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James – Count It All Joy -2
Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials…
James 1:2 RSV

πειρασμός Trials & Temptations

Messengers from Jerusalem arrive with a letter from the leader of the church. (Can’t wait to hear their good news.) So what is the first thing James has to say to all of us? Consider all of the various trials and temptations you have all experienced as a cause for joy.

Christ was crucified and risen just a dozen years ago, then James became head of the church in Jerusalem. Peter and the Apostles work with us as a family of our Lord, sending the Gospel to all of us whenever they can.

Background to the Persecution of Christians

1st c. Roman Cities

To Rome, Herod was “King of the Jews,” and when they hung the sign over our crucified Lord they all thought that was the end of it. But after witness of His resurrection our troubles multiplied not only in Judea, but in every city with a synagogue from Coptos to Corinth.

Romans may arrest, imprison or enslave us. And zealous Jews loyal to Herod follow us to synagogues in every port, persecuting our Elders at any opportunity. We can hardly make a living in any city for fear of our lives.

Yet for the sake of Christ we worship God our Father with familiar songs and praises.
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Psalm 55:
4 My heart shudders within me;
 terrors of death sweep over me.
 5 Fear and trembling grip me;
 horror has overwhelmed me...

12 Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
 otherwise I could bear it;
 it is not a foe who rises up against me—
 otherwise I could hide from him.
 13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
 my companion and good friend!
 14 We used to have close fellowship;
 we walked with the crowd into the house of God...

19 God, the one enthroned from long ago,
 will hear and will humiliate them Selah
 because they do not change
 and do not fear God.
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Who Gets the Letters to the Early Church?

Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Acts 11:19 CSB

Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

Jews fled Jerusalem and Judea to cities up the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. These followers of Jesus and many new Jewish followers of the Apostles had heard first-hand witnesses to the resurrection. And now they even go to preach to the gentiles – Greeks and Romans. It is a new diaspora of Christ-followers to cities where Jews have already settled.

Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary

The commentator, Douglas Moo, describes their circumstances:

Forced to live away from their home church, these scattered parishioners required exhortation and advice on issues they were facing. What is more natural than that their spiritual guide send them a pastoral letter?

Perhaps some of these faithful followers of Jesus had even heard the powerful preaching of Stephen as he had been stoned to death.

Trials and Maturity

In Jerusalem they stoned and beheaded our beloved brother, James the Greater, son of Zebedee. It’s encouraging that James writes to us to have joy. No doubt all in Jerusalem endure more trials.

Ἰάκωβος θεοῦ καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ χαίρειν
James 1:1

“James, bond-servant of Theos and the Lord Jesus,” he greets us. God knows his faithfulness to the Apostles and Elders of The Way.

“To the twelve tribes of the diaspora abroad.”

Yes, we are the true Israel driven into every part of the world, but now in the victory of our risen Messiah we finally have joy and mercy, grace and peace, and the love of God in our Lord Jesus.

James writes to us (and his messengers who will go into all the other cities):

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 CSB

We know trials… temptations to live like the Greeks or the Romans, even like the hateful Herodians and hypocrites of the Temple who pursue us.

Thank God for James and our brothers in Jerusalem, who send encouragement and help to us, so we might survive these trying times. Rome must have been part of God’s plan plan of completion for us. Christ is redeeming this remnant.

Our Lord has sent us all fleeing into the all the world, and for this James encourages us to count it all joy.

Joy
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Shout for joy, you heavens!
 Earth, rejoice!
 Mountains break into joyful shouts!
 For the LORD has comforted his people,
 and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
- Isaiah 49:13
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James writes to us:

Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
James 1:9-10 CSB

Our humble circumstances as followers of Jesus brings our hearts low. For we struggle greatly in our daily lives. We can barely provide for our wives and our children. And what will happen to them if our witness for Christ would cost our life here?

