Todays scripture...

[WillyCamaro]

Amen, Mike.

[WillyCamaro]

Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

[Meridian_Mike]

EXCELLENT Scripture Willy!

Thanks!

[WillyCamaro]

Exactly brother! It brought me to tears this moring, and it just did again... The Word of God is powerful, He cuts right to the soul.

[Meridian_Mike]

... The Word of God is powerful, He cuts right to the soul.

Amen brother!

[WillyCamaro]

Yes brother's, He certainly does.

[WillyCamaro]

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.



Philippians 2:14-16, Galatians 6:7

[WillyCamaro]

The Fruit of Repentance

Matthew 3:7–10 “ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for the baptism, he said to them, ‘... Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance’” (vv. 7–8).

After centuries of silence, the covenant Lord spoke to His people again through John the Baptist. Beginning around 27 a.d., John prepared the way for the Messiah to inaugurate God’s kingdom, calling Israel to repentance because the nation as a whole had not shown contrition for the sins that led to exile from Palestine. In John’s day, the people were not ready for the kingdom to come.

John’s call is laid on all of us throughout the Bible. “Repentance” is the English translation of the Greek term metanoia, which literally means “change of mind.” Repentance expresses sorrow for the ways in which we have offended God (Ps. 51:4), but it is also much more. Repentance is a change of mind and actions wherein we cease our approval of wickedness and justification of bad behavior. It is foremost a decisive reorientation of one’s life away from the self and toward the Lord. This does not mean we repent only once at the start of the Christian life and then go our merry way, for confession of sin is needed until life’s end (1 John 1:8–9). But this subsequent repentance flows from and confirms the initial act wherein we realize our desperate state, admit our need of pardon, and come to Jesus in a childlike manner (Matt. 19:13–15).

John Calvin comments on today’s passage, saying, “Repentance is an inward matter, which has its seat in the heart and soul, but afterwards yields its fruits in a change of life.” It is not enough to profess sorrow for transgression; we have not truly turned from sin if our lives are unchanged (Isa. 29:13–14; James 2:14–26). Scripture does not teach that sinless perfection is possible before we are glorified, nor does it deny that some sins are harder to overcome than others. What it does say is that those who are truly repentant do what they can to “resist the devil” (James 4:7) and flee temptation. They also look for others to help them bear their burdens, to hold them accountable and help them find strength when they are weak (Gal. 6:1–2). The truly repentant lapse into sin on occasion, but they always return to the narrow path of righteousness. True converts will not find their assurance in denominational membership (Matt. 3:9–10) or in a past act of devotion. They find it in a justified life of repentance and faith.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

One of the more neglected tools that can help us grow in our holiness is the confession of sins one to another (James 5:16). It can be difficult to admit to other people that we have sinned, but loving brothers and sisters in Christ can help assure us of His forgiveness and help us overcome persistent temptations. Without being involved in the lives of other believers we will not find these opportunities. Take the initiative and be a part of the lives of other Christians.

For further study: 2 Chronicles 7:14

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks Willy!

[WillyCamaro]

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

1 Corinthians 10:13, Proverbs 17:17

[TPK]

[WillyCamaro]

One with His People

Matthew 3:13–17 “Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness’” (v.15a).

John the Baptist has labored to prepare a way for the Messiah (Matt. 3:1–12) and is finally granted an audience with the Christ Himself. In today’s passage, Jesus comes to John for baptism (vv. 13–17).

This encounter is not the first time the two meet. As relatives (Luke 1:26–66), they undoubtedly spent time with each other while growing up. John certainly knows Jesus’ purity, which, along with his prophetic insight into the identity of Jesus, explains his reluctance to baptize Him (Matt. 3:13–14).

To baptize Jesus for the same reason John baptizes the people would be wrong, our Lord has no need to repent (1 Peter 2:22). But Jesus is not baptized “with water for repentance” (Matt. 3:11) as His people are. He is baptized to fulfill “all righteousness” (v. 15). Dr. R.C. Sproul has said this means that Jesus must obey all of the laws God has given to Israel, including John’s baptism. John Calvin wrote that Christ is baptized to “render full obedience to the Father.”

