Month: May 2018

80. Not Condemned

 John 3:18 He that believeth in him is not condemned.

 I am born condemned, damned to hell, a guilty sinner, but He has “redeemed me, a lost and condemned sinner.” In a natural state, born in sin, I am condemned already because I did not believe in the name of the Son. When I believe I am switched from a state of condemnation to position of salvation. The promise is that I am not condemned, though I have deserved condemnation because of sin. Romans 8:1: “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This wonderful promise becomes even more remarkable when I realize how far I have come out of the state of condemnation.

Christ is the only answer, and a wonderful answer, to the unsolvable problem of sin and its condemnation. The only other attempted answer to the problem of condemnation is to deny that there is any condemnation, that sin can be excused, that God overlooks human mistakes, that a loving God wouldn’t condemn anyone, that sin and guilt and hell do not exist. All people have wanted to or tried to solve the sin problem by wishing it out of existence, but down deep in the heart it doesn’t finally work. It takes a ton of false faith to disbelieve in the need for Jesus. It is so much easier to believe in Jesus to get out from under guilt and condemnation than it is to rationalize, excuse and deny the truth of the human condition.

Confess the truth: “I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins…and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment.” Confess the truth: “He that believeth in him is not condemned.”

79. Eternal Life

 John 3:15, 16 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 John 6:47He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

 This most famous and clearest proclamation of the Gospel deals with the promise of Eternal Life. Jesus has earned eternal life for all people who ever lived or will live. It is now available to all, and those who hear it and believe it have eternal life. The promise of eternal life is not for the future in that some day in the future we will have eternal life. The promise is that right now, today, in the moment of faith, we have eternal life. The meaning is that we have the very life of God within us, and it so happens that God’s life is by its very nature eternal, without beginning or end.

It is a life that is everlasting, forever, never-ending, but the wonderful truth is that we receive it today; we do not wait for it until later. The moment we believe in Jesus we “go to heaven.” Although we still remain on earth, in this visible world, we immediately enter into the next world, or age, the invisible realm where God lives in glory. Thus we are literally in two worlds at one and the same time. How we occupy two spaces at once remains a mystery, but whether we see it or understand does not lessen the truth. We believe the truth.

A further true mystery in connection with this truth is that we are two people at one and the same time; two lives live inside of us; we are both sinner and saint. The sinner who lives in this present age is ruled by the prince of the power of the air; the saint who lives in the eternal age is ruled by God Almighty. This sinner in this age is only evil and always evil, much more depraved than we are usually willing to admit; the saint in the eternal age is only good and always good, much more righteous and holy than we are usually able to believe. For this reason, a promise like this, “you have eternal life,” is extremely important to believe and pay attention to more often. The simple response is: repent and believe the Gospel very often. How vital it is to “go to heaven” every day! Eternal Life changes life.

78. See Heaven Open

 John1:51 Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Although this promise is given specifically to Nathanael, from the whole of Scripture we can apply this promise to all believers who follow Christ, like Nathanael did. We shall, indeed, see heaven open. When Jesus was baptized the heavens opened and God (the Holy Spirit) came upon Him from heaven. So also when we were baptized the same thing happened to us: the heavens were opened, the HS came upon us, and the Father declared Himself well pleased with us.

Throughout the lifetime of a Christian, several times it will seem to us that the “heavens are opened.” This may happen when we hear and rehear the Gospel, when some insight from the Word of God makes a light bulb go on, when we see or experience a miraculous or natural act of God, when the Lord touches our hearts in some spiritual way, when something happens that we can only explain as coming from God, or in many other ways that heaven can open to each of us. More often, however, and very often, heaven opens every time we hear the Gospel, are baptized, or receive forgiveness in Holy Communion. Most of the time we do not feel anything special, but something real happens whether we see or feel it or not. God says it does; therefore, it does. Heaven is opened.

Whenever heaven is opened for us we will see the same thing: Jesus! In Nathanael’s case it looks like the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. This image means that Jesus the man is the meeting place between God and me. He is the mediator connecting us to God the Father. There is no other way to God. There are awful many things we do not understand or see clearly, but we see Jesus, “who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.”

77. Kingdom and Thrones

 Luke 22:29, 30 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 There is so much about what life will look like in the Eternal Kingdom of God that we do not know; we try to extrapolate and speculate, but being specific about anything in the kingdom we can’t see is dangerous. However, one thing we do know is that we will be eating and drinking with Jesus in His kingdom, implying acceptance and fellowship with the Father and the Son. We look forward to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom, and it will be glorious.

Two things promised that we do not know much about is: 1) receiving a kingdom, and 2) sitting on thrones. What is a kingdom? What do we do on a throne? Whom are we judging? Apparently, there is something about ruling over a kingdom, or a town, or some area of the New Heaven and New Earth. There is something about sitting on thrones; a throne is for ruling and decreeing or for judging and deciding. We cannot answer these questions or further clarify the promises. We can only surmise that believers in Jesus who inherit the kingdom will have something to do that involves responsibility and authority. This ruling responsibility arises from the Paradise of Eden over which Adam had some authority over something. Adam had work to do, and we can be sure that in eternity we will have work to do; it will be interesting and fun, not stressful and boring.

