Colossians 4:2-6 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (NIV).
As a follower of Jesus, I have long been convicted by Scripture and the Holy Spirit that the most important thing I can do is clearly explain the gospel, and to proclaim it from my heart. Paul had such a conviction, and asked for prayers he would be enabled to do so.
Thus for this unusually short piece, I give a Gospel message: Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. Jesus was the substitutional atonement for the consequences of sins, which is spiritual death. Then on the third day Jesus was resurrected! If you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will have eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.
Hunter Irvine
Monday, October 31, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Colossians 3:18 - 4:1
Colossians 3:18 - 4:1 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven (NIV).
Note there is a qualifier for the first instruction to wives by Paul, “as is fitting in the Lord.” In no way is this promoting any kind of abuse. Also, as I have written before, this is not giving men license to be bossy to their wife. Jesus taught, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). No one likes to be bossed around, so men, do not be bossy to your wife!
Once I was at a Christian bookstore poking around a clearance section and saw a t-shirt which said, “I love my wife.” It was on sale for dirt cheap, it was my size, and since I have long dreamed of having a wife, I wanted to buy it. I did not, because I thought if any Christian single women saw me in it they would think I was married and then my chances of getting a wife would be zero. Yet the fact is I have loved my future wife even though I do not even have a girlfriend. I have waited for her by abstaining from you know what. By God’s mercy and grace I have stayed away from pictures of naked women, which is challenging in this day and age with the Internet, yet it can be done. It is a decision of the heart. I have dreamed of talking with my future wife, serving her, and holding her. Married men, if you want to glorify Jesus in your life, spend more time talking with your wife, serving your wife, and holding your wife.
Regarding the raising of children, one thing I can assure you parents, if you love your children and you live a life of good behavior, your children are more likely to obey you out of admiration! Children learn much from simply watching how their parents interact with each other and of course they learn from how their parents treat them. If your life exhibits care and service towards your wife and children, trust me, your children will learn goodness from you.
Then we get to the controversial slavery passage. I have written before this is not approving of slavery. Unfortunately Paul does not address the fact that slavery as a practice is morally wrong. Instead he focuses on the behavior of individuals, telling slaves to work with a commitment to God, and telling “masters” they are to serve their “Master” in heaven. However, I have addressed how slavery as a practice is morally wrong, and you can read about that in my one other blog concerning the faith of Abraham Lincoln: http://thefaithofabrahamlincoln.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-immorality-of-slavery.html
Hunter Irvine
Note there is a qualifier for the first instruction to wives by Paul, “as is fitting in the Lord.” In no way is this promoting any kind of abuse. Also, as I have written before, this is not giving men license to be bossy to their wife. Jesus taught, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). No one likes to be bossed around, so men, do not be bossy to your wife!
Once I was at a Christian bookstore poking around a clearance section and saw a t-shirt which said, “I love my wife.” It was on sale for dirt cheap, it was my size, and since I have long dreamed of having a wife, I wanted to buy it. I did not, because I thought if any Christian single women saw me in it they would think I was married and then my chances of getting a wife would be zero. Yet the fact is I have loved my future wife even though I do not even have a girlfriend. I have waited for her by abstaining from you know what. By God’s mercy and grace I have stayed away from pictures of naked women, which is challenging in this day and age with the Internet, yet it can be done. It is a decision of the heart. I have dreamed of talking with my future wife, serving her, and holding her. Married men, if you want to glorify Jesus in your life, spend more time talking with your wife, serving your wife, and holding your wife.
Regarding the raising of children, one thing I can assure you parents, if you love your children and you live a life of good behavior, your children are more likely to obey you out of admiration! Children learn much from simply watching how their parents interact with each other and of course they learn from how their parents treat them. If your life exhibits care and service towards your wife and children, trust me, your children will learn goodness from you.
Then we get to the controversial slavery passage. I have written before this is not approving of slavery. Unfortunately Paul does not address the fact that slavery as a practice is morally wrong. Instead he focuses on the behavior of individuals, telling slaves to work with a commitment to God, and telling “masters” they are to serve their “Master” in heaven. However, I have addressed how slavery as a practice is morally wrong, and you can read about that in my one other blog concerning the faith of Abraham Lincoln: http://thefaithofabrahamlincoln.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-immorality-of-slavery.html
Hunter Irvine
Monday, October 24, 2016
Colossians 3:16-17
Colossians 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever your do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (NIV).
One of my favorite memories of my youngest sister is when she was in early elementary school. There was a period of time when she would often dress up. Once she was in an outfit on the 31st of October, and my family was at a mall in Virginia. With complete confidence, my sister went on a stage right in the center of the mall and sang a song from a musical in front of numerous people. She was great! Kids often get encouraged to use their talents. If only us adults would get more encouragement about using our talents. Fortunately, when I was a young Christian, I learned God wants me to sing away to Him. God is not concerned with our musical ability, rather He cares about the expression of our heart. I did start singing to Him, and I liked it!
