The King's Table in Matthew

Matthew 26:17 "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”



Jesus Christ the King in Matthew's Gospel
As we come to the Gospel of Matthew, we are introduced to Jesus Christ the King.  By human bloodline He is descended from the famous King David, King of Israel, as revealed in Matthew 1:1-17.  By virtue of the fact that Jesus Christ is also fully Divine He is the King of Kings, holding all power in Heaven and on earth, as stated clearly in Matthew 28:18.  Matthew's aim was to legally, theologically and historically demonstrate Jesus Christ as the true King of the Jews, and ultimately King of Kings.  Matthew 2:2 for example has the Magi coming from the East to worship the Christ child Whom they term: "King of the Jews".  As you fast-forward 33 years later to His crucifixion, we discover that Pilate had written on a board nailed above Christ's head on the cross: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". (Matthew 27:11,29,37). 

The Lord's Supper in Matthew is the King's Table
With that brief survey of Matthew's Gospel and theme, the aim of today's blog is to zero in on what Matthew portrays to us concerning the account of the Lord's Supper in Matthew 26:19-30.  As a Christian, you may periodically celebrate the Lord's Supper with your church.  As a Pastor I have the privilege of leading our church periodically in the celebration of this Covenant Meal insituted by our Lord.  Southern Baptists refer to the Lord's Supper as an ordinance: meaning that it was "ordained" or "commanded" by the Lord Jesus in the Gospels, preached in Acts and explained or discussed in the Epistles.1  Only one other activity fits that definition: Believer's Baptism.  To me, when I come to the Lord's table, I learn something new, and the account here in Matthew is no different. 

As we look briefly through Matthew's record of Jesus instituting this Covenant Meal with His disciples (and ultimately the church - see 1 Corinthians 11:23), I want you and I to consider this question for today: What is necessary for you to know as you approach the scene of the King's Table here in Matthew 26:17-30? 

Jesus The King is in Charge.  Matthew 26:17-19
What did the disciples say in Matthew 26:17 - "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  We as Christians have got to remember that Jesus Christ is the King, we are His people and this is His table.  He is meeting with us by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  As we take up those symbols of His body and blood, He is so pleased, by His Spirit, to remind us and impress on our hearts that He is in charge.  Our honest attitude ought to be: "King Jesus, what do you want me to do for you?"  The reason why we as a local church body celebrate this meal together is to be reminded of this fact that Jesus the King is in charge.  Matthew spells out for us what all Jesus is in charge of as The True King:

1. Jesus in the King of Salvation.  Mt 1:21
2. Jesus is the King over His Church.  Mt 16, 17, 18
3. Jesus is the Appointed King in Judgment.  Mt 24-25
4. Jesus is your King, dear Christian.  Mt 26:17
5. Jesus is the King of all things.  Mt 28:18

Jesus the King's Cross.  Matthew 26:20-28
There is no question, everytime we approach the King's table, we are reminded of the fact that Jesus Christ is in charge.  However before the Crown of Gold was placed on His Head, there had to be a crown of thorns.  The bulk of the liturgy in Jesus' institution of the Lord's supper focuses around the cross.  Now you have to realize that Jesus' actions took place in the context of the Old Testament Covenant Meal known as the Passover.2  Scriptures such as these, time and time again, connect Jesus the King's activity as being the Lamb of God who would die for the sins of the world. (John 1:29, 3:16, Revelation 5). 

With that said, we can see in A,B,C,D fashion the King's cross as the central focal point of the King's table here in Matthew 26:20-28:

1. Agony of the cross.  In John 13:21, we see Jesus entering into His agony at the beginning of this meal.  The Agony of the cross was already starting to be laid upon His shoulders.

2. Betrayal that led to the cross.  Judas' betrayal is mentioned three times here in Matthew 26:21,23,24.

3. Crucifixion on the cross.  Jesus Himself mentions how the bread and the fruit of the vine picture His body and blood that would be shed on the cross by His impending crucifixion in Matthew 26:26-28

4. Death as a result of the cross.  By shedding His blood and giving His body, Jesus was to die on the cross as the sinner's substitute. 

