Thank You, and Please

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

If we truly want to know God and know about God, we look to Christ:

John 14:8–9 ESV

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

We see Jesus upholding the LAW of God:

Matthew 22:31–32 ESV

And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

He said this right before quoting Deuteronomy 6 about the greatest commandment

We see Jesus showing the mercy and love of God

John 8:10–11 ESV

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

He is Priest

Hebrews 9:11–12 ESV

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

The Justice of God demanded sacrifice, and we would demand no less in our imperfect courts today

Most all human societies in history have understood and/or sensed a need for sacrifices; grains and crops, animals, even human sacrifices

The idea of the necessity of blood for blood is primitive, barbaric, offensive to our modern sensibilities

Yet Christ willingly took our place, offering Himself

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Though His earthly life ended on Calvary, His ministry to us is ongoing

He is King

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Isaiah 6:1–3 ESV

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Matthew 27:27–31 ESV

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

If there were ever a single time that Jesus was in danger of being unseated from His throne, there would be no hope, no safety, no assurance, no reason for Christian faith.

Psalm 2:1 ESV

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalm 2:4–6 ESV

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

So, help me believe!

Mark 9:21–24 ESV

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

For those yet unbelieving, compel them to come and grant them saving faith. For those believing, yet help us believe! Keep us believing, and draw us into a deeper and closer walk of faith with Christ.

Thank you, God for the Church!

The Church is comprised of sinful people

Galatians 6:1–9 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Not even the early churches were protected from error, heresy, or sin

Numbers 25:9 ESV

Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Nor was the Assembly of Israel before them

Ephesians 5:27 ESV

so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

The preparation is ongoing now (sanctification / discipling) but the perfection is in the age to come

So, without excusing sin, we must recognize that perfection in the lives of believers is NOT promised in this life, and that for a church to be holy, her members must devote themselves to seeking holiness in their own lives and families.

That’s both an individual and a corporate exercise.

The Church is the Bride of Christ

I was once asked if it is sin or hatred toward God to hate the church...

There are 2 things you don’t mess with: someone’s kids or someone’s wife. When you oppose a church of Jesus, you are opposing the Children of God and the Bride of Christ simultaneously!

2 Corinthians 11:2 ESV

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Here we see the Lord expressing His heart for His Church in a way we can understand His emphasis and passion.

Ephesians 5:32 ESV

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

So, not only did God use a metaphor we could understand, he DESIGNED the marriage relationship IN ORDER to communicate his love and care for us.

Hosea 3:1–3 ESV

And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.”

It’s never been the case that God loved those who are worthy, but rather that God’s love was set upon us in order to redeem us. We are and the church is unlovable yet GOD LOVE!

The Church is God’s chosen means

There is no such thing as Christianity on our own terms.

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In the Old Testament, the community of faith was to be focused on tribal and national identities while welcoming outsiders in.

In the New Testament, the community of faith is the local church; a family of families living life together under the headship of Jesus Christ, encouraging, supporting, and discipling one another to the Glory of God

If we would take our commitment to the Bible’s instruction and the local church seriously, even Facebook would be a better experience. - what percentage of your feed is people ranting, criticizing, and being passive aggressive, thus inviting an exponentially increasing amounts of unfiltered drama?

Matthew 18:15–17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:21–22 ESV

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Ephesians 3:21 ESV

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you, God for my life!

It is good and right to give thanks to the one who has given us so much, so today we say: Thank you, God for Jesus. Thank you, God for Your Church. Thank you, God for the love and light in our lives.