Devotional and Bible

14 June 2010

Is Jesus God?

Yes. But read on anyway. 🙂

The best way to learn about the Triune God is by reading passages of Scripture in which He reveals Himself. However, after that, comparing some passages of Scripture can also be helpful. Here’s a quick sample that I wrote out on a 3×5 card many years ago, specifically regarding the Son – I thought I’d share it with you. Maybe you’ll find it useful.

There is only one true God. Deut 6:4; Isa 44:6; Psa 82:6-7
He is the Mighty God. Isa 10:21; Jer 32:18
Jesus is God and the Mighty God. Isa 9:6; John 1:1; John 20:28

We are to bow to and worship only God. Rev 19:10; Rev 22:8-9; Acts 10:25-26; Judges 2:19; Exo 34:14; Exo 20:4-5
Jesus is bowed to and worshipped. Heb 1:6; Mat 28:9; Rev 5:8,13-14

All glory is God’s. Isa 42:8; 1Chr 16:28
Jesus is given glory. Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:13; John 17:5

1 June 2010

A little about the Chronological Bible Study

Jim Devotional and Bible, Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise 1

Tonight we’re into the fourth week of our fifteen week Chronological Bible Study. Our friend Allan will be leading tonight, and I’m sure he would appreciate your prayers.

I haven’t given you a lot of details about the study (which is in the neighbourhood of Jesús María), so let me tell you just a bit about it quickly.

I did give you a brief explanation of it’s purpose – see here. As I mentioned before, the study is designed – or, I should say, is being designed, specifically for the urban Mexico context. That’s part of the reason for it’s length (fairly short – only 15 weeks). And yet, our hope is that it will give people a broad view of the Bible and its themes – most importantly it’s theme – the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a result, it’s not so much set up like a long line – one book after the other, one year of history after another. It’s more like a pyramid – a strong foundation building up to the peak, which is the coming of the Lord Jesus and His work.

The Gospel story needs to be understood in the light of what has come before.

So we’re actually spending almost a full third of the study laying our foundations in Genesis.

We started with an overview of what the Bible is (focusing on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5). Then the Creation, the Fall, this week the Flood, and next week the Call of Abram.

As you might imagine, choosing the topics and the passages was perhaps the hardest part, involving many hours of work.

Each week we focus on a main passage, with a few supporting passages. It’s not a verse or two – they’re longer passages. That way people can see the context and dig for the meaning.

A series of questions starts the conversation. This is designed to be less of a teaching situation and more of a conversation based study. Why? Because part of our purpose is to teach people to dig into the Bible themselves – find out what the passage says, and not just repeat what they’ve heard.

The questions and passages are also designed to help us think about things particularly relevant to our Mexican urban context, though I suspect they would work fine in most contexts.

Tonight we’re covering the whole story of the Flood. Then we’ll be talking about things like: What does the story of the Flood tell us about sin? And What were God’s promises and commandments? And, regarding Hebrews 11:7, what does it mean when it says that Noah "condemned the world"?

The story of the Flood is full of the themes of sin, grace, judgment, and faith. Read it for yourself in Genesis 6:5-9:17.

Hopefully at the end, we will be able to better see the world in the light of the Scriptures (as our poster says). But we also want to be better equipped to study the Bible in the future, seeing how it fits together and understanding how to read it in context.

I haven’t been counting, but we’ve had an excellent turnout each week, packing the little room where we meet (the same room we meet in on Sunday morning).

I hope that gives you a little more of a picture of what’s happening in this part of the ministry!

17 March 2010

The Truth about St Patrick

Jim Devotional and Bible, Missions 2

I’m re-publishing to the blog here an article I wrote many years ago (with a few minor changes) about St Patrick. Without further ado, here it is!

Patricius (Patrick)

385 – 465 AD (?)

Have you ever had a dream, only to have it shot down by the people around you? Maybe they’re doubtful of your abilities, or think that the thing you want to accomplish is impossible. If so, maybe you’ll be interested in how one man accomplished the impossible with the power of God, and changed the course of history…

Patrick (Patricius) was born to a noble family, and at least a third generation Christian, the son of a deacon (also a “decurion”, an important magistrate) and grandson of a priest. He was born in southwest Britain, and so was a Roman citizen, likely in the 380s AD. Early in his life, however, he did not follow his parent’s example. But when he was 16 years old, God got his attention.

