The Wise Men

This year for Advent and Christmas, I am looking at the people around the birth of Jesus and examining their faith. Last week it was Joseph; today, The Wise Men. This is all from Matthew 2.

1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem - I believe most people say this event was approximately two years after his birth.

there came wise men from the east - funny how we want to automatically add "three". There could have been three, but to be honest, Matthew doesn’t say how many wise men came.

Who were these ‘wise men’? The word is μαγοι which we transliterate magi. This was the name given by the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, soothsayers, sorcerers.

"The Jews believed that there were prophets in the kingdoms of Saba and Arabia who were of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah; and that they taught in the name of God, what they had received in tradition from the mouth of Abraham. These, knowing the promise of the Messiah, were now, probably, like other believing Jews, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” (Adam Clarke)

This helps! They were waiting for and anticipating the coming of Christ. How did the wise men or magi know to expect Christ? I’m persuaded they knew the ancient prophecy in Numbers 24:17 (LXX)

I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth. 

But to be honest, Scripture is silent on this – it doesn’t explain how they knew to expect Christ. I conclude it doesn’t matter how they knew Christ was coming and would be announced by a star, the facts are: they did know and when they saw the star they immediately set off to find and worship him. They believed he was coming, they believed the star announced he had just been born, and as a direct result of this belief they came to Jerusalem. They had faith to seek Christ.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

When Herod heard of the arrival and question of the wise men he was troubled: disturbed, distressed, and probably afraid. I mean, if the King of the Jews has been born he is on his way out. Isn’t it interesting how people react to Jesus? Salvation has come and all he can think about is how he will lose his position and power.

I get why Herod is troubled, but why all Jerusalem with him? It is the same result but for different reasons. Herod was disturbed, disquieted, filled with dread, but I believe all Jerusalem was full of inward commotion so that they lost all calmness of mind – “What is this? Messiah has been born? Has this really happened? What will this mean? What’s going to happen?” It is one thing to say you want the Messiah to come, it is another thing to be ready for him. This explains why John’s message was Repent.

Herod called the chief priests and scribes and asked where Christ should be born. They had a ready answer, Bethlehem of Judea. Actually their answer was a quote of Micah 5:2. It is interesting that their quote left out the last line of Micah 5:2, and his goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity. This says quite a lot about just who Messiah is.

7-8 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the

star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

 Oh the deceitfulness of Herod – that I may come and worship him. He had no intention of submitting to the King. Chrysostom observed, “And he said not, go and learn concerning the King, but concerning the young Child; for he could not even endure to call Him by the name of His dominion”; then he piles up words to describe Herod’s actions: “an act of extreme idiocy; utmost folly; extreme folly”

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh

Herod told them where the Messiah was to be born, so they pressed on.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy – “Moreover, the star, when it stood over the young Child, stayed its course again: which thing itself also was of a greater power than belongs to a star, now to hide itself, now to appear, and having appeared to stand still. Hence they too received an increase of faith. For this cause they rejoiced also, that they had found what they were seeking; so great a longing had they for Christ. For first it came and stood over His very head, showing that what is born is Divine; next standing there, it leads them to worship Him; being not simply barbarians, but the wiser sort among them.” (Chrysostom)

I love this! They were being divinely guided in their journey, they knew it, and rejoiced with exceeding great joy! They had the joy of the Lord before they had even met him!

We have found the Christ who’s all in all;
He is everything to us;
O how blest upon His name to call,
How divine, how glorious!

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
And the half has never yet been told!
(Barney Elliott Warren, 1900; you can hear it here being sung in a Baptist church)

And when they were come into the house, they fell down, and worshipped him – this was no intellectual or academic journey, they were seeking the King with the full intention of worshipping him. Hallelujah! They had faith to worship.

What is the significance of their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Adrian Rogers, in his sermon, The Gifts Of The Wise Men, said:

Gold -- His Sovereign Dominion

Frankincense -- His Sinless Deity

Myrrh -- His Sacrificial Death

Sounds good to me!

2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

They also had faith to obey. The wise men had a vibrant faith!

What does this mean for me? Faith in Christ is not merely knowing the right things about Christ, it is a spirited and vigorous conviction and trust that moves me to seek Him, to worship Him, and to obey Him.

The wise men teach us that Jesus is Christ. As Christ he is King. And as King he should be worshipped!

This also shows us a little about worship. Worship means to do obeisance to, that is to bend the knee, bow the head, fall down before. In so doing you acknowledge Him to be worthy, glorious, powerful. This is the goal of every worship service: to come to the place where we bow before Him.

