Summary
Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning and rumblings and peels of thunder and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches which are the seven spirits of God and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass like crystal around the throne and on each side of the throne are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first living creature like a lion the second living creature like an ox the third living creature with a face like a human like a human face and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle and the four living creatures each of them with six wings are full of eyes all around and inside day and night without ceasing they sing holy holy holy the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come and whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne who lives forever and ever the 24 elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever they cast their crowns before the throne singing you are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created so this is where we are in the throne room this is where we're gonna step for a little bit so the purpose of the vision of God's heavenly court is to show us the the the coronation to show the church the coronation and enthronement enthronement of Jesus Christ the crucified and risen Lord so we're going to get to his enthronement after we talk about the throne room but but if we think about acts if you hold your hand here and then go back to the book of Acts chapter 1 books or the book of Acts chapter 1 so this is right after the gospel of John and this is this is the continuation Luke wrote the book of Acts and so when Luke's gospel and it picks up again then right here in the book of Acts so chapter 1 beginning in verse 6 of the book of Acts so when they had come together this is the the apostles they asked him Lord is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel he replied it is not for you to know the times or periods that the father has set by his own authority but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem in Al Judeian Samaria and to the ends of the earth when he had said this as they were watching he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight while he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven suddenly two men in white robes stood by them and so then angels talked to him so this is that's the earthly perspective of the ascension of Christ to the father now we're going to go back to to Revelation because this is where we receive the heavenly perspective of Christ entering or returning to the father so so we have it's the same thing but here in Revelation we get heaven's perspective of when Christ when Christ is received by the father so John sees the throne of God he sees the throne of God he sees the one sitting on it the one is the object of all worship there's a lot of worship happening here he doesn't give us any specific facial or bodily characteristics so he doesn't describe the one on the throne but says that his appearance is like the precious stones of Jasper and some say Sardius and some this one says Carnelian and then there's a rainbow of emerald around it doesn't mean that God is a stone it does not mean that God is a stone but the appearance of God's glory think of when you hold a precious stone in the sunlight and the light reflects through and the rays shine through and is cast out like put out everywhere so the appearance of God's glory it reflects it reflects the brilliance of his presence as precious stones reflect rays of the sun so we can't look directly at the sun but we can catch a glimpse of the beauty of the sun through the reflection of those rays so so God is not a stone but his glory is brilliant his glory is brilliant Isaiah and Ezekiel also have scenes within the throne room we're not going to study those today but I thought as I was studying I thought oh that would be a really fun small group so not this coming year but look for it in the future because I think that would be a fun one so the stones Jasper Sardius emerald those are all part of the breastplate that the high priest was told to wear in Exodus when when they got all the the instructions those stones were on the breastplate of the high priest and the high priest represented Israel before the throne or before God offering sacrifice for a tonement so this is this is the setting that we're in we get to the 24 elders these 24 elders are sitting on thrones they are wearing crowns and they are they are wearing white robes they are sitting and they are wearing robes and crowns they are not angels they are not heavenly beings or heavenly creatures they are elevated saints they're elevated saints and the 24 elders are the church of the Old Testament of Israel who believed in the New Testament we have the 12 tribes of Israel or the the 12 tribes from Jacob right those are represented for the Old Testament and we have the 12 apostles which are the saints of the New Church or of the church so we have the 24 right there together they're representing the totality of God's people they sit on thrones and they wear crowns because they are victorious in Christ they wear the crown of victory they have white robes because they have been cleansed through the blood of Christ they're in his presence they're in God's presence representing the church they're in God's presence because that by grace is exactly where they belong which is good news that is good news that the church belongs in the presence of God the other thing I want to talk about here is that glassy see that glassy see that is before before the throne there are a couple of things that are really interesting about this so so first of all there is there is that representation of a separation right and while we remain here on earth there is a separation between us and and God we're still separated from the eternal glory when he calls us to home to be in his presence then we will not be separated from his eternal glory but here on earth we are still separated from the eternal glory also think about how the sea is often portrayed or what it symbolizes in Scripture so often it's a raging steep sea it's chaotic it's tormenting and it's it's really representative of the evil and the wickedness and the chaos of our sinful lives and here the the sea is like crystal it's a glassy sea that is transparent it's like crystal it's still it's calm the turmoil of our sin which separates us from God before the throne of God it has been still it has been still it has been conquered and it is tranquil we don't have to fear the torment of the chaos we don't have to fear the the torment or the chaos of wrath of God's wrath and judgment because all is peaceful all is peaceful between God and his creation before the throne just calls for all of us to just take a deep breath and we know that all is at peace before the throne then we have these winged creatures that are flying to and fro Isaiah refers to them as Sarah Femme Ezekiel refers to them as Cherubem John doesn't give them either of those names he sees that that they are closer to God than any other creature and I like how one author says that they can be thought of as the choir masters leading the heavenly host in the song of praise and worship they sing praises of the Lord they initiate the worship the angels and the saints they join in as these flying creatures sing holy holy holy and that song that song continues throughout it comes up several times in revelation and there will be stanzas added to it we see this time in the throne or in the throne room it's a time of complete worship it is it is a time of singing and praising and honoring God God who is so brilliant that he can't be described this this is the scene in which we were seeing or that John John shows us so they're singing holy holy holy all the heavenly hosts are praising God the church on earth praises God and sings this song we sing this song even in suffering because we are still called to worship the Lord and we still can worship the Lord even in the midst of suffering so now we get to the really exciting part of the throne room we get to the lamb okay so we're going to go back to Revelation chapter 5 and we're going to just read the whole thing because it's so exciting it's so wonderful okay so so he's he's in the throne room he is seeing all of these heavenly hosts and the winged creatures singing and and and the majestic one the brilliant one on the throne and the church represented by the 24 elders and he says and then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back sealed okay so he sees the scroll in the right hand of God God's right hand works salvation for his people the contents of the scroll have ultimate good and glory of God's people the completeness of its contents is sealed but we know that there's a completeness of contents because it's written on the inside and on the back so it's fully fully written but it's sealed so the message is hidden the revelation is hidden it would remain closed and unknown until the worthy person came to claim it okay so let's keep going back in here so we're back to to a verse two and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals and no one no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it no one had earned the privilege or the ability to open this sealed scroll and John says I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it then one of the elders said to me do not weep see the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and it's seven seals so no one was found to be worthy no one in all of God's creation no no no one not even that an angel was worthy to open this scroll and to stand before the presence of God and lay legal claim to this scroll and then an elder an elder one of the church tells this weeping John who is so saddened so saddened that no one is found to be worthy and he's weeping bitterly and an elder representing the church he says look look to the lamb look to the lamb and he calls him the lion of Judah the lion was a messianic symbol of royal rain and power and when you think of a lion you think of a lot of power I mean we most of us have heard of or read the Chronicles of Narnia and God is depicted as the lion aslan you know and it's this powerful powerful being and so so we have the elder saying seeing the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered so he can open the scroll and it seven seals and then verse six then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth this is an amazing picture that we have here we have the angel announcing who's worthy who's worthy John weeping bitterly because there's no one who is worthy to open this scroll and elder says no no no look check out it's the lion of Judah and so John turns expecting a lion of Judah and he sees Jesus he sees the lamb the lamb who was slain who shows the marks of the crucifixion the lion of Judah is a lamb standing in the midst of them all this is a beautiful witness of the crucifixion of Christ because he stands the lamb as one who has been slain but it also is a beautiful testimony of the resurrection because it is the lamb who stands he stands there in the midst of them all living forever so we have both the crucifixion and the victory of the resurrection right there in that verse it's amazing I had one cohort who said he pictured this scene like a boxing ring where you you know they say oh and in this corner and there's just this light that shines on and all of a sudden it's the slain lamb in the light and so this is where we have him he has ascended to the Father he is right there all the heavenly hosts see him and we continue yes we continue so so he went this is verse 7 he went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell before the lamb each holding a harp and golden bowls of full of incense which are the prayers of the saints in that beautiful the church the heavenly beings they bring the prayers of the saints that's us that's us brought to the right hand of the Lord the lamb who