Once when in an extremely challenging situation, I made an attempt to sing a song from my Christian song book every day. Sometimes I was so tired, distraught, or lonely I did not feel like singing. Yet I noticed that on the days I did, even when I did not feel like it, I honestly felt a little better prepared to handle the challenges of the day. I have become more diligent in my singing practice, using a great song book I have. Especially in this day and age where in many churches you cannot hear yourself sing since the rock bands are so loud, and some are unfortunately performance oriented, I think singing a song by yourself where you can hear yourself sing is great. Whatever the circumstances, God can hear you sing.
The primary author of this letter, Paul, sure practiced what he preached when he was in prison in Philippi. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25 NIV).
Singing sure does go on in heaven as is shown in John’s vision. “And when he had taken [the scroll], the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation’” (Revelation 5:8-9 NIV).
Even Jesus sang hymns! And He did so at the time right before His unimaginable agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover feast in the upper room, when Jesus instigated the Lord’s Supper, Scripture states how the meal was concluded: “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30 NIV). Even the Messiah sang. The sacrifice Jesus made for us gives us reason to sing. Even more, the sacrifice Jesus made calls for us to allow the “word of Christ” to be nourished in our heart and to allow the Spirit of Christ to ever remind us of that sacrifice by Jesus. Then we can do everything, with gratitude, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Hunter Irvine
One of my favorite memories of my youngest sister is when she was in early elementary school. There was a period of time when she would often dress up. Once she was in an outfit on the 31st of October, and my family was at a mall in Virginia. With complete confidence, my sister went on a stage right in the center of the mall and sang a song from a musical in front of numerous people. She was great! Kids often get encouraged to use their talents. If only us adults would get more encouragement about using our talents. Fortunately, when I was a young Christian, I learned God wants me to sing away to Him. God is not concerned with our musical ability, rather He cares about the expression of our heart. I did start singing to Him, and I liked it!
Once when in an extremely challenging situation, I made an attempt to sing a song from my Christian song book every day. Sometimes I was so tired, distraught, or lonely I did not feel like singing. Yet I noticed that on the days I did, even when I did not feel like it, I honestly felt a little better prepared to handle the challenges of the day. I have become more diligent in my singing practice, using a great song book I have. Especially in this day and age where in many churches you cannot hear yourself sing since the rock bands are so loud, and some are unfortunately performance oriented, I think singing a song by yourself where you can hear yourself sing is great. Whatever the circumstances, God can hear you sing.
The primary author of this letter, Paul, sure practiced what he preached when he was in prison in Philippi. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25 NIV).
Singing sure does go on in heaven as is shown in John’s vision. “And when he had taken [the scroll], the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation’” (Revelation 5:8-9 NIV).
Even Jesus sang hymns! And He did so at the time right before His unimaginable agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover feast in the upper room, when Jesus instigated the Lord’s Supper, Scripture states how the meal was concluded: “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30 NIV). Even the Messiah sang. The sacrifice Jesus made for us gives us reason to sing. Even more, the sacrifice Jesus made calls for us to allow the “word of Christ” to be nourished in our heart and to allow the Spirit of Christ to ever remind us of that sacrifice by Jesus. Then we can do everything, with gratitude, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Hunter Irvine
Friday, October 21, 2016
Colossians 3:15
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful (NIV).
The reason a follower of Jesus can have peace: first, our sins are forgiven. Colossians 2:13 states: “…He forgave us all our sins…” In the previous passage Paul listed numerous sins and stated: “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:6). I have heard folks making light of “Judgment Day.” Yet Revelation 20:11-15 makes it clear there will be a final judgment by God of people. Those who turned away from Jesus are not saved by Jesus and will be permanently punished. Thanks to Jesus, followers of Jesus will be innocent because our penalty was paid by Jesus!
Secondly we can have peace since we are enabled to forgive others, which Paul commanded in Colossians 3:13. I told about my grandma in the previous piece. Soon after I moved to Denver after being away many years, I started spending time with my grandma who had only been a Christian for a short period of time. Grandma normally was quite grumpy around holidays because she associated holidays with having a nice time with her husband, but he was gone. They reminded her she was without. Once when at her place, she was upset about something. I do not remember any details, fortunately, but Grandma said something utterly hurtful to me. I stormed out of her place and drove away. I was so upset I soon turned onto a side street, parked, and went for a walk. An affluent neighborhood near downtown Denver unfamiliar to me, I noticed all the houses were humongous. Walking through the neighborhood, I calmed down. I prayed I would forgive Grandma, and I did. I finally drove back over to the other side of the metro area to my apartment.
