“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Mark 5:1-20

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. Mark  5:19-20

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 5:1-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers three divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv14-20): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Jesus Commissions the Delivered."
• The demon possessed man who has now been healed is emphasized as "a new creation" and we are referred to 2 Corinthians 5:17.
• The reaction of the townspeople is remarked as fear over this rabbi Jesus and His amazing powers and over loss of two thousand pigs. They certainly did not care for the demon possessed man.  This is contrasted with God's grace towards the man.  The commentary shares: "[t]he townspeople may not have cared for the demoniac’s soul, but the Son of God did. Jesus made him a new man. Heaven was glad, but his fellow humans wanted him gone. What a sad commentary on the wickedness and self-centeredness of the human heart void of the grace of God."  
• While the man sought to stay with Jesus, Jesus instead sought for the man to spread the word about what just happened: “[t]ell them of My mercy,” Jesus basically tells the man. “Be My witness; give your testimony. You were lost but now you are saved. You once belonged to Satan, but now you belong to the Son of God.”  We should note that Jesus gave this mission to the man who will now live among those who feared Jesus - they will hear the Truth about Jesus's love, mercy, and compassion for the man and how Jesus seeks to save.  We are referred to Luke 7:47 where the text shares how those who are forgiven much love much.  

We all have a story to tell about how we were forgiven much and saved by Christ.  This should compel us to love Jesus and others as Jesus loves us.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, what an awesome God that You love me - saving me while still sinning and hostile to You.  You pour out Your mercies ceaselessly and every day for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings that You pour out for me.  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 continue to 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.

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:18-22

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” Mark 2:21-22

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 2:21-22, which is the text for the second (of two) divisions per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary:

• "The pertinent question isn’t why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast, but why the Pharisees didn’t feast and celebrate the presence of the Messiah! Here Jesus informs us that He came to make things new and not perpetuate the old. With the coming of the Messiah, Judaism must give way to Christianity—and rightly so, for in Jesus the Hebrew faith finds its fulfillment and completion."
• "In the first parable, attempting to unite the gospel of Jesus and the old religion of Judaism—exemplified by the Pharisees’ ritualistic fasting—is as foolish as trying to patch an old, worn-out garment with a new, unshrunk piece of cloth....With the coming of Jesus, everything is new. The old was not bad, but it is no longer usable. It has been replaced by something better. To continue to try to prop it up and give it a new face is useless. It is futile." 
• "When the real thing has arrived, we do not continue to worship the shadow (Hebrews 10:1)."
•  "[Jesus] is not an attachment, addition, or appendage to the status quo. He cannot be integrated into or contained by preexisting structures—even Judaism, the Torah, and the synagogue. The question is not whether the Pharisees will add Jesus’ teachings to their list of traditions and rituals—like sewing a new patch on an old garment—but whether they will forsake the shadow of the old covenant and embrace the reality of the new covenant."
• "Nor is it a question whether disciples will incorporate Jesus in their old way of life—like refilling an old container—but whether they will become entirely new receptacles for the expanding fermentation of Jesus and the gospel in their lives."
• "Jesus fulfilled the prophecies, types, and demands of the Law of Moses. The Law was ended at Calvary when the perfect sacrifice was once [for all] offered for the sins of the world (Hebrews 8–10). When you trust Jesus Christ, you become part of a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and there are always new experiences of grace and glory."   

Upon salvation, as believers become a new creation, we must consider how old habits and ways must die - there may even be people in our lives where distance may be needed as we seek to design life pleasing to God.  We should be willing to examine all aspects of our lives to assess whether an old habit or way of doing things is truly God pleasing.  Daily reading and study of God's Word is core to how we do this as scripture reveals sin to us.  Gospel centered relationships and fellowship with other believers also are key as "iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17.  As I posted yesterday, humility is key as well because "He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God worthy of my worship and devotion - You saved me and You continue to do a work in me, and are full of mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worthy as my sin continues - my old ways.  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 continue to 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 after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