Fierce Irish raiders broke through the now weak defences of Roman Britain, and attacked Patrick’s town. He was carried away as a slave, sold to a warrior chief, and was sent to work in Ireland caring for livestock. Suffering from constant hunger, cold and loneliness, he turned to God for strength, and from then on became a man of prayer.

County Mayo, Ireland, where Patrick may have worked as a slave.
Photo courtesy of Jim Moran

When Patrick was about 22 years old, he heard a voice saying, “You do well to fast. Soon you will return to your homeland.” Soon the voice spoke again,”Come and see, your ship is waiting for you.”

Taking this as his queue to escape, he fled about 300km (185mi) to a southeastern harbour, where he boarded a trade ship, and eventually made it back to Britain.

Finally safe at home, the story could have ended happily with that reunion with family and friends. But then, Patrick had a dream – the Irish people were calling to him – “Please, holy youth, come and walk with us again.” Patrick’s heart was moved for his former captors, and he decided to go.

It’s likely that Patrick first went to Gaul (France) to study at a church, and in time was ordained as a deacon. The church leaders were apparently not confident in Patrick’s ability as a missionary, and at first sent another man. But after only a year the first worker passed away, and Patrick, now past 40, was at last allowed to go to Ireland.

In later years, Patrick would write:

For by descent I was a freeman, born of a decurion father; yet I have sold this nobility of mine, I am not ashamed, nor do I regret that it might have meant some advantage to others. In short, I am a slave in Christ to this faraway people for the indescribable glory of “everlasting life which is in Jesus Christ our Lord”.

Patrick’s Mission

When Patrick arrived, aside from a few small churches, most of the Irish were pagans, worshipping everything from planets to plants. Magic and even human sacrifice was practised by the druids and priests. Patrick’s strategy was not to take away people’s beliefs in spirits, but to expose the spirits as demons and show that God’s power was greater.

Of course, he met with stiff opposition, and was constantly in danger of being murdered by the druids. Patrick, however, convinced a local king to tolerate Christianity, and when the king’s brother was converted, Patrick was granted land on which to build a place for a church to meet.

Soon he moved on to other unreached areas. When there was a group of new Christians, he would build a church, and, if he had the support of a wealthy landowner, he would also build a monastery, as a centre of learning and missionary training centre. In only fifteen years’ time he had evangelized across Ireland, and was now well known as a man of God. He planted some hundred churches and baptized perhaps a hundred thousand believers. All this in spite of the fact that he still felt he was uneducated compared to many he worked with, and was often very nervous to speak.

The Power of One

The Celtic churches and Celtic missionary movement were largely a result of Patrick’s ministry. Women played a large role in the ministry, although Patrick himself was careful not to even accept gifts from women, to avoid any mark on his reputation. Patrick continued in ministry for 30 years, and it’s said that Ireland became fully literate for the first time in his generation. He died in the 460s, in his 70s.

The heritage that Patrick left is still with us today, even in the area of law. Patrick was instrumental in laying the foundations of law in Ireland based on the ten commandments. More than 450 years later, the English monarch ‘Alfred the Great’ would make the ten commandments and the golden rule the basis of the code of law for England, which affected law and government around the world, most notably in Canada and the United States. Patrick was also among the first to speak out against slavery, with a passion that only a former slave could have had.

After Patrick’s death, while chaos was sweeping across a fallen Roman Empire and the illiteracy was becoming the norm, the now literate Irish had their own renaissance of sorts, copying many of the classics and of course transmitting the Scriptures.

In the later years of Patrick’s ministry, rumours about his past and suspicion about his methods were rumbling around in his homeland of Britain. He wrote his “Confession” to defend his ministry and give the credit to God. May all those in ministry be able to echo his words:

“I pray those who believe and fear God,
that no one should ever say that my ignorance accomplished any small thing that I did
in accordance with God’s will;
judge, and let it be truly believed, that it was the gift of God.
And this is my confession before I die.”

Words for 2010

Jim Devotional and Bible 0

I came across this verse in my Bible reading not long ago, and decided there’s a phrase here that I need to be reminded of over and over in 2010. So here it is (click for larger, printable version):

Now, for bonus marks, can you tell without looking what was happening when Jesus said this? I’ll give you a clue – in English, it’s Do not fear, only believe.

A lot of basic wisdom in that statement, isn’t there?