At one point in a liturgical service you come to the Sursum Corda (below in bold), which  dates back at least to the third century:

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

This is where we want to be, “Lord, I lift up my heart to You.” Worship can be expressed in music, prayer, lifting our hands, bending the knee, but it all begins in the heart. I want to join the wise men and worship Christ the King!

O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore him
Christ the Lord
(Adeste Fideles, John Francis Wade, 1751; translated into English as O Come, All Ye Faithful by Frederick Oakeley, 1841)

NEXT: The Holy Innocents

What do we learn about Jesus from Joseph?

 

In my last post I looked at Joseph's faith - I concluded he had faith to obey. Today I am asking, What do we learn about Jesus from Joseph? 

Matthew 1:20-23
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

While he thought he thought on these things – Joseph was engaged to Mary and found out she was pregnant, consequently, he was thinking about putting her away (divorcing her). While he thought on these things he had a dream from the Lord. In this dream an angel appeared to him and told him ‘the rest of the story.’

that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost – I don’t know if he understood fully what this meant, after all Mary got a much fuller explanation, but the main thing was this means she had not been with another man. This pregnancy is supernatural. Therefore, “Marry the girl.”

she shall bring forth a son – This the best ultrasound in history!

thou shalt call his name JESUS – Ἰησοῦς Iesous or Jesus is the Greek word for the name Joshua. In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) Joshua is Jesus. So it's not a unique name, but it is a heavenly name because 

for he shall save his people from their sins – Joshua (Yeshua in Hebrew) means “YHWH saves” or “salvation”. The angel said, You shall call his name salvation: for he shall save his people from their sins. Hallelujah!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there's just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there's something about that name.
(Bill & Gloria Gaither)

I do believe Joseph is getting the picture by now: Mary is going to give birth to the Messiah!

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

This is Matthew’s explanation of the significance of all this – it was fulfillment of prophecy. God was so good to announce beforehand the coming of Christ, to announce details so we would recognize him when he came. I know there is a growing trend to cast aside the Old Testament as irrelevant for us today, but this is so wrong. The Old Testament is the foundation for the Gospel, the skeleton for the body. When you talk to people about Christ they often object, "There are so many religions out there, how can you know the gospel is true?" One way is fulfilled prophecy; prophecies made hundreds of years before they were fulfilled in Christ. We need to be familiar and conversant with the Old Testament!

Behold, a virgin shall be with child - A miraculous conception is a major miracle! I don't want to let this slide. How big a miracle? One of the first things people want to reject about the faith is the virgin birth. It is one of the pillars of the gospel; remove it and the faith collapses. 

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. This is big! Who is Jesus?? He is Emmanuel, God with us!! And he is the One who will save his people from their sins.

Did Joseph understand all this? He was Jewish; he knew the Scriptures; he would have been familiar with the prophecy; and he no doubt shared the hope of the Coming One. I'm sure he understood this baby was the promised Messiah or Christ. This is still rather mind-boggling and he probably had some misconceptions, but I'm sure there was great joy - My wife is going to give birth to Messiah!!

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
(Charles Wesley)


NEXT: The Wise Men

Joseph

As we enter the Advent and Christmas seasons, our attention is often focused on the first two chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. I am persuaded that all the folks we encounter in these chapters teach us many things about faith that would be worth looking into.

My plan is to look at the people in these four chapters, in the order they appear, beginning with the Gospel According to Matthew, and see what I can learn about faith. 

Let me start with Joseph. Everything we will see about Joseph is in Matthew 1 & 2.

1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 

Joseph is not the first person mentioned in Matthew. That would be Jesus himself, followed by David. Joseph doesn't even appear until v 18. And when he shows up Mary is before him! So why start with Joseph? He's the first player whose character we read anything about. The first thing we learn about Joseph is he was espoused or engaged to Mary. Second, when he learned she was with child, he planned to secretly put her away (divorce her). Now we see his faith:

1:20, 24  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost . . . Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

2:13-14  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

2:19-21  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

2:22-23  But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Angels played an active part in the birth of Jesus - three of Joseph’s encounters involved angels; all four involved dreams. How does this illustrate faith?

First, Joseph believed God speaks to people in dreams – he never doubted that God was speaking to him in his dreams. I remember many of my dreams and I have also had dreams from the Lord. It is really neat that you can tell when your dream is from the Lord!

Second, Joseph believed angels are God’s messengers. They must have identified themselves and he never doubted them for a minute. As I said, I have had a few dreams from the Lord, but I have never seen an angel, but I have a feeling that when angels appear it is pretty evident who they are.

Third, Joseph believed what the angels told him, and he believed this to be the word of the Lord to him and for his situation.

Fourth, each time he had a visit from an angel, or a dream, he believed what he was told to do was from God, and he did it. Every time. Immediately. Joseph had faith to obey.

