Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: righteousness

Friends, Romans, Brothers: Lend me your ears
An angel of the Lord summoned Jews from Joppa and Romans from Caesarea to hear Peter preach the Gospel for all.

Acts 10: of Peter and the Romans in Caesarea
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In case you missed it, Peter's Roman Centurion host has just bowed down to him when the Apostle approached the group of believers at his own home.
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Caesar’s Palace East welcomes PETRUS

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.

An angel brought Peter and a group of faithful Jews from Joppa at the invitation of their Roman occupiers. (What an odd scenario, it would seem.)

The Roman Legion of the Italian Cohort, a highly regarded army of Caesar, has invited not only Peter to his home, but also many friends and family. This scene might look somewhat like a large home church and our host, Cornelius, recounts for all as witness what has recently taken place:

So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”

Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothing, and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. Therefore send some men to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
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How else would a Roman Legion know where to find a Jew from Galilee traveling in Judea?
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33 So I sent men to you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come.

Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Let’s just set this amazing scene in context: A Roman leader of men who God has drawn to the salvation that comes from the Jews invited Simon Peter to preach! WE ARE ALL HERE PRESENT BEFORE GOD… It’s an expression of worship. Tell us what the Lord has commanded you.

Peter’s previous witness of Roman faith

Gospel of Luke 7:

[Jesus in Capernaum] Now a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save the life of his slave..

..when He was not yet far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof; for that reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You; but just say the word, and my servant shall be healed.

Simon Peter, a fisherman of Capernaum, certainly would have been with the Lord Jesus. And the humility of this centurion mirrors the faithful believer, Cornelius, who now bows down to Peter and then invites him to preach.
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Do YOU, my fellow 21st century believer, have trouble with Authority such as this? Listen to this and the Lord's response.
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“For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
Gospel of Luke 7:8 NASB20

Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him,
“I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
Gospel of Luke 7:9 – the Messiah Jesus to Jews on the faith of these romans

THE GOD of Every Nation

Acts 10: of Peter preaching to the Romans at Caesarea

³⁴Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.
Acts 10:34-35 – Proclamation of Peter of the Gospel for Gentiles

Two Acceptable Conditions to God

Peter now speaks to ‘every nation’ – ethnos – not just Romans (who now rule the land). AND now certainly (according to Peter), not exclusively Jews.

Jesus also uses this word frequently, sometimes translated, ‘gentiles,’ a very hebrew concept of unclean men separated from those circumcised by blood as holy to the Lord God.
- the man who FEARS HIM [God]
  - φοβέω – phobeō
    Do YOU FEAR GOD, my fellow follower of Christ Jesus?
[Cornelius, a centurion was] a devout man and one who feared^G5399 God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.
Acts of the Apostles 10:2 NASB20
- and does what is right..
  - ἐργάζομαι – ergazomai
  - δικαιοσύνη – dikaiosynē
    “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness G1343, for they will be satisfied.
    δικαιοσύνη dikaiosýnē, dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay; from G1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:—righteousness.
θεός

Peter uses a universal word from the greek for God: θεός – theos
- God: θεός – theos is written over 1300 times in the NEW Testament
- All of the Gospel writers use ‘God’ to describe the Lord God to gentiles
  - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God^G2316 – Mark 1:1
- JESUS uses God: θεός – theos many many times.
  - “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God^G2316 remains on him.” – John 3:36
- ACTS of the Apostles speaks of God: θεός more than any book of the Bible θεός – theh’-os 168x
  - “It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses. – Acts 2:32 – Peter
- The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) use several words for ‘God,’ this similar to ēl – אֵל
A Gospel History for Roman Brothers and Sisters

36 The word [logos] which He sent [apostellō] to the sons of Israel [Ἰσραήλ “he shall be a prince of God”], preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord [κύριος – From kuros (supremacy)]of all)—
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Peter points out first to these Jewish proselytes that GOD anointed Jesus as Lord of all. 
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you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
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The Apostle Simon Peter then confirms what many have already seen and heard in Jerusalem over these past months.
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“We are witnesses of all the things that He did both in the countryside of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.
Acts of the Apostles 10:39 NASB20

“God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He [become visible] be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

“And He ordered us to [proclaim] preach to the people, and to testify solemnly that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 10:42 NASB20 of the Apostle Peter
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Again, Peter preaches to these Romans who are jewish proselytes with some understanding of Scripture. 
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“All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 10:43 NASB20

Romans – (gentiles) BAPTIZED! (another sign)

Atti 10:44-48 Il battesimo dei primi pagani (The baptism of the first pagans)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.
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Sound familiar? 
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Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled

—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” – Acts 2:11b

Leadership: Responding to the Spirit of God

Then Peter responded,

47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”

48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

What a few days it must have been in Caesarea.. as Peter led these first Romans from baptism to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ the risen Lord!
April 27, 2022
The Politics of Religion – Righteousness on Trial
Jesus brought bound to Caiaphas for trial at night

The Malignant Leaven of Religious Politics

The religious rulers of the Temple discussed ad nauseam different approaches to God-justified righteousness for preservation of their personal political influence in Judaea, imperial procuratorial province of Rome.

