Jesus True Israel

I am still as always wrestling with the "issues" of understanding Jesus to be the "true Israel". I am so frustrated some times with the entire process and the polarity involved with this understanding. A few thoughts:

The whole biblical-theological setting of redemptive history seems to setting the stage in the OT for the NT understanding of Jesus as God's true Son. That is, Israel, to whom all the promises are given, and from whom Jesus would come, is called "Israel is My firstborn son" (Ex 4.22). Again, the prophet says, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son" (Hosea 11.1). Redemptive history demonstrates that God pours out his love upon his first born (dare I say "only begotten") son. Thus, in the NT the proclamation of Jesus as the "son of God" is staggering and pregnant with fulfillment language. I say fulfillment b/c Matthew says, "And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt. And remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "out of Egypt I will call My son" (Mt 2:14-15 cf. Hosea 11:1).
Also notice that Hosea is speaking out against "all Israel" throughout the entire book. He is addressing a nation, but yet this national language seems to have individual overtones which are picked up by the NT authors (as stated in Mt above). Is the prophetic ministry of Hosea to a national "Son" going to be fulfilled in the True Son, Jesus Christ, (and consequently fulfilled in us who are in Him)? Thus, establishing Jesus as the True Son of God, the True Israel? Notice Hosea's national yet individual prophecy:
"Come let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
He has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him (Hos. 6.1-2).

This is fulfilled in Jesus, God's True Son, the True Israel. Right?
Jesus was struck down and was raised on the third day in order that "we may live before him"!

What say you of this?

God makes all the Difference

I am in the middle of reading, How Long O Lord? -Reflections on Suffering and Evil, by D.A. Carson. The book is really a great treatment of a difficult and often times anxiety driven question, "Where is God in all of this," (suffering/Evil)? In speaking on the reality of hell and men's moral choice in relation to his destiny (repentence or defiance) Carson states,

"Heaven would surely be hell to those who do not enjoy and desire the blessing of the unshielding presence of God" (p92).

God is the difference between heaven and hell, not streets of gold nor lakes with crystal imagery.

As Piper says, "God is the Gospel".

"Come Lord Jesus"

I have been recently provoked to praise through reading, "God's Empowering Presence, the Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul," by Gordon D. Fee. I am not sure how much "already-not yet" you have read, but let me assure you, this understanding of the Spirit's work in you is wonderful. The idea is simply this, all believers live in the "already-not yet" phase of eternity. By virtue of your union to Jesus Christ the future age (eternity) is "already" here set in motion within you. The giving of the Spirit to you as a believer demonstrates this. However, the end has only begun, thus, we are "not yet" at the consummation of the ages. We still eagerly await the final event (second coming). Therefore it is said of us that we (Christians) live "between the times", that is, the future has "already" begun within us, but it is "not yet" completed. There you have it, you, Christian are a New Creation in the Lord best understood as living in the "already-not yet".
This paragraph from the book is excellent:
"The church is an eschatological community, whose members live in the present as those stamped with eternity. We live as expatriates on earth; our true citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). Ethical life, therefore, does not consist of rules to live by. Rather, empowered by the Spirit, we now live the life of the future in the present age, the life that characterizes God himself...Believers have tasted of the life to come; and the full and final realization of the future is so certain that God's new people are completely radicalized as they live "already" but "not yet."

Gordon D. Fee, God's Empowering Presence, Peabody: Hendrickson, 2005, 804.

"Behold, a Great Red Dragon" Rev 12.3

Is this the face of Satan? I have been asking myself that question for quite sometime and now, after yesterdays episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," I ask myself with even more seriousness. Now granted, I do most often times agree with Edwards' assertion that confronting Arminianism is "the principle need of the hour," but currently Oprah Winfrey, who is not altogether unrelated to the issues of Arminianism since she is the most deadly Palagian around(and that is being kind), has got my attention for the moment.

Yesterday's episode was about the new wave of "world changing" powers. This power is called "The Secret". Understanding "The Secret" enables one to create thier best destiny by tapping into the the providential energies of the universe, or as Oprah names it, "The divine laws". "The Secret" is defined as the law of attraction, which states that like attracts like. The concept says that the energy you put into the world—both good and bad—is exactly what comes back to you. This means you create the circumstances of your life with the choices you make every day. Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith, who is the leader of the "New Thought Movement, says he thinks "The Secret" is alluring because it helps people stop feeling like victims. "I think us talking about the law of attraction, talking about these universal spiritual principles, allows them to see that they can begin to govern their thoughts and their way of life." This is nothing more than simple Karma with a spin of God on it. Don't be mistaken, Oprah Winfrey is deadly. She is claiming to 49 million viewers a week in 122 different countries that she believes in and loves God all the while espousing a false gospel (it is a "Gospel" too she claims that "God definitely fits into it").

The USA Today wrote in an article about her that stated, "After two decades of searching for her authentic self — exploring New Age theories, giving away cars, trotting out fat, recommending good books and tackling countless issues from serious to frivolous — Oprah Winfrey has risen to a new level of guru. Over the past year, Winfrey, 52, has emerged as a spiritual leader for the new millennium, a moral voice of authority for the nation." There is also a book published entitled, "The Gospel According to Oprah," written by Marcia Nelson.

I am serious, Oprah Winfrey is so influential, and her gospel is damning to millions. Is this women the Beast?

