Colossians 2:11-13 - 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
The circumcision of the heart results in a glorious life and freedom from slavery to trespasses. “Trespasses” (παράπτωμα - paraptōma, par-ap´-to-mah) refer to a false step, blunder, “a lapse from uprightness, a sin, a moral trespass, misdeed, is translated ‘fall.’” Prior to conversion we are out of step with God. Earlier in Colossians Paul stated our need to be reconciled because we were out of sync with God (1:20). Here Paul points to the wobbly walk we have apart from Christ. We walk wobbly because we walk with a heavy burden of sin. This existence is characteristic of the one who is, “being dead in your trespasses.” This is the person who needs to be born of the Spirit; born again; saved from their sin. And God provides by grace a way for this person to be forgiven their trespasses; the cross (2:14).
But there is a further application to be made here. Paul refers to “the uncircumcision of your flesh.” Notice he states a twofold condition. He states of the Colossians, “And you, being dead in your trespasses . . .” That’s the first condition which needs salvation. He then uses the conjunction “and” to add a further condition. The “and” can refer to something concurrent or an addition, or it can refer to something that follows. Paul says, the second condition is, “and the uncircumcision of your flesh.” That is the second condition and that needs the circumcision of the heart. Sometimes these two aspects are dealt with concurrently or at the point of accepting Christ as Savior. But at other times there is a lapse of time before the flesh is recognized as an unwanted unreliable tenant and then is circumcised.
The flesh is like a tenant who crosses the line of boundaries. The flesh doesn’t stay in its place but barges into your living space. Like a rude boorish visitor who comes in and takes over like they own the place, eating your food, wearing your clothes, turning your TV to the channels it likes, and just taking over. The flesh is a pest and makes your life miserable once you accept Jesus into your life. Why? because your flesh intrudes on your every attempt at conversation with Jesus. When you want to go out with Jesus the flesh is an unwanted presence. When you want to celebrate with Jesus, the flesh crashes the party. You get sick and tired of the flesh’s constant presence. But he’s persistent and powerful and wont’ go away. You try to get rid of him but he just won’t leave you alone. The flesh can be an oppressive bully. Jesus can and will step in to free us from the bully flesh. He will help us to drop the flesh like a bad habit. He will help us to throw the flesh off like a smelly shirt. Jesus will circumcise our flesh away from us.
The flesh is also very deceptive. It influences us in subtle ways that hinder our walk with Jesus. The flesh tempts us to be self-confident. It tricks us into thinking we can do it ourselves in whatever we are doing, even good things for Jesus. This leads to let downs. At times we live an up and down existence as Christians. We walk wobbly as Christians. It’s as though we are still dead as we attempt to live right but in our own fleshly power. Life is a struggle living in the flesh in our own strength (e.g. Rom. 7:24). We are dragged down by trespasses, or stumbling and bumbling as Christians.
When I was a kid I had a toy called a gyroscope. It was a round circular object inside another circular ring with a rod in it. Both spun independently of each other. You could spin it like a top and it made for a fun past time. You’d spin it and watch it to see how long it would last before it ran out of energy and toppled over. It was especially fun to watch it spin close to the edge of a table until it slowed down and fell crashing to the floor. My point is when we try to live as Christians in our own strength we are like that gyroscope. We may spin fast and perfectly at first, but eventually we will run out of energy and topple over into sin. We need to be energized by the Lord, by the Holy Spirit in particular. His energy does not dissipate. We, because we are humans, need regular re-fillings of the Spirit (e.g. the early church filled with the Spirit in Acts 2 and then again in 4:31). The Holy Spirit is always ready to oblige us. Our flesh gets in the way of this. That is why it needs to be circumcised out of the way.
A Subsequent Work?
It should be mentioned that not everyone accepts the idea of the possibility of this circumcision of the flesh or baptism with the Holy Spirit as being a subsequent work to salvation. Not everyone accepts that a second work of God’s grace in the heart is a valid proposition in the Bible. They state that a person receives the Holy Spirit at conversion and that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is conversion. But there is good scriptural evidence to show the reality of a second work of God in the believer. The second work of God in the believer is also confirmed in the personal experiences of believers.
Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the “Promise of My Father” which He described as “power from on high” (Luke 24:49). He breathed on the disciples and commanded them to “Receive the Holy Spirit” at the end of the gospel (John 20:22). This imperative of Jesus confirms the ones He spoke to were born again or had received the indwelling Holy Spirit prior to the empowerment Jesus was speaking about that was fulfilled in Acts. Can there really be any realistic doubt that the disciples were not born again after the resurrection of Jesus at the end of the gospels?
In Acts Jesus clarified that the Promise of His Father and this power was linked to the Holy Spirit coming “upon you” (Acts 1:4-5, and 8). The fulfillment of this empowerment occurs in Acts 2 and was subsequent or after the conversion of the disciples. This empowerment is referred to as the baptism with the Holy Spirit (e.g. Acts 19:4-5). It is also described in terms of a purifying of the heart (Acts 15:8-9). And it is this last aspect of this subsequent work of God that is pertinent to the circumcision of the heart.
The circumcision of the heart is God’s means to purify the heart. The heart needs to have spiritual surgery to cut away the flesh or sinful selfish nature of a person. It is the flesh that constantly contradicts and wars against the voice and will of the Holy Spirit. The flesh is like an obstinate aggravating unwanted entity that intrudes on the Holy Spirit’s conversations with us. The Spirit speaks to our heart but the flesh is there to intrude and contradict what the Spirit says. The flesh discourages us from obeying the Holy Spirit. The flesh must be surgically removed. The Holy Spirit is the surgeon. We need only present ourselves to Him for surgery to remove the flesh. That flesh, once removed, will grow back if we choose to feed it by following its tempting incitements. If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh and we will experience victory and an empowered life (e.g. Gal. 5:16).
The circumcision of the heart involves God providing us with a new aliveness where we live victoriously over the momentary lapses where we succumb to the enticing of the flesh. There always remains the potential or possibility of falling because we are never immune to temptations. But if we do sin Jesus remains our Advocate (1 John 2:1f).
We can live victoriously in this life. Victory is the product of living “together with Him.” It is a life where we exalt in God’s forgiveness. God forgives all our sins at conversion. And He will even cleanse our hearts from our fleshly sinful nature as we walk with Him. That work is ongoing too. We will never in this life be free from the possibility of sinning. And in all likelihood there will be times when we sin. We will sense that within as any sin or fleshly behavior grieves the Holy Spirit. Therefore this is not sinless perfection. But it is a life of victory over fleshly lapses due to spiritual immaturity.
God created humanity in His image (Gen. 1:27). God’s plan and purpose for humanity is to be like Jesus (Rom. 8:29). The serpent tempted Eve with the prospect of becoming like God (Gen. 3:5). The serpent took God’s holy plan of Christlikeness and warped it; desecrated it with a sinful selfish proud motivation. You can’t achieve God’s purposes by relying on the sinful nature; or on the flesh (Gal. 3:1ff.). That is because the fleshy sinful nature is inherently sinful and at war with God (Rom. 8:7). The flesh is always warring and competing against God for control and rule. There can be only one Lord or Master in our heart and life. Therefore the heart needs to be circumcised and the flesh removed from power.