Only the King of Kings, exalted in the Heavens, would stoop to the lowest possible level to redeem those who on the lowest possible level would by grace through faith be raised to be with Him. (Ephesians 2:5-10; Philippians 2:5-11).  But notice a third truth we learn as we gather at the King's Table here in Matthew....

The King is Coming Again.  Matthew 26:29-30
Jesus says to His disciples in Matthew 26:29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”  In the Passover celebration Jesus and the disciples would had drank out of four cups situated on the table.  Each cup was to be drank from throughout the course of the meal.  Basing the meaning of each cup off of Exodus 6:1-8, the Jews assigned the following meanings:

1st Cup = Cup of Sanctification.  Exodus 6:1-4God setting apart His people
2nd Cup = Cup of Deliverance. Exodus 6:5 God Breaking the chains of slavery
3rd Cup = Cup of Redemption. Exodus 6:6 God redeeming His people out of Egypt into Freedom with Him
4th Cup = Cup of the Kingdom. Exodus 6:7-8 God aims to make the people a Kingdom of Priests who will worship Him and be with Him, and He with them as their King.

As Jesus would had been celebrating this meal with His disciples, they would had went through the 1st and 2nd cups.  Luke's Gospel records Jesus referring to two separate cups.  There was the one cup which He said signified His redemptive act, which would had been the third cup in the Passover meal.  The other cup of which he could not drink would had been the fourth cup - the cup of the Kingdom.  Thus Jesus indicated that the Covenant Meal, and he being the King of the Table that night, was no doubt centered primarily around the third cup - the redemption of which He was going to accomplish in a matter of hours the next day.  But we must hasten to add that the fourth cup has yet to be drank! Christ, the true King, is coming again! If you by grace through faith have believed on Him, you will be able to share that cup with Christ when He returns. 

Truly Christians are a people of the two comings: His 1st coming and 2nd coming, His cross and His crown.  The King's table reminds us that Jesus Christ is not a dead Savior, but a Risen, Reigning and Returning One!  He is the King - Let us Worship Him and Serve Him and Enjoy Him at His table!

End Notes:__________________
1. It is truly significant to note that the Old Testament offers some significant pictures and events that preview or foreshadow the Lord's Supper Covenant Meal:

-The first is Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis 14.  Melchizedek
was a Christophany or Old Testament revelation of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 110; Hebrews 5 and 7)  He came to Abraham with bread and wine, elements that were used to signify His blessing and recognition of Abraham's identity in the sight of God.  Abraham of course was the father of faith and the Hebrew nation. 

-The second picture is that of the Passover celebration, commemorating God's deliverance of Israel across the Red Sea.  The Jews were to slaughter a lamb and spread its blood upon the door posts and gates of their homes so as to abate the judgment of  the death of the first born by Death Angel "passing over".  Being that the Jews fled Egypt in the middle of the night, unleavened bread was included in the festival of passover.  Over time, the fruit of the vine and four cups were included to bring out richer meaning to the meal.

-The third & final Old Testament picture of the Lord's Supper that I want to mention is when King David in 2 Samuel 9 showed kindness to Saul's grandson Mephiboseth.  Saul of course had tried to kill David, and pursued him for many years.  Furthermore, Mephibosheth would had been considered an enemy of the state, coupled with the fact that he was lame in both feet.  Despite those facts, David chose to show kindness and invite Mephibosheth to His table to "eat at the king's table regularly". (1 Samuel 9:15)  Isn't that what the King's table is in the New Testament church, the King inviting us to come who were lame in the feet, descended at one time from an enemy, Adam and ultimately Satan. (Ephesians 2:1-4) Yet He being rich in mercy gave His life.  The King's table reminds us of who we are and whose we are. 

