Yesterday, I asked you to memorize 1 John 4:8 and John 3:16. Here are the rest of the "Seeds" verses. It will take you some time to memorize and meditate on these. But, take your time and work through the list. We will work on some of them together.
God's Love
1 John 4:8
John 3:16
God's Standard
Psalm 145:17
Matthew 5:48
All Have Sinned
Romans 3:23
Isaiah 53:6
Sin's Penalty
Heb. 9:27
Rom. 6:23
Christ Fully God
John 1:1
Heb. 1:8
Christ Fully Man
John 1:14
Gal. 4:4-5
Christ Paid the Penalty
Isaiah 53:4-5
Rom. 5:8
Salvation Not by Works
Tit. 3:5
Eph. 2:8-9
Salvation by Faith
John 1:12, 13
Rom. 10:9-10
Assurance of Salvation
John 5:24
1 John 5:11-13
Assurance of Security
John 10:28
Eph. 4:30
Assurance of Relationship
Eph. 1:4-5
Rom. 8: 15-16
Assurance of New Life
2 Cor. 5:17
Gal. 2:20
Assurance of Victory
Rom. 8:35-37
Jude 24-25
Indwelt by the Spirit
1 Cor. 6:19
1 Cor. 12:13
Yielded to the Spirit
Rom. 6:12-13
Rom. 12:1
Be Filled by the Spirit
Eph. 5:18
Acts 13:52
Walk by the Spirit
1 John 1:7
Gal. 5:16
Fruit of the Spirit
Gal. 5:22-23
2 Pet. 1:5-7
Grieve Not the Spirit
Eph. 4:30
Quench Not the Spirit
1 Thess. 5:19-22
Spiritual Cleansing
1 John 1:9
2 Cor. 7:1
Obedience to Christ
1 John 2:3-5
John 14:21
Baptism
Matthew 28:19
Acts 10:47, 48a
Communion
Acts 2:42
1 Cor. 11:26
Scripture Reveals the Way
2 Tim. 3:16, 17
Ps. 119:9-11
Meditate on Scripture
Josh. 1-8
Col. 3:16
Pray for Grace
Phil. 4:6-7
Heb. 4:16
Pray Scripturally
John 15-7
1 John 5:14-15
Pray with Faith
Matthew 21:22
John 16:23-24
Assemble with Believers
Acts 2:42
Heb. 10:24-25
Be United in Love
1 Cor. 1:10
Phil. 2:2
Serve One Another
Matthew 20:26-28
Gal. 5:13
Everything is God's
Ps. 24:1
1 Cor. 6:19-20
Stewardship Evaluated
Rom. 14:12
1 Cor. 4-5
Give Selflessly
Matthew 6:19-20
Acts 20:35
Give Privately
Matt. 6:3-4
Give Cheerfully
2 Cor. 9:6-7
Give Regularly
Prov. 3:9-10
1 Cor. 16:1-2
Give Generously
Prov. 11:25
Luke 6:38
Serve One Another
Mark 10:45
2 Cor. 4-5
Serve with Gladness
Psalm 100:2
Phil. 2:14
Serve with Enthusiasm
1 Pet. 1:22
Col. 3:23-24
Witnesses Commissioned
Matt. 4:19
Matt. 28:19-20
Witnesses Empowered
Acts 1:8
1 Pet. 3:15
Witnesses Observed
Matt. 5:16
John 13:34-35
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
The Seeds of Maturity
The Seeds of Maturity
Sustenance for the Soul
A baby cannot grow without food. A seed will not grow without water. The spiritual growth process depends on feeding our souls with the knowledge and wisdom of the word of God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to quench our souls with "living water." But, the word of God needs to be more than something you read once, like you would a novel. You need to eat and drink it so it becomes part of you. As Paul says, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you...." (Col. 3:16) The book of Joshua describes this relationship with the word of God like this, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" (Josh. 1:8 NASB).
This is not to say that we are not to do our work or take care of our daily responsibilities, preferring rather to have our nose in the book all day long. Meditation is an iterative concept, where, like a cow, camel, or other ruminative animal, we are always chewing on something from the word of God. To do that, we first must memorize the most fundamental passages that give us a framework for our faith walk. Then, we begin the ruminative process on each verse, "chewing" on the meaning of the words, the grammar, and the historical, grammatical, and literary context of the verse(s). Then, to incorporate the verse, we must think of all the potential applications to our lives, how it affects all our relationships if we obeyed its principle(s), how it changes our way of thinking and beliefs, our attitudes and outlook on life. If there are specific actions we should take, we must step out in faith and take them. There are some passages that defy understanding until faith-filled obedience is applied to them. But, rest assured, the memorization and meditation upon scripture is not a vain exercise. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy these words, "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NASB). The Spirit of God uses the word of God to guide you in the steps of God. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. Thy word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:9, 11 NASB).
If, therefore, you are ready to walk this path, let us walk it together, memorizing and meditating on a series of verses, selected to give you a framework for your faith, your walk with God, and your relationships and service to others. The path is long, but the rewards are great.
The Meditation Process
The first step is to select verses that will give you a framework for your faith. After years of study, I have selected a list of key verses that provide a theological and practical framework for your walk with Christ. But, this is merely a start. You are more than welcome, and encouraged, to add your own selections, and use the process, that will be described hereafter, to incorporate your verse selections into your life. My goal will to be to add a verse each day, discussing the meaning and context of the verse. Your task, and mine, will be to memorize the verse, and begin the process of meditation.
