The Love of God

God’s love is primarily towards His children.  However, He also sees fit to show His love towards the unsaved.  (Psalm 145:9 -- “The Lord is good to all.”)  In Luke 6:35, God calls us to love our enemies and do good to all.  In this way, we can be like Him, because He is kind on ungrateful and evil men.

Primarily, though, God’s love is towards His children.  Here are seven aspects of God’s love, as known by the Christian:

1. God is love.  The description of God and the description of God’s love (1 Cor. 13) are the same.  God is sovereign; His love is sovereign.  God is unchangeable; His love is unchangeable.  God is perfect; His love is perfect, and so on…
2. God’s love flows through Jesus Christ to His people.  Read through Ephesians 1, and see how many times the blessings we enjoy are described as being “in Christ”.  All that we enjoy of God as Christians is through His Son.  How do we experience this love?  By believing in Christ.  It is all that is required of us, but it is required of us.
3. The love of God does not begin with us.  God’s love begins with Himself.  We love Him because He first loved us.
   Because of the three first points, the following aspects of God’s love are true:
4. The love of God in Christ Jesus is attracted by nothing in its object.  We do not earn His love or do anything to make Him love us.
5. The love of God cannot be repelled by anything that is in us.  God loved us long before we knew Him.  He loved us when we were still sinners.  Now, as His children, when we stumble, He is not repelled by our sin; He will not leave us or forsake us.
6. The love of God is not apportioned to His children by their fruitfulness.  God loves all His children the same: He has a superabundance of love for us.  He loves us all the same, all the time.
7. God heals our backslidings.  He pours His love out upon us, in the form of chastening, when we sin.  In His love, He forgives us when we return to Him.

God’s love for us does not grow, but we can grow to know that love more.  So we should come to God knowing that He loves us.  We should make our prayers and requests known with His love for us in mind, and we should meditate much on the love that is ours in Christ.

The Passover

Texts: Leviticus 23:4-8 (opens in new window)
Exodus 12:1-14 (opens in new window)

The passage listed in Leviticus above describes the institution of the remembrance of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread that directly follows it.  In order to understand this remembrance,  we must look back to the first Passover, in Exodus 12.

The first verse of that passage says that this is to be their first month.  God was telling the Israelites that what He was doing here was of paramount importance.  This would be the event they set their calendars to.  And this would be a great and new thing, a new beginning at the beginning of a new year.

Next, the Israelites were told to take a lamb on the 10th day.  This lamb was to be selected – chosen with a purpose – and to be without any blemish, looking forward to Christ who was the spotless Sacrifice.  Many years later, when Christ came, this would be the day He entered Jerusalem.

They were to keep the lamb until the 14th day (the day Christ would die).  This gave them time to ensure that it really was a perfect sacrifice.  Then they were to kill the lamb at evening (about the time Christ died).

They were to roast the lamb whole, signifying Christ’s wholeness and perfection, and were to eat it in haste, remembering their deliverance from Egypt.

The lamb was to be eaten with unleavened bread.  Leaven frequently is a symbol for sin; the Israelites were leaving sin behind in Egypt.  They ate with bitter herbs, to remind them of the hardness and bitterness of sin.

The blood of the lamb was to be placed over and beside the door posts.  They had to be “under the blood”, as we have to be covered by the blood-sacrifice of Christ today.

In verse 14 of Exodus 12, God told the Israelites that He was instituting a memorial that would be celebrated yearly until it was fulfilled in Christ.  Furthermore, God told them to be sure to keep this as a reminder to their children (v 26, 27) and be ready to explain the significance of the ritual to them.  In the same way, we should be constantly teaching our children the glorious gospel of Christ.

Philippians 4:8 -- Characteristics of the glory of God seen in Jesus Christ

Texts : John 1:14 (opens in new window)
Philippians 4:8 (opens in new window)

The first chapter of John is well-known as an explanation and description of how The Word (Jesus Christ) became a man and came to live upon this world.  John 1:14 describes how Christ “dwelt among” the disciples and how His glory was evident and “full of grace and truth”.

What is this glory?  We often say that our objective is to “bring glory to God”.  What does that mean?

John is saying that Jesus Christ is the glory of God.  And that Jesus was making known God in all His glory.  Some aspects of the glory of God – or of glory in general—are:

1. Glory must be revealed.  It does not exist until it is seen and made known.
2. Glory is excellent.  Things that are glorious are not humdrum, not ordinary.
3. Glory is victorious.  In Jesus, we see the victory of Life over death, of mercy over misery, and of grace over sin.