 Mark 1:14-15

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 1:14-15, which is the text for the first of three divisions per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary:

• Believers are encouraged to "fish for people" by proclaiming the Good News
• There are four components of Jesus' message: "(1) [t]he time is fulfilled, (2) the kingdom of God is near, (3) repent, and (4) believe in the gospel."
• "With the appearance of the Messiah-King, the “kingdom of God” has drawn near. In the person of Jesus Christ, men are confronted head-on with the kingdom—the reign of God. What should be our response? Jesus gives His hearers two commands."
• The first command is to repent, which is "to change [one's] mind leading to a change in behavior."  Of course, we must turn towards God.
• The second command is to believe.  Repentance is complemented by belief - this is how we turn towards God. This turn towards God is not a one-time event but a "life altering change" as we become a new creation. "[a] King has arrived who rightly demands that we follow and radically obey Him. This is the unchanging and uncompromising message and vision of the eternal kingdom of God."  

As the commentary implies, this message of repent and believe requires something not just of a new believer, but all believers over the course of their entire life.  Despite being "born again" (aka regeneration), we continue to have sin until glorification when we meet Jesus face-to-face in Heaven.  On a daily basis, we must go to God to continue a work in us through sanctification.  Sanctification only works if we remain and abide in Him - see also John 15:1-8 and this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.    

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God who saves, provides mercies that never cease and that are new every morning, and who is full of grace and patience to continue a work in me through sanctification. I am undeserving of my salvation and for all that You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...sometimes in very frustrating ways.  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 continue to 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, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 8: The Originality of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• Jesus is accused by many to speak with a "patchwork of quotations" and as a "repeater of wisdom taught by men before his day."
• "The fact is that God has never left himself without a witness. The Son of God has always been in the world. He is the light that lights every man who is born. From the beginning he has been giving men right ideas and right feelings and helping them to reach right conclusions and decisions. We ought, therefore, to expect nothing in Jesus' teaching absolutely unthought of before his incarnation. We ought to expect to find just what we do find, that everything he taught had been anticipated, and that all his cardinal ideas had existed in germ in the writings of holy men who at diverse times had been moved by the Holy Spirit. Jesus instead of suggesting ideas never before heard of, and expounding truths of which no man had ever conceived, picked up the ancient writings, declaring that they contain the word of the Almighty and that he had come to interpret their meaning and to fulfill what the poets and prophets had dreamed. He did not come to destroy the old ideas or the old truths. He came to fulfill." 
  
• "It is at this point, then, that we are to look for the originality of Jesus. We shall not find it in his phrases or even in his conceptions, but rather in his emphasis and his manner of reading life and the world." 
  
• "Men were reading the Scriptures, but they did not know which words to emphasize. Jesus understood. The result was that the Scripture became new....[T]he leaders of the Jewish church had forgotten the point of emphasis. Jesus knew. By emphasizing mercy instead of sacrifice he made religion new. Men had forgotten how to read the world. There were institutions and there were human beings, and the wisest men of Israel had forgotten which is most important, — an institution or a man. Jesus threw the emphasis on the individual soul and by so doing opened a new epoch in the history of the world." 
  
• "[Jesus] lifted himself into a unique position and claimed for himself privileges and rights which he denied to all others. He claimed to be the light of the world, the bread of life, the water of life, the only good shepherd, the way, the truth, the life, the only mediator between God and man, the only one who knows deity completely and who can save the world from its sins. Here we strike something which is unique and in every sense original."
  
• "John, who knew him best, heard him saying, "Behold I make all things new." He could say this because he was new himself."
  
•  "It may be that for some of you life has grown irksome and the world drab and commonplace....The days are threadbare and everything has lost its bloom. What will you do? This is the wise thing to do: Go to Jesus and give yourself afresh to him. Sink your life deeper into his life and catch his ways of seeing things and serving God.  Take his standpoint, assume his attitude, catch his emphasis, drink in the accent of his voice, and undoubtedly he will do for you what he did for Saul of Tarsus, and what he has done and is doing still for many, — he will make all things new.
  
