My second son is turning 5 years old today! Over the last year he was quite introspective and philosophical for a preschooler, just like my oldest was. I had a post a couple of years ago about that here, so I wrote down some of the things he says to keep track of them for posterity. Here are some of the better ones related to theology:
"Do we all die pinned to cross or are there other ways to die?"
I explained there are other ways to die. He replied:
"But it's the punishment for doing bad things, and we all do bad things."
I explained how Jesus didnt do bad things, but got nailed anyway so we don't have to. Wages of sin is death, but Jesus died for us. Substitutional atonement. However, we all will die, but in different ways.
"It's gross that bodies are in ground with bugs and dirt, but then go to heaven. Which part of you goes to heaven ? Do we ever come back down? Don't we need to come back to our bodies? Won't there be dirt and bugs all over them"
This was a great opportunity to talk to him about the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
"If die from seeing God. But we see him when we get to heaven do we die again?"
"God is invisible and that's okay that we can't see him. It's weird though that we pray to him but can't hear God talking to us. I want to hear God."
This was a great opportunity to discuss with him how the Bible is how he talks to us.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Zacchaeus
There are some theories that he was not actually short and crowd was conspiring to block him out because of his low stature socially, or that he was already an honest saved man who had heard the preaching of John the Baptist, but these are both unverifiable and irrelevant. The point is that Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector at Jericho. As such, he would have been very rich, but considered corrupt, a thief, and a traitor by his own people for giving the Jews’ tax money to the Romans. The crowd was shocked when Jesus talked to him, much less went to his house and ate with him.
The story of Zacchaeus is only mentioned in Luke, but it is clear why when one understands why Luke wrote his Gospel. Luke was a Greek doctor and the only non-Jewish New Testament writer. Luke was a companion of Paul, so much of the book of acts is written from firsthand knowledge, but the Gospel of Luke was written based on first hand testimony of others. His writing of Luke and Acts as 2 volumes is written in the style of and has many parallels with Greek historians. His writing is the salvation history of Jews and gentiles alike. He emphasizes Jesus forgiving tax collectors and sinners as well as ministering to the poor, outcasts, etc… He focuses on Jesus as savior of the lost through forgiveness and mercy to sinners. It’s all about Christ’s sacrifice for us who don’t deserve it. This is exemplified in Luke 19:10, where he states, “For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Why is it mentioned that it was a sycamore-fig tree? The word for the tree in Greek is sukomorea and was known for bearing much fruit and being an important part of the local economy. They symbology of trees bearing fruit can be found here.The word for how Zacchaeus was described as an extortioner is sukophantes (from which the word sycophant comes from). That word literally means fig shower, after sellers in the market who cheated. Therefore, these two words create a play on words. Also, paradoxically, the name Zacchaeus means “pure or righteous.” Therefore, a man named “righteous”, who was considered a sycophant climbed into a sycamore-fig tree, which bore much fruit, to look at the righteous one who bore much fruit and would hang on a tree for us sick with sin to look up at.
What happened to Zacchaeus after that meeting? A Zacchaeus is mentioned by Clement of Rome (Clementine Homilies iii.63) as having been a companion of Peter and appointed bishop of Caesarea. The “Apostolic Constitutions” claim this is the same man. Later Clement of Alexandria states the Zacchaeus was Matthias, who took the place of Judas after Jesus’ ascension. Early church legends often equate people mentioned in the Bible and continuing in professional church work, but the other option is that he just remained a tax collector and served God through his vocation.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Jesus the Carpenter
Why was Jesus a carpenter and why does the Bible specify that is what he did? Some say that there is no reason that he was a carpenter, other than Joseph, his step father was and trades were generally passed down because sons helped their father in his trade. Others say it simply showed that he worked and was not a peasant or a king; or that he approves of hard work and serving God in your vocation, no matter what it is.
The Greek word translated carpenter, in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 is tektōn (τέκτων) (from which comes the English word “Technology). Tektōn can mean:
- A worker in wood, a carpenter, or builder
- Any craftsman, or workman
- A planner or plotter (or author)
Some hypothesize that he was more like a stonemason builder, since that was the common building material of the time and the word tektōn was sometimes used in that way at that time. They site that Christ is stone the builders rejected (Mark 12:10), Christ is the rock (1 Cor. 10:4, 9:33), the Wise man built his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24), etc… However, God is also described as a “Prince of Peace, Wonderful Councilor, King of Kings, Great Physician, the Good Shepherd, etc. Obviously Jesus could not have had all of these professions. Some generic structure builders at the time worked with both wood and stone as well. One thing to remember is that if the Bible does not specify something, then it is not important for our salvation, so we don’t really need to know the answer.
