Review: "Super Immunity"

Joel Fuhrman, M.D.’s latest book, Super Immunity, caught my eye since I have an auto-immune disease.

Fuhrman writes for the patient who wants to be involved in his treatment.  The language is not overly technical, though he does use accurate terminology and chemical names which the patient may have need to discuss with his doctor.

This “manual” is comprehensive:  in the first two chapters, he looks at the typical American diet and shows how we are compromising our immune systems by what we eat and how we live.  He argues the evidence for health supports a largely vegan (no animal product) diet.

The third chapter looks at the positive influence of plant foods on the immune system – and the whole body.

In the fourth he looks at colds and the flu, mythology and scientific fact, making recommendations for avoiding and getting through sickness.  One thing I did not know about that I will bring up with my doctor is resveratrol.

In the fifth chapter he addresses the myths and facts about carbs, fats, and protein.

The sixth chapter addresses exercise, salt, soy, and other “head-line” issues regarding health.  In this chapter, I read about EPA and DHEA, which I will also be bringing up with my doctor.

The final chapter is a two-week recipe and meal plan for super immunity.

The book includes an extensive glossary.

I found this an excellent and persuasive book which I would recommend discussing with one’s doctor.

"The Glory of the Lord Has Risen" Sermon: Isaiah 60:1-9

“The Glory of the Lord Has Risen”

[Isaiah 60:1-9]
     

January 1, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            Today we are celebrating Epiphany.  What is Epiphany?  An epiphany is a sudden understanding or enlightenment.  When we talk about the Epiphany in Church History, we are most specifically looking at the recognizing of Jesus as God and Savior by the Magi.  The Magi were a group of Persian astrologers who had matched up certain prophecies about the King of Israel with the star that rested above the house that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were staying in.

            We read in the Gospel of Matthew:  “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:  “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;   for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”’  Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:1-12, ESV).

            What we have in this morning’s text is the epiphany of God’s Salvation for His people – both from captivity in Assyria and from sin:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”

Our text begins with God commanding Israel to rise from her spiritual death to spiritual life and to open her blind eyes and shine the light that God has given her – things she was unable to do.  Paul wrote, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:1-3, ESV).

We are all born unable to do anything good spiritually, because we are born sinners.  We all inherit a sin nature from our father, Adam.  We are not born spiritually sick – Paul tells us we are born dead.  God’s people in Israel were also born dead.

Yet, God commanded Israel, who was incapable of rising from the dead and making herself sighted – God commanded her to rise and to see.  We see in this that God is just in requiring what we cannot do; God is just in commanding us to do what we cannot do – when the reason we cannot is our sin.

Still, Isaiah gives Israel hope as she understands her predicament – he speaks as though their salvation has already been accomplished, as he tells them, “the glory of the Lord has risen.”

The epiphany for Israel is that God was not only her judge, but He had also chosen to be her Savior.  God not only punished her for her sin, but in His time, He made salvation for her – first through her return to Israel, and then through the Promised Savior.

“For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you and his glory will be seen upon you.”

Israel was in captivity – and the whole world with her was encased in the darkness of sin.  There was nothing they could do to make their condition better, but God chose to arise – to break forth His Glory – and to let it be seen through His people.

Here we have the epiphany of salvation:  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10, ESV).

God’s choice was to save His people and He brought them – and still brings them – up out of the darkness and back to new life, risen out of the thick darkness, and revealed into the light.

Each one this morning who believes in Jesus Alone for salvation has been brought back to life and has had eyes opened.  God has brought you here to worship Him, and as we receive the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, God opens our eyes so we see beyond the crass elements of bread and cup:  We understand that God come down in the Person of Jesus broke His Flesh and shed His Blood for the salvation of everyone who would believe.  We understand that Jesus is with us, even now – not that the bread and cup turn into real flesh and blood – but that Jesus spiritually ministers to us, giving us grace to be able to do all those things He has planned for us.  And we understand that Jesus will return in His same physical body to complete the coming of His Kingdom. 

Understanding the Lord’s Supper is just one way in which the Glory of the Lord has risen in each one who believes.  God has done it for us and for those in the day of Isaiah, and for all those who believe until the end of the age.