Who will we rule over? And who are the twelve tribes of Israel? The Twelve Tribes may be a metaphorical term for the Church, all believers. In other words, all believers are ruling and taking responsibility for each other. Ruling others is protecting others and caring for them for their own good, like parents are to rule their children, in love not for self. If people on earth were to take responsibility for each other we would look after them for their good and always serve them in love. This kind of mutual care and kindly treating of one another describes the way it is supposed to be on earth (but isn’t) and the way it will certainly be in heaven.

If we are to take responsibility for one another, mutually and equally, and do it for good, we must also have the ruling authority to carry out that responsibility. Luther says, “We are free lords of all, and we are dutiful servants of all.” We lord it over others by serving them selflessly. We cannot understand how that ruling and judging and exercising authority works because we never see a good example of it in real life; but we can imagine it with the help of the Holy Spirit and so get a glimpse of Life Eternal.

76. Redemption draws Nigh

 Luke 21:28 Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

The promise of Redemption completed and perfected fills us with anticipation and excitement. Romans 8:22-23: “The whole creation has been groaning together…but we ourselves…groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the…redemption of our bodies.” Every event on our earth or in our lives can in some way remind us of the Consummation of All Things. Every big thing reminds us of the Final Redemption at the end of time. When a Big Thing happens look up (to Jesus), raise your head and stand strong. Actually, every moment that passes draws us closer to Redemption, since every minute lived is one minute closed to the End.

When Jesus died and rose we shout, “He’s Alive and we are Redeemed.” However, as finished as that redemption is in the “Real World,” we still live in this present Age which is permeated with Evil, where Sin, Death, and the Devil rule and will rule until Jesus returns. Then, when all Enemies are eternally defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire, the Kingdom of God is revealed and the Reign of God is the only one that remains and everyone will see it(so no need to believe it any longer). When that happens and we no longer live by faith, but by sight, we will sing: “We have been Redeemed!”

Just the thought, the certain hope, the anticipation is enough to lift us up above the defeated and despairing surroundings among which we live and move. Every day we are drawing closer to that Glorious Day. That Hope fills the heart with overflowing Joy that overwhelms all the Bad News we hear. Any earthquake or other disaster we suffer draws us closer to Him and to that Great Day of Redemption. Believing redemption is one wonderful thing; imagine how wonderful it will be when we see it.

75. Hated but not perish

Luke 21:17, 18 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

 The promise follows a prediction: you will be hated, but not a hair of your head will perish. We can understand the truth of being hated for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ; many times Christians experience mocking or ignoring for no reason that they can discern other than they believe in Jesus Christ. We do not see that this is true of “all men;” this may be hyperbole, but we can believe the words of Jesus, that all men hate us, even though we do not experience this hatred from everyone. Many unbelievers treat us kindly on the outside, but inwardly hatred may be present even if it is unconscious. Thus we know that hatred may subconsciously be present, though hidden, in the heart of every unbeliever. This should not really be so hard to believe since hatred is one of those characteristics that reside inside of every sinner, whether it always shows itself or not.

Jesus says, “Ignore the hatred; don’t fight it, just expect it. But fear not those who can harm the body, for you will surely not perish; you will not even lose a hair of your head. Of course, you will lose hair, but it will not be because of the world’s hatred.” It is Jesus’ hyperbolic way of saying, “Don’t worry, you can’t get finally or eternally hurt.” That you will not perish is the opposite of having eternal life. “Perish” means more than just die; it means to die eternally. Not even a hair will be eternally destroyed. This promise may also mean that in eternity we will have a full head of hair once again and not one will be lost. It is way of saying that in the resurrection full and complete bodily parts will be present with perfect health, that is, all the functions of the body will be operating at full health and strength, forever.

Extrapolating this promise, together will all Biblical promises, asserts that believers in Jesus will never be eternally harmed or suffer loss, for not only will we not die, but also a full, rich and abundant life will be enjoyed world without end. Therefore, don’t sweat the small stuff; and it’s all small stuff. “Don’t worry, be happy” is more than a silly song; it is a trustworthy Biblical admonition.

74. Save the Lost

 Luke 19: 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 This is purely an unconditional promise: Jesus declares He is come to seek and save the lost. The declaration is a promise that He will for sure do just that. The found do not need seeking and saving, for they are already in the fold, in the family and in the purse. I was lost and He saved me; I am found because He already saved me.

I actually live in the two conditions at once: I am both saint and sinner all at once. As a saint I am found: I am owned and secured, I am in the sheepfold, and I am in the family with a loving and forgiving Father. He has saved me; that is a past tense truth, a fact of history. In truth and by faith I am no longer lost. The promise has come true.

On the other hand, I am still a sinner, and as a sinner I am lost. My sin has separated me from the ownership, responsibility, care, protection, nourishment and love of God. I continue to sin and so I continue to lose my way. Why aren’t all things going perfectly well with me? The answer I don’t want to hear: because I am lost. The promise for lost sinners is that Jesus will seek and find me and save me. I am in constant need of being found and saved, even though I have already been saved, once and for all. It is within this paradox that we live: saint and sinner, lost and found.