Only minutes after arriving home my phone rang. It was Grandma, who apologized profusely. I accepted her sincere apology. Grandma and I went on to have a growing relationship in the love of Jesus. When she passed away, I was the only one at her bedside. Holding her hand, I sang to her as she passed into heaven.
Thirdly, we can have peace since God keeps working to improve His children, in our hearts, being patient beyond belief.
There have been periods in my life where there has seemed to be little for me to be thankful for. Yet we can always be thankful Jesus died in our place to take the penalty we deserved, and we can be thankful Jesus made it possible for us to have loving relationships in this hurtful and hurting world.
+: I thank You Jesus for loving us all!
Hunter Irvine
The reason a follower of Jesus can have peace: first, our sins are forgiven. Colossians 2:13 states: “…He forgave us all our sins…” In the previous passage Paul listed numerous sins and stated: “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:6). I have heard folks making light of “Judgment Day.” Yet Revelation 20:11-15 makes it clear there will be a final judgment by God of people. Those who turned away from Jesus are not saved by Jesus and will be permanently punished. Thanks to Jesus, followers of Jesus will be innocent because our penalty was paid by Jesus!
Secondly we can have peace since we are enabled to forgive others, which Paul commanded in Colossians 3:13. I told about my grandma in the previous piece. Soon after I moved to Denver after being away many years, I started spending time with my grandma who had only been a Christian for a short period of time. Grandma normally was quite grumpy around holidays because she associated holidays with having a nice time with her husband, but he was gone. They reminded her she was without. Once when at her place, she was upset about something. I do not remember any details, fortunately, but Grandma said something utterly hurtful to me. I stormed out of her place and drove away. I was so upset I soon turned onto a side street, parked, and went for a walk. An affluent neighborhood near downtown Denver unfamiliar to me, I noticed all the houses were humongous. Walking through the neighborhood, I calmed down. I prayed I would forgive Grandma, and I did. I finally drove back over to the other side of the metro area to my apartment.
Only minutes after arriving home my phone rang. It was Grandma, who apologized profusely. I accepted her sincere apology. Grandma and I went on to have a growing relationship in the love of Jesus. When she passed away, I was the only one at her bedside. Holding her hand, I sang to her as she passed into heaven.
Thirdly, we can have peace since God keeps working to improve His children, in our hearts, being patient beyond belief.
There have been periods in my life where there has seemed to be little for me to be thankful for. Yet we can always be thankful Jesus died in our place to take the penalty we deserved, and we can be thankful Jesus made it possible for us to have loving relationships in this hurtful and hurting world.
+: I thank You Jesus for loving us all!
Hunter Irvine
Monday, October 17, 2016
Colossians 3:5-14
Colossians 3:5-14 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (NIV).
Why does God have such a big problem with sin? Sin blocks love.
God is totally loving and God is totally holy, perfectly good. To be in a permanent relationship with God, you need to be in a truly loving relationship with God, thus there can be no sin. Jesus made that possible by His atonement on the cross. Now people can be forgiven of all sins, and people can be changed to be holy by the Holy One. Holiness is a call from God as Paul implies in verse twelve. It requires being in Christ.
We all have sinned, and we all have been hurt by the sins of others. There is only one hope: Jesus. Paul states: “…forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Forgiveness is an aspect of love. Jesus loves everyone. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the substitute for the wages of sin, which is spiritual death. If a person believes in Jesus, and to truly believe is to receive, he or she is saved from hell, and he or she will have life with Jesus forever.
And since a person who is saved is united with God, baptized with the Spirit of Christ, he or she is able to forgive others. And he or she can improve with each and every sin listed. It is a life long process, and it does require complete reliance on the Spirit of Christ. Yet Paul is not soft on his language about what to do with sins; put them to death.
Today on a warm and sunny mid-October day in Denver, I went for a walk by the retirement community where my grandma use to live. Grandma passed away a decade ago. We were close friends, and I was thinking about her. Reading the list of sins in this passage, my grandma does not come to mind. My grandma lived her life being faithful to her husband and she worked hard as a housewife. But even my grandma struggled with sin. Then when my grandpa died, she had much anger. If my grandma was here today she would say she was not holy. And she was not in a loving relationship with God decade after decade.
In the wake of my grandpa passing away, Grandma moved into that retirement community and soon started going to a community church though she had not worshiped in a church her entire adult life. My loyal grandma started attending week after week. She had not read any of the Bible since a Sunday school back in the 1920’s. Much of what the extraordinary pastor was teaching about was foreign to her. Yet at some point, she started paying attention here and there. Both of the ministers were kind to her, and she recognized that. Eventually she gave her heart to Jesus. My grandma in her late 70’s was forgiven by Jesus of all sins she had committed over many years. And she was united with Jesus. And though maybe not immediately evident on the surface, my grandma started to change. Until she passed away, she still had plenty of struggles being a widow, but she became more and more loving as she grew closer and closer to Jesus.