How do you memorize verses? I suggest that anyone can memorize scripture. For selected verses, I suggest using a topical method. The Navigators first taught me how to do this, memorizing both the topic, then the verse reference, the verse, and then the verse reference again ('fore and aft), because the reference is the most difficult to remember. We do not think in verses, we think in topics. When one is in a situation where a given topic comes up, in conversation or in your thoughts, at least two verses will be associated with that topic, because that is how you memorized them.
To put the words in your brain the first time, I suggest that you use three methods: 1) write the verse out, topic first, then reference, then the first phrase, then the reference again; 2) re-write the same thing, but add another phrase; 3) repeat this process of writing out the topic, reference, and verse, adding a phrase of the verse at a time, until you can write out the whole verse without looking at your Bible. The next phase is to do the same thing, but do it out loud, covering up the phrases you have already memorized, and adding on as you go. Be sure to say the topic, then the reference, then add on phrases of the verse, then the reference again, until you can do the whole thing out loud without looking. The last way of cementing it in your memory is to do something creative with it...use a paint brush and paint all the words out, or make up a little song, using the words. Or, act out the words in pantomime. You do not need to do the progressive phrase add-ons this time. Just say, paint, or act out while verbalizing the whole thing. After using all three "cementing" methods, it should be pretty solidly "dwelling" within you.
Let's try it on the first verse in my list.
The topic is "God's Love." The reference is 1 John 4:8. The verse says, "The one who does not love does not know God; for God is love." So, here is how I would memorize it.
God's Love
1 John 4:8
The one who does not love
1 John 4:8
God's Love
1 John 4:8
The one who does not love does not know God
1 John 4:8
God's Love
1 John 4:8
The one who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
1 John 4:8
I think you get the idea. Now you try it.
Ok, now that you have written it out, now say it out loud, using the same "add-on" method. Don't forget to say the topic and the reference, "'fore and aft."
Ok, now that you have written it out, and said it aloud. You should have it down pretty well. Now, switch to your right brain and get creative with it.
You have now memorized this verse 3 different ways. Great job! But......what does it mean? Let's chew on it for a bit, shall we?
First, I would like you to read the verse in its context. So, read 1 John, chapter 4. Come back when you are finished with that. If you prefer, or you do not have a Bible, here is a source you can use, called "Bible Gateway." I use the New American Standard version, but if you prefer to study and memorize another one, pick a translation that you like and stick with it. The NIV is also an excellent translation. Bible Gateway has a number of versions and translations. Make sure it is a translation, not a paraphrase.
Wow, that chapter has a lot in it, doesn't it? Get yourself a piece of paper, or if you like, you can do this on your computer.
Now, I want you to bombard the text with questions? For example, "The one who does not love..." Who is that? Does the context talk about a group of people who are not expressing love? "Does not know God..." What does it mean to "know God." Who or what god is this talking about? Is there more than one God, or only one? What is God's name? What is God like? "for God is love..." Hm...does that mean love is God, or is God bigger than a character quality? What kind of love is this? If I love, can I be like God? Do you see what we are doing? We are filling our mind with questions. When we start digging, to get the answers to our questions, we will begin to understand the meaning of this verse.
Here's a key concept, always study the chapter and book for the context of the meaning of the words. Yes, the "original" languages and grammar can be helpful for properly understanding a verse, but, you can get a lot out of the verse without ever consulting a lexicon (dictionary), grammar, or commentary. Let God teach you. But, you are going to have to dig for it a bit. Gold is precious, but it is not lying around on the ground, you have to dig, crush, sift, wash, and smelt it to get it out of the ground. Similarly, to get the purified truths from the word of God, you have to digest it in context.
Ok, that's enough for now. Let me give you an assignment. I want you to start this process on another, perhaps familiar, verse, John 3:16. The topic is also "God's Love." God's love is the starting point for everything. So, that's where we will start also.
I hope you have a great day.
Your friend in Christ,
BB
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Press On to Maturity in Christ
New Things Have Come
To be forgiven, and to forgive others as we have been forgiven, changes everything. A person who has trusted in Christ, expressing their faith in His sacrifice at Calvary as a substitute payment for their own sins, experiences a new beginning. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the person is redeemed, "bought," as it were, out of slavery to sin. The person is sanctified, (i.e., "made holy), and justified, (i.e., declared righteous, in a legal sense). They also are indwelt, or "baptized" in the Spirit, thoroughly identified with the Spirit of God in every aspect of their lives. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves of free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." It is this "baptism" that unites all true believers, creating a spiritual bond between all believers. They are also adopted into Christ's "family." "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!" That word, "Abba," is the familiar address for "father," as intimate as "Daddy." Believers still have great reverence for God, but their union with the Spirit, and resulting adoption, creates an intimate relationship with God. This is the start, the beginning of their walk with God by grace through faith, empowered by the Spirit, day by day. But, as wonderful and mysterious as this is, it is only the beginning.
The Need for Maturity
Some people find faith, but stall before pressing on to maturity in Christ. The writer of Hebrews, (probably Apollos), exhorted believers who were stuck in immaturity. "Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment" (Heb. 6:1-2). To the writer of Hebrews, the basics include concepts like understanding the nature of Christ, repentance from unbelief and self-made works salvation, baptism, the authority of elders, the resurrection, and even eschatological issues, such as future judgment of the world. These are the "basics." He exhorted them to press on to maturity. Even those who feel they are "mature" may have far more development ahead of them than they realize. Even the apostle Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect (the word 'teleios,' implies having reached a 'goal' or a desired 'end result'), but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12).
Stages in the Development of Maturity
The stages of growth in the natural world may give some insight into the stages of growth in the spiritual life. An apple tree begins as a seed, then becomes a seedling, then a sapling that might begin to flower, and finally a fruit-bearing tree that increases its fruit harvest each year until it ages or is troubled by disease, drought, or storms. The book of Mark says, "The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head" (Mark 4:28). The physical stages of human development also provide a metaphor for the developmental stages in the spiritual life. After birth, a baby is totally dependent on his or her mother and father for everything, but they still have all the potential in their genes, and all the legal and familial rights as a member of the family. Soon, the baby becomes a child, expressing themselves and exercising their abilities, although they need a lot of discipline by mom and dad to learn about life and how to behave appropriately. As an adolescent, they begin to learn more about human relationships and learn things to prepare for adult life. Then, as a maturing adult, they must take on greater responsibilities and learn from the trials and difficulties of being a responsible adult.
The Bible recognizes four stages of spiritual development, infancy, dependent childhood, maturing-adulthood, and mature adulthood.
Spiritual Infancy
Of infancy, Peter says, "Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Pet. 2:2). Spiritual "milk" is the scriptural basics that are clear and easy to digest, such as scriptures about the love of God, assurances of salvation, the importance of the scriptures, the practice of prayer, including adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, and the need for fellowship, and privilege of sharing one's faith. It is a good time to recount stories that focus on Jesus and concrete examples of heroes of the faith
Dependent Childhood
At this stage, a young believer needs "solid food," but they have yet to put much of what they have learned into practice. Application of the principles of the Bible, in time, develops experience and discernment in the ways of God and how to avoid foolish or evil ways. "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Heb. 5:11-14).
Peter sets forth a process through which the promises of God, the revealed word, may be used to transform a young believer into a strong, maturing adult. "4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 1:4-8).
Maturing Adulthood
These young disciples can handle solid food. They have acquired the skills to feed themselves, such as inductive Bible study and hermeneutics. They know how to put things in biblical and theological context, and to discern and apply the principles of the word of God. But, they still need coaching, and they often work in supportive roles, following other leaders with more experience. We see these relationships in examples like Timothy and Paul or Mark and Peter.
Paul wrote to Timothy, "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." Paul uses metaphors for young adults, such as soldiers, athletes, and hardworking farmers" (2 Tim. 2:1-7, NIV)
Mature Adulthood
This level of maturity is achieved through years study, meditation, and prayerful exercise of spiritual gifts of service, enduring many trials and tests that happen in the course of life and service, with the objective of becoming more like Christ. James, the brother of Jesus, and pastor of the church of Jerusalem, wrote, "2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). The instructions to Titus by Paul for the appointing of elders gives some insight into the qualities of a mature believer to which all should strive. "7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
The mature believer operates, not by the wisdom of men, but by the power of God and they share the mind of Christ, functioning, as it were, as ambassadors for the King of kings on Earth.
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my [b]message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not [c]rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). As ambassadors for God, they carry on the work of Christ, reconciling the world to God. As such, those who are mature, who serve as ambassadors, often are marked by suffering. But, their circumstances only serve as the setting for magnifying the power of God and the message that they bring. "19 And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph. 6:19-20).
Signs of Immaturity
We all have weaknesses. But, these issues may be signs of spiritual immaturity:
Every maturing believer is a work in process. These characteristics indicate progress in maturity.
To be forgiven, and to forgive others as we have been forgiven, changes everything. A person who has trusted in Christ, expressing their faith in His sacrifice at Calvary as a substitute payment for their own sins, experiences a new beginning. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the person is redeemed, "bought," as it were, out of slavery to sin. The person is sanctified, (i.e., "made holy), and justified, (i.e., declared righteous, in a legal sense). They also are indwelt, or "baptized" in the Spirit, thoroughly identified with the Spirit of God in every aspect of their lives. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves of free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." It is this "baptism" that unites all true believers, creating a spiritual bond between all believers. They are also adopted into Christ's "family." "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!" That word, "Abba," is the familiar address for "father," as intimate as "Daddy." Believers still have great reverence for God, but their union with the Spirit, and resulting adoption, creates an intimate relationship with God. This is the start, the beginning of their walk with God by grace through faith, empowered by the Spirit, day by day. But, as wonderful and mysterious as this is, it is only the beginning.
The Need for Maturity
Some people find faith, but stall before pressing on to maturity in Christ. The writer of Hebrews, (probably Apollos), exhorted believers who were stuck in immaturity. "Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment" (Heb. 6:1-2). To the writer of Hebrews, the basics include concepts like understanding the nature of Christ, repentance from unbelief and self-made works salvation, baptism, the authority of elders, the resurrection, and even eschatological issues, such as future judgment of the world. These are the "basics." He exhorted them to press on to maturity. Even those who feel they are "mature" may have far more development ahead of them than they realize. Even the apostle Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect (the word 'teleios,' implies having reached a 'goal' or a desired 'end result'), but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12).
Stages in the Development of Maturity
The stages of growth in the natural world may give some insight into the stages of growth in the spiritual life. An apple tree begins as a seed, then becomes a seedling, then a sapling that might begin to flower, and finally a fruit-bearing tree that increases its fruit harvest each year until it ages or is troubled by disease, drought, or storms. The book of Mark says, "The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head" (Mark 4:28). The physical stages of human development also provide a metaphor for the developmental stages in the spiritual life. After birth, a baby is totally dependent on his or her mother and father for everything, but they still have all the potential in their genes, and all the legal and familial rights as a member of the family. Soon, the baby becomes a child, expressing themselves and exercising their abilities, although they need a lot of discipline by mom and dad to learn about life and how to behave appropriately. As an adolescent, they begin to learn more about human relationships and learn things to prepare for adult life. Then, as a maturing adult, they must take on greater responsibilities and learn from the trials and difficulties of being a responsible adult.
The Bible recognizes four stages of spiritual development, infancy, dependent childhood, maturing-adulthood, and mature adulthood.
Spiritual Infancy
Of infancy, Peter says, "Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Pet. 2:2). Spiritual "milk" is the scriptural basics that are clear and easy to digest, such as scriptures about the love of God, assurances of salvation, the importance of the scriptures, the practice of prayer, including adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, and the need for fellowship, and privilege of sharing one's faith. It is a good time to recount stories that focus on Jesus and concrete examples of heroes of the faith
Dependent Childhood
At this stage, a young believer needs "solid food," but they have yet to put much of what they have learned into practice. Application of the principles of the Bible, in time, develops experience and discernment in the ways of God and how to avoid foolish or evil ways. "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Heb. 5:11-14).
Peter sets forth a process through which the promises of God, the revealed word, may be used to transform a young believer into a strong, maturing adult. "4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 1:4-8).
Maturing Adulthood
These young disciples can handle solid food. They have acquired the skills to feed themselves, such as inductive Bible study and hermeneutics. They know how to put things in biblical and theological context, and to discern and apply the principles of the word of God. But, they still need coaching, and they often work in supportive roles, following other leaders with more experience. We see these relationships in examples like Timothy and Paul or Mark and Peter.
Paul wrote to Timothy, "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." Paul uses metaphors for young adults, such as soldiers, athletes, and hardworking farmers" (2 Tim. 2:1-7, NIV)
Mature Adulthood
This level of maturity is achieved through years study, meditation, and prayerful exercise of spiritual gifts of service, enduring many trials and tests that happen in the course of life and service, with the objective of becoming more like Christ. James, the brother of Jesus, and pastor of the church of Jerusalem, wrote, "2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). The instructions to Titus by Paul for the appointing of elders gives some insight into the qualities of a mature believer to which all should strive. "7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
The mature believer operates, not by the wisdom of men, but by the power of God and they share the mind of Christ, functioning, as it were, as ambassadors for the King of kings on Earth.
3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my [b]message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not [c]rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 [d]For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, [e]combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But [f]a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually [g]appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:3-16)"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). As ambassadors for God, they carry on the work of Christ, reconciling the world to God. As such, those who are mature, who serve as ambassadors, often are marked by suffering. But, their circumstances only serve as the setting for magnifying the power of God and the message that they bring. "19 And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph. 6:19-20).
Signs of Immaturity
We all have weaknesses. But, these issues may be signs of spiritual immaturity:
- Arrested growth (Heb. 5:12)
- Insensitivity to evil (Heb. 5:14)
- Worldly-mindedness (1 Cor. 3:4)
- Emotional instability, particularly regarding sound doctrine (Eph. 4:14)
- Pride (1 Cor. 3:6)
- Self-centeredness (Luke 9:23)
- Lack of love for the other believers (1 Jn. 2:10, 11)
- Discontentedness (1 Tim. 6:4-8)
- Avarice (Tit. 1:10-11)
- Deeds of the flesh (Gal. 5:19, 21)
- Contentiousness (1 Cor. 3:3)
- Destructive criticism (2 Cor. 12:19, 20)
Every maturing believer is a work in process. These characteristics indicate progress in maturity.
- Focus of life is the securing of the glory of God (Jn. 17:4; 1 Cor. 6:20)
- Growing love for God and others (Jn. 13:34-35; 2 Thess. 1:3; Rom. 5:5)
- Growing personal and experiential knowledge of God (Ex. 33:13; Phil. 3:10)
- The pursuit of holiness is more attractive than the pursuit of happiness (Jn. 15:11; Heb 1:9)
- A growing walk by faith, rather than by sight (2 Cor. 5:7; Jn. 20:29b; Heb. 11:10, 27)
- A life characterized by prayer
- pervasively practiced (1 Thess. 5:17; Acts 6:4; Phil. 4:6-7)
- Privately devotional (Matt. 6:5-15; Lu. 5:16)
- Persistently importunate (Matt. 7:7; Lu. 18:1-8)
- Powerfully intercessory (Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 1:9-12; Jam. 5:16; 2 Thess 3:1; Col. 4:12)
- Purely unhindered (1 Tim. 1:8; Prov. 15:8; 1 Pet. 3:7)
- Publicly appropriate (1 Cor. 11:1-16; 1 Cor. 14-19; Matt. 6:5, 7)
- Dissatisfied with the "milk" of the word and craving "solid food" (Heb. 5:13a-14)
- Teachable, welcoming experiences that develop the mind, heart, and spirit (2 Pet. 3:16-18; Prov. 4:7)
- Abiding perseverance in obedience to the truth (Jn. 3:31-32; 15:5)
- Trust, acceptance, and contentment, rather than anxiety, resentment, or rebellion against the disciplines or circumstances that God, in His wisdom, allows (Heb. 12:11; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:10-13; 2 Cor. 12:9)
- Growing discernment that enables discriminating between truth and error; good and evil (Heb. 5:14)
- Humility and a preference for serving others over serving self (Mark 10:45; Lu. 22:27c; Phil. 2:3-4)
- Focus on giving, rather than receiving (Mark 10:45; Phil 4:14-18)
- Acceptance of responsibility in the work of the kingdom (2 Tim. 2:1-7; 4:5)
- Harmonious unity with the Christian community (Eph. 4:13; Phil. 2:2)
- Respect for God-ordained authorities (Rom. 13:1-7)
- Fruitfulness, not barrenness (Jn. 15:5, 16)
- In character (Gal. 5:22-23)
- In service (Jn. 4:36; Rom. 1:13)
- Tested righteousness
- Endurance and joy from a tested faith (Ja. 1:2-5)
- Resistance to temptation (1 Cor. 10:13)
- Blessedness for righteous suffering (Matt. 5:10-12; Jn. 15:20; 1 Pet. 2:19-24, 3:14-18; Phil. 1:29)
- Enthusiastic zeal (Jn. 2:17; Phil. 3:14; Col. 4:12-13; Tit. 2:14)
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
The Matrix of Maturity Development
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:11-16 NIV)
Christ has given the Church those with gifts and abilities designed to equip his people for all sorts of ministry, resulting in the building up of the body of Christ, the larger community of faith, with the objective of achieving unity in faith, and maturity in the knowledge, wisdom, and the character qualities of Christ. In other words, the objective of those who laid the foundations of the church, the apostles and prophets, was ultimately that the church would one day grow into full expression of the character of Christ. The objective of those who are equipping the church to expand and to grow in caring and character, as well as knowledge and wisdom, that is, the evangelists, pastors, and teachers, is that their service would equip people for ministry that would result in growth in the body of Christ, both in numbers and in character. Each and every member of the body of Christ contributes to the overall objective of growth.
By observation and meditation, a matrix of maturity development has emerged in the mind of this author. It is submitted here for your further study and provocation.
Maturity Development Program Matrix - Adult
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:11-16 NIV)
Christ has given the Church those with gifts and abilities designed to equip his people for all sorts of ministry, resulting in the building up of the body of Christ, the larger community of faith, with the objective of achieving unity in faith, and maturity in the knowledge, wisdom, and the character qualities of Christ. In other words, the objective of those who laid the foundations of the church, the apostles and prophets, was ultimately that the church would one day grow into full expression of the character of Christ. The objective of those who are equipping the church to expand and to grow in caring and character, as well as knowledge and wisdom, that is, the evangelists, pastors, and teachers, is that their service would equip people for ministry that would result in growth in the body of Christ, both in numbers and in character. Each and every member of the body of Christ contributes to the overall objective of growth.
By observation and meditation, a matrix of maturity development has emerged in the mind of this author. It is submitted here for your further study and provocation.
Maturity Development Program Matrix - Adult
Maturity Development Phases
Development Processes
|
Phase I
Seeds of Faith
|
Phase 2
Roots of Faith
|
Phase 3
Fruits of Faith
|
Phase 4
Harvest of Faith
|
Growth
|
Commitment to
|
Commitment to
|
Commitment to
|
Commitment to
|
Objective
|
Christ
|
Christlikeness
|
Ministry
|
Life Mission
|
Key Commitment
|
Faith Covenant
|
Discipleship Covenant
|
Ministry Covenant
|
Mission Covenant
|
Growth Perspective
|
Open-minded Participant/
|
Learning obedience
|
Learning servanthood
|
Example of
Life-time learning
|
observer
| ||||
Motivators
|
Personal
|
Personal
|
Personal
|
Personal
|
Exposure
|
Experience
|
Recognition
|
Insights
| |
Mentors
|
Models
|
Disciplers
|
Coaches
|
Spiritual Guides
|
Knowledge
|
Assurances
|
Survey
|
Sharpened
|
Reproductive
|
Set
|
of the Faith
|
of Truth/
|
sword
|
Wisdom
|
God's principles
| ||||
Skill/Discipline
|
Devotional
|
Developmental
|
Directional
|
Duplicatable
|
Set
| ||||
Character
|
Fruit Insights
|
Self Insights
|
Work on
|
Work on
|
Set
|
Strengths
|
Weaknesses
| ||
Values
|
New Life
|
Lordship
|
Bodylife
|
Kingdom
|
Service
|
Ministry
|
Ministry
|
Ministry
|
Ministry
|
Contribution
|
Participation
|
Responsibility
|
Leadership
|
Development
|
Evangelism
|
Contact/
|
Participant-
|
Leader/
|
Leader/
|
Involvement
|
Inviter
|
Observer
|
Example
|
Trainer
|
Sense of
|
Believe in
|
Keep my
|
Love as I have
|
So send I you
|
Sovereignty
|
Me
|
Commandments
|
loved you
| |
Tests/
|
Faith
|
Consistent
|
Cheerful
|
Perseverance
|
Challenges
|
Obedience
|
Faithfulness
|
in doing well
|
Saturday, June 22, 2013
The Freedom of Forgiveness
A Crisis of Conscience
Long ago, in a foreign land, a mother and father rejoiced over the birth of their baby girl. Her parents had great hopes for her. As the girl grew, her parents hopes grew with her. As a young woman, she probably had hopes of one day finding a man who would love her and make her feel special.
At some point in the life of this grown-up young woman, she faced a crisis. We don't know the details of the circumstances that led to the compromise of her ideals that first time. Perhaps her family had a financial crisis. Perhaps her parents died and she could not find work to support herself. Whatever the reason, at some point in her life, she felt that her circumstances justified taking actions that fell short of her standards. In short, she traded her virginity for a little money. In her mind, she may have justified it as something to just help her get out of a temporary crisis. She told herself it was just this one time. But, the wound to her soul went deeper than she could possibly imagine. The word soon got out about her willingness to trade her attention for money, and men started coming around. Some told her they loved her, and would take care of her. Part of her believed their lies, but deep down she cried in shame as she traded her youth for a few shekels. She never thought she would grow up to be a prostitute. But, now her reputation was stained. She gave up on her dreams of love and hopes of finding someone special. She wished, somehow, that she could change the past. But, she knew it was too late. I can only imagine what it might have meant to her to be able to wipe her slate clean, to make a new beginning, to begin life anew.
Do you remember any turning points in your life when you took the low road? Have you ever been given opportunities to do the right thing, but you shrank from doing what was right? Have you ever faced temptation, coming right up to the line, and then you crossed the line? Your conscience told you what was right, but for some compelling reason, you violated your conscience? Are you struggling today, living in bondage to a burden of guilt? Are you caught in a web of your own making, entangled in a life that embraces weaknesses, vices, or habits that even you detest in yourself? Do you feel impatient, or even militantly angry with people who display your same weaknesses? What would it mean to you if you could wipe your own slate clean, to deal with your own guilt issues, once and for all?
The Meaning of Forgiveness
My thesis is this, that you can find freedom from the guilt of sin through forgiveness from God. The corollary to my thesis is that you can find freedom from bitterness, and its corrosive effects on your psyche, by forgiving others.
What is forgiveness? To help define forgiveness we should first understand what it is not. Forgiveness is not just "forgetting about it," as if it's "no big deal." It is a big deal. It is also not about not forgetting about it. I have heard people say they will forgive, but they will never forget. Forgiveness is also not avoidance. Acting like someone doesn't exist, because we don't want to confront a problem, solves nothing. It may be that many people do not believe in God because they are unwilling to recognize an unresolved issue between themselves and God.
How does the Old Testament define forgiveness? In the Old Testament, forgiveness was the removal of the impact of sin through a process of atonement. To forgive through atonement means to "lift up, to carry, support, or to take up or away." Guilt or punishment for sin is "taken up" from the sinner by the substitute that bears the penalty. For example, in Leviticus 10:17 it says, "Why did you not eat the sin offering at the holy place? For it is most holy, and He gave it to you to bear away the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord."
Seven-hundred fifty years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Surely our griefs He Himself, bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. but He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed (Isa. 53:4).
King David may have remembered the time in his life when he committed adultery, then arranged the death of Uriah, so he could have his wife, Bathsheba, when he wrote these words: "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and whose spirit there is not deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of Summer. I acknowledged my sin to Thee and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; and thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin (Psalm 32:1-5).
How does the New Testament define forgiveness? The word used for forgiveness in the New Testament means "to be gracious," "to give freely," in the sense of canceling out a debt. the apostle Paul wrote, "So that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow... but whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 2:7). How is it that the fallen angel, Lucifer, (aka, Satan), could take advantage of "us," if we fail to forgive one another? When there is a debt, you are alienated from your creditor. Does someone "owe" you an apology. If you feel they do, no doubt your affection for them is alienated. Division and bitterness between family members, spiritual brothers and sisters, and between us and God comes from the lack of forgiveness. "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).
Another meaning of the word "forgiveness" in the New Testament is to "remove sin by making guilt moot." The Gospel of Mark says, "And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone? (Mk. 2:5-7)
Another sense of the word forgiveness is "to render free, to release from the bondage of sin." The Gospel of Matthew says, "And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins (Matt. 26:27-28). And in the Gospel of Luke it says, "And He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47).
The Means of Forgiveness
What then is the MEANS through which we can be forgiven?
The first means of forgiveness is by a sacrificial payment of debt. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 3:23), but as Hebrews says, "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22).
Secondly, we are forgiven through faith in the sufficiency of Christ. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name (i.e., 'Jehovah saves') everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).
Thirdly, the means through which we receive forgiveness is by the confession of our transgressions to God. "I acknowledged my sin to Thee and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD'; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin (Ps. 32:1-5).
The Motives for Forgiveness
But, how do I know that God will accept my confession. We know because of the MOTIVE for forgiveness.
The motive for forgiveness is love. "In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now" (Num. 14:19). "But, God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15:13).
The motive for forgiveness is also grace, the unmerited favor and ability of God to show His goodwill. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).
The Marks of Those Who Are Forgiven
How do we recognize the MARKS of one who has been forgiven of their sins? Here we pick up the story of the young woman who had become a prostitute. Just take note of how she responds to receiving forgiveness:
"And behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.' And Jesus, (knowing his thoughts) answered and said to him, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' And he replied, 'Say it, Teacher.' 'A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii (a denarii was a day's wages), and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?' Simon answered and said, 'I suppose the one whom he forgave more.' And He said to him, 'You have judged correctly.' And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.' And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man who even forgives sins?' And He said to the woman, 'You faith has saved you; go in peace'" (Luke 7:37-50).
The fact was, the woman was a sinner, a notorious prostitute. Yet, she came to Jesus, sensing that, at last, here was someone who might truly love her, who could see she might be redeemed, who might accept her by grace, and deliver her from her shameful past. It took courage for her to come to Jesus, for he was reclining in the midst of people who shunned her very presence, considering her to be unclean and socially unacceptable. But, she quietly placed herself at His feet, content to do some small service for the Master by anointing his feet with her best perfume. As she humbled herself, her broken heart opened up in a shower of repentant tears that washed His dusty feet. In her brokenness, she wiped His feet with her uncovered hair.
In this story, with whom do you most identify? Do you feel you are "good enough" to be sufficient before the Savior, like the Pharisee, Simon? Or, are you a notorious sinner, even a social outcast? The Pharisee invited Jesus into his house, but the prostitute invited Jesus into her heart. The Pharisee was proud to be Christ's host for the evening. the prostitute was humbled before Him, taking the role of a servant. The Pharisee, filled with doubt, criticized Jesus. The prostitute devotedly caressed her Savior's feet. The Pharisee justified himself by comparing his behavior to the greater sinner. The prostitute, the greater sinner, was justified by Christ, because of her faith in Him.
Another MARK of one who has been forgiven is graciousness to others who may have wronged you, in view of the graciousness of God shown to you for your greater debt of sin. In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter asked the Lord, "how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus replied, "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents (a talent was about 6,000 days' wages). But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.' And the Lord of that slave felt compassion and release him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patient with me and I will repay you.' He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart (Matt. 18:21-35).
The Call to Forgiveness
You too can find freedom from the guilt of sin, the removal of the debt of sin through forgiveness from God. God will forgive you because of His great love and the grace that He offers because of the all-sufficient payment of the blood of Jesus Christ, who died on a cross in your place.
If Jesus has forgiven you, you can find freedom from bitterness, and its corrosive effects on your psyche, by forgiving others. You have been forgiven much. By comparison, what others have done to you is less than what the Lord has already forgiven us. If Christ has forgiven you of your great debt, is there someone today that you need to forgive?
May the love of God the Father, the grace of the risen Son, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit of God be with you as you ponder these things.
Long ago, in a foreign land, a mother and father rejoiced over the birth of their baby girl. Her parents had great hopes for her. As the girl grew, her parents hopes grew with her. As a young woman, she probably had hopes of one day finding a man who would love her and make her feel special.
At some point in the life of this grown-up young woman, she faced a crisis. We don't know the details of the circumstances that led to the compromise of her ideals that first time. Perhaps her family had a financial crisis. Perhaps her parents died and she could not find work to support herself. Whatever the reason, at some point in her life, she felt that her circumstances justified taking actions that fell short of her standards. In short, she traded her virginity for a little money. In her mind, she may have justified it as something to just help her get out of a temporary crisis. She told herself it was just this one time. But, the wound to her soul went deeper than she could possibly imagine. The word soon got out about her willingness to trade her attention for money, and men started coming around. Some told her they loved her, and would take care of her. Part of her believed their lies, but deep down she cried in shame as she traded her youth for a few shekels. She never thought she would grow up to be a prostitute. But, now her reputation was stained. She gave up on her dreams of love and hopes of finding someone special. She wished, somehow, that she could change the past. But, she knew it was too late. I can only imagine what it might have meant to her to be able to wipe her slate clean, to make a new beginning, to begin life anew.
Do you remember any turning points in your life when you took the low road? Have you ever been given opportunities to do the right thing, but you shrank from doing what was right? Have you ever faced temptation, coming right up to the line, and then you crossed the line? Your conscience told you what was right, but for some compelling reason, you violated your conscience? Are you struggling today, living in bondage to a burden of guilt? Are you caught in a web of your own making, entangled in a life that embraces weaknesses, vices, or habits that even you detest in yourself? Do you feel impatient, or even militantly angry with people who display your same weaknesses? What would it mean to you if you could wipe your own slate clean, to deal with your own guilt issues, once and for all?
The Meaning of Forgiveness
My thesis is this, that you can find freedom from the guilt of sin through forgiveness from God. The corollary to my thesis is that you can find freedom from bitterness, and its corrosive effects on your psyche, by forgiving others.
What is forgiveness? To help define forgiveness we should first understand what it is not. Forgiveness is not just "forgetting about it," as if it's "no big deal." It is a big deal. It is also not about not forgetting about it. I have heard people say they will forgive, but they will never forget. Forgiveness is also not avoidance. Acting like someone doesn't exist, because we don't want to confront a problem, solves nothing. It may be that many people do not believe in God because they are unwilling to recognize an unresolved issue between themselves and God.
How does the Old Testament define forgiveness? In the Old Testament, forgiveness was the removal of the impact of sin through a process of atonement. To forgive through atonement means to "lift up, to carry, support, or to take up or away." Guilt or punishment for sin is "taken up" from the sinner by the substitute that bears the penalty. For example, in Leviticus 10:17 it says, "Why did you not eat the sin offering at the holy place? For it is most holy, and He gave it to you to bear away the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord."
Seven-hundred fifty years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Surely our griefs He Himself, bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. but He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed (Isa. 53:4).
King David may have remembered the time in his life when he committed adultery, then arranged the death of Uriah, so he could have his wife, Bathsheba, when he wrote these words: "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and whose spirit there is not deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of Summer. I acknowledged my sin to Thee and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; and thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin (Psalm 32:1-5).
How does the New Testament define forgiveness? The word used for forgiveness in the New Testament means "to be gracious," "to give freely," in the sense of canceling out a debt. the apostle Paul wrote, "So that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow... but whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes (2 Cor. 2:7). How is it that the fallen angel, Lucifer, (aka, Satan), could take advantage of "us," if we fail to forgive one another? When there is a debt, you are alienated from your creditor. Does someone "owe" you an apology. If you feel they do, no doubt your affection for them is alienated. Division and bitterness between family members, spiritual brothers and sisters, and between us and God comes from the lack of forgiveness. "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).
Another meaning of the word "forgiveness" in the New Testament is to "remove sin by making guilt moot." The Gospel of Mark says, "And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone? (Mk. 2:5-7)
Another sense of the word forgiveness is "to render free, to release from the bondage of sin." The Gospel of Matthew says, "And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins (Matt. 26:27-28). And in the Gospel of Luke it says, "And He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:46-47).
The Means of Forgiveness
What then is the MEANS through which we can be forgiven?
The first means of forgiveness is by a sacrificial payment of debt. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 3:23), but as Hebrews says, "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22).
Secondly, we are forgiven through faith in the sufficiency of Christ. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7). "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name (i.e., 'Jehovah saves') everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).
Thirdly, the means through which we receive forgiveness is by the confession of our transgressions to God. "I acknowledged my sin to Thee and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD'; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin (Ps. 32:1-5).
The Motives for Forgiveness
But, how do I know that God will accept my confession. We know because of the MOTIVE for forgiveness.
The motive for forgiveness is love. "In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now" (Num. 14:19). "But, God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15:13).
The motive for forgiveness is also grace, the unmerited favor and ability of God to show His goodwill. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).
The Marks of Those Who Are Forgiven
How do we recognize the MARKS of one who has been forgiven of their sins? Here we pick up the story of the young woman who had become a prostitute. Just take note of how she responds to receiving forgiveness:
"And behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.' And Jesus, (knowing his thoughts) answered and said to him, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' And he replied, 'Say it, Teacher.' 'A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii (a denarii was a day's wages), and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?' Simon answered and said, 'I suppose the one whom he forgave more.' And He said to him, 'You have judged correctly.' And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.' And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man who even forgives sins?' And He said to the woman, 'You faith has saved you; go in peace'" (Luke 7:37-50).
The fact was, the woman was a sinner, a notorious prostitute. Yet, she came to Jesus, sensing that, at last, here was someone who might truly love her, who could see she might be redeemed, who might accept her by grace, and deliver her from her shameful past. It took courage for her to come to Jesus, for he was reclining in the midst of people who shunned her very presence, considering her to be unclean and socially unacceptable. But, she quietly placed herself at His feet, content to do some small service for the Master by anointing his feet with her best perfume. As she humbled herself, her broken heart opened up in a shower of repentant tears that washed His dusty feet. In her brokenness, she wiped His feet with her uncovered hair.
In this story, with whom do you most identify? Do you feel you are "good enough" to be sufficient before the Savior, like the Pharisee, Simon? Or, are you a notorious sinner, even a social outcast? The Pharisee invited Jesus into his house, but the prostitute invited Jesus into her heart. The Pharisee was proud to be Christ's host for the evening. the prostitute was humbled before Him, taking the role of a servant. The Pharisee, filled with doubt, criticized Jesus. The prostitute devotedly caressed her Savior's feet. The Pharisee justified himself by comparing his behavior to the greater sinner. The prostitute, the greater sinner, was justified by Christ, because of her faith in Him.
Another MARK of one who has been forgiven is graciousness to others who may have wronged you, in view of the graciousness of God shown to you for your greater debt of sin. In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter asked the Lord, "how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus replied, "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. And when he had begun to settle them, there was brought to him one who owed him ten thousand talents (a talent was about 6,000 days' wages). But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.' And the Lord of that slave felt compassion and release him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patient with me and I will repay you.' He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart (Matt. 18:21-35).
The Call to Forgiveness
You too can find freedom from the guilt of sin, the removal of the debt of sin through forgiveness from God. God will forgive you because of His great love and the grace that He offers because of the all-sufficient payment of the blood of Jesus Christ, who died on a cross in your place.
If Jesus has forgiven you, you can find freedom from bitterness, and its corrosive effects on your psyche, by forgiving others. You have been forgiven much. By comparison, what others have done to you is less than what the Lord has already forgiven us. If Christ has forgiven you of your great debt, is there someone today that you need to forgive?
May the love of God the Father, the grace of the risen Son, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit of God be with you as you ponder these things.
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