Born of a Virgin

The birth of every child is a miracle.  We understand much of the biology and the process by which children are conceived and grow in the mother’s womb, but this does not make it any less a miracle. 

The first man, Adam, was not born but he was formed directly by the hand of God.  All of us have descended from Adam by the natural processes of biology.  There has been only one exception in all of history…the man Christ Jesus, the second Adam.

Jesus Christ is the one exception in all of history.  God interrupted biology and natural processes and caused a baby to be born of a virgin.  Romans 5:12, 17 tell us why this was necessary.

¹²When Adam sinned, sin entered the world.  Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

¹⁷For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.  But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.[i]

This is why 1 Corinthians 15:22 gives this conclusion:

Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

This is why it is important that Jesus was born of a virgin.

Adam’s race was stained with sin.

As a matter of fact, we are all sinners.  The judgment of God is that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)  

No one is righteous—not even one.  (Romans 3:9) 

We must understand this is not a small problem.  We must not think that sin is insignificant and can easily be passed over. 

When we see pictures of the Nazi death camps, and the piles of corpses that accompanied those, we are justly angered and sickened at the horrendous crimes these represent.

When we read of crimes against children, we are rightly horrified that anyone should hurt an innocent child.

However, we do not consider the envy, jealousy, anger and malice in our own hearts to be in the same category.  This is where we are wrong.  All the crimes and atrocities of history grew out of these very things, which are in all of our hearts.  Every person since Adam, except one, has this sin nature, and this is why we have all sinned, with Jesus being the only exception.  What is more, even things we do not consider as being particularly sinful reflect this sin nature.  This is why Jesus said:

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (Matthew 5:28)

It is because of sin that death is a part of the human experience, and it is through the miracle of the virgin birth that God addresses the problem of sin and death in us, the descendants of Adam.

What does it mean to be sinless, perfect and pure? 

We cannot know except for Jesus.  He is the only one who lived and never sinned.  Through the miracle of the virgin birth, Jesus was born free of the curse of sin.  Because of the virgin birth, Jesus was born free of the stain of sin.  Since His mother was of Adam’s race, Jesus could represent Adam’s race, but since His Father was not of Adam’s race, He could be free from the curse of sin.  By this means, He became a second Adam.

According to Luke 1:27, Mary was in Galilee, in a town named Nazareth.  She was a descendant of David, engaged to a man named Joseph, who was also a descendant of David.  Mary was a virgin.  We can assume she was not the only virgin in Israel, and most likely was not even the only virgin in Nazareth.  As far as we know, she was a normal person.  This is important because Jesus came to save all people.  Mary was an exceptional person.  However, she was human, remained human and her salvation was bought for her by her Son just as your salvation and mine was bought for us by her Son.

Nowhere in the Bible does it suggest that we should pray to Mary, or that she is divine.  In Luke 8, the Scriptures tell of a time when Jesus’s mother and brothers came to see Him, but they could not get to Him because of the crowds.  When Jesus was told this, He said, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”  (Luke 8:21)  The key to being heard by Jesus is hearing God’s word and obeying it, not appealing to Him through His mother.

Jesus said of prayer, “In that day you will ask nothing of me.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”  (John 16:23, ESV)  Jesus taught us to pray directly to the Father in His name.

Saying that we are not instructed to pray to or through Mary does not mean that she was not favored.  The angel’s greeting included the fact that she was favored.  She received grace from God.  Gabriel said, “Greetings, favored woman!  The Lord is with you!”  The word Gabriel used is translated in other places as grace.

Mary herself says:

Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.  How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.  For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.  (Luke 1:46-49)

This is part of the meaning of the virgin birth.  God has done great things for us.  This praise and thanksgiving of Mary’s is appropriate for all of us.  John 1:16 says, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  (ESV)[ii]

God chose Abraham, and passed His blessing and grace down through Abraham.  God chose Mary and made her a vessel of His grace.  God continues to choose individuals and make them vessels of His grace.  God gives His favor to pour out His grace on all people.