Obedience springs from faith - when you believe you obey. Faith and obedience are like Siamese twins – you never see the one without the other. If I say I believe, but I don't obey, then I do not have saving, sanctifying faith; I do not have the faith that pleases God. Throughout the entire Bible, whenever someone believed the Lord it affected what they did; and whenever folks did not obey they were charged with unbelief. We see this in Hebrews 3:15-19:

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

We see their problem described as “sinned” (17), “believed not” (18), and “unbelief” (19). “Believed not” in v 18 is a word that means they stubbornly refused to be persuaded to believe and obey the Lord. “They chose to sin, and would not believe. Unbelief produced disobedience, and disobedience produced hardness of heart and blindness of mind.” (Adam Clarke)

Rather than singing the song Israel sang in the wilderness, "I don't believe and I won't obey", I would prefer my song to be:

I'll say yes, Lord, yes
To Your will and to Your way
I'll say yes, Lord, yes
I will trust You and obey
When the Spirit speaks to me
With my whole heart I'll agree
And my answer will be
Yes, Lord, yes
(Lynn Edward Keesecker, 1983)


NEXT: Joseph & Christ: What we learn about Christ from Joseph

Another king - Jesus

 

As I have said, on Sunday our Pastor gave a good word from Acts 17. I really like this chapter and as I was listening to him, I wandered through it, noting what I consider highlights. Tuesday: The synagogue first; Wednesday: The message; Today: Another king - Jesus

Acts 17 begins with Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica: Three sabbaths in a row he preached in the synagogue. What kind of response did he get? v 4 says

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

This looks to me like the church started off with quite a crowd! We also learn from Acts 17 that persecution began immediately:

5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king -- Jesus.

What was the charge? These that have turned the world upside down have come here also. “These are trouble makers, rabble rousers, who’ve come to disturb the peace.” Interesting that the only people causing trouble and disturbing the peace are the protesters. Then they get serious and bring the political charge, these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king -- Jesus.

Another king! I’m telling you, the gospel is dangerous! the gospel is radical! We preach another king and another kingdom. And the powers that be feel it immediately, and feel threatened by the call to loyalty to another king. This explains the history of governments persecuting the Church and Christians. But there’s is a knee-jerk reaction based on a misunderstanding.

The gospel does not call us to take over anything. The kingdom makes us better and safer citizens of whatever country we live in. But the gospel does call for a change in fealty - “formal acknowledgement of loyalty to a lord”; now our highest authority and deepest loyalty is to another king -- Jesus, and we now live waiting for, longing for, expecting, anticipating, hastening the return of our king to establish his kingdom on the earth.

This explains why Paul places great emphasis on the second coming of Christ in his two epistles to the Thessalonians - every chapter in them has a reference to it. His preaching was heavy on the second coming.

The apostles preached and the early church believed Jesus was coming again and soon. I became a Christian in 1973, right in the middle of the Jesus Revolution. One of the emphases of the Jesus Revolution was, "Jesus is coming soon! Maranatha!" Maybe you remember this Andrae Crouch song:

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king (3x)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

We’re going to see the king

Andrae Crouch © 1976 Crouch Music Corp, Bud-john Songs Inc

All this is kind of awkward these days - there have been “No Kings” protests in the US recently. Paul might have had difficulties with this group as well. Oh but you say, “No, these protests are political.” Precisely. I have spoken with some in the No Kings movement, and they have made it clear, they want NO kings.

The gospel is very political, just not Republican, Democrat, Libertarian political. But the gospel is about another kingdom and another king. Our King died for us that we might be forgiven our sins; He was raised from the dead that we might have everlasting life; our King is coming back to set up his kingdom of righteousness and peace on the earth. Have you transferred your fealty to King Jesus? Have you believed in Him and been born again? Are you looking for and ready for His return? Maranatha!

 

All hail, King Jesus

All hail, Emmanuel

King of kings, Lord of lords

Bright Morning Star

And throughout eternity

I'll sing your praises

And I’ll reign with you

Throughout eternity

All Hail King Jesus

Dave Moody © 1981 Dayspring Music, Inc.