“And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

Notice, the Risen Glory of the Lord among His people not only draw them to Him, but all nations – even the Gentiles – the non-Jews – people of every rank – from captives to kings, are drawn to God’s Light.  As we have noted before, God told Abraham, “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:18, ESV).

God confirms that the nations will be drawn to the Light of the Glory of God in the Kingdom – as God enables them to follow Him and believe: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life” (Revelation 21:23-27, ESV).

“Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.”

Despite Israel being in captivity – despite the fact the Judah was also to fall and be taken into captivity, God declares it as a fact, as though it has already happened – that all the true believers in God have been brought together from the ends of the earth – God has gathered His people to Himself.  God’s harvest is so certain; He speaks of it in the past tense.

“Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.”

For the Jews of Isaiah’s day, this was a prophecy that non-Jews would help rebuild the Kingdom of Israel – which we know they did.  We can read about it in Ezra and Nehemiah and Haggai and Zechariah – the nations of the world brought their goods and abilities and used them to rebuild Israel to the Glory of God.

It also means that the riches of Creation will be turned over to the Kingdom and all those in it.  This does not simply mean that anyone who believes savingly in Jesus will be wealthy.  What God is saying is that all those who believe will come into the Kingdom wholeheartedly and give of themselves wholeheartedly – whether that is of money or something else.  Those who believe from Adam until the return of Christ ought to be – and will be (notice the change of tense from past to future) – giving everything – the best – the heart and soul of who they are and how they have been blessed by God, back to God.

Remember what the summery of the Law is “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30, ESV).  We are called to love God with everything we are and have.  And the day will come – and is coming – when all the nations of the world – people from all the nations of the world – will come into the Kingdom of God – giving everything they are for the sake of God and His Kingdom.

When we all come in like that – when we see the Glory of the Lord rising in the giving of gifts and talents and blessings for the sake of the Kingdom and for sending the Gospel out to make sure every person knows, we will rejoice – all those who believe savingly in Jesus will rejoice to see others serving Him and working for the good of the Kingdom and the Glory of God.

Isaiah turns and sees:  “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.  They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.”

Here Isaiah sees all the peoples of the near Eastern nations – Midian and Ephah – probably Jordan, and Sheba – probably Ethiopia and/or Eritrea, bringing the produce of the land to be given to God and for use in the Kingdom.  (Although the magi did bring gold and frankincense, this is a not a specific prophecy about them, though they would be included in this prophecy.)

  “All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house.”

The people of Kedar – Iraq, and the people of Nebaioth – Saudi Arabia – they also will bring the produce of the land to be giving to God and for use in the Kingdom.  Here we see the Arab nations – the descendants of Ishmael, turning to the God and Savior of Israel, believing in Jesus Alone for Salvation, joining together as one people of God, with all of their resources being used for God’s Glory.

It would have been strange to the ears of Israel in captivity that the nations around their eastern side would come to believe and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  It may sound strange to our ears to hear the promise that people brought up in the nations of Islam would convert to Christianity, but God has chosen a people for Himself, and they will come.  And when as this people comes, they will come whole-heartedly, giving all of themselves to God and the Kingdom.

“Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?  For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful.”

Yet, it is not just from Israel and the nations to her East that God has called His people.  Isaiah turns and looks to the West, and he sees a vision of flying beings, like a cloud – thick with beings there are so many of them flying in from Tarshish – first – from Cilicia – the island nation to the West of Israel – but then from the far West – even from Irvington, NJ.

The Glory of God has risen such that the peoples from the Western world will also come and give everything and all of themselves for God and the Savior – for the Kingdom and the beauty that God has arisen.

So what do we see?

God calls all people to repentance and faith, but that is impossible.  God must intervene and give us life and faith.  Therefore all glory of salvation is God’s.

God promised Israel through Isaiah that God was going to raise up his Glory – and it was such a certainty, God spoke in the past tense, telling them that the Glory of the Lord had risen.

What God meant by this was that God would prove Himself righteous by bringing back a people for Himself out of captivity, and that He would save a people for Himself from the Wrath of God.