I add something personal here. After that long walk yesterday, as I was driving by her building, I pictured her standing on her patio waving to me. She use to do that when I would leave after spending the day with her. I know the next time I see her do that will be a wave “hello” in heaven.
Knowing Jesus will bring a desire to be more like Him, and He is holy. God is not giving a list of sins to try and keep Christians from having fun. The opposite, the Colossians were instructed to live a life of holiness, the result of which is a closer relationship with our great God, and a more loving relationship with our fellow human beings, who we are called to love. Whatever your age, you can give your heart to Jesus today. The decision is yours.
Hunter Irvine
Why does God have such a big problem with sin? Sin blocks love.
God is totally loving and God is totally holy, perfectly good. To be in a permanent relationship with God, you need to be in a truly loving relationship with God, thus there can be no sin. Jesus made that possible by His atonement on the cross. Now people can be forgiven of all sins, and people can be changed to be holy by the Holy One. Holiness is a call from God as Paul implies in verse twelve. It requires being in Christ.
We all have sinned, and we all have been hurt by the sins of others. There is only one hope: Jesus. Paul states: “…forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Forgiveness is an aspect of love. Jesus loves everyone. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the substitute for the wages of sin, which is spiritual death. If a person believes in Jesus, and to truly believe is to receive, he or she is saved from hell, and he or she will have life with Jesus forever.
And since a person who is saved is united with God, baptized with the Spirit of Christ, he or she is able to forgive others. And he or she can improve with each and every sin listed. It is a life long process, and it does require complete reliance on the Spirit of Christ. Yet Paul is not soft on his language about what to do with sins; put them to death.
Today on a warm and sunny mid-October day in Denver, I went for a walk by the retirement community where my grandma use to live. Grandma passed away a decade ago. We were close friends, and I was thinking about her. Reading the list of sins in this passage, my grandma does not come to mind. My grandma lived her life being faithful to her husband and she worked hard as a housewife. But even my grandma struggled with sin. Then when my grandpa died, she had much anger. If my grandma was here today she would say she was not holy. And she was not in a loving relationship with God decade after decade.
In the wake of my grandpa passing away, Grandma moved into that retirement community and soon started going to a community church though she had not worshiped in a church her entire adult life. My loyal grandma started attending week after week. She had not read any of the Bible since a Sunday school back in the 1920’s. Much of what the extraordinary pastor was teaching about was foreign to her. Yet at some point, she started paying attention here and there. Both of the ministers were kind to her, and she recognized that. Eventually she gave her heart to Jesus. My grandma in her late 70’s was forgiven by Jesus of all sins she had committed over many years. And she was united with Jesus. And though maybe not immediately evident on the surface, my grandma started to change. Until she passed away, she still had plenty of struggles being a widow, but she became more and more loving as she grew closer and closer to Jesus.
I add something personal here. After that long walk yesterday, as I was driving by her building, I pictured her standing on her patio waving to me. She use to do that when I would leave after spending the day with her. I know the next time I see her do that will be a wave “hello” in heaven.
Knowing Jesus will bring a desire to be more like Him, and He is holy. God is not giving a list of sins to try and keep Christians from having fun. The opposite, the Colossians were instructed to live a life of holiness, the result of which is a closer relationship with our great God, and a more loving relationship with our fellow human beings, who we are called to love. Whatever your age, you can give your heart to Jesus today. The decision is yours.
Hunter Irvine
Friday, October 14, 2016
Colossians 3:1-4
Colossians 3:1-4 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory (NIV).
The standards and concerns of people in this world would comprise quite the long list. The standard of God is succinct: be focused on His ways, and not on “earthly” ways. The standard of God is to be ultimately committed to heaven.
Being seated at the right hand of the Father symbolizes Jesus now reigns in heaven with the Father, because sitting down means royalty, and being at the right hand means power. With boldness Paul exhorts us to follow Christ who is unseen, yet who was God incarnate, who was resurrected, who ascended into heaven, and who now reigns. If you believed in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are saved by Jesus, and your life is in Christ. Grow in Christ, since though your stature in the world may be slighted, your beautiful life “hidden” in Christ will one day be revealed.
Driving by a car dealership near I 25 in Denver about one year ago, I read the large sign they have. It stated: “Your true character is shown by what you do when no one is watching.” I like that. This statement does exclude God who can know what everyone is doing all the time. And though your character is expressed by what you do, a person’s character is rooted in his or her heart. And God knows all of our hearts. He wants us to be the loving people He created us to be.
