"Jesus is God" Sermon: Hebrews 1:3

“Jesus is God”

[Hebrews 1:3]
      

January 15, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            A few weeks ago we began looking at the letter to the Hebrews, and we saw that the author of Hebrews begins by telling his readers that God spoke.  Over history, God spoke in many ways and at varying times, and God spoke through the prophets – the authors of the Old Testament. 

The Word that we have written down for us from Genesis to Malachi is not merely human writing but it is the Word of God.  God did not merely dictate what He wanted to say to humanity, but God inspired human authors who would write in their own styles – but write without error – everything we need to know.  It is the history of God’s interaction with humanity.  God explains that He created us, but we turned away and sinned against Him, yet He kept His Covenant – His Promises, because He is God and He cannot lie and He cannot sin.

            But, now, the author of Hebrews explains, God has not merely inerrantly and infallibly inspired the prophets to write His Word, but in these last days – beginning with Jesus – we are in the last days – God spoke by His Son.  And, again, God mercifully inspired the Gospel writers and the other writers of the New Testament, so they would write down – infallibly and inerrantly – the life and history and salvation that God promised and gives to everyone who will believe through His Son, Jesus Alone.

            We saw that since He is the Same One God Whose Word comes to us through the Old and the New Testaments – the Old and the New Testament tell us the same thing – there is no contradiction between them.  Humans sinned, and the only way for humans to be right with God was for God to come to earth as a real human being, live, die for our sins, and physically rise from the dead, and ascend back to His Throne.  That is the Gospel from Genesis to Revelation.

            So this book – this Bible – is the Whole Word of God – everything God has mercifully revealed to us.  Everything we need to know to live and be made right with God.  All of it God gave us to know.  All of it God gave us to follow and to hold on to and to rejoice in – because there is no other hope for humans.  And we should read it.

            We cannot be healthy, faithful, obedient Christians if we don’t know what God has said.  Yes, there are difficult parts.  Yes, there are parts that are less interesting.  But God has given us His Word to know Him and to know how to live as His people – and most of the Bible is straightforward.  I am using the yearly Bible reading schedule I keep putting in our bulletin.  This morning I read about Joseph interpreting dreams and being given a powerful job because of it.  I read about Jesus telling the Pharisees that for the sake of mercy and necessity, there are exceptions to the Law.  Pretty clear passages.  Did you read your Bible today?

            If you have questions about what the Bible says, ask me.  If you don’t have a Bible, ask me for one.  If you don’t understand the translation you have, we’ll find a better one for you.  Just don’t not read!

            We saw that Jesus is the Word of God Incarnate.  He is the Answer to humanity’s sin.  He is the Creator, Heir, and Owner of all things.  But we said that strange ideas had come into the Church, and people doubted the importance and the necessity of Jesus.  So, the author of Hebrews explained that Jesus is greater than the angels, Jesus is greater than Moses and the Law, and Jesus is greater than the priests and the sacrificial system.

            We continue our look at the introduction to this letter, as the author explains with five points that Jesus is God:

            First, “[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God.”

            When we look at Jesus, we see the Glory of God.  The Glory of God the Father and the Glory of God the Son is the same Glory, because They are the Same One God.  Humans can see the Glory of God mediated through Jesus in His Humanity, but humans cannot look directly at the Glory of God the Father – or God the Holy Spirit.  God said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (Exodus 33:20b, ESV).

            The Father is God and the Son is God.  God is All-Glorious.  The Glory of God shines from God outward – drawing attention to Him.  But we cannot look at the unmediated Glory of God or we will die.  However, since Jesus is God, He is All-Glorious, but since He is also Human, we can look upon Him and see God’s Glory and live.

            For example:  we are told not to look directly at the sun because it can hurt our eyes.  However, if we wear sunglasses, we can look at the sun.  In a similar way that sunglasses mediate the rays of the sun, so Jesus’ Human Body mediates the Glory of God.  Just as putting on sunglasses does not make you less than who you are, God becoming human did not make God less than God.  God is still completely God in the Incarnation of Jesus.  Jesus is completely God and completely human at the same time in One Person.

            John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known” (John 1:14-18, ESV).