Whatever specific job he did, craftsman and builders make and mold things out of natural elements, just as man was created out of the dust of the ground through Jesus (John 1:3). In Jeremiah 18, the pre-incarnate Jesus (link) came to Jeremiah and told him God the Father is a potter, who molds us like clay through him. This imagery is used throughout Isaiah (29:16, 51:25, 45:9, 64:8) as well as in the New Testament in Romans 9:21. Carpenters and craftsman also fix things that are broken, just as Jesus fixed broken humanity.
Monday, July 4, 2016
God's Will (references)
Last Post I showed a diagram of God's Will and how everything comes in pairs. This post, I am showing my references, both to Bible verses and previous posts discussing the topics.
Hidden [Deuteronomy 29:29a]
Revealed
Two
kinds of revelation
Specific (Scripture Alone) [1 Tim. 3:16, Hebrews 1:1-2]
Two
kinds of general revelation
Law [1 Tim. 1:8]
Gospel [John 3:16]
Love God [Mark 12:30]
Love
your neighbor [Mark 12:31]
Two Functions of the Law [convention]
Negative
(Informed by general revelation)
Positive
(Informs outcomes of subjective justification)
Two Negative Uses of the Law (God's Alien Work)
Two
kinds of sin
Original [1 Cor. 2:14]
Specific [Galatians 5:19-21]
Two
Positives of the Law
Earned Righteousness (Merit) of God in Jesus only. Jesus is the law fulfilled [Hebrews 7:26-27]
Mercy (Not getting what we deserve) [Psalm 123:3]
Objective
(through universal atonement from God’s grace and Jesus earned righteousness)10:10 ]
Subjective
(applied individually, through the Holy Spirit)
Two
Outcomes of Justification
Righteousness [Romans 3:21-22; 10:3]
Vertical, Imputed [Romans 3:10-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30]
Horizontal, Incipient
(Informed by the 3rd use of the law) [Galatians 5:22-24]
Two
kinds of Sanctification
Word [Romans 10:17]
Two
Sacraments with physical elements
Lord’s Supper [Matthew 26:28]
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
God's Will (a diagram)
I have had many posts about man's will and free will, but it is important also to remember to dicuss God's Will. God's will is very clear in the Bible, but what is interesting is that describing it, topics always come in what I call the law of twos. See here for an explanation of the meaning of the number 2.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Secondary Bible Themes 10 - Yoke(s)
Here is a list of themes in the Bible. One of those themes is that of the Yoke. The yoke is defined as: "a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull."
In the Old Testament, the yoke is used figuratively for severe bondage, or affliction, or subjection ( Leviticus 26:13 ; 1 Kings 12:4 ; Isaiah 47:6 ; Lamentations 1:14 ;3:27 ). Jeremiah speaks of the Israelites being under the yokes of Egypt, Babylon, and Yahweh. Jeremiah 2 explains that we need to be yoked in Gods kingdom. After all, the Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom. We are citizens, but also subjects.
In the New Testament, the word yoke is also used to get across the idea of servanthood ( Matthew 11:29 Matthew 11:30; Acts 15:10 ; Galatians 5:1 ).
Being yoked under god means we are under his authority and so responsible to him. Yes, the Gospel sets us free, but it is a freedom from sin, not free to do what ever you want. Pastors, stoles represent this yoke, to show they are servants of God. However, for comfort, Jesus does tell us that his yoke is easy and hos burden is light" for us (Matthew 11:30).
People often quote 2 Corinthians 6:14 to say we shouldn't associate with or be friends with unbelievers. "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
This doesn't mean to isolate ourselves, but to not be under same authority, tied together going same direction with same purpose.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Secondary Bible Themes 9 - Flock, Sheep, Shepherd
"Now Abel was a keeper of sheep..." -Genesis 4:2. Being a shepherd is one of the oldest professions in the world. Also sheep are one of the oldest sacrifices to God. Able's sacrifice of one of those sheep was pleasing to God.
Sheep was one of the five animals that were part of the Old Covenant. The sheep was the Passover sacrifice whose blood saved the Hebrews.
Also forerunners, or types, of Christ were shepherds. Moses was a shepherd after he left Egypt. David was a shepherd before becoming king. That is why he wrote the 23rd Psalm about God being our Shepherd.
During the Ascention, Jesus tells Peter to tend sheep, commissioning pastors as his undershepherds. In fact, the word pastor means shepherd.
The Gospels describe Jesus's death on the cross (during passover) as him being our Passover lamb, whose blood over us s us from death. Revelation is full of language calling Jesus the lamb who was slain.