Ever since my youth I have dreamed of being married, but it has yet to happen. Thus few people know what I do throughout many hours of a given day. Most do not know I almost always start my day by talking with God. Most do not know I like to study the Bible in the morning. Most do not know I talk some with God on frequent walks. Most do not know I frequently ponder theological issues. Most probably do not care. God knows, and God cares. Being focused on Him, our loving relationship grows. And one day my relationship with Jesus will be fully revealed!
All people are in utter need of God. Having your life hidden in Christ does not mean your witness for our loving Savior should in any manner be suppressed. Rather it means there will be complete exposure. For example, by you reading my writing here on this blog, you know much more about me than the person in the grocery store who sees me wearing a cross and making a brief statement about Jesus during a window of opportunity in the check-out line. Yet a simple witness for Jesus by you and me wherever could be the difference between someone opening his or her heart to Jesus.
This is a fallen tragic world. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved, and you will share in His eternal goodness. How incredible. Praise be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!!!
Hunter
The standards and concerns of people in this world would comprise quite the long list. The standard of God is succinct: be focused on His ways, and not on “earthly” ways. The standard of God is to be ultimately committed to heaven.
Being seated at the right hand of the Father symbolizes Jesus now reigns in heaven with the Father, because sitting down means royalty, and being at the right hand means power. With boldness Paul exhorts us to follow Christ who is unseen, yet who was God incarnate, who was resurrected, who ascended into heaven, and who now reigns. If you believed in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are saved by Jesus, and your life is in Christ. Grow in Christ, since though your stature in the world may be slighted, your beautiful life “hidden” in Christ will one day be revealed.
Driving by a car dealership near I 25 in Denver about one year ago, I read the large sign they have. It stated: “Your true character is shown by what you do when no one is watching.” I like that. This statement does exclude God who can know what everyone is doing all the time. And though your character is expressed by what you do, a person’s character is rooted in his or her heart. And God knows all of our hearts. He wants us to be the loving people He created us to be.
Ever since my youth I have dreamed of being married, but it has yet to happen. Thus few people know what I do throughout many hours of a given day. Most do not know I almost always start my day by talking with God. Most do not know I like to study the Bible in the morning. Most do not know I talk some with God on frequent walks. Most do not know I frequently ponder theological issues. Most probably do not care. God knows, and God cares. Being focused on Him, our loving relationship grows. And one day my relationship with Jesus will be fully revealed!
All people are in utter need of God. Having your life hidden in Christ does not mean your witness for our loving Savior should in any manner be suppressed. Rather it means there will be complete exposure. For example, by you reading my writing here on this blog, you know much more about me than the person in the grocery store who sees me wearing a cross and making a brief statement about Jesus during a window of opportunity in the check-out line. Yet a simple witness for Jesus by you and me wherever could be the difference between someone opening his or her heart to Jesus.
This is a fallen tragic world. Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved, and you will share in His eternal goodness. How incredible. Praise be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!!!
Hunter
Monday, October 10, 2016
Colossians 2:16-23
Colossians 2:16-23 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (NIV).
Teaching some students one Sunday as a youth pastor years ago, I read the Bible passage from Leviticus 11:9-12 which prohibits the eating of any sea creature which does not have fins or scales. Then I asked one question: “Would you be sinning if you went and had shrimp at the local seafood restaurant after church?” Then we had a big discussion which I thought was great. Since this passage seems to contradict the Mosaic Law, I ask that question again now.
God has always required people to obey Him, starting with Adam and Eve, yet without help from Jesus people were unable. The Mosaic covenant was a covenant made by God with the Israelites, with Moses as the mediator. No other people or nations were involved. The Law within the covenant involved laws of various natures; moral, sacrificial, food, and civil. Many Israelites worked to follow the Law, and many Israelites delighted in the Law, but none were able to perfectly obey. Yet God did not give up on them. Actually, He was using the Mosaic covenant all along to lead Jewish people, and all people, to the New Covenant.
Foreshadowing of what God was going to do by the Messiah in the New Covenant was accomplished within the Mosaic covenant, and in other manners in the Old Testament, which was a manner of preparation. For example, the Mosaic Law required a variety of animal sacrifices in a given year. The fulfillment of all that animal slaughter was with Christ. Animal sacrifices foreshadowed the eternal sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
The fulfillment of the entire Mosaic Law, which Jesus even furthered, was done by His life, His atoning death on the cross, and by His resurrection from the dead. Now people of any nation can be obedient, because a believer in Jesus is justified and indwelled by the Holy Spirit who empowers a person to do good. Moral laws, taught and affirmed by Jesus, still stand, and are possible for the follower of Jesus. However followers of Jesus, including Jewish followers, are no longer restrained by the sacrificial laws, food laws, or civil laws of the Mosaic Law. If you want to eat shrimp, you can, and will not be sinning. We are to be following the teachings of Jesus!