Photo courtesy of Zuiderzee

24 December 2009

Promises of a Messiah: 12 Passages (and a surprise bonus)

Jim Devotional and Bible 0

In the 12 Sundays leading up to Christmas we looked at 12 passages from the Old Testament which looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. Here’s the full list, with a brief review of what we learnt about the Messiah in each…

Genesis 3:15 [read post]: The Messiah would be a human being, who would finally crush the power of Satan.
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 [read post]: The Messiah would be a prophet who spoke for God – we would be required by God to listen to Him.
Psalm 110 [read post]: The Messiah would be an eternal priest, and eternal king. He would be divine.
Isaiah 7,9 and 11 (part 1) [read post]: The Messiah would be God-with-us. He would be born of a virgin.
Isaiah 7,9 and 11 (part 2) [read post]: The Messiah would be a Divine Ruler, a wonderful counsellor, the Prince of Peace. He would rule from David’s throne forever.
Isaiah 7, 9 and 11 (part 3) [read post]: The Messiah would be a descendant of King David, filled with spiritual power. He would not judge from appearance, but judge justly.
Daniel 9 [read post]: The Messiah would arrive around the 30s AD. He would die. This would happen before Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.
Zechariah 9 [read post]: The Messiah would be a Saviour, who would come humbly, riding the foal of a donkey. He would begin a process of salvation and judgement.
Psalm 22 [read post]: The Messiah would be a mocked and scorned. And yet He would be righteous from birth. His hands and feet would be pierced, and people would gamble for his clothes.
Micah 5:2 [read post]: The Messiah would come from Bethlehem in Judah. He would be a Ruler for Israel – a good Shepherd. But He would actually be someone who had existed from ancient times.
Isaiah 40-52 [read post]: The Messiah would come for Israel, and for all the nations. He would be a servant of God, foretold by a voice in the wilderness. He would be sent by God and His Spirit. He would be disgraced and afflicted – but willingly. He would bring good news, and must be obeyed.
Isaiah 53 [read post]: The Messiah would be a willing servant, afflicted by God for the sins of His people. The message would not be believed – in fact, He would be rejected. He would be wounded and beaten, finally He would die though He Himself was innocent. Though He would be buried as a wicked man, He would be buried with the rich. He would rise again, and God would give Him descendants.

I wonder who all these prophecies could possibly be referring to? 🙂

Of course we could have mentioned many others… but I was only doing 12 this year. But I think these 12 illustrate the incredible importance of this one Man – the God-Man, in history. In fact, in eternity.

Again, the springboard for this study was the book Behold Your King: Prophetic Proofs That Jesus is the Messiah, by William Webster. It can be ordered through the link if you want to continue your study into more prophecies, and what many Jewish writers have said about them.

And here’s a bonus for making it this far! There’s an interview with William Webster about his book and many of the wonderful prophecies of Scripture, that you can download and listen to for free. Go check out the William Webster interview from exactly a year ago today.

Also useful in these posts have been the following: Pierced for Our Transgressions by Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach, and Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament edited by GK Beale and DA Carson.

Thanks for reading along! Feel free to continue the conversation by adding your comments or questions to the above posts.

Take the time to think about the promised Messiah who came to earth in humility to save us. May you look to Him for hope in the coming year, and forever!

20 December 2009

Promises of a Messiah: Isaiah 53

Jim Devotional and Bible 0

We come at last to a promise so amazing that it has been a battleground for many different reasons. Two of the biggest questions are – who exactly is Isaiah talking about? Is it the Messiah, or someone else? And if it is the Messiah, what exactly is His suffering supposed to accomplish?

This is the passage we were leading up to last week – one of the most famous prophecies in Scripture – Isaiah 53.

Today, Jewish Rabbis generally deny that this passage refers to the Messiah. A while ago I listened to a debate between a Jewish man and a Christian man. The Christian insisted that the passage could only be talking about Jesus Christ.

The Jew, on the other hand, insisted that the suffering servant was – the Jewish people. There’s no doubt that the Jewish people have suffered – and there’s no doubt that parts of Isaiah speak of the nation of Israel (or parts of) as the servant.

It hasn’t always been this way. Many ancient rabbis believed this passage spoke of Messiah, and the Talmud also speaks of this passage as Messianic:

What is his [the Messiah’s] name? — The school of R. Shila said: His name is Shiloh, for it is written until Shiloh come (Gen 49:19)… The Rabbis said: His name is ‘the leper scholar,’ as it is written, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him a leper, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isa LIII,4).
» The Babylonian Talmud

Could Isaiah 53 be talking about Isaiah himself, or the people of Israel?