Thus, “to fulfill all righteousness” means that Jesus has to obey the overarching saving plans and purposes of God. Thousands of years before Christ’s earthly ministry, the Father called His “son,” the people of Israel, out of Egypt (Hos. 11:1) and gave them His Law to show them the way of life (Lev. 18:5). God punished His son as He promised when Israel failed to be the Lord’s obedient servant (Deut. 28:15–68), but the fullness of His wrath never fell on the people, though they suffered severely for their sins. Isaiah predicted a day when Israel would be God’s servant and pay for transgression (52:13–53:12).

Due to our fallenness, our Father knew His people could never themselves be His servant and pay fully for iniquity. So He placed a king over His people to identify with them as their representative and succeed where they failed. In place of Israel, David’s line would be God’s son and servant (Ps. 2:7).

Because of sin, no fallen son of David could fulfill this vocation. Therefore, Jesus comes as God’s perfect Son and servant. In receiving baptism like they do, He identifies Himself with His people. God calls Jesus His Son (Matt. 3:17), showing us that He is accepted as faithful Israel, servant of the Most High.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

In His baptism, our Lord confirmed His willingness to identify with the plight of His people, a willingness first displayed when He became incarnate (see also Heb. 2:14–18). We who live under the new covenant experience the awesome benefit of knowing that God came down to our own level to identify with us and help us in our trials. If you lack strength this day, consider Jesus who is uniquely able to fortify you because He too suffered on this earth.

For further study: 2 Samuel 7

[WillyCamaro]

In the Fullness of Time

Galatians 4:4–5 “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (v. 4).

Our study this month has dealt mainly with the miraculous birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. This Messiah, we have seen, comes in fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. In the interest of looking at the biblical prophecies about Jesus more closely, we will take a short break from Matthew and follow Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series Coming of the Messiah as our guide.

Across the United States this day, many college students are sitting under professors hostile to the New Testament. Parallels are often drawn between Greek myths of dying and rising gods and the biblical account as proof that the Scriptures are just another work of mythology. Unfortunately, young people are too often unprepared for this onslaught and begin to doubt the Christian faith.

However, as those familiar with ancient literature well know, these similarities are superficial. The Greeks made no real attempt to defend their myths as historical while the Bible grounds itself in real space and time. Luke 2, for example, locates the birth of Jesus during the reign of Caesar Augustus and the governorship of Quirinius, both of whom were real people. The evangelist assumes that we will take his account at face value — that Jesus was a real person who lived in space and time. Scripture is also clear that God became incarnate in the person of Christ Jesus (John 1:14). Ancient Greeks abhorred this idea because they believed the physical body to be corrupt, unlike the spiritual realm. Many other such differences between the Bible and pagan thought could be cited.

We must not miss the emphasis Scripture places on history. God’s Word is clear that the events it describes actually occurred, and even tells us our faith is in vain if events like the resurrection of Jesus never happened (1 Cor. 15:14). Yet, Scripture does not give us every detail concerning what happened between the time of Adam and the apostles; it often omits pedantic figures and details (as was common in those days) in order to relay God’s plan of redemption (2 Kings 20:20–21). When time was “full,” when all things were perfectly ready, the most significant event of all took place — Jesus was born (Gal. 4:4–5). Tomorrow we will begin to study what the Old Testament says about this fullness of time.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

College students are not the only ones who face attacks on the historicity of Scripture. Hollywood, the Internet, apologists for other religions, and so on bombard us with assaults on Scripture’s integrity. The Bible is the most vilified book on the planet, and yet its stories are regularly found to be historically reliable. Take time to find some resources on the historicity of Scripture so that you may be able to answer its critics (1 Peter 3:15–16).

For further study: Exodus 20:16

[WillyCamaro]

The First Gospel

Genesis 3:14–15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (v. 15).

Since the early days of the church, scholars and theologians have found in Genesis the first announcement of the coming Messiah. Today’s passage gives us what is called the protevangelium — the “first gospel.”