For Christians at Colossae, a number of whom were Jewish, it was hard for them to realize they did not have to follow the sacrificial, food, or civil laws of the Mosaic Law any longer. For example, the Sabbath, a Saturday, was a day of worship and rest engrained in the Jewish culture. Christians skipping synagogue or Christians doing something like laundry on Saturdays were seen by some other Christians as sinners. Yet Paul is teaching they were not. He is saying what is key is not when you worship, rather who you are worshiping. Paul is teaching the focus needs to shift to Christ.
I add many Christians started worshiping on Sunday rather than the Sabbath since it was the day Jesus was raised from the dead. Once the synagogue was no longer a place where Christians were welcomed, they started corporately worshiping at the crack of dawn on a Sunday before the workday began.
Regarding the worship of angels, Paul is stating what was strongly illustrated in the book of Revelation. In the inspired vision of John, twice he started to worship an angel, and twice the angel rebuked him and proclaimed only God is to be worshiped!
Lastly, Paul talks about the prohibitions which are “human commands and teachings.” Living in the U.S.A. in this day and age, it is hard for me to completely grasp this verse. For example, in recent years there is a swelling of states which have legalized a certain drug. But having studied World Religions, I know many other cultures have a number of restrictions concerning diet and ceremonies which are considered religious and sacred. It was hard for Christians who had previously been influenced by false religious traditions to give up those practices.
When I was a young Christian, I went on a church wide retreat one October weekend. I liked the humble speaker who was always brief in his talks. One session he stated how the heart is the core of a person, and the place where a person initiates decisions. Following Jesus involves desiring in your heart to do the will of God, and then living by His love to be enabled. No need to do the will of God because you have to. No need to do the will of God because you are trying to get some reward. No need to do the will of God to impress other people. You can do the will of God because you love Jesus.
Hunter Irvine
Teaching some students one Sunday as a youth pastor years ago, I read the Bible passage from Leviticus 11:9-12 which prohibits the eating of any sea creature which does not have fins or scales. Then I asked one question: “Would you be sinning if you went and had shrimp at the local seafood restaurant after church?” Then we had a big discussion which I thought was great. Since this passage seems to contradict the Mosaic Law, I ask that question again now.
God has always required people to obey Him, starting with Adam and Eve, yet without help from Jesus people were unable. The Mosaic covenant was a covenant made by God with the Israelites, with Moses as the mediator. No other people or nations were involved. The Law within the covenant involved laws of various natures; moral, sacrificial, food, and civil. Many Israelites worked to follow the Law, and many Israelites delighted in the Law, but none were able to perfectly obey. Yet God did not give up on them. Actually, He was using the Mosaic covenant all along to lead Jewish people, and all people, to the New Covenant.
Foreshadowing of what God was going to do by the Messiah in the New Covenant was accomplished within the Mosaic covenant, and in other manners in the Old Testament, which was a manner of preparation. For example, the Mosaic Law required a variety of animal sacrifices in a given year. The fulfillment of all that animal slaughter was with Christ. Animal sacrifices foreshadowed the eternal sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
The fulfillment of the entire Mosaic Law, which Jesus even furthered, was done by His life, His atoning death on the cross, and by His resurrection from the dead. Now people of any nation can be obedient, because a believer in Jesus is justified and indwelled by the Holy Spirit who empowers a person to do good. Moral laws, taught and affirmed by Jesus, still stand, and are possible for the follower of Jesus. However followers of Jesus, including Jewish followers, are no longer restrained by the sacrificial laws, food laws, or civil laws of the Mosaic Law. If you want to eat shrimp, you can, and will not be sinning. We are to be following the teachings of Jesus!
For Christians at Colossae, a number of whom were Jewish, it was hard for them to realize they did not have to follow the sacrificial, food, or civil laws of the Mosaic Law any longer. For example, the Sabbath, a Saturday, was a day of worship and rest engrained in the Jewish culture. Christians skipping synagogue or Christians doing something like laundry on Saturdays were seen by some other Christians as sinners. Yet Paul is teaching they were not. He is saying what is key is not when you worship, rather who you are worshiping. Paul is teaching the focus needs to shift to Christ.
I add many Christians started worshiping on Sunday rather than the Sabbath since it was the day Jesus was raised from the dead. Once the synagogue was no longer a place where Christians were welcomed, they started corporately worshiping at the crack of dawn on a Sunday before the workday began.