God also promised that the people who He had chosen and was bringing to faith in Him, who would follow after His Glory would not only be from Israel, but from the non-Jews, from the Arab nations to the East, and from the nations to the West.

All those who believe savingly in God’s Savior and follow His Glory will seek to give all of themselves and all that they have for the Glory of God and for the full bringing in of His Kingdom.

Last night, some one million people watched the ball drop in Times Square, and some one billion watched it on TV.  From Creation until the end of the age is building “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9b-10, ESV).

Last night, some one million people left mountains of garbage to be cleaned up.  From Creation until the end of the age, men and women from all over the world come to faith in God the Savior, Jesus, and given everything they have to Glorify and serve Him, because the Glory of God has risen and made them His (cf. Revelation 4:10).

Have you seen the Glory of God risen?  Have you followed it and given everything you are and have to God and His Work?

Let us continue to meet with our God and Savior in prayer and in the sacrament asking that He would make us faithful and sacrificial that the light of His Glory would been seen in us and draw many people to Him.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You that You chose to rescue a remnant out of captivity, showing Yourself to be righteous.  We thank You for choosing a people for yourself from the beginning of history until the full indwelling of Your Kingdom and for choosing people from every people.  We thank You for showing us that You are worthy of all glory.  We ask that we would give of ourselves everything to You – that we would seek Your Kingdom first, believing You that all these things shall be added afterwards (cf. Matthew 6:33).  Meet with us in the Sacrament and give us strength and wisdom and desire to follow after You faithfully in every way that Jesus Christ would be praised.  For it is in His Name we pray, Amen.

January Sermons

D.V., January's Sermons:

1/1/12 Communion/Epiphany

  Isaiah 60:1-6 “The Glory of the Lord Has Risen”
 

1/8/12 Baptism

 Mark 1:4-11 “Two Baptisms”
 

1/15/12

 Hebrews 1:3 “Jesus is God”

1/22/12

  Hebrews 1:4-6 “Greater Than Angels:  Jesus the Son”

1/29/12

 Hebrews 1:6-9 “Greater Than Angels:  Jesus the King”

Creation Study

With so many people away, we will not meet this Thursday for the Creation study.  We plan (D.V.) to continue our study on TUESDAY, January 3rd, and continue on Tuesday's to accommodate school schedules.  Please join us then!

Reformed Wisdom

"Do not go where it is all fine music and grand talk and beautiful architecture; these things will neither fill anybody's stomach, nor feed his soul.  Go where the gospel is preached, the gospel feeds your soul, and go often."  -- Charles Spurgeon, as quoted in "Why Church Matters" (78).

Review: "Why Church Matters"

Let me get this off my chest right away:  if publishers are going to re-release a book under a new name, they should be very upfront about it.  I was some ways along in Why the Church Matters:  Discovering Your Place in the Family of God by Joshua Harris when I noticed some microscopic print on the bottom of the front cover which reads:  “Previously released as Stop Dating the Church.”  If you bought the book under the original title and then bought this “new” book based on your wanting to read something new from the author, I would say you would be rightly annoyed.  I certainly have been when I have purchased two titles of the same book in the past.  So, publishers, bigger print about such thing, please!

The book itself is very good.  (Though I am suspicious that this book was “cut out” of his book, Dug Down Deep” – at least, I could easily see this as additional material in that book.)  I would recommend it for most Christians, as I observe a growing number of people attending worship and even participating in some aspect of the church, but not being willing to join the church.  After all, if someone is faithfully attending, giving, and supporting the church, why should it matter if someone becomes a member?

In the first chapter, Harris explains that if one does not join, one is missing the fullness of the church relationship.  He does not deny that all Christians are part of the Church (universal), but there is an aspect of commitment that is missing if one does not join the local church.

In the second, he looks at how Jesus looks at the church – particularly the bridal imagery, (though he looks at body and temple imagery as well).  This is where the original title of the book comes from, paralleling dating with attending and marriage with membership.