 

The Message

 

As I said yesterday, on Sunday our Pastor gave a good word from Acts 17. I really like this chapter and as I was listening to him, I wandered through it, noting what I consider highlights. Yesterday: the synagogue first. Today: The Message

Following his usual practice, Paul went in, and for three Sabbaths he argued with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead. “And the Christ,” he said, “is this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” Acts 17 NCB

Paul went to the synagogue three Sabbaths in a row and preached the gospel. How could he do that? Did he jump up and interrupt the service? No. It seems they had quite an open policy. The Scripture readings and prayers were planned, but after these visitors were asked to or free to speak. Jesus was obviously a special guest and spoke often in the synagogues. He was also asked (at least once) to read the Scripture. In Acts 13:14-15 we see how it worked for Paul: But when they [Barnabas and Paul] departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Men, brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

he argued with them from the Scriptures – What I like about this is it changed my thinking on how they preached the gospel. I always thought they did it like the pastor or evangelist, that is, they did all the speaking. And there are sermons like this in Acts. But I think the Greek word for “argued” (or reasoned) presents it more as a dialogue: he would say something, and they would ask questions; or point and counter point; it was probably a lively discussion. I really don’t think they just sat back and passively listened; they probably even interrupted him! But that’s OK, because now you know they’re listening, they’re engaging with you.

explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead –

“His method seems to have been this:

1st. He collected the scriptures that spoke of the Messiah.

2d. He applied these to Jesus Christ, showing that in him all these scriptures were fulfilled... He showed also that the Christ must suffer - that this was predicted, and was an essential mark of the true Messiah.¹

Preaching in the synagogue was different than preaching in the marketplace - there was a lot more Scripture quoting in the synagogue!

And the Christ, he said, is this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you – I really like this phrase. A strictly literal translation would be, And this is the Christ -- Jesus whom I proclaim to you. There’s nothing wrong with, and this Jesus whom I preach is the Christ, I just like the force of keeping the original word order.

The point being, “he showed that all the things which were spoken of Christ in those Scriptures, were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth; and therefore he must be the Messiah.”²  Amen!

This is the gospel message: Messiah, the promised Savior, has come. He is Jesus of Nazareth, who, in fulfillment of the Scriptures, was crucified, died, and was buried; the third day he rose again from the dead. And why was he crucified? For our sins. Who gave himself a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:6) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:14)

Amen! I believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God, who died for me and rose again. And I have been redeemed by his blood.

 

¹ Adam Clarke

² John Gill

The synagogue first

 

Sunday our Pastor gave a good word from Acts 17. As I’m wont to do, I kinda wandered through the chapter (as I was listening to him!). I really like chapter 17 and thought I would share a few of the highlights I find in the chapter. Today: the synagogue first.

Acts 17:1-2 …they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them… According to Paul’s practice, when he visited a city, he went to the synagogue first. In Romans 1:16 he explains, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The New Testament is founded on and springs out of the Old Testament, which makes Israel an important part of the Gospel, the New Testament, and the Church. The word Jews occurs 71 times in the Book of Acts, 21 times in the first 16 chapters. They’re central to the story. Jesus said, salvation is of the Jews (John 4.22), which means, “The Messiah was to spring from the Jews - from them, the preaching of the Gospel, and the knowledge of the truth, were to go to all the nations of the world. It was to the Jews that the promises were made; and it was in their prophetic Scriptures that Jesus Christ was proclaimed and described.” (Adam Clarke) The Church is now majority Gentile, and it saddens me to think that we have forgotten our Jewish heritage and how indebted we are to Israel, and the law, and the prophets.

So, when did the practice of preaching the gospel to the Jews first end? In spreading out to the Gentiles, the Gospel has outpaced the synagogue. A Google search tells me there are 19 synagogues near me (one of them a Messianic synagogue!), all of them in Cincinnati and Dayton. In other words, we don’t encounter Jews very often. 

Also, I am persuaded the end of the book of Acts holds the key. When Paul was in jail in Rome, he called the chief of the Jews together and explained that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. They were interested, and when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed. (Acts 28:17-25) Because they proved to be stubborn and inflexible, like so many others in their nation, Paul announced to them, (28:28) Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and they will hear it. I believe this signals the end of the practice of going to the synagogue first. Of course, the gospel invitation in Revelation 22:17 still stands:

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come

And let him that heareth say, Come

And let him that is athirst come

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely

Senses exercised to discern both good and evil

 

Charles Spurgeon on who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil from his sermon on Hebrews 5:14, Strong Meat

