Month: April 2011

So Great Salvation

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14, 15

The account of Israel’s rebellion against God to which this passage refers is recorded in Numbers 21:4-9. God had graciously and miraculously delivered Israel from bondage and slavery in Egypt. Israel had seen the staff of God raised over the Red Sea and the waters parted for them. The waters then returned to drown the Egyptian army.

As they were tested on the way they became upset at having to depend on God for water and food. “There is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread” they said (Numbers 21:5). Their complaint was a slur on the nature and character of God. They were in effect saying that He would not keep His word. We should not be surprised that God responded by sending fiery serpents to bite them. Instead of trusting and obeying God they had acted in unbelief and accused Him of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them.

In mercy God responded to their confession and repentance, not by removing the serpents but by asking for an act of faith in His word; the very thing they had spurned. At God’s command Moses placed a brass serpent on the end of the staff of God and raised it up. If anyone would take God at His word and look at the raised serpent he would live.

Jesus’ reference to this event makes it clear that the event was a foreshadow of His own death on the cross and the life that would bring to all who looked to Him in faith. The Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing just as looking at a brass serpent on a pole to be saved from snake bite would have appeared. It was not the looking that saved from the poison but an act of God in response to them believing what He said

Jesus says that anyone poisoned by sin that looks to Him on the cross for salvation from sin’s curse will be saved and live. Again, it is not the act of looking that saves but and act of God in response to that person acting in faith in His word.

Jesus had just said, “You must be born again” (John 3:3, 7) and being born again is an act of God not of man (cf. John 1:12, 13).

On this resurrection Sunday we reflect and rejoice that we have eternal life because God acted in response to our faith in Jesus Christ just as He said He would. He can do this justly because Jesus Christ died for our sin. No wonder the writer of Hebrews called it “so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).

Why the Delay?

“For the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it … that you may believe.” John 11:4, 15

Lazarus was lying in his bed becoming sicker with each passing day. The wisdom of the medicos of the day informed his much loved sisters that his illness was fatal and his death was only a few days away. They knew Jesus could heal Lazarus if He was there so they sent for Him in the hope He could get there in time.

The disciples were with Jesus when the message came. They knew that Jesus had a special love for Lazarus, Mary and Martha but they understood the dilemma. The Jews in Jerusalem wanted to stone Jesus and Lazarus’ home was only a half hour’s walk from Jerusalem.

Lazarus was suffering the last stage of bodily death; his sisters were agonising with him unable to help. Lazarus died and his sisters agonised further in grieving and mourning. What a shame Jesus didn’t make it in time; the pain, agony and suffering that could have been avoided.

What a shock it must have been to the disciples when, after two days of hearing of Lazarus’ plight, Jesus announced His determination to go to Judea. They foresaw only more death, this time for Jesus and maybe themselves.

Thomas resigned himself to Jesus’ death and that of himself and the other disciples. He was in a state of despair and could see no hope in the future.

When Jesus and the disciples arrived Lazarus had been dead four days. Mary and Martha would have been past the shock of their brother’s death and coming to grips with the reality of life without him.

When news of His coming reached Mary and Martha, Martha rushed to Jesus to share her grief with Him. She knew He could have healed Lazarus and expressed that fact but Jesus wanted to teach her more than she already knew of Him. Later, when Mary was alone with Jesus they had a similar experience. The sisters knew Jesus could heal the sick but He was infinitely more.

They looked for Jesus for what He could do for them but He wanted to reveal Himself. The experience of Lazarus, Mary, Martha and the disciples was very real and very painful, especially for the three siblings yet it was all in the will of God. We have this strange notion that the Christian life should be free from pain and suffering but that is totally false and foreign to the Bible.

If the Lord tarries we will all pass through the door of bodily death and we will all suffer the agony of watching a loved one die at least once. It was because of the pain, suffering and grief that Lazarus, Mary and Martha came to a more full understanding of who Jesus is. Whatever you are finding painful today is an opportunity to discover more of your Saviour. Lazarus’ death was “For the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it … that you may believe.”