Yes, we are with our Lord, forever; but what will happen to our loved ones? James calls on us to be as humble as Jesus, to have joy for our salvation won. We will hold his proverb from this letter near to our hearts:

Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 CSB

Spurgeon on James

Excerpt from CSB Introduction to James

When blessed by God, our trials ripen us. Believers who have endured a great deal of affliction exhibit a great deal of mellowness that you never see in other people. It cannot be mistaken or imitated…

Do you count it all joy?

The 19th century preacher points out how different these believers with faith ripened in the burning sun appear as a fruit with unmistakable sweetness.

Are you, beloved brother, dear sister – suffering in any way for your sweetness in Christ?

Do trials by those around you refine your witness or delineate your humility?

Would anyone recognize Jesus by looking at you?

James has a few firm suggestions to solidify our faith and bring joy to our witness. Consider all of these things.
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To be continued...
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April 30, 2019
Hebrews – 2 – Pioneer of Perfect Salvation
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
Hebrews 2:10 NIV

But we see Jesus… Hebrews 2:9a

The author begins his letter to his Jewish brothers stating that G_d’s final word is through the Son, not angels or prophets.

Previously the author of Hebrews has made a case through scripture that Jesus, the Son of God, is higher than the angels.

Heir of all things

Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!
Proverbs 30:4 NASB

Continuing in our study of Hebrews, a letter authored to first century Jews, we now continue the second chapter after what we covered previously in the beginning verses 1-9 in Hebrew 2 – Pay Attention.

Fitting and proper perfection

Are you a perfect Jew?

Or more to a personal point, am I a perfect Christian?

Of course not.

So how do we have any chutzpah outside of the Messiah Jesus to say that we may be accepted into eternal life by the Lord? This is the issue of salvation the writer of Hebrews takes on here.

Hebrews 2:

For it was bekavod (fitting, proper) for him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing banim rabbim (many sons) to kavod, to bring to shleimut (perfection, completion) the Rosh (Head) and Mekhonen (Founder) of their Yeshua’at Hashem through yissurim (suffering).
Hebrews 2:10 Orthodox Jewish Bible

Most Christians lack a full understanding of many terms of Hebrew origin like perfection, author, purification and redemption. I am neither a Torah trained Rabbi nor Messianic Jew, but further readings of Paul‘s letters will help you to understand an academic Jewish approach to some of these terms.

10 – It was fitting for Him

Various translations of πρέπω read: it became Him, it was bekavod, it was fitting, it was entirely appropriate – the concept that God does what is right and perfect. Jews and Christians must agree that man has a tendency to weigh perfection incorrectly.

כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁ יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן לִבֹּות יְהוָֽה׃
עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַיהוָה מִזָּֽבַח׃
Proverbs 21:2,3

in bringing many sons

“Many sons – πολύς υἱός speaks of multitudes and not specifically men (as opposed to women) or of a specific son. Think of the beneficiary as humanity, rather than all creation or even the Creator Himself. And what is the benefit – what is our reward?

unto glory

“εἰςδόξα – eis doxa – To glory or toward glory.

Gloria Patri

Now glory means many things to different people, so let’s be clear in our completed understanding of doxa, as in ‘doxology.’ Yes, praise of God or of a man.

Glory becomes a Biblical description of the brightness of God, or of the sun, moon, stars, angels or an object; implying magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace and majesty.

God is unsurpassed glory! A higher indescribable brightness. Yet the glory of God has a contrasting glory of which we seldom speak.

Doxa in Greek translates as an opinion, judgment, view; therefore our human opinion or estimate of someone or something, whether good or bad, is a glory or judgement – Biblically of God, a Most High Glory.

to perfect

τελειόω – to complete (perfect), to bring to the end (goal) proposed, to accomplish or bring to a close, a fulfillment by event of the prophecies of the scriptures.

לָכֵן אֲחַלֶּק־לֹו בָרַבִּים וְאֶת־עֲצוּמִים יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱרָה לַמָּוֶת נַפְשֹׁו וְאֶת־פֹּשְׁעִים נִמְנָה וְהוּא חֵטְא־רַבִּים נָשָׂא וְלַפֹּשְׁעִים יַפְגִּֽיעַ׃ ס
Isaiah 53:12

their head and founder

We must, at some point in our lives, confess that some have authority over us. (This is assumed in a Biblical-based Hebrew culture.) Current authority, previous authority and a succession of authority all come into play.