But then our text tells us that they have had their senses exercised. The soul has senses as well as the body. Men who have had their senses exercised know how to choose between good and evil. Now, what are these senses? Well, there are our spiritual eyes. When the babe first sees it has little idea of distances. I suppose that to a babe’s eyes everything appears as a flat surface. It is the result of after-experience which enables the man to know that such a thing is so many yards off, and that another is so many miles distant. Travellers, who go to Switzerland for the first time, soon discover that they have not had their eyes exercised. You think that you can reach the peak of yonder mountain in half-an-hour. There is the top of yonder rock; you dream that a boy might fly his kite to the summit, but it shall take you hours to climb there, and weary limbs alone can bear you to the dizzy height. At a distance, young travellers scarcely know which is mountain and which is cloud. All this is the result of not having the eyes exercised upon such glorious objects. It is just precisely so in spiritual things, unless Christians have their eyes exercised. I hope, dear friends, you know what it is to see Christ; your eyes, by faith, have looked upon the King in his beauty. You know what it is, too, to see self; you have looked into the depravity of your own heart, and have been amazed. Your eyes have seen the rising and the falling of many deceptions. Your eyes have been tried in waiting for God in many a dark night, or in beholding him in the midst of many a bright Providence. Thus your eyes have been exercised. Now, when a doctrine is put before you, a strong doctrine, you look at it and say—“Ah! Yes; my eye of faith tells me from what I have seen before that that is healthy food upon which I may feed.” But if you detect something in it that is too high, or too low, you at once say—“No, that won’t do for me,” and you put it by. Hence it is that the man, the eye of whose faith has been tried with bright visions and dark revelations, is qualified to discern between good and evil in those great mysteries which would be too high for unexercised believers. Then there is the ear. We hear it said of some that they have no ear for music. We sometimes hear it said of others that they have an ear for music, and they can tell when people are singing half a note amiss. How shocked they would sometimes be with some of you who will persist in running away from our good leader, and getting a whole note amiss! But there are some who cannot tell one note from another. So is it in spiritual things, “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound,” but many do not know the difference between the joyful sound and that which is half a note lower. Why, dear friends, when a Christian is well taught, he knows when a note goes too high, and he says— “No, no, no; that jars;” or when it goes too low he says— “No, that is out of tune.” He wants to have the keynote of the Gospel constantly before him, and any divergence from the grand old tune of orthodoxy, which he has learned from the Word of God, at once makes him feel wretched. He has a fine, keen, discerning ear; he can tell at once any mistake, and is not to be led astray by it. Hence it is that such persons are fit to hear the solid doctrines of the gospel preached, because they have listened to the voice of God. They have heard the charms of evil, and have despised them; they have heard the conversation of educated saints, they have been taught in the ways of the Lord, and knowing, therefore, the difference between this and that, they can discern between good and evil, and are not to be led astray. Happy is he whose ear is well tuned to discern both good and evil. Then, dear friends, comes the nose, the intention of which sense is to smell things afar off. True Christians have smelt the fragrance of Christ’s fellowship. “While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.” Advanced Christians know the fragrance of heaven. The angels have brought them bundles of myrrh from the other side the stream; they have had their nostrils exercised, and you know the nostrils are of very essential use in reference to food. The nostrils can soon detect decay or that spiciness which the crafty trader employs to conceal it. There are certain persons whose ministry is putrid, but they lay on thickly very excellent spice about the safety of the believer, and the joy and peace that there are in Christ, that the putridity is somewhat checked, and some Christian people eat the nauseous morsels, forgetting, or not knowing what they really are, because of the sweet savouriness and flavour in which the whole is wrapped up. But our nostrils are given us on purpose to detect the craft and mischief of designing men; and the spiritual nostril that has been made to perceive the difference between the righteous and the wicked, will soon be able to perceive what is true food and what is carrion. Then, you know, there is the taste; and this sense needs educating, too. Some men have no taste; to them flavour is no luxury. There are many who have no taste spiritually. Give them a cup of mingle-mangle— “perhapses,” “ifs,” “buts,” “peradventures,” creature-willings, and creature-doings, and if it is only warm they will drink it down and say, “Oh! how delightful!” If you give them a cup, on the other hand, that is full of divine purposes, precious promises, and sure mercies of David; if you will only flavour it with a good style of oratory, they will drink that sweet potion too and relish it. The two things may contradict each other flatly, but these people have no discernment— they have not had their senses exercised. But those of you who have been made to taste the sweets of covenant grace, you, especially, who have eaten his flesh and drunk his blood, and you, too, who have been made to drink the wormwood and the gall till your mouth knows every flavour, from the bitterness of death up to the glory of immortality, you may taste the strong meat without any fear, for your senses are exercised. Lastly, there is the sense of touch, and you know, how in some men, ' this has been developed to a very high degree; how men who are deficient in sight, for instance, have acquired by touch the knowledge which would, if they had not been blind, have been derived from their eyes. So believers have been made to touch the hem of Jesu’s garment. They have exercised the sense of feeling by joy, by rapture, perhaps by doubt and by fear, and their touch has become so acute, so keen, that, though their eyes were shut, as soon as they touch a doctrine they would know what was of God and what of man.

First Principles: Resurrection and Judgment

and of resurrection of the dead

Our hope is not to die and go to heaven; no, our hope, our full salvation, is the resurrection from the dead. Jesus said, “because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).

