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DAVID’S KINDNESS TO JONATHAN.  II Samuel 9:1-13.  4/25/2021.  #19.

II Samuel 9 [New King James Version]

¹ Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!” ³ Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.” ⁴ So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” ⁵ Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. ⁶ Now when Mephibosheth[b] the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” ⁷ So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.” ⁸ Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” ⁹ And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. ¹⁰ You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at [c]my table like one of the king’s sons.” ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. ¹³ So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

1. David’s complexities
   1. David could be very tender and forgiving one moment, but horrifyingly brutal in another moment
   1. David’s tenderness is seen here with his desire to honor his friend, Jonathan, through kindness to his son
      1. David spared Saul’s life twice
      1. David spared Nabol’s family for Abigail’s sake
      1. David showed kindness to the king of Moab for sheltering his family from Saul’s wrath
      1. David stopped Benaiah from beheading Shimei when Shimei cursed David at Absalom’s rebellion
   1. David could be callously brutal:
      1. He executes the Amalekite who brought him Saul’s crown and signet ring
      1. David executed the slayers of Ishbosheth
      1. David lines up captured men of Moab to execute
      1. David gives to the Gibeonites all 5 of his sister-in-law’s (Merab) sons for execution (the grandsons of Barzillai, sustainer of David’s army)
         1. I Kings 2 David instructs Solomon to be kind to Barzillai’s sons, but David has all five of his son, Adriel, executed
         1. There seems to be a disconnect in David’s reasoning (remember, Merab, was promised to David by Saul)
      1. David cruelly has his faithful servant Uriah killed after he violated his wife (then he acted as if he had done nothing wrong)
      1. On his deathbed David instructs Solomon to execute Joab and Shimei 
2. Mercy to Mephibosheth
   1. Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, was made lame when his nurse dropped him when he was five years old, while fleeing from the Philistines who had defeated Saul and Jonathan
   1. Now that David was securely on the throne, he wanted to honor his pledge to Jonathan by showing kindness to his family
   1. David calls Ziba, who had served Saul’s house, and asks him if there were any of Jonathan’s descendants left
      1. Ziba tells David of Mephibosheth
      1. David sends for Mephibosheth
   1. Mephibosheth is terrified, fearing execution
      1. David eases Mephibosheth’s fears and informs him that Mephibosheth shall sit at the king’s table for his father’s sake (heritage works in his favor here)
      1. David repays his debt
   1. David commands Ziba and his family to take care of Mephibosheth’s lands and family
3. Myopia in me
   1. Most of us have severe blind spots
      1. We are complex beings, impacted by sinful nature
      1. Most of us are a mixture of good intent and flawed personality that causes issues (selfishness, neglect, inconsistencies, moodiness, self-deception)
   1. David’s inconsistencies came from 3 areas:  (1) his own nature  (2) acquiring absolute power  (3) no check on his decisions (did not often consult with advisors)
   1. Awareness of our own flaws is key to avoiding missteps

Today we had a special speaker, Dave and Patty Mason from North Carolina, representing Missionaries to the Military. Please enjoy the reposting of the two services on the CSCC YouTube Channel. Please follow this link for today’s bulletin and Missions Update.

Luke 17:3-5 (New King James Version)

³ Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” ⁵ And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Isaiah 61:1-2 (New King James Version)

1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,

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THE COMPLETE WORK OF CHRIST.  Colossians 2:11-15.  4/11/2021.  #6.

Colossians 2:11-15 [New King James Version]

¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

1. A warped Judaism
   1. Even though Col. was mostly Gentile, it had a large
   1. Jewish population from about 200 BC (Antiochus the Great)
   1. An odd angel worship cult grew up in the city
      1. The angel Michael was given credit for saving the city from a great flood
      1. One of reasons Paul wrote this letter
   1. Along with worshipping the Archangel Michael, the city dragged in other elements of Judaism (circumcision, law keeping, feast days, and rituals)
   1. One of the concerns of Paul was that the Col. would bring into their Christian faith their old practices
   1. There is a tendency to hang onto old traditions when people come to faith
      1. Example: Roman Catholicism added many elements of local religions as they expanded
      1. Family traditions of Sabbath keeping, dress, music, taboos, and holy days often cloud faith
2. The ultimate circumcision
   1. Two dangers of keeping traditions: (1) often traditions are placed on the level of scripture  (2) hinders both truth and growth in a believer’s life
   1. Old Testament crossover
      1. What transfers over from Judaism to the church?
      1. Two extremes: nothing of OT applies to us today or everything of OT is still valid (Messianic Jews)
   1. What is not valid today from the OT:
      1. None of the ceremonies, rituals, feast days, etc.
      1. Neither Law signs: circumcision (Acts 15) nor Sabbath keeping (Ezekiel 20:11-12)
   1. What is valid today from the OT:
      1. Universal Law (marriage, civil law, human rights)
      1. Moral Law (sanctity of life, honesty, fidelity, justice, exclusive primacy of God, reverence…)
      1. I Corinthians 10:11 the lessons of the OT narratives 
   1. Paul tells the Col. that circumcision is no longer required
      1. Believers are spiritually circumcised through faith in the sacrifice of Christ
      1. Physical circumcision has no spiritual meaning
      1. Circumcision, Sabbath keeping, baptism, offerings, communion, feasts, etc. are all physical symbols of a spiritual reality accomplished in and through Christ entered into by faith
      1. Circumcision = not to be continued as a faith mandate
   1. Paul was concerned they would include it as a Christian practice necessity (GAL. 2:11-21)
3. Saved by Christ and not by symbols
   1. To make sure that Col. understood the difference between symbols and reality represented by symbols, he uses baptism
      1. When Christ died, we died to sin with him
      1. When Christ was buried we were buried into his baptism (as under the water = in the earth)
      1. When he was raised, we were raised with him (as coming out of the baptism water)
   1. The writ of charges against us have been wiped clean
      1. Our sins are nailed to the cross (gone!)
      1. The reality and not the symbol is 100% effective
   1. Jesus has defeated all spiritual powers against us and paraded them before the father in absolute triumph

Key Verse: Galatians 2:11-21

¹¹ Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? ¹⁵ We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, ¹⁶ knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

¹⁷ “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ¹⁹ For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

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DAVID’S CONQUESTS.  II Samuel 8:1-18.  4/11/2021. #18.

2 Samuel 8 [New King James Version]

¹ After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. ² Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute. ³ David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. ⁴ David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. ⁵ When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. ⁶ Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went. ⁷ And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. ⁹ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. ¹¹ King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— ¹² from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. ¹³ And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. ¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. ¹⁶ Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; ¹⁸ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

1. A view from the top
   1. The Lord was with David in all he did
      1. David’s success is because the Lord blessed him
      1. David could do nothing on his own
   1. The kingdom of Israel expands to its highest point under
   1. David (never again reaches this zenith)
   1. David conquers all the nations around him
      1. Philistines to the SW – took back all of the land which Saul had lost
      1. Moabites to east (had blocked Israel from entering the Promised Land; had enticed them with harlots)
      1. Zobah to north near Lebanon – conquered all the way to the Euphrates River
      1. Syrians to NE who came to help Zobah (in 2 encounters Israel killed 40,000 Syrians)
      1. Put Ammonites to east, Edom to SE, and Amalekites to SW to tribute and servanthood
2. Of blood and chains
   1. David made the Moabites lie down in 3 lines
      1. Those in 2 lines he had executed
      1. Those in one line he spared and put them to tribute and servitude
      1. There is no explanation why David executed some
   1. He took 1,000 chariots from Zobah
      1. Demonstrates God’s favor on David
      1. He hamstrings all the horses except for enough to pull 100 chariots (hamstringing or hocking a horse is to cut the sinews in the back of the rear legs so the horse cannot run or pull large loads)
   1. David put military garrisons throughout Syria
      1. Took golden shields and much bronze
      1. Put all these nations to tribute
   1. Toi of Hamath (northern Syria) sent gifts of gold and silver to David to thank him for defeating Syria his enemy
      1. David dedicated these gifts and other booty to the Lord (recognizes that this is God’s victory
      1. David is at his height of power and prestige
3. A mist on the horizon
   1. David sets up his administration – Joab as general of army, Zadok and Abiathar as priests, scribes, administrators over conquered people, and his sons as executives
   1. Several issues David did not consider:
      1. With all his enemies subdued, he no longer felt that he need to struggle or keep his guard up
      1. Success may breed thankfulness, but it also  breeds pride and self sufficiency
      1. Success tends to lead you to think that you are more skillful than you really are as if your plans, might, and abilities produced the victories
      1. In the midst of tranquility we tend to stop looking for areas of temptation to guard against
      1. A relaxed mind leads to laziness and carelessness
   1. After David’s great victories, which must have taken several years to accomplish, David does not seem to divert his  efforts to other worthwhile endeavors, such as improving the lot of his people, or expanding the nation’s knowledge of God and his ways
   1. It takes an even greater effort to maintain spiritual life than to obtain it to begin with

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FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.  Colossians 2:1-10.  04/04/2021. #5.

