Enoch's Vision of Heavenly Glory

Genesis 5:21-23 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of MethuSelah, and he had other sons and daughters. 22So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 23Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.


Meet the man who walked with God
Some 50 or so times in scripture we find reference to the concept of "walking with God".  The first time we find reference to man walking with the Lord is in Genesis 5:21.  Enoch was part of the redemptive bloodline that ran from Adam to Noah.  In Genesis 5 we see a total of 1656 years, with Enoch in comparison being the youngest (a mere 365 years of age when the Lord took him away).  In those ten generations that stretched from Adam to Noah, Enoch was without the question the brightest star in that constellation of pre-flood patriarchs.1  Enoch and only one other man in scripture, Elijah, left this world without tasting the pain of death.  Enoch's walk with God was so unique, so close, that God saw fit to take him, "translate him" out of this world and into heavenly bliss. 

Enoch may had seen the coming flood
One Bible trivia question that many will want to know the answer to is: "who was the oldest man in the Bible?" Answer: Methusaleh.  Enoch's wife (unnamed) had his son when Enoch was 65 years age.  The name and facts about Methusaleh suggest that Enoch would had seen the coming world-wide flood of Noah.2  To have possible seen the coming flood of Noah almost a millennium in advance must had been a frightening thing for Enoch. 

Were not told in scripture why Enoch started walking with God right after Methusaleh's birth, but my hunch is that this possible prophetic glimpse of the deluge that was to wipe out virtually every formm of life permantly altered Enoch's life.  I find it equally interesting that Enoch's name in the Hebrew means "dedicated one", and thats exactly how he lived out the remaining three centuries of his life before being wisked away by the Lord. 

Enoch definitely saw the heavenly glory of Jesus Christ's soon return
Enoch's life is surrounded by surprise and mystery.  Like a flash of lightening, he appears on the stage of world history in Genesis 5, only to be wisked away once again.  We see not mention of him (except in genealogical listings) until we arrive at the little book of Jude.  Jude 14-15  "It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, 15to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

This two verse statement is remarkable, in that Enoch, in prophetic vision, saw history's two greatest events: one that forever altered this world near the beginning of history, and Christ's return which will mark the tail end of human history.  For the remainder of today's blog, I just want to list in a series of bullet points Enoch's vision of heavenly glory as recorded here in Jude 14-15.  The glories of heaven seen by prophets and apostles in the Bible have several themes in common.  What was it that Enoch saw in his vision of heavenly glory? Furthermore, what is the take away for you and I today dear reader? Note these thoughts....

1. God's Word is the sole basis for describing Heaven's glories
Jude notes that Enoch "prophesied, saying".  Many, Many times in the Bible we see the phrase: "thus says the Lord' to indicate God speaking through a prophet or apostle.  In Amos 3:7 we discover that God's will is not known save through his prophets.  Any attempt to describe the unseen glory of heaven apart from the Word of God will lead to wrong thinking about Heaven.  Scripture alone is divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16); without error (Proverbs 30:4-5) and completely trustworthy. 

2. God the Son is the central focus of Heaven's glories
Jude next tells us the central focus of Enoch's visions and prophecies: "Behold the Lord came..".  God the Son is the commanding figure of Heaven.  I find it interesting in Jude's text that to Enoch, the Lord is not coming, but rather "came".  Why "came?" from God the Father's perspective, which sees the end from the beginning, everything, including Christ's return, is a done deal.  Time and time again, as you view the Bible's portrayals of heaven, God, not man, is the central focus.  Heaven is a God saturated, Christ exalting place. 

3. God's saints are included in Heavenly glory
Saints are living Christians who are living for Jesus now and preparing for eternity in Heaven.  Jude's use of the word translated "saints" is the Greek word that we could just as easily translate "holy ones".  I believe the reason the Holy Ghost led Jude to choose this word is that in other contexts, "holy ones" could either refer to angelic beings or human believers who are with the Lord now and will return with Him in glorified bodies.3   Heaven's glorious truth includes the people of God, since it is there that they will be joined with their Lord and be made like Him. (1 John 3:1-3)

Endnotes____________________
1 Abel was no doubt a godly man, however he was martyred and did not live for centuries for us to determine how he would had fared under testing and trial. Noah was godly as well, without peer in his day. However we find Noah after the flood becoming caught up in an episode of drunkenness (he of course is still regarded a hero of faith in Hebrews 11). 