2. Back in Exodus 12 God instituted that meal in lieu of what would be His deliverance of the Jews out of Egypt via the Red Sea. Every year they were to celebrate Passover. What Jesus was doing was bringing everything that meal and event foreshadowed to its logical and prophetic end - namely Himself. Jesus Christ came to be God's lamb who would die for the sins of the people. (Isaiah 53; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7) He came as the Lamb of God who would die for the sins of the world so that time could be given for all men to have a chance to hear the Gospel. He came to purchase His church with His blood. (Acts 20:28)

Topics for Living Working Faith

James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Who was James?
James was the first book written in the New Testament, predating the first Gospel of Matthew by 5-10 years.  Other scriptures reveal to us that James was the half brother of Jesus according to the flesh (Matthew 13:55), did not believe Jesus to be who He said he was during His earthly ministry (John 7:4-5) but did believe after Christ's resurrection from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:6)  Further scriptures also tell us that James was present with 119 other Christians in the upper room before Pentecost (Acts 1:14) and eventually became one of the main leaders, if not the main leader at the church of Jerusalem as demonstrated in Acts 15.  With that resume, James was duly qualified by the standards of men to write what he wrote, however we know that He wrote by the divine inspiration of the Holy Ghost. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Topics for Christian living from James 1-2
With that brief introduction to James, we now can note the incredible value of his letter.  The theme that we could assign to the book of James is that of "Living working Faith".  In the head verse listed in today's blog (James 2:26) we find the key verse to the whole book.  All in all, James is concerned with the practical demonstration of true saving faith.  In just the first two chapters alone we find several key topics that trace out the implications of this overall theme of living working faith.  As you look over the outline of the first two chapters of James, I'm sure there will be at least one topic that the Lord will bring to your attention that you will find applicable to your life today.  When you note that topic, I would encourage you to read the reference in James that is situated beside that topic's name.

James 1-2 "Living Working Faith"

 

Topics for Daily Christian Living                       Reference in James

 

Pursuing Spiritual Maturity                               1:1

                                                                                  I would encourage the

                                                                         reader to look at the

                                                                         above introduction that

                                                                         gives a thumbnail

                                                                         sketch of James' life.

                                                                         The verses therein will

                                                                         will show how James

                                                                         went from unbelief to

                                                                         faith and grew in

                                                                         spiritual maturity

 

Place of Trials                                                  1:2-12

                                                                         

Understanding & Defeating Temptation           1:13-17

 

The New Birth                                                  1:17-21

 

Scripture, the Christian's Strength                   1:21-25

 

Taking your Spiritual Temperature                   1:26-27

 

Favoritism not Allowed                                     2:1-13 & 1 John 4:7-21

                                                                         The reader is 

                                                                         encouraged to read

                                                                         James 2:1-13 &

                                                                         1 John 4:7-21 side

                                                                         by side for comparison

 

Living Faith Works                                            2:14-21

 

James is designed to be a letter that looks and reads like the Christian life

It has often been said that James is the Proverbs of the New Testament, insofar as James delivers many general and wise prescriptions for what ails the Christian's faith-life.  As you read through James, you will discover that James will cover an idea, leave it, then pick up that idea in fuller detail.   I find that to be how the Lord works in the Christian life.  We will encounter a truth or situation for a period of time, only to move onto another truth or situation.  Like a winding staircase, the Lord will have us revisit the truth.  From our lower story perspective (a phrase borrowed from Randy Frazee's study "The Story"), we appear to be moving in circles, however from God's upper story perspective, we are winding our way, onward and upward. 

 

As we close today, I would encourage you to study James.  It is a powerful little book full of wisdom and power for practical, daily Christian living.  It gives you the tools you'll need for Living working Faith.   

 

                            

God's Progressive Revelation about the Tongue

James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

Yesterday we looked at the Bible study principle of interpreting scripture in light of other scripture.  Today we will consider another vital Bible study tool that like yesterday's, flows from the very character of scripture itself.  The Bible is God's progressive revelation of His mind to man.  I find the Book of James to be such a great Book for demonstrating Bible study tools, since the Book is all about "Living Working Christianity" or "Christian faith at work".  When we can demonstrate the doctrine we believe by experience, we prove we have grasped that teaching by faith.  Today I want us to look at what James has to teach on the tongue. 