            John explains that God came to earth in the Person of Jesus.  Jesus has the Same Glory as God the Father.  No one can look at God the Father and live.  But we can look at God, the Only God; the God Who is at the Father’s Side, Jesus, because Jesus makes the Glory of God visible to us through becoming human – through His Humanity.  In the Incarnation, God makes us able to look upon His Face and see His Glory and live.  No one has ever seen God the Father and no one ever will.  We see God in His Glory in the Person of Jesus.

            Paul explains, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4, ESV).  Since Jesus is God and bears God’s Glory, and we can look at Jesus and live – God’s Glory is visible to humans.  However, God has allowed the devil to blind humans so they can’t see God’s Glory in Jesus – unless and until God gives them sight.

The author of Hebrews continues, secondly, “and [Jesus is] the exact imprint of [God’s] nature,”

When the author of Hebrews tell us that Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s Nature, he is telling us that Jesus has the same nature, the same essence, the same being, the same substance as God.  Jesus has exactly the same everything in Him that makes the Father God.  Everything that is necessary for God the Father to be the One God is present in Jesus – as well as in the Holy Spirit.

What is it that makes God God?  God’s Divinity.  God is Divine, and Jesus is Divine.  Only God is Divine, so Jesus is God.

For example:  Carol and I are both human beings – just take my word for it for the sake of the example.  Now, Carol and I don’t look the same.  Carol and I are different genders.  Carol and I have lived different lives and have different experiences and memories.  But there is still something about both of us – something necessary about both of us – that makes both of us humans.  We both have the essence of humanness.  We both have that without which we would not be humans.  (A mouthful, I know.)  Whatever it is that makes a human a human – Carol and I both have it.  And most of you do, too.

Jesus and the Father – though the Father remains Spirit and the Son took on the human person of Jesus – Jesus and the Father both have everything that is necessary for them to be the Same One God.  They both have Godness.  They both have Divinity.  Jesus and the Father both have exactly the same everything that makes Them the One God.

And it is only in Jesus that we understand the Form of God.  We do not see God the Father or God the Holy Spirit.  Each of those Two Persons is Spirit.  The Son, Who was only Spirit until the Incarnation, took on the Person of the human Jesus.  So we can see God’s Nature as it is seen in and through the Person Jesus. 

As we read the accounts of the Gospels and even the letters, we can see Jesus – we can see that there is something in Him beyond mere humanity.  We read that the crowds listened to Jesus teach:  “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29, ESV).  The people heard Jesus speak and they knew that He was greater than the greatest of their religious leaders; He had an authority that far exceeded the religious leaders.  They were seeing the Nature of God in Him – just as we see the Nature of God in Him through reading His Word.

Third, “and [Jesus] upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

Jesus, by His Word – by His Power, holds the Creation together.  Jesus sustains the Creation.  If Jesus did not uphold the universe, everything would fall apart.  Gravity would fail.  The stars would crash into the earth.  The earth would fly into the sun.  Our bodies would melt or, perhaps, turn to stone.  Nothing would work; nothing would survive, if Jesus did not uphold the universe.

Paul explained:  “[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” (Colossians 1:15-17, ESV).

Jesus created everything that is for Himself, by Himself, for His Reasons, and nothing can remain without His Influence.  If Jesus we not immediately involved in every moment of history, we would be lost – we would collapse into Hell.

Who but God has the power to hold all things together?  Who but God can cause all life to proceed as it always has?  Who but God could cause the seasons to come, the plants to grow and mature and bear fruit, to form humans in the womb and bring them forth into the world?  If Jesus – God – did not hold the universe together, everything would be chaos.

Fourth, “[Jesus] ma[de] purification for sins,”

The author of Hebrews explains later, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4, ESV), and “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).

Humans are born sinners.  We are born with a sin nature – inclined towards doing sin.  Although the Law provides the sacrifice of animals for the forgiveness of sins, this was merely a temporary measure to expose us to the fact that we could never offer enough to cover all of our sins, because we sin day after day, hour after hour, minutes after minute.  We are idol-makers.  We seek at every turn to not do what God has said.  And even in offering up the sacrifice of animals, God exposes that the sacrifice was given with mixed – not holy – motivation.  Humans have no hope in-and-of themselves. 