The context of this passage is well-known to most of us. Having thumbed their noses at God by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve find themselves alienated from their Creator (Gen. 3:1–13). Before He pronounces His righteous judgment upon them, however, the Lord curses the tempter. The serpent will crawl upon the ground and lick the dust. He will bruise the heel of the woman’s offspring or, in other translations, “her seed,” and her seed will bruise the serpent’s head (vv. 14–15).

This pronouncement has cosmic significance. The serpent in this passage is no ordinary reptile, he is Satan, the adversary of God and His people (Rom. 16:20; Rev. 12:9). The Lord pledges to put enmity between the serpent and the woman’s seed (Gen. 3:15). This conflict is God-initiated and perpetuated. It has a visible reminder in snakes who lick the dust of defeat, but the one whose head will be bruised — the one who will suffer a crushing blow — is the Devil himself.

It is the identity of the woman’s seed that tells us this passage is messianic. Grammatically, “seed” is a collective singular and can refer to a whole group of people. The woman’s seed cannot be every child of Eve because Scripture calls God’s human enemies “the children of the Devil” (John 8:39–47), thereby identifying some people as the serpent’s seed. If the Lord’s enemies are the seed of the serpent, then His friends among mankind must be the victorious woman’s seed. These will suffer bruising from the evil one before bruising his head. God’s people will suffer, but they will win in the end (for example, Ex. 1, 14).

However, even the friends of the Almighty cannot defeat Satan themselves. They need a representative to fight on their behalf. We have seen that this One is King Jesus, who as the Son of David defeated Satan on the cross for our sake. He is the seed of the woman par excellence who suffered the worst bruising of all so that He might crush the Devil (Col. 2:13–15).

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Proverbs 21:31 tells us that “the victory belongs to the Lord.” Jesus defeated death, sin, and the evil one on the cross and now shares with us the benefits of His conquest. No problem of ours is too formidable for the Lord. There is no sin that we cannot overcome if we are in Him. There is no enemy of ours that can finally defeat us. Be encouraged today that our Savior has won a great victory, and, therefore, we who are in Him need not worry about tomorrow.

For further study: Deut. 20:1–4

[WillyCamaro]

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened

[WillyCamaro]

1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[WillyCamaro]

The King Shall Come

Isaiah 9:6–7 “For to us a child is born…and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (v. 6).

Without a doubt, King David ushered in a golden age during the old covenant period (1 Chron. 18:14). This humble son of Jesse transformed Israel from a confederacy of tribes into a major power (2 Sam. 5), a remarkable achievement given the size of the country and the threats it faced as a place of strategic importance. He who controlled Palestine, a land bridge connecting Africa, Europe, and Asia, controlled commerce in the ancient Near East.

During the reign of David’s son Solomon, things began falling apart as the king was led into idolatry (1 Kings 11). Eventually the kingdom was divided in two (12:16–20) and suffered, for the most part, under the reign of incompetent, godless, and foolish rulers. World powers including Assyria, Babylon, and Persia conquered the land and became the de facto kings of Palestine. Understandably, the people longed for a return to the golden age, a return of a king like David who would bring in an era of peace, justice, and security. This longing would be fulfilled in the Messiah, the “anointed one” (Amos 9:11–15).

Today’s passage is a prophecy regarding what was to come after the Assyrian invasion of Israel and Judah. God’s people are told that they will not suffer under judgment forever; He will send a deliverer, a Son of David beyond compare.

This child will one day have the government “upon his shoulder” (Isa. 9:6). Anyone in leadership knows what a burden that can be. Good leaders understand the responsibility of taking care of their followers. Yet this child will shoulder this office well. He will also be an “Everlasting Father,” an image that tells us the Son of David will not look out for His own interests alone. Rather, like any good father, He will put the needs of His children first and work for their benefit. We have every reason to be confident that He will succeed, for He is also “Wonderful Counselor.” The Hebrew term for counselor is the same term used of the king’s most trusted advisor. This Son of David has no need for counsel. As wisdom incarnate (1 Cor. 1:24), He is His own advisor.