The flesh or sinful nature has a proclivity to proudly assert itself as “God.” The flesh is always trying to take the place of God. It is the flesh that wants us to rely on the Law or ritual so that it can say, “See what I have done. See what I have accomplished.” That is a religious mindset. That is the flesh. The gospel is all about what God has done in Christ. We relate to God on the basis of His grace and provision for us. The perfect holy life involves loving God supremely because of what God has done for us. We love God supremely out of thanks. We love others sacrificially as a way to offer God an appreciative offering of our love for Him. We present ourselves in full surrender to God because we have been bought by Him (1 Cor. 6:19-20). We belong to God; He is Lord of our lives (Rom. 10:9-10).
Have you experienced the circumcision of your heart by Jesus? Are you a wobbly Christian? Do you struggle with an unwanted tenant within who intrudes and pushes you around like a bully? Jesus wants to free you from such wretchedness. He wants to cut your flesh away. He wants to help you throw off your flesh and have a freer closer relationship with Him. He wants to circumcise your heart. Seek Him and ask Him to cut your flesh away. Throw your flesh off and let it follow as a defeated foe in your victory procession in Christ.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Circumcision of the Heart - Part 2
Colossians 2:11-13 - 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Beyond identification as one belonging to God Paul tells us in Colossians that circumcision had a deeper spiritual meaning. Circumcision symbolizes through the removal of the foreskin the removal of the flesh or sinful nature from the heart. The flesh is to be cut away so that it is no longer our source of guidance and strength. The “flesh” in scripture represents the sinful nature. The sinful nature is sinful because it centers on self (me, myself and I). The sinful nature centers on self because of pride. In the Garden of Eden Eve and Adam sinned because they discarded trust in God and His word for self-reliance and self-promotion (Gen. 3). The serpent’s temptation involved bringing God’s word into question (Gen. 3:1-3, contradicting God’s word (3:4), and tempting with the idea that by disobeying God, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (3:5). As soon as they chose to disobey God in pursuit of becoming “like God,” the fleshy sinful nature was born.
One of John Wesley’s most noted and most used sermons was entitled The Circumcision of the Heart. It is the seventeenth sermon in the popular set of Rev. N. Burwash’s Wesley’s 52 Standard Sermons. In this message Wesley defines circumcision of the heart as:
The circumcision of the heart is a removal hindrances to holiness by God in the heart of one fully surrendered to Him.
What is the circumcision of the heart? Before we look at the particular statements by Paul in our passage we need to understand a few things about Circumcision. Physical circumcision was a rite of identification performed the eighth day after birth (Lev. 12:3). What we should consider is that birth preceded circumcision. Similarly, the new birth in the Spirit can precede the circumcision of the heart. Some people accept the Lord in a way that the circumcision of the heart is concurrent with conversion. At other times the circumcision of the heart is more of a subsequent work.
A phrase similar in meaning to the circumcision of the heart is The baptism with the Holy Spirit. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a subsequent work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer (compare John 20:22 with Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4). This is a work that involves two aspects heart purifying and empowering. In Acts 2 we see the empowering aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 15:8-9 we see the purifying aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit as described by Peter. The circumcision of the heart emphasizes the purifying aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Circumcision represents something done to a very private part of a person. Similarly, God wants to do a deep work that affects even the most private and personal areas of our lives. God wants us to surrender every part of ourselves to Him. He wants us to withhold nothing from Him. Circumcision, therefore, is a very apt choice of God to illustrate this desire of His.
Circumcision was also something that was celebrated. As we look at what Paul says about circumcision of the heart let us receive the work of God in our hearts by faith and hen celebrate what God is doing and will do by faith in us.
First, Circumcision of the heart is something we experience in our relationship to Jesus. Paul says, “in Him” (2:11a). This points us to our relationship with Jesus which is based on God’s grace and trust in Christ as our Savior and Lord (John 1:16-17; Eph. 2:8-9). It refers to an abiding relationship with Jesus (John 15). It starts and ends with Jesus.
Second, Circumcision of the heart is a work of God in us. Paul refers to it as, “you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands” (2:11b). This is not something done with human hands; it is not a work by us on our selves. It is a work of God in us (e.g. Phil. 2:13). This is a work of God on our heart. And if it is a work of God it involves receiving it by faith. Our part is to cooperate with God. He is the surgeon, we are the patient. The patient merely needs to present themselves for the surgery. We simply have to come to Him in faith surrendering to Him to do His work in us.
Third, Circumcision of the heart is putting off the flesh. Paul then says, “by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh . . .” (2:11c). As we have said the flesh refers to our sinful nature which is bundle of self-centeredness: selfishness, self-reliance, self-satisfaction, self-exaltation, self-promotion, self-serving, and lust. “Putting off” (ἀπέκδυσις - apĕkdusis, ap-ek´-doo-sis) means to divest, put off, renounce. The idea involves the disarming of an enemy who is then led off in the victor’s procession. It involves undressing. We undress or disarm the flesh.
Prior to this circumcision of the flesh we wore our flesh; it was what we were known by, like a uniform. The flesh was worn like a uniform that represents a team, company or some other group we belong to. And like a team, company or group, we did things in a certain way; in this case, the ways of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). But by the circumcision of the flesh we put off or throw aside the uniform of the flesh and put on the uniform of those who live by the Spirit.
What enemy is disarmed here? “the body of the sins of the flesh.” The flesh! How is it disarmed? “by the circumcision of Christ.” The Christian is still tempted by the sinful flesh nature. But the sinful flesh nature is disarmed in Christ. Jesus has cut it off from its supply of blood. Our sinful nature is something we will need to be aware of our entire lives. But through the circumcision of Christ it is defeated and can only follow in our victory procession as a conquered foe.
We appropriate this circumcision of the flesh by faith and conquer it in the Spirit. We put it off in that we don’t wear it. The control and influence of the flesh is broken. It may still entice us. But it only has power as we yield to it. Instead we by faith must yield to the Spirit (e.g. Romans 6). Instead we invite Jesus to clothe Himself with us and we too submit to and surrender to Jesus; we put Him on.
Fourth, Circumcision of the heart is about Christlikeness. Paul refers to, “by the circumcision of Christ” (2:11d) This circumcision is particularly “the circumcision of Christ.” Jesus does this circumcision to us as we present ourselves to Him in faith. And the nature of this circumcision takes on the nature of its Author, Jesus. It is His circumcision. God’s plan is for us to be like Jesus (Rom. 8:29; cf. also 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).
Fifth, Circumcision of the heart involves dying to self and rising to new life by faith in God’s working. Paul finally says we are, “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (2:12-13). We identify with Christ’s death in our baptism. Jesus died on the cross. We who come to Him willfully die to self. This is God’s purpose for us (e.g. 2 Cor. 5:14-15). We do this by faith. And we are raised to newness of life with Jesus by faith (e.g. Rom. 6:4). Our faith is in “the working of God.” We surrender to Him and trust in Him to do the work in us. God is real. He really does make a difference. He really will circumcise your heart if you present yourself to Him and trust Him to do it. The proof of this is in Jesus’ own resurrection. If God raised Jesus from the dead, He will circumcise our hearts and subdue the flesh in our lives too.
Are you controlled by your flesh and its lusts? Is it defeating you or are you defeating it? Are you led by the flesh or the Holy Spirit? Are you growing in your faith and becoming more and more like Jesus? Or are you self-centered and worldly? Ask the Lord to search your heart and listen to His honest appraisal of you. In our final part of this series we will consider the subsequent nature of the circumcision of the heart. This is a work that can happen after our conversion experience. If God has something more for you, wouldn’t you want to experience it? Don’t miss the last part of this three part series to find the answers to these questions.
