinners is not up to us, but up to God, and that He so chooses to work through those willing to allign with Him is both a humbling and encouraging truth.
-To realize that God not only indwells Christians at salvation, but desires to work through believers reveals His intent from all eternity, to have a redeemed group of human beings through which He can display the riches of His glory. May everyone who names Christ in their hearts and on their lips manifest His name in their lives. Let us all be His mouth and hands and feet in reaching this world for Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
In this past several series of blogs we have been sketching out the Eternal Career of God the Great Missionary. Today we will be concluding our brief look at God the Great Missionary by noting how God aims to use Christians in His activity as the Great Missionary.
The Triune God - The Author of Reconciliation
Note the three phrases I underscored in the above text. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 stands out as the believer's personal great commission. If we identify the Great Commission's pedigree beginning at Genesis 12:1-3 and being reitterated by Jesus to the Apostles in Matthew 28:18-20, then we can say that it is being personalized here in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. The theme of course is reconciliation. God's act of reconciliation was His idea from Eternity. There is no contradiction between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
It wasn't that God the Son was alone in His compassion towards unsaved human beings, with God the Father being unwilling and angry and the Holy Spirit having to decide between the two. Rather all three Persons of the Trinity, sharing in the same undivided divine Life as God, chose to act. The Father planned reconciliation, the Son purchased reconciliation and the Holy Spirit applies reconciliation by gifting folks with faith and repentance to believe on their Reconciler.
God's use of believer's in His mission
From the three underlined phrases above, I want you to note the three aspects of how God the Great Missionary desires to use all true Christians in His great missionary cause:
1. The Mission's purpose is supplied by Him 5:17-18
-God is desiring to take those whom He has set His affections upon and make them new creatures. If any man be in Christ refers to the reception of such truth by faith. The purpose of all this, the gifting of faith and the actual reconciliation of believers to their Savior is all from God.
2. The Mission is personal 5:19
-God has given us this ministry of reconciliation. This reveals just how personally involved God desires every Christian to be in this endeavor to reach the world for Jesus Christ.
3. The Mission is powerful 5:20-21
-The most remarkable thing about this text is that it is God who is making the appeal through us. Missions truly alligns Christianity with the heart of God.
-To realize that the salvation of sinners is not up to us, but up to God, and that He so chooses to work through those willing to allign with Him is both a humbling and encouraging truth.
-To realize that God not only indwells Christians at salvation, but desires to work through believers reveals His intent from all eternity, to have a redeemed group of human beings through which He can display the riches of His glory. May everyone who names Christ in their hearts and on their lips manifest His name in their lives. Let us all be His mouth and hands and feet in reaching this world for Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Great Missionary's Plan to Reach the Nations
Genesis 12:1-3 1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This text is where we find the first mention of a specific strategy for God's mission to the world. Certainly we can note the following features of this incredible text:
1. He called a particular man - Abraham
2. He had a particular place for this man to go - Canaan
3. He desired to make a particular nation from this man - Israel
4. He desired to use this nation for a particular purpose - Be a blessing
5. He had a particular goal in mind - His glory
God's glory is defined in terms of the word "blessing". It is when God gives Himself to be enjoyed and treasured by a people who are affected to trust in Him. In a span of just three verses God was to lay out His entire missionary strategy in the Old Testament. Through Abraham's Son Isaac and grandson Jacob would come the nation of Israel. God's program for the nations was to be funnelled through tiny Israel. The Bible says that in ancient times God had orchestrated the number of the nations on earth in accordance to the number of the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8). Ultimately God the great missionary desired to use redeemed human beings as His voice and hands. Although Israel would ultimately fail in its mission set by God, God's will to reach out to the nations would not fail. Furthermore, Romans 11 tells us that God still has a plan for restoring Israel in the future.
How do we know that God still wants to use redeemed human beings as his hands and voice in reaching the nations? Matthew 28:18-20 represents Jesus' great commission to His church: 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Note the similarities to the pattern we found in Genesis 12:1-3:
1. He called a particular people - The Apostles
2. He has a particular place for them to go - The world
3. He desired to make a particular people from their preaching - Disciples
4. He desired to use disciples, the church, for a purpose - be a blessing
5. He has a particular goal in mind - His glory
He desires to use Christians as His voice and hands to reach out to a world needing to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
This text is where we find the first mention of a specific strategy for God's mission to the world. Certainly we can note the following features of this incredible text:
1. He called a particular man - Abraham
2. He had a particular place for this man to go - Canaan
3. He desired to make a particular nation from this man - Israel
4. He desired to use this nation for a particular purpose - Be a blessing
5. He had a particular goal in mind - His glory
God's glory is defined in terms of the word "blessing". It is when God gives Himself to be enjoyed and treasured by a people who are affected to trust in Him. In a span of just three verses God was to lay out His entire missionary strategy in the Old Testament. Through Abraham's Son Isaac and grandson Jacob would come the nation of Israel. God's program for the nations was to be funnelled through tiny Israel. The Bible says that in ancient times God had orchestrated the number of the nations on earth in accordance to the number of the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:8). Ultimately God the great missionary desired to use redeemed human beings as His voice and hands. Although Israel would ultimately fail in its mission set by God, God's will to reach out to the nations would not fail. Furthermore, Romans 11 tells us that God still has a plan for restoring Israel in the future.