In the third, he shows that membership proclaims one as being part of a new society.  He explains the three distinctive ordinances of the society as being baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church discipline.  Here, as I have noted before with Harris’ books, though he wants his book to be available for all denominations, by stating that baptism is only for confessing believers and that the Lord’s Supper is (merely) a memorial of what Jesus did, he has lost some of us (39). 

I am not saying he cannot believe and teach that – Harris is in favor of denominations, so long as we all hold together on the “essentials.”  My point is that it is misleading to say that all Christians agree with his presentation of the sacraments here.

In the fourth chapter, Harris looks at seven points of passionate commitment.  He parallels his friend’s membership in a Jeep club and does a good job at showing the difference between attending and membership and how it involves a change in commitment even if one is already attending and participating.

In the fifth chapter, he looks at the “ten things that matter most” when choosing a church.  He rightly looks at the preaching of the Word, doctrine, pastoral faithfulness, evangelism, striving for holiness, discipline, etc., but says nothing about the administration of the sacraments.  The right administration of the sacraments is also an essential.  Even just for the fact that this culture is looking for visible representations, and God has given us two approved visible representations – only – baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  These are the Gospel in physical representation today.

The sixth chapter is about preparing for Sunday, and in the seventh, he encourages the reader to say “yes” to membership.

The book concludes with a useful study guide.

Belief in church membership is very low today, and Harris’ book is a welcome addition to the argument for church membership.  My one caveat would be to use this book in a class setting with denominational material about the sacraments, so they are covered as well.

[This review appears on Amazon.com and on my blog.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.] 

Review: "Eating Your Way Through Luke's Gospel"

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is going to eat, eating, or coming from eating – so contents Robert J. Karris in his fascinating book, Eating Your Way Through Luke’s Gospel.  In the Gospel of Luke, the reader sees how important food was in the earthly ministry of Jesus – and if food and eating meals was of great significance for Jesus, ought it not be for His followers?

Karris’ book is amazingly comprehensive for such a short book (109 pages).

Karris begins by exploring what the people of Jesus’ time would actually have been eating and how they would have been eating and with whom – wonderful background information for preaching or researching.

Then, he looks more at the theme of food in Luke by examining the passages and Greek words used.

The third chapter looks at Jesus as glutton and drunkard, friend of sinners.  The fourth, Jesus as guest, host, and teacher.  The fifth, Jesus’ petitioning of food, and food imagery in the parables.

In the sixth chapter, Karris gives and overview of the theme of food in Matthew, Mark, and John – quoting Scripture at length.

In the seventh, he explores the relationship between women and food in Luke.

In the eighth, he addresses how eating serious, dangerous, and joyful – in context.

An appendix correlation the books pages to the Gospel readings of Lectionary Cycle C.  This makes is very easy to find explanation of the food passages in his book when they arrive in the preaching cycle.

Each chapter has a good-sized selection of works for further reading, and the book has its own selected bibliography.

The one assertion that I had trouble with  was when he stated that when Jesus said, “do this in remembrance of Me,” He was not merely referring to the Passover or the Lord’s Supper, but to the fellowship of all meals.  I don’t see how one can interpret the text that far.

Even so, this is an amazing and helpful book for any interested in the topic of food in Luke, Jesus’ interaction with food, and preaching and researching the texts that concern food in Luke (especially).  He has done a great deal of work to put together his presentation and to provide further resources.  I highly recommend this book to all preachers and to all interested in food in Christian context.

Christmas Napkins

My mother sent me to the store to pick up some Christmas napkins for our family gathering this afternoon, but I was unable to find any.  I went to the help desk at the store, and the woman told me they, indeed, had Christmas napkins.  And she showed me plain white dinner napkins.  I told her I was looking for something with holiday symbolism on it, and she told me, "This napkin is reminiscence of snow."

"God Spoke" Sermon: Hebrews 1:1-2

“God Spoke”

[Hebrews 1:1-2]    

December 25, 2011 Second Reformed Church

            We begin looking at the book of Hebrews today.  The book of Hebrews was written in the mid to late 60’s A.D., and, although most people throughout history have attributed the book to Paul, it is anonymous – we are not sure who actually wrote it.  What is clear is the theme of this book:  “Jesus is greater.”

            In the 60’s, false teachers were arguing that angels were greater than Jesus, Moses and the Law were greater than Jesus, and the priesthood and the sacrificial system were greater than Jesus.  The author of Hebrews addresses each one and shows that Jesus is greater than all of them, and He must be if He is to be the Savior of all those who believe in Him.  The book ends with encouragement and practical application for Christians facing these false teachers and persecution.

            The author of Hebrews begins by telling his readers that God, in His Mercy, has spoken:

            “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,”

            God has spoken to His people in times past, and now in these last days.

            God spoke to His people from the beginning.  God has always made Himself and His purpose clear to His people.  From the beginning, God chose to enter into a relationship with His people.

            Do we understand that God did not have to enter into a relationship with humans?  God could have just created us and left us to suffer whatever ends befall us.  But God chose, for His Own Reasons and for His Glory, to enter into a relationship with humanity, and especially His people.

            The author of Hebrews notes that these are the last days, and God still speaks to humanity in these last days.  The last days began, we understand, with Jesus, and they extend until the end of this age – until Jesus returns – which will occur at the time God has ordained, which could be any time.

            In the days of old, God spoke to his people through the prophets – people that He chose to speak through and have speak His Word.  Peter reminds us:  “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21, ESV).

            And God spoke to the prophets and through the prophets at different times and in various ways as they delivered God’s Word to His people.  At times, God spoke directly through the prophet.  At other times, God spoke through animals, such as Balaam’s donkey.  God spoke through the whirl-wind, as He spoke to Job.  God spoke through dreams, and through writings.  God spoke out of the heavens, as He did at the Baptism of Jesus.  And God spoke through inspiring the writers to put down what we call the Old Testament – the Law and the Prophets.  This is the Word of God.

            Now, God has spoken to us, finally, by His Son, Jesus.  God, Himself, in the Person of the Son – the Incarnate God – has come with the Word of God which is the Good News.  John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2, ESV).  Jesus is God’s Word, and Jesus is God.  And Jesus is the Good News of God, as the angels said, “‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:10b-14, ESV).

            Notice, then, if the Law and the Prophets are the Word of God, and the Gospel of Good News is the Word of God, then, since God is the Unchangeable God, God’s Word is the same.  There is no contradiction between the Word of God in the Old Testament and the Word of God in the New Testament.  The message of the Old Testament is the same as the Message of the New Testament.  The whole Bible is a coherent whole of the One Word of God.

            What then is the message of the whole Bible?  Humans sinned against God and are, thus, deserving of eternal punishment and can do nothing to change that fact.  But God, in mercy, and for His Own Reasons, came to earth in the Person of Jesus, to live, die for the sins of all those who would believe, physically rise, and ascend back to His Throne.  That is God’s Word from beginning to end.

            In the beginning, God spoke at many different times, in many different ways, through many different prophets, and they all delivered exactly the same message.  But now, Jesus has come, and He is the Final Word of God, the same Word of God that was spoken through all of the prophets, now spoken most clearly through His Life as we have it received in the New Testament.

            Jesus has come once and finally to proclaim the Word of God.  The Word of God as we have it now in our Bibles is a “closed canon” – nothing more can be added to it, because we have everything that God intended to tell us and reveal to us.  Now we are to read it and know it and know Him and follow Him in obedience and faith and love. 

            We are not left on our own to interpret the Word of God:  God – the Father and the Son – have sent God the Holy Spirit to live in each person who believes in Jesus for salvation.  John records:  “Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

            “’These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you’” (John 14:23-26, ESV).

            All those who believe in Jesus savingly – all those who believe the Good News – that Jesus is God come to earth, Who lived under His Law, died for the sins of all those who would believe, physically rose from the dead, and ascended back to His Throne – every one of these receives in the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, and He helps us to remember what we have read and heard of God’s Word, and He helps us to understand what we have read and heard of God’s Word.

            “whom he appointed the heir of all things, you have put all things under his feet,”

            Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God, inherits everything.  What does that mean?

            It means that everything is in subjection to Jesus.  Everything, including Jesus’ enemies, serve Jesus and exist for His Glory.  “You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;” (Psalm 8:6, ESV).  “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory“ (II Corinthian 1:10, ESV).

            “Everything” includes us – humanity.  We exist for the Pleasure and the Glory of God.  Our purpose is found in glorifying God – in showing others the greatness of God – in showing people Who God is.  “Therefore God has highly exalted [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11, ESV).

            It means that everything good comes from Him, as well as from His Father.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV).

            It also means that through Him, we can be saved as co-heirs, because Jesus is completely God and completely human.      “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29, ESV).

            What is the point of Christmas?  The point of Christmas is that God came down as a real human being and lived under His Own Law – sinlessly – so He could give all those who believe in Him as Savior, His Righteousness.  As Paul wrote, “Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:45-49, ESV).

            In other words, God created humans and breathed life into them.  God became a human being that first Christmas and breathes spiritual life into all those who believe in Him.  The first man, God made from the earth; Jesus is God come down to the earth as a real human being.  In Adam, humans receive sin and death; in Jesus, all those who believe receive everlasting life, because He fulfilled all of the Law – He never sinned.  He was born a human, lived under the Law, and kept it perfectly, as no human ever had before or since.  And Jesus gives that perfect record of Law-keeping to all those believe at the same time He takes our sin from us and the punishment for it.

            Jesus came to earth, and by God coming to earth as a human, He became able to save us from our sins and to restore what was lost in us – and throughout Creation – by the sin of our first parents.  As Paul wrote, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:19-25, ESV).

            Humans sinned, not the Creation.  Still, the Creation was and is punished for human sin.  When Jesus returns, all things will be made right, and both humans and the Creation will be restored – in our physical bodies – and we will live in the New Jerusalem on the New Earth – the Restored Earth.

            “through whom also he created the world.”

            Jesus, God the Son, created everything that is.  There is only One God, so if God created everything that is, the Father created everything that is, and the Son created everything that is, and the Holy Spirit created everything that is.  Paul wrote, “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:15-20, ESV).

            If Jesus created everything that is, then Jesus is God, the Eternal One, the Creator of the heavens and the Earth.

            The book of Hebrews opens by explaining that God spoke in times past in many ways through the prophets, and finally, God spoke through Jesus, His Son – speaking the same Word, the same Good News, and the same Truth about humanity and God, through all of His recorded Word.

            Let us understand that the Bible is all of God’s Word; it is what God wants us to know and believe.

            Let us read our Bibles and see that the Old and New Testaments teach exactly the same thing because they are both the same Word of God from the same God.

            Let us believe and submit to the Word of God – both to what God has said in the Bible itself and as and through Jesus, Himself.

            We also see that Jesus, God the Son, came to earth to live a perfect life under God’s Law so He would be able to take our place, receive God’s Wrath – the punishment – for our sin, and also give us His Righteousness – crediting us with His perfect keeping of the Law.  In this, we are made right with God and able to inherit the Kingdom.

            Although this world is fallen and there are people who rebel against God – and even those of us who believe still sin against God – one day, Jesus will return and all things will be restored and all of the Creation – including humanity – will submit to God, showing that all authority is His, all good comes from Him, and all glory and thanks are due Him.

            And we see that Jesus is the Creator, Heir, and Owner of all things.

            So, let us believe in Him now, understanding that Jesus had to be born a human if He was to save us.

            Let us turn to Him in prayer, believing that He is able and trustworthy:  “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14, ESV).  If we ask anything according to Jesus’ Will, He will do it.

            And let us have hope, believing that this Jesus is our God and Brother, through whom we shall inherit the Earth and eternal life.

            Let us pray:

            Almighty God, we thank You that You chose to come to earth in the Person of Jesus on that first Christmas two thousand years ago.  We thank You that You came to glorify Yourself through saving us.  We thank You for Your Word and for the history of Jesus through Whose Life and Death and Resurrection and Ascension we are saved.  As we leave this place, help us to remember Who You are – the Almighty God, Creator, and Savior.  Cause us to turn to You and all of Your Word for Wisdom, Truth, and Salvation.  For You have spoken, and it is so.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Good News" Sermon: Luke 2:1-20

“Good News”

[Luke 2:1-20]      

December 24, 2011 Second Reformed Church

            Before God created anything, He knew that to create humanity would mean that we would need a Savior.  God would have to come down and become one of us – to live under His Own Law, and then be crucified, dead, physically rise, and ascend back to His Throne.  That is the Good News – the Savior has come – and there are historical facts about the Savior that we must believe in order to be saved.