1 Corinthians 15:52-53 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This is very important, our hope is not that we live forever in heaven as disembodied spirits. I hear this quite often, “You are a spirit, who has a soul, that lives in a body. Your body is your earth suit.” No. No! NO! Hear again the creation of man Genesis 2:7:

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

You see that? First God made the body; then He breathed the breath of spirit of life; then man became a living soul. When I look in the mirror, I see me. When you look at me, you see me. Spirit, soul, and body. That’s me. That’s you. That’s why we read in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

The soul without the body is naked, unclothed. Resurrection is the salvation promised by God, spirit, soul, and body, me, restored.

The resurrection of the body is expressed in the Apostle’s Creed, “I believe in… the resurrection of the body.” We have, for some reason, toned this down, resurrection of the body. Did you know that in both the Latin (carnis resurrectionem) and Greek (σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν) versions, it is very shocking, very in your face, it is resurrection of the flesh.

and of eternal judgment

This is the day of judgment we have all heard something about. It’s “called eternal, because the sentence then pronounced is irreversible, and the effects of it remain for ever.” (John Wesley)

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Romans 2:6, 16 Who will render to every man according to his deeds... In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ

This is why it is so important, vital really, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ now. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven and we are justified, declared righteous before God.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10  how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.

If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, this judgment is to be feared; if you are a believer you may have confidence when he comes. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

What do we do with these first principles or foundation? First of all, Have we repented and believed? been baptized and had hands laid on us? Second, Do we understand these first principles well enough to teach them to others? If we answer, Yes, then let us go on unto perfection!

NEXT: Charles Spurgeon on who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil from his sermon on Hebrews 5:14

First Principles: Baptism and Laying on of hands

of the doctrine of baptisms -

As you can see, this list is following the steps we take in turning to the Lord. Repentance leads to faith, faith leads to baptism. This is the pattern throughout the New Testament, when someone believed in Christ they were baptized.

The doctrine of baptism is the teaching of baptism: Who it’s for and what it does.

Who is it for?

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized

Acts 2:38 Repent, and be baptized

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip…they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 8:36-38 See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest

Acts 18:8 Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

As I said before, Repentance leads to faith, faith leads to baptism. Interesting fact, there is no “sinner’s prayer” in the New Testament. Say what? How did they accept Christ? What did the invitation look like? "Jesus died and rose again, he is the Messiah. If you believe this, come and be baptized." Repent and be baptized, Believe and be baptized.¹

What does it do?

All I’m going to do is list verses from the New Testament that describe baptism:

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38 Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Repentance, faith, baptism. Always in that order. Whatever else you conclude about baptism, we have to admit, it seals the deal. I say, “I believe in Jesus.” The Church, acting upon the authority of the Lord, baptizes me, assuring me, “Your sins are forgiven, you are born again.” ²

Amen. But why does Paul say, “the doctrine of baptisms”? Plural. Because there are three main baptisms mentioned in the New Testament: the baptism of John, Christian baptism, and baptism in the Holy Spirit.

John’s baptism was to prepare the people for Christ; Christian baptism is a declaration that Jesus is the Promised Messiah; baptism with the Holy Spirit is the receiving of the promise of the Father. We see all three in Acts 19:1-6.

and of laying on of hands – Listen to John Wesley, “The next thing [after repentance, faith, baptism] was, to lay hands upon them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.” This may be a shocking confession, but he was just being faithful to the Word.

We lay hands on people to impart grace. This is from the Old Testament. The priests would lay their hand on the sacrifice to place the sin of the people on it. Then we see Moses and Joshua in Numbers 27:22-23, “And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded.”

In the New Testament it is done:

+ when praying for the sick, Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe… they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover

+ when praying for people to receive the Holy Spirit, Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them

+ when imparting a spiritual gift, 1 Tim 4.14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery

+ when ordaining elders and deacons Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them

+ commissioning someone to ministry, Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The laying on of hands is so powerful. What a privilege! What a blessing!

NEXT: First Principles: Resurrection and Judgement

¹ I will be the first to admit this is a hasty and superficial overview of baptism in the NT. What do I mean? I mean I’m not addressing the issue of the baptism of infants and children. All the baptisms in the Book of Acts are what have been termed “missionary baptisms”, that is, people coming to the faith for the first time. But even here, we read of whole houses being baptized. See what I wrote about this here. 

Infant baptism is not discussed by the apostles, but when it first appears in the writings of the early believers, there is no discussion, no debate, no opposition; it appears as an established practice with apostolic approval. If we’re honest, we have to consider and study this.

² The NT very clearly says we are baptized into the forgiveness of sins, into Christ, into the body. It also appears to link baptism to regeneration, and many references to being washed probably refer to baptism. I’m not writing a book, so I can’t take up all these matters here. 