My friend, Stan, who claims to be an atheist, understands this.  We were talking one day and he said to me, “Hope is unrealistic.”  And he’s right – humanly speaking.  We look at what God has said, and we see that no matter how much we do, no matter how much we sacrifice, it will never be enough, we will never be forgiven, we will never earn our peace with God.

In order for a human to be forgiven, two things have to happen:  Someone has to take the eternal punishment for his debt – and survive.  And Someone has to credit him with a perfect keeping of God’s Law, so He will be seen as righteous by God.

What did Jesus do?  Jesus paid the debt for every sin every person who will ever believe will commit.  If you believe savingly in Jesus Alone, Jesus paid the debt for your sins from your past, from your present, and from your future.  Jesus paid your debt by suffering an eternity in Hell in a moment on the cross on Good Friday.

But that would not be enough.  God requires that His Law be kept perfectly to receive the Kingdom.  We have to have Jesus’ Perfect keeping of the Law credited to our account, so that when God looks at us He sees Jesus’ Work.

Paul wrote:  “And [Jesus] 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.

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death [that’s the paying our debt part], in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him [that’s the crediting us with His perfect keeping of God’s Law], if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister” (Colossians 1:18-23, ESV).

Here again we see what God had to come down in the Person of Jesus – a real human being:  if Jesus were not fully human, He could not take our place and pay the debt for our sin, but, if Jesus were not God, He could not survive an eternity in Hell for one person, much less for everyone who will every believe.  If Jesus were not fully God, He would be a sinner and unable to keep God’s Law, but since He is the One God, Himself, He was able to keep His Law and choose to credit that perfect keeping of the Law – His righteousness – to our accounts. 

Jesus, being both completely God and completely Man, did what centuries of priests could never do, in making us right with God, not just temporarily, but eternally.

Finally, “[Jesus is seated] at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Luke also writes, “But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69, ESV).

Being seated at the right hand means that He has all the authority of the Sovereign.  Jesus has Supreme Authority.  He governs all things.  The fact that He is seated, indicates that His Work is finished – just as He said on the cross, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30, ESV) .  Our Salvation has been accomplished.  God has made His people right with Himself, by Himself, for Himself, and to His Glory.

The author of Hebrews opens his letter by telling us that God has spoken, first through the prophets and now through His Son.  We have the record of God’s “speaking” in the Bible, and in it we find the only hope for humanity through Jesus.

And to all those who claim to have faith in the Law or in angels or in sacrifices, the author of Hebrews states that Jesus is greater.  And the first reason Jesus is greater is because Jesus is God, Himself, and there is no one greater than God.

Jesus is God because His Glory if the same as the Father’s. 

Jesus is God because the Father and the Son have the same Nature – the have the same Divinity. 

Jesus is God because the universe exists or collapses by his Word – His Power.

Jesus is God because He paid the debt for our sins and credited us with His perfect keeping of God’s Law – something only God could do.

And Jesus is God because He reigns Sovereign over all form His Throne in Heaven.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we are so easily distracted by other things that are offered up to take your place.  We have angels on our lapels to protect us.  We think magic handkerchiefs can save us.  We pray to saints.  We have chain letters from miraculous missionaries.  We think we’re good enough.  We even think that You will wink at our sin – as if it was anything less than rebellion against You when we sin.  Lord, help us to know You are God.  Help us to know and live with You Greater and always before us.  Thank You for letting us see God and for saving us for Yourself when all hope was lost.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Brunch Anyone?

Rev. Peter A. Butler. Jr. is being honored by the Rotary Club of Irvington with their “Service Above Self” Award at a brunch Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 10 AM at the Hanover Manor, 16 Eagle Rock Ave., East Hanover, NJ 07936.  The cost is $50 per person.  Make checks payable to the Rotary Club of Irvington and send payment to Alison Bryant, Rotary Club of Irvington, Box 111786, Irvington, NJ 07111.  Note “Rev. Butler Service Above Self Brunch” in the memo.  Hope to see you then!