            When the time was right, God arranged the familiar events of the Christmas story that they would occur as He had prophesied through the prophets over four thousand years of human history.

            The Romans, led by Cesar Augustus, controlled the known world, including Israel.  And a time came when Rome desired a census to be taken – this was when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And everyone was to return to their ancestral home to be counted by family.

            There was a man by the name of Joseph, who lived in Nazareth, whose ancestral father was David – the king.  David had been from Bethlehem, so that was where Joseph needed to be counted.  But Joseph was engaged, and engagement was a legal document, so his fiancé would need to come along.  Her name was Mary, and she was pregnant – almost ready to deliver.  But the law was the law.

            They went to Bethlehem, and shortly after they arrived, it was time for Mary to give birth.  But the town was overcrowded with everyone returning for the census – there was no room left to be rented anywhere in Bethlehem.  But they found someone who allowed them to stay in the place where he kept and fed his animals.  When the Baby was born, they wrapped Him in rags that were about the place, and they lay Him in the feeding trough – the manger – so He could sleep.  And so Mary and Joseph could relax, as well.

            “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

            We tend to have a rather glorified vision of what it was to be a shepherd.  We picture them as movie stars who take the sheep out to eat and then go home to their McMansions.  Such was not the case:  shepherds were generally seen as the bottom of the heap.

“Jeremias describes a shepherd's life: ‘The dryness of the ground made it necessary for the flocks of sheep and cattle to move about during the rainless summer and to stay for months at a time in isolated areas, far from the owner's home. Hence, herding sheep was an independent and responsible job; indeed, in view of the threat of wild beasts and robbers, it could even be dangerous. Sometimes the owner himself (Luke 15:6; John 10:12) or his sons did the job. But usually it was done by hired shepherds, who only too often did not justify the confidence reposed in them (John 10:12-13).’”

He continues citing “… Rabbinic sources to the effect that ‘most of the time they were dishonest and thieving; they led their herds onto other people's land and pilfered the produce of the land.’ Because they were often months at a time without supervision, they were often accused of stealing some of the increase of the flock. Consequently, the pious were warned not to buy wool, milk, or kids from shepherds on the assumption that it was stolen property. Shepherds were not allowed to fulfill a judicial office or be admitted in court as witnesses. A midrash on Psalm 23:2 reads, ‘There is no more disreputable occupation than that of a shepherd.’"  [Quoted at http://www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/2_8-20.htm].

            Shepherds.  Dirty.  Untrustworthy.

            Mary and Joseph were back with the cattle and their Baby, and the shepherds were out in the fields – in the dark – protecting the flock.

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.”

All of a sudden the darkness was broken, and there, immediately in front of them, radiating with the Glory of God, lighting up the field, was an angel, and the shepherds were severely terrified. 

“Why has an angel come into our midst?  Especially with such power?  Nobody comes to the shepherds, unless it is to accuse us of something or to tell us to bring the animals in.  Angels come with a Word from God.  Has he come to destroy us?  Is the message that God is going to destroy us?”

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news’”

“Don’t be afraid, I have a message, but it is not a message to cause you terror – it is a message of good news.  This is a message from God.  God sent me to tell you, shepherds, particularly.  God has good news for the invisible people of society, for the lowest caste of society, for the economically oppressed, for the poor, for a people who are under political oppression.  God has good news for you.”

It is “good news of great joy.”

“The news I have for you is not small – it is great.  It is enormous.  It is beyond anything you could ever imagine.  And it is of great joy.  This is not news that will pass away.  It will not affect you for merely a short time – but forever.  In fact, all of history will be affected forever because of the news I have for you.”