has the right and legal claim to the scroll who has the right the legal claim to all of human history they sing a new song you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God and they will reign on earth then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands singing with full voice worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and glory and honor and blessing then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them singing to the one seated on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever this is not a mass Exodus of the of the Sunday school I'm just saying they are going to sing with the saints and the four living creatures said amen and the elders fell down and worshipped so the action of receiving the scroll is very very important because the lamb not only reveals human humanity's destiny but it shows that he also has control he has control no one anywhere can dominate over the contents of the scroll so what is in the scroll no one can dominate over it no one else has the power or authority over it they can't even receive the scroll only the chosen lamb only Christ himself can receive that he alone determines the outcome of human history he rules on behalf of his father and for the benefit of his church so that the church will be protected in faith and will be protected in hope and we'll be able to carry out the mission that it has been given so receiving the scroll that's the coronation of Jesus Christ he is the king of kings the Lord of Lords this is the beginning of the everlasting reign of Jesus Christ of God's righteousness through the exalted sun it's a reign that is consummated at the end at the resurrection that you and I will be a part of and in that new heaven and earth which we are going to talk about the new heaven and earth next week we're going to stay here this week remember in all of these cycles how I said that there were interludes so there are interludes that happen in here and I don't think it's a mistake that interludes happen because you read any of these plagues, scenes of the end and it's a lot you know and John receiving this vision there's no way that he's not filled with fear he's seeing all of this happen and so there is that is that is scary so we're going to turn to Revelation chapter 7 we're going to talk about the church triumphant and the church militant so the 144,000 beginning in Revelation chapter 7 verse 1 so we're going to start here and this is after the horses or the horsemen have come so after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or see against any tree I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun having the seal of the living God and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea saying do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads and I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel and then it goes through and it's 12,000 from any names all the tribes so the 144,000 that represents God's people on earth there are at least one cult of Christianity that claims that only 144,000 people will be in heaven we're going to see that that's wrong but this is representative of the church on earth of God's people who are in perfect order there is perfection in that order and they are ready to march it is the church militant poised and ready to carry out the mission that it has been given so we today are part of the church militant we are this side of heaven we have a mission given by the Lord to go to all nations making disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded we read right before the ascension in the book of Acts he said you will be my witnesses to go so we are the church militant with that mission so then we go down to chapter 9 of chapter 7 where it says after this I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation from all tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb robed in white with palm branches in their hands they cried out in a loud voice saying salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb and all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God and it continues well actually know we are going to continue because it is too beautiful not to and all the angels worship God singing amen blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever amen then one of the elders addressed me saying who are these robed in white and where have they come from I said to him sir you are the one that knows then he said to me these are they who have come out of the great ordeal they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb for this reason they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them they will hunger no more and thirst no more the sun will not strike them nor any scorching heat for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of the water of life and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes it's just incredible absolutely incredible John in this vision sees a multitude of people before God's heavenly throne from every nation every tribe the number is so great that it cannot be counted this is the church triumphant John is allowed to see God's people he's allowed to see that God's people on earth are ready to carry out their mission as the church militant they are ready to enter into the valley of the shadow of death and then before they are taken he sees them sealed the ceiling that they receive means that no matter what no matter how much he John and God's people no matter how much suffering we endure this side of heaven the mission will be fulfilled the mission will be fulfilled and God will protect us in faith God will protect the church militant in the faith there will be faith suffering there will be death we all die we all have our soul separate from our bodies we all do die but we won't lose faith the church does not lose faith and God will defend the faith in the end the church then becomes the church militant then becomes the church triumphant because we are all brought into the presence of God the church is sealed and kept in faith and elevated to glorify Christ and to live in his glory when John sees this great church triumphant he's filled with joy he's filled with joy because he knows they are coming out of tribulation they are coming out of suffering but they have been protected and brought to glory in Christ in Revelation in verse three of chapter seven it says that they've been sealed so God knows exactly who belongs to him and he seals them so the Christian and I had to write this exactly how it was written because it's so beautiful and it's such a comforting word that the Christian can be absolutely certain and sure of his salvation and faith because it rests on the truth of God's word and God's seal within that word the Lord knows who's who are his it's through his word that God seals his people assures them by his spirit that they belong to him and that he will protect them in faith Paul says Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit given to the Christian as God's pledge or guarantee of the inheritance that God has promised it's the pledge of God's promise that seals the Christian in his heart the seal then assures the believer that he belongs to God and is known by God the Holy Spirit does this through the word of God's promise which has been brought to fulfillment by Jesus Christ the throne room the lamb that sits upon the throne the church militant continuing to march we are a part of that but we have the assurance of God's protection we have the assurance of his promise we have the assurance that we have been sealed what do we do every single baptize or every single baptism we seal that person in the name of the Father the Holy Spirit that they are sealed sealed in the spirit of God they are claimed the Lord knows who are his and we are promised and we should find great comfort that regardless of the suffering that we have this side of heaven that we are promised that we will be part of the multitude that is countless that we'll be singing the praises and worshiping the Father in that glorious throne room Lord, for your word, we thank you, Father, that you come to us in word and sacrament, we praise you, and we thank you that you call us your own and that you call us your servants in Jesus' name. I think of Christmas I mentioned that in my sermon today we took a look at a portion of the great great hymn joy to the world so it's not surprising that perhaps Christmas was on my mind as I came to prepare this class there are there are so many great hymns aren't there and remember great hymns are those hymns that preach one of the great hymns associated with Christmas is the hymn what child is this just a beautiful rich hymn lifting up the imagery of Mary and the infant Jesus it's so beautiful there's a tranquility and a peacefulness about it but one of the stanzas that you sing some of the words are nails spear shall pierce him through the cross be born for me for you hail hail the word made flesh the babe the son of Mary it can be almost a shock when one comes to those words you surrounding the services of Christmas Eve it's such a beauty and the and the scene of the birth of the long anticipated Messiah of the world seen Mary and Joseph and the baby and there's this beautiful beautiful tranquility that surrounds that service service ending with silent night and the candles reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world and so when you have a hymn associated with Christmas and oftentimes sung on Christmas Eve that talks about nails and spear piercing him through the cross be born for me and you it is almost a shock isn't it but that hymn is so helpful for us because it reminds us of why Jesus Christ came why there was the incarnation why there was the inflection of the second member of the Trinity Jesus came he was born to go to the cross he was born to bear our sin upon the wood of the cross that tree towers above all other trees in Holy Scripture is one was through the seasons of the church here I think also not only of Christmas I think also of a particular week holy week and one of the services of holy week is good Friday such a contrast isn't it the service on Christmas Eve the gradual extinguishing of lights the removal of the linens and the paramins the draping in terms of the black cloth that goes upon the pulpit and upon the altar we leave in silence we leave in darkness having been reminded in a special way of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ that service called good Friday which begs the question what what's good about it it is just as an incredible event that happens it is so unfair to the Lord Jesus Jesus never sinned and yet there he is receiving the death penalty on a cross between two guilty criminals looked at it from the human point of view one would have to say what is good about that how one how unjust is that that's why Friday has to be understood from the vantage point and the perspective of God because when we see it from God's perspective that's why we call that day good turn over please to the book of Hebrews the 12th chapter good way to find Hebrews is just a turn to the last book revelation start working your way slowly back towards Matthew you're going to cross over the Johns Peter James and then you come to the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 12 please verse 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross disregarding its shame and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God the joy that was set before our Lord was the joy of winning salvation for us remember when the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross he took our sin upon him he took the wrath of God that should fall upon us he took it upon himself he paid the penalty he cried out to tell the story paid in full the sin death paid and the joy that was set before him was the end result then of the cross forgiveness reconciliation redemption turn please to Isaiah the 53rd chapter good good way to find Isaiah is open up to the middle of the Bible you'll find Psalms and then