Untitled Sermon (2)

I loved your email! Great thoughts. I couldn ‘t agree more about context. Reading in context, and understanding the teaching in context of prophecy, the OT and the narrative is one of many reasons I like Chad Bird. He takes his time, and just sticks to the text. If it’s not clear, he uses other text that is clear to point out the teac

hing. He also helps shine an amazing textual light on the purposes of the OT narrative.

You mentioned this teaching of blaspheming the Holy Spirit and its comparison to not accepting the Spirit of God, or hardening of ones heart towards God. The latter two would both be a failure to admit/recognize/believe in clear directives of God’s teaching . It is trying to attribute His word to something else (might be the world, man, chance, nature, or in this case, the work of the devil). Here was not a matter of insulting and misjudging men, but of setting oneself against all the work that God was doing on earth. The Greek word used for blaspheme just means to revile or slander. I think I’d quite agree with Chad here, a final and decisive turning of ones back to The Lord would be by definition, unforgivable. One thing that I find interesting is that in Greek blaspheme can mean to slander/revile or to hurl abuse (that’s how the same word is translated in Mark 15:29, when people are mocking Him on the cross and not believing He could overcome it). In other words, to not acknowledge the work and Spirit of God, to slander it, to go against it and call it something other than what it is: The work and Spirit of God. It is unforgivable because it is a rejection of the person of Christ, and His indwelling Spirit. If one ultimately rejects God and His work through Christ, the sin is unforgivable. It’s why the scriptures equates belief to eternal life, and unbelief/disobedience to judgment. Side note: Fun fact about me. I have a keen interest in the earliest church fathers (prior to 400…. conversation for another time). Not because their word is scripture, but they were so much closer to that time, in most ways SO MUCH wiser than us in the original languages and scriptures available, knowledge of local customs etc. I could go on and on about that, but I love thinking about people that were so much closer to the events. Sometimes with odd verses I’ll reference how they thought about them in their commentaries. If they contradict each other, I find that instructive in different ways. But I find it more interesting when they seem to all agree. In this case, they seem to comment on this verse in the same manner as Chad is connecting the teachings you mentioned. Here’s a couple of their quotes.

“The Spirit dwells in those who live by faith. But those who once having been counted worthy to share in the Holy Spirit and then having finally and decisively turned their backs from grace are by this act said to have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit (Origen, AD 185-254).” “Contempt of the Holy Spirit is defiance of the ground of the Christian faith and life, for it is the Spirit who offers testimony to Christ (Novatian, AD 200-258).” “The Holy Spirit is God himself enabling our faith. God the Spirit is not only the one whom we worship but the one by whom we worship (Gregory Nazianzen, 330-389).”

Yes, the very taboo nature of wrath! I want to make sure I understand what you asking about wrath because that’s a big topic. You asked me to define it. Do you mean how it is defined in scripture, in context, and which words are used in the original languages? Or sticking with context, are you asking what I gather when God’s wrath is mentioned from the context? In other words, what I read the teaching to mean or what I gather?

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Jn 3:36.

My mom. I love you. You just asked about one of the most immensely powerful, mysterious, glorious, enormous, consistent and most in need of understanding topics, in all of Scripture. That’s why I love you. Because you focus where it matters. And it just so happens, a topic of immense importance and interest to me. Wrath will free your mind. It’s when the lightbulb goes off regarding salvation.

The salvation that comes through Christ is salvation from wrath. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. (Rom. 5:9) This usage of wrath is everywhere in scripture. I mean everywhere. Genesis through Revelation. Almost every prophet, every gospel writer, God, and the Israelites. John the Baptist. And Jesus Himself. Aside from teachings about God there are few topics talked about more.

The Greek Septuagint translates wrath in the OT as ὀργή. That is the same word Jesus uses in the NT as recorded in Matthew, Luke and John. It’s the same word John the Baptist uses. It’s also the same word Paul uses, and the same word recorded in the final wrath in Revelation.

Interestingly, in the NT it is often followed immediately by a call to repentance.

At a glance, the biblical teaching on the wrath of God seems inconsistent with the doctrine of God’s love. Unfortunately, misunderstanding this point in the OT and a misunderstanding of the NT usage of it, have resulted in a heretical view of the biblical canon (Marcionism), in which the OT reveals the God of wrath and the NT reveals the God of love. Contrary to popular misconception the NT, like the OT, also teaches the wrath of God in connection with his love. The biblical teaching on God’s love cannot be appreciated unless it is seen in contrast with the biblical teaching on his wrath.

If I had to summarize the passages on God’s wrath, I’d say that the majority of the texts refer to His absolute opposition to sin and evil. The context is always His wrath being used to either bring about repentance from sin, or to bring about judgement.