Beyond identification as one belonging to God Paul tells us in Colossians that circumcision had a deeper spiritual meaning. Circumcision symbolizes through the removal of the foreskin the removal of the flesh or sinful nature from the heart. The flesh is to be cut away so that it is no longer our source of guidance and strength. The “flesh” in scripture represents the sinful nature. The sinful nature is sinful because it centers on self (me, myself and I). The sinful nature centers on self because of pride. In the Garden of Eden Eve and Adam sinned because they discarded trust in God and His word for self-reliance and self-promotion (Gen. 3). The serpent’s temptation involved bringing God’s word into question (Gen. 3:1-3, contradicting God’s word (3:4), and tempting with the idea that by disobeying God, “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (3:5). As soon as they chose to disobey God in pursuit of becoming “like God,” the fleshy sinful nature was born.
One of John Wesley’s most noted and most used sermons was entitled The Circumcision of the Heart. It is the seventeenth sermon in the popular set of Rev. N. Burwash’s Wesley’s 52 Standard Sermons. In this message Wesley defines circumcision of the heart as:
That "circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;" — that the distinguishing mark of a true follower of Christ, of one who is in a state of acceptance with God, is not either outward circumcision, or baptism, or any other outward form, but a right state of soul, a mind and spirit renewed after the image of Him that created it; — is one of those important truths that can only be spiritually discerned. And this the Apostle himself intimates in the next words, — "Whose praise is not of men, but of God." As if he had said, "Expect not, whoever thou art, who thus followest thy great Master, that the world, the men who follow him not, will say, ’Well done, good and faithful servant!’ Know that the circumcision of the heart, the seal of thy calling, is foolishness with the world. Be content to wait for thy applause till the day of thy Lord’s appearing. In that day shalt thou have praise of God, in the great assembly of men and angels."
To be more particular: Circumcision of heart implies humility, faith, hope, and charity. . . . At the same time we are convinced, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to help ourselves; that, without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing but add sin to sin; that it is He alone who worketh in us by his almighty power, either to will or do that which is good; it being as impossible for us even to think a good thought, without the supernatural assistance of his Spirit, as to create ourselves, or to renew our whole souls in righteousness and true holiness.
The circumcision of the heart is a removal hindrances to holiness by God in the heart of one fully surrendered to Him.
What is the circumcision of the heart? Before we look at the particular statements by Paul in our passage we need to understand a few things about Circumcision. Physical circumcision was a rite of identification performed the eighth day after birth (Lev. 12:3). What we should consider is that birth preceded circumcision. Similarly, the new birth in the Spirit can precede the circumcision of the heart. Some people accept the Lord in a way that the circumcision of the heart is concurrent with conversion. At other times the circumcision of the heart is more of a subsequent work.
A phrase similar in meaning to the circumcision of the heart is The baptism with the Holy Spirit. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a subsequent work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer (compare John 20:22 with Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4). This is a work that involves two aspects heart purifying and empowering. In Acts 2 we see the empowering aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 15:8-9 we see the purifying aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit as described by Peter. The circumcision of the heart emphasizes the purifying aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Circumcision represents something done to a very private part of a person. Similarly, God wants to do a deep work that affects even the most private and personal areas of our lives. God wants us to surrender every part of ourselves to Him. He wants us to withhold nothing from Him. Circumcision, therefore, is a very apt choice of God to illustrate this desire of His.
Circumcision was also something that was celebrated. As we look at what Paul says about circumcision of the heart let us receive the work of God in our hearts by faith and hen celebrate what God is doing and will do by faith in us.
First, Circumcision of the heart is something we experience in our relationship to Jesus. Paul says, “in Him” (2:11a). This points us to our relationship with Jesus which is based on God’s grace and trust in Christ as our Savior and Lord (John 1:16-17; Eph. 2:8-9). It refers to an abiding relationship with Jesus (John 15). It starts and ends with Jesus.
Second, Circumcision of the heart is a work of God in us. Paul refers to it as, “you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands” (2:11b). This is not something done with human hands; it is not a work by us on our selves. It is a work of God in us (e.g. Phil. 2:13). This is a work of God on our heart. And if it is a work of God it involves receiving it by faith. Our part is to cooperate with God. He is the surgeon, we are the patient. The patient merely needs to present themselves for the surgery. We simply have to come to Him in faith surrendering to Him to do His work in us.
Third, Circumcision of the heart is putting off the flesh. Paul then says, “by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh . . .” (2:11c). As we have said the flesh refers to our sinful nature which is bundle of self-centeredness: selfishness, self-reliance, self-satisfaction, self-exaltation, self-promotion, self-serving, and lust. “Putting off” (ἀπέκδυσις - apĕkdusis, ap-ek´-doo-sis) means to divest, put off, renounce. The idea involves the disarming of an enemy who is then led off in the victor’s procession. It involves undressing. We undress or disarm the flesh.
Prior to this circumcision of the flesh we wore our flesh; it was what we were known by, like a uniform. The flesh was worn like a uniform that represents a team, company or some other group we belong to. And like a team, company or group, we did things in a certain way; in this case, the ways of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). But by the circumcision of the flesh we put off or throw aside the uniform of the flesh and put on the uniform of those who live by the Spirit.
What enemy is disarmed here? “the body of the sins of the flesh.” The flesh! How is it disarmed? “by the circumcision of Christ.” The Christian is still tempted by the sinful flesh nature. But the sinful flesh nature is disarmed in Christ. Jesus has cut it off from its supply of blood. Our sinful nature is something we will need to be aware of our entire lives. But through the circumcision of Christ it is defeated and can only follow in our victory procession as a conquered foe.
We appropriate this circumcision of the flesh by faith and conquer it in the Spirit. We put it off in that we don’t wear it. The control and influence of the flesh is broken. It may still entice us. But it only has power as we yield to it. Instead we by faith must yield to the Spirit (e.g. Romans 6). Instead we invite Jesus to clothe Himself with us and we too submit to and surrender to Jesus; we put Him on.
Fourth, Circumcision of the heart is about Christlikeness. Paul refers to, “by the circumcision of Christ” (2:11d) This circumcision is particularly “the circumcision of Christ.” Jesus does this circumcision to us as we present ourselves to Him in faith. And the nature of this circumcision takes on the nature of its Author, Jesus. It is His circumcision. God’s plan is for us to be like Jesus (Rom. 8:29; cf. also 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).
Fifth, Circumcision of the heart involves dying to self and rising to new life by faith in God’s working. Paul finally says we are, “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (2:12-13). We identify with Christ’s death in our baptism. Jesus died on the cross. We who come to Him willfully die to self. This is God’s purpose for us (e.g. 2 Cor. 5:14-15). We do this by faith. And we are raised to newness of life with Jesus by faith (e.g. Rom. 6:4). Our faith is in “the working of God.” We surrender to Him and trust in Him to do the work in us. God is real. He really does make a difference. He really will circumcise your heart if you present yourself to Him and trust Him to do it. The proof of this is in Jesus’ own resurrection. If God raised Jesus from the dead, He will circumcise our hearts and subdue the flesh in our lives too.
