Postmillenialism - An Eschatology of Hope by Keith A Mathison Paperback - 287 pages including indices.
The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield Mine is a paperback - 282 pages
– 9 Sanctity of speech: No lies to harm your neighbor
–10 Guard your heart: Do not covet
SCOPE OF THE LAW
The scope of the Decalogue – the Ten Commandments – is far reaching. It addresses your
Internal Relation to God Internal Relation to neighbor
1 10
External Relation to God External Relation to neighbor
2, 3, 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Interesting to note that #10 Covetousness, leads to #6-8: Murder, Adultery, Theft.
When we look in the next post to the Sermon on the Mount, we will need to key in on the fact that God was ALWAYS concerned with internal heart motivations. Not just outward actions. Jesus is making a big deal of this fact.
“Dr. N.T. Wright, the Bishop of Durham, addresses a packed audience at Roanoke College…Virginia, US on March 16th, 2007 to speak on the issue of Jesus’ resurrection from an historical perspective.”
I have to say in no uncertain terms that to deny the Messiahship of Jesus, IN THE FIRST coming, is completely unbiblical.
Messiah is Kingship. Messiah is also a person not just his place as king. He was to be the one to fight for and win Israels’s peace.
Jesus directly told the woman at the well that he was the Messiah. Simon Peter’s heaven sent “from the father” confession was this:
“YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”
(Note that Both MESSIAH and SON OF GOD, are terms for the King of Israel in Psalm 2 – you will read the word “messiah” as “anointed one.”)
He processed into the city of David on a donkey, amidst palm waving, and was robed in a kings garment of purple and wore a kings crown (thorns). The charge and complaint of the Jews was EXACTLY that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, King of Israel. and was “exalted” (lifted up on the cross) under a sign in three languages that said, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
In FACT, the name “Christ” is Greek for “Messiah.” His most common appelation in the epistles is “Jesus the Messiah.”
His full and permanent earthly/heavenly reign has nothing to do with the question of whether he WAS ALREADY anointed to be KING.
David was anointed LONG before he ruled. He was already MESSIAH before he reigned. But, as soon as he was anointed, it was an obvious sin to fight against God’s chosen servant.
Jesus directly claims messiahship several times, and his followers almost always refer to him in this way. Hagee says that Israel cannot be said to have rejected His Messiahship (anointing) because he never in any way (“word or deed”) claimed to be Messiah.
This is either ignorance or a lie from Hagee, a man who should know better.
He DID claim it. And the DID reject him FOR EXACTLY the reason that HE CLAIMED TO BE MESSIAH.
Paul says that the GOSPEL is specifically that the resurrection and lineage from David prove Jesus to be Messiah (Romans 1.1-6).
For Paul, Belief that Jesus is already LORD/Son of David/Messiah [all Ps 2 and Ps 89 references), and is RAISED from the dead are the two prongs of the Gospel:
-Rom 1.1-6
1Paul, a servant of the MESSIAH Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for THE GOSPEL of God— 2 THE GOSPEL he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a DESCENDANT OF DAVID, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the SON OF GOD ["messiah" title in Ps 2 and in Ps 89] by his RESURRECTION from the dead: Jesus THE MESSIAH our Lord. 5 Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus the MESSIAH.
- 2 Timothy 2.8
Remember Jesus THE MESSIAH, RAISED from the dead, DESCENDED FROM DAVID. This is my gospel[.]
- Rom 10.9
That if you confess allegiance with your mouth, saying, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God RAISED him from the dead, you will be saved.
This is the 1st entry in a Series that walks through my Sermon preparation for Sunday (2007/12/09). If you want to read them in another order choose one of the following:
If anyone was reading recently, I was preparing a sermon for the 25th of November. I think my process and outline were going fairly well, but Saturday midday, my wife began to miscarry our child of a 12-week pregnancy. So I didn’t preach.
But I am set to preach soon – Advent 2.
Advent 2 is Peace.
I have actually decided to preach the BCP lectionary this time (This is Year A, and we are at the 2nd week of the Liturgical year – 2nd Advent as I said).
Here is the lectionary as the BCP sets it, slightly altered by either my rector or by myself:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 (edited by Fr. Steve)
Romans 15: 4-13
Matthew 3:1-12
My following entries will move through my thought process in working on the sermon, and will include bits of the reading at a time.
To move to a specific entry click on the listing: (if any link doesn’t work, then I haven’t written it yet).
If you are interested in a Bible-believing church that worships in the Anglican way, and you live in the Baltimore / Annapolis area, you might consider Emmaus Anglican Church (Catonsville). Click here for the church website.
