September 6, 2010

Several days ago, in my post “His Spirit Dwells in You,” I said how incredible it is that God’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Christ – dwells in each of God’s children. I’ve decided to step through each book of the New Testament and examine what each author says about the Holy Spirit. (I’m not planning to publish one of the posts in this series every day. Instead, I will post them occasionally.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, the author writes that the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus (Matthew 1:18; Matthew 1:20). Also, John the Baptist states that while he baptizes with water, Jesus (the one “coming after” him and “mightier” than him) will baptize in/with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). At Jesus’ own baptism by John, the Holy Spirit descends on him (Matthew 3:16). Matthew says that it is the Holy Spirit that leads Jesus into the wilderness where he would fast for 40 days and be tempted (Matthew 4:1).

When Jesus sent his followers out two-by-two to do the work that he had been doing, he said that God’s Spirit would be speaking through them (Matthew 10:20). Matthew also quotes Isaiah who prophesied that God’s Spirit would be with “His Beloved” (Matthew 12:18). Jesus says that the work of the Spirit of God is an indication that the kingdom of God is present (Matthew 12:28). Also, Jesus warns against blaspheming the Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32).

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit inspired David to write Psalm 110:1 (Matthew 22:43). Finally, in the final section of the book, Jesus tells his followers to baptize disciples in the three-fold name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

When we synthesize this material, we can learn several things about the Holy Spirit.

We see the active work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit conceives Jesus, leads Jesus, speaks through the apostles, and inspires David. We also see that the Spirit is an indication of God’s approval of Jesus and of the presence of the kingdom of God. We see the importance (divinity?) of the Spirit through the prohibition against blasphemy and the inclusion of “the Holy Spirit” in the baptismal “name.”

There are a few passages that, I think, speak to the ongoing work of the Spirit in and through the lives of other followers of Jesus. In other words, Matthew says a few things that indicates that he believed that the Spirit would be active in the apostles and in other believers (i.e., not only the apostles).

First, John the Baptist told the crowds around him that Jesus would baptize in/with the Holy Spirit. He contrasts this Holy Spirit baptism with his own water baptism. So, while Christians may continue to practice water baptism, this is not the baptism that John has in mind. Instead, John is saying that Jesus will baptize (“immerse” or “submerge”) his followers in the Holy Spirit.

The inclusion of the “Holy Spirit” in the baptismal name at the end of his book indicates that Matthew believes this Holy Spirit baptizing would continue. (This is also indicated when Matthew records Jesus’ statement, “I am with you always…”)

Similarly, in Jesus’ final command to “make disciples,” Matthew is indicating that the work of the disciples will continue the work that Jesus started. Remember, he had told them that the Spirit would speak through them, and he had stated that the kingdom of God would be found where the Spirit was present.

As the disciples discipled others, those others would then be given the same mission/mandate. Thus, the promise of Jesus’ presence through the Holy Spirit (and his work through them) must necessarily be continued also. The kingdom of God would also be present wherever the Spirit was with and working through the disciples’ disciples.

So, while Matthew doesn’t clear up everything about the Spirit, we can see that the mystery of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit continues from Jesus, through those who walked with him, on to their disciples, etc. We can be certain that the same Spirit who worked through Jesus and the apostles and the first century Christians continues to indwell and work through us.

However, Matthew does not tell us HOW the Holy Spirit indwells a person or HOW a person understands what the Holy Spirit wants them to do. For example, Jesus said that the Spirit would speak through his disciples, but he does not say how the disciples will know what words the Holy Spirit would have them speak.

Oh well… more for me to investigate in the next book.

September 5, 2010

This is the 120th passage in “<a href=”http://www.alanknox.net/category/as-we-live-it/” target=”_self”>Scripture… As We Live It</a>.”

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,  To Timothy, my true child in the faith, and the first pastor/bishop of the church in Ephesus: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:1-2 re-mix)

(<a href=”http://www.alanknox.net/2008/05/scripture-as-we-live-it-1/” target=”_self”>Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.</a>)

September 3, 2010

Four years ago, in the early days of this blog, I wrote a series called “Defining the Church.” I should probably re-write that series, because my understanding of the church has changed some as I’ve continued to study Scripture. In that series, I looked at various passages of Scripture to help me define the church. One of the posts (“Defining the Church 4“) dealt with Acts 1-2 and the work of the Holy Spirit in defining the church.