start moving right Psalms Proverbs ecclesiasties song of Solomon and then Isaiah Isaiah chapter 53 verse 10 Isaiah 53 verse 10 yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain I like how the N.A.S.V the new American standard version translates that it says but the Lord was pleased to crush him and so this verse here that looks ahead to the Messiah on the cross the Lord was pleased to crush him because it's pleasure that which is born of what would come about because of the cross this incredible incredible act of God born of grace turn it with me now please to Matthew chapter 26 because I'd like to explore this with you this the greatest tree the cross of the Lord Jesus let's go to Matthew chapter 26 the first book in the New Testament Matthew chapter 26 and picking up in verse 36 then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit here while I go over there and pray he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebede and began to be grieved and agitated then he said to them I am deeply grieved even to death remain here and stay awake with me and going a little farther he threw himself on the ground and prayed my father if it's possible let this cup pass from me yet not what I want but what you want then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping and he said to Peter so you could not stay awake with me one hour stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak again he went away for the second time and prayed my father if this cannot pass unless I drink it your will be done again he came and found them sleeping for their eyes were heavy so leaving them again he went away and prayed for the third time saying the same words then he came to the disciples and said to them are you still sleeping and taking your rest see the hour is at hand and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners get up let us be going see my betrayer is at hand the very beginning of that reading is the reference to the place called Gethsemane to the garden Gasemani Gasemani had trees they were all of trees so here in a garden surrounded by trees there we find the Lord Jesus with that image in mind think back to what we studied in Genesis with the two trees in the garden for there in the garden our first parents Adam and Eve there they were surrounded by trees and it was there that all suffering began let's turn back there please to Genesis chapter 2 Genesis chapter 2 verse 16 Genesis 2 verse 16 and the Lord God commanded the man you may freely eat of every tree of the garden but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall die then now please to Genesis 3 picking up in verse 16 to the woman he said I will greatly increase your pangs and childbearing in pain that you shall bring forth children yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you just a little to side on that this of course is after the fall the desire here your desire shall be for your husband that word there in the Hebrew it means a hungering intent upon in other words because of sinfulness the the woman will want to dominate the man but notice the the same sin here that dominates the man it says yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you so born out of sinfulness what can so often manifest is a husband and a wife trying to trying to dominate the other that's all the result of the fall that is it that's the opposite of submitting to one another as servants back then again please to Genesis 3 verse 17 to the man he said because you've listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you you shall not eat of it curse it is the ground because of you in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the plants of the field by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground for out of it you were taken your dust and to dust you shall return jumping out of verse 22 then the Lord God said see man has become like one of us knowing good and evil and now he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken he drove out the man and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life in the garden surrounded by trees there is Adam and Eve and there is the beginning of suffering born out of the fall into sin the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ came to undo what the first Adam did let's go to Romans chapter 5 Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and then Romans Romans chapter 5 verse 14 yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam who is a type of the one who was to come so you've got the first Adam and you've got the second Adam the second Adam is the Lord Jesus the first Adam is considered a a type in other words he said a pattern that in some way would be followed by Christ let's examine that let's go to Luke the third chapter Matthew Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 3 verse 38 Luke 3 verse 38 here you have a long genealogy with regard to Jesus notice the last phrase son of enus son of Seth son of Adam son of God so you've got God and then by God's creative touch there is Adam now let's go to Luke the third chapter verse 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove and a voice came from heaven you are my son the beloved with you I am well pleased so there's the reference to Adam son of God notice the small letter S there of course and then you have reference to the son of God my beloved the father says Adam was created as a son of God God is or Jesus is God's beloved son he's a type Adam was tempted by Satan back into Genesis the third chapter again Genesis chapter 3 verse 6 so when the woman saw that the tree was good for food that it was a light to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise she took of its fruit and ate and she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate Adam was tempted by Satan a type pointing ahead to the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ is tempted by Satan let's go to Luke chapter 4 Matthew Mark and then Luke verse 1 Jesus followed the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan was led by the Spirit in the wilderness where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil and remember with every temptation what Jesus did he kept saying it is written it is written it is written oh that is such a powerful word for us when we face temptation to say it is written in other words what is God's will for us Adam created as a son of God Christ is God's beloved son Adam was tempted by Satan the Lord Jesus was tempted by Satan Adam's response to the temptation was sin which led to death Jesus's response to the temptation obedience which leads to life through the cross let's go to Romans the fifth chapter Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and then Romans Romans chapter 5 verse 15 but the free gift is not like the trespass for if the many died through one man's trespass there's the first Adam much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man Jesus Christ abounded for the many and the free gift is not like the effect of one man's sin for the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification if because of the one man's trespass death exercised a minion through that one much more surely were those who received the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercised a minion in life through the one man Jesus Christ here's the point the second Adam began his greatest suffering in the garden surrounded by trees and in the garden of Gethsemane surrounded with trees there we find the Lord Jesus Christ who has come to deal with the sin and death and misery that is a result of the sin of humankind it's really Genesis 3 all over again isn't it but now the outcome has a joyous joyous ending turn please to Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 verse 7 he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he did not open his mouth like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep that before its shears is silent so he did not open his mouth oh the love of God for us in the Lord Jesus Christ Romans the 8th chapter verse 32 Matthew Mark Luke John Acts and then Romans he who did not withhold his own son but gave him up for all of us will he not with him also give us everything else it is the picture and the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ carrying on his back the very wood that his blood would soon stand to John 19 now please Matthew Mark Luke and then John John the 19th chapter picking up with verse 6 and halfway through that verse John 19 picking up in verse 6 all right let's just start right at the beginning when the chief priests and the police saw him they shouted crucify him crucify him Pilate said to them take him yourselves and crucify him I find no case against him and now to verse 16 then he handed him over to them to be crucified so they took Jesus and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the place of the skull which in Hebrew is called golgotha there they crucified him and with him two others one on either side with Jesus between them Pilate also had an inscription written then put on the cross it read Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews golgotha golgotha typically is identified today because of this rocky outcropping near Jerusalem that resembles a skull interestingly tradition says that golgotha was so named because it was the place of Adam's skull or his grave now let me underscore that is not scripture that is tradition in the church so we can't say with any scriptural authority that that is the case but that is the tradition in the church therefore according then to this tradition the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified over the grave of the first Adam Luther talked about it this way quote thus the center of paradise was where Jerusalem Bethlehem and Jericho were located later on the places where Christ and John spent the greater part of their life it is possible Luther says that later on Calvary where Christ offered himself for the sins of the world was located where the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had been while paradise was still standing thus so far as the place is concerned death and destruction through Satan would be matched by life and salvation one through Christ and when Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world on the cross paradise was regained go to John the third chapter please John chapter 3 verse 14 Matthew Mark Luke and then John John 3 will pick up in verse 14 and just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life remember we had studied about that wooden pole upon which that bronze serpent was placed Luther referred to the Lord Jesus Christ as the serpent of salvation what he was drawing on was was this verse that on good Friday a new serpent was lifted up Luther said it was the serpent of salvation the Lord Jesus Christ and we look unto him for salvation well of course the story does not end with Jesus dead on the cross does it look turn with me please to Luke the 24th chapter Matthew Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 24 picking up in verse 1 but on the first day of the week at early dawn they came to the tomb taking the spices that they had prepared they found the stone rolled away from the tomb and when they went in they did not find the body while they were perplexed about this suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground but the men said to them why do you look for the living among the dead he is not here but has risen remember how he told well he was still in ghettily that the son of man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again then they remembered his words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the 11 and to all the rest the resurrection is the validation that the sacrifice for sin had been accepted look with me please at 1 Corinthians the 15th chapter Matthew Mark Luke John, Acts and Romans 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians chapter 15 beginning with verse 12 now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead there is no resurrection of the dead than Christ has not been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain we are even found to be misrepresenting God because we testified of God that he raised Christ when he did not raise if it's true that the dead are not raised for if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile and you're still in your sins and those also who have died in Christ have perished if for this life only we've hoped in Christ we are of all people most to be pitied but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead the first fruits of those who have died for since death came through a human being the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being for as all die in Adam so all will be made alive in Christ the gospel what a glorious glorious word from the trees of Eden's garden to the burning bush on Sinai to a wood pole lifted up that had a bronze serpent upon it to which the people were called to look from the tram family tree of the Lord Jesus all the way to the cross our heavenly Father uses trees and wood to bless his people and the tree of trees the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray these weeks of study have been a blessing to you the Lord be with you Hello and welcome to our fourth session in this class entitled, Trees in which we take a biblical examination of some of the trees that we see in Holy Scripture. So Jesus sent Peter and John saying go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it they asked him where do you want us to make preparations for it listen he said to them when you have entered the city a man carrying a jar of water will meet you follow him into the house he enters here's very specific instruction about this man so prophecy can really deal with small matters it can also deal with great events for example the prophecy with regard to flood the prophecy with regard to the destruction of Jerusalem both times Jesus's death and resurrection the end of the world so prophecy can deal with small and also great here's something else to keep in mind prophecy can cover either a short or long period for example some prophecies are fulfilled the very same day in Holy Scripture and other prophecies other prophecies take thousands of years the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in his first coming or his second coming is an example of that or we hear it put this way in second Peter the third chapter a good way to find second Peter is to go to the book of Revelation and start to work your way back toward Matthew you're going to cross over the Johns and then you bump into the Peters very quick second Peter chapter 3 we'll pick up in verse 3 first of all you must understand this that in the last days scoffers will come scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming for ever since our ancestors died all things continue as they were from the very beginning of creation they deliberately ignore this fact that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished but by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the Godless but do not ignore this one fact be loving that which the Lord one day that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day the Lord's not slow about his promise is some think of slowness but is patient with you not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance so what we see is it can be either covering a short period of time or a long period of time here's another descriptor with regard to prophecy it can be conditional or unconditional unconditional prophecy is God promises something and it's simply going to be Christ birth death resurrection his return perfect examples of unconditional prophecy but then you have conditional prophecies in other words they are fulfilled only if the people who received them met certain conditions so for example when when Jonah foretold the destruction of Nineveh that immediate fulfillment that immediate fulfillment was laid aside when the people repented or another example is in Jeremiah chapter 18 let's turn there please in the Old Testament Jeremiah chapter 18 and we'll pick up in verse 7 Jeremiah 18 verse 7 at one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it but if that nation concerning which I have spoken turns from its evil I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it and that another moment I made to declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and planted but if it does evil in my sight not listening to my voice then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it so you can have prophecies then that are unconditional you can have prophecies that are conditional here's the next some prophecies were delivered by dreams or night visions so for example you've got Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the image that was interpreted by Daniel or Jacob's dream of the latter or Joseph's dreams about his family you can also have visions examples of of that is Paul and Acts 22 or John in the book of Revelation here's another descriptor of prophecies some prophecy is received by direct encounter with God Genesis 18 is an example of that Abraham received a promise of a son that was a direct encounter with God or sometimes the angels will come and deliver the prophecy we read in scripture about the angel coming and delivering the prophecy with regard to the birth of John the Baptist or the angel coming and delivering the prophecy with regard to the birth of our Lord so here's some then principles or descriptors of prophecy just to review they can deal with matters smaller great they can cover a short or long period they can be conditional or unconditional some were delivered as dreams or night visions some were received by a direct encounter with God okay let's go on let's gain that greater understanding around this whole issue of prophecy some can be given in plain literal language and other prophecies can be given in symbolic language what we can deal with are what are called types and types is an old testament event that looks forward to the new testament and the ultimate fulfillment so a type a type can be for example a person we see in scripture Melchizedek was a type a type of Christ the true priest or a type can be an event the freeing of Israel from Egypt is a type that points forward to the redemption that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ or it can be a thing the Passover lamb in the old testament is a type that points forward to the lamb of God Jesus Christ prophecies can be acted out symbolically for example let's go to Jeremiah chapter 27 verse 1 Jeremiah 27 verse 1 and here we have a prophecy that's with symbolic actions as it's communicated so verse 1 chapter 27 in the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah son of Josiah of Judah this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord thus the Lord said to me make yourself a yoke of straps and bars and put them on your neck send word of the king of Edom the king of Moab the king of the Ammonites the king of Tyra and the king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to kings at a kaya of Judah give them this charge for their masters thus says the Lord of hosts the God of Israel this is what you shall say to your masters it is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth with the people and animals that are on the earth and I give it to whomever I please now I have given all these lands into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon my servant and I have given him even the wild animals of the field to serve him all the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave but if any nation or kingdom will not serve this king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and put his neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon then I will punish that nation with the sword with famine and with pestilence says the Lord until I've completed its destruction by his hand you therefore must not listen to your prophets your diviners your dreamers your soothsayers or your sorcerers who are saying to you you shall not serve the king of Babylon for they are prophesying a lie to you with the result that you will be removed far from your land I will drive you out and you will perish but any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him I will leave on its own land says the Lord to till it and live there see there we see the prophecy symbolically lived out by Jeremiah there can be symbolic language you see that in Ezekiel Daniel Zechariah also with John for example the candlesticks in Revelation they stand for congregation the beasts in Daniel stand for the kingdom so prophecy can be communicated symbolically here's a very important point I'd like you to remember truths which are taught in symbolic language in scripture are also taught elsewhere in plain literal language let me say that again truths which are taught in symbolic language in scripture are also taught elsewhere in plain literal language so one looks then for the plain literal language and then uses that in the interpretation of the symbolic so always when one sees symbolism look for the plain literal interpretation if one doesn't that's where that launch into imagination can simply come into being where sometimes people will interpret prophecy and you say where are you getting that because you see it doesn't bear the correct biblical principles of interpretation so why is it important to study prophecy we've laid principles with regard to prophecy why is it important to study prophecy first prophecy shows the glory of the true God that he's in control that we can count on him that we can count on his word let's go to Isaiah chapter 46 right before Jeremiah Isaiah 46 we'll pick up in verse 8 Isaiah 46 verse 8 remember this and consider recall it to mind you transgressors remember the former things of old for I am God and there is no other I am God and there is no one like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done saying my purpose shall stand and I will fulfill my intentions prophecy shows as we see the fulfillment of prophecy prophecy shows that we can rely on God that his word is trustworthy here's a second reason why it's important to study prophecy prophecy directs us to Christ let's go to Luke chapter 24 Matthew Mark and then Luke Luke chapter 24 verse 44 then he said to them these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled Jesus of course is the one speaking here then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures see Jesus showed how the very scripture points to himself here's a third reason prophecy prepares us for the events that are still coming let's go to Matthew chapter 24 verse 32 Matthew chapter 24 verse 32 Jesus said from the fig tree learn its lesson as soon as its branches become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that summer is near so also when you see all these things you know that he is near at the very gates here's another reason prophecy influences are conduct in the present let's go to second Peter chapter 3 and we're a good way to find second Peter's just go to revelation and then slowly work your way backwards second Peter chapter 3 verse 14 therefor beloved while you are waiting for these things strive to be found by him at peace without spot or blemish another reason why we study prophecy is it makes up a great part of the word of God there are some 8,300 verses in holy scripture that have elements of prophecy in them so you consider 8,300 verses in scripture that contain elements of prophecy within the 31,000 verses in holy scripture so a major portion of scripture is dealing with prophecy we study prophecy also so that we may be a people that can recognize where there's a bad interpretation of prophecy and then we can address that bad prophecy those false views so in the weeks ahead let's study about the prophecies fulfilled at Christ's first coming the prophecies fulfilled being fulfilled today the prophecies to be filled be fulfilled at