We have slowed down our examination of the Gospel of John like politicians seeking convicting evidence against an opponent. Let’s dig for the dirt sought by Jerusalem’s powerful religious rulers who now will bring Israel’s Messiah to ‘justice‘ in the middle of the night.

We could easily focus on the caustic political potions bubbling in the dark corridors of power in this incendiary election year. I may even offer opinion of parallels to Jesus’ trial later as application to the darkness of these days to come.
Pontius Pilate

Joseph Caiaphas, High Priest
But for now, our focus continues on the political players who tried and convicted the Son of Man in a first century Jerusalem where leaders of government and religion lay together as strange bedfellows.

John 18:
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As we detailed in previous posts:

In a few hours of just one night 
Jesus' betrayal has thus far progressed like this:

(follow links below for previous events)
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3 So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

No one is more deserving of blame than the betrayer who claims Christ, but then betrays his Lord for money or unmerited influence. Judas is a mere pawn of the powerful.

the son of perdition vs. The Son of Man

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Defending GOD!

Judas had led them into Gethsemane under the cover of night. The Roman soldiers from the local cohort of Jerusalem accompanied servants of the Temple, police who were led by Malchus.

Peter cuts off his ear! But that’s the end of the violence as Jesus heals the officer’s ear and the Temple police bound Him without resistance for trial.

12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him…

Annas

Now we begin to meet the religious officials behind this dark plot to eliminate their opposition away from the hopeful multitudes who had welcomed their Messiah Jesus into Jerusalem just four days ago.

13 First they led him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
- Why to the father-in-law Annas, we wonder?
- Perhaps a prearranged plan of deniability of involvement, a faux-impartiality of the High Court judge?
Who is this political player among the religious elite of Jerusalem?

Annas, an Elder among Elders, has some history of influence in Jerusalem. John and the Apostles may not have known the Temple’s political scene, but certainly every important official of the Temple must have known and respected Annas.

Ἄννας Ánnas – a high priest of the Jews, elevated to the pontificate by Quirinius the governor of Syria circa A. D. 6 or 7; but afterwards, A. D. 15, deposed by Valerius Gratus, the procurator of Judæa, who put in his place, first Ismael, son of Phabi, and shortly after Eleazar, son of Annas. From the latter, the office passed to Simon; from Simon circa A. D. 18 to Caiaphas (Josephus, Antiquities 18, 2, 1f); but Annas, even after he had been put out of office, continued to have great influence:
STRONGS NT 452: Ἄννας – courtesy BlueLetterBible.org

The Messiah Jesus is first bound up in Gethsemane and led to Annas, who then orders (perhaps by previous arrangement) the entourage holding Jesus to Caiaphas and then across town to Pilate.

.. although Annas had been deposed by the Roman procurator, the Jews may still have regarded him as legally the high priest.
More about Annas – source: BlueletterBible.org
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September 21, 2020
The Beginning of the End – A Burden of the Prophets – 2
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Previously - Part 1
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The Hope of a Savior King

Jeremiah 23:

5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

יְהֹוָה צִדְקֵנוּ Yĕhovah tsidqenuw

Matthew 1:

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

The Messiah Prophets Predicted

His Name IS Jesus, the Christ and Messiah. Only a remnant of faithful would come to the Messiah and recognize this King of righteousness. Many are called; few are chosen. He came to his own, yet they received him not.

In the seventh and sixth century before Christ idolatry would replace worship of the Lord. The Temple would fall, though prophets warned the people of the error of their ways.

Are we so much less idolatrous?

Do more than a few, a mere remnant, even now remain faithful to God?

In addition to holding out the hope of a Messiah to come, Jeremiah warns against evil leaders and false prophets:

Jeremiah 23:

Their course is evil,
and their might is not right.

11 “Both prophet and priest are ungodly;
even in my house I have found their evil,
declares the Lord.

Lies of evil leaders and false Prophets
- Do shepherds of these last days seem ungodly? Do false prophets since Christ yet stir hatred into the evil hearts of violent men?
- Will any nation, shepherd, priest or prophet endure the wrath of the LORD when judged apart from the holy, sinless and risen Savior of lost sheep?
Jeremiah 23:16

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.

17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord,

‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

21 “I did not send the prophets,
yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.

23 “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’

Power Prevails against False Prophets and Evil Shepherds

Yes, men seeking power will claim gods or prophets of their own desires. Idolatry against the Living God!

Men seeking power will always deny the Lord.

Evil men will always lead others toward their own destruction, rejecting the Lord who forgives through Christ’s sacrifice. They do not bow down to to God’s own love for those He made in His own Image, but rather wallow in their own inevitable hopelessness. Vain hopes.

God only will judge!

He will lead. And to those called to His love, the Lord will redeem them in love with great grace through His own sacrifice.

True Prophets such as Jeremiah and true kings such as David have spoken the word of the Lord.

They have pointed to the truth of the Messiah, truth for those ‘with ears to hear‘ of His great love and mercy.

To be continued…

Next: Amos
December 10, 2017