Even though Jesus was our Shepherd, he became a sheep to die as the sacrifice for us, so that we didn’t have to.
In fact,
Genesis 22: A lamb for one man
Exodus 12: A lamb for a family
Leviticus 16: A lamb for the nation
John 1: A lamb for the whole world
Revelation 5: A lamb ruling the world
Friday, June 10, 2016
Secondary Bible Themes 8 - Trees
Here is a list of themes in the Bible.One of them is trees. Trees in general represent a connection or intersection between heaven and earth. They extend their branches, leaves, and needles upward and there very shape is an arrow pointing to heaven. At the same time, however, they are firmly and deeply rooted in the earth below. This is why a tree Christmas Tree is a symbol used at Christmas, when the divine became human. Planting a tree was even a form of worship in ancient times before the covenant with God (Genesis 21:33, Deuteronomy 16:21).
Genesis 1:11 Describes a Garden of Eden full of trees. Verse 2:18 explains that the vegetation yields food with sources of running water and verse 9 explains that there are two trees on streams specifically named, which are tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. One brings protection, life, comfort, grace, and community as people gather to eat. The other casts a shadow of death, sorrow, and hardship.
Proverbs likens good things to the tree of life, such as Wisdom (11:30), A desire fulfilled (13:12), and a gentle tongue (15:4). Psalm 1:3 states that the blessed man is like a healthful tree, planted by streams of water. He yields fruit, has leaves that don't whither, and is always prosperous. This language of a man being a tree that bears fruit is continued throughout the Bible. Good tree bears good fruit bad trees bear bad fruit. There is the Fruit of the spirit and Sanctification fruit.
This brings to mind the imagery of the Garden of Eden. Referring to the blessed man, restore what Adam lost. While we all aspire and work toward this, the ultimate fulfillment of this blessed man is Jesus. This is explained in Jeremiah 17:7-10, which sounds a lot like the Psalm, but with the addition that our hearts are deceitful and desperately sick, showing that we are not the perfect fulfillment of the good tree.
Continuing the theme of Heaven being like Eden restored, in Chapter 47, Ezekiel discusses his vision of a massive river lowing east out of the temple of Jerusalem with trees growing for food on both sides. Their leaves will not whither, nor fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit.
This imagery of Heaven and the New Jerusalem is repeated again in Revelation 12:12. God shows John his vision a tree by a river that bears 12 kinds of fruit, one for each month. Leaves are for healing of the nations. Throughout John’s writings, he likes to link Genesis to Christ (such as John 1). Christ is the tree of life. Christ bore the fruit, Christ healed the nations.
Also, God being the perfect blessed man then allows us access to the tree of life one again. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." -Revelations 2:8
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”
-Galatians 12:12
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. -Deuteronomy 21:22-23 as a Prophecy of Christ.
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
-Acts 5:30-31
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24
Monday, June 6, 2016
Secondary Bible Themes 7 - Mountains
Here is a list of themes in the Bible. Mountains are one of them and are mentioned in 310 verses in the Bible. They are presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place for the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth. Mountains, therefore represent holy places, where God is present. Pagans also had this idea of gods dwelling on mountains (think Olympus).
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” -Genesis 22:2
[ The Burning Bush ] Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God....He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” -Exodus 3:1,12
You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. -Exodus 15:17
In Exodus 19-34 Moses goes up the mountain to meet with God and recieve God's word in the 10 commandments.
[ The Shining Face of Moses ] When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. -Exodus 34:29
[ The Lord Is in His Holy Temple ] [ To the choirmaster. Of David. ] In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain,-Psalm 11:1
"I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from?" -Psalm 121
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob,that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his path." -Isaiah 2:3a
Matthew specifically utilizes this theme and makes the connection of Mountains and Jesus. This makes sense because Matthew is a Jew, writing to the Jews to explain how Jesus is the Messiah. He is transitioning and linking the Old and New Testaments as well as showing that Jesus is God with us.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.-Matthew 4:8
The Sermon on the Mount -Matthew 5
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,-Matthew 14:23
[ Jesus Heals Many ] Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. -
Matthew 15:29
[ The Transfiguration ] And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. -Matthew 17:1
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” -Matthew 17:20
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. - Matthew 21:21
Jesus commissioned the apostles on a mountain, just like Moses was.
[ The Great Commission ] Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. -Matthew 28:16
Revelation is a vision is full of symbolism about the end of this world, the beginning of the next, and Jesus at the nexus, so mountains featured prominently there as well.
The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, -Revelation 6:14-16
The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. -Revelation 8:8
This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; -Revelation 17:9
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, -Revelation 21:10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)