Are you controlled by your flesh and its lusts? Is it defeating you or are you defeating it? Are you led by the flesh or the Holy Spirit? Are you growing in your faith and becoming more and more like Jesus? Or are you self-centered and worldly? Ask the Lord to search your heart and listen to His honest appraisal of you. In our final part of this series we will consider the subsequent nature of the circumcision of the heart. This is a work that can happen after our conversion experience. If God has something more for you, wouldn’t you want to experience it? Don’t miss the last part of this three part series to find the answers to these questions.
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Circumcision of the Heart - Part 1
Colossians 2:11-13 - 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Are you living an up and down unstable Christian life? Do you feel pulled in two different directions when it comes to following God or following less than godly ways? Do you frequently feel as though you’ve run out of spiritual steam? If any of these questions are answered in the affirmative, this teaching on the circumcision of the heart will be of interest to you.
In Colossians Paul states the Christian is “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10). Jesus has what we need to live victoriously and abundantly in this life. But there was a problem at the Colossian church and that problem is often found in the church today.
Some at Colosse were claiming that spiritual maturity and acceptability to God was based on keeping outward rituals like circumcision. Now you might not see how this relates to your present situation but bear with me. There is something very important to see in Paul’s discussion about ritualism.
One commentary accurately states, “If someone claims to be super-spiritual because of meticulous adherence to some religious practice that believer is to be reminded that new life comes in the power of the Spirit and solely on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross ([Colossians] 2:13–15).” You do not need to be circumcised to be saved. You do not need to be baptized to be saved. All you need to do to be saved is to accept by faith the good news of the gospel that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead. Saving faith by nature is repentant; it turns away from sin; it does not continue to live in sin. But that is a product of your salvation not a work to earn your salvation. In faith you turn from your sins to God through faith in Jesus Christ and God then forgives your sins and gives you spiritual life by the indwelling regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.
The value of a ritual is its use as a symbolic shadow of something related to Christ and our relationship to Him. Circumcision was a badge of identification for the Jew. It represented the mark of belonging to God. It symbolized being set apart to God and was introduced by God to Abraham (Genesis 17). But the outward ritual of circumcision was never meant to be a superficial mark that didn’t include the heart condition of the one circumcised. Circumcision was always to indicate a heart stance toward God. Abraham was circumcised after God stated he was counted righteous because of his belief in God (cf. Gen. 15:6). The history of Israel indicates that there was a tendency to rely on the outward ritual of circumcision separate from a heartfelt trust in God. Circumcision was always meant to symbolize more than a mere outward sign.
The prophet Jeremiah was inspired by God to point to this deeper meaning of circumcision when he wrote:
Jeremiah 4:4 - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forth like fire, And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings.”
Through Jeremiah God reminded the wayward sinful people that outward ritual separated from heart decision was meaningless and deserving of God’s judgment. Why? Because they may have been outwardly circumcised but their hearts were still full of evil and it showed in their “doings.” Through Jeremiah God exhorted, “take away the foreskins of your hearts.” Circumcision symbolized something to do with the heart.
This is what Paul was inspired to clarify to the Jewish believers in the church. The early church had to deal with transitional questions related to Judaism and the church (cf. Acts 11 and 15). How much of Judaism was to be adhered to by those in the church of Christ? Some, (known as Judaizers) were saying that salvation in Christ must include a requirement of being physically circumcised as well as adopting and adhering to other Jewish rituals and laws. But the New Testament clearly disagrees with this. Circumcision and ritual served their purpose in pointing people prophetically to Christ. The church is now to be a coming together of Jew and non-Jew gentles in Christ (Eph. 2:11ff.). The gospel is by God’s grace alone and does not include additional works (Eph. 2:1-10; Galatians 1-3). You do not need to be circumcised to be acceptable before God. You do not need any other ritual to be right with God. All you need is saving faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD.
Paul was inspired by God to warn against tacking on to the gospel religious rituals and works. The Jewish rituals of sacrifice and the law were only a “shadow” of Christ (2:17). These were meant to point us to Christ (Gal. 3:24) He speaks to Jewish believers in Jesus concerning the place and true deepest meaning of circumcision when he writes:
Romans 2:28-29 - For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
All the laws, sacrifices, ceremonies and rituals of Judaism, the entire Old Testament point to Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:7). There was and is great blessing in the Old Testament types and symbols that God used to point us prophetically to Christ (Rom. 3:1-2). There is rich revelation and understanding to be gained by a study of the Old Testament. Indeed, one cannot truly grasp and understand the New Testament without studying the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The best commentary on the Old Testament is the New Testament. And therefore, when we want to understand the most significant aspects of Old Testament rituals, we need to look at them through the illumination of the New Testament.
Have you been relying on outward rituals that are disconnected from the reality in your heart? How is your heart spiritually? Is there a fight going on inside you? Do you feel like there’s a war within you? If so, you won’t want to miss the second part of the series on the circumcision of the heart. What does that mean? Why is it important and valuable for us to know about? That is what we will consider in part 2 of this three part series.
Are you living an up and down unstable Christian life? Do you feel pulled in two different directions when it comes to following God or following less than godly ways? Do you frequently feel as though you’ve run out of spiritual steam? If any of these questions are answered in the affirmative, this teaching on the circumcision of the heart will be of interest to you.
In Colossians Paul states the Christian is “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10). Jesus has what we need to live victoriously and abundantly in this life. But there was a problem at the Colossian church and that problem is often found in the church today.
Some at Colosse were claiming that spiritual maturity and acceptability to God was based on keeping outward rituals like circumcision. Now you might not see how this relates to your present situation but bear with me. There is something very important to see in Paul’s discussion about ritualism.
One commentary accurately states, “If someone claims to be super-spiritual because of meticulous adherence to some religious practice that believer is to be reminded that new life comes in the power of the Spirit and solely on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross ([Colossians] 2:13–15).” You do not need to be circumcised to be saved. You do not need to be baptized to be saved. All you need to do to be saved is to accept by faith the good news of the gospel that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead. Saving faith by nature is repentant; it turns away from sin; it does not continue to live in sin. But that is a product of your salvation not a work to earn your salvation. In faith you turn from your sins to God through faith in Jesus Christ and God then forgives your sins and gives you spiritual life by the indwelling regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.
The value of a ritual is its use as a symbolic shadow of something related to Christ and our relationship to Him. Circumcision was a badge of identification for the Jew. It represented the mark of belonging to God. It symbolized being set apart to God and was introduced by God to Abraham (Genesis 17). But the outward ritual of circumcision was never meant to be a superficial mark that didn’t include the heart condition of the one circumcised. Circumcision was always to indicate a heart stance toward God. Abraham was circumcised after God stated he was counted righteous because of his belief in God (cf. Gen. 15:6). The history of Israel indicates that there was a tendency to rely on the outward ritual of circumcision separate from a heartfelt trust in God. Circumcision was always meant to symbolize more than a mere outward sign.
The prophet Jeremiah was inspired by God to point to this deeper meaning of circumcision when he wrote:
Jeremiah 4:4 - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forth like fire, And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings.”
Through Jeremiah God reminded the wayward sinful people that outward ritual separated from heart decision was meaningless and deserving of God’s judgment. Why? Because they may have been outwardly circumcised but their hearts were still full of evil and it showed in their “doings.” Through Jeremiah God exhorted, “take away the foreskins of your hearts.” Circumcision symbolized something to do with the heart.