Review: 365 Days with John Calvin

For 2011, I used Joel Beeke’s 365 Days with John Calvin for my evening devotional.  I can concur with the cover where it is noted that this is “a unique collection of 365 readings form the writings of John Calvin…”

I have found daily devotionals to be a great aid.  With a short Scripture, reflection/commentary, and application, they are and added boost to my times of reading Scripture and praying, because of the interaction with other Christians.

Beeke’s devotional uses the KJV text for the Scripture and the readings are divided into six sections:  January through May are selections from Calvin’s OT commentaries, June through September are from his NT commentaries, October’s reading are from his sermons on Ephesians, November 1-16 from his sermons on Timothy and Titus, November 17-30 from his sermons on II Samuel, and December from his sermons on Galatians.  Why?  He doesn’t say.  Certainly there is plenty of material to do additional, non-repetitive devotionals based on Calvin’s work. Perhaps they are in the works; they would be welcome.

Each day’s reading ends with Beeke’s “for meditation.”  He asks a couple of questions or makes a comment, and your mind and heart are off applying the totality of the reading to the day.

Calvin and Beeke are a great combination, and spending time at the feet of God in His Word is always worthwhile.

"Creation" Study

D.V., here's the plan:  our evening studies have moved to Tuesday night at 7 PM -- at least for this semester.  The proposed schedule is the following:

Janaury 10 -- no meeting
January 17 -- the 24 hour day view
January 24 -- no meeting
Janaury 31 -- the day-age view
February 7 -- the framework view
February 14 -- Adam and Eve
February 21 -- wrap up

Next, we are proposing a five-week study for Lent on "Puritan Church Growth"

"Two Baptisms" Sermon: Mark 1:4-11

“Two Baptisms”

[Mark 1:4-11]      

January 8, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            In this morning’s text, we have two baptisms mentioned:  the Baptism of John – a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and the Baptism of Jesus – the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Let us consider what we are being told.

            John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, was called to be a prophet and the forerunner of Jesus, the fulfillment of the prophecy, “A voice cries:  ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” (Isaiah 40:3, ESV).  John was prepared for his work by God in the wilderness.

            “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.”

            Ritual cleansing by baptism was a practice of Judaism from its earliest days.  One of many examples we find:  “And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days. And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean” (Leviticus 14:8-9, ESV).

            The baptism of John was a sign – a symbol – of God’s Work of cleansing in the forgiveness of sin – it did not cause a person to be forgiven or make a person right with God.  John’s baptism had no efficacy – no power – in and of itself.   If a person was baptized with the water “of repentance for the forgiveness of sin,” but there was no real repentance for sin, that person would still be in his sin.  For the unrepentant person, all baptism would do is get him wet.

            The Jordan River and its water had no magic powers, and the words that John spoke to the people being baptized had no power to forgive or save.  Only God can forgive, and God will only forgive one who is truly repentant of his sins.  If one did not really hate his sin and vow not to sin again – to make a 180-turn from his sin, the baptism accomplished nothing.

            A person who submitted to water baptism – the baptism of John – took part in the proclamation of human sinfulness and the need for forgiveness – cleansing by God.  If he truly believed in the Savior God promised to send and repented of his sins, the baptismal waters would not merely be a sign – or a symbol – but they would be a seal – they would confirm his salvation as he publically professed his faith and repented of his sins.

            In the Reformed Church, we baptize infants and adults.  Infants are baptized to show our belief that we are sinners from the moment of conception and that we need to raise our children in the faith of the Church – teaching them the Gospel of Jesus Christ – pressing them to faith and repentance.  In baptizing infants, we confess that they are part of the covenant community – the Church.  We confess that they will be united with Christ and live lives of submission to Him, if they profess faith and repent of their sins.  It is only at the point that one who was baptized as an infant professes faith and repents of his sins that that baptism is sealed and he is saved.

            We do not believe that baptism saves infants.  Infants who are baptized are not forgiven of their sins by baptism.  They bear the sign of the need for salvation and the responsibility of the parents and the Church to raise the child in the faith and press for a profession of faith and repentance of sin.

            We baptize adults who make a profession of faith and have not been baptized as infants.  (Baptism is administered once and does not need to be repeated for the person who was baptized as an infant and professes faith later in life.  One might argue that baptism did not “mean” anything to the infant, so a second baptism ought to be performed, but as one of my professors explained, just as circumcision was done once to bring the infant into the covenant community, so is baptism only administered once.  Rarely would a person argue that a second circumcision ought to be done because it was not meaningful to the infant.) 