How do we know that God still wants to use redeemed human beings as his hands and voice in reaching the nations? Matthew 28:18-20 represents Jesus' great commission to His church: 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Note the similarities to the pattern we found in Genesis 12:1-3:
1. He called a particular people - The Apostles
2. He has a particular place for them to go - The world
3. He desired to make a particular people from their preaching - Disciples
4. He desired to use disciples, the church, for a purpose - be a blessing
5. He has a particular goal in mind - His glory
He desires to use Christians as His voice and hands to reach out to a world needing to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Bible's Greatest Missionary
IDENTIFYING THE BIBLE'S GREATEST MISSIONARY
What is a missionary? A missionary is one who is sent to communicate a particular message to a particular people on behalf of the God of the Bible. The word “mission” itself comes from a Latin word “missio”, which in its most ancient meaning referred to artillery that was “shot out” to a given target.
Next question: Who is the greatest missionary recorded in the Bible? Some may say the Apostle Paul, who wrote two thirds of the New Testament and was declared to the “Apostle” or “Missionary“ to the Gentiles (that is, the non-Jewish Nations). Others may name a prophet like Moses, who was “sent” to the Jewish people in Bondage in Egypt. Though these are good suggestions, they are not even close. The greatest missionary in the Bible is none other than God Himself.
GOD'S FIRST MISSION
In fact the first mention of missions in the Bible is found in Genesis 3:8-21. The circumstances follow the great rebellion of Adam and Eve against God’s command to them to “not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and Evil”. This command is the foundation behind what Bible teachers call “The Covenant of works”. It was an arrangement given by God to man whereby Divine blessing and eternal benefits would be granted conditioned upon man’s obedience. If Adam and Eve would had fulfilled the Covenant of works, they could had eaten from the tree of life, and entered into eternal communion with God. Instead they chose to heed the voice of the serpent, and the Covenant of works was broken.
What was needed was another covenant, another arrangement. God would have to be the one to do the work. Man would never and could never attain right relationship with God through obedience. It was going to have to be a covenant of grace, whereby God would extend Himself to man, with man receiving such grace by faith alone. It is in this context we find God, the great missionary pursuing man. Below is a brief outline of what God did, and is still doing today in His great missionary activity in this world. Genesis 3:8-21 provides the seeds for understanding the missionary activity of God throughout the rest of scripture.
SO HOW IS GOD THE GREAT MISSIONARY?
1. God seeks after the sinner Genesis 3:8-14
-Notice how the man and the woman hide from God. God is the one calling after them. God is the One who comes down to them. They are lost, needing to be found.
-Notice how man blames God. Man has no interest in reconciling with God. He is content to remain where He is. God is the one needing to affect the reconciliation
2. God states salvation to the sinner Genesis 3:15
-This verse is the first verse we see referring to God’s promises of a Redeemer. “The Seed” is a term that when traced throughout the scriptures, through 334 prophecies and promises, leads to Jesus Christ.
-This verse also contains what would remain the course of history, the great conflict between the people of God saved by Grace alone through faith alone and those who persist in their rebellion and unbelief.
-The salvation that begun in a garden would find its resolution in another Garden, the Garden of Gethsemene. In the first Garden Old Adam failed and refused to allign with God's will. At Gethsemene the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, alligned his human will with the Father's Divine will and agreed to pay for our salvation.
3. God sends Grace to open the sinner’s eyes Genesis 3:20
-Adam calls his wife “Eve”, the mother of living, in response to the promise given through her in Genesis 3:15. This is what I term his confession of faith
-The Bible is pretty clear that faith is a gift given by God, whereby we are set free to freely trust in Christ and confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9)
4. God supplies a Substitute to die in the sinner’s place Genesis 3:21
-God provided coats of skins from two animals He killed in place of Adam and Eve. This sets the pattern of the innocent dying for the guilty and the blood being the payment in appeasing the wrath of Holy God.
-God’s clothing of Adam and Eve meant He reckoned to them the fitness to be in His presence due to the innocent life of those slain in their place. This is what we called “imputed righteousness”. This is the cornerstone of salvation. God’s declaration of this truth over us the moment we believe is what is termed “Justification by Faith”.
Thank you Lord for being the Great Missionary!
Thank you Lord for being the Great Missionary!
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