Regarding the worship of angels, Paul is stating what was strongly illustrated in the book of Revelation. In the inspired vision of John, twice he started to worship an angel, and twice the angel rebuked him and proclaimed only God is to be worshiped!
Lastly, Paul talks about the prohibitions which are “human commands and teachings.” Living in the U.S.A. in this day and age, it is hard for me to completely grasp this verse. For example, in recent years there is a swelling of states which have legalized a certain drug. But having studied World Religions, I know many other cultures have a number of restrictions concerning diet and ceremonies which are considered religious and sacred. It was hard for Christians who had previously been influenced by false religious traditions to give up those practices.
When I was a young Christian, I went on a church wide retreat one October weekend. I liked the humble speaker who was always brief in his talks. One session he stated how the heart is the core of a person, and the place where a person initiates decisions. Following Jesus involves desiring in your heart to do the will of God, and then living by His love to be enabled. No need to do the will of God because you have to. No need to do the will of God because you are trying to get some reward. No need to do the will of God to impress other people. You can do the will of God because you love Jesus.
Hunter Irvine
Friday, October 7, 2016
Colossians 2:11-15 - the pinnacle
Colossians 2:11-15 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (NIV).
Though also a Roman citizen, Paul was Jewish. Paul was even a Pharisee. Jewish writing style at that time was quite “oriental,” differing from the Greek style. Oriental writing had two distinctions: First, it was more indirect in style, and the author often employed metaphors. Second, it often was more of a flowing monologue, with the main point often stored away in the middle. Paul hits the central message here in the middle of this letter to the Christians at Colossae, which he built up to with leading statements such as in Colossians 1:20. Jesus Christ is risen! Christians in Colossae knew Christ was resurrected from the dead. Yet just as we Christians can celebrate Easter in a sense every day, we Christians are always blessed when we hear the truth in love that though Jesus was crucified on the cross, He is risen!
And this pinnacle message emphasizes we who have faith in Jesus have been forgiven of our sins, and we are risen with Christ. It is a done deal. He starts by saying the Christians at Colossae have had their nature circumcised. (On the line of having our hearts circumcised as stated in Romans 2:29.) Circumcision involves having a hood of skin, which covers a male sexual organ, cut off. A requirement from God within the Abrahamic covenant, it is also a standard medical procedure in many hospitals in the west for male babies. Once that piece of skin is cut off, it is a goner. Giving a metaphor for a spiritual occurrence, Paul is saying believers in Jesus have had their hearts circumcised; the shield that blocked Love from entering is removed. There is no going back; a follower of Jesus has been changed, because Jesus Christ forgave him or her of sins and changed his or her nature. We believers in Jesus are forever forgiven!
My heart was changed by Jesus 26 years ago. Now I still sin, yet for 26 years, I have only become better and better! On the surface the change may not be immediately evident. I still like to watch Virginia Tech football games, I still hit to snooze button on my alarm, and I sometimes I am sad I never got married and do not have a woman to hold and care for. Yet ever since I gave my heart to Jesus, I am not the same person I was for the first twenty-two years of my life. Virginia Tech football games are not the determiner of my mood, I hit the snooze button fewer times on a Sunday than any other day of the week, a day where I use to sleep in, and sin in my life is a shadow of what it was before I was saved by Jesus. Jesus changed my heart 26 years ago, and He has kept improving me since. It all started with my sins being forgiven.
If you give your heart to Jesus, your sin, all of it, will be forgiven. Brace yourself that you will still have good days and bad days. You will still have sin to struggle with. You will even have problems specifically because you are a Christian. And your body will still know demise and then death in this fallen world. Yet you will have a life in your heart which will only increase.
Jesus Christ died on that cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the sacrificial atonement, taking the penalty of spiritual death in the place of us people who did and do wrong. If you believe in Jesus, you are alive in your heart for good!!!
Hunter Irvine
Though also a Roman citizen, Paul was Jewish. Paul was even a Pharisee. Jewish writing style at that time was quite “oriental,” differing from the Greek style. Oriental writing had two distinctions: First, it was more indirect in style, and the author often employed metaphors. Second, it often was more of a flowing monologue, with the main point often stored away in the middle. Paul hits the central message here in the middle of this letter to the Christians at Colossae, which he built up to with leading statements such as in Colossians 1:20. Jesus Christ is risen! Christians in Colossae knew Christ was resurrected from the dead. Yet just as we Christians can celebrate Easter in a sense every day, we Christians are always blessed when we hear the truth in love that though Jesus was crucified on the cross, He is risen!