Abraham, Israel, Moses, David and family patriarchs may all be mentioned as a head or founding father of Jews. The Lord granted both His Authority and succession through them. Here the author of Hebrews points to their Higher Authority.

ἀρχηγός – archēgos implies one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer. Jesus, therefore, becomes a captain or founder, a chief leader or Prince over these who followed.

Within the same verse His origin was established as ‘Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things’… or other translations read: ‘God—for whom and through whom all things exist—...’ Clearly, the Son of God IS God! Jesus IS before all founders and over all authority.

of their salvation

Two questions come immediately to mind:
1. What is salvation?
2. Whose salvation? (Or who can be saved?)
σωτηρία sōtēria –Salvation, in Greek, the common language of first century Judea and much of the Roman Empire, refers to deliverance, preservation, safety, even from molestation by one’s enemies. A Roman understanding of sōtēria could have viewed a “savior” as a threat to their own authority.

In an ethical sense, that which concludes to the soul’s safety, of Messianic salvation.

יָשַׁע – yasha` is the Hebrew concept. Isaiah asks,

פָּגַ֤עְתָּ אֶת־שָׂשׂ֙ וְעֹ֣שֵׂה צֶ֔דֶק בִּדְרָכֶ֖יךָ יִזְכְּר֑וּךָ הֵן־אַתָּ֤ה קָצַ֨פְתָּ֙ וַֽנֶּחֱטָ֔א בָּהֶ֥ם עֹולָ֖ם וְנִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃

How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?
Isaiah 64:5 CSB

The question of who can be saved is one of some debate, which we will not take on today. Since the writer of Hebrews refers to the Son, the Messiah, as God in this introductory passage, we will briefly examine His own answer to this question.

When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved? ”
Matthew 19:25 CSB

The Jewish Apostle and tax collector relates consecutive stories about money, the rich and salvation, asking the Messiah who can be saved. Hear His answer:

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 CSB

Not even an Apostle or rich ruler can earn salvation or buy perfection. Yet God the Father has made a way for the completion of sinful man.

through sufferings.

διά dia πάθημα pathēma

We hesitate here, even that the Messiah must suffer, let alone that we must in death. Yet the meaning is clear: that which one suffers or has suffered. We shrink from some of the descriptions of sufferings: misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction.

Many of us have experienced some of the afflictions which Christians must undergo. And we know we cannot endure that with the Messiah suffered for our sins as a Sacrifice painfully crucified on the Cross.

Hebrews and gentiles know that in perfection a price must be paid for sin.

Sanctification – ἁγιάζω

To sanctify is to purify, separating from the profane and dedicating or consecrating to a Holy God.

How can a sinner be consecrated to the Lord God?

The author of Hebrews continues by assuring us that the Messiah Jesus completed our sanctification and He, the crucified Son of Man calls us brothers (or sisters). What undue grace and love of those of the world. And grace for both Jew and gentile, grace for those of the first century and sinners of this twenty-first century.

Once again the writer of Hebrews quotes familiar scripture, even the very song
from Psalm 22 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ Yĕhowshuwa` cried out from the cross! He also quotes the historical record of Samuel and the prophet Isaiah.

Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.
Hebrews 2:13 CSB

The Lord God has become a personal God on the Cross!

וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֹֽון׃

a Priest of G_d Most High

The writer of Hebrews closes this section about Jesus becoming our Pioneer of Perfection with explanation why the Son of Man became a High Priest for us.

17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

More about atonement and our need for this Priest in Hebrews 3.
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To be continued...
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January 16, 2019
John 3:16 – God’s Love
.. so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 b

The Bible’s best known verse

John 3:16 KJV – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

STOP! You lost them on “whosoever and believeth.” (No one talks like that anymore except fanatics and crazy people with signs.)