Christ's return and next week we'll take a look at prophecies fulfilled during the old testament God bless Good morning and welcome. The Eastern church rejected this they didn't like that they held to the Father holding all the deity really and truly and they were they were fine with saying the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Sun but they did not want to to say that the Spirit was from the Father and from the Sun so that's where that controversy lies that is part of the schism that was created between the Eastern and the Western churches but it's not the only reason and and truly the split came in in about 1054 when when those two churches finally the the patriarch of the Eastern church and the Pope of the Western church excommunicated one another so so that came a little bit later but this was part of it and this was in 381 when they started adding in that Holy Spirit article so moving on to what we're studying today that was just a brief overview of what we had last week with the creeds today we're going to talk about Jesus human nature okay Athanasius said for salvation the correct faith is necessary not only regarding the divine nature in Christ but also regarding the human and if we look at the creeds and take just what they state about the humanity of Christ we can see that it's built right into those creeds so the Apostles Creed says that Jesus was born of the Bible and Jesus was buried those are things that happen to all human beings we are all born we all not all of us are crucified clearly but we all have sufferings we all have pain we all die we will all be buried right so those are very human things that happened to him the Nicene Creed says incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made man was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate he suffered died and was buried very similar in those statements and then the Athanasian Creed says that our Lord Jesus became flesh he is man born in the world from the beginning of from the being of his mother existing fully as man with a rational soul and a human body he has taken humanity into himself he does not transform deity into humanity so he's not exchanging one for the other he is completely one in the unity of his person without confusing his natures for as the rational soul and body are one person so the one Christ is God and man he suffered death so that's getting a little more into the nitty-gritty that there are two natures there is a human nature it talks about his birth it talks about his death and that he is fully fully in the flesh fully man so there were some early claims against Jesus's Jesus humanity and and really no one in the very early church no one really denied his deity that seemed to be a given today it's a little bit different today more people deny his deity than his humanity but but it's interesting because the early church they couldn't quite believe that he was human that he had actually been a bit had actually been a human so they would say that Christ's body was not human that it had the appearance of a normal human it had it had the look of what a human has but it's actually a specter it's not a real true human being it looked real but it was more of a celestial substance this was taught by by several groups those who believed this then they also taught that Jesus actions all that he did and all that he suffered or went under or went through those were also fantasy they didn't actually happen so the sufferings that he underwent they only appeared to happen which we know is not true and we do not confess that we confess that he in true human form in his humanity suffered under Pontius Pilate so they taught that he was kind of a kind of a ghosty type thing right but let's open up to Matthew 14 this is the first gospel Matthew 14 so open up to the New Testament and we will see we're gonna look at 26 this is when Jesus is walking on the water chapter 14 verse 26 but when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified saying it is a ghost right they they thought he was a ghost and they cried out in fear but immediately Jesus spoke to them and said take heart it is I do not be afraid he would not let them believe or claim that he's a ghost he's saying it's me I'm here in the flesh let's go over to Luke 24 so we're gonna go past Matthew past Mark go into Luke the third gospel this is after Christ had been killed this is after he had risen from the grave and he is appearing to his disciples we're gonna go to verse verses 36 through 39 so he's coming to his disciples and while they were talking about this Jesus himself stood among them and said to them peace be with you they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost so this is after he's been resurrected they're thinking again they're seeing this ghost and he said to them why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts look at my hands and my feet see that it is myself touch me and see for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have so even after the resurrection Christ is coming back when anyone could possibly say it's a ghost it's a ghost and he's saying no even now I am not a ghost I have flesh I have bones we see in the gospel of John where he's eating food post resurrection he was a human he is a human it was very interesting I came across an article from a what would be considered a reputable source or reputable reputable publication it's an article from 2014 right before Christmas it's amazing how many articles come out right before Christmas to say Jesus isn't real it's amazing uncanny just watch for it this year there will be articles that come out trying to deny Christ right before we celebrate his birth but this man the author of the article he wrote did a man called Jesus of Nazareth walk the earth discussions over whether the figure known as the historical Jesus actually existed primarily reflect disagreements among atheists believers who uphold the implausible and more easily dismissed Christ of faith the divine Jesus who walked on water ought not to get involved so to discuss Jesus the historical accuracy of Jesus the person of Jesus this writer is is telling his readers that anyone who believes in Jesus really shouldn't be involved in this discussion I want to invite you as believers in Jesus to be involved in the discussion for those of you who have not been to service yet that's what it is that that's our sermon that you'll hear today that we are a part of this discussion this is what we are called to bring and to be a part of is the discussion of God and who God is and so I thought that was really interesting so yes Jesus actually walked on this earth I have a host of and we're just gonna dive in because we have time and I and it's gonna seem a little like wow we have so many Bible verses but this is just a sampling of where we find Christ walking the earth where we find him as a true human that can support anytime someone questions whether Jesus really was real or not really a human you can go to any of these verses and say no no look here here here tell me when you get tired here here right so there's a lot of biblical proof here so we're gonna just start with John 1 so that's the gospel of John so if you flip over probably about one page from where you are in Luke and you find John the first chapter we're looking at verse 14 and the word who if you go to the very beginning of John we're told that the word was with God the word was God and we know that to be Jesus which we will get more into in a couple of weeks but the word verse 14 became flesh and lived among us the word became flesh and lived among us let's jump back to Luke chapter 2 we're gonna jump around in chapter 2 for a moment here so we're gonna start in verse 6 so the gospel of Luke chapter 2 starting in verse 6 while they were there that's Mary and Joseph while they were there the time came for her to deliver her child and she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn she gave birth to an actual human being to a little boy so there is a man or a boy being born let's jump down to verse 21 after eight days had passed it was time to circumcise the child and he was called Jesus the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb so this little infant is taken in the ceremonial custom and he is circumcised and he is named humans well not all of them get circumcised but humans have bodies which things are done to right and we are given names that is a very human thing happening here then let's jump down to verse 40 we're just gonna read the first little bit here the child grew and became strong Christ had a childhood he didn't just appear as a man he was born of a woman he had a childhood and he grew in that childhood let's go back to or go over to Luke chapter 4 we're gonna look at those first two verses Luke chapter 4 verses 1 and 2 Jesus full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan and was led by the spirit into the wilderness where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil he ate nothing at all during those days and when they were over he was famished if a human does not eat for 40 days he will be hungry God doesn't need food man does right so Jesus was in the desert constantly being tempted I don't know about about any of you if you if you know this too but humanity is tempted we get tempted as human beings so so we've got two things here he is physically physically famished hungry needing food wanting food right but he's also being tempted which the devil was trying to tempt him in his humanity now let's go over to John so we're just gonna go over one more book John 11 John 11 verse starting in verse 33 so Lazarus who was a good friend of Jesus Lazarus died and he went and he saw the sisters and picking up in verse 33 it says when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with him were also weeping he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved he said where have you laid him they said to him Lord come and see Jesus began to weep he mourned his friend he mourned he felt that he he wasn't this unemotional having no feeling man or being in his humanity he had feelings he had those feelings of love and he was mourning and weeping for his friend for his friends who were mourning so there's another human element to him let's jump over to mark so we're gonna go back a couple of gospels it's the second gospel mark two and we're gonna go to verse 16 mark 216 when the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he that is Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors they said to his disciples why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners Jesus as a man ate here he's eating with tax collectors and sinners he's eating he needed food again that's that humanity if we jump back into the Old Testament Isaiah so if you go to the middle of the Bible you'll find Psalms and if you flip to the right you will find the prophets after Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon you're gonna find Isaiah and we're going to Isaiah 53 verses 2 and 3 Isaiah 53 verses 2 and 3 and this is prophesying about Jesus for he grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground he had no form or majesty that we should look at him nothing in his appearance that we should that we should desire him he was despised and rejected by others a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity as one from whom others hide their face he was despised and we held him of no account this is telling us that people around him he didn't have an appearance that that looked majestic he didn't have anything special about his look but this is also giving him an appearance we know that Jesus had flesh we know that he had a look he wasn't just this ghosty type being he wasn't celestial in in his form he was a man he had an appearance nothing nothing that that anyone should desire to look at him which I think is really interesting um okay so let's go over to Hebrews so this we're going back into the New Testament we're gonna pass the Gospels