Baptism for the adult is a sign and a seal of the Work of God upon them in redeeming them and forgiving them for their sin.  Whereas for the infant, the sign is given first and the seal is given if and only if the person later professes true faith and repents of his sin, for the adult who comes to faith, baptism is both, at the same time, a sign and seal.

So John was baptizing -- administering the Sacrament of Baptism to adults at the Jordan River.  These people would have come confessing their sin and professing their faith in God’s Savior.  However, if they lied about their faith, the baptism was a sign and merely got them wet.   Baptism only sealed their profession and repentance if it was true faith.  (That is why John rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees who came for baptism and refused to baptize them:  God had revealed to him that their repentance and faith were false [cf. Matthew 37-10].)

God also revealed to John that Jesus – his cousin – is the Savior.  John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b, ESV).  God allowed John to understand that God had come to earth as a human – the real person, Jesus of Nazareth – the One Sinless Man – One whom John confesses in our text is greater than he and would administer another baptism:

“And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

            “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

            At this point, we ought to ask ourselves why Jesus went to be baptized.   We read in Matthew, “John would have prevented [Jesus], saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’” (Matthew 3:14, ESV).  John understood that baptism is for sinners, and Jesus, though really human, never sinned.  So why in the world would Jesus want to be baptized?

            Did Jesus need to be forgiven of His sin?  No.  Jesus never sinned.  As the author of Hebrews wrote, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin”

(Hebrews 4:15, ESV).

            So, why?

            Two reasons:

            First, “But Jesus answered [John], ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented” (Matthew 3:15, ESV).  Jesus did not need to be baptized with the baptism of John, but, since all humans who believe and repent are to be baptized with water, Jesus participated in it – not because He had to, but so He would have participated in everything a human does – except sin.

            Second, Jesus’ Baptism was His Public Coronation:  “And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’”      

(Mark 1:4-11, ESV). 

            At Jesus’ Baptism, God the Father announced audibly that Jesus is God the Son, the Savior God had sent, and God the Holy Spirit descended on Him visibly and indwelled Him, as He would do with every Christian beginning at the Day of Pentecost.

            Still, we have not said what the Baptism of Jesus – the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is.

            The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Gift of God in which the Third Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, indwells each person who believes in Jesus Alone for Salvation.

            Jesus promised:  “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 14:25-26, ESV).

            “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

            “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:7-15, ESV).

            The indwelling of God the Holy Spirit first occurred on the Day of Pentecost, fulfilling Jesus’ Promise that He would send the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower those who believe in Jesus Alone for Salvation.  “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4, ESV).

            With the first indwelling of God the Holy Spirit, the Christians on the Day of Pentecost were given the gift of being able to speak in other languages so they could preach the Gospel to all the different people gathered in Jerusalem.  However, not everyone receives the gift of speaking in tongues; God the Holy Spirit gives the gifts that a person needs to glorify Jesus in his situation.

            Paul wrote, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.

            “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, ESV).

            The point we should get today from this text is that God the Holy Spirit indwells all believers and God the Holy Spirit gifts people according to their need to be able to glorify Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs when a person believes in Jesus Alone for salvation.

            One other point:  when God the Holy Spirit indwells a believer, He indwells a believer.  Some people talk about having “more of the Spirit.”  God does not indwell us in pieces – when God the Holy Spirit indwells a person, He is completely – wholly – indwelling a person.  One person may be more mature – more holy – than another, but no one has “more” of the Holy Spirit than another.

            What then shall we conclude?

            Water baptism – like John’s – like what we do in the Church today – is symbolic of being washed clean and it becomes a seal of being washed clean from sin when one professes faith.  Baptism is a one-time event.  We baptize infants to acknowledge their sinfulness and need of a Savior and the responsibility of the whole Church to raise the child in the faith and press him to faith and repentance.  We baptize adults who make a profession of faith and repent of their sins.