How God pours out His favor is often a mystery.  In Mary’s case, it is uniquely so.  It is a mystery how God and man can be united together in one person for all of eternity.  And yet, this is exactly what happened in Jesus.  It is a complete impossibility that a virgin should conceive.  And yet, this is exactly what happened. 

Mary herself addresses this mystery.  Gabriel told Mary, “You will conceive and give birth to a son…”  (Luke 1:31)  Mary responded, “But how can this happen?  I am a virgin.”  (Luke 1:34)

The angel explained what would happen and how it would happen.  His explanation is the only explanation we have.  Gabriel said:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”  (Luke 1:35)

This is as technical as the explanation gets.  The biology behind the growth of Jesus in the womb was the same as that of every baby.  However, the conception itself was completely miraculous.

Two things stand out in this explanation. 

One, “the baby to be born will be holy…”  He was born without the sin nature we all inherit from Adam.

Two, “He will be called the Son of God.”  Jesus is the Son of God, both by birth and in His person.

Because of these two things, the Scriptures say:

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)

This is why the virgin birth is such an important part of our faith.

What is more, because He is holy and the Son of God, the Scriptures tell us:

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.  He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.  (1 John 2:1-2)

How can the death of one man pay for the sins of the entire world?

First, because He was sinless, He had no sins of His own for which to pay.

Second, because He was God, the price paid was infinite.

Third, because He was of Adam’s race through Mary, He could represent us and pay our penalty.

This is all the work of God.  It is a miracle and it is wonderful.  We contemplate these things today to remind us of the wonder of it all.  God has truly done wonderful things for us.

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

The Turning Point of History

Matthew 1:1-17

We live in uncertain times.  Protesters say, “Not my President!”  ISIS is waging a war of terror everywhere they can.  The world is in turmoil over the civil war in Syria.  Iran is testing missiles, and North Korea is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles.  The list can go on and on.

History is working toward a conclusion.  Great hope and encouragement is available through an understanding of the point on which history turns.  It is all about Jesus.  Jesus said quite clearly, “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”  (Matthew 24:14)[i]

History is about this “Good News.”  I want to look at how history centers on Christ so that we will never lose hope and our minds can be at peace in the Lord.  In John 14:27, Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.”

First, we find peace of mind in knowing that Jesus Christ is the anchor or turning point of all history.  The world moves inexorably toward its consummation to the glory of God, and it all revolves around Jesus Christ.

The book of Genesis starts with the account of the creation of the world.  We know that it was through Jesus that God created all things.  John 1:3 says, “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”  In explaining the beginning of human history, Genesis uses a statement, “This is the account of…”  Genesis 2:4 says, “This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.”  Then Genesis 5:1 says, “This is the written account of the descendants of Adam.” Using the same formula, Genesis 6:9 says, “This is the account of Noah and his family.” Genesis 10:1, “This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  Genesis 11:27, “This is the account of Terah’s family.”

Matthew ties into this history by using the same statement or formula.  Matthew 1:1, “This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham…”  The translators, in trying to make it understandable to us in English, have unwittingly covered up the obvious mimicking of the Genesis formula.  However, there is no covering up the association with David and Abraham.  Abraham and David represent God’s covenant relationship with His people and His promise to send the Messiah.

Abraham’s story is the account of Terah’s family begun in Genesis 11:27.  God chose Abraham out of all the people on earth, and made an everlasting covenant with Abraham.  From Abraham’s children, God chose Isaac, and from Isaac’s children, God chose Jacob.  Genesis lays this foundation and the Old Testament tells the story of God’s dealings with the descendants of Jacob. 

The Old Testament’s history ends with Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in 422 B.C.  However, history was moving inexorably toward the coming of the promised Messiah.  The world scene was shaping up toward its turning point.  Here is a rough outline of what was happening.

Going back to a little before Nehemiah, during the time of Esther, Xerxes tried to expand the Persian Empire.  He was victorious against the Greeks at Thermopylae but was defeated at the battle of Salamis in 480 B.C.  This was the last bid of the East for world dominion.

In 333 B.C., Alexander the Great defeated the Persians at Issus.  This was foretold in Daniel chapter 8 where the united Greek forces are pictured as a goat from the West.

           

In 332 B.C., Alexander the Great visited Jerusalem and seeing the prophecy of Daniel, which spoke of him, he decided to spare Jerusalem.

In 323 B.C., Alexander the Great died and his world empire of both East and West was split between his four generals.  Again, this was foretold in Daniel.

In 320 B.C., Ptolemy Soter annexed Judea to Egypt.

In 203 B.C., Antiochus the Great took Jerusalem and Judea passed under the influence of Syria.

170 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes took Jerusalem and defiled the temple.

166 B.C., Mattathias, the priest of Judea, led a revolt against Syria, beginning the period known as the Maccabees.

63 B.C., Pompey, the Roman, took Jerusalem, and the people of Israel passed under the dominion of the Roman Empire.  They remained under the Roman government throughout the New Testament period.

31 B.C., Caesar Augustus became Roman emperor.

19 B.C., Construction began on the Herodian Temple.[ii]

These and many more events during the 400 years from the closing of the Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament show a world in turmoil.  However, in the midst of all the wars and struggles for dominion, God’s plan was coming together.

According to the promises of the Old Testament, Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem.  Literally, hundreds of prophesies came together in the birth of our Lord.  Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” (ESV)  “The fullness of time” refers back to Galatians 4:2, which says, “the time appointed of the father.” 

The prophecies of the Old Testament had foretold the history leading up to the birth of Christ.  None of the turmoil, unrest and trouble of those days caught God off guard.  Men like Xerxes, who claimed to be divine, ended up being significant only in that they advanced the plan of God.

Matthew starts the account of the New Testament by tying in all the history of the Old Testament, and focuses it in on Jesus Christ.  In doing this, he divides Old Testament history into 3 sections:  1) Abraham to David, 2) David to the Babylonian exile, and 3) the Babylonian exile to Christ.

The turning point of all history is the birth of Jesus Christ.  The central point of all history is the Good News. 

Matthew 1:17 says:

All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

From Abraham to David, the focus was on the promise of God to make a nation out of Abraham’s descendants through Isaac.  With the ascension of David to the throne of Israel, in one sense this promise was fulfilled.  During this age, the people of God were under the administration of judges raised up by God.

From David to the exile to Babylon, the focus was on the promises of God to bless or curse the nation based on obedience.  The reign of David was meant to reflect the coming reign of Christ, but the kings of Israel failed in this regard.  During this age, the people of God were under the administration of kings.

From the exile to Christ, the focus was on the coming Messiah.  The people of God were living in darkness, subject to foreign powers, princes and kings.

Fourteen generations in each age allowed time for the people of God to prove they would be faithful.  The period of the judges started out well with Moses and Joshua, but quickly degenerated into a cycle of unfaithfulness and wandering.  The period of the kings started out well with David and Solomon, but quickly degenerated into a cycle of good and bad kings, a divided nation.  The period after the exile started out with reforms by Ezra and Nehemiah, but degenerated into the Sadducees, Pharisees, Hellenists and Zealots of the time of Jesus.  God patiently allows each age to test the limits of their ability to live by faith according to the administration of that age.  Could people direct themselves only calling on judges when they found themselves in trouble?  Could kings faithfully lead people to follow God?  Would God’s people patiently look forward in hope for God’s promised Messiah?

The answer, sadly, to all of these queries is “no.”  Therefore, at the fullness of time, at just the right time, God brought forth His Son.

It is important for us to be patient and wait upon the Lord.  The times may seem uncertain, but God is at work.  We should never give up hope.  We have seen history centers on Jesus, and that God has a plan and an administration for each age.  We also see in this genealogy that God keeps His promises.

It is important that Jesus be both a descendant of David and a descendant of Abraham.  God promised to bless all peoples on earth through Abraham’s seed.  This promise is fulfilled in Jesus.  God promised that a descendant of David would sit on the throne forever.  Jesus is that descendant.

Although Jesus is not the physical son of Joseph, the genealogy of Matthew establishes His legal right to the throne of David, this legal right being passed down through the male line.

However, it is significant that Mary is also a descendant of David as recorded in Luke.  However, there is a difference in Mary’s line.  Jeremiah 22:30 says of one of the descendants of David listed in Joseph’s line:

This is what the LORD says:  ‘Let the record show that this man Jehoiachin was childless.  He is a failure, for none of his children will succeed him on the throne of David to rule over Judah.’

While Matthew shows Joseph as the descendant of David through his son Solomon, Luke shows Mary descended from David through his son Nathan.  So, true to the prophecy, none of Jehoiachin’s children will sit on the throne of David, even though that line secures Jesus’s legal right to the throne.  God keeps His promises.

Matthew’s genealogy is unique.  Most genealogies follow the male line and if it is royalty, goes through the firstborn.  However, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David and many others listed were not firstborn.  Furthermore, the genealogy contains women.  Of the four women listed, all were Gentiles, Rahab was a prostitute and Tamar’s children were born of adultery and incest.  This is significant because Jesus is the Savior for all people.  Just as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:16:

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.  It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Jesus ushered in a new period of history.  In this, this Church age, all people can come freely to God through Jesus Christ.  The turmoil of our day signals the end of this Church age.  Jesus will soon sit on the throne of David and rule over all the earth. 

Keep your hope fixed firmly on Him.

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

[ii] McGee, J. Vernon, Through the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Copyright 1983.  Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN. Vol. 4, pg. 1-2.

Disappointment with God

What is the use of setting aside time to read the Bible and pray?  Is there really any benefit to it?

How long can I continue to endure the struggle in my broken relationship with my spouse, employer, son or daughter, etc.?  It will never get better.

What’s the use of my participation in church, and why should I give ten percent of my income to the church?

We all ask ourselves some form of these questions at one point or another.

These questions are rooted in spiritual issues and have answers rooted in the Scriptural doctrine.

We live in an age that brings these questions to the surface.  The idea that there are no absolutes dominates the philosophy of our day.  This basic philosophy plays into our desire to do whatever we want, and our natural tendency to doubt.  While the age tends to bring these questions to the surface, the issue is one of the heart and these questions reflect disillusionment with God.  We all face times of disappointment with God.

Malachi wrote to a people struggling with questions like these, or at least they struggled with the spiritual issues behind these questions.

Malachi’s name means “My Messenger” or “Messenger.”  Another translation is “Angel,” since angel is just another word for messenger.  This is all we know about Malachi as a person.  Malachi prophesied during the time of Nehemiah, just as Haggai and Zechariah prophesied during the time of Ezra. The book of Nehemiah closes out the historical books of the Old Testament and the book of Malachi closes out the prophetic books of the Old Testament.

At the time Malachi brought God’s message to the people, the temple had been rebuilt and the walls also were rebuilt and standing secure.  The people had settled in and life was becoming routine.  However, routine did not mean easy. 

The excitement of the rebuilt temple and wall wore off, and the challenges of everyday life took over.

In these circumstances, the people became disillusioned with God.  Their disappointment involved God’s revealed character.  In their circumstances, they could not see that God loved them and that God’s justice would prevail. 

Through Malachi, God addresses their concerns, and in the answers He gives, we find the answers to the questions we started out with.

The first aspect of God’s revealed character that God addresses is God’s love.

Malachi starts out with God saying, “I have always loved you.”  (Malachi 1:2)[i]

The people no longer believed that God loved them.  They did not see it in the challenges and difficulties of their daily lives.  In Malachi when God says, “I have always loved you,” the people say, “Really?  How have you loved us?”

Whatever they thought God’s love should look like…their lives were not it.  Therefore, they were disillusioned with God.

Not believing God loved them resulted in serious spiritual problems.

First, they showed contempt for God.  In Malachi 1:6, God accuses the priests and people of showing contempt for Him.  This contempt was shown in the quality of their sacrifices and service for the Lord.  Malachi 1:13 is a good summary of the problem.

“You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the LORD,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.  “Think of it!  Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings!  Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the LORD.

The problem of the heart is expressed in the statement, “It’s too hard to serve the Lord,” and also in the rejection of the commands of the Lord. 

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15, ESV) 

Not believing God loved them resulted in the people showing contempt for God.

Second, not believing God loved them resulted in them showing contempt for the truth.

1 Corinthians 13:6 says that love rejoices with the truth.  In Malachi 2, God chastises the priests for not holding to the truth.  Malachi 2:7-8 says:

“The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.  But you priests have left God’s paths.  Your instructions have caused many to stumble into sin.  You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

A compromising attitude toward the truth is the second expression of not believing God loved them.  Not believing God loved them resulted in them compromising the truth.

Third, not believing God loved them resulted in them showing contempt for marriage.

Marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church, between God and His people.  In Malachi, God addresses this problem by saying:

Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife?  In body and spirit you are his.  And what does he want?  Godly children from your union.  So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.  “For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel.  “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.  “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”  (Malachi 2:15:16)

Not believing God loved them resulted in the people showing contempt for God, for truth and for marriage.  When the people said, “Really? How have you loved us,” God replied:

“This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country.”  (Malachi 1:2-3)

The best reinforcement for our faith in the love of God is the doctrine of election.  We know that God loves us because Jesus took our place on the cross.  Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.”  (John 15:13)  And the Apostle John said, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children.”  God chose us to be His friends and children.  The fact that out of all the people in the world, God should choose me as His friend and that He should choose to adopt me as His child should convince me of His love.  If you ever wondered why the doctrine of election is important, this is why.  Let it sink into your heart.  God chose you.  You, personally, as an individual…God chose you, because He loves you.

Doubting God’s love is a huge spiritual problem, and it will surely make setting aside time to read the Bible and pray too much of a burden.  

Malachi wrote to a people disillusioned with God and spoke to them of God’s love.  However, they were also disillusioned with God because they did not see God’s justice.

Malachi 2:17 says:

You have wearied the LORD with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the LORD’s sight, and he is pleased with them.  You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

In Malachi 3:5, God lists several social injustices that occur because people do not fear God’s justice.  The list from verse 5 is: Sorcery, cheating employees of wages, oppression, inequity and injustice.

Doubting God’s love is closely related to not believing in God’s justice.  Just as circumstances seem to indicate that God is not concerned with us, circumstances can seem to indicate that people are getting away with sorcery, cheating and injustice.  We can even begin to envy the ungodly, and even begin to cheat ourselves, thinking we can get away with it.

Not only do we cheat people, we cheat God.  Actually, it seems we are quicker to cheat God than people and that we fear being caught cheating people more than we fear cheating God.

Cheating God is not limited to tithes and offerings.  However, tithes and offerings are a concrete indicator of our attitude toward God.  In Malachi 3:6-12, God addresses His peoples’ decision to cheat on tithes and offerings.  They did not think God would notice. 

God calls them out and said, “Should people cheat God?  Yet you have cheated me!”  (Malachi 3:8)

Tithing starts with the truth that all that we have comes from God, and therefore it is natural that we should give to Him from what He has given to us.  When this truth does not motivate us to give, it is an indication that our confidence is not in God. 

The New Testament standard for giving is different from the Old Testament standard for giving.  As a national organization, the Jewish religion mandated offerings in the same way taxes are required to support a civil government.  The Church does not mandate offerings.  However, as a worldwide body, the Church depends upon the offerings of God’s people.  2 Corinthians 9:7 summarizes the New Testament standard for giving. 

You must each decide in your heart how much to give.  And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.  "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

The seeming obvious solution to doubting God’s justice would be His omnipresence.  He sees and knows everything.  However, this is not what God addresses in Malachi.  He addresses the promise of His coming.  The great hope of the Jewish nation was the coming of the Messiah, and the great hope of the Church is His return.

Malachi 3:1 says: 

“Look!  I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.  Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple.  The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

As for justice and what God will do about those who do wrong and those who do right, Malachi 4:1-2 says: 

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace.  On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw.  They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”

Malachi closed out the revelation of the Old Testament looking forward to the coming of the Messiah.  He wrote to a people who were perhaps tired, but they certainly seemed disappointed with God.  These people were living at the end of two thousand years of waiting for the Messiah.

