The God of Faith

We don't use this description of God very often; more frequently using terms like the God of Love, Almighty God, etc.
But let's explore this aspect of our Heavenly Father.

We shall begin by looking at the Greek word that we often translate as "faith" in English translations.
It is the word "pistin" or "pistis" - which can also be translated as "faithfulness", or even "fidelity", as well as "faith".

Often these alternatives can be very helpful in understanding what has been written for us in the Word of God.
Take for example Romans 3 : 2 - 4a, which is part of a discussion on God's promises to Israel.

... chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid.
[KJV]

What does the "faith of God" mean?
Several other translations will help us to answer that question.

In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews.
But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful?
Certainly not!
[GNB]
First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
What is some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness?
Not at all!
[NIV]
Firstly, indeed they were entrusted with God's oracles.
What then? If some were unfaithful, will their infidelity annul God's fidelity?
Let it not be so!
[DBH]

These help us see that it is the faithfulness of God that guarantees the promises to Israel will be kept.
So let's agree to use faith or faithfulness - whichever provides clarity for us English readers.

The conclusion from above is that God will remain faithful to Israel even though some of them are unfaithful.

So what about God's faithfulness to his creation as a whole?
What has he promised?

[God] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 9 -10  NIV]

and

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19 - 20  NIV]

What role was Jesus to play in the implementation of the Father's will?
Jesus made it clear in several conversations recorded in the Gospels.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
[John 6 : 38  NIV]

What about Jesus' commitment to this?

"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”
"I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. "
[John 12 : 32, 47b  GNB]

Jesus' faithfulness to the Father's plan to save the world was surely tested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
[Luke 22 : 42  NIV]

Christ's humanity produced such agony that he perspired drops of blood, but his faithfulness to his Father, and submission to the Father's will, prevailed.
Indeed he said,

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work".
[John 4 : 34  NIV]

And what did Jesus say on the cross just before he died?

Jesus said, "It is finished". With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
[John 19 : 30  NIV]

My appreciation of God's master plan, and his faithfulness to his promises, together with Christ's faithfulness to his Father, assure me that Christ Ultimately Rescues Everyone by the end of time, ensuring all will be reