Month: December 2019

Revelation 20 might be the source of more “controversy” than any chapter in the Bible.  It records the “millennium” or the thousand-year period when Jesus reigns on the earth with those who had been martyred for their faith.  During that time, Satan and his legions will be locked away.  After the 1,000 years, Satan and his legions will be released.  They will engage in a final battle with Jesus and his army.  Jesus will win, and then everyone living and dead will be judged before the great white throne. The controversy comes over whether this is a literal period, whether all the tribulation spoken about happens before this, and whether the believers on the earth will be taken up before the tribulation, or after, before the millennium or after.  The questions are many and the answers are as many as the questions.  One of the most important aspects of all this is: One day Jesus will return. He will conquer Satan once and for all. Those who are faithful will live with Him forever. We can argue and debate all the pre-, post-, mid-tribulation; pre-, post-, a-millennial positions, but as I have often said, “I’m no longer on the planning team for Jesus’ return.  I’m on the welcoming team!”  My goal is to share, grow and live the new life of Jesus with the world–one person at a time, so as many as possible will be on the welcoming team with me, when Jesus returns.

Revelation 21-22 close out the Bible with incredible pictures of what it will be like when Jesus returns and establishes His new heaven and new earth.  As the Bible starts in Genesis 1-2 with perfection in a garden with God and humanity in perfect relationship and harmony, so it ends in Revelation with perfection in a beautiful garden, with God and humanity in perfect relationship and harmony.  As you read through these two chapters, note who will and who will not be included in the joyous reality. One of the aspects of those excluded that has always caught my attention is in Revelation 21:8 we are told the first group excluded from heaven are “the cowardly.”  We would expect murderers, the sexually immoral, idolaters, and others who haven’t repented of their sin and turned to Jesus to be excluded from heaven, but why the cowardly?  It seems being a coward would be so much less worthy of punishment and exclusion from heaven than some of the others, but remember: When Revelation was written, people were being imprisoned, persecuted, and executed for following Jesus. Those who renounced Jesus would have their lives spared, but such cowardly action excluded the person from fellowship in the church, and sometimes such people even turned in their relatives and friends.  This kind of action, avoiding pain and punishment for following Jesus, had grave long-term consequences, and Jesus told John this, so it would be included in Revelation.  This reminder helps us all to remember to put Jesus first regardless of the current consequence.  The long-term benefit and blessing is literally out of this world!

Today’s final challenge is to read the entire Gospel of Mark. That’s sixteen chapters.  If you are an average reader it will take you about half an hour.  As you read it, all the teachings, the miracles, and the interactions of Jesus’ life will be familiar.  That was one of the major goals when we started, that Jesus’ life, teachings, ministry, death and resurrection will be part of our experience, through our reading and re-reading them.  As we go about our days, having that information in our minds and hearts, will lead to our transformation as we apply them in the power of the Holy Spirit!  Thank You for investing the time and effort into reading the Bible through in a year, and more than that in meditating on and living God’s word in your life.  The benefits and blessings of this discipline and practice are for here and now, and forever. 

Revelation 17-18 focus on the fall of Babylon the “great prostitute.”  The destruction of this bed of sexual immorality and idolatry will be mourned by people the world over, because the leaders of the world have indulged in “her” immorality and idolatry.  As we read through the two chapters what stands out is while all the mourning is going on, no one attempts to help the prostitute.  No one doubts her judgment is just, or they fear retribution if they get involved.  We’ve all heard the saying, “As thick as thieves,” meaning there’s loyalty among thieves, but in this case, there will be no loyalty among those who watch the decimation of the core of the evil on the earth.

In Revelation 19, we read of a celebration in heaven for the destruction of Babylon and the beginning of the true beginning.  What that means is Jesus comes forth on a white horse and rides out to bring judgment on the earth.  We’re told the judgment comes from the sword of His mouth.  Again, some consider this to be a literal sword, while others recognize, Jesus created the universe with a word, and He can judge it the same way. 

As we return to Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, and leaves the tomb, before the women who came to embalm Him arrive.  When they enter the tomb, they find it empty, except for two angels who remind them of Jesus’ promise to rise from the dead.  The women run to the disciples and tell them what they saw, but the disciples don’t believe the women.

Luke moves to a scene with two men, disciples of Jesus, but not members of the twelve, who were walking from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus.  Jesus appears to them, but they don’t recognize Him.  When they tell them why they’re upset, Jesus goes through the Scriptures pointing out how they confirm the Messiah would be crucified and rise again.  As they reach their home, Jesus acts as if He is going to continue on, but they invite Him into their house.  When Jesus breaks bread in front of them, they recognize Him, and He disappears.  The men run back to Jerusalem and find the disciples.  As they tell their story Jesus appears.  He greets them all, comforts them and then tells them to wait until He sends the “Promise of His Father,” which is the Holy Spirit.  Because Luke also wrote Acts, we’re left hanging a bit as to what happens next.  Luke picks that up in Acts 1, and that’s when Jesus returns to heaven.

In Revelation 13, we read about two beasts.  The first beast caused people to worship the “Dragon,” who is the devil.  This beast was given authority to kill the saints, the faithful who remained on the earth.  Who gave the beast the authority?  Ultimately, it was God.  After all, He is the final authority, and nothing can happen without His permission.  But just as it was when He gave Satan permission to test Job, God didn’t take away anyone’s free will to continue following Him.  Job passed that test, as have many through the ages to the present day.  Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee an easy life, or a long one here on earth.  It does promise eternal life with Him when this life ends!  A second beast appears after the first and he has a “number,” which is 666.  The number is the number of “imperfection.”  As we have said the number 7 is the number of God, perfection, and heaven.  That makes the number 666 evil to the ultimate degree.  The antichrist represents the devil and causes everyone on earth either to receive his “mark” or be destroyed.  This suffering is a theme from the time of the opening of the first seal on the first scroll and continues until Jesus comes to restore all things.  As already noted, some see this as cycles of suffering, and others as a restating of the same suffering.  Either way, things will get incredibly bad at the end of time, before Jesus comes to establish His eternal Kingdom.

Revelation 14 records the time of the earth’s judgment, as Jesus and the 144,000 are sent out.  Then three angels come to proclaim the gospel and to proclaim judgment.  The gore of the “harvest” is unimaginable as we are told the blood shed from those who died was as high as a horse’s bridle and extended for miles around.  While this may or may not be a literal expression of what will happen, one thing is sure: Those who reject Jesus will be judged and the result will be both physical and spiritual suffering as has never been seen on the earth.

Revelation 15 records the sending of the seven final plagues of God’s judgment.  Consider the patience of God even in this final sequence of judgment: As each plague would be sent out the people who were still alive would have the opportunity to repent and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Revelation 16 records the seven final plagues, and it seems each is more devastating than the one before it.  After each of the plagues we are told the people who remained cursed God and would not repent.  I have known folks whose suffering has caused them to curse God, and at times in my own suffering I have been angry with God. Here, though, we see God giving people the opportunity to turn to Him in their suffering, and instead they reject the salvation being offered.  This reminds us how important it is to grab the grace of God in Jesus with everything we have.  He wants us to know Him and to experience His presence in us through the Holy Spirit.  As much as He wants that for us, He won’t force us to experience it.  The response to His grace is for each of us to receive or reject.

As we return to Luke 23, we have the account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, and then His crucifixion.  In Luke’s account we read of Jesus’ offering forgiveness to those who drove the nails in His hands – which includes you and me, because we also caused Jesus’ death through our sins.  We read of Jesus offering forgiveness to one of the thieves who was on a cross beside Him.  The man asked Jesus to remember Him when He came into His Kingdom, and Jesus promised he would be with Him in paradise.  When Jesus died, He was laid in the tomb of Joseph, and the women watched to see the location, so they could come and do the final preparation of the body for burial when the Sabbath ended.  They and the whole world would be surprised at what they would find on that Sunday morning!

Revelation 9 offers us an explanation for what will happen when the fifth and sixth trumpets are blown.  The first will result in a plague of locusts, with stings like scorpions that will hurt but not kill those who are stung.  The second will result in the death of one third of humanity.  I once had a professor who called the fractions of people killed by the various attacks in the end times as “fractions of grace.”  God could simply wipe out everyone and everything on earth, as He did during the time of the flood in Genesis 6-9, but He promised not to do that.  It’s striking to notice the reaction of those who experienced the plagues and the attacks: they did not repent.  Fallen humanity, of which we all start out as a part, seeks to blame others, to deny responsibility, and to reject God’s grace.  Thankfully, some of us do accept it and receive the forgiveness of sin that has always been the only hope we have for living life in its fullness now, and forever.

Revelation 10 tells of another angel who came down from heaven with a scroll.  He stood with one foot on the land and one on the sea.  (We have a similar image in one of Daniel’s visions in the Old Testament.)  In this case, the scroll causes seven “thunders” to speak, and John was about to write down what he heard, but he was told not to record it.  Then John was given the scroll to eat.  He was told it would be sweet in his mouth, but it would be sour in his stomach.  This reference to sweet in the mouth and sour in the stomach is one we read fairly often among the prophets of the Old Testament.  The point is sometimes a message of judgement “tastes” good as we offer it, but when we consider the consequences of it, it sours our stomachs.  Once we have tasted the grace of God in our lives, it is no longer possible to experience His judgment without some sorrow for those who must experience it.

Revelation 11 starts with a record of two witnesses, who are Moses and Elijah.  They will testify for “1260 days.”  This number is significant in the Book of Revelation, and in the Book of Daniel.  It is also recorded as three and a half years, or as a time, two times, and a half time.  Each is a way of saying a short and indefinite period of time, because it is half of seven, the number of completion and perfection.  After Moses and Elijah’s time of prophesying against those who have rejected God, the beast or anti-Christ is released to kill them. After they were dead for “three and half” days, God resurrected them and called them back to heaven.  Following this the seventh trumpet was sounded, and worship is proclaimed forever and ever.  If the Book of Revelation ended here, we wouldn’t miss not having the rest of it, except that Revelation 21-22 tells us some amazing things about heaven.  The intervening chapters 12-20 tell us again and again of the judgment on those who reject Jesus.

Revelation 12 offers us a fantastic description of two crucial events: Jesus’ birth, and the devil and his demons being cast down from heaven. The first part of the account seems to happen after the first, because the devil couldn’t have been waiting to kill Jesus, before he became the devil!  In any case, the descriptions in the book of Revelation cause a great deal of challenge to those who seek to interpret every image literally.  The dragon has long been an image for the devil, but he is a fallen angel, who even now can appear to us as “an angel of light,” as the Apostle Paul reminded us.  The scariest thing about the devil these days is how many people he has convinced he doesn’t exist.  It’s extremely challenging to fight an enemy we don’t believe exists.  Revelation 12 reminds us he does exist, and his goal is to destroy anyone and anything who serves Jesus.

As we return to Luke 22, Judas leaves the group to meet with the religious leaders.  He agrees to betray Jesus.  This is followed by Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples, followed by Jesus praying in Gethsemane.  After this is Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denial of Jesus, and the soldiers mocking Jesus, and His trial before Pilate.  All-in-all, next to Jesus being crucified, this was the worst day in the history of humanity, because we conspired to crucify our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.  When I say “we” conspired, “we” weren’t there physically, but it was our sin that put Jesus in that place, and if we were in that time and place we know we would either have ignored Him, denied Him or betrayed Him, because that is what those closest to Him did!

Revelation 5 continues the scene from the throne room in heaven. In it a scroll is presented, but no one can open it.  After some time, a “Lamb” that looked as if it had been slain, came and opened the scroll.  The “Lamb” is Jesus.  The description of the Lamb must be metaphorical, given that Jesus is a person.  The elders and angels worshiped the Lamb and sang Him their praise.  Take a good look at this chapter, because one day, we will be among those who are singing our praises to Jesus as well–so long as we belong to Him, because He is our Savior and Lord!

In Revelation 6, the Lamb removes six of the seven seals on the scroll, one at a time.  With the removal of each seal comes a significant event.  The first four seals being removed releases what has often been referred to as “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”  They will be given power to devastate the earth.  The fifth seal revealed martyrs who had died for their faith and are waiting for their full reinstatement in the time of Jesus’ victorious establishment of His eternal kingdom.  The sixth seal released natural disasters on the earth.  The impact will be felt throughout the planet.  The question always asked is:  When will this happen?  The short answer is: Even Jesus didn’t know when He was on the earth, so our efforts ought to be put forth in seeking to help people come to know Jesus before they take place!

Revelation 7 reveals an event debated, discussed, and that has even brought about a cult that focuses on the “144,000 virgin men” from the various tribes of Israel. The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim only 144,000 people will be in heaven. Once their numbers surpassed 144,000 people, they adjusted their views to say those 144,000 will be in heaven, while the others who believe and are faithful will be on the new earth.  In reading the rest of the chapter we see, the number of folks in heaven cannot be counted!  That is much more than 144,000.  We see they will come from every people, tribe, tongue and nation.  So much for those who think heaven will be populated only with people like them.  This amazing scene in heaven will include people from everywhere on earth.

Revelation 8 tells us when the seventh seal was opened there was silence in heaven for half an hour. Talk about a dramatic pause…. Then seven angels came before God and they were given seven trumpets.  Remember the number seven symbolizes God, perfection, and fulfillment.  So far, we’ve seen seven seals, now seven trumpets.  We will experience more sevens before we’re done.  We’re told another angel came before the throne with a bowl of incense.  The “incense” was actually the prayers of the saints.  Consider that picture. Our prayers go up to the Lord in the same manner as incense used to go up from the Temple in Jerusalem.  In the remainder of the chapter, the seven angels start to blow their trumpets, each in succession.  As it was with the seven seals, the seven trumpets release disasters on the earth.  Some of the disasters are similar to the plagues poured out on Egypt.  We read of four of the trumpets’ disasters as the chapter closes, and a voice warns us the next three will be even worse.

As we return to Luke 21, Jesus affirms a widow who gave her last two pennies into the Temple offering.  This is the only time Jesus affirmed someone for faithfulness in giving.  He pointed out the amount wasn’t what made it special, but the sacrifice involved–it was all she had.  The remainder of the chapter is devoted to Jesus telling us some of the signs of the end of the age.  This fits well with the reading from the Book of Revelation.  While Jesus and the Book of Revelation are detailed in telling us what will happen as the end approaches, they don’t tell us when it will happen.  When isn’t ours to worry about, that leaves us with plenty of time to think about how we can help others to trust Jesus, while there is still time! 

Today we turn to the final book of the Bible: Revelation.  This book has caused a great deal of controversy through the millennia.  The book is a record of the vision Jesus revealed to the Apostle John, about the “end times.”  The controversy has often been over whether the book provides a “timeline” for the end, which can be determined from examining it.  Some claim the book was only given as a comfort for those who suffered so deeply for their faith in Jesus in the first century but has no instruction for today.  As with the rest of God’s word, it had meaning for the people in the time it was written and for today.  As we read through Revelation, we will find some bizarre images, which some take literally, while others take metaphorically.  On this much we can agree: Revelation makes it clear Jesus will return and when He does, He will establish His kingdom and reign forever!

Revelation 1 starts with a “beatitude,” a blessing, for those who read it aloud, and for those who hear it and keep it.  We’re told what it records is for a time that is “near.”  (While we might see 2,000 years and counting as anything but near, we must remember in God’s timing 1,000 years are as a day.)  Next, we’re told the letter is addressed to the seven churches that are in Asia.  In chapters 2 and 3, we will read specific letters to each of the churches, but here they are greeted, and then John tells us many characteristics of Jesus in language taken mainly from images of the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament.  Here’s how He is described: ¹³and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.Revelation 1:13-16 (ESV)

We read the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. While the letters are addressed to seven individual churches, numerology is important in the Book of Revelation.  The number seven symbolizes God, perfection and completeness. Thus, the “seven churches,” can also symbolize the one universal church.  As we will see, the letters are written in a specific format with a salutation, then comes either commendation, condemnation, or a combination of the two.  Finally, the letter closes with encouragement to continue doing well to receive a reward, or a challenge to correct the errors or face permanent condemnation.  Let’s look at each letter briefly:

The first letter was addressed to the Church in Ephesus.  The letter starts with commendation for not permitting false teaching in the church.  But then comes the condemnation: you have abandoned the love you had at first.  The challenge every church faces is to hold the tension of truth andlove. The Ephesian Church had tipped to the side of focusing on truth but letting go of love.  This leads to legalism and Pharisaism.  Jesus challenged them to regain their love or their “lampstand” would be removed.  Yet, those who held true would be given the opportunity to eat from the tree of life!

The next letter was addressed to the Church in Smyrna.  This church received only commendation for holding true during times of trial and suffering.  They were told a time of imprisonment was coming that would last “ten” days.  The ten is in quotes because it is a symbolic number.  Round numbers and multiples of tens often signify indefinite periods of time in this book.  The promise to the Smyrnans is those who stand firm or conquer the period of suffering, will not be hurt by the second death–by hell.

The third letter was addressed to the Church in Pergamum.  Once again, Jesus commends the people for their faithfulness in suffering, but condemnation comes in the form or renouncing those who participated in sexual immorality and the teachings of the Nicolaitans.  As we see, while these words were directed at the Church in Pergamum at that time, the words are true of people in all churches of all times.  The reward for victory was to be given a white stone with a new name known only to the one who received it.  That means having a special name given to you by Jesus that only you and He know!

The fourth letter was addressed to the Church in Thyatira.  It holds commendation for those who have been faithful and have endured suffering with patience.  Yet, it also condemns those who practice sexual immorality.  This letter makes it clear some of each group were part of the church, and those in sin were called to repent.  Those being faithful were called to remain faithful.  The promise for those who overcome in this situation, is they would rule the nations with Jesus!

The letter to the Church in Sardis, which is found at the beginning of Revelation 3, contains only condemnation. They had a reputation for being alive, but they were dead.  Imagine being told that by Jesus!  It isn’t how we appear on the surface the matters, or what people think of us.  What matters is how our hearts stand before Jesus.  He promised those who overcame would be given white robes, symbolizing purity and victory.  He also promised them their names would never be blotted out of the book of life.

The sixth letter is addressed to the Church in Philadelphia.  This church receives only commendation. Jesus tells them He has opened a door for them that no one can close.  He tells them He will bring false believers in front of them to bow before them.  He tells them if they continue to remain faithful as they have been, He will make them “pillars” that will stand forever.  What a promise!

The final letter, to the Church in Laodicea, is famous for the line, “Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Billy Graham often used this verse to invite non-believers to put their faith in Jesus.  But Jesus addressed it to those who were supposed to be following Him but weren’t.  He said they were “lukewarm,” and because of that, He would spit them out of His mouth.  Again, we see how it applied to the particular church to whom it was written, but it also applies to every believer who has ever lived.  Our goal is to be “hot” for the Lord, and not “lukewarm”!

As we move to Revelation 4, we experience our first celebration of worship in heaven.  As we read the chapter, the imagery is hard to imagine.  That is as it must be.  How can anyone describe the indescribable?  John attempted to tell us what heaven is like with earthly words and images.  Until we experience it ourselves, none of us will be able to imagine it fully.  Thankfully, John paints us several pictures of God, the “throne room,” and other parts of heaven.  As we read through the book of Revelation, our minds will be informed, and our spirits will be touched!

As we return to Luke 20, Jesus’ authority is questioned by the Pharisees, but Jesus turns the question on them, and asks where John the Baptist’s authority originated.  They couldn’t (or wouldn’t) answer the question, so Jesus left their question unanswered as well.  Next, Jesus tells the Parable of the Tenants, which we’ve experienced before in Matthew and Mark.  The gospel writers saw this as a clear statement of how the religious leaders were going to treat Jesus, and three of the four included it.  Next, we read of the religious leaders testing Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar, followed by a question about the resurrection. The chapter closes with Jesus asking the leaders whose son the Christ/Messiah is?  He showed them the Messiah is both the Son and the Father of David.  We see again it’s always best not to test Jesus, because He always passes, and usually makes the “testers” look foolish in the process.

Today we turn to 2 John, 3 John and Jude. Each of these letters is brief, and in the big picture of God’s word might not even seem to be incredibly important.  But as Paul reminded Timothy all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching and correcting us in His ways. 

In 2 John, John addresses the letter to “The elect lady and her children.”  This could be a local Christian church.  In any case, John’s message is similar to that of his larger focus in 1 John: stay faithful and obedient to Jesus.  One additional focus comes to light: we must offer hospitality to true believers, but we want to avoid doing so for false teachers.  John closes by writing he has much more to say but wanted to do it in person instead of through a letter.  This reminds us our faith is first and foremost a relational faith.  It is not simply words of instruction.

In his brief 3 John, John praises Gaius a local church leader whose faithfulness to Jesus and the Church are evident.  At the same time, he points to Diotrephes as an object lesson in how not to live as Jesus’ follower.  Diotrephes was arrogant and resistant to offering hospitality to those who deserved it.  Again, John closes by writing he had much to say, but wanted to say it in person rather than with pen and ink.

Jude, who was likely another half-brother of Jesus, wrote to correct false teaching, to challenge some false teachers directly, and also to encourage the faithful to continue in their obedience to Jesus.  This brief letter closes with one of the most beautiful ascriptions of praise or doxologies in the entire Bible: ²⁴  Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 (ESV) 

As we return to Luke 19, we read of Jesus’ powerful interaction with Zacchaeus, who was a tax-collector, but Jesus treated Him with love and respect.  As a result, Zacchaeus repented and said he was going to repay anyone he had cheated. Jesus proclaimed Zacchaeus had received salvation.  Jesus then told the Parable of the Ten Minas, which reminds us Jesus expects us to “multiply” whatever He entrusts to us in serving His Kingdom.  Following this we read of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, where Jesus is acknowledged as the Son of David.  Unfortunately, the accolades were short-lived as a brief five days later the same crowds were shouting, “Crucify Him!”   The chapter closes with Jesus driving the moneychangers out of the Temple.  Jesus’ confrontations with the religious leaders as we move through the next five days of His life will prove to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the religious leaders will fulfill Jesus’ prophecy by arresting Him, trying Him, finding Him guilty, and turning him over to the Romans to be crucified.

Today we turn to the Apostle John’s first general letter to the church.  In all, John wrote or dictated five books: The Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation.  The reason I said wrote or dictated is the Book of Revelation has the worst Greek writing in the entire New Testament, while the Gospel of John has some of the best.  How could the same person have written both?  If we think about it for a moment, it isn’t hard to see what might have happened.  When John wrote the Book of Revelation, he was in exile on the island of Patmos.  He didn’t have a “scribe” someone to whom he could dictate what he experienced.  He had to write it himself.  He was a Hebraic Jew by background, born and raised in Israel.  He wouldn’t likely have been too good at writing Greek.  It would have been a second or third language for him.  In the Book of Revelation, we find a number of “Hebraisms,” which means the writing is in Greek, but the words or phrases themselves are rooted in Hebrew words and phrases. Why bring this up when we’re about to read 1 John?  Because John authored a significant portion of the New Testament, and I wanted to point that out.  1 John is by far the longest of the “Johanine” letters.  The other two are only one chapter each.  In 1 John, John lays out his theology of Jesus, and reminds us he and the other apostles wrote from lives of personal experience: They had heard Jesus’ words personally.  They had seen Jesus perform miracles and they had touched Him personally.  That included seeing and touching the risen Jesus!  What an amazing opportunity they experienced, and because of that experience, John was able to speak clearly about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and the significance of each for our lives.  John’s experience allowed him to verify Jesus was fully God and fully man, which was often doubted in the early Church, and false teachers seemed to present ideas that elevated either Jesus’ humanity or His divinity but denied the reality of His being both fully God and fully human.

In 1 John 1, John sets forth his basic premise: We have seen, heard and touched Jesus in our lives. Therefore, we know He is God’s son, and the light of the world.  All who walk in that light will know the light of life.  John also reminds us whoever claims he has no sin is self-deceived or a liar, but when we confess our sins to God, He is just and faithful to forgive those sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  What a powerful and important truth: We don’t serve a God who rejects us if we aren’t perfect.  He knows we aren’t perfect, which is why Jesus died for us.  When we admit these imperfections, our sins, and everything about us that is broken, God is eager to forgive us and help us be made whole.

In 1 John 2, John reminds us we are called to live holy lives, but when we sin, and repent, we have an advocate–Jesus­­–who will forgive and restore us.  John makes it clear if we continue to live habitually sinful lives, we are deceived if we think we belong to Jesus.  John reminds us of Jesus’ new commandment to love one another.  For John that is the litmus test of our faith.  If we say we love God, but don’t love each other our claims are false.  John writes at some length about the “antichrists” who were already in the world and the antichrist who was to come.  John rightly points out anyone who is working against the ways and will of Jesus is an “antichrist,” which means being opposite or opposed to Christ.  John reminds us we are children of God.  What an amazing position and relationship!  Regardless of who we are or who our biological parents may be or have been, we are children of the living God through the shed blood of Jesus!

1 John 3 is a powerful chapter that starts with the reminder that we are called children of God through Jesus and that is what we are!  John reminds us we won’t continue to live lives of sin when Jesus is in charge of our lives. In 1 John 3:16 we read these powerful words: ¹⁶By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.1 John 3:16 (ESV) Most of us know John 3:16 (from the Gospel of John): For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  But 1 John 3:16 reminds us of Jesus laying down His life for us and then calls us to lay down our lives for one another! It’s easy to rest on John 3:16, but a genuine faith is going to move forward in laying down our lives for each other.

1 John 4 starts with a reminder we aren’t to believe every “spirit,” but we must test the spirits to make sure they are from God.  The test is simple: Any spirit who says Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.  Any spirit that doesn’t make that confession is from the antichrist.  John goes on to write a great deal about God and His love.  John reminds us God doesn’t merely exhibit love: God is love.  As we would expect, John also goes on to say our own love of God is shown in our love for one another. Anyone can say, “I love God,” but as John reminds us if we don’t love our brothers and sisters whom we have seen, we most certainly don’t love God whom we have not seen. 

1 John 5 closes with a strong reminder that when we love God and believe in Him, we will obey His commandments.  As I’ve mentioned in other posts, one of my mentors, Pastor Dale Milligan, often said, “To love God is to trust God enough to obey Him.”  Talk is free when it comes to loving God, but when we live out that love in obedience, in the power of the Holy Spirit, others know we are Jesus’ followers.  John goes so far as to say we will overcome the world when we live in loving obedience to Jesus.  John concludes the letter by writing he has written to keep his readers in the truth, to remind them God hears their prayers and responds to them as they live in His truth and love.  He writes to call them again to holy lives and to remember no one who knows God continues to live sinful lives. He closes with the simple admonition: keep yourselves from idols.  While that might not seem to apply to us, we must remember not all idols are statues made of wood, metal or stone.  Even the good things in our lives can become idols when we value them more than we value our relationship with God.

As we return to Luke 18, Jesus tells His disciples the Parable of the Persistent Widow, which He told them to remind them of how important it is for us to persist in prayer.  After that, Jesus told the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, which reminds us how important it is to remember we’re all sinners, and the humble prayer of confession and repentance is the most important prayer we can offer.  Next, families bring their children to Jesus for Him to bless them.  The disciples don’t see the value in this until Jesus rebukes them and invests time with the children.  That tells us we must value and invest time in children as well.  Jesus then has a conversation with a rich, young ruler who wants to know how to gain eternal life.  Jesus tells the man to have riches in heaven, he must give up his worldly wealth.  The man was unwilling, because he had great wealth.  How sad that the man gave up the opportunity to be with Jesus as one of His followers, because he couldn’t let go of material wealth!  After this, Jesus tells the disciples a third time of His impending crucifixion.  We’re told they didn’t get it at all.  Finally, the chapter closes with Jesus healing a blind man.  Luke tells us Jesus focused on the man’s faith as being responsible for the healing.  As we think about the matters in our lives, whether physical or spiritual that need healing, we must exercise our own faith as our part in the healing process.

Today we turn to Peter’s second letter to the universal Church of his day.  In this letter, Peter focuses on correcting heresy or false teaching.  He also reminds us to live faithfully as we’re waiting for Jesus’ return.

In 2 Peter 1, Peter exhorted his readers to continue in the faith and to grow in the faith they had received from Jesus Christ.  Peter also appealed to his experience of the transfiguration as evidence Jesus is truly Lord.  He tells his readers he is going to be dying soon, and he wants to ensure that after he is gone, they will continue in the faith.  He reminds them the prophetic word must be interpreted faithfully in accordance with the truth of God.

In 2 Peter 2, Peter rehearses many types of false teaching and false teachers who were seeking to lead people away.  Peter offered a “laundry list” of the types of false teaching and immorality they faced.  He reminded his readers of God’s protection from the evil we face, using Lot as an example of how God has protected His people since ancient times.  As we seek to follow Jesus in our lives, we must remember the importance of holiness and godliness, which come from learning the truth of God and living it out in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In 2 Peter 3, Peter reminds everyone to prepare for Jesus’ return, because He is returning.  Some had told the believers Jesus wouldn’t be returning, because He hadn’t returned yet.  Peter reminded them for the Lord a thousand years are as a day, and He wasn’t being slow in returning, but patient.  My prayer is for the Lord’s patience to continue, because I don’t want the billions of people in the world who don’t know Him to miss the opportunity to be saved.  Peter closes by reminding the folks the importance of the Scriptures and includes the Apostle Paul’s writings in the list of the Scriptures.  That is important to us, because in Peter and Paul’s day, the Scriptures were the Jewish Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament.  Peter’s own words help us to see Paul’s writings are God’s word, too.

As we return to Luke 17, Jesus reminds us how important it is for us to be faithful to Him, and particularly important not to lead one of His “little ones” to sin.  Then Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one returns to give Him thanks.  The one was a Samaritan.  Jesus asked why only one of ten returned to say, “Thank you.”?  It’s a great question.  Sometimes, we take so much for granted, and forget every good and perfect gift comes from God.  When we remember, it leads us to have a heart of gratitude.  The chapter closes out with Jesus talking about the time of His return and the importance of being ready.  So often, I remind us more important than when Jesus will return is thatHe will return, so we must be ready when He comes!

Today we turn to Peter’s first letter to the Church at large.  Peter wrote two letters, and each was intended to encourage, challenge and correct.  Peter’s pastoral side comes out in the letters, and he wanted to encourage those who were suffering for their faith in Jesus to persevere and to expect Jesus’ rewards for their faithfulness.  We see he might be coming to consider Jesus’ return as something that won’t happen as quickly as the apostles and other believers thought originally.

In 1 Peter 1, Peter tells us he was writing to those who had been dispersed because of their faith throughout the known regions of the world. He encouraged them to maintain the hope of their faith, because as those who were born again to a new hope, they were assured of their ultimate rescue through Jesus.  Peter also emphasized we are called to be holy, that is set apart for God’s purposes in our lives.  While our “flesh” is temporary, we can be assured of our futures, because they are tied to God’s eternal word.

In 1 Peter 2, Peter calls the people “living stones,” and just as Jesus, the true living stone, caused offense, but ultimately overcame, so will we.   Peter then moves to exhorting his readers to submit to authority.  He mentions submission to the emperor and governors first and speaks of submitting even when it means suffering.  Next, Peter challenges slaves to submit to their masters, even when they were treated improperly.  Peter also points out there is blessing for suffering when you are doing right, but not when you suffer for doing wrong.

In 1 Peter 3, Peter continues his conversation about submitting, by telling wives to submit to their husbands.  He reminds the wives their faith might be the means by which their husbands come to know the Lord.  Peter tells husbands to live with their lives in and understanding way, and to treat them well.  Otherwise, their prayers might not be answered.  Peter closes out the chapter by reminding his readers to be willing to suffer for doing good, and always to be ready to give an explanation for the hope they have in Jesus.  He reminds them Jesus also suffered for doing right, and in so doing brought them salvation!

In 1 Peter 4, Peter reminds his readers they are stewards of God’s grace and must not misuse it.  He continues to write about the importance of being willing to suffer for doing right, and to remember when we have suffered in the flesh, we are done with temptation.  The chapter helps us to recognize the world will not agree with our lives when we put Jesus first, and thus, we can expect some discomfort.

In 1 Peter 5, Peter exhorts the elders, pastors and overseers, who are all one group of people, to lead the people effectively and humbly.  Peter reminds all of them to live in humility and to remember the devil is roaming around like a hungry lion seeking to devour them.  The good news is when we trust in the Lord and live in His will, the lion has no opportunity to devour us.

As we return to Luke 16, Jesus tells an odd parable.  It is odd in the sense that Jesus affirms a “shrewd” manager who was going to be fired, who used his master’s debtors as a means of finding a new job.  He did it by cutting deals with each of them, so one of them might consider hiring him, because of his efforts of cutting their debts toward his master.  Jesus’ point is the people of the world are wiser in using money than we are, so we need to be wiser in this area.  Jesus closes the chapter with the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  Both died and the rich man, who had never helped Lazarus who was poor, or thought of anyone but himself was sent to hell, while Lazarus went to heaven.  The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus across the chasm between heaven and hell to give him a drink.  Abraham responded it wasn’t possible.  Then the man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers about their need to change.  Again, Abraham said it wasn’t possible. Even if it was possible, Abraham pointed out the brothers had Moses and the prophets to lead them to God.  If they wouldn’t respond to that truth, sending someone back from the dead wouldn’t either. What a great blessing it is that we have the word of God, and the words of Jesus to instruct us about the matters of our life and salvation!