We are living at the end of two thousand years of waiting.  Here is what Jesus had to say about our day.

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed.  You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.  And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.  And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.  Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”  (Matthew 24:9-14)

Peter tells us that God is not slow concerning His promises.  He is patient, wanting everyone to have a chance to repent.  (2 Peter 3:9)  This means we must be patient as well.  Jesus says we must endure to the end.  It is easy to become discouraged and even disillusioned, but we must not lose hope.  The truth of God’s word can strengthen us as we endure.  Let these two truths encourage you in your endurance. 

First, God chose you, and loves you. 

Second, He is coming back…soon. 

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

God's Word

Babylon deported God’s people, and held them captive for 70 years.  Then the Persians took over and God’s people were ruled by yet another wicked nation.  The Babylonian and Persian empires spread idol worship, avarice and debauchery wherever they went.  These Empires influenced God’s people as God’s people lived among godless,  idolatrous peoples.

God called Ezra and Nehemiah to a unique role in rebuilding the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people.  Ezra and Nehemiah were faced with leading a people that were influenced by the cultures of the Babylonians, the Persians and the peoples living around them.  Their compromise with these cultures is seen in their intercultural marriages.

Let me be clear.  Intercultural marriage is not the issue.  The issue is the compromise with or the acceptance of a culture and/or worldview that is entirely hostile to the God of Israel and His word. 

Racism of any kind has no room in the service of the God who made all peoples.  However, the servant of the Most High God must remain “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 15:58)  Love is our rule and the Word of God is our guide.  The command to love your neighbor as yourself applies to all people, everywhere.  However, this does not mean that we ever compromise the truth.

Compromise is exactly what was happening in Nehemiah’s day.  The Law of God was being set aside in order to make allowance for marriages with people who did not respect, believe in or revere the God of Israel.  Nehemiah 13:28 tells of a priest who married an unbeliever, which was expressly forbidden by the Word of God.

Compromise has happened throughout history, and God continually calls His people back to Himself.  Many institutions that started out with a clear commitment to the Word of God have compromised the truth until they no longer acknowledge that we have a word from God.  Even some so called “Churches” deny that we have a clear word from God.

In Nehemiah, we have an example of God bringing His people back to Himself.  The means or way He does this is through the Word of God.  Evidence is abundant and clear in support of the claim that the Bible is the Word of God.  It is not my goal or purpose here to present such evidence.  Rather, it is my intention today to observe the Word of God at work in peoples’ lives.  This is more about learning from an example than about convincing.  If you want to stay true to God and avoid compromising the truth, then Nehemiah 8 can be of great help.

In Nehemiah 8, we see four distinct steps that Ezra led the people through as they approached the Word of God.

The only way to avoid drifting away from the truth is a commitment to the Word of God.  The only way to recapture the truth is to return to the Word of God.  If we follow the four steps that Ezra led the people of God through, we will discover the truth.

The first step they took was to read the Word of God.

We find this in verses 1-3 of Nehemiah 8.

In October, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate.  They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given for Israel to obey.

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.  He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand.  All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.[i]

Notice that all the people gathered with a unified purpose.  Nehemiah does not say that this gathering was mandated.  Next, it says that the people asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses.  It appears this was a voluntary seeking after God. 

When your heart moves you toward the Word of God, do not ignore it.  This prompting toward the Word may very well be the Holy Spirit drawing you toward God.

In addition, notice that the people gathered in the square just inside the Water Gate.  Two things are significant about this.  First, it was a space large enough to accommodate the large crowd.  Second, it was a space with unrestricted access.  Any person who wished to could attend and listen.  If, for example, they had met in the temple, women, children and foreigners could not have attended.  Access would have been restricted.  God’s Word is for all people and anyone who wishes should have access to it.

The Word of God was read from early morning until noon, and all the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.

This was the first step in restoring the people and returning to the truth.  The second step was a natural part of the first.  They reflected on what was read.

Reflecting is the second step.  In truth, reflecting is not separate from the reading.  Reflecting is part of how we read.  We find this in Nehemiah 8:5-6.

Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people.  When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.