Nearly everyone has heard it. God so loved the world. – John 3:16

“So what?” think all the worldly viewers of your very public witness.

And you want everyone to know the same love of our savior you have experienced (and they are so worldly). Yet every time they give you that “so what?” look.

You may have even memorized John 3:16 as a child, but do you even get it as one mature in Christ?

In fact, have you truly read all of this chapter of John recently or have you ever studied John 3?

As I mentioned in the previous post, Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus about Spirit continues past John 3:16. Nicodemus, a faithful Jew, would have listened and considered every word of the Messiah of Israel.

Let’s step back from witnessing to the world for just a moment of personal reflection in the Spirit.

A Contemporary Conversation

Even Christians fail to consider that Jesus spoke every word of witness fully aware that the end of His earthly mission was death — even death on a Cross.

And so is your end, son or daughter of dust – your end is death and your destiny an awakening to the Judgment.

Yet only in God’s Son will you have eternal life, mercy to save your soul from damnation you deserve, penalty for the sins of this mortal life.

Those you have wronged cry out for justice. Almighty God, ‘el Shadday, from whom you walked away, grieves as a Father over the hardness of your heart.

Why, just as Satan and your enemies have accused, you deserve no mercy.

Has your unconverted friend or estranged family member given weight and consideration that we will perish? Do they see in Jesus eternal life in the Light of His love?

This challenging dialogue from John’s Gospel confronts every mortal with a life or death decision: accountability to facing the LORD, with … or without repentance.

Jesus’ Dialogue with Nicodemus, Good News for the world witnessed by John

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Visit of Nicodemus to Christ

The Apostle John certainly records this dialogue with Nicodemus as a witness. John would have been present. His understanding at the time would not have been as complete as after the Resurrection, but John records a remarkable conversation.

This learned Jewish official refers to Jesus as his teacher – a Master instructing him.

And in the room with Jesus sit John, Nicodemus, and perhaps others seeking to learn more from their Messiah.

You should join them.

In this dialogue with Jesus, you should listen to Jesus’ answers to informed questions of this learned ruler of Israel, who acknowledges his own place at the foot of the living Son of Man.

And be certain to set aside what you think you know about Jesus and listen.

John 3:

Nicodemus: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God…

Jesus: “.. no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

Nicodemus: “How can a man be born when he is old? ..

Jesus: “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus: “How can these things be?

Jesus: “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

“Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen,

“and you receive not our witness.

Jesus confronts us with truth!

Do you receive it? Or do you need to hear more from the Spirit to be convinced?

Beloved listener, now witness to this dialogue with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews at the feet of Jesus for His teaching, what further proof do you need?

Jesus: “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

“No one has ascended into heaven…

except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.

So Jesus’ truth and question to the listener is:

Do you believe that Jesus IS the Son of Man, the Messiah of God, descended from heaven – in the flesh?

What will Jesus say to Nicodemus and the world of why He has descended lower than the angels to be born into the womb of a woman of dust?

Miracle of the Cross

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
Sign of a Raised Serpent

“We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. – Numbers 21:7

The LORD intercedes for sinners… repentant sinners.

“so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Nicodemus and every religious ruler of the Jews since Moses understand. Sin must be punished! A remedy for sin requires not only repentance, but sacrifice זֶבַח.

Silence in the Presence of the Lord

The leader of the Pharisees also remains silent in the presence of Jesus.

Perhaps one scripture or another of response to hearing God’s Word comes to mind for Nicodemus, such as these words of the Prophet Isaiah.
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Then I said:

Woe is me for I am ruined

because I am a man of unclean lips

and live among a people of unclean lips,

and because my eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of Armies.
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John 3:16

We have listened with expectation to Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus, wondering along with the Apostle John what the Messiah will reveal next. In these most beloved words Jesus reveals the reason for His own Sacrifice at a time still unknown to them.