2 First, Methusaleh's name in the Hebrew means "in the year it was sent". That otherwise strange meaning would find its meaning when the flood came. Secondly, Methusaleh's age of 969 years, other than making him the oldest man who ever lived, also had his final year on earth ending the year of the worldwide flood!

3 Certainly we see references to God in His glory being accompanied by angels who are called His "holy ones". (Deuteronomy 33:2) Christ too, as the Eternal Son of God, will return to earth in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38) However this phrase "holy ones" more often than not refers to the human saints who have died in the Lord and are returing with Him in their glorified resurrection bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 3:13) I personally think there is enough leeway in the usage of this word to include both the angelic hosts protecting the resurrected saints as both accompany Jesus in His return.

How to Radically Follow Jesus Christ

John 21:18-19 18“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”


For the past couple of months I have been preaching through the Gospel of John on Sunday Afternoons.  At our 4 p.m service we sing songs of praise, hear God's Word and then discuss what we heard.  I am always amazed by how much new insights the Lord grants everytime God's people look at scriptures previously studied.  As I was thinking of this Lord's day, I realized we will be finishing out our study this afternoon in John's Gospel.  John's Gospel compels the reader and listener to radically follow Jesus Christ - God in human flesh. 

John's Gospel - Outline, Purpose and Theme
John's Gospel was the last inspired Gospel to be written.  The human author was the Apostle John - one of the inner-most disciples of the twelve that followed Jesus in His earthly ministry.  If we were to outline John's Gospel, we could outline it accordingly:

Outline:
Prologue: 1:1-18
Signs Pointing to the Glory of Christ's Deity: 1:19-12:50
Glory of Christ shown in the cross & Resurrection: 13:1-21:25

In distinction to the first three Gospels which primarily focus on Christ's humanity with some reference to His Deity, John focuses primarilty on His Deity with some reference to His humanity. 

John 20:30-31 spells out the chief purpose of this
Gospel:  "30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."  So in verse 30 we see the summary of John 1-12, with verse 31 giving us the chief point of chapters 13-21.  Therefore the main theme of John's Gospel could be stated as: The Glory of Christ's Deity revealed in human flesh. 

How Jesus tells Peter and us to follow Him
After Jesus had risen from the dead, He made multiple appearances to His disciples, three which are recorded in John 20-21.  Jesus appears to the disciples along the shoreline of Tiberius to restore Peter (John 21:1-17) and to give a final word of prophecy to Peter in regards to the outcome of Peter's life. (21:18-25) To follow Jesus Christ is the very essence of what it means to be a disciple.  Twice we find Jesus telling Peter here in John 21:17-25 to "Follow Me!" (21:19) and "You Follow me!" (21:22).1  So how are you and I to follow Jesus Christ? What is it He tells Peter to do and how are we in turn to follow the Master?  Consider the thoughts below...

Follow Jesus Christ Radically.  John 21:18-19
After Jesus had restored Peter to service and position in John 21:1-17, the past was healed and now attention was going to be shifted to Peter's future.  Jesus shares with Peter the outcome of His walk with Jesus.  In John 21:19 we read - "Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"  We have record of the kind of death Peter died in martyrdom from the pen of John Foxe in his classic 16th century work "Foxe's Book of Martyrs".2

Peter was to follow His Lord radically, and to the death.  My question to you and I is: if we knew what the outcome of our life was to be, would it affect our level of committment to Jesus Christ? Too often we allow present circumstances to determine our level of committment, let alone the unknown future.  However it was God's grace that kept Peter.3  No doubt about it, despite knowing what potentially was ahead, Peter followed his Lord radically, and you and I need to do that as well.  But notice secondly how we're to follow Jesus Christ...

