Purpose

Regarding the question asked last week concerning body decoration …First let me get a couple trivialities out of the way:  I questioned the use of the word tattoo, which is relatively new (1780), and is not even used in every Holy Bible version for Lev 19:28.  But even though the word is fairly new, that doesn’t mean that the practice is.  Also, some may try to dismiss this command as intended only for the Israelites.  But in order to gain an understanding of God’s word, we must consider context and purpose.  In my NIV intro of the book it says, Leviticus is a manual of regulations enabling the holy King (God) to set up his earthly throne among the people of his kingdom.  It explains how they are to be his holy people and to worship him in a holy manner.  Holiness in this sense means to be separated from sin and set apart exclusively for his purpose and for his glory.  In Leviticus spiritual holiness is symbolized by spiritual perfection.  So, when Jesus said, “do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”, it meant that that he would demonstrate the full value and meaning of worshipping God, not only through mere adherence to the letter of his word, but on a deeper, more basic level as well (Mt 5:17; 22:37-40).  Jesus saw the big picture, but was still concerned with the details.

The Lord tells his people in Leviticus 19:28, ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.  I am the Lord.’  The NIV note on that verse says that there was to be no disfiguring of the body after the manner of the pagans.  The operative phrase here is, ‘after the manner of the pagans’.  By conforming to the practices of the pagans, and more importantly for the same reason as the pagans, God’s people would’ve shown that they’ve aligned themselves with their gods.  The NIV note on Lev 21:5 reads, such lacerations and disfigurement were common among pagans as signs of mourning and to secure the attention of their deity.  (Along with this is also the command not to cut the hair along the hairline or beard because this was also a pagan religious custom of the Canaanites. Lev 21:5; Deut 14:1)

If cutting or any permanent alteration of the body were sinful, in and of itself, then surely God wouldn’t have established the covenant of circumcision with Abraham (Gen 17:10).  God is purposeful, and he doesn’t arbitrarily establish rules for the sake of burdening us.  They’re for our own good -and more importantly- for his glory.  Just as the cutting of the hair at the hairline and cutting and tattooing were symbolic of calling upon pagan gods; circumcision was a sign of covenant between God and Abraham (and his people) (Gen 17:11). 

Consider though that we’re warned to be careful not to limit our understanding of God by religious practices only, and that by trying to justify ourselves by the law, we alienate ourselves from Christ (Gal 5:4).  Paul points out the futility of this by sarcastically suggesting that prideful agitators who did this should become even more ‘holy’ by castrating themselves! Who says the Bible is boring? (Gal 5:1-15, and also Ro 2:17-29; Php 3:1-11; Ro 6:15)  I believe that in order to gain a full understand of God and develop a relationship with him, a person must first have an understanding of God through his word, to which external acknowledgment and obedience are a byproduct.  Simple adherence to the word, based on knowledge without understanding, makes a hypocrite out of the one who does so.  We come to know God through his word, as well as by his grace (by which we have the ability to be reconciled with God, and grafted onto his family tree, through Jesus Christ).  If we exclusively acknowledge either (the letter of the Word or God’s grace), we fail to fully recognize who God is.  In all that we do, we must ask, ‘For who, and what purpose?’

              

   

Grace, Pt. 2

I had just a few additional words to add to the topic of grace.  I had too many notes left, and felt I wasn’t quite finished anyway. 

To further elaborate on the definition of grace, Romans 11:6 tells us, ‘And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace’.  We see that grace is directly opposed to works, so that it cannot be earned.  It’s not a wage, but a gift that must be accepted (2 Co 6:1).  And with the gift of grace, specific gifts come with it, the most notable being salvation (Eph 2:6, 8-10).  Justification through Jesus Christ our Savior is a gift imparted by grace (Tit 3:7).  Peace of mind in the presence of religious legalism is a gift of grace (Heb 13:9).  Growing is to be done in grace (2 Pe 3:18).  And although it cannot be earned, we learn that grace is given to the humble (Jas 4:6).

Grace is from God alone, through Christ Jesus (Lk 2:40; 1 Co 1:4; 2 Th 2:16; 2 Ti 1:9).  Paul testified that it was  by grace that he was what he was, and it was the grace of God working in him that brought about all that he’d accomplished (1 Co 15:10).  Jesus -our high priest- has lived this life that we struggle to stay right and get right in.  And he’s not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but Jesus himself had been tempted in every way just as we are (Remember, temptation isn’t sin; yielding to it is.) –yet was without sin (Heb 4:14-15).  So, we are encouraged to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (v. 16).  Thank you Lord!              