——————————————

Defining the Church 4

So far (Defining the Church part 1, part 2, part 3), we have examined the gospels (Matt 16:15-99, 18:15-20; John 15-17) in order to define the church (εκκλησία = “assembly, community”). The main points are that the church belongs to Jesus and is created by Jesus. He builds the church of those who believe and follow Him, and He promises that death will not defeat the church. Finally, Jesus gathers the church together in order for the church to obey Him, to represent Him, and to demonstrate His character.

In Acts 2:42-47, Luke presents a beautiful image of the church. Many look to this picture to define the church; however, it seems that Luke was showing what happened as a result of believers being the church. In other words, since believers were gathered as the church, they “continued steadfastly in (“were faithful to”, “were devoted to”, “persevered in”) the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Continuing in the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers did not MAKE them the church, nor do these activities define the church. Instead, the church, when built and gathered by Christ, will demonstrate these activities, among many others. As an analogy, rain is not defined by the ground being wet; however, when it rains, the ground usually becomes wet.

So, what can we learn from the first two chapters of Acts that will help us define the church? As I read the first two chapters of Acts, there is a theme that may aid us in our study of the church. Notice the passages of Scripture below (emphasis added):

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen… (Acts 1:1-2)

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy…’ ” (Acts 2:14-18)

(Peter still speaking) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (Acts 2:32-33)

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2:37-39)

In summary, Jesus commands the believers to wait in Jerusalem until He sends the Spirit (the Promise from the Father). When Jesus sends the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter reminds the crowd that the Spirit was promised by the prophet Joel, and that the Spirit was sent by Jesus. Peter extended Jesus’ promise – which is the Promise of the Father, which is the Holy Spirit – to all who believe, to as many as the Lord our God will call. It is only at this point – after the coming of the Spirit – that Luke describes the result: the church. All believers – the original 120 as well as the 3000 added by God – are now bound together by the same Spirit into the one church of Jesus Christ. Jesus continues to build His church – through His Spirit. Jesus continues to communicate to His church – through His Spirit. Jesus continues to abide with His church – through His Spirit.

Or, as Irenaeus said many years ago: “Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church.”

As Jesus (through His Spirit) gathers together those who believe and follow Him (through His Spirit), those believers will reveal His character, live according to His commands, and represent Him in the world (all through His Spirit).

September 1, 2010

I’ve been invited to speak to a group of pastors (actually a local Baptist association’s pastors breakfast). My topic will be “The Church and Shepherding in the NT.”

The topic was suggested to my by the person who invited me to speak. He had read a few things that I had written about leaders and service in the NT. He said he thought it would be good to discuss the relationships between elders/pastors/leader and others in the church according to the NT. As he said, this would then lead to a discussion of the nature of the church.

So, thinking through these issues (leadership, service to others, nature of the church), what passages of Scripture do you think would be important to this type of discussion?

August 30, 2010

I ran across this story a few years ago. I don’t know if it’s a real story or not. But, for some reason, I thought of it today:

There is a story about an old man and a young man on the same platform before a vast audience of people.

A special program was being presented. As a part of the program each was to repeat from memory the words of the Twenty-third Psalm.

The young man, trained in the best speech technique and drama, gave, in the language of the ancient silver-tongued orator, the, words of the Psalm.

“The Lord is my shepherd …” When he finished, the audience clapped their hands and cheered, asking him for an encore so that they might hear again his wonderful voice.

Then the old gentleman, leaning heavily on his cane, stepped to the front of the same platform, and in a feeble, shaking voice, repeated the same words-”The Lord is my shepherd. . .”

But when he was seated -no sound came from the listeners. Folks seemed to pray. In the silence the young man stood to make the following statement:

“Friends,” he said, “I wish to make an explanation. You asked me to come back and repeat the Psalm, but you remained silent when my friend here was seated. The difference? I’ll tell you. I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.”

I want to know the Psalm. But, more than that, I want to know the Shepherd.

August 29, 2010

This is the 119th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, to go to church which is your spiritual corporate worship. (Romans 12:1 re-mix)

(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)

August 27, 2010

Three years ago, I wrote a post called “But will you ‘Stop’?” The point of the post is simple: we can study, and explain, and discuss, and argue, and teach, and preach, and examine, and analyze, etc. But if we do not obey, then all of the above is moot.