We know this Son of David is Christ Jesus Himself, the “Mighty God,” the warrior who has defeated all the powers of death and hell (Rev. 1:1–18).
Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” for all those who come to Him on His terms. Sometimes, however, we find that we are not at peace with those who refuse to follow Him. This is because the Prince of Peace bears a sword — love and obedience to Him is unacceptable to those who hate Him, and they will often be hostile to us (Matt. 10:34–39). When this happens, we must hold to the truth and never compromise it for the sake of a peace that cannot last.

For further study: Exodus 15:3

[Meridian_Mike]

very good study!
Thanks Willy

[WillyCamaro]

Yesir brother! I'm throughly enjoying R.C.'s commentary, lot's to dig into here...
God bless!

[WillyCamaro]

A Small Town, a Great King

Micah 5:1–6 “He shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God” (v. 4a).

The final prophecy we will examine in our brief study of the Old Testament teachings about the Messiah is Micah 5:1–6, a passage cited in part by Matthew in 2:6 of his gospel. A more thorough reading of Micah’s word to Israel than we undertook when we looked at Matthew 2:6 will help us better grasp the significance of our Savior’s birthplace.

As always, we begin with the original context of the prophecy in order to interpret the text rightly. Micah prophesied during the second half of the eighth century and the first decade of the seventh century b.c., a time of great moral decline in the history of Judah and Israel. The poor were oppressed and some priests were sexually promiscuous. Because of such debauchery, God sent Micah to prosecute the covenant, that is, to convict His people of their violations. During this period, the people were told that the covenant curses would fall on them, finally culminating in exile to Assyria and Babylon (Lev. 26:27–33; Micah 4:10).

However, this was not the prophet’s final word. Though judgment would fall, Micah in today’s passage says a ruler born in Bethlehem will redeem a faithful remnant (Micah 5:2, 7). As we have already seen, Bethlehem is the city from which David hailed (1 Sam. 16:1–13), which informs us that Micah is talking about a Davidic king. The Messiah will come to lead the people out of exile and back to their land where they will be sheltered from their foes.

King Jesus was born in Bethlehem while His people suffered under the hands of occupiers. Aside from being David’s birthplace, Bethlehem in Hebrew means “house of bread,” providing a fitting place for the Bread from heaven to become incarnate (John 6:22–59). Micah’s prophesy of the king also speaks of Him having an origin “from old” and “from ancient days” (5:2). This hints at His divinity, a truth more clearly revealed in the New Testament (John 1:1–18).

Bethlehem was tiny and seemingly insignificant (Mic. 5:2). Yet, the Lord chose to reveal His glory and salvation in this village, not a mighty city (Luke 2:1–20). Needless to say, this is right in line with His character. He loves to fulfill His purposes through those things man has forsaken (1 Cor. 1:18–31).

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

God’s often uses what the world deems insignificant or unlovely. Across the world, His kingdom is spread by ordinary people who will probably themselves never be famous or remembered in the history books of men. Yet, those who know Christ are remembered by God and are the most significant people of all in His eyes, the only eyes that really matter. Each one of us, famous or not, can be used by the Lord in mighty ways.

For further study: Numbers 12:3

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks Willy!

[WillyCamaro]

The Last Adam

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (v. 1).

The Messiah who would defeat the Devil (1 John 3:8b) and bring back God’s people from exile came to Israel around 4 b.c. As the prophets foretold, Jesus was the Son of David, had a miraculous birth, and was opposed by many of His own brethren (Matt. 1–2). Despite this opposition, Jesus still identified Himself with His people and confirmed His ministry through His baptism (chap. 3).

Today, we return to Matthew’s gospel and begin our study of chapter 4, which describes Jesus’ testing in the wilderness. Before we look at His testing in detail, we must first place this event in its historical and theological context in order to understand clearly what occurred when Satan tempted the Christ.

The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 7, says God made a “covenant of works” with the first human being. In Eden, the Lord ordered Adam to refrain from eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:15–17). Since his failure to comply with this demand plunged mankind into eternal death (Rom. 5:12–14), we know that his perseverance would have meant eternal life for him and for us.