I confess daily that I was lost and am now lost; and I confess daily that have been saved and that I am constantly being saved and that I will be saved. Caught between this tension of being lost and found I take hold of this promise: Jesus seeks and saves me, once for all and constantly every day. The promise of salvation covers my past, energizes my present, and anticipates my future. I am saved!

73. Justified and Exalted

 Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 The tax collector in the parable who said, “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” was justified and exalted. This is a promise that holds true and reliable for all people. This pronouncement has the marks of a conditional promise: if you humble yourself, then you will be exalted. And also: if you cry mercy, then you will be justified. The cry for mercy is a humbling of self. Begging mercy admits I am a sinner and I can In not way earn favor or justify myself. The one who knows he is a sinner who is unworthy of entering into the presence of God is the one who begs mercy and is the one who humbles himself. God justifies that one and exalts him.

God has mercy, justifies and exalts because of Christ, not because a person asks for mercy and humbles himself, and not because of anything a man does at all. However, the humble, empty, needy and begging sinner is the one who is open, honest, willing and ready to receive mercy, justification and exaltation. God pours himself into an empty vessel, for He cannot empty Himself into a vessel that is already full of self. The prideful Pharisee does not want help or need mercy. “I’m OK, thank you.” God is ready to justify and exalt the Pharisee, too, but self and pride block the way. We ourselves should listen to Jesus and realize that He is speaking to our prideful hearts, the Pharisee within.

This prayer (“God be merciful to me, a sinner”) has been known for over 1500 years as the Jesus Prayer. It has been recommended by many as a beneficial prayer that all Christians can use every day. This is good advice: pray the mercy prayer daily and be justified and exalted daily.

72. Avenge the Elect

Luke 18:7, 8  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.

 This promise is given to the elect, the believers in Jesus Christ that God will avenge them, and He will do so speedily without repeated requests being necessary. We can be sure that Justice will definitely be done. Trust the Lord and wait for it. “Avenge” simply means that wrongs will be righted; vindication for the innocent will be seen; and evil will be punished.

On the one hand, we know that all things will be put to rights at the Final Judgment so that there will be a fresh start to the Eternal State. We can have no doubt that all things for everyone will work out justly, fairly, properly, and equally at the End. In some sense this can be understood as “speedily,” at least from God’s eternal viewpoint. It is true that injustice, unfairness, oppression, exploitation, mistreatment, false accusations and intolerable persecutions run rampart in this world; but in the next world all of that will end forever.

Indeed, persecutions of Christians (and others) is expected and even predicted, and the persecuted pray for justice. Furthermore, persecutions and injustice will never end as long as this world stands. Those who seem to “get away with it” will someday get their comeuppance. Meanwhile, God, the Just Judge, says, “Be patient. In the midst of injustice we are to pray and expect God’s answer, even “speedily.” The Day will come. The Lord gives us a glimpse of the dilemma in Revelation 6:10: The souls under the altar cry out, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge ourblood on those who dwell on the earth?” They were told to rest a little longer. The answer to this cry for vengeance works out in the events of the rest of the Book of Revelation, and it all plays out in history. So the Elect pray for vengeance, leave it with God, and wait in faith.

On the other hand, there is a sense in which this promise can also be taken to mean that God will avenge even within our time and space. The wheels of justice grind slowly but they do grind. In God’s time it will be speedily; in our time it will require patience and faith. Even persecutions have a way of running their course and vengeance does come. Either in time or in eternity the promise is true: no one gets away with it forever.

71. Recompensed

 Luke 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

 There is a promise of resurrection for the just(ified); there is a promise of blessing; there is a promise of recompense for inviting the poor who cannot repay. Embedded within this promise is the truth of an exact and complete accounting for every act done on the earth. No kind deed will ever go unrewarded forever. By the same token, no evil deed will go unpunished either. (By God’s Grace our evil deeds are punished finally and forever at the cross.)

In the resurrection justice will be perfect. Equal and appropriate reward and punishment will be repaid for every good or evil act, whether large or small. This kind of perfect justice is the kind of state of affairs that all people dream of, but the hope of seeing perfect justice in a perfect world is always dashed. In an imperfect, sinful, evil and unfair world it will never happen. But in the perfect world of the invisible kingdom of God and eternal visible kingdom of God justice will be perfect; and furthermore, things will always be fair for all, so there will be no complaining. There will be perfect justice at the resurrection of the just.

No kind deed will ever go unnoticed and unrewarded: God notices, God is counting, and God will appropriately repay. We do not act kindly in order to be repaid, but it is encouraging to know that someone notices. This example of giving a banquet is presented by Jesus to show us there are thousands of things we can do for other people, and each one will be noticed and rewarded. Faith in the Gospel is the motivation for rendering kindnesses; Faith in God’s Word and Promise is the encouragement to follow these promptings of the Holy Spirit to “be kind.”