• "[Jesus] unifies human life and simplifies it and elevates it and transforms it and transfigures it, all because he is the Master and the Savior of the heart. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold all things are become new."

Like Paul, each believer has his or her own testimony about how God and the Holy Spirit worked in his/her life to transform and change the heart - to make it more like Him.  Chuck Colson is one such believer who was radically changed by the Gospel.  IAmSecond.com chronicles many more such stories of heart and life change. Ezekiel 36:26 prophesied this when he delivered words from God: "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."  This is new birth or the doctrine of regeneration.  John Piper speaks of this in a message posted here on DesiringGod.com.  Believe in Jesus and watch Jesus make all things new again!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who has given me a heart of flesh and made all things new again in my life - thank You!  I am not deserving of how You gave me faith, saved me, and transformed my heart and life.  My sin is great and it continues...arrogance, harshness, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such 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 continue to 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.

On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

Zechariah 14:4-9

On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. Zechariah 14:6-7

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 14:4-9, which the commentary outlines as the third of four divisions for the text 13:2-14:21 (13:2-9, 14:1-3, 14:4-9, 14:10-21).  The text continues to unfold God's message to His people through Zechariah regarding a prophecy of end times.  V4 refers to on that day, consistent with preceding text on how this day refers to the Battle of Armageddon.  V4 describes how Jerusalem will be split in two and v5 shares how God's people will flee the earthquake described as similar to the earthquake during King Uzziah's reign (see Amos 1:1).  Revelation 16:18 also describes an earthquake, which of course will be "such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake."  V5c then shares how God will come, "and all the holy ones with him."  V6 then describes the new creation (see also Revelation 21) that will result after God's final victory over Satan.  The day is described as unique - known to the Lord - but of course unique and unseen by earthly bodies.  V8 describes living waters that flow east and west from Jerusalem - these living waters seem reminiscent to the waters in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2) implying how with the New Creation in Revelation, God's people are restored to the state in which they lived before the Fall.  V9 concludes the text for this division by sharing how God reigns over all and how He will be one and "his name one."  Once again, believers can take great comfort knowing that God has already won the victory over sin and death and that we are saved and He is saving a place for us in the New Creation!  Take comfort and rejoice!

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My Prayer: Father God, what an amazing Father You are that You love and care for me, protect me, give me comfort, guide me, provide for me, and You save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this amazing grace!  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 continue to 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 when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning I read Titus 3, assisted by the Christ Centered Exposition Series commentary for 1-2 Timothy and Titus, and focus on vv1-8. Per the commentary:

• Main idea: We have been born again to live a new life of good works.
  
• Excerpts from the introduction: Per Millard Erickson (Theology, 955-977), regeneration is 'the other [divine] side of conversion. It is completely God’s doing. It is God’s transformation of individual believers, his giving a new spiritual vitality and direction to their lives when they accept Christ . . . it involves something new, a whole reversal of the person’s natural tendencies.'...."The word [regeneration] itself only occurs twice in the New Testament. One is Matthew 19:28, which refers to the cosmic regeneration in the eschaton. The other is here in the text before us in Titus 3:5.  Paul was vitally interested in both the nature of the new birth and the results of the new birth. He was unalterably convinced that the new birth would be evident in a new life— a new life exploding in good works."
  

Per the commentary, divisions for this text:

1. We Must Be Ready for Good Works (3:1-3): God created and saved us for good works (Ephesians 2:10). "Good works never save, but good works flow from those who are saved."  Paul's call remind to remember commands previously given in Titus 2:11-15.  In Titus 3:4-7, Paul provides seven commands in four categories.  (1) Submit obediently to ruling authorities and obey. See also Matthew 22:21, Romans 13:1, and 1 Peter 2:13-14. "Believers should not be anarchists or rebels. We do not subvert the government or disobey the government unless it brings us into direct conflict with the commands of God (see Acts 5:29)." (2) Serve eagerly (see Galatians 6:10).  (3) Speak gently (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Romans 12:18) (4) Show humility (see Philippians 2:3, 5). We must also constantly be mindful of how God reconciled us to Him purely out of mercy - before we were saved, we were deceived by sin, disobedient, enslaved by sin, 'living in malice'  (Hiebert, 88), living in envy (MacArthur, 149), and we were hateful and destructive.  However, since being saved, we are a new creation - praise God!
2. We Have Been Regenerated for Good Works (3:4-7): God loves and cares for us and He changes us.  "Regeneration consists negatively of removal of filth and positively of a renewing, both brought about by the Holy Spirit. Regeneration washes us, makes us clean through the new birth."  See also Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Ephesians 5:26. God has also come for us (through work of Holy Spirit) and comforts us through justification.  "Having saved us, regenerated us, renewed us, and justified us, He now comforts us with a word about our future. We are “heirs with the hope of eternal life.” This is a reality now, though it is not yet our full possession. There is no question that this inheritance will be received. As a work of our triune God, the Father (v.4-5), the Son (v.6), and the Holy Spirit (v.5), it is a signed, sealed, and settled issue."    
   
3. We Will Be Rewarded for Good Works (3:8): Paul "insists" on his commands and a regenerate believer should bear fruit as demonstrated by good works that are seen as "good and profitable for everyone." 
   

The conclusion of the commentary for the text offers closing thoughts on the text: "Only those who have been regenerated by the power of God, been renewed by the Spirit, been justified by grace, and believed in Jesus and Jesus alone will go to heaven. Yes, we all need a new birth for a new life today and forever. This new life overflows into a life of good works that testify to the goodness of our God and His love for all people in Jesus Christ. This is the power of the gospel. This is the new birth for a new life."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and how saved me and made me a new creation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God. 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.

[P]ut on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4

[P]ut on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24

This morning I pause both my study of 1 Corinthians and my study that accompanies participation in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Instead, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how change is possible. I suspect this devotion will hit a nerve for many people as it certainly did for me - it hit a nerve because I KNOW what God has done to transform my life and change me.  At the same time, I continue to struggle with change in certain areas - I pray constantly that God would make me a prayer warrior, that I would pray for more people more of the time and to pray with passion, vigor and specificity.  Yet I don't feel as if this prayer is getting answered.  Still, I press on and endure as - in Jesus - I have a blessed hope (Titus 2:13) and a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7)...among the many, many rich blessings He pours out for us.  This keeps me running back to Him. In this devotion today, John Piper encourages me to press on with efforts to change and to continue praying to become a prayer warrior.  At one point I struggled with Bible study...and in response to prayer, God fanned a flame in me that gave me a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). God is faithful!  Piper shares how change is possible BECAUSE "[t]he Bible assumes that God is the decisive factor in making us what we should be....This is wonderfully freeing. It frees us from the terrible fatalism that says change is impossible for me. It frees me from mechanistic views that make my background my destiny." To support his claims, Piper provides several scriptures:

• Matthew 23:9: "God adopted us as his children. We have a new Father and a new family. This breaks the fatalistic forces of our “family-of-origin.” “Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven."
  
• Ephesians 5:1: "God loves us as his children. We are “loved children.” The command to imitate the love of God does not hang in the air, it comes with power: “Be imitators of God, as loved children.” “Love!” is the command and being loved by God is the power."
• Ephesians 4:32: "God has forgiven us in Christ. Be tenderhearted and forgiving just as God in Christ forgave you. What God did in Christ is powerful. It makes change possible. The command to be tenderhearted has more to do with what God did for you than what your mother or your father did to you. This kind of command means you can change."
  
• Ephesians 5:2: "Christ loved you and gave himself up for you. “Walk in love, as Christ loved [you].” The command comes with life-changing truth. “Christ loved you.” At the moment when there is a chance to love, and some voice says, “You are not a loving person,” you can say, “Christ’s love for me makes me a new kind of person. His command to love is just as surely possible for me as his promise of love is true for me.”"

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are faithful and with You all things are possible, including change. You gave me a new heart, and made me a new creation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the love You pour out for me.  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.