First Principles: Repentance and faith

Now we come to the principles that full grown believers should know and be able to teach.

6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;

He says he’s leaving the principles or ABCs of the faith, but he is still going to mention them.

Let us go on unto perfection – perfection is not the same exact word as full age in 5:14, but it is closely related; in fact, it comes from that word. The word for full age means to reach the goal. What is the goal of the baby? To grow up. Perfection means completion, actually grown up; not merely grown up, but knowing, wise, mature. This doesn’t just happen, we have a part to play in reaching this stage, let us go on unto perfection.

not laying again the foundation – these are called foundational teaching because you build on them.

1 of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

There are 6 of these. I will consider them one by one

of repentance from dead works - To repent means to change your mind. As Derek Prince put it, “Repentance is not an emotion, it is a decision; a firm, inward decision, a change of mind. Repentance is an inner change of mind resulting in an outward turning around.”

This is the first step in turning to the Lord, we must change our thinking about God, Jesus, ourselves, salvation.

Here he says, repentance from dead works. He is speaking to Jewish believers, who at one time thought all their efforts to keep the Law made them righteous. This sounds like a lot of people today: “I’m a good person, I do good things, I go to church; I’m confident this has made me right with God.” He says all this is dead works. It doesn’t work. It’s like having your house all wired, but the electricity is not turned on – nothing will work. Or, a car with a dead battery or no gas - it won’t run. Before we can be saved we have to know we are lost, that we can’t save ourselves. Repentance is coming to this understanding: “I am not saved; I am living in sin; I can’t do anything to save myself; Jesus died and rose again for me, he can save me. You, only You can save me!”

Repentance is a vital first step, and true repentance leads to faith.

and of faith toward God – In Acts 20:21 Paul said he preached, Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. There are so many scenarios:

+ I’m a very religious and upright person, that will be enough to get into heaven

+ Nobody’s coming to save us, we have to do it on our own; I don’t need help

+ There is no god and there is nothing after death

+ My gods are good enough, they will help me

+ There was no Jesus; never lived, didn’t die for me, certainly didn’t rise from the dead

+ I can live any way I want to, God will just have to accept it

+ Nobody has ever loved me; God doesn’t love me, he doesn’t care about me]

+ I’ve done too many bad things, God would never accept me

You can see how repentance and faith work together. You change the way you think about God, Jesus, sin, your life, eternity; then you believe the Gospel: There is a God, He loves me, He sent his Son Jesus to die for me, he rose from the dead, he promises to save me; “Jesus, you are alive, you are the Savior; I believe in you. Save me!”

Repentance is the first step, it prepares me to take that big step, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything else in this list flows out of this faith in Christ.

Whether you think you are already good enough, or you are too far gone, you have to repent, change your thinking, and believe in Jesus Christ.

Whether you think there is no god, or that all gods are the same, you have to repent, change your thinking, acknowledge there is only one God, and believe Jesus is His Son.

Whether you think you don’t need a Savior, you can save yourself, or you’ve been living in open rebellion against God and his ways, you have to repent, change your way of thinking, admit you need a Savior, that you need to be saved from sin, and believe in Jesus Christ.

Repentance is not merely being sorry you did wrong or got caught, it is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Faith is not merely mental assent to a set of statements, it is believing Jesus is the Savior, who died and rose again, and trusting him to save you.

Romans 10:13, 14, 17

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

NEXT: First Principles: Baptism and Laying on of hands

First Principles of the Doctrine of Christ Hebrews 5:11-14

 

In the early years of my Christian life I was introduced to Derek Prince, who was a tremendous influence in my growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of his works was The Spirit-Filled Believer’s Handbook.¹ In this he goes through the foundational teaching or doctrines in Hebrews 6. I want to go through Hebrews 5:11-6:3 and present the challenge of the Apostle and briefly touch on these first principles (in a much less comprehensive and thorough way than Bro Prince!). I pray that all who read my notes will be blessed and encouraged in the grace of Christ.

Obviously, the best way to understand this passage is to start at chapter 1 and read everything leading up to this, then what comes after (and I encourage you to do that), but for now I’m confining myself to these seven verses. Let’s start!

5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

He² points out a problem that is hindering them from growing, We have many things to say, but ye are dull of hearing. Wow, he did not mince words! What in the world was going on?

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 

Ah, he gets right to it! At this point in your faith, you ought to be able to teach the faith, instead you need to be (re)taught the first principles of the faith.

We have to ask two questions:

(1) How / when do we come to the place where we ought to be teachers? I think the simple answer is time and teaching. If we are sitting under teachers who are carefully and faithfully presenting the whole counsel of God, and we are receiving and acting on the Word, we will grow in grace and knowledge.