This brings us to the well-known passage in Philippians 4:8.  In this verse, Paul defines a number of wonderful things to think upon.  Although one can think upon what is true, honorable, just, etc., without thinking directly of Christ, these characteristics are most perfectly embodied in the Lord Jesus.  As John put it in John 1:14, Jesus is the glory of God.  The glory of God in Jesus Christ is displayed in each of these attributes.  Let’s consider them:

1. Whatever things are true – this word means “not hidden”, “unconcealed”, “manifested”.  Something that is true is an actual occurrence, an event that can be trusted.
2. Whatever things are honorable – synonyms: “venerable:”, “revered”.  This indicates something that is deep, substantial, weighty, grave.  This is in contrast to the shallow, even flippant, examples of Christianity we see around today.
3. Whatever things are just – This word means “is as it should be, always.”  Christ is what he should be, always, as He ever lives to make intercession for us.
4. Whatever things are pure – The idea of this word is things that excite reverence, things that are free from carnality, modest, immaculate, and unmixed with error.  Christ exemplified purity, in that He was “holy, harmless, and undefiled”.
5. Whatever things are lovely or loveable – This word is not found elsewhere in the Bible.  It is a completely subjective idea – what is lovely to one may not be to another.  But Paul was certain the Christians in Philippi would know what is truly lovely, and would know that true loveliness starts with the loveliness of Christ.
6. Whatever is of good repute – These are things that sound well, that are words of a good omen, or words of good will toward others.  The “good news” of the gospel of Christ is the ultimate word of good repute.
7. If there be and virtue – Moral goodness, excellence in thought, feelings, and actions.  Again, Jesus is our Example of virtuous life.
8. If anything is worthy of praise – or commendable.  Who is more worthy of our praise than our Lord and Savior?

As we consider these things, let us strive to consider Christ and to think upon Him – the glory of God – in the days ahead.

Philippians 4:10-19 The discipline of Christian contentment

Text:  Philippians 4:10-19 (opens in new window)

This section of Philippians deals with the concept of Christian contentment.  But this section should not be considered in isolation from its chapter.  Contentment is not possible without rejoicing in the Lord.

Three key factors are required for Christian contentment.  Each is intertwined with the others, and cannot really be had without the others.

First, gratitude, or thankfulness to others.  Primarily, we should be thankful to God Himself.  We have much to be thankful to Him for both in our current physical condition, and in the vast spiritual blessings He has given us.  Secondarily, we should have gratitude towards other people.  We are needy.  Each of us is not an island; we need others.  We must be willing to give to others and have the humility to recognize our own needs and make them known so that we may receive from others.  Paul, clearly, was thankful for the Philippians and how they shared with him (v. 15 and 16).

Second, we must be able to content ourselves with our current circumstances.  Are we worrying and doubtful?  Is our level of contentment based on our circumstances?  Contentment requires self-discipline.  We are responsible for our own state of mind and can control it by what we think upon.  We must rise above comparing our situation with what others have, and rest in the knowledge that God gives us what is good for us.

Paul says in verse 12 that “I have learned the secret” of contentment.  Contentment is a discipline that may be learned, that may be reached in greater degrees.  It is something we all are working on.

The Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs, in his book, “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment” outlined a number of items for consideration in pursuing the discipline of Christian contentment:

1. Subtraction – Subtract our desires (the “I want this”) from what God has given us.
2. Addition – Consider our sin.  Is God teaching us something through the difficulty we are in?
3. Change the evil of our circumstances into good – Afflictions create growth.  Change the “bad times” into “good times” – times of being closer to our Savior.
4. Always do what is required of you – Continue doing what we know we should do: having devotional times, praying, etc.  This requires discipline.
5. Make God’s will your own will – Not a begrudging acceptance of what God has for you, but a joyful embracing of it.
6. Purge out the root of bitterness – Eliminate contentions that cause jealousy, envy, and discontent

Finally, look to Christ for contentment.  Paul said “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”.  We can say the same.  God has enabled us to do all that He has called us to do.  He has given us the strength to triumph in whatever circumstances we are in!  As a final encouragement, remember that “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:5)

Philippians 4:6-9 (Part 3) – Four Qualities of True Christians

Text: Philippians 4:6-9

In this section of Philippians, Paul discusses four qualities of all Christians.  God expects to find these qualities in His children, and in response, He promises that all He is will be upon us.

First, Christians are always rejoicing in the Lord.  As Paul puts it in Verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”  In Christ, we have no reason to have a disposition other than that of rejoicing.  He has given us a purpose and has revealed Himself to us.  Is there anything in our lives where we find satisfaction other than Christ?  Is there anything we are rejoicing in more than in Him?

Second, a Christian is always in prayer.  Several things about prayer are mentioned in this passage:

1. Be anxious for nothing.  Don’t be full of worry, eaten up with anxiety.
2. Prayer means coming into the presence of God, communing with His, meditating, and thinking about Him.
3. Make supplications.  A “supplication” means you are coming to God based on no merit of your own, instead relying completely on His mercy.
4. Pray with thanksgiving.  There is always something to be thankful for.  In context, Paul seems to be saying to be thankful for the very thing that is bothering you.

Third, a Christian guards his mind.  He is thinking on the proper things, as listed in verse 8.  Note that the world around us rejects all these things.  The world wants to say there is no objective truth, no standards of rightness, or purity, or excellence.  But these things do exist.  They exist because of God, and they exist in Him.  We should guard our thoughts and improve our minds by “thinking God’s thoughts after Him”.

