2019

It’s all of Grace

Much OT prophecy sounded very exclusively Jewish

Isaiah 60:1–2 ESV

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Yet there was an awareness that did exist of some sort of Gentile inclusion

Luke 2:29–32 ESV

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

This bringing of clarity is what Paul refers to

Ephesians 3:6 ESV

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Paul never smooths over the rough edge of the National identity of OT Israel

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Paul understood it was an inclusion of Gentiles that perfected (true) Israel

Romans 11:25–26 ESV

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

Consider the likely pagan visitors from the east:

Matthew 2:1–2 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

We all begin as outsiders, as NOT in covenant with God

Acts 2:38–39 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Thus we see this consistent reminder that the New Testament, our salvation in Jesus; our forgiveness from sin-debt, our standing before God, our participation in His church is all by grace!

God and Mystery

Mystery of God

Trinity in Athanasian Creed

That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence. For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy Spirit still another. But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.

God is sovereign and man is free

Ephesians 1:3–4 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

How is it that God has chosen before time and yet in time we are free and culpable for our choice?

e[h 1:3-4

An appeal to mystery should NOT be our default or an easy cop out!

Well, there has to be an easy explanation… NO THERE DOESN’T

Job 38:4 ESV

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Romans 9:19–20 ESV

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

rom 9:

THE Biblical Mystery

Colossians 4:3 ESV

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

God as revealer

Progressive revelation, OT to NT

Personal as well

Genesis 12:1 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

God is free to take us along whatever path is needed for His glory (Gideon) and for our awakening, sanctifying, and growth

How Firm a Foundation - 1787

3

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

4

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

Through the Church

Whatever your God-intended path in 2019, it is in and through His church

To the unsaved: we are here to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for you what is the plan of God to redeem fallen man: JESUS

To the unbaptized, or uncommitted, or even the lapsed church member:

You are commanded to be baptized

You are commanded to be an ACTIVE, not a nominal member of a local church

A church without all its members is like an amputee. We can get along and in some cases use a prosthetic, but it’d be better if we just had all our limbs. The difference is that arms, legs, hands, and feet are removed for good reason, not out of rebellion.

It is ours to make known to the lost, as well as give notice to all who stand opposed that Jesus is Lord.

those rulers in high places…

1 Peter 1:11–12 ESV

inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

The only way we can do that long term is that we commit to staying together and to diving deeper, together.

Ephesians 3:11–12 ESV

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

May God in His mercy hold us fast when we waiver, may He illumine our lives with a clear and holy understanding of His plans for us, and give us boldness to meet the challenges ahead through Christ, and His church.