The Goodness of God

“No one is good but One, that is, God” Matthew 19:17

When reading the Bible it soon becomes obvious that God is presented to mankind as “good.” The very first chapter tells us that that which God created was “good” and when completed on the sixth day God Himself says that His creation was “very good.” Since what one does can only come from what one is the obvious conclusion is that God is good. This is a fundamental and consistent teaching throughout the Bible.

The truth concerning God’s goodness has been under constant attack ever since the serpent (Satan) called God a liar (Genesis 3:4).

We ought not to be surprised that unbelievers question God’s goodness. They have an interest in being able to accuse God of being deceptive and evil. How can God be good when he allows people to suffer and/or be killed in earthquakes, tsunamis, fires and floods or through wars, starvation and sickness?

Unfortunately some professing Christians do the same. If a person does not believe that Genesis three is an accurate record of events in an actual garden with real live pinch-me-and-see people then they will end up blaming God for all the evil, pain and suffering in the world or deny His existence.

The fact is that sin entered the world by one man and suffering and death came with that sin. When God told Adam that if he disobeyed he would die He did not mean just when he got old. Had Adam not sinned, calling God a liar and questioning His goodness, he would never have died. Spiritual death was instant but bodily death was progressive giving him time to repent and receive God’s mercy.

It should also be noted that the Bible gives evidence that the physical creation also began dying (cf. 3:17-19). What we see today is part of the outworking of a dying world.

Is the accusation against the goodness of God valid? Most certainly not! God through Jesus Christ has provided a way for every person to be saved from sin and its effects. He has warned that these events will become more frequent as the world approaches the final death throes and the outpouring of His wrath against sin.

Job was a man tested beyond any other. All his children were killed, all his material possessions were stolen, his wife turned against him, his health was taken from him and to rub salt into the wounds his friends told him he was a lying deceitful sinner.

Would we doubt God’s goodness in such a situation? That we complain shows that we do.

Although Job did not understand why he was left so bereft and his confusion was aided by the untrue comments of his friends he sought an explanation only from the Lord (Job 13:3). He knew that God is good even though the evidence seemed to say otherwise (13:15).

Gift or Purchase

“They first gave themselves to the Lord” 2 Corinthians 8:5

When a person has genuinely confessed and repented of sin they will have a heart desire to live in obedience to the Word of the Lord. This will be evidenced in all aspects of life but especially in giving. Whereas before they received Jesus Christ they had a heart to get for themselves now they will have a heart to give. This is the heart of God. He is a giver but not an indiscriminate giver.

Within all of us is still the desire of the flesh to get for ourselves. How shall we recognise that cunning and deceitful evil within?

There are many false prophets in our world who take advantage of our mercenary hearts and promise us God’s favour if we give. However, if we give to gain the favour of another, man or God, that is not giving, it is a purchase – or worse, an attempt at bribery. True giving has no strings attached, not even the gratitude of the recipient. True giving is not a payment for a past or future service and neither is it a payment for a gift we have received. We cannot repay God for the gift of salvation and any attempt to do so is abominable to Him.

There is no doubt Jesus would have us give to His ministry, mission and to others in need but we need to be careful that we have the right heart motive. It is so easy to slip into the mercenary or purchase mindset instead of just giving without any thought of return. We know we are mercenary when we expect God to bless us in some way because we give.

God “gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) because He is a giver not because He needs our gratitude (though gratitude is a vital part of worship) or anything else from us. When we give let it be because we love Him and love the brethren.

The churches in Macedonia, even though they were suffering financial hardship, gave to the ministry of the Gospel with no thought of anything in return (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). They did it because they knew that all they were and had was a gift from the Lord. To give oneself to the Lord means to own nothing, not even one’s own body and soul. Obedience is the evidence that such a transaction has taken place and remains in effect.

We do not choose the time, place, genetic inheritance, abilities, natural talents or opportunities we receive. Everything is God given. Let us acknowledge that truth by absolute surrender of all that we are and have to Jesus Christ. Know that He will test the reality of such a transaction.