Fourth, “do these things”.  A Christian does not merely have knowledge of the truth.  His knowledge is worked out in reality.  We are called to conform our lives to what has been revealed in God’s authoritative Word.  God has promised His peace – His very presence – to be with us when we do.

Philippians 4:6-9 (Part 2) -- God meets the needs His people

Text: Philippians 4:6-9

The entire section of the first nine verses of Philippians is one cohesive unit. The individual thoughts within are interrelated. As mentioned in the previous section, these verses are a gold mine of Bible riches.

In this section, we see the needs of the people of God. First among those needs is a need for a "guard". We need our hearts and minds guarded (v. 7). The phrase "hearts and minds" describes a totality of man's thinking, emotion, reasonings, and doing.

Do we feel the need for a guard? Are we faced with the knowledge of our inadequacies? Do we live out this knowledge in day-by-day dependence on God? We are inadequate; we need a keeper.

We need a keeper for our spiritual selves. We must live with constant awareness of the dangers we face. We face dangers from outside in a wicked world that seeks to tear us down, and dangers inside from remaining sinful tendencies within us, such as pride and self-centeredness.

Also, we need a keeper for our physical selves. We are at risk from ailments, illnesses, and accidents.

Secondly, we need God to be with us. We know, intellectually, that God is with us at all times. We know "where two or three are gathered", God is in our midst. But we need more than just the head-knowledge that God is with us -- we need God's manifest presence, for God to speak to us in an undeniable manner.

Let us not take God's presence for granted! When we meet together for worship, let us be coming together in the earnest hope that He will be there, speaking to us through His word, enabling us to worship by His Spirit, changing our hearts and lives to make us more like Him.

Paul discusses prayer in this section: "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God." What is prayer, beyond just making requests to God? Real prayer involves entering into a oneness with God. If you have a relationship that allows you to go into the presence of God, that is prayer.

And the result of this communion is "the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension". It has been said that this peace is "felt by all the truly godly, but can be explained by none." Let us seek to enter more fully into this communion and be fuller partakers of this peace!

Philippians 4:1-9 (Part I) How to Live in Harmony: Rejoice Always!

Text: Philippians 4:1-9

This section in Philippians may be one of the most preached-upon in the Bible. This is a "goldmine" section of verses, full of deep riches to be discovered.

In the first verse, Paul encourages the Philippians to stand firm in the Lord. Paul's language demonstrates his deep love for these believers, his "joy and crown" and his "beloved". He would hate to hear that they had in any way slipped back.

The next two verses, (v. 2 and 3) are particularly interesting. Paul urges two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to live in harmony in the Lord. We know that these are fellow laborers in the gospel with Paul. True Christians and even effective workers for the gospel can and will have disagreements.

Beyond that, Paul urges the reader, his "true companion" to help these women. Our goal and priority among the body, the church, is to not allow divisions and strife. We must banish bad thoughts about one another. If we have disagreements, we need to go to each other. We should seek to be peacemakers, trying to facilitate reconciliation among the brethren, never spreading gossip and causing strife.

Verse four is extremely well known: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" Considered in the context of this passage, it seems as though Paul is saying, "I know there will be disagreements and differences, but this is how I want you to work them out: "Rejoice always!" You cannot maintain an attitude of bitterness and rejoice at the same time. This is so important to Paul, he says it a second time!

What does it mean to rejoice? What is the joy of a rejoicing Christian? It is "joy", not "happiness". The pursuit of happiness is what we see in the world around us, and it is an endless pursuit because this happiness is strictly external, based on our circumstances. Yes, we can change our situation, buy some new "stuff" and be happy... for a while. But the happiness wears off and then what? Or what if our situation, for whatever reasons, is not a "happy" one?

The Christian's "joy" is an inward thing. It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) (and is not limited by "any law" - you can't rejoice too much!) Inner joy is a supernatural thing the Holy Spirit has given to all Christians.

Our joy as Christians is not affected by external situation. We rejoice because of what Christ has done as our High Priest to bring us into a relationship with Him. We rejoice because He preserves and keeps us -- we are not kept in relationship with Him through our own righteousness, but it is all of Christ; He continually keeps us. So we rejoice in being in Christ and being one with Him. This rejoicing is all through the Bible, in the Old Covenant as well as the New.

Is it possible for a Christian to have inward joy and not to show outward joy? How absurd! Christians should have outward joy more than all others; we should be known as people who are rejoicing no matter what our situation is!

Verse 5 continues on the theme of getting along: "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men." Other translations use the word "moderate" or "forbearing spirit". The meaning is clear: Christians should have a willingness to get along with, to agree with, their brothers and sisters in the Lord. We should live at peace with all men, gently bringing along the weakest of the brethren. We should show reasonableness, and not be unduly rigorous about secondary matters. Someone who always insists that his way is the only way, who always demands his "just due" is in violation of this principle.

We should remember that "the Lord is near". He is with us at all times, to help us and see us through. Is this just a theological truth to us, or are we experiencing it in our lives in a real way? The truths in this rich section are not to be merely known with the mind, but to be deeply experienced: God being near to us, the "peace that passes understanding".

More to come next week...