Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

As I continue to be in between studies, having wrapped up my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at death - a subject very few people ponder until they see it as imminent in their lives. Believers of course must look at death because scripture tells us not to fear death.  Piper urges us to see how Christ "deliver[s] us from the fear of death and set[s] us free to live with the kind of loving abandon that can “let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also”*.  Piper deconstructs Hebrews 2:14-15 to see how Christ does this:

• "Christ includes believers as His spiritual offspring that Christ shares "in flesh and blood..."
• Christ partook of the same [flesh and blood]...
• that through death...
• that he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil...
• and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Piper shares additional text, including Hebrews 10:12, Romans 8:33, Hebrews 9:14, and Romans 5:9 to further explain that "Christ defanged the devil...[b]y covering all our sin, [and that] Satan has no legitimate grounds to accuse us before God." Piper continues by sharing that "God justifies us... [t]hrough the blood of Jesus....Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon the devil has is taken out of his hand. In that sense, he is rendered powerless.  So, we are free from the fear of death. God has justified us. There is only future grace in front of us." Be encouraged to live fearlessly!

*From hymn: A Mighty Fortress

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me freedom from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus.  What an amazing gift...of course I am undeserving...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 9

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how Jesus' death on the cross means that our own death is not punitive.  Because Christ died for our sins, believers avoid eternal damnation and instead have eternal life in Heaven with Jesus Christ and other believers.  What a glorious salvation indeed!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who willingly went to the cross for me - not because I deserved it - but because You loved me despite my sin and in light of my sin - so that I could have freedom from the punishment of sin, now and for eternity!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin of worry continues as do other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers....So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers....So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:5-6, 12

This evening, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on what Piper refers to as a "rehearsal for death" where we look at the last day of the year as an opportunity to examine if we were to die today, could we say that we kept the faith (as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7-8)...do we continue to run with endurance through all of life's ups and downs - counting the blessings God pours out for us and staying close to him...even pushing ourselves (and others) closer to God.  I pray that I do press on closer to God and stay close to Him.  God, help me number my days!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God who showers me with blessings every day - with breath and life - to the full!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God!  My sin of worry and other sins continue.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal LIsa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison[.]

Leviticus 13-15

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison[.] 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - completing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the fifth and final theme for the chapter - Followers of Jesus Have a Future with No Sickness.  Here, the commentary focuses on how Jesus provides the greatest hope and source of strength believers have.  Leviticus 13-14 describe uncleanness from skin disease, and over the past several days my posts have discussed the commentary's perspectives on how skin disease, although not a sin, represents a consequence of our fallen and sinful state based on the original sin. This morning, the entry from the commentary more specifically looks at our fallen and sinful state, and how, for believers, although our earthly bodies face decay (including sickness and infirmities and the associated discomfort, pain, and suffering), when we enter Heaven, we will be made new again, and all of the earthly aspects of our bodies and the associated experience goes away.  The commentary refers to the following additional scriptures to emphasize this (and arguably most) important point:

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - thank You!  Thank You and praise God for the hope, peace of mind, strength, and encouragement You provide by promising eternal life!  I know in Heaven I will see a renewed Dustin with no Down Syndrome and I will see my mom there as well - among the many brothers and sisters in Christ I will see - how glorious!  I am not deserving of these blessings and the amazing grace You pour out for me.  My sins of gossip, worry, etc. continue.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Leviticus 12

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twelve - God Rules from Our Birth - covering Leviticus 12:1-8, looking specifically at the first theme - God Requires Separation from Unbelievers.  Here, the commentary focuses on how at this point in the Old Testament, the Israelites were preparing to enter Canaan, the land God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7), and the land God led the Israelites to out of the wilderness after leaving Egypt. The commentary explores the pagan worship of the cultures in Canaan and its neighbor Moab - the pagan worship of both of these lands included use of human blood and/or human pain/sacrifice.  God of courses detests false gods and worship of these false gods, and the commentary states that childbirth as depicted in Leviticus 12 involves both human pain and blood; so by implication, childbirth, although not sinful, is loosely linked with the pagan worship of Canaan and Moab. Hence, God calls for the mothers to be purified as a prerequisite of the worship experience.  As a key takeaway for today and the theme for today - God Requires Separation from Unbelievers - the commentary urges us to see how our worship separates us from unbelievers.  The commentary also offers two additional takeaways - how believers separate ourselves from unbelievers:

• truth separates us: since (and because of) the Fall, childbirth was painful and often dangerous, sometimes leading to death; death was associated with sin (since the Fall); the concept of original sin and how the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23) is unique to Christianity as is the role Jesus plays in redemption, forgiveness of sin, justification, sanctification, glorification, and eternal life.
  
• obedience separates us: Leviticus is just one book of the Bible but what we see just in this one book is how God governs every aspect of our lives - including all the details; God does bring about obedience as the fruit of our faith and believers obedience is designed to allow us to not only be separate, but different in the sense that unbelievers see and experience something that draws them to Him.
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who created me and those around me and I am grateful for the life You gave me and for those in my community - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  I worry.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:12-21

 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved on to chapter seven Christ's Triumph Over Sin and Death, which covers Romans 5:12-21.  My focus today is Romans 5:15-19 which my commentary refers to as The Contrasts. Here we see Paul focusing not so much on how Adam was a "type of man" like Jesus (see v14 and yesterday's post) but instead on how Adam brought sin and condemnation and how Jesus brought life - hence contrasts. 