This is what Paul was inspired to clarify to the Jewish believers in the church. The early church had to deal with transitional questions related to Judaism and the church (cf. Acts 11 and 15). How much of Judaism was to be adhered to by those in the church of Christ? Some, (known as Judaizers) were saying that salvation in Christ must include a requirement of being physically circumcised as well as adopting and adhering to other Jewish rituals and laws. But the New Testament clearly disagrees with this. Circumcision and ritual served their purpose in pointing people prophetically to Christ. The church is now to be a coming together of Jew and non-Jew gentles in Christ (Eph. 2:11ff.). The gospel is by God’s grace alone and does not include additional works (Eph. 2:1-10; Galatians 1-3). You do not need to be circumcised to be acceptable before God. You do not need any other ritual to be right with God. All you need is saving faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD.
Paul was inspired by God to warn against tacking on to the gospel religious rituals and works. The Jewish rituals of sacrifice and the law were only a “shadow” of Christ (2:17). These were meant to point us to Christ (Gal. 3:24) He speaks to Jewish believers in Jesus concerning the place and true deepest meaning of circumcision when he writes:
Romans 2:28-29 - For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
All the laws, sacrifices, ceremonies and rituals of Judaism, the entire Old Testament point to Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:7). There was and is great blessing in the Old Testament types and symbols that God used to point us prophetically to Christ (Rom. 3:1-2). There is rich revelation and understanding to be gained by a study of the Old Testament. Indeed, one cannot truly grasp and understand the New Testament without studying the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The best commentary on the Old Testament is the New Testament. And therefore, when we want to understand the most significant aspects of Old Testament rituals, we need to look at them through the illumination of the New Testament.
Have you been relying on outward rituals that are disconnected from the reality in your heart? How is your heart spiritually? Is there a fight going on inside you? Do you feel like there’s a war within you? If so, you won’t want to miss the second part of the series on the circumcision of the heart. What does that mean? Why is it important and valuable for us to know about? That is what we will consider in part 2 of this three part series.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Merry Christmas, My Friend - By James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporal
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
Why Did He Come Down?
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. - John 3:13
Jesus said those words to the Pharisee Nicodemas the night he came inquiring. That’s an appropriate context for Christmas time. Christmas is about Jesus coming down from heaven. And this verse tells us why Jesus came down.
Christmas brings a lot of religious people out of the woodwork. There are people who wouldn’t think of stepping into a church except on Christmas (and maybe Easter). That is the product of religious blindness. That is the bad fruit of shallow superficial secularized religion. God has so much more than that for us. Nicodemas was a Pharisee and as such, a very religious man. We can learn a lot from Jesus’ conversation with him. We can learn why Jesus came down.
The Pharisees were a religious sect who lived to uphold Jewish traditions and the Mosaic Law (Mark 7:3, 5-8). They were well educated, underwent rigorous training, and had a privileged position in Jewish society. They were sticklers for outward details, fasted regularly and were zealous for Judaism (Matthew 23:23; Luke 5:33; 18:11-12; Matthew 23:15). But they were walking contradictions. Scripture indicates they were covetous and lived to impress people with ostentatious outward displays (Matthew 23:5-7; Luke 7:36-50; 16:14). They were at times cruel persecutors of their opposition (Acts 9:1; Phil. 3:5-6). Jesus called the Pharisees “vipers” (Matthew 12:24, 34), spiritually “blind” (Matthew 15:12-14), “serpents” (Matthew 23:33), “children of the devil” (John 8:13, 44) and “hypocrites” (Matthew 23:13-19). He said they manipulated the Scriptures to make a profit (Matthew 15:1-9). They were “lovers of money” who Jesus said, ”justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts” (Luke 16:14, 15). Not only did they not know the truth or God, but Jesus said they hindered others from finding and knowing God (Matthew 23:15). The Pharisees for the most part rejected Jesus (Matthew 12:24-34). Religious people reject Jesus and His truth. That’s why Jesus came down.
Nicodemas was honest enough to recognize Jesus had something he didn’t have. Jesus taught something that was foreign to him and his religious sect, something otherworldly, heavenly. He recognized Jesus was “a teacher come from God” (John 3:2a). He had power to work miracles and it was obvious to Nicodemus that “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2b). There is evidence that Nicodemas eventually became a follower of Jesus (John 7:50-53; 19:39-42). But how did Jesus break through the religious hide of this Pharisee? He came down.
What Jesus said to Nicodemus is the same thing He says to all those who approach God in a religious way. Jesus said to Nicodemus the religious man, “No one has ascended to heaven . . .” Why did Jesus say this? He said this to make the point that no one can work their way to heaven. That has been true since the first religious effort of humanity at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Religion focuses on human efforts and what people must do to get to heaven. Our efforts to be righteous, appease God our Judge, and ascend to heaven, are as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). There are none righteous, not one, and all fall short of the glory of God, all have sinned (Romans 3:10, 21). Sin separates a person from God (Isaiah 59:2). God is holy and will not look on wickedness (Habakkuk 1:13). If we regard sin in our heart God will not hear us (Psalm 66:18).
Without God we are doomed to hell, spiritually dead, destined to eternity in a dark loneliness tormented by regret and separation from a Holy Loving God (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8). There is nothing we can do on our own by our own efforts to rid ourselves of the curse of sin (Galatians 3:10). Indeed, Jesus started His conversation with Nicodemus with the halting words, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus didn’t understand. He voiced his confusion by asking Jesus how an old man could be physically born a second time (John 3:4). Jesus elaborated by saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:5-7). The point is Nicodemus was religious, but he had no spiritual life. This is why he couldn’t understand the heavenly message Jesus brought. Nicodemus needed spiritual life. Just as he had received physical life at his birth, he needed a second birth, a spiritual birth. This second birth was a spiritual work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). Like the wind it couldn’t be seen, but like the wind it can move powerfully. John the Baptist said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27). That’s why Jesus came down.
Nicodemus still didn’t understand (John 3:9). Jesus gently but firmly challenged Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” (John 3:10). As a teacher of Israel Nicodemus should have known these things, but without the Spirit there is always a lack of understanding of spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). Jesus had a heavenly message and Nicodemus wasn’t receiving it (John 3:11-12). Nicodemus, like so many other religious people, was missing the whole point of who Jesus was and what he was offering. That’s why Jesus came down.
There is a second reason Jesus told Nicodemus “No one has ascended to heaven.” Jesus meant to pave the way to introducing Himself as the unique, holy, Savior. Jesus set the contrasting tone between Himself and all others by saying, “but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man . . . .” These words would have had shock value with the Pharisee. Some Jews believed that Moses ascended to heaven to get the Law directly from God. But a proper study of God’s Word reveals that Moses ascended Mount Sinai and God met him there to deliver the Law (Exodus 19:3, 14, 17, 20, 24). Jesus was correcting this false notion and at the same time communicating to Nicodemus the truth of the incarnation of Jesus “the Son of Man.” No man, not even Moses, has ascended to heaven, only Jesus had a heavenly origin. But there was a connection between something Moses did and Jesus. That’s why Jesus came down.