It is “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

“And the news I have for you and the joy it will bring it not just for the Jews – it’s for the Gentiles, as well.  It is for men and women, slave and free, educated and uneducated, rich and poor, Arab, Israeli, African, European, Islander, Asian – all people of every kind.”

Can we imagine the shepherds, crouched down; covering themselves for fear and the brightness of the Glory of God which came with the angel, testifying that the message was, indeed, from God?

Good news?  They were used to bad news.  They were used to status quo.  And good news that brought great joy?  Something that would rock their world?  Had Rome been conquered?  Had they somehow risen in the eyes of society?  What more might they hope for? 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

The Good News is the Savior has come.  The Savior God repeatedly promised for four thousand years has arrived.  Salvation has come.  Everything has changed.  The Lord God, Himself, is the Savior.  God came down to earth to save His people.

Have you received the Good News which is of great joy?

I distinguish between “happiness” and “joy.”  If you were to ask me if I was happy, more often than not, I would say, “no.”  I consider happiness a short-lived, fleeting, recurring period of life – like you feel after eating a meal that you really enjoy, but before you step on the scale.   We are not always happy, and there are times when we do well not to be happy – times when we are right to be sad or mad.  I would not say I am “happy,” when I am sad.

But I would say I am “joyful.”  I always have joy.  Joy, I consider to be, an eternal state of solid – secure – hopefulness.  Joy is the belief that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (cf. Romans 8:28). Joy is knowing that the glory that is coming is greater than anything I may endure now (cf. Romans 8:18).  Joy is the belief deep down in the very depths of who I am that Jesus is God the Savior – of all those who believe in Him.

When the angel came with good news of great joy, he was not guaranteeing the shepherds a better life than the one they had – in this sense – they remained shepherds.  They returned to the same life, the same status, the same job they had after the received the Good News (cf. Luke 2:20).  The promise of good news of great joy had to do with hope – with their eternal future – with the way they lived now in the light of what would surely be.

The same is true today:  receiving the Good News may change nothing about our job or our debt and so forth.  But theh Good News gives us hope – hope about our eternal future – hope about the way we live now in the light of what will surely be.

The shepherds returned to the same job, under the same conditions, working for the same people – but everything had changed.  They had received the Good News – the announcement of the Good News had been made to them – shepherds.  They had run to the place where God the Savior had been born, and they believed – they were filled with hope and eternal joy, knowing that they were saved through this Little Baby.  They had faith and hope that He would save them and bring them into His Glory one day.

Have you received the Good News?  Do you believe that Jesus is God the Only Savior, Who came to earth, lived, died, physically rose, and ascended back to His Throne?  If you do, do you have joy?  Do you know in this Good News – in the very depths of your being – that Jesus has made you right with God – a son or daughter of God – and you will be received into God’s Glory – with the shepherds – and all those who ever believe?

 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”

            The angels returned to heaven, the shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw the Good News, which the Lord has made known to them.  They ran found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger. And when they saw Him, they told Mary and Joseph that angels had come in the Glory of God and told them that Jesus is the Christ – God the Savior – Who will save anyone and everyone who believes in Him – even shepherds.  And everyone who heard what the shepherds said wondered what it might mean.  “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

            Let us pray:

            Almighty God, we rejoice and have everlasting hope, because You came to earth in the Person of Jesus with the Good News that we can be right with You through Him.  Help us to think about what You did.  Help us to open our mouths and let others know.  Help us to be amazed at Your coming to earth – the Incarnation.  And that You have come to us.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Christmas Eve Worship

In case I have forgotten to mention it...this evening, Saturday, December 24th, 2011, at 7 PM, we plan (D.V.) to have our Christmas Eve worship service.  Please join us them!

No Study Thursday

We have graciously been invited to one of our women's homes for dinner on Thursday (you know who you are and where we're going -- no need to have all of cyber space show up!).  Therefore, we will not have study tomorrow evening.  We also will not meet next week -- between Christmas and New Year's.  Please watch for more information.  We will continue (D.V.) in the New Year, but we may be changing the day of the week to accommodate those who continue to show interest.  (Not that you all shouldn't show interest in God and all things about Him, but, truth be told, most of you really don't care to know any more about God...but I ramble.)