Progressive revelation simply refers to how God will reveal an idea, and then expand on that idea in a clearer and fuller way over time and throughout scripture.  Sometimes we will see this over the course of the whole Bible or in a particular Bible book.  Watch what James does in writing to us about the tongue in each chapter of his letter:

1. James 1:26 "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless."

2. James 2:12 "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty."

3. James 2:15 "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."

4 . James 3:2 "we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well."

5. James 3:5  "So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things."

6. James 3:6 "And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell."

7. James 3:8-9  "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way."

8. James 4:11  "Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it."

9. James 4:14-16  "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."

10. James 5:12-16   "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
13Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14Is 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; 15and 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. 16Therefore, 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."

As you noticed, the underlined words signify various acts you can do with your tongue - both Godly and ungodly.  The Holy Ghost through James' pen progressively reveals in greater detail and depth the simple principle articulated in James 1:26.  We see just how powerful the tongue can be.  May you and I, by the leading of the Spirit and not our selfish-desires, use our tongue to advance the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Comparing James & Paul on the tongue

James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

Galatians 5:12 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

Scripture is truly its own best interpreter.  The Bible teachers of old used to quote a principle in Bible interpretation that went something like this: "When trying to understand a more difficult scripture, interpret it in light of a clearer scripture."  I have found this principle to be so helpful in over 20 years of studying scripture.1 In today's blog I want to illustrate to you how two scriptures, speaking on the same topic, can function by aid of the Holy Spirit to make plain what He is trying to say to us.  The topic is going to be on controlling your tongue as a Christian.  My test case is going to be James 3 and Galatians 5.  I'll first of all give you a very brief summary of each text, and then trace out some key points of comparison between both, with a final set of applications.

Summarizing James 3 and Galatians 5
James, as we noted yesterday, was the first and earliest book written in the New Testament.  Paul's letter to the Galatian church was the earliest of his 13 letters written (14 if you consider Hebrews to be his as well).  With James and Galatians we see examples of the earliest forms of Christian thinking and doctrine following the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  James 3 is dealing with the issue of controlling the tongue, referring to it almost 10 times and illustrating the need to control it several different ways.  Galatians 5 is contrasting the difference between being led or controlled by the flesh versus being led or controlled by the Holy Spirit, as seen at least four times in that chapter. (Galatians 5:16,18,22,25) .  With that brief comparison, we can note that the common link between the two chapters is on the subject of "controlling influence."

James 3 and Galatians 5 in comparison
James is written to a Jewish audience, meaning that in a letter written primarily to Jews, the style of thinking and teaching is going to proceed more like a spiral staircase.  When you go up the "spiral staircase" of a Jewish writing like James, you'll encounter a "truth" and then later on encounter the same truth again, only in a much  deeper way.  James will often introduce a thought and then leave it, only to pick it up once again.  Galatians on the other hand was written to a more Gentile audience.  Gentiles (non Jewish people) tend to think and write in a "straight line" or "linear fashion", meaning they will introduce a subject, explain it, move onto the next subject, explain it, and so on until a conclusion is reached.  If you want to see this illustrated, look at the footnotes below to see a visualization of the two ways of thinking.2   With that in mind, we can now compare James 3 and Galatians 5:

James 3:1-12                                                   Galatians 5

James 3:1 Warnings to teachers        Galatians 5:1-14 Warnings  about mishandling God's word           about false teachers who did
through their speech                          mishandle and misguide
                                                           God's people by their speech
                                                           & teaching

James 3:2-4 The Spirit led tongue     Gal 5:16,18 22-25 The
                                                           Spirit-led believer

James 3:5-8 The Carnal, unbelieving   Gal 5:15, 19-21 The Carnal,
tongue                                                   unbeliever

James 3:9-12 The Compromising      Gal 5:15, 26 The
tongue                                                Compromising believer
                                                           (carnally minded Christian)

Defining key biblical terms such as "carnal", "flesh", "self", "the human spirit" & "carnal Christian" can greatly aid in seeing the connections between the two passages as you glean the interpetation and application.3 

Applying the truth derived from our study of James 3 and Galatians 5
First and foremost, Galatians 5 gives us an overview of three spiritual conditions that are defined throughout the Bible: Carnal unbelievers, Spirit led Christians and Compromising Christians.  James 3 gives us a more specific picture of these three, noting how each will sound when they use their tongues. 