In the Old Testament journey of God’s people from Egypt to the Promised Land they frequently grew impatient and weak in faith and complained against God. On one such occasion they were particularly ungrateful toward God and God disciplined them by bringing “fiery serpents” who apparently had a fiery venom. Many died and the people repented. God instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent out of bronze, put it on a pole for all to see and all who looked at the bronze serpent would live (Numbers 21:5-9). Jesus referred back to this historical event and applied it to Himself saying to Nicodemus, “And 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). That’s why Jesus came down.
These words of Jesus must have caused Nicodemus, the religious man, to ponder just who it was that he was talking to. It must have really caused him to think when Jesus also referred to Himself as, “the Son of Man who is in heaven.” “Son of Man”? “In heaven”? What could this mean? There is no other like Jesus. He alone has a heavenly address. He left His heavenly abode to be the “the Son of Man.” Why did Jesus refer to Himself as “the Son of Man”? Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know that He was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament (Daniel 7:13). Jesus was the One foretold in the scriptures (Luke 18:31). He is not only a son of man; He is the Son of Man. Jesus came to reverse the curse that came through Adam’s sin. That’s why He came down.
As the Son of Man Jesus brought heaven down to earth. Jesus the Son of Man had command and Lordship over the most holy parts of the Law such as the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). As the Son of Man Jesus had the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6), to save and redeem the lost on the basis of His substitutionary atoning death (Matthew 20:28; Luke 19:10), and resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20), assign eternal rewards (Matthew 16:27; 19:28), spoke of future judgment of the world (Matthew 13:41), and His ultimate actual return in glory (Matthew 24:27-37). And as the Son of Man Jesus came with glorious good news from heaven; news revealing God’s great gift:
These are earth shattering, Pharisee shaking words. The Son of Man is the “Son of God.” Salvation from sin is offered by God to everyone! There is a way to escape the curse of sin and not perish! Belief in Jesus is the determining factor in whether a person is condemned or receives eternal life. People are condemned to perish because of their sin. The word “perish” (GK. APOLLUMI) means literally ruined, or lost. Those who refuse to believe in Jesus are condemned because they loved the dark evil of sin more than the light of God’s loving provision in Jesus. Believing in Jesus leads to eternal life and that life is a life of truth; that truth is found in God’s word (John 17:17). That’s why Jesus came down.
The “belief” (Gk. PISTEUO) that saves is not mere ascent. This belief is more than mere intellectual ascent. “Belief” here means “adherence to, committal to, faith in, reliance upon, trust in a person or an object, and this involves not only the consent of mind, but an act of the heart and will of the subject.” Saving faith is characterized by repentance, turning away from sin and the life of sin to God for forgiveness and to following Him obediently. Saving faith is defined by the acronym Forsaking All I Trust Him not my religious works, for salvation. God has offered the greatest gift; His only Son Jesus. He has offered Him to pay the penalty for our sins. He has provided a free gift of salvation from our sins and eternal life through faith in Jesus. That’s the greatest gift. That is the greatest gift of Christmas. Will you receive it? That’s why Jesus came down.
Jesus said those words to the Pharisee Nicodemas the night he came inquiring. That’s an appropriate context for Christmas time. Christmas is about Jesus coming down from heaven. And this verse tells us why Jesus came down.
Christmas brings a lot of religious people out of the woodwork. There are people who wouldn’t think of stepping into a church except on Christmas (and maybe Easter). That is the product of religious blindness. That is the bad fruit of shallow superficial secularized religion. God has so much more than that for us. Nicodemas was a Pharisee and as such, a very religious man. We can learn a lot from Jesus’ conversation with him. We can learn why Jesus came down.
The Pharisees were a religious sect who lived to uphold Jewish traditions and the Mosaic Law (Mark 7:3, 5-8). They were well educated, underwent rigorous training, and had a privileged position in Jewish society. They were sticklers for outward details, fasted regularly and were zealous for Judaism (Matthew 23:23; Luke 5:33; 18:11-12; Matthew 23:15). But they were walking contradictions. Scripture indicates they were covetous and lived to impress people with ostentatious outward displays (Matthew 23:5-7; Luke 7:36-50; 16:14). They were at times cruel persecutors of their opposition (Acts 9:1; Phil. 3:5-6). Jesus called the Pharisees “vipers” (Matthew 12:24, 34), spiritually “blind” (Matthew 15:12-14), “serpents” (Matthew 23:33), “children of the devil” (John 8:13, 44) and “hypocrites” (Matthew 23:13-19). He said they manipulated the Scriptures to make a profit (Matthew 15:1-9). They were “lovers of money” who Jesus said, ”justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts” (Luke 16:14, 15). Not only did they not know the truth or God, but Jesus said they hindered others from finding and knowing God (Matthew 23:15). The Pharisees for the most part rejected Jesus (Matthew 12:24-34). Religious people reject Jesus and His truth. That’s why Jesus came down.
Nicodemas was honest enough to recognize Jesus had something he didn’t have. Jesus taught something that was foreign to him and his religious sect, something otherworldly, heavenly. He recognized Jesus was “a teacher come from God” (John 3:2a). He had power to work miracles and it was obvious to Nicodemus that “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2b). There is evidence that Nicodemas eventually became a follower of Jesus (John 7:50-53; 19:39-42). But how did Jesus break through the religious hide of this Pharisee? He came down.
What Jesus said to Nicodemus is the same thing He says to all those who approach God in a religious way. Jesus said to Nicodemus the religious man, “No one has ascended to heaven . . .” Why did Jesus say this? He said this to make the point that no one can work their way to heaven. That has been true since the first religious effort of humanity at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Religion focuses on human efforts and what people must do to get to heaven. Our efforts to be righteous, appease God our Judge, and ascend to heaven, are as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). There are none righteous, not one, and all fall short of the glory of God, all have sinned (Romans 3:10, 21). Sin separates a person from God (Isaiah 59:2). God is holy and will not look on wickedness (Habakkuk 1:13). If we regard sin in our heart God will not hear us (Psalm 66:18).
Without God we are doomed to hell, spiritually dead, destined to eternity in a dark loneliness tormented by regret and separation from a Holy Loving God (Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8). There is nothing we can do on our own by our own efforts to rid ourselves of the curse of sin (Galatians 3:10). Indeed, Jesus started His conversation with Nicodemus with the halting words, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus didn’t understand. He voiced his confusion by asking Jesus how an old man could be physically born a second time (John 3:4). Jesus elaborated by saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:5-7). The point is Nicodemus was religious, but he had no spiritual life. This is why he couldn’t understand the heavenly message Jesus brought. Nicodemus needed spiritual life. Just as he had received physical life at his birth, he needed a second birth, a spiritual birth. This second birth was a spiritual work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). Like the wind it couldn’t be seen, but like the wind it can move powerfully. John the Baptist said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27). That’s why Jesus came down.
Nicodemus still didn’t understand (John 3:9). Jesus gently but firmly challenged Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?” (John 3:10). As a teacher of Israel Nicodemus should have known these things, but without the Spirit there is always a lack of understanding of spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). Jesus had a heavenly message and Nicodemus wasn’t receiving it (John 3:11-12). Nicodemus, like so many other religious people, was missing the whole point of who Jesus was and what he was offering. That’s why Jesus came down.