One major problem with this view can be seen in Isa 53:8: By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? (IsaÂ 53:8)

My people? Who is my referring to? It seems most reasonable that it’s Isaiah. So he can’t be the subject of the chapter. Who are my people? Well, it makes sense that it’s Israel (see Isaiah 52:9). So Israel can’t be the subject.

It’s someone else – someone who suffers for the people.

Why in the world would God plan so far in advance for this Person to suffer? The passage says,…it was the will of the LORD to crush him (IsaÂ 53:10) Why was this suffering necessary?

It’s clear that God Himself not only planned this suffering – He would inflict it!

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (IsaÂ 53:4)

Smitten by God! A willing servant, submitting to being afflicted by God!

WHY?

Photo courtesy of Markus Kison

The Messiah would in fact be a substitute for the people. Notice how He takes the sins and grief of others:

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…(IsaÂ 53:4a)

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. (IsaÂ 53:5)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (IsaÂ 53:6)

…as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? (IsaÂ 53:8b)

The concept of the Substitute in this passage – the innocent for the guilty – is so crystal clear, that even some who reject the whole idea have to admit that this is what Isaiah was teaching.

Otfried Hofius is a professor of theology in Germany. He strongly rejects the idea of Christ dying as a substitute for the wicked. He wrote this regarding Isa 53 in 2004:

What this song says about the Servant’s substitutionary death is theologically incomprehensible as it stands and as it is meant . . . being freed up from sin and guilt through human substitution is theologically simply unthinkable!
» Otfried Hofias in The Fourth Servant Song in the New Testament Letters

The prophecies of Isaiah are so remarkable, I would suggest that it’s clear that it’s the Word of God – and it’s clear what Isaiah is saying. But let’s note one thing about this quote – as we’ve seen in these promises, Jesus was not just human.

Interestingly, in Isaiah 52:13, the Messiah is said to be high and lifted up – a phrase used three other times in Isaiah, and nowhere else in the Old Testament – and every time it refers to the Most High God. (See Isa 6:1, Isa 33:10 and Isa 57:15)

Here are some of the other things Isaiah 53 says about the Messiah, and examples of their fulfilment:

The message of the Messiah was not believed (Isa 53:1; John 12:37-41)
He was rejected and despised by people (Isa 53:3).
He bore our griefs and sorrows – He healed people (Isa 53:4; Mat 8:16-17). (Note – the healing ministry of Christ was a part of the announcement of the entrance of the Kingdom – a Kingdom possible because of His death, which would eventually destroy the curse.)
He was wounded, crushed, and had "stripes" (blows, scourgings) (Isa 53:5; Mat 27:39).
He was silent before His persecuters (Isa 53:7; Mat 26:63).
He died (Isa 53:8-9; Mat 27:50).
He was innocent (Isa 53:9; 1Pet 2:20-25).
He was buried as a wicked man, and yet a rich man (Isa 53:9; Mat 27:38, Mat 27:57-60).
Even though he died without offspring, God would give Him offspring and extend His life (Isa 53:10-12; John 12:24, 1Pet 1:20-21)!

It was planned by the Triune God that the Messiah would suffer (by God’s hand) as a substitute for His people. …yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (IsaÂ 53:12)

This passage, and many others, leave no doubt as to the identity of the Messiah, and why He died. The sacrifices mandated in the Old Testament laid the groundwork for what the Messiah would accomplish in perfection.

This great purpose is woven throughout the Promises of the Messiah in the Old Testament. An eyewitness of the Messiah – His ministry, His death, and His resurrection, explains it to believers in this way, as he spoke to servants who would sometimes suffer unjustly:

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

(1PetÂ 2:21-25)

Once again we have been confronted by the truth of the Messiah, who came as a Baby in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The question is, have you returned to the Shepherd? What better time than now? What better reason to celebrate the coming of the Messiah?

This concludes our 12 part series on the Promises of a Messiah. Later this week we’ll summarize them all and wrap it up!

Especially helpful in this post were: Behold Your King by William Webster, and Pierced for Our Transgressions by Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach. Some of the quotes above were taken from these books. These are great resources if you want to continue your study on the prophecies about Christ and the purpose of His death.

«‹ 53 54 55 56 ›»