Then Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen!  Amen!” as they lifted their hands.  Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

The people thought about what they were reading.  This is the meaning of reflecting. 

We see their careful thought in the fact that they stood when Ezra stood to read.  They recognized that this was no ordinary book, but that it was God’s word to them.  

The first question each person must answer in regard to the Bible is “What kind of a book is it?” Many different attitudes exist about the Bible.  Some compare it to other ancient manuscripts and the sacred books of other religions.  Some dismiss it because they were told by a knowledgeable source that it is a book full of inaccuracies, errors and contradictions.  I wish that those who take these attitudes would investigate these claims.  Many have set out to prove these claims and have ended up becoming Christians.  Without research or trying to make anything like an exhaustive list, I will name four examples of people who became defenders of the Bible after having set out to disprove it.  If you want more details, read their works.  These examples are G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel.  The simple truth of the matter is that the Bible is a unique book, and in all of human history, there has never been any other book like it.

If you read it as history or literature with the attitude that it is a collection of fairy tales, it is far less likely to transform your life.  It is still dangerous.  It is powerful and may yet convince you.  This is why countries that want to be atheist or Islamic ban the Bible.

At some point, a person must recognize the Bible for what it is.

Having stood in recognition of the Word of God, the people joined Ezra in worshiping God.

Worship is a natural part of reflection.  As one listens to or reads the Word of God, the realization of what He is saying leads naturally to worship.  Did you know that the God who made the universe wants to be your friend?  Did you know that He loved you enough to die for you?  We discover these truths while reflecting on what God is saying in His Word.

Reading and reflecting are the starting point.  The third step is researching.  By researching, I mean seeking to understand what is being read.

We see the people researching in Nehemiah 8:7-8. 

The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places.  They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

The Levites were the trained, professional clergy of the nation of Israel.  They had invested a lifetime in studying the Word of God, the language it was written in and the practicalities of teaching the Word of God.  It was their job to translate the Word for those who did not understand, and to make clear the meaning of those passages that were hard to understand.

Professional clergy have often been the problem in drifting away from the truth.  However, the priesthood and Levites of the Old Testament were established by God, as were the pastors, teachers and elders of the New Testament.  There are Biblical standards set for leaders and teachers of God’s people for the safety of God’s people.  One such standard is Isaiah 8:20.  “Look to God's instructions and teachings!  People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.”  While it is the clergy’s job to make clear the Scriptures, it is each person’s responsibility to study God’s word for themselves to be sure of the truth of what is being taught.

2 Peter 3:16 says about Paul’s writings:

Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture.  And this will result in their destruction.

This is why Paul says: 

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15)

So far, we have looked at three steps: read, reflect and research.  These three flow naturally one after the other.  In the same way, the fourth step flows naturally from these.  We see this fourth step in the remainder of chapter 8, but we will focus mainly on verses 9 and 10.

The people reformed their ways.  Hearing and understanding brought about a change in behavior.

Nehemiah 8:9-10 says: 

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this!  For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.”  For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared.  This is a sacred day before our Lord.  Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Weeping is the first sign that the Word has reached the heart.  Confession and repentance are a natural response to confronting our sinfulness in the Word of God. 

The remainder of Nehemiah 8 tells how the people immediately put the Word of God in action by observing a national festival called the “Festival of Booths.”  The book of Nehemiah then continues describing various other reforms that took place due to the reading of God’s Word.

James 1:22-25 says: 

But don’t just listen to God’s word.  You must do what it says.  Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

The people of Nehemiah’s day wept when they understood the Word of God because they saw themselves clearly, like in a mirror.  Many reject the truth of God’s Word because it makes them uncomfortable, but at what price?  Remember 2 Peter 3:16, which said, “…this will result in their destruction.”

Since the Bible is God’s Word to us, its message is a matter of life and death.  Reading, reflecting, researching and reforming according to the Word of God is not just for those who have time.  Understanding and applying the Word of God to our lives is the most important issue of our lives.

The first and greatest commandment God has given is to love the Lord with all your heart.  How can you do this if you will not listen to what He has to say?

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[i] Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.  Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.