The Bible speaks of wrath more than love. There are several Greek and Hebrew words used for it in OT and NT, but they all just mean anger, wrath and indignation. The context is almost always God’s displeasure with rebellion against Him, and the sin of man. Maybe said simpler, God’s wrath is what happens when holiness meets sin. And it occurs through the entire history of the world recorded for us, when we don’t trust in Him but lean in to our own flawed understanding.

Paul speaks a lot about unbelief and its consequences (with regard to wrath). In Romans, he puts it like this:

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…” The context of this verse is within the opening greeting and exaltation of Romans, where in verse 5 Paul explains that this grace we have been given is to bring about obedience of faith. The immediate context of 1:18 comes after Paul quotes what some argue is one of the most important verses in the OT, a verse I have no doubt was his focus:

Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.” It is this very verse that changed Martin Luther’s life. It’s THE verse that rocked his entire world. It’s what caused the Protestant Reformation.

The association of wrath and judgment specifically with the eschatological day of wrath is more definite in the NT (e.g., Mt. 3:7; Rom. 2:5; 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 6:17), The OT holds the doctrine of the wrath of God in balance with three other doctrines: his forbearance, his love, and his readiness to forgive. First, God is patient. The Hebrew word for patient is related to the word for wrath, and means “length of wrath,” that is, God does not quickly become angry. He is longsuffering (Ex 34:6). This longsuffering is the same word used in the list of the fruits of the Spirit. The context almost always is showing God’s patience and slowness to anger, his wrath is meant to bring about repentance of sin for His people.

Ironically, this is also a segue to this email and the unforgivable sin.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible In the Old Testament > Wrath of God

The OT holds the doctrine of the wrath of God in balance with three other doctrines: his forbearance, his love, and his readiness to forgive. First, God is patient. The Hebrew word for patient is related to the word for wrath, and means “length of wrath,” that is, God does not quickly become angry. He is longsuffering (Ex 34:6). Second, God is full of compassion and fidelity (Ex 34:6). Even when his children sin against him, he is like a father who is full of compassion and love. He is always faithful to his children. Third, he is ready to forgive those who sin against him when they atone for and are cleansed from their sins (Ex 34:6). The pleasure of his love is so much greater than his wrath (Ps 30:5). Micah prayed that the Lord may soon forgive and restore his people on the ground that he cannot be angry forever (7:18; cf. Ps 89:46; Jer 3:5). In Psalm 103:8–13 the psalmist likens God’s love and forgiveness to that of a father who does not harbor his anger continually, nor does he vex his children with discipline, so great is his love for those who fear him.

The purpose of God’s wrath is not to destroy mankind (Hos 11:9). His wrath is neither a vindictive, emotional overreaction, nor is it unpredictable. In his wrath he sovereignly imposes limits on nations (Babylon, Assyria), and disciplines his own people with the desired end that they return to him (Jl 2:13, 14). The eschatological expectation of the OT concept of the Day of the Lord includes the restoration of the earth, when the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge (Is 11:9; Hb 2:14) and glory (Nm 14:21; Ps 72:19) of the Lord and wickedness will be no more (Is 65:25).

Context. Full admission: There’s nothing that has taught me more, and cleared up more questions I have had over the years, than context. I picked up somewhere along the way a five-step process for reading and understanding in context (exegesis) that has helped me heaps. Is it the perfect recipe? Who knows… but I will say, I think these five steps will clear up 99% of what some verse or passage means if people would take the time to put in the work. Before I list them though, one thing I’d say here is that it would seem overwhelming to have to do all five of these things if it meant it had to be applied to every passage in the Bible. I think that would be an irrational thing to say though. I think most people if honest, would admit most of the Bible is quite plain reading. It’s easy to fall prey to the thought that everything needs to be interpreted. Is that really true?

I have a ton of (likely) unwarranted thoughts here, but this is more me revealing my heart, so have grace with me!

I’m not sure this can be overstated, but you are on to perhaps the most important concept in reading scripture: We must understand the context. I read once a 7-step process for reading in context (or said more formally exegesis). It was really helpful for me. I cannot think of a passage or teaching that I have applied this process to and not come away with a thorough understanding.

1. Genre

Determine the passage’s style of literature. Is it poetry? Historical narrative? An epistle?

2. Textual criticism

Study the manuscript evidence to determine the original text’s exact wording.

3. Translation

Translate the original language and compare other translations. (This is where a good Bible app comes in handy, especially if you do not know biblical Hebrew or Greek. More on that below.)

4. Verses, then chapter then book. This has been helpful to me. Actually most of the time, this will solve it for me. What is being talked about immediately around it? If I still am confused, what is the chapter about? If I’m STILL confused, what is the book/letter about (who is it written to/why etc.). Frankly, I think context reading is usually solved just with this one.

6. Historical-cultural context

Understand the situation in which the author composed the literature and any historical-cultural details that the author mentions or probably assumes.

7. Literary context

Understand the role a passage plays in its whole book (and the whole Bible).

8. Word studies

Unpack key words, phrases, and concepts.10