We have two living children at home, one of whom is old enough to have lots and lots of conversation (2.5 years old).
How and when do you talk to your children about death? Feel free to respond, I will probably post any reply.
We have had four deaths in our family in the last 2 years (two in our house). So I will share a very brief bit about what we have found in our experience.
Our Response We have found that it is EASIER not harder to talk to young children about death than we expect it would be if we waited. I don’t think that most people ignore it, but because we are Christians, we feel obligated to discuss death as soon as possible with children.
A few (amongst MANY) reasons Christians cannot avoid talking about death:
The fall as a theological prinicpal is meaningless without death. (Gen 1-3)
The flood (as a pattern for Exodus) and the Exodus, and the Judgement and conquest of Canaan all involve death to purify the earth: God must have the right over his creatures, and the obligation to himself to act against his enemies. Those who fight against God’s glory die.
This brings up the problem of the universal enmity with God. All are enemies (as in the fall), therefore, all die. Is there a solution?
The death of Jesus is CRUCIAL (pun intended) to the salvation of men.
The resurrection of Jesus, proving the Lordship of Jesus over all things, is the object of our faith in the gospel (Rom 1.1-4, 10.9; 2 Tim 2.8); without death, resurrection means nothing. [See the Footnote Below for verses, or click above verse link].
Our discussion: We have explained, as all our deaths have been inside God’s covenant family, that Jesus lives in heaven after his resurrection, and that our relatives have gone to Jesus and they too will be resurrected on the last day, and we will be with them again forever. We HAVE also explained the resurrection of judgment for those who do not worship the Triune God through Jesus.
———————————footnote———————————
Romans 1.1-4: 1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit[a] of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10.9: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
2 Timothy 2.8: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; 11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; 12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; 13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
An open letter from Archbishop of Nigeria to other primates to gather together for action [excerpts here]:
***
Although they have variously been described as “interventions” “boundary crossing” or “incursions” — they are a direct and natural consequence of the decision by The Episcopal Church (TEC) to follow the path that it has now chosen.
These pastoral initiatives undertaken to keep faithful Anglicans within our Anglican family has been at a considerable cost of crucial resources to our province. There is no moral equivalence between them and the actions taken by TEC. They are a heartfelt response to cries for help. We acted in accordance with the Gospel mandate. Had TEC, against all godly warnings, not taken actions that tore the fabric of our beloved Communion there would be no need for hundreds indeed, thousands of its members to seek pastoral, episcopal and now primatial care elsewhere…
***
…Of course there is value to preserving Anglican structures but we must never do so at the expense of the people for whom our Lord Jesus the Christ gave his life.
Until the Communion summons the courage to tackle that issue headlong and resolve it we can do no other than provide for those who cry out to us. It is our earnest prayer that repentance and reconciliation will make this a temporary arrangement. One thing is clear we will not abandon our friends…
***
…This endless series of proposals and counter proposals continues with no apparent conclusion in sight. Sadly, it is becoming increasingly clear that the only acceptable end as far as TEC is concerned is the full capitulation of any who would stand in opposition to their biblically incompatible innovations- this we will never do. There is a way forward – we have written and spoken repeatedly about it – the time for action is now. I believe that we Primates must meet in the next few months to respond to the crisis that now confronts us…
In case you aren’t familiar with Derek Webb, (first of Caedmon’s Call), then solo, then back to Caedmon’s), I thought I would post about two of my favorites [lyrics below].
Derek Webb has always been at the top of my lists, but his album, “Mockingbird” literally changed my life. I wept on the floor, realizing that I am an oppressor, an elite, rich, wealth hoarder. I’ll have to put more Derek Webb up some other day. [Click here for iTunes]
King and a Kingdom
(vs. 1)
who’s your brother, who’s your sister
you just walked passed him
i think you missed her
as we’re all migrating to the place where our father lives
’cause we married in to a family of immigrants
(chorus)
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it’s to a king & a kingdom
(vs. 2)
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him
(chorus)
(bridge)
but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think
——————————————————-
Rich Young Ruler
(vs. 1)
poverty is so hard to see
when it’s only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can’t give me
(vs. 2)
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey what’s the deal
i don’t sleep around and i don’t steal
i want the things you just can’t give me
(bridge)
because what you do to the least of these
my brother’s, you have done it to me
because i want the things you just can’t give me
—————————————–
……ahem. Oops.
—————————————–
[NOTE - I have put this in the "Gospel" category because of King and a Kingdom, since the gospel IS the announcement about Jesus' kingship (read my recent post about the meaning of Gospel and Kingdom in the Bible.]