Secondly, James tells us that a Spirit-led Christian's tongue will be self controlled, functioning like reigns on a horse or a rudder on a ship. (James 3:1-4)  Though the presence of sin remains in a Christian following conversion, they do not have to be subject to the self-life's cries for saying whatever first comes to mind.  Galatians 5:16 plainly tells us that when we are led by the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:22 also)  Only the Holy Spirit is more powerful than the natural, carnal desires that otherwise cannot be tamed by human means.

Thirdly, James moves onto the tongue of the carnal unbeliever.  None can tame the tongue whether by behaviorial reform or coercion.  Nature teaches that animals can be tamed, however the tongue in its natural setting is untamable. (James 3:5-8)  In Galatians 5, Paul describes the out of control tongues of the unbelieving false teachers (Galatians 5:1-6) as well as the nature of the unbeliever's heart that is producing the destructive speech. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Then finally, James describes the sad case of the compromising Christian who tries to talk both ways: out of his human spirit and out of his soul or carnal nature.  Sadly he is a living contradiction.  Paul too warns those try to sit on both sides of the fence so to speak, noting that a Christian who is careless with his speech will tear down others in the process. (Galatians 5:15,26)

May this brief study today prove to not only be instructive but useful in equaipping you with another tool for study God's Word. 

End Notes__________
1 For those interested, the Latin term for this principle is analogia scriptorum,  meaning "the analogy of the scriptures" or in our modern language: "let scripture interpret scripture".  Cross referencing is perhaps the greatest tool availaablee to the Bible Student, since it uses this principle in its practice.

2 Think of Jewish and Gentile (Greek) styles of writing, learning, teaching in the following ways by using simple letters of the alphabet:

Greek Style of teaching/learning: A,  B,  C,  D ---> Conclusion

Jewish Style of teaching/learning: A,       B,  C,D
                                                           A,  B,  C,D-->Conclusion
                                                               A,B,C,D-->Conclusion again

3 For the reader who is interested, I have briefly defined the terms mentioned above with the blog with verse references.  

Flesh - A similar meaning term referred to in scripture as "the flesh", refers to the overall location of activity that is carried out by the "carnal" attitude. The flesh can refer to the physical body or human soul. This is Paul's emphasis in Galatians 5.

Carnal - First, to be "carnal" refers to an attitude of unbelief operating out of the fallen presence of sin in our soul. I see James touching more on this aspect of the "natural" unredeemed human being. Admittedly this category is borrowed from Paul's letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 2-3, but that in itself only serve to prove how one scripture aids in interpreting another.


Self- A third term, "the self" refers to that power or principle that wants what it wants, when it wants and how it wants. The self is the sinful me, utilizing my soul's mind, emotions, will and conscience to carry out the carnal attitude through the activities of the flesh. Non-Christian people are 100% carnal, operating and interpreting life out of their soul's mind, emotions and will. Their spirit, which is their innermost part, is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, rendering them uninterested in God or the things of God. (1 Corinthians 2)Jew
is, B,  


The human spirit - The "spirit" is that innermost part of me wherein the Spirit of God indwells. To be "spiritual" means I am operating out of my "human spirit" that is indwelled and informed by God the Holy Spirit. The Carnally minded Christian (carnal Christian) A "carnal Christian" is a Christian who, though indwelt by the Holy Spirit in their human spirit, has nevertheless chosen to rely on the left over remnants of sin in their human soul. Thus they will live a "reverse hypocrisy" - meaning that they willfully act opposite of what they truly are (a new creation in Jesus Christ). A carnally minded Christian will be more influenced by the self operating in his soul than the Holy Spirit operating in his human spirit.