Colossians 2:1-10 [New King James Version]

¹ For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. ⁵ For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. ⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. ⁸ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

1. Paul yearns to see the Colossian believers
   1. Paul struggled with not being able to visit believers in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis in person
   1. Paul was concerned about grounding believers in faith
      1. They were knew Christians without instruction (remember = the NT had not yet been written)
      1. Epaphras had planted the church, but since he was also new to faith, could not fully ground them
   1. Since Colossae is a prison letter, Paul could not come
   1. Paul was with them in spirit and wrote to encourage them
   1. Paul and believers were knit together in a bond of love
2. Assurance of faith
   1. Paul’s main concern was that they would have assurance of their faith
      1. To be well grounded, secure, and able to defend it
      1. Not to be moved from their profession of belief
   1. Paul desired that they come to a full assurance of understanding (fully, unshakably persuaded of their faith)
      1. Not just a hope so belief (wishful desire)
      1. Belief based upon embracing solid evidence
   1. Paul wanted them to understand the knowledge of the
   1. mysteries of God (plan of salvation and our adoption)
   1. Being well grounded involves understanding Word
      1. Since they did not have the Word, Paul was beginning to instruct them in the Word
      1. Romans 10:17 the study of Word increases faith
      1. Luke 24:13-27 – all the Old Testament prophesies concerning Jesus’ Incarnation and atonement for sin had been fulfilled (study of evidence fortifies belief and commitment
   1. The need to continue to reinforce belief continually
3. Attacks on faith
   1. Paul’s greatest apprehension was that they would be persuaded away from belief because they were immature
   1. 3 areas of attack on faith:
      1. Deceptive persuasive words of worldly or cultish philosophy (sounds good and appealing)
         1. II Corinthians 11:14-15 Satan = a great deceiver
         1. More people believe a lie than the truth
      1. Traditions of men – long held cultural, religious, and philosophical beliefs (the weight of the collective “wisdom” of society) – Galileo dilemma
      1. Principles of this world – worldly wisdom that governs the behavior of men (hedonism, tyranny, greed, caste system, pragmatism, fate, atheism)
   1. Romans 3:4 God is true and every man is a liar (John 8:44)
4. Absolute assurance of faith
   1. Christ = the embodiment of all the mysteries and treasures of God (by his wisdom, works, ways, resurrection, Word, and by all measurements he proves his full deity)
   1. In his body dwells the FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD
      1. He is fully God in all aspects (substance and essence of being)
      1. John 14:1-6 to believe in Christ is to receive God
5. Walk in steadfastness of faith in Jesus Christ
   1. Build faith and good order in one’s life
   1. Rooted in faith (salvation, belief, works of faith, prayer)
   1. Built up in faith (Word, prayer, service, practice, walk)
   1. One’s life needs to reflect one’s faith (James 2)

Key Verse: Luke 24:13-27

¹³ Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And they talked together of all these things which had happened. ¹⁵ So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. ¹⁷ And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” ¹⁸ Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. ²² Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. ²³ When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. ²⁴ And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” ²⁵ Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

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BEYOND THE RESURRECTION.  EASTER 2021. 4/4/2021. Hebrews 1:1-4.

Hebrews 1:1-4 [New King James Version]