Grace, Pt.1

First of all, my apologies to anyone who may’ve missed my Friday post.  I wasn’t even able to think straight because I was suffering from a viral infection complete with fever, headache, body aches, and loss of appetite (and if you know me, you know it’s serious then).  But I’m -at least- back to blogging health!

I can’t even put into words yet, how these past five days have been.  I’m still trying to evaluate it myself.  But the Holy Spirit has put in the forefront of my mind the value of grace, which is commonly defined as unmerited favor by Christians.  Merriam-Webster’s definition, in the context of biblical scripture, is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration and sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace; approval; favor; privilege.

To receive God’s grace is so humbling.  In fact, God gives grace to the humble 9Pr 3:34).  Not the perfect, but the humble.  Paul boasted in God’s wisdom to afflict him with a thorn in his flesh along with the revelations he’d given to keep him humble (2 Co 12:7-10).  The nature of his affliction of the flesh was unknown, so we can find ourselves here.  God gives a better solution than removing the thorn:  for him to show himself strong in people’s lives despite their weaknesses.  The absolute best example is Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary and resurrection (Lk 22:41-44; 23:26-24:35).

Paul says something so striking in Acts 20:24, and I second it: ‘…I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace’.  Or as the Michael A. Jones version goes, ‘My life wouldn’t have meant nothin’ unless I did as God told me to do, through his Word, by living a life that testifies to the gospel of his grace, which has shown that although I was messed up, God was still able to use me!’  As much as Paul had been blessed with, he also had his weaknesses, which kept him humble and fully aware that it was all God who was working in him, and not himself. 

Without grace there would be no hope.  We’d be subject to the law of sin which results in death (Ro 8:1-2).  The law was given, not to bring about redemption, but to point out the need for it, which is only offered through Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; Ro 5:20-21, and NIV note).  The Bible tells us to be careful of taking advantage of grace.  Don’t be deceived.  God cannot be mocked.  But grace should be our motivation to obey God in love (Ro 6:1-15; Gal 6:7).

Not to deny the reality and the goodness of justice, but grace is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.  Without it, there is no hope, no faith, no Christianity.  So I conclude with these parting words John wrote until Christ’s return, ‘the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.’ (Rev 22:21)       

  

Have Nothing to Do With Them

We are all called to be holy and sanctified.  But if perfection was the criteria for whom God allowed us to associate with, then we’d truly be islands, not dealing with anyone.  (Furthermore, how estranged would we be from a holy God himself?) So, I believe that the instruction not to have anything to do with people who are:  lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God should be understood as being indicative of the very character of that individual (2 Tim 3:1-5).  I believe that if the overall tenor of a person’s life is marked by sin -if it doesn’t surprise you that they’ve chosen to do wrong, as opposed to right- then these are the people the Word is referring to.  These are the people we should have nothing to do with. 

To some extent, I’ve found myself in the previous description.  I can work on being more self-controlled.  I have moments of pride.  And unfortunately, there have been times when I’ve put my own pleasure first.  But my life is not characterized by these instances of failing to meet the mark.    

The Bible tells us how to further indentify these people we’re to distance ourselves from.  They seemingly lead a life that is good and holy, with a reverence for God, but they lack the power of one who does (2 Tim 3:5; NIV note on 1 Tim 2:2).  They take advantage of people’s weaknesses (v.6-7). And they oppose the truth of God’s word (v. 8).  But the Bible also lets us know that they won’t get very far, because their folly (lack of good sense, prudence, or foresight) will be clear to everyone (v. 9).  God’s not trying to deny us anything, but it’s plain to see that he wants to save us from suffering the same fate as these people because surely bad company corrupts good character (1 Co 15:33).

Similarly, these people who do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God (the word ‘retain’ is used here because the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men [Tit 2:11]), not only continue to do these things -become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity, are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice, are gossipers, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil, they disobey their parents; they’re senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless- but they approve of those who practice them as well (Ro 1:28-32)! 

The Bible tells us that these people deserve death (v. 32).  But thank God, he’s loved us enough to provide us with a way out if we’re ever so caught out there that we’re given over to a mind such as this (v. 28; Jn 3:16).  Jesus Christ (our way out!) who’s given the ransom for our lives, so that we can be restored into right standing with God has offered his blameless, unblemished, perfect life for ours (Mk 10:45; Ro 5:10; 10:9; 1 Co 15:56-57; 2 Co 5:21).  Through him we have the opportunity to cheat death (Rev 12:11).  All YOU need to do is accept the gift of salvation offered, by confessing that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved (Ro 10:9).  No, you won’t be perfect, but you will be saved.