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.

1 Corinthians 5

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. 1 Corinthians 5:7

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 5.  Here Paul uses hard-hitting language to the church in Corinth, admonishing them for allowing sexual immorality (v1) and other sins (boasting - v6; greed, idolatry, reviler, drunkard, swindler - v11) to remain in the body of Christ.  He urges them to be removed (v2, 13). Paul uses the analogy of baking with yeast (v6-8) to urge them to remember that they are a new creation in Christ, so they should pursue sanctification from Christ, as He gives freedom from the slavery of sin and removes impurities as they grow closer to Him and become more like Him.  Paul concludes the text by sharing that the church in Corinth is to avoid associating with those who sin as described in the text.  While Christ did come to seek and save the lost, and pursued fellowship with sinners, we must acknowledge the danger of sinful influences in the body of Christ. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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.

[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4

[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

I continue my study of Ephesians via my participation in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. For this morning, I continue with Ephesians 4, focusing on v25-32. My study of Ephesians 4 over the past few days include posts on church unity, the importance of small group life as a part of our church experience, and how we are encouraged to lean into the sanctification process and our new creation lives (as believers).  The chapter closes in these verses where Paul urges believers (via the church in Ephesus) to avoid the sins that bring discord within the church and distract the church from its mission. In v25, Paul reminds believers that we are of one body - the church - returning to a theme expressed in v1-16.  Paul contrasts sin we should avoid with Godly behavior we should demonstrate, including "speaking truth with [our] neighbors...doing honest work with [our] hands...shar[ing] with anyone in need...building up...[and] giv[ing] grace to those who hear...be[ing] kind to one another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave [us]." Again, broadly these verses connect with themes previously expressed in other parts of Ephesians 4, including putting off the old self and putting on the new life we have in Christ.  John Piper's lab video here helps break this down and also helps us understand the motives (Christian ethics based not on the law but in Christ as expressed in v30 and 32) God is seeking in us to put on the new life in Christ.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You gave me Yourself and the Holy Spirit, and in so doing I have forgiveness, eternal life, and an abundant life now to endure and find joy through all of what a broken and sin-filled world brings.  I am not deserving of these blessings as I know I sin...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. 

[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4

[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

I resume my study of Ephesians via my participation in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. For this morning, I continue with Ephesians 4, focusing on v17-24. In this text, Paul reminds the church of Ephesus to avoid the sin they used to practice and is still largely practiced by those around them (see also this description of the church in Ephesus and the city).  This sinful life was the "old self" (v22) and they are a "new" self/creation (v24) in Christ Jesus.  Paul clarifies and further defines this new self as focusing on a renewing of the minds - see also Romans 12:2 where this renewing of the mind is also mentioned.  Read and study the Bible daily to better understand Him and His intent for our lives (corporately and individually).  This renewing of the minds is part of the sanctification process where God and the Holy Spirit in us day by day are molding us into more of His "likeness...true righteousness and holiness" (v24).  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me Your Word and sanctifies me so that I can shed my old self - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin is great and it is 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.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.]

Ephesians 2

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.] Ephesians 2:4-5

I pause my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series, to study Ephesians for 3 days per week as I participate in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. This morning, my focus is Ephesians 2, my initial observations, and scripture memorization of v4-5. As I unpack the letter (and further my understanding of it) Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates "[i]t is likely that the gospel was first brought to Ephesus by Priscilla and Aquila, an exceptionally gifted couple (see Acts 18:26) who were left there by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18, 19)."  Additional commentary from MacArthur reinforces what Chuck Swindoll indicates, that "Paul spent the first three chapters of the letter discussing God’s creation of a holy community by His gift of grace in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ", and how "Paul divided his letter to the Ephesians into two clear segments; applying the truths of the first makes possible the actions and lifestyle of the second."  In Ephesians 2, there are two divisions: (1) how believers' salvation brings about new life in Christ (v1-10), and (2) how Christ removed all obstacles (including circumcision, works, obedience to the ceremonial law, etc.) to faith for all nations vs just Israel, and how both Gentiles and Israel are one in the eyes of God (v11-22).  Core to this chapter is v4-5, and we should meditate on these verses, be humbled by them, and rejoice in the truth of the grace we have in Christ!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who has poured out Your life so that I could be a new creation and have new life in You!  Thank You Jesus!  How humbling - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of course - my sin is great and it continues...daily, including pursuit of comfort.  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.