1. Iain H. Murray, Jonathan Edwards, A New Biography, Carlisle: Banner of Truth Trust, 1987), 282.

2. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-05-10-oprah_x.htm

3. www.oprah.com

Let Your Kingdom Come

Our church (cbcoceana.org) decided to offer two classes for biblical education. I have been given the opportunity to teach Biblical Theology (really an introduction to) and as a result I have had to articulate what I perceive to be the "center" or overarching message of the Scriptures. I perceive, thus far, that the Kingdom of God is the center/overarching message of the Scriptures. I am growing in both my commitment to this understanding and in my handling of it. I have really enjoyed it, especially at the church level. That has been my greatest joy this year.

Anyway, I was reading an essay entitled, "What is the Kingdom," by George Eldon Ladd and I mostly enjoyed it. I thought that perhaps you would also enjoy his thoughts as well, as you consider your daily life lived in the power of the Spirit as a citizen of God's Kingdom.

"The Word of God does say that the Kingdom of God is a present spiritual reality. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17). Righteousness and peace and joy are fruits of the Spirit which God bestows now upon those who yield their lives to the rule of the Spirit. They have to do with the deepest springs of the spiritual life, and this, says the inspired apostle, is the Kingdom of God."

"The very complexity of the Biblical teaching about the Kingdom of God is one of the reasons why such diverse interpretations have arisen in the history of theology. Isolated verses can be quoted for most of the interpretations which can be found in our theological literature. The Kingdom is a present reality (Matt. 12:28), and yet it is a future blessing (I Cor. 15:50). It is an inner spiritual redemptive blessing (Rom. 14:17) which can be experienced only by way of the new birth (John 3:3), and yet it will have to do with the government of the nations of the world (Rev. 11:15). The Kingdom is a realm into which men enter now (Matt. 21:31), and yet it is a realm into which they will enter tomorrow (Matt. 8:11). It is at the same time a gift of God which will be bestowed by God in the future (Luke 12:32) and yet which must be received in the present (Mark 10:15). Obviously no simple explanation can do justice to such a rich but diverse variety of teaching."

Like Arrows in the hand of a Warrior - Ps 127.4

I have been given the "ok" from my wife to gladly announce that Seminary alone is no longer my only child! I am presently in the process of casting off the son of the slave women (biblical imagery- just for you Luther/Logan) and claiming the blessing of making a great nation from my own offspring.

This is a picture of the little "guy" (perhaps anyway) at 10 weeks. He/she is only 2 inches long! We are very excited that God has entrusted us with a child and we trust he will be honored in each step of the way.

Is That Really The "Problem"?

I have been examining (lightly) my perspective on blogging recently and I have come to some realizations about the whole "idea" of blogging, specifically the content of blog posts. Reviewing most of my posts in the past has enlightened my thinking about content in the future. I know that I have lost some of my "readership" (for lack of a better term) since I am to say the least a "lazy" or "sporatic" writer/talker. However, I cannot help but to think that it has something to do with the content of the posts in general. One thing that is interesting is how the criticism comes from some of the general public about how people want to read "edifying" material and encouraging dialogue. However, I find that when I try to sympathize with the criticism NO ONE really cares to interact with the "edifying" material. This is not a problem for me (I really don't care), but it just says something about those who criticize.
When "controverisal" subjects or statements are posted people come out of the woodwork to rebuke writers over the lack of edification in the material and dialogue, but they never post when the material truly is edifying?
I say all that to say this, it seems to be that people want annoying material so that THEY CAN criticize! That seems to be the only logical explanation to this blogging phenomenon. So really, you will criticize material for being to "controversial" (lack of edification), but if there is no material to criticize you will complain within yourself that there is nothing here to engage (criticize). Oh what a merry-go-round.
Anyway, I hope to continue with this vein for sake of engaging "controversial" material, though to those who are not looking to criticize will not see the controversy of the material at all, and those who simply want to criticize because that is what they love to do, will equally find pleasure in criticizing and that will bring a certain level of enjoyment to me as the writer as well (weird I know, but entertaining none-the-less).

Anyway, here's to all the "haters" and the "lovers"; let's enjoy criticizing and loving, while loving all the same.

An Encouraging Word

"And I will have mercy on NO Mercy, and I will say to Not My People; You are my people; and he shall say, 'You are my God".

Hosea 2:23

He Removes Kings and Sets up Kings

When I first established this blog I was planning on discussing a descent amount of politics. I have always enjoyed political science and such. I was a strong listener to Bill O'reilly and I read a fair amount of the not-so-sane Anne Coulter. However, politics are like hotdogs for me. I always think that I want them, I even enjoy them, but then I get very sick of them. Anyway, in light of this present political preemptive war (the dems talking about who will be the next front runner) I have been comforted by the Book of Daniel.

In the midst of such arrogant posturing and self-centered ambition (by both the "right" and the "left") we can find great peace in Daniel. Consider the messages of Daniel to the same type of people.

Nebuchadnezzar: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings" (2:20-21)
Even the foolish confess, "How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation" (4:3-4).
And once again he admits (as all will do), "for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom edures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "what have you done?" (4:34-35)

Darius was no different, he too confessed, "for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end" (6:26).

I say all that to say this, chill on political anxiety. God is ruler of all nations and his kingdom is our greatest concern (Matthew 6:33).