There is a second reason Jesus told Nicodemus “No one has ascended to heaven.” Jesus meant to pave the way to introducing Himself as the unique, holy, Savior. Jesus set the contrasting tone between Himself and all others by saying, “but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man . . . .” These words would have had shock value with the Pharisee. Some Jews believed that Moses ascended to heaven to get the Law directly from God. But a proper study of God’s Word reveals that Moses ascended Mount Sinai and God met him there to deliver the Law (Exodus 19:3, 14, 17, 20, 24). Jesus was correcting this false notion and at the same time communicating to Nicodemus the truth of the incarnation of Jesus “the Son of Man.” No man, not even Moses, has ascended to heaven, only Jesus had a heavenly origin. But there was a connection between something Moses did and Jesus. That’s why Jesus came down.
In the Old Testament journey of God’s people from Egypt to the Promised Land they frequently grew impatient and weak in faith and complained against God. On one such occasion they were particularly ungrateful toward God and God disciplined them by bringing “fiery serpents” who apparently had a fiery venom. Many died and the people repented. God instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent out of bronze, put it on a pole for all to see and all who looked at the bronze serpent would live (Numbers 21:5-9). Jesus referred back to this historical event and applied it to Himself saying to Nicodemus, “And 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). That’s why Jesus came down.
These words of Jesus must have caused Nicodemus, the religious man, to ponder just who it was that he was talking to. It must have really caused him to think when Jesus also referred to Himself as, “the Son of Man who is in heaven.” “Son of Man”? “In heaven”? What could this mean? There is no other like Jesus. He alone has a heavenly address. He left His heavenly abode to be the “the Son of Man.” Why did Jesus refer to Himself as “the Son of Man”? Jesus wanted Nicodemus to know that He was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament (Daniel 7:13). Jesus was the One foretold in the scriptures (Luke 18:31). He is not only a son of man; He is the Son of Man. Jesus came to reverse the curse that came through Adam’s sin. That’s why He came down.
As the Son of Man Jesus brought heaven down to earth. Jesus the Son of Man had command and Lordship over the most holy parts of the Law such as the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). As the Son of Man Jesus had the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6), to save and redeem the lost on the basis of His substitutionary atoning death (Matthew 20:28; Luke 19:10), and resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20), assign eternal rewards (Matthew 16:27; 19:28), spoke of future judgment of the world (Matthew 13:41), and His ultimate actual return in glory (Matthew 24:27-37). And as the Son of Man Jesus came with glorious good news from heaven; news revealing God’s great gift:
John 3:16-21 - 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
These are earth shattering, Pharisee shaking words. The Son of Man is the “Son of God.” Salvation from sin is offered by God to everyone! There is a way to escape the curse of sin and not perish! Belief in Jesus is the determining factor in whether a person is condemned or receives eternal life. People are condemned to perish because of their sin. The word “perish” (GK. APOLLUMI) means literally ruined, or lost. Those who refuse to believe in Jesus are condemned because they loved the dark evil of sin more than the light of God’s loving provision in Jesus. Believing in Jesus leads to eternal life and that life is a life of truth; that truth is found in God’s word (John 17:17). That’s why Jesus came down.
The “belief” (Gk. PISTEUO) that saves is not mere ascent. This belief is more than mere intellectual ascent. “Belief” here means “adherence to, committal to, faith in, reliance upon, trust in a person or an object, and this involves not only the consent of mind, but an act of the heart and will of the subject.” Saving faith is characterized by repentance, turning away from sin and the life of sin to God for forgiveness and to following Him obediently. Saving faith is defined by the acronym Forsaking All I Trust Him not my religious works, for salvation. God has offered the greatest gift; His only Son Jesus. He has offered Him to pay the penalty for our sins. He has provided a free gift of salvation from our sins and eternal life through faith in Jesus. That’s the greatest gift. That is the greatest gift of Christmas. Will you receive it? That’s why Jesus came down.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Revival Praying - Part 2
Revival praying is praying with urgency. It is prayer that ushers into the presence of God as our shelter. It is prayer whose petitioner is humble and teachable before God. It is prayer that asks God to answer for His name’s sake. Have you ever experienced prayer like that? That is the way God desires we pray. In this second part of Revival Praying we will look further at what revival praying is. God help us to pray revival prayers!
The spirit’s urgency (143:7). “Answer me speedily, O LORD; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.” David approached God with urgency in his heart. He was in a desperate situation. If the commentators are correct he was either fleeing for his life from King Saul or dealing with the betrayal of his own son Absalom. Each instance was a life or death situation. David was at the end of himself. He ran to God and pleaded with Him to not hide His face. If He did, David said he would just die. God was his last hope.
Sometimes that’s where we need to be to really get serious with the Lord. Sometimes God allows us to experience trial and suffering or situations where all other resources are exhausted and He is the only One left to turn to. It’s sad that God is often our last resort when He ought to be the first! God often allows situations to reach critical mass in order to bring us to our knees before Him. Revival is birthed out of urgency.
The soul’s shelter (143:8-9). >“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” No matter how bad things get, David knows he can find shelter and solace with the Lord. What a blessing it is to know the God of the universe. That is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3). What a blessing it is to go to God and have Him put His loving arms around us and to experience His lovingkindness.
Knowing the love of God and experiencing it first hand through the gospel (John 3:1-21) makes it easy to trust Him. Once we are born of His Spirit we continue on with Him. Once we experience His salvation, we progress on in sanctification by walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5). This sanctifying walk involves obedience. We can’t say we love God if we aren’t willing to obey Him (e.g. John 14:21). Obedience is essential if we are to see revival. If we regard iniquity in our heart the Lord hits the pause button (Psalm 66:18). But when we repent off our sin and seek to follow Him He will help us and protect us when we face the enemies of life in their various forms.
The Spirit’s goodness (143:10). >“Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” All of this is a work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:8-11). He regenerates us to eternal life (John 3:1-21). He communicates and testifies of Jesus helping us to know Him (John 14-16). The Holy Spirit empowers us to serve the Lord (Acts 1:8; 2:1ff.). It is the Holy Spirit who is “good.”
The adjective “good” here means good in every way. It is a very broad word. The Holy Spirit is good in every way. He will lead us in an upright way, a balanced, straight, right way. The Holy Spirit is good and will direct us in the way we ought to go.
It is the Holy Spirit that works revival in answer to our prayers. And yet, such blessing is often left on the table due to passivity toward prayer. Leonard Ravenhill comments on this problem saying:
The Holy Spirit is good and offers us so much. It would be foolish to ignore the work of the Spirit. It would be foolish to leave the spigot closed when through prayer we can experience the torrents of living water of the Spirit that comes in revival (John 7:37-39).
Revival for His sake (143:11-12). “Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.” Here we come to the climax of the psalm, David’s prayerful cry for revival. “Revive me, O LORD” David cries. David uses the Almighty name of God, the “I Am” name. The English word “LORD” when it is in all capitols refers to the Name of God first given to Moses in the desert of Sinai. It is the same name Jesus used in reference to Himself and His deity (John 8:58). It is the Name for God that communicates His vast capabilities. He is all that He ever needs to be all the time. To Almighty God, to the LORD David cries out for revival.
Now notice something very important. David, despite all his needs and difficulties does not call for revival for himself. David calls for revival “for Your name’s sake!” This is a key for revival to come. God will not answer calls for revival that our motivated by self. Again Leonard Ravenhill comments on this saying:
If we want revival, we must pray for it to God with the right motives. Our first motive must be that God would be glorified that His righteousness and will be done. Only when this is our preeminent motive can we then seek the salvation of the lost and that God pour out His Spirit upon us. The heart is deceitful above all things and we are often self-deceived (Jer. 17:9-10). We need God’s help to purify our hearts from wrong selfish motives (e.g. Acts 15:8-9). We need to first seek His glory, the glory of His name. Then we can seek His help to destroy the enemies that afflict our souls. In all of this we remain His servant.