...[F[or anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 5

...[F[or anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on the power of God to command us to give us rebirth in Jesus. Piper explains that we "first experience the divine gift of life and breath, and then to do what living, breathing people do: cry out to God in faith and gratitude and love. When the command of God comes with the creating, converting power of the Holy Spirit, it gives life. And we believe and rejoice and obey."  We are provided several scriptures that illustrate this process of how God's commands give us new life from our spiritual deadness:

• John 11:43-44
• Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6
• Ezekiel 18:31 and 36:26
• John 3:7 and 1 Peter 1:3 
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gave me new life...a new heart, a heart of flesh - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin is daily - worry, etc.  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 god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Chapter 35: Pages 493-505

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 7 "Providence Over Conversion" - moving to chapter thirty-five "Three Biblical Pictures of How God Brings People to Faith".

Here, Piper explores "three biblical descriptions of God's providence in bringing people to faith." He begins by re-stating what we reviewed in the last chapter, that before conversion we are "slaves to sin", "dead in trespasses and sin", "loving the darkness", and "under the wrath of God" - we also are unable to taste the glory of God without God decisively acting on our behalf.  Piper sums up our pre-conversion condition as "bondage...the overwhelming force of our heart's preference for self-exaltation over submission to God." 

Piper then moves to the three descriptions of our conversion (1) new birth, (2) God's call, and (3) new creation.  Our new birth is required because our natural birth "is a condition of spiritual deadness" and "hopeless unless there is a new birth." God's call is not the "general call of preaching", but the same call as done by Jesus to Lazarus (John 11:43) - this call "creates the belief."  Piper points to Romans 8:28-30 to further explain this call. Finally, Piper uses 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 to describe the new creation and he contrasts the light used in these verses to the same light commanded in Genesis. 

Piper wraps it all up: [i]n the new birth, God gives spiritual life where was none.  In the call of God he awakens the dead and causes Christ crucified to be seen as the wisdom and the power of God. In the new creation, God overcomes the blindness of the soul and gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  In each case, the answer to our question is this: God's providence brings his people to faith in Christ by doing for them what they cannot do for themselves.  We cannot cause our own birth.  We cannot cause our own resurrection.  And we cannot cause our own creation. These are divine miracles that must be done to us and for us." 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gave me new birth, You called me, and made me a new creation - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts!  My sin 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 and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept 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 thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5

 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Matthew: Redefining God's Family*".

*Title of lesson seven from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado describing tax collectors during Jesus' day: "guys [who] ranked barely above plankton on the food chain...shunned". We've all felt shunned or insignificant in our lives at one point or another.  Lucado points to Luke 5:29-30 to show how the Jewish leaders felt about tax collectors.  He wants us to understand that it is our heart condition God is concerned about - He sees us as something the world does not.  See also how God saw David He says: 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

We are to be encouraged that no matter what the world sees in us, God sees us as His creation and for believers as a new creation with God working in and through us, so we are not to measure ourselves against any yardsticks the world defines.

Lucado then turns to how Matthew must have felt leaving his old way of life behind, including his old friends.  We are warned in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 not to be yoked to unbelievers, but that does not mean we cannot still spend time with unbelievers, of course with the hope that we can be a light to them and give them cause to see (and hear) in you something that brings them to Jesus.  Jesus even participates in a celebration at Matthew's house with other tax collectors and sinners!

Finally, Lucado wants us to see how God offers "life to the full" and that we should not see following and being obedient to Jesus as a burden.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides life to the full...and so much more, including salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I worry and I have 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 from 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.