¹ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

1. Christ, our redeemer, and intercessor
   1. The Scriptures assign seven distinct tasks to Jesus:
      1. John 1 Jesus is the creator of all things
      1. Colossians 1 Jesus is the sustainer of the universe
      1. Romans 5:8 Jesus is the redeemer of mankind
      1. Colossians 1 Jesus is the chief born of the resurrection (Dan. 12 we are raised because he is risen)
      1. I Timothy 2:5 He makes intercession on behalf of believers, who are accused by Satan day and night (Revelation 12:10)
      1. I Thessalonians 4:11-18 He raptures the saints and they reign with him for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-10)
      1. Matthew 28:18 he judges the works of the saints (I Corinthians 3:12-15) and the lives of unbelievers, who he casts into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20)
   1. Jesus had to go through the crucifixion, burial,  resurrection, ascension, and heavenly offering (Hebrews 9:11-12) before he could assume his high priestly role
2. Jesus as High Priest
   1. Paul mentions the resurrection more times (25) than
   1. he does the crucifixion
      1. The crucifixion = key point of history
   1. The Resurrection = the proof that full and absolute atonement had been accomplished Luke 24; Matthew 28 the evidence of prophecy and the testimony of eye witnesses gives assurance of faith
   1. What of sins committed after conversion?
      1. As High Priest at the right hand of the Father, Jesus continues to make intercession for us
      1. Justification thwarts Satan’s accusations
   1. The crucifixion paid for our sins
      1. The resurrection declared that the sin payment was accepted by God the Father
      1. High Priest intercession on our behalf effectively thwarts all attempts to by Satan to reverse our justification or status as joint heirs to Kingdom of God
   1. The crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled Christ’s redemptive role in time, so that Christ could enter his High Priestly role on our behalf to the end of time (the 1st makes us saved; the 2nd makes us secure)
      1. Ephesians 1 the Spirit seals us
      1. Hebrews 7:25 Jesus defends us (Hebrews 4:14-16)
3. An inheritance guaranteed
   1. Jesus obtained us as an inheritance so we can inherit all things with him (Romans 8:17)
   1. Jesus’ perfect divinity qualified him to be the perfect sacrifice, redeemer, and High Priest for the last time
   1. Psalm 110:4 He is the final priest after Melchizedek (from incarnation, to atoner, to intercessor, to inheritance)

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PEACE THROUGH BLOOD.  Colossians 3:19-23.  3/28/2021. #4.

Colossians 3:19-23 [New King James Version]

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

1. Fullness to fulfillment
   1. God was pleased that all fullness dwelt in Christ
      1. He is fully God by nature (not given by Father)
      1. In the Incarnation he has all authority, power, and judgment (Mt. 28:18 given by the Father)
      1. All fullness dwells (permanently lives) in him
   1. He not only had qualification to pay for sins, but he had
   1. the authority to do so
   1. He has reconciled all things to himself
      1. On earth
         1. Romans 5:8 salvation for the faithful
         1. Revelation 20:11-15 the faithless are cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity
      1. In heaven – Matthew 25:41 Satan and the demons are cast into the Lake of Fire forever
   1. Believers are reconciled via the blood of His cross
      1. Hebrews 10:1-10 the blood of offered animals could not remove the guilt of sin
      1. Romans 5:12 the blood of Christ was the perfect effective sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:22)
2. From enemies to enlightenment
   1. Our position before coming to the Lord was that of an enemy of God, total strangers (aliens) to God
   1. Our minds were full of wickedness which translated into wicked words (lying, pride, thievery, immorality, hate…)
      1. Universal depravity from conception
      1. Sin in a matter of degrees is still sin (Jm. 2:10)
   1. He has reconciled (made peace with God)
      1. By giving his body in death for us
      1. Present to God blameless (above reproach)
   1. We are justified before God
      1. Declared to be righteous, holy, blameless, and above reproach before God
      1. Jesus’s blood applied to our account applies Christ’s righteousness to us and we appear before God as if we had never sinned
3. From faith to maturity
   1. “If” you indeed continue in faith…
      1. Could be either “on the condition” you continue in faith (contingent upon not backing away)
      1. Could be “since” you continue in faith
   1. Those who grow in Christ make manifest that they are
   1. true believers (Jam. 2 faith is demonstrated by deeds)
   1. Those who do not grow in faith demonstrate that they are
   1. unsaved (Matthew 7:21-23), immature (Heb. 5), or carnal (I Corinthians 3)
   1. Faith is manifested by growth
      1. Grounded – firm in Word, doctrine, belief, practice, and testimony
      1. Steadfast – does not waver in faith (Jm. 1:8)
      1. Unshakeable – no amount of persuasion, doubts, pressure, or threats can move you from Gospel
   1. You believe the Gospel that was preached throughout the
   1. world, of which Paul is a minister
   1. The Colossians needed to understand the scope of faith
      1. They were wicked without hope
      1. They were reconciled by the blood of Christ
      1. They were moved from darkness to light
      1. They are to grow in the knowledge and obedience of Christ, demonstrating their faith in him

Key verse:

Hebrews 10:1-10

¹ For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. ⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.

⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. ⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

In the volume of the book it is written of Me — To do Your will, O God.’ ” ⁸ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), ⁹ then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ¹⁰ By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

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HUMBLE BEFORE THE LORD.  II Samuel 7:18-29.  3/28/2021.  #17.

2 Samuel 7:18-29 [New King James Version]

¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God? ²⁰ Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant. ²¹ For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. ²² Therefore You are great, [a]O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. ²³ And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? ²⁴ For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God. ²⁵ “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said. ²⁶ So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You. ²⁷ For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. ²⁸ “And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. ²⁹ Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

1. Reflection
   1. After David’s enemies had been defeated and David’s throne was well established, he has time to reflect on his lot
   1. David had tried to thank God by building him a temple, but God rejected the idea since David was a man of war
   1. David asks the obvious questions:
      1. “Who am I that you have made me king?”
         1. David was a shepherd and poor
         1. His family was insignificant in Israel
         1. He had no pedigree or deeds of note
      1. Many of God’s chosen vessel asked the same question: Gideon, Samson’s mother, Saul, Mary, Elizabeth, Paul…
   1. 1 Cor. 1 God rarely chooses the mighty, powerful, rich, talented, or acclaimed to do his will
      1. Most of God’s servants are quite ordinary on the human scale
      1. Abraham was a shepherd of Ur, Amos was a  sheep breeder in Tekoa, Peter and John were  fishermen, and Mary was a peasant girl
   1. The blessing and anointing of an individual comes via God’s choice and not our merit
   1. Those men seeking greatness falter (Absalom, Haman)
   1. David points out the wonder of God’s sovereignty:
      1. It is a small matter that God could take a poor shepherd boy and make him king
      1. This is not the way of man who looks for greatness in strength, heritage, and persuasion
      1. David could find no reason that God would choose him for greatness
      1. God chose David despite God knowing him and all his flaws and shortcomings 
      1. David ascribes greatness to God in all he does
   1. God’s greatness is not only in his deeds
      1. God has revealed himself and his plans to David
      1. There is none like God who decrees wonders
2. An awesome promise
   1. David is overawed by 2 great realities:
      1. God has chosen Israel from among all the nations to be God’s special people, set aside for Him forever (no merit on Israel’s part for this honor)
      1. David’s line will forever sit on the throne
         1. Saul’s line was rejected
         1. No future king from David’s line will be rejected, ending the line of succession
   1. David’s line continues through Jesus (both Mary and Joseph
   1. were of the royal line, though they were common villagers)
   1. David expresses both wonder and thanksgiving
      1. All of God’s grace to us, from birth to rebirth to ministry before God are to God’s credit alone
      1. Humble acknowledgement short circuits pride
   1. We need to often reflect on his grace to us
3. Affirmation
   1. David requests that God carry out his plan to bless David’s line forever (David adds an amen to declaration)
   1. We should enthusiastically affirm God’s will in our lives no matter what that will may be
   1. By David taking time to reflect on God’s grace and praise  him for it, he gives glory to God and submits to his will

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CHRIST-CREATOR, SUSTAINER; REDEEMER.  Colossians 1:13-18.  3/21/2021.  #03.

Colossians 1:13-18 [New King James Version]

¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

1. Christ, the redeemer
   1. This is the most comprehensive summary of who Jesus
   1. Christ is in the Bible
   1. The description begins by describing Jesus as the savior
      1. He has delivered us from darkness (evil, sin, spiritual ignorance)
      1. He delivered us from the power (authority) of darkness (control of Satan and sin, eternal death)
   1. Christ has removed us from the power of Satan and transferred (moved, transported) us in the Kingdom of Christ
      1. We were citizens of the fallen world and he has made us citizens of heaven
      1. John 3:13-21 the love of God manifested in and via God’s Son produces a new birth that proffers forgiveness of sin via his blood, redeeming us
2. Christ, manifestation of God
   1. Jesus is qualified to be the sin-bearer because is in the
   1. exact image (essence, exact likeness, precise substance)
   1. of the invisible God (he is all that God the Father is)
   1. John 14:9 whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father
   1. Firstborn of all creation
      1. This does not mean first in time or order (Adam)
      1. Chief born (highest of all creation)
      1. Doesn’t mean that Jesus was created (eternal)
      1. Hebrews 10 the God-man created within Mary has the the greatest and pinnacle of all creation (it is that which was created on which all things depend)
      1. I Corinthians 15 he has been given rule over all creation
3. Christ, the creator
   1. Not only is he the chief-born of creation, but also the creator of all things
   1. John 1 nothing was created that he did not create
      1. All things in heaven: archangels, angels, cherubim, seraphim (even fallen angels – Isaiah 14)
      1. Hebrews 6:11-12 all principalities = created by him
      1. Not only were things created through him, but also for him (I Timothy 6:13-15)
         1. Matthew 28:18 all authority is given to Jesus
         1. 1 Corinthians 15:28 after all of Christ’s enemies are made his footstool, he gifts all back to the Father so he will be all in all
   1. Not only is Jesus the creator, he is also the sustainer
      1. The universe would dissolve into nothing if Jesus did not sustain it (II Peter 3:10-11)
      1. Jesus help the nails and cross together
      1. Jesus is the power behind creation in origins and continued existence (behind quantum reality)
4. Christ, the head of the church
   1. Hebrews 12:2 all of creation, the Incarnation, the atonement,
   1. and resurrection were so he could bring many previously
   1. fallen people to glory (Hebrews 2:10)
   1. b. Revelation 22 the redemption of fallen man is such a key focal
   1. point that believers are the only part of creation left after
   1. the present heaven and earth are destroyed
   1. Along with the elect angels, believers enter into the New
   1. Heaven and earth, but only believers are joint heirs with
   1. Christ to the throne of God
   1. Jesus as Chief born of the dead (resurrection) has all
   1. preeminence over all things (all glory and worship)

Key verse:  John 3:13-21

¹³ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

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A VERY GOOD BAD IDEA.  II Samuel 7:1-17.  3/21/2021.  #16.

II Samuel 7:1-17 [New King James Version]

¹ Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, ² that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” ³ Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” ⁴ But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, ⁵ “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? ⁶ For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. ⁷ Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?” ⁸ Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. ⁹ And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. ¹⁰ Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, ¹¹ since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house. ¹² “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ¹⁵ But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ¹⁷ According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

1. A kingdom at rest
   1. God had given David rest from all his enemies
      1. Saul had been deposed
      1. David had soundly defeated the Philistines twice
      1. The surrounding nations were at peace with David
   1. God had blessed David materially and socially
      1. David lived in a palace of cedar
      1. David had numerous wives, concubines, servants, soldiers, and material possessions
      1. David, who was hunted, now was popular
      1. David was at peace
2. A grand idea
   1. David decides that since God had done so much for him,
   1. that he was going to do something for God
   1. David had just brought the Arc of the Covenant back to the
   1. Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle after a century’s absence
   1. The tabernacle had moved from place to place with Israel
   1. for over 4 centuries.
      1. There were specific procedures connected with moving the tabernacle
      1. David thought that it needed a permanent home
   1. David imagined a temple of stone and cedar, like his palace
      1. This would be David’s ultimate gift to God and the crowning achievement of his reign
      1. David probably had a design in mind and the temple would be permanently near his palace
   1. David consults the prophet Nathan as to his plans
      1. Nathan uses the logic that since God had blessed David, God would be pleased with a temple by him
      1. Neither David not Nathan asks God’s will on the idea of building a temple
   1. Many “great” ideas are not God’s ideas
      1. Joshua attacking Ai, Joshua making a covenant with Gibeon, Paul going to Jerusalem, Paul being released from his thorn, Abram fleeing to Egypt to escape the drought, Jehoshaphat allying with Ahab, Hezekiah showing the Bab. his wealth
      1. If God does not approve, a good idea is bad
3. A grand idea rejected
   1. God comes to Nathan at night and tells him to return to
   1. David to tell him that he could not build a temple
   1. God lists several reason why David was not to build it
      1. God had dwelled in the tabernacle for 450 years
      1. God had never asked for a permanent home
      1. I Chronicles 28:3 David has a bloody man of war
   1. God would have David’s son build the temple
      1. David’s line would be established on throne
      1. I Chronicles 17:11-14 the Davidic Covenant establishes David’s line forever on the throne, leading to the Messiah (Matthew 21:9)
   1. David’s desire to build the temple was not for him to do
      1. God chooses who is to do what task (Rm. 12:4-6)
      1. John 21 Peter was not to know what John was to do
      1. Each person fits where God chooses, not us (to choose our own well intentioned will is to fail)
   1. A prophet or apostle speaks infallibly only when God
   1. moves him to speak (Nathan and temple, Paul in 1 Corinthians 7)