In showing such contrasts, my commentary starts by pointing out how in v15 and again in v17 the use of the words "much more" - indicating the use of such words describes the supremacy of Jesus vs Adam in how both are not equal in power. "In Jesus Christ, believers have gained much more than they ever lost in Adam."  My commentary describes the contrasts four ways:

1. trespass and gift (v15)
2. condemnation and justification (v16)
3. death and life (v17)
4. disobedience and obedience (v18-19)

Regarding #1, my commentary wants us to see how "gift" or "grace" appears eight times in v15-17 underscoring how we should never forget how we are undeserving of our salvation and that we should be humbled and have a heart of gratitude and worship. We are also encouraged to understand the value of the gift: "Paul is painting a dark picture of sin so that the good news of Christ will shine.  It is like what a jeweler may do when putting a diamond on a black cloth, so as to make the diamond sparkle." 

Regarding #2 we are to realize and walk the walk of our new identity as justified people and to build our lives on obedience to Christ. 

Regarding #3 we are to realize how we do not receive the gift of Christ automatically we must confess and believe in Christ. 

Regarding #4, my commentary leans on Tim Keller who wants us to see the importance of Jesus' obedience - his entire life - is a matter of life and death for believers 'because that obedience is our obedience, if we are in Christ instead of Adam.' The commentary goes on to state that "[s]o we have the whole biblical story line in this passage." We are encouraged to look at and reference 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 where Paul describes the superiority of Jesus vs Adam and how we have this hope of "being united in Christ."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who led of life of obedience so that I could have life - to the full now and for eternity in Heaven!  What an amazing act of grace and it is the greatest gift of all time.  I am undeserving.  I am full of anger and worry and other sins...which I am guilty of daily!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.

Chapter 24: Pages 333-347

The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand. Job 12:10

This afternoon, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 5 "Providence Over Life and Death" - moving to chapter twenty-four "The Lord Has Taken Away; Blessed Be the Name of the Lord".

In the previous chapter, Piper explore primarily God's providence over birth and in this chapter, he explores God's providence over all life and death, stating right away that although "physical and satanic causes of death are real.  But they are not ultimate or decisive [God is however]."  

Using the Declaration of Independence as an example, Piper makes a distinction between rights to life in relation to other people and those in relation to God.  Piper writes that, Biblically, we don't an "unalienable" right to life.  We do have one in relation to other humans who are not allowed to take our life (as directed by God by the way in Exodus 20:13).  But we DON'T have such a right in relation to God as "God has absolute rights over our lives.  He gives and takes life according to the principle Jesus laid down in Matthew 20:15[.]" See also Job 41:11, Psalm 24:1, Acts 17:25, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Isaiah 57:16, Zechariah 12:1, and Job 12:10, 33:4.  Piper sums it up: "[t]herefore, since life belongs to God, and we have it only as a stewardship to be used while he pleases for his glory, God may take it at any time and in any way he pleases, as he acts in the fullness of his wisdom and goodness and justice."

Since the Fall (Genesis 2-3), when death entered the world, according to Piper, "every human being is under the condemnation of death." Piper uses several significant judgements, including the Great Flood (Genesis 6), the firstborn taken in the Passover (Exodus 11-12), Israel's defeat of the Canaanite nations (including 185,000 Assyrians in a single blow), and not alarmingly given the depth of Israel's sin - Israelites themselves, to show death is the result of God's judgement and His purposes.  We are reminded that even the sinful actions of Pilate and Herod (Acts 4:27:28) are an example of how God uses the sinful actions of humans to accomplish His good purposes.   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You both created my life and hold it in Your hands - I am deserving of death due to my sins, yet You are full of mercy and compassion that knows no bounds.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I know I am undeserving.  I focus on my self and neglect Your praise and glory!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now you will see that I am the one God! There is no god but me. I send life and death; I can hurt, and I can heal. No one can escape from me.

Chapter 23: Pages 318-331

Now you will see that I am the one God! There is no god but me. I send life and death; I can hurt, and I can heal. No one can escape from me. Deuteronomy 32:39

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 5 "Providence Over Life and Death" - moving to chapter twenty-three "A Bath of Truth and the Gift of Birth". 

The key takeaway from this chapter, pounded home by example after example in scripture, is how God both gives and takes life - only Him. 

• Genesis 25:21, 26:2,4, 28:14-15, 29:31, 30:22 
  
• Deuteronomy 32:39
  
• 2 Kings 5:7
  
• Ruth 4:13
  
• 1 Samuel 2:5-6
  
• Job 34:14-15
  
• Psalm 95:6, 100:3, 119:73, 139:13-14
  
• Isaiah 42:5-6, 65:9
  
• John 5:26, 17:2
• Luke 1:13, 24-25, 58

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You both created and sustain my life, and You do the same for all life, including those in my family, friends and my brothers and sisters in Christ - thank You Jesus for the richness of life. I am not deserving.  I know the wages of sin are death....and I continue to sin, including worry and harsh words for others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

Psalm 129

But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. v4

The world is full of sin (including myself) and I need protection from the sin and the wicked influences that are part of the world.  I am DEEPLY thankful that I have a God who is willing to die on the cross to protect me from the sting of sin and death.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Only God can do this and Jesus proved in Matthew 4 that God is more powerful than Satan.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, compassion and mercy.  You have saved me and You continue to save me from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such efforts.  I worry FAR too much.  Please forgive me. Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. v8

I know that Satan is real and lying in wait for me but I need to more aware of how Satan is at work in my life.  I can feel him working in certain situations, such as in my marriage, as a father, and in my service to the church.  Lord help me!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are capable of all things - in fact, You beat Satan, sin and death.  And You rose again to save me a place in Heaven with You.  What a great God You are!  I need You Jesus, desperately!  Thank You for all that You are and do and have done, but I need more of You in my life.  Please forgive me for falling prey to sin in my marriage, as a father and in my service to the church.  Protect me from Satan, sin and the devil.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me remain alert and sober and on watch for the devil.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.