Follow Him regardless.  John 21:20-23
As Jesus relayed to Peter this news about his future, Peter turned to look at the Apostle John, the author of this Gospel.  In summary, Peter asked Jesus whether or not the same outcome would befall his fellow disciple.  Jesus responds in John 21:22 - "Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (New American Standard Bible) The original language of these verses convey Jesus' response in this way: "Jesus said to Him: What difference does it make to you if I wish for him to remain until my return? You just follow Me!" 



You know I heard of a preacher one time who had this sign above his doorway: "Nevertheless".  That word is a good word to live by, since so much of why we follow Jesus is based upon conditions: "well Lord I'll do this if you do that".  But my dear friend, do you not realize that regardless of what takes place and regardless of what others do or don't, your reasons for following Jesus Christ are to be what He has ordained for you in His Word.  At times we look at another believer's life and judge their seeming lack of trials to mean that God has a better plan for them than for us.  However, could it be that the severity of trials experienced in the Christian's life show how great of plans God has in store for them?  Peter was going to die a horrific death, yet - nevertheless!  You and I could lose everything overnight in our Christian walk, however -  nevertheless!  Only the eye of faith and the mind saturated by scripture can conclude that to be the most reasonable way to live.  A "nevertheless" kind of approach to following Jesus Christ, with a radical resolve to follow Him no matter what.  But take note of a third way we are to follow Jesus Christ...

Follow Him with the right Book.  John 21:24-25
As John closes out his book, he ends with a post-script concerning the nature of his writing.  These final two verses point out two aspects of the nature of scripture itself.  Furthermore, if you and I are going to follow Jesus Christ both radically and in a regardless type of way, we need to have the right book.  John demonstrates in 21:24 what is called the "veracity of the Bible", that is, the trustworthiness of the scripture. 4 John himself was an eyewitness, which in the court of law is the strongest piece of evidence there can be when proving the truth of something.  I know that when I turn to the Bible, I am certain that I will come away with a trustworthy understanding of Jesus Christ. 

But John reveals another cahracteristic of the Bible, namely its sufficiency.  When John states in John 21:25 that: "And there are so many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even in world itself would not contain the books that would be written". According to the website Google, as of 2013 there are over 130 million books in the world.  Is John saying that it would require more books than that to handle all that Jesus did while here on earth? As I look at the original language of this verse, I find John's statement not be one of the quantity of books needed to handle all that Jesus did, but rather the quality of the only book that could accurately and sufficiently reveal the right Jesus. 

Think about religious books claiming to be the word of God.  The book of Mormon tells us about "a" Jesus, however a Mormon Christ is not "the" right Jesus.  The Jesus of Mormonism and the Jesus of the Bible are totally different.5  How about the Quran, the religious book of Islam?  I have read that book and I can tell you that the Jesus recorded in that book is not the Jesus I follow.  He is a pale imitation and not the genuine article.  The Quran for instance claims Jesus did not die on the cross, but according to the Quran was made to appear that he did.  Their version of Jesus was not God in human flesh, but rather a nice teacher who didn't sin.  The Christian does not follow the Jesus of religious speculation but the Jesus of revealed scripture.  Those other books could never handle, and no other book for that matter is divinely inspired and inerrant except the Bible.   

We could go on, but I think you get the point: The right book about Jesus Christ is the Bible.  Only the 66 books of the Bible tells me accurately, truthfully and sufficently who Jesus did, what He did and why you and I must follow Him radically and regardless.  May you dear reader have a blessed Lord's day. 

End Notes_____________
1 As you walk through John's Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples again and again to "Follow Me". (John 1:43, 7:17, 8:12, 10:27, 12:26, 13:36, 21:19,22) 

2 John Foxe writes about Peter's Martyrdom: "Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, "Lord, whither dost Thou go?" To whom He answered and said, "I am come again to be crucified." By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was."

3 Forty five years would pass before Peter met his end on an upside-down cross of his choosing. He wrote two letters bearing his name, testifying again and again of the purpose of suffering anf the keeping grace of God. (1 Peter 1:5-12) 

4 The word "veracity" comes from a Latin root "veritas" meaning "truth". 

5 Mormonism for instance claims that at one point Jesus and Lucifer were brothers, and that because Jesus had a better plan of salvation than Lucifer, God said Jesus would be the Savior.

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.