The Bible's Four Heavens

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Revelation 21:1 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea."

The term "heaven" or "heavens" is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible.  When the Bible speaks about "heaven", we must be aware of the fact that at least four places are being referred to by that one word "Heaven".  In today's blog I want to outline for you the scripture's teaching on what I call "The four Heavens".  In Genesis we see mention of the first three and in Revelation we see reference to the fourth place the scripture calls "The New Heavens". 

1. The First Heaven - The Earth's atmosphere or sky
When the Bible says God "created the heavens and the earth", the word "heaven" in the text is rendered plural - telling us that there are multiple heavens.  In Genesis 1:8 we see reference to what is termed "The first Heaven", the sky - "And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day."  Quite literally the word translated "firmament" comes from a Latin root, which in turn is a translation of the Hebrew original that means "a stretched canopy or covering".  Much like when you pitch a tent and have to stretch the canvas over a frame, God took the atmosphere of Nitrogen, Oxygen and other gases and stretched them around the globe he had made.  Already He had set the earth rotating about its axis as it was illuminated by His glory.  With the first heaven, the sky, now in place, Earth would be ready for the Sun He would create on day four and the birds He would create on day five. 

2. The second Heaven - The Universe
Genesis 1:1,8,9 mentions the first heaven - the atmosphere and the sky.  In Genesis 1:14 we see the first reference to what can be termed the second Heaven or "universe" - the domain of stars, planets, moons and space itself.  Genesis 1:14 states - "And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens, to divide between the day and the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years".  God had already created the space in which the earth was suspended.  In continuing the stretching forth of the universe, God made the sun, the moon and later on the stars. Astronomers estimate our earth and moon, along with the seven other planets and other objects going around the sun, with their attendant moons, are sweeping through our Milky Way Galaxy at 500,000 m.p.h.  Our Galaxy is composed of over 100 billion stars, with over 100 billion galaxies populating our universe.  This is but a sample of what the Bible and science has to say about this much larger second heaven - the universe.

3. The Third Heaven - God's Throneroom
As we travel through Genesis, we see another 30 or so mentions of the word "heaven" with most references to either the first heaven (sky) or second heaven (universe).  In Genesis 28:12 we read: "And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to the heavens. And behold, angels of God ascended and descended upon it."  Though scripture up to this point indirectly alludes to the existence of a distinct realm in which God occupies as Sovereign and Lord over His creation (Genesis 2:1-3), as well as the existence of angels, yet this verse shows the activity of the third heaven touching down here on earth.  According to John 1:51, what Jacob saw was none other than an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ.  It is in 2 Corinthians 12 that the Apostle Paul refers to this realm as the "third heaven" (hence the reason for terming the first two realms as "1st heaven" and "2nd heaven").  More could be said but for now we must move on to the the fourth major type of realm, a realm that is referred to as "the New Heavens".

4. The "Fourth" place called Heaven -  The New Heavens
Admittedly the the "New Heavens and New Earth" described in many Old and New Testament passages is a realm that is in one sense future to us.  Its main time of manifestation will occur when Christ has ruled and reigned for 1,000 years and sets up the Great White Throne Judgment.  We can also say that when we as Christian's experienced the New Birth, that greatest of all realities described at the end of the Bible is being "previewed" in us, since the Bible describes the Christian as a "new creation in Christ". (2 Corinthians 5:17) The Bible tells us in Revelation 20-21 that following this judgment, the first three heavens will be done away with, and in their place a New Heaven and a New Earth will be established by God.  It appears that God will somehow transform our current world and perhaps the third Heaven into that incredible reality spoken of at the end of Revelation.  However it could very well be too that God does away with this present order completely and re-creates a whole new earth and a whole new Heaven.  More could be said on these two thoughts, but I want to hasten onto the main point of Revelation 21.