Revival praying begins with God and ends with God. We enter into it as God’s servant being led by the Spirit in our praying. And so, if revival is to come we need to seek Him, humbly, on His terms.
We need revival. That should be at the top of all our prayer lists. We live in a busy world with many distractions. But we have to take time to seek the Lord in prayer if we are to see our need for revival and experience it. That is the crux of this concluding poem.
Seeking Thee
Lord, I seek Thee for renewing
Of my faith and of my love.
Rush and care are my undoing –
Touch me, Savior, from above.
Pass me not, O holy Savior.
Leave me not to grope and fail.
Through Thy blood I seek Thy favor.
With Thy grace I can prevail.
Faith moves in to claim the promise.
Peace revives and floods my soul.
Make me now Thy chosen chalice,
Giving drink that makes men whole.
Seeking Thee, seeking Thee,
Touch and give me liberty.
We’re seeking You O LORD for revival. Please glorify Yourself in our midst, not for us, but for Your name’s sake. We surrender to Your service. We look to You. Revive us, O LORD, for Your names, sake!
The spirit’s urgency (143:7). “Answer me speedily, O LORD; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.” David approached God with urgency in his heart. He was in a desperate situation. If the commentators are correct he was either fleeing for his life from King Saul or dealing with the betrayal of his own son Absalom. Each instance was a life or death situation. David was at the end of himself. He ran to God and pleaded with Him to not hide His face. If He did, David said he would just die. God was his last hope.
Sometimes that’s where we need to be to really get serious with the Lord. Sometimes God allows us to experience trial and suffering or situations where all other resources are exhausted and He is the only One left to turn to. It’s sad that God is often our last resort when He ought to be the first! God often allows situations to reach critical mass in order to bring us to our knees before Him. Revival is birthed out of urgency.
The soul’s shelter (143:8-9). >“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” No matter how bad things get, David knows he can find shelter and solace with the Lord. What a blessing it is to know the God of the universe. That is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3). What a blessing it is to go to God and have Him put His loving arms around us and to experience His lovingkindness.
Knowing the love of God and experiencing it first hand through the gospel (John 3:1-21) makes it easy to trust Him. Once we are born of His Spirit we continue on with Him. Once we experience His salvation, we progress on in sanctification by walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5). This sanctifying walk involves obedience. We can’t say we love God if we aren’t willing to obey Him (e.g. John 14:21). Obedience is essential if we are to see revival. If we regard iniquity in our heart the Lord hits the pause button (Psalm 66:18). But when we repent off our sin and seek to follow Him He will help us and protect us when we face the enemies of life in their various forms.
The Spirit’s goodness (143:10). >“Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” All of this is a work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:8-11). He regenerates us to eternal life (John 3:1-21). He communicates and testifies of Jesus helping us to know Him (John 14-16). The Holy Spirit empowers us to serve the Lord (Acts 1:8; 2:1ff.). It is the Holy Spirit who is “good.”
The adjective “good” here means good in every way. It is a very broad word. The Holy Spirit is good in every way. He will lead us in an upright way, a balanced, straight, right way. The Holy Spirit is good and will direct us in the way we ought to go.
It is the Holy Spirit that works revival in answer to our prayers. And yet, such blessing is often left on the table due to passivity toward prayer. Leonard Ravenhill comments on this problem saying:
“One wonders why this is such an isolated experience in the Church today. True prayer is Spirit-born. True prayer is praying ‘in the Holy Ghost.’ Those filled with the Spirit are filled with prayer. There is something very questionable and unbiblical about those who claim a baptism of the Spirit and yet know nothing of extended periods in prayer. I am sure Jesus prayed before the Spirit descended upon Him at the Jordan, though there is no record of it. . . . We are in a tough spiritual battle these days. Yet the church that prays will be a prevailing church. Praying in secret means prevailing in public. . . . Revival can be brought to this generation by prayer, by faith, by cleansing, and by obedience to the will of God.”
The Holy Spirit is good and offers us so much. It would be foolish to ignore the work of the Spirit. It would be foolish to leave the spigot closed when through prayer we can experience the torrents of living water of the Spirit that comes in revival (John 7:37-39).
Revival for His sake (143:11-12). “Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.” Here we come to the climax of the psalm, David’s prayerful cry for revival. “Revive me, O LORD” David cries. David uses the Almighty name of God, the “I Am” name. The English word “LORD” when it is in all capitols refers to the Name of God first given to Moses in the desert of Sinai. It is the same name Jesus used in reference to Himself and His deity (John 8:58). It is the Name for God that communicates His vast capabilities. He is all that He ever needs to be all the time. To Almighty God, to the LORD David cries out for revival.
Now notice something very important. David, despite all his needs and difficulties does not call for revival for himself. David calls for revival “for Your name’s sake!” This is a key for revival to come. God will not answer calls for revival that our motivated by self. Again Leonard Ravenhill comments on this saying:
“The tragedy is that this miserable self hinders revival, for it sabotages its own praying. . . . If we pray with one eye on success, there is no hope of revival for us, and if we are praying with an idea that we might be projected to the forefront, we bury every hope of revival. We must not pray for revival as a cure for the empty seats in the churches. We must not pray for a heaven-sent deluge merely to extend our particular body of believers. Prayer for revival must be pure. In pure prayer not one element of double interest can be allowed. Our first request concerning revival must be that God be glorified; afterwards, not before, will come our request for sinners to be saved and a believing that the heavens will be rent. God’s conditions have been met.”
If we want revival, we must pray for it to God with the right motives. Our first motive must be that God would be glorified that His righteousness and will be done. Only when this is our preeminent motive can we then seek the salvation of the lost and that God pour out His Spirit upon us. The heart is deceitful above all things and we are often self-deceived (Jer. 17:9-10). We need God’s help to purify our hearts from wrong selfish motives (e.g. Acts 15:8-9). We need to first seek His glory, the glory of His name. Then we can seek His help to destroy the enemies that afflict our souls. In all of this we remain His servant.
Revival praying begins with God and ends with God. We enter into it as God’s servant being led by the Spirit in our praying. And so, if revival is to come we need to seek Him, humbly, on His terms.
We need revival. That should be at the top of all our prayer lists. We live in a busy world with many distractions. But we have to take time to seek the Lord in prayer if we are to see our need for revival and experience it. That is the crux of this concluding poem.
Seeking Thee
Lord, I seek Thee for renewing
Of my faith and of my love.
Rush and care are my undoing –
Touch me, Savior, from above.
Pass me not, O holy Savior.
Leave me not to grope and fail.
Through Thy blood I seek Thy favor.
With Thy grace I can prevail.
Faith moves in to claim the promise.
Peace revives and floods my soul.
Make me now Thy chosen chalice,
Giving drink that makes men whole.
Seeking Thee, seeking Thee,
Touch and give me liberty.
We’re seeking You O LORD for revival. Please glorify Yourself in our midst, not for us, but for Your name’s sake. We surrender to Your service. We look to You. Revive us, O LORD, for Your names, sake!
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