But our gracious God did not destroy mankind. Neither did He change His demands. He established a covenant of grace wherein He would send a new Adam to satisfy the covenant of works and restore favor to His people. Parallels between Israel and the first man tell us the nation was, in a sense, called to be the new Adam. Israel and Adam both had to be fruitful and multiply (1:27–28; 35:11). Moreover, like Adam, Israel was told that perfect obedience to the covenant law would bring life (Lev. 18:5), a reminder that the covenant of works was still binding. Still, the Mosaic covenant actually falls under the covenant of grace. Its sacrifices for sin tell the people of Israel that their failure is inevitable and that they must wait for another to fulfill the covenant of works on their behalf.

Israel went through the Red Sea into the desert where God tested their loyalty for forty years (Ex. 14; Deut. 8:1–2). Jesus was similarly tested for forty days after passing through baptism’s waters into the wild (Matt. 3:13–4:2). Such similarities reveal Jesus as the new Israel and thus, the last Adam. Christ succeeded where Adam and Israel failed, and He will restore all things.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Matthew Henry captures the significance of the temptation of Jesus, commenting on today’s passage that “the offspring of the woman suffers, being tempted, and so has his heel bruised, but the serpent is quite baffled in his temptations, and so has his head crushed.” Though we look to our Lord as a model for overcoming temptation, let us remember it is His success, not ours, that enables us to stand before God. Worship Him for this amazing grace!

For further study: Genesis 3

[Meridian_Mike]

VERY good study!

Thanks Willy!

[WillyCamaro]

You are most welcome brother, in total agreement on that point.

[WillyCamaro]

Christ Embraces His Mission

Matthew 4:2–4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (v. 4).

Having come into the world to save His people (Matt. 1:21), Jesus begins His ministry when He identifies with God’s chosen, Israel, in His baptism and follows the Spirit into the wilderness to face Satan (3:13–4:1). In the desert, Jesus shows Himself to be the new Israel, the second Adam and true Son of God, so that His disciples can be adopted as the Father’s children (John 1:9–13).

When the Devil comes to Jesus in today’s passage, the Messiah has been “fasting forty days and forty nights” and is obviously hungry (Matt. 4:2). This reveals the hard place in which Jesus finds Himself. Scripture often associates forty days and nights with difficult circumstances. For example, Elijah endured the same period without food while on the run from Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–8). The setting of Jesus’ testing is similarly arduous and presents a challenge that Adam, who lived in Eden’s bliss, never faced.

Satan wants Jesus to turn from His vocation as the Suffering Servant when he challenges Him to turn stones to bread (Matt. 4:3). We know this to be true because the Devil’s challenge is just like the one the crowd hurls at Jesus in Matthew 27:40, where the people mock Him, calling upon Him to come down from the cross. Of course, doing this would mean that Jesus distrusts both His Father’s promises to save the elect through His death and to vindicate His Son’s affliction (Isa. 53). Jesus has been sent into the desert to endure fasting and suffering until His appointed time (Matt. 4:1). To seek sustenance contrary to God’s appointment would repeat the mistake of Israel who was similarly tested for faithfulness (Deut. 8:1–3) and disobeyed when they grumbled and refused to follow the Lord’s directions when He sent manna from heaven (Ex. 16).

Yet Christ refuses to use His divine power to circumvent His task of suffering service. He is not willing to stuff His belly and stand before the Father emptied of righteousness. Jesus will be satisfied to eat the food given Him — doing the will of God (John 4:34) — even if His physical hunger is not satiated. Our Lord understands, as the church father Jerome said, that “if anyone does not feed upon God’s Word, that one will not live” (Commentary on Matthew, 1.4.4).

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Matthew Henry comments, “Lack and poverty are a great temptation to discontent and unbelief, and the use of unlawful means for our relief, under the pretence that necessity has no law.” Despite His hunger pains, our Lord chose the food of His Father and embraced His mission of suffering. Let us follow Him and not let a potential loss of money or fame prevent us from embracing the mission of service He has given to us.

For further study: Psalm 107:1–9