“For God loved the world in this way:

or “God loves the world this much:

John’s Gospel would have been completed perhaps three decades after this conversation with Nicodemus. The world would be those to whom it is written at the time, a Greco-Roman world, believers in Greece, Asia-minor or modern-day Turkey. These gentile believers, along with Jews who accept Jesus as the Messiah, know that we are the world κόσμος kosmos to whom Jesus speaks.

Nicodemus and Jews wondering if John the Baptist or Jesus could be their Messiah would have considered Scripture as Jesus speaks these words.

וְהוּא יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק יָדִין לְאֻמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃
Psalm 9:8

And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

Judge of the World

You want someone to judge righteousness, don’t you?

Yet who can judge the sins of others? Certainly not christians, as we often do. This is just one of the reasons the world hates Christ, but it is not the only reason.

Who do you want to judge your own sin? Can you stand before the Judge of the world (whoever He may be)?

He gave his one and only Son,

Healing of the Serpent, Healing by the Cross

John Wesley makes the connection of the Serpent lifted up in the wilderness [v.15] and the healing for believers by gazing upon Christ.

He must be lifted up, that hereby he may purchase salvation for all believers: all those who look to him by faith recover spiritual health, even as all that looked at that serpent recovered bodily health.

Yea, and this was the very design of God’s love in sending him into the world.

God so loved the world – That is, all men under heaven: even those that despise his love, and will for that cause finally perish.
John Wesley

Eternal Life or Judgment?

… so that everyone who believes in him will not perish,but have eternal life.

Yes, all believers: Jews (Messianic Jews, as we know know them), Gentiles (the rest of the world), Greeks and Romans.

You do not want to think of eternal life, but only this waning existence we call life. It is in the flesh and all realize it will end. But eternal life? That would be something else to consider, especially if it could contain the just punishment of our considerable sin and unrighteousness.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

So Jesus was not sent to condemn the world. This the Lord confirms to Nicodemus and those of you listening intently to the Messiah. Jesus came to save the world through him. Substitution for a required sacrifice, justification required for acquittal from our deserved sentence for sin.

18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned,

Good News!

This is Good News to the Pharisee Nicodemus, who by his knowledge of Scripture believes in the resurrection.

And it is Good News to and who listen to the Messiah, the Son of God our Father in Heaven.

Yet Jesus adds something here christian-sounding false preachers reject. In fact, as much as we would like for this Good News to apply to all of our loved ones and friends, it does not.

… but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Sorry … your mom or your dad, your brother, sister or friend, your misleading ‘good’ religious teacher – all are condemned, if they do not substitute this God-sent Sacrifice, Christ Jesus, for their own sin.

19 This is the judgment:

And why? Why does a loving God accept some for eternal life, yet punish others for not accepting the Messiah Jesus as their Lord?

Darkness or Light?

The light has come into the world,

Jesus IS the Light of Almighty God!

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men,” John testifies.
John 1:4

… and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

It’s true. We would hide our sin in the shadows.

Yet in the Judgment hiding sin is not an option. In the Light of Christ, the Messiah of the Lord God, we have life eternal only because He paid this dear price and severe penalty for our sin.

Here we sit listening to Jesus, along with Nicodemus. Or here we now sit reading the truth of the Word.

To which mortal souls of the world will you run?

20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.

²¹But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

We must believe in Jesus to have eternal life.

Nicodemus, now in his later life, will leave the meeting in darkness to come to the light and practice the truth, true religion in his later life. John is the only Disciple who will not lose his life for his witness of Christ Jesus.

Shortly after this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, John the Baptist will be beheaded for his witness that Jesus is the promised Messiah of God.

The Invitation of John 3:16

And what of your witness and mine in these last days?

What has the Spirit put on your heart as you have listened with Nicodemus to the only begotten Son of God?

Jesus would love you!
o mortal of dust,
wonderfully formed
with water and spirit.

Yet will you love
the Son who came down,
born like you
to be crucified on a Cross?

Just to save
your sinful soul?
Just to save
your sinful soul.
Jesus So Loves the World
Jesus would love you!
Roger@talkofJesus.com
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God's Love Through John
to be continued...
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October 16, 2018