——————————————–

But will you “Stop”?

John at “Jesus the Radical Pastor” shares a post called “The Meaning of ‘Stop’” which was originally written by Tim Perry from Durham University. He uses caricatures of modern hermeneutical methods to examine the meaning of the word “STOP” on a stop sign. Here are some of my favorites (although there are many hilarious examples):

5. A fundamentalist, taking the text very literally, stops at the stop sign and waits for it to tell him to go.

6. A seminary-educated evangelical preacher might look up “STOP” in his lexicons of English and discover that it can mean: 1) something which prevents motion, such as a plug for a drain, or a block of wood that prevents a door from closing; 2) location where a train or bus lets off passengers. The main point of his sermon the following Sunday on this text is: when you see a stop sign, it is a place where traffic is naturally clogged, so it is a good place to let off passengers from your car.

10. A NT scholar notices that there is no stop sign on Mark street but there is one on Matthew and Luke streets, and concludes that the ones on Luke and Matthew streets are both copied from a sign on a street no one has ever seen called “Q” Street. There is an excellent 300 page doctoral dissertation on the origin of these stop signs and the differences between stop signs on Matthew and Luke street in the scholar’s commentary on the passage. There is an unfortunate omission in the dissertation, however; it doesn’t explain the meaning of the text!

Yes, these are funny and very close to reality. But, I wonder: how many people who study the stop sign would actually stop?

I enjoy a good scholarly study of a biblical passage. But, if you want to teach, start by living out what you are teaching. You can study and outline and explain and exhort, but if your life does not match what you say, then you are not teaching (in the NT pattern of teaching). Consider this passage from Jesus:

The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you- but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. (Matthew 23:2-3 ESV)

And this passage from Jesus:

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. (John 14:23-24 ESV)

And this passage from Paul:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9 ESV)

And this passage from James:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13 ESV)

So, study the stop sign. Examine the stop sign. Analyze the stop sign. Read what others say about the stop sign. Discuss the stop sign. But, most of all, STOP!

August 22, 2010

This is the 118th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established — that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me since I am a leader in the church you need help from me, but I don’t need help from you. (Romans 1:11-12 re-mix)

(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)

August 19, 2010

Today I’ve been talking about leaders… specifically the emphasis that is placed on leaders in today’s church. We don’t typically see that emphasis in Scripture.

Yes, there were leaders in the NT church and there are a few passages that speak directly to or about leaders. But, primarily, the NT authors addressed all believers… whether leaders or not.

I think this passage from 1 Thessalonians is becoming one of my favorite passages about leaders in the church. Why? Because the passage about leaders is directly followed by a passage about everyone:

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 ESV)

Of course, I would translate it a little differently. The phrase that the ESV translates “are over you” is actually the phrase “lead you.” Also, the word translated “brothers” would probably better be translated “brothers and sisters.”

It’s also interesting that Paul writes exhortation in the plural: “We urge you…” instead of “I urge you…”

One more thing… in discipleship terms, the strongest command in this passage is probably “admonish” which is a command given to both all “brothers and sisters” and to “those who lead you.”

August 18, 2010

Steven McKinion at “Gospel-Centered Living” has written a post called “Listening to Scripture.” While he maintains that studying Scripture is important, he also exhorts us to listen to Scripture.

He says:

In a day when everyone wants to do a Bible study what Christian communities really need is more Bible reading.

What’s the difference?

Bible study asks, “What does the text mean?”

Bible reading asks, “What does the text say?” Reading the Bible is listening to the Story. Were I to receive a note from my wife, I would not begin by parsing the language or questioning the context within which it was written. I would not ask, “What was in the mind of the author?” I would simply read. Read to enjoy the self-communication that is writing. I would not study the letter, I would read it.

There is a place for Bible study; a very important place. But study follows reading. Start at the beginning of the Book and read it simply to hear. No studying. No parsing. No cross-referencing. Just reading.

Several years ago, we decided to make public reading Scripture an important part of our church meetings. (By the way, see 1 Timothy 4:13.) Each week, we read at least a chapter of Scripture together, with usually two or three people reading. (We also teach through Scripture, but that is separate from our reading time.)

Also, a few times, we’ve met together only to read Scripture. We’ve read through the Gospels of Luke and John together in one sitting. I hope we do this again soon.

How about you? Is the public reading of Scripture important to you and the church that you meet with?