And this pinnacle message emphasizes we who have faith in Jesus have been forgiven of our sins, and we are risen with Christ. It is a done deal. He starts by saying the Christians at Colossae have had their nature circumcised. (On the line of having our hearts circumcised as stated in Romans 2:29.) Circumcision involves having a hood of skin, which covers a male sexual organ, cut off. A requirement from God within the Abrahamic covenant, it is also a standard medical procedure in many hospitals in the west for male babies. Once that piece of skin is cut off, it is a goner. Giving a metaphor for a spiritual occurrence, Paul is saying believers in Jesus have had their hearts circumcised; the shield that blocked Love from entering is removed. There is no going back; a follower of Jesus has been changed, because Jesus Christ forgave him or her of sins and changed his or her nature. We believers in Jesus are forever forgiven!
My heart was changed by Jesus 26 years ago. Now I still sin, yet for 26 years, I have only become better and better! On the surface the change may not be immediately evident. I still like to watch Virginia Tech football games, I still hit to snooze button on my alarm, and I sometimes I am sad I never got married and do not have a woman to hold and care for. Yet ever since I gave my heart to Jesus, I am not the same person I was for the first twenty-two years of my life. Virginia Tech football games are not the determiner of my mood, I hit the snooze button fewer times on a Sunday than any other day of the week, a day where I use to sleep in, and sin in my life is a shadow of what it was before I was saved by Jesus. Jesus changed my heart 26 years ago, and He has kept improving me since. It all started with my sins being forgiven.
If you give your heart to Jesus, your sin, all of it, will be forgiven. Brace yourself that you will still have good days and bad days. You will still have sin to struggle with. You will even have problems specifically because you are a Christian. And your body will still know demise and then death in this fallen world. Yet you will have a life in your heart which will only increase.
Jesus Christ died on that cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone. He was the sacrificial atonement, taking the penalty of spiritual death in the place of us people who did and do wrong. If you believe in Jesus, you are alive in your heart for good!!!
Hunter Irvine
Monday, October 3, 2016
Colossians 2:9-10
Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority (NIV).
For people like me who did not grow up in a Christian family or going to a church, the proclamation of the deity of Christ can seem perplexing at first. For example, hearing a few things about Jesus in my youth, especially at Christmas time, I learned Jesus is the Son of God. Logically I assumed Jesus was a step down from God, otherwise I figured He would be called “God.” I did not know then “Son of God” was a term fitting for the Messiah, the incarnate Savior. Yet as a new Christian when reading the New Testament for the first time, I took notice Jesus said He was one with the Father. Then I consistently learned and accepted the full Scripture teaching of what we call the Trinity. And Jesus was fully human and fully divine. For certain people threatened by His power throughout the ages, starting with many Pharisees, they have denied the divinity of Christ. That continues today with some people saying Jesus is only a “son” of God, and not fully divine. Jesus truly claimed divinity in John 8:58!
And as God, Jesus is the Supreme ruler over all. Jesus gives free will. I am always humbled by the statement Jesus made to the twelve apostles after many disciples decided not to follow Him. “’You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve” (John 6:67 NIV). The fact that disciples turned away from Him is not teaching the loss of salvation because Christ had yet to make the sacrifice on the cross and there was yet to be a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This question does reveal Jesus was not dictating anyone to follow Him. Yet though people and angels are allowed to choose what they will do, no one, in the spiritual realm or human, has control over God. God, being three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is all powerful and the Supreme ruler. He is the LORD God Almighty.
Hunter Irvine
For people like me who did not grow up in a Christian family or going to a church, the proclamation of the deity of Christ can seem perplexing at first. For example, hearing a few things about Jesus in my youth, especially at Christmas time, I learned Jesus is the Son of God. Logically I assumed Jesus was a step down from God, otherwise I figured He would be called “God.” I did not know then “Son of God” was a term fitting for the Messiah, the incarnate Savior. Yet as a new Christian when reading the New Testament for the first time, I took notice Jesus said He was one with the Father. Then I consistently learned and accepted the full Scripture teaching of what we call the Trinity. And Jesus was fully human and fully divine. For certain people threatened by His power throughout the ages, starting with many Pharisees, they have denied the divinity of Christ. That continues today with some people saying Jesus is only a “son” of God, and not fully divine. Jesus truly claimed divinity in John 8:58!
And as God, Jesus is the Supreme ruler over all. Jesus gives free will. I am always humbled by the statement Jesus made to the twelve apostles after many disciples decided not to follow Him. “’You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve” (John 6:67 NIV). The fact that disciples turned away from Him is not teaching the loss of salvation because Christ had yet to make the sacrifice on the cross and there was yet to be a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This question does reveal Jesus was not dictating anyone to follow Him. Yet though people and angels are allowed to choose what they will do, no one, in the spiritual realm or human, has control over God. God, being three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is all powerful and the Supreme ruler. He is the LORD God Almighty.
Hunter Irvine
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