            Jesus was baptized that He might participate in baptism, just as do all people who believe savingly in Jesus.  It was also an opportunity for an audible announcement from God that Jesus is the Savior God had promised to send – one more reason that we are all without excuse if we do not believe in Him.

            The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised all believers.  Since the Day of Pentecost, when a person truly professes faith in Jesus Alone and repents of his sin, God the Holy Spirit indwells him and gifts him to be able to do all that God has planned for him – enabling him to glorify Jesus.  Christians immediately receive the One Whole Person, God the Holy Spirit, but they receive different gifts as the Spirit knows we need them, and we use them according to our progress in sanctification – depending on how far along we are in becoming holy.

            If you have believed savingly in Jesus and you have not been baptized, you should be.  Come talk with me about it.

            If you have believed in Jesus savingly, know that God the Holy Spirit lives in you and will help you to live a life that is pleasing and glorifying to Jesus.

            Let us pray:

            Almighty God, we thank You for the sign that You have given us in the Sacrament of Baptism, and we thank You for the Gift of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit.  Help us to turn from sin and follow after You by the grace of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Saturday's Prayer Meeting

The pastor will be at the funeral of a family friend, so there will  not be a prayer meeting at the church.  Please pray at home.  We hope to see you in worship Sunday.

Review: "The Mighty Weakness of John Knox"

Douglas Bond has written a powerful little biography of John Knox, entitled, The Mighty Weakness of John Knox.

In this book, part of the Reformation Trust series, “A Long Line of Godly Men Profile,” Bond inspires and humbles the reader by presenting keys strengths of this small and sickly man.

The first chapter is the life of Knox – his call to the priesthood, his conversion, his exile and tutelage under John Calvin, and his return to Scotland.

Bond goes on to argue that Knox was “successful” in ministry because he lived a “Christ-subdued life.”  Knox, of his own abilities, self-admittedly would never have made much.  He was physically ill and considered himself a poor preacher.  But, above all things, he was centered and humbled before Christ, and that made all the difference.

Four “powers,” in particular are noted in the life and ministry of Knox:  first, the power of prayer.  Knox relied heavily on both private and corporate pray to sustain and guide him.  Second, the power of the pulpit.  Knox clearly preached Christ-centeredly and His Gospel alone, explaining the difference between Law and Gospel, and condemning all forms of idolatry.  Third, the power of the pen.  Knox wrote voluminously, expressing the same faith in Christ Alone with, perhaps, The Scots Confession, being his greatest achievement.  And fourth the power of predestination.  Know wrote, “The doctrine of God’s eternal predestination is so necessary to the church of God, that, without the same, can faith neither be truly taught, neither surely established” (79).  Knox spoke more on predestination and the importance of the doctrine than any other.

The seventh chapter considers how Knox ministered with his wife, and how he equipped the laity and the ministers through changes to the book of order.

Bond concludes by asking how a small, sick, frail Knox came to be the powerhouse of Christ, and the answer is only found in the power of God.  God used Knox mightily to accomplish His purposes.

The book ends with a timeline, the text of The Scots Confession, and a bibliography.

If you are in the pastoral ministry and have any doubt of your abilities, this book will help you to rely on Christ and submit to His working through you.  It is an inspiration and a hope that we poor sinners might be used mightily for Christ and His Gospel.

"Creation" study

D.V., we will continue our look at the Creation tonight, Tuesday, at 7 PM.  Tuesday night is our new night for evening study.  Please join us!

Review: "This Crazy Vegan Life"

I enjoy Christina Pirello’s books and shows.  She is intelligent, funny, and her recipes are very good.

I just read her book, This Crazy Vegan Life.  The first five chapters are about how we have eaten and lived poorly and gotten ourselves into the health crisis we currently have.  Given Christina’s other books, there is a good deal of repetition, though she continues to refine and develop her views, and the humor and encouragement of her books are powerful.

The sixth chapter is a new selection of vegan recipes and a twenty-one day meal plan.

The seventh chapter addresses exercise, and Christina outlines her exercise routine.

The eighth chapter is about everything else, including recommended cleaning products.

The book ends with a large resource guide.

The book is well-written, enjoyable, and health-promoting.  If you have her other books, you may want to weight the benefits of getting this one since there is a good deal of repetition.

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”