The point of Revelation 21 is that the New Heavens and the New Earth are no longer spearated from one another.  The Glory of God will indeed flood the New earth and Heaven will touch down upon our planet.  Just as the second heaven exceeds the first, and just as the third heaven far exceeds the second in beauty and grandeur, this "new Heavens" will exceed them all, being that it will be saturated with God's unending glory.  Furthermore, the "New Heavens" will saturate the "New Earth" with God's unending glory, literally fulfilling His ultimate will of "the earth being filled with His glory". (Habakkuk 2:14)

May your thoughts and mind be raised to the heavens to marvel at the Lord and His glory. 

Past, Present and Future Hope

2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

As I think about the text we just read, the intended audience is described as “those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours”. In today's blog I am going to share some thoughts on the three kinds of hope that are made available through “the faith of the same kind” spoken here by Peter.  When you believe in God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ by the leading of the Holy Spirit, what occurs? What three kinds of hope become yours at saving faith as provided by Jesus Christ, the Christian's living Hope?  Note these three thoughts:

1. Past Forgiven.  2 Peter 1:1-2

2. Power to live presently.  2 Peter 1:3-10
3. Promise of future heavenly home. 2 Pt 1:11-12

A Testimony of hope
I recall one time talking to someone about their need to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of the their sins.  I quoted Romans 3:23 -  “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” In that verse we are told that in the eyes of God’s law, we were born dead sins and tresspasses, morally guilty and spiritually separated from God.  I then told them that unless they agreed with the testimony of scripture, they would die in their sins and live a Christless eternity in Hell.  The Spirit of God began to deal with the person and they suddenly realized that it was time to “receive that faith” spoken of here by Peter.  The following three kinds of hope became their's and can be yours when you by grace through faith trust in Jesus Christ...

The Past is forgiven.  2 Peter 1:1-2

God grants grace and peace.  Grace is God doing for you what you cannot do for yourself.  Peace is what takes place between you and God the moment you acknowledge by grace through faith the awfulness of your sin and the awesomeness of Jesus Christ.  Past sins are forgiven. (Eph 1:7)  But notice also....

Power to live presently.  2 Peter 1:3-10

These verses tell you what fruit you should see in your new found Christian life.  All the things listed hear speak of “addition” and “progression”.  According to 2 Peter 1:5-10 you add to your faith:

moral excellence-->to moral excellence, knowledge--> to knowledge, self control--> to selfcontrol, perseverance--> to perseverance, godliness--> to Godliness, brotherly kindness--> to brotherly kindness, love.

Onward and upward progression as a result of adding to your faith leads to multiplied blessings.  When a person believes in Jesus Christ for their salvation, the hope of a forgiven past is granted through justification.  However we have to realize that present hope is also given in the form of power to live the Christian life in an onward and upward progression - or sanctification.  The overall message of 2 Peter 1:3-10 is to "add to your faith".  The question is - how do you practically do that?  Let me make some practical suggestions:

1. In order to access that power, one first needs to read their Bible daily, such as 1 John or a Proverb a day out of the Book of Proverbs. 

2. Developing a daily prayer life is the second cornerstone to accessing power for Christian living. (1 John 5:13-15) 

3. If you are a Born-again believer who has not yet been baptized, let me urge you to get that completed.  Take the first major step of Christian obedience through believer's baptism, since obedience is how faith goes from standing still to walking forward.  Baptism comes after your salvation commitment, since in your new Christian faith you want to go public and set the tone for the remainder of your Christian life: faith moving forth in obedience. (Romans 6:4-11; Galatians 3:27) 

4. Then fourthly, join a local church, get involved, pray for your pastor and be a blessing. (Acts 2:38-42; Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:17) 

In thinking on the above provisions given by God for living an effective Christian walk: The Bible, prayer, believer's baptism and the local church,  I ask you: have you had your past sins forgiven through Jesus Christ?  If so, is your profession of faith characterized by power? Do you not realize that in accordance to our text here, you have been given everything you need for life and godliness.  