(2) The second question is blunt and personal: Am I able to teach the basics of the Christian faith, or am I in need of being taught myself?

are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat – Paul makes this same distinction in 1 Corinthians 3, as does Peter in 1 Peter 2. Milk is good, but it is clearly the first principles of the faith. These folks have been believers long enough that they should have graduated from milk to meat.³

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

Milk is for babes in Christ, new believers. But as he explains, everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; they don’t understand it, they can’t defend it, they can’t teach it. We don’t expect that of babies. Babies are wonderful, but the normal thing is for them to grow in strength and understanding.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Strong meat, solid food, is for them that are of full age, who have grown and matured.⁴

Who are the persons of full age? “Understand, dear friends, that there is no reference here at all to the age of a person as to human life. The Greek word is, “Men that are perfect;” it signifies, therefore, spiritual men who have attained to the highest degree of spiritual development. Now this is not the result of years, for there are some grey heads that have no more wisdom than when they first began; and, on the other hand, there are some youthful believers who are worthy to be called fathers in Israel... Growth in grace does not run side by side with growth in years. As old Master Brooks says, “There are some few believers who seem to be born with beards; they are ripe Christians at a very early stage of their spiritual existence; and there are some who ... are always babes, needing the spoon and the rocking-chair, even in old age. The expression in the text, then, has no reference to age, but is used in a spiritual and metaphorical sense.”⁵

One of the signs of their maturity is their ability to discern both good and evil. Discernment is a very helpful and necessary grace that every believer needs and can walk in. I believe the passage reveals three ingredients to discernment, three steps:

(1) time growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ

(2) being thoroughly taught the word righteousness

(3) regularly exercising discernment (reason of use…senses exercised; this will be a separate post)

This is the backdrop for Hebrews 6, or as they say today, the backstory.

NEXT: The First Principles Hebrews 6:1-3

 

¹ Later republished under different titles, now known as Foundation Series

² I believe the he is the Apostle Paul.

³ We are all familiar with the distinction between milk and meat. Milk means milk (cow, sheep, goat, camel, yak); meat refers to solid food: vegetables, fruits, as well as “meat” (beef, pork, chicken etc). This all being true, I still prefer to use milk and meat.

⁴ “A careful examination of the context will inform you that one form of strong meat which is only fit for full grown Christians is the allegorical exposition of Scriptural history… Beyond a doubt, the historical parts of Scriptures are intended to be instructive allegories, setting forth heavenly mysteries... Holy Scripture is to be received, not only as a literal description of facts which really did occur, but as a picture in which grace-taught souls, illuminated by the Holy Ghost, may see pourtrayed in express characters the great gospel of the living God.” Charles Spurgeon sermon: “Hebrews 5:14, Strong Meat”

⁵ Charles Spurgeon sermon: “Hebrews 5:14, Strong Meat”

The Epistle of Jude 22-25

 

 

This is the conclusion of Jude’s short, but powerful epistle.

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

I don’t think he’s talking about the false teachers. I think he’s talking about those who have been lured away by them, captured by their false teaching and lascivious living. Let’s be honest, “You can believe in Jesus AND live any way you want to. You don’t have to be held back, suppressed by those old-fashioned, legalistic, hateful rules” is much more attractive to the flesh than

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence*, even as the Gentiles which know not God

(1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) [*passion for forbidden things]

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:17 - 7:1)

So we want to keep ourselves in the love of God and seek to rescue the fallen and wayward.

Jude ends with a doxology. Nearly every book after Acts ends with a doxology, a praise to God. This is beautiful.

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

He began with, “ye are preserved (kept) by Jesus Christ”, then in the middle of the letter he urges us to “keep yourselves in the love of God”. Now he closes with the focus once again on the Lord who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the Father.

“To the only wise God - He alone who is the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, who alone can teach, who alone has declared the truth; that truth in which ye now stand.

Our Savior - Who has by his blood washed us from our sins, and made us kings and priests unto God the Father.

Be glory - Be ascribed all light, excellence, and splendor.

Majesty - All power, authority, and pre-eminence.

Dominion - All rule and government in the world and in the Church, in earth and in heaven.

And power - All energy and operation to every thing that is wise, great, good, holy, and excellent.

Both now - In the present state of life and things.

And ever - To the end of all states, places, dispensations, and worlds; and to a state which knows no termination, being that Eternity in which this glory, majesty, dominion, and power ineffably and incomprehensibly dwell.

Amen - So let it be, so ought it to be, and so it shall be.”¹

 

Amen!

1 Adam Clarke, commentary on Jude. You can read it here.