pass the letters of Paul and then we're gonna come to Hebrews and we're going to the second chapter Hebrews 2 verse 14 Hebrews 2 verse 14 since therefore the children share flesh and blood he himself likewise shared the same things Jesus shared with mankind the same things of flesh and blood he was a physical human being let's go over to Galatians or back to Galatians you're gonna go back through the letters of Paul if you've got Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians and then you've got Galatians uh Galatians chapter 4 verse 4 when the fullness of time had come God sent his son born of a woman born under the law we are all born of women and we are all born under the law we are all born into the same condition not house or family but we're born into the same condition as human beings as Christ was also born of a woman under the law and let's go back one more to Romans this is the last one but you'll see I mean do you see how there's it's just verse after verse after verse that is proving the humanity of Christ we're going to Romans chapter or verse yeah chapter 1 verse 1 Paul a servant of Christ Jesus called to be an apostle set apart for the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures so he's promising God promised this gospel this good news through holy scriptures concerning his son who was descended from David according to the flesh he descended from David according to the flesh again just putting that humanity right there so this is a relatively long list that we've gone through but you'll see as you flip through scripture it is not hard to find proof from scripture from the Bible that Christ indeed was a flesh and blood man he needed to eat he needed to sleep oh we didn't even get to any of his sleeping right we he needed to function or he did function as a human did because he was a human he was a man so what about the people that say oh that's nice but you're just going to the Bible I don't I don't just go to the Bible that's not for me well there are historical historical accounts of Jesus also so we know that he was a human that walked the earth we have historical sources so the first one is from Tacitus or Cornelius Tacitus he he was a Roman senator and he was considered to be one of the best if not the best Roman historian so this was a history guy right and he studied he studied people he studied cultures he studied cultural phenomenon and and he wrote in this is in the context of a great fire of Rome it went for six days this fire burned it burned a lot of the city in 64 AD during the reign of Nero and he wrote this is Tacitus writing neither human effort nor the Emperor's generosity nor the placating of the gods ended the scandalous belief that the fire had been ordered by Nero therefore to put down the rumor so Nero there was a rumor that Nero started this fire or had this fire going so to put the the rumor down Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts whom the crowd called Christians the founder of this name Christ had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate suppressed for a time the deadly superstition erupted again not only in Judea the origin of this evil but also in the city Rome where all things horrible and shameful from everywhere come together and become popular so Tacitus in this is presenting four four pieces of accurate knowledge that we have about Jesus he said that well he called him Christus or Christ this was used by Tacitus to refer to Jesus he thought it was a name he didn't realize that it was a title but but he used it as a name but he called him Christ he talked about Christ being associated with the beginning of the movement of the Christians right for for the origin of this grouping that this man was executed by the Roman governor of Judea and that the time of his death was during Pontius Pilate's governorship during the reign of Tiberius so we have these four points of historical documentation that he's given us he is not a Christian he was a Roman senator a Roman historian and what he has told or what he has given to us is in line with what we have in scripture there was a Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and he was writing about James who is the brother of Jesus he's writing about his execution and he wrote let's see here there was a meeting of judges called and brought into it the brother of Jesus who is called Messiah James by name and some others he made the accusation that they had transgressed the law and he handed them over to be stone so Josephus had mentioned or mentions at least 12 other that are named Jesus because Jesus was a rather common name and so he's specifying which Jesus he was referring to as James brother so he used the one called or who is called Messiah Jesus who is called Messiah he also had a longer passage in a book that was called Jewish and equities and it refers to Jesus there was a Christian apologist who named Eusibius who added who some people think added some Christian claims in this text of Josephus Josephus wrote around this time there lived Jesus a wise man if indeed one ought to call him a man for he was one who did surprising deeds and a teacher of such people as except the truth gladly he won over many Jews and many of the Greeks he was the Messiah when Pilate upon hearing him accused by men of his highest standing among us had condemned him to be crucified those who in the first place came to love him did not give up their affection for him for on the third day he appeared to them restored to life the prophets of God had prophesied this and countless other marvelous things about him and the tribe of Christians so called after him have still to this day not died out now I don't know for certain if Eusibius added anything or not but all of the surviving manuscripts of this testimony or testament that are in Greek they contain the same version of this passage there are no significant differences which is very interesting that more than one source of this passage says the same thing Josephus also was not a Christian he was a Jewish historian the Celseus was a platenist philosopher he considered Jesus to be a magician who made exorbitant claims so he he didn't believe that Jesus was the Christ he didn't believe that Jesus was the son of man but he gives an account of a man named Jesus who did things that he thought were magical right Pliny the younger a Roman governor and friend of Tacitus wrote about early Christian worship of Christ as to a god little G god Soutenuse a Roman writer lawyer and historian wrote of riots in 49 that were among the Jews in Rome which might have been about Christus but which he thought were incited by the instigator of Christus whose identification with Jesus is not completely certain but this Roman writer is talking about these riots he thinks that at the very least it's linked to this group or this man Christ right um Mara Barcerapione Mara Barcerapione that's a fun name Mara Barcerapione a prisoner of war that was held by the Romans he wrote a letter to his son that described the Jewish the wise Jewish king in a way that seems to indicate Jesus but it doesn't specify his name but again we have that that non non-Christian source talking about a Jewish wise king so we see that there is a case to be made from scripture certainly for the humanity the flesh and bones of Christ but we also see that it's not just the biblical text we have outside sources we have historical sources that were also referring to Christ not Christians themselves but writing of a man who who had a group of followers a man who was crucified under Pontius Pilate so we have these historical these historical sources as well so what's the deal okay we can say yeah okay Jesus was a person he was a man that's great but why is it so important to hold this as absolute truth and to confess it in our creeds have it as a part of our common confession and that's what we're going to talk about next time we don't have class this next Sunday but the following Sunday we're going to dive into why the humanity of Christ actually matters in salvation or for salvation We're going to examine today in the topic of forgiveness. They're encouraging because we're promised that Jesus will return and they're encouraging because we know that though Jesus will come like a thief in the night he will be here when we least expect it or don't know that it's coming that he's coming we have nothing to fear because we are not children of the darkness we are no longer children of sin captive and bonded with in the slavery of sin but instead we are children of light think about when Jesus appeared first to his disciples after his resurrection they were hiding there was chaos there was fear they were trembling and Jesus did not knock waiting for them to answer waiting for them to invite him in they had to be really scared when all of a sudden he was just standing there he didn't ask he just entered much like his disciples his first disciples where he just entered he did not wait for them to invite him in and Jesus is not knocking at the door of your life waiting until you can clean up and waiting until you will graciously open the door for him to come in the beauty and the wonderment of our Lord Jesus Christ is that the messy the chaos it doesn't frighten him he is not obliged and does not feel obliged to wait outside until we can get our house in order our houses in order messy doesn't frighten Jesus not even hoarding messy hoarding messy doesn't frighten Jesus it doesn't scare him off you look at his ministry he healed a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years he physically touched the leper he would speak to the adulterous and the prostitute he wasn't frightened off by the man possessed by legion the many demons he walked with tax collectors he called for Lazarus who had been dead for days to be brought out of the tomb messy didn't scare Jesus in his ministry and messy certainly does not scare Jesus as our resurrected Lord Jesus went throughout his ministry not fearing those whose lives were messy not fearing those who were in a chaotic state whether they were possessed by demons or diseased with leprosy he continued to go forth facing the very messy crucifixion that was looming ahead of him he knew fully well what his messy death would mean in Isaiah the prophet wrote see my servant shall prosper he shall be exalted and lifted up and shall be very high just as there were many who were astonished at him so marred was his appearance beyond human semblance and his form beyond that of mortals his body would be abused and tortured so badly that he would be completely disfigured and unrecognizable he hung there tortured with my sin he was disfigured with your sin he was made unrecognizable by the sin of all creation in the series that we've had over the past couple of months resolution gods resolutions we went through several ways in the resolutions that God had made and how he would act toward his people toward his chosen disciples of whom we can be counted he was resolved to forget sin he was resolved to lift the burden of the law he was resolved to give us a new heart and a new spirit to never leave us to have plans for our future he was resolved to instruct us he was resolved that he would be with us so that we would not be overwhelmed or consumed by the problems of this world that he would be the God of the Exodus of the past present and future making us new and throughout this series we have seen with each of these resolutions how indeed he did come through our resolution the final resolution we are talking about today is the resolution that he will come again God is resolved to come again he has promised to come again if you look at Revelation chapter 22 verse 20 the one who testifies to these things says surely I am coming soon Jesus promised that he would come again and not only come again but to come soon what is soon what is soon no one knows we don't have the date we don't have the time we don't know how much time there is to clean up we don't know how much time there