Now becoming a Christian not only sets you straight for the sweet by and by but gives you the power to live for Jesus in the nasty now and now.  Believing in God through Christ’s shed blood through the Spirit’s leading guarantees your past forgiven and power for present living and notice thirdly…

3. Promise of future heavenly home. 2 Pt 1:11-12

True believers in Jesus Christ will persevere.  Furthermore, an entrance is supplied for them into the Heavenly reality that is being prepared for them by Christ. We read in John 14:1-3 - “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

How past, present and future hope can be yours in Jesus Christ
Dear friend, my question to you is this: Are you ready for eternity? James 4:14 states – “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”  Would you like to be ready? Read Ephesians 2:8-9  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."  Romans 10:8-10 gives us the step by step way to believe on Jesus Christ:  "But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Trust in Christ, receive Him by faith, and you too will have three hopes: the past forgiven, power for present living and promise of a future heavenly home.

Seeing and Knowing Jesus More - P2 of 2

John 21:7 "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea."

 

In yesterday's blog we noted some general observations about how John aims in his gospel and in John 21 to show you and I the importance of seeing and knowing Jesus more. Today I want us to draw out some specific applications from John 21:1-17. How is it that Jesus makes Himself more clearly known to His disciples and you as a follower of His by faith?  We discover that Jesus is more clearly known in the following ways, namely...

1. In obedience He is known more clearly. 21:1-7a

Recently I heard Dr. Robert Jeffress, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church at Dallas, TX, point out that only in obedience will we be able to understand and know the Lord better. Isn't that always the case? Imagine what would had happened if Peter and the disciples had not heeded Jesus' instructions? They knew there was a man standing on the shoreline, but did not yet recongnize him to be Jesus. (John 21:4) Furthermore they heard a voice call out to them, but it had not yet dawned on them that it was the voice of their Master. Yet as soon as they cast that net as Jesus instructed, John 21:7 states: "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

2. By His Word we draw to Him more nearly. 21:7b-10

As soon as the Apostle John (the one whom Jesus loved) declared the words "it is the Lord", the demeanor of everyone in the boat changed. Catching fish was no longer the priority. In fact, Peter dove right into the water to draw more nearly to His Master. (21:7) With the other disciples following suit, it demonstrated that already, albeit in an ackward way, Peter was performing his role as the leader of those early disciples. As they brought the boats and the nets full of fish onto the land, Jesus already had some fish cooking. The words John spoke were God's words, since they were meant to be written by divine inspiration some 60 years after the scene of this event. The word of God needs to be heard regularly by His people, since it excites and strengthens faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As we give ourselves to the scriptures, we will naturally desire to draw more nearly to Jesus.

3. When He mends us, He is loved more dearly. 21:9-17

Peter's heart was carrying regret over the denials he had done on the eve of Jesus' crucifixion. He needed restored and mended. Jesus needed to recreate the events of Peter's denials in order to transform pain in to healing. Note the comparisons between the events surround the three denials in John 18 and the events recorded here in John 21.

1. Charcoal Campfire in John 18:18, same in John 21:9

2. Dimly lit sky, since it was dusk into night John 18, dimly lit sky of early morning in John 21

3. Three denials in John 18, three affirmations of love in John 21

Jesus whole point was two fold: restoration and deeper love. Jesus first of aimed to restore Peter by giving him his purpose: "tend my lambs" (John 21:15); "Shepherd my sheep" (John 21:16) and "Tend my Sheep" (John 21:17). Then Jesus taught Peter the lesson of having deeper love for his Master by using different Greek words for love to capture nuances of close love (21:15, 16) and abiding love (21:17). Only when you and I have been broken hearted and have allowed ourselves to be mended by the Master will we love Jesus more dearly.  Only when you had something and have been reduced to nothing and have no one but Jesus Christ  do you realize you have everything you could ever need or want. 

Dear friend, may you and I today see and know Jesus more nearly through obedience, more clearly by His Word and more dearly through His mending of our hearts.