is to tell people that Jesus is coming and coming soon but we can look around us we can look at the world around us and we see that it is full of war and rumors of war the earth groans under the weight of men we disregard others come Lord Jesus come and this side of heaven as we await the coming of Christ as we look for him to come this side of heaven is not easy this side of heaven though we are saints we still struggle with the old Adam or the old evil a Eve sorry the nature of the flesh that is hemorrhaging in sin the lepros disease of greed and selfishness the adulterous bride of God who is unfaithful to Christ her bride groom the nature in which we are dead in sin if we continue in our reading the final words of God holy and living word for the saints is the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints amen the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints the grace the free freely given freeing love and mercy of Jesus Christ be with you as long as we remain on this side of heaven those who have been called into faith by the Holy Spirit will continue to need the constant grace and continued grace of God and we are promised that he will continue to pour out his grace upon us to pour out his mercy, his love, his forgiveness upon us and we will be carried in his grace the messy of the sin did not scare or frightened Christ the messy of our sin is exactly the messy that he experienced upon the cross the messy of our sin is exactly what he exchanged with us so that we could be given his unblemished holy and completely clean righteousness and we are carried through constantly turning over again and again the sins which are so messy in our lives and again and again we are promised the grace of Jesus Christ is with us we are promised to be carried in his righteousness and given his righteousness so when we think of this world when we consider the world around us it makes sense to cry out in that leak come come come Lord Jesus because we know that he is coming indeed and we know that we are assured that we are children of light because we have been forgiven our sin has been forgiven our messy has been taken from us and we have been cleansed completely through the blood of Jesus Christ so we can cry out come with all insurance but then we look around or we think of people who we know who those words come Lord Jesus strikes fear into their heart because they don't know Jesus and they don't know the offer that Jesus has for them they only know it if it is told to them my brothers and sisters you are the saints the disciples of today the disciples who are to carry his word his promise of love mercy and forgiveness to the ends of the earth the commission that he has given to all his disciples so that there would be more disciples for him together when he comes again who do you know who do you know who is not ready for Christ to pop in who do you know that is looking at the house in the chaos and mess and disarray and fears the truth of Christ go to them call them speak to them share with them the cleansing word of Jesus Christ who does not fear the messy but cleanses the messy disgusting torture of sin and takes it from them and cleans them with his blood with his forgiveness because he loves them go to them share that word with them Jesus promised that he would come again Jesus is resolved to come again and we know that indeed he will come again he said surely I am coming soon and so we too with the Apostle John proclaim Amen come Lord Jesus Let's open our Bibles, please. Paul was angry as you looked around Athens he was infuriated when he saw all of these false gods in this idol worship why was Paul so angry because God hates idolatry let's go on verse 17 of chapter 17 so he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons here are God fearing Gentiles so he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons and also in the marketplace every day with those who happen to be there also some epicurian and stoic philosophers debated with him some says what this is babler want to say what is this babler want to say that's closer that word babler there is a really ugly insult it's really ugly literally in the in the Greek it means seed picker and the image is of birds indiscriminately picking and pecking and eating seeds like someone who picks up pieces of knowledge but really doesn't know what they're talking about it's not just someone who keeps going on and on and on and on of them out here this is a really ugly ugly insult he's a seed picker we go on second part of verse 18 other said he seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities this was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection so they took him and brought him to the aryopagus and asked him may we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting in the past the aryopagus was the highest court at this point it's no longer the highest court in fact it was a it was a place and the court was identified by the place the aryopagus and what the aryopagus did what this court did is they would pronounce judgment on religions and philosophies and so here's Paul talking about this foreign deity it sounded like to them and so they go to the aryopagus because they want a judgment here they want a judgment on this religion or this philosophy or whatever it is that Paul is talking about we go on verse 20 it sounded rather strange to us so we would like to know what it means now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new they were always searching but never finding they were enthralled with a new religion or philosophy they were just enthralled if something was new and what were some of the ideas that were being with him some said what does this seed picker want to say some epicurian philosophers well that goes back to epicurius about three and a half centuries before the birth of Jesus one of the ideas that was being bantied about three and a half centuries old and everything old is exactly what they were experiencing see epicurius came along and said God is indifferent to his creation God really doesn't care about his creation there's there's no afterlife so really you just try and live a good and virtuous life and then you've been he call it good and by this now the first century it had now wrapped in the understanding of hedonism which is you simply pursue pleasure you simply want to keep upon yourself as much pleasure as you be married for tomorrow you die and everything old is then you had these stoic philosophers those back to about the same time as epicurius this two is old it's three and a half centuries old goes back to this philosopher by the name of Xenocene that what is really important in life is self mastery self mastery and detachment you detach from happiness you detach from pain you become indifferent to life you just detach it was also pantheistic which meant that God was like like the soul of the universe so here you have these ideas being bantied about some of them from epicurian philosophy some of them from stoic philosophy in the over three centuries old everything old this yeah but when you reflect on our lives it's interesting isn't it how everything that's old can become new again in our lives I don't know one person here today that would say I'm an epicurian an uphunter how in the subtlest of ways that old epicurian philosophy can become new in our life where we and even the subtlest of ways think that well God must let's just be indifferent to me I pray and another never seems to happen maybe God is just kind of past me over that sense of epicurian philosophy even in the most subtle of ways where it's that understanding that God is indifferent that epicurian philosophy of eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you die nothing now be honest here is that ever creep in subtly no we gotta get the most out of this life because the years are really fleeting here is ever crossed your mind you ever think and maybe there is nothing after this you're tempted to think that where the sense of the desires that we have becomes paramount the sense of well you know life is about making myself happy and so how can I bring the pleasures of life more into my life when nobody comes right out and says I'm an epicurian nobody comes right out and says my philosophy for life is eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you die will you get that in the secular world I don't think there'd be one of us here that would ever say well that's my philosophy of life but does it creep in in one fashion or another and when it does you know what it is it's everything old is now same thing about stoicism I'm not talking about a personality difference among all of us you know I'm a difficult time some people can be more emotionally reserved than others come some can be more expressive and that term they're more stoic is applied to them I'm not talking about that at all here talking about the creeping in our lives of what can occur in terms of of of an difference a pulling back a cocooning of ourselves so that there isn't there's in relationships with others on deep and meaningful ways it's a cocooning of ourselves where we would prefer just simply shut the blinds and just be alone it's it's a pullback from interfacing with our neighbor and caring with our neighbor it's a it's a it's a pullback all of a sudden the world we are in different to it and someone comes to us and says I'm not religious but I'm spiritual do we ever not our head because think what was just said what does that mean I'm religious or I'm not religious but then I'm spiritual do we ever in the subtlest of ways start to create our own God devoid of the understanding and self definition of God of himself in Holy Scripture and we defined our own walk of faith with a God of our own creating and in the subtlest of ways we find ourselves leaning more towards those who simply say I don't associate with any religion I'm just I'm just creep in so subtle so subtle but it can creep in for us do you know what happens when it does well everything old is but amidst the creeping of that which is old into the newness of our lives God comes with his song and his lyric look at the second part of verse 18 again others said he seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities this was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection the good news about Jesus this is even then an old story by this point it's the old story of the Lord Jesus Christ who brings the newness of the victory of the cross and the resurrection into our lives it is the newness of the gospel that comes every time it is proclaimed it is the newness of that old gospel when we receive that word of absolute that word of forgiveness and we are struck a new that indeed today because of that old old story that old old lyric it's all new in the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ it's God's lyric of forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus it's God's lyric of life eternal that the tomb is empty it is God's lyric of being claimed in waters of baptism it is God's lyric that this is not all there is but that this is one more day in all of eternity for the Christian it's that old old lyric that is new again for us each day out of a fester put it this way every time the gospel is proclaimed we are hit a new with a lightning bolt of the good news absolutely absolutely and the old becomes new Paul experienced that everything old was new again in the worst possible way and what we see through the proclamation of Paul is that there's the experience that everything old is new again in the most glorious way as the gospel of Jesus Christ makes it all new new to live in his forgiveness now that's why we sang before the sermon now is the moment now is the time now in the darkness of today through the blood of Jesus and so we sing and even though you beat 845 may I encourage even greater boldness at the end of the sermon we sing today with joy that everything old is amen It is a house that was intentionally built upside down.
Video citations
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- "Bright" 12-24-22 — Do you open your Bibles please with me this evening to Luke the second chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 50 in the New Testament. Luke the…
- “Patience and Walking Humbly” 12-4-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me? To the Old Testament, to the Book of Micah, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, Micah's on page 819, 819, for our study today. We continue…
- "Gratefulness in Prayer" 11-20-22 — Would you open your Bibles Please with me for our study today to Psalm 103. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the Old Testament page 517. Psalm 103 for…
- "Heigh-Ho" 10-23-22 — Welcome to the second chapter. We are going to find the second chapter of Ephesians on page 170. We conclude today this sermon series, Salt and Light and what a joy. For choir and children to join…
- “Holding to the Truth” 10-16-22 — What you're open your Bibles, please, with me today, to John the 18th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the 18th chapter of John on page 99 in the New…
- “Praying for the City” 10-9-22 — With your Bibles, please, with me to Jeremiah the 29th chapter for our study today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find Jeremiah the 29th chapter on page 690 in the…
- "You Are" 9-11-22 — What you're open your Bibles please with me for our study this morning to Matthew the 5th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find the 5th chapter of Matthew in the New…
- “Omniscience” 8-28-22 — What you open up your Bibles, please, for our study this morning, to the book of Psalms, Psalm 139. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 540 in the Old…
- "Truth" 8-14-22 — Tell me if you have ever heard or told something that goes a little bit like this. I was out on the lake the other day. I was sitting in my boat. I cast a line into the water. Nothing had been…
- “Eternal” 7-3-22 — If you would please open your Bible to the book of Revelation chapter 1, if you're using a Pew edition of the Bible, that can be found on page 217 in the New Testament. We're in Revelation chapter…
- "Fingerprints" 4-15-22 — Would you open your Bible's please to this portion of Scripture on this holy night? Mark the 15th chapter. Page 47, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, Mark the 15th chapter.…
- “Inside Out” 2-27-22 — What's your open your Bible's please with me this morning to mark the 7th chapter. You'll find that on page 36 if you're using an edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find in the purest in front of…
- “Abundant Mercy” 2-6-22 — If you would, please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark the 5th chapter. If you are using a Pew edition of the Bible, you will find this on page 34 in the New Testament. We are studying today, a…
- "Boat Trip" 1-30-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the Gospel of Mark the 4th chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament on page 33, Mark…
- “Family” 1-23-22 — You're open your Bibles, please, with me, to mark the third chapter for our study today, page 32, if you're using a copy of the Scriptures in the Pew. Mark the third chapter for our study this…
- "The Need" 1-9-22 — Would you open your Bible's please with me this morning to the gospel of Mark chapter 2, if you're using a few addition, you're going to find that on page 31 in the New Testament, mark the second…
- "Did Jesus Conceal Something?" 7-18-21 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the letter to the Church at Philippi? Philippians, the second chapter of using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture this morning, you're going to find that…
- "What are We Saved From?" - 1 John 2:1-2 — Would you open your Bibles please with me today to first John the second chapter for our study, first John chapter two. The late R.C. Sproul, a theologian, a told story of when he was walking along…
- "New Song" 5-9-21 — Let's open our Bibles today to the book of Isaiah, the 42nd chapter. Isaiah 42 for our study today is we continue on in this series simply entitled New as we celebrate that which God makes new. Game…
- "The Beautiful Feet" — Good morning and welcome to worship. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us sing His praise. God Himself is present, let us know our joy in and with our baby for…
- “Come, Lord Jesus!” — If you would please open your Bibles to Revelation chapter 22, that's the last book in all of Scripture, Revelation chapter 22. Okay, we're going to think about a scene and you tell me if this is…
- “A New Thing” — Let's open our Bibles, please. To Isaiah, the 43rd chapter for our study today, Isaiah, chapter 43. Watch this. Just you wait. Do you see what's happening? When we hear those phrases, when they are…
- "Consumed" — If you would please join me in opening your Bibles to the Prophet Isaiah, the 43rd chapter, the Prophet Isaiah, the 43rd chapter. If you look at verse 1, it begins, but now thus says the Lord. But…
- "I, I am He" — Let's open our Bibles, please. To Isaiah, the 43rd chapter for our study today, Isaiah chapter 43. It has come to that time of the year in which perhaps our minds start to drift. Drift to…
- "Stand Firm and Hold Fast" — We are going to be continuing in our series of joy. We have talked about the joy of revelation, the joy of God, and we are currently in the part of this series where we are discussing and learning…
- "Uzziah" — What you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the book of second chronicles in the Old Testament, second chronicles the 26th chapter for our study this morning. 20 and 20. In the period of time,…
- "Formed" — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to Isaiah the 64th chapter for our study this morning, Isaiah chapter 64. One of the great revelations of Holy Scripture is the communication of Scripture…
- "Comforted to Comfort" — Would you open your Bible please with me to second Corinthians the first chapter, second Corinthians the first chapter for our study this morning? We're continuing on in the sermon series,…
- "Those Who Wait" Isaiah 40:28-31 — Let's open our Bibles, please, to the 40th chapter of the book of Isaiah for our study this morning. Isaiah the 40th chapter. A recent survey was done. Research was done and it came to these…
- "Rock and Sand" — Let's open our Bibles, please. This morning to the 24th chapter of the gospel of Luke for our study on this Easter day. When one comes to Easter day, it is such a joyous day for so many reasons. And…
- Mistaken Identity: 3-29-20 — I'd like to invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Acts the 21st chapter. The Book of Acts the 21st chapter. Have you ever looked for stories on mistaken identity? There are some really…
- The Lord's Will Be Done — We have all over the years received competing advice. Advice that really contradicts the advice you just received, right? For example, if you ask someone, what's the fastest way to get wherever? And…
- Gathered In — Let us pray together. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your infelible word. We give you thanks, O Lord, that as we open up the pages of Scripture, the voice that we hear is your…
- A Great Light — Would you open your Bible, please, this afternoon, to the ninth chapter of the Great Book of Isaiah? Beloved in the Lord the grace and peace of God Almighty be with you, Amen. In the beginning, God,…
- When Everything Old is New Again — You know, through the years there have been various shows that were based upon the premise seeing if you could guess what the next lyric was or what the song title was. Well, I'm banking on the fact…
- What Upside Down is Right Side Up — It is a house that was intentionally built upside down. It's rather disorienting as you walk into it, because literally everything is upside down. All of the appliances, all of the fixtures,…
- Promise Fulfilled June 30, 2019 — The two brothers were having a serious discussion in the grocery store. It was one of those discussions that as you passed by them, as they were doing their shopping with their parents, you could…
- "Entrance Hymn" Palm Sunday Sermon — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Luke? We're going to pause our study and Acts as we enter into this holy week. As we follow the texts, this great…
- "Essentials" Acts 10:34-43 (3-31-19) — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the Book of Acts? The sermon, the sermon. The proclamation of the anerrant and an enthelable word of mighty God. As we've studied,…
- Now Is The Time February 3, 2019 — So we're going to have a really quick confession moment. This is not rhetorical. You don't have to shout it out. But raise your hand. Who here is a procrastinator? Yep. It is always good to know…
- Perplexity and Opportunity January 27, 2019 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the eighth chapter of the book of Acts? His name was Philip. And Philip can be one of those well forgotten people in Scripture. You have huge names in…
- "Prepared" 12-23-18 — I can't believe it. Two days. Two days. Christmas is in two days. And one of the best things about Christmas. Let's be honest here are the gifts. We all like getting gifts. Even if you're not a…
- Sermon 10-7-18 Review Sheet: Abraham — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the seventh chapter of the book of Acts, as we continue our study of this magnificent book that God has given to us. A few weeks ago, I had received a…
- Sermon June 10, 2018 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the third chapter of the book of Romans? Are people basically good? Are people basically good? It's an interesting question, isn't it? For we hear the…
- Sermon 4-29-18 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the wonderful book of Acts. We're going to pick up where we left off last week. Silence can be such an interesting phenomenon,…
- Utterly Astonishing — Okay, I have a fun surprise for you today. I'm going to do magic. Nothing, my sleeves, nothing in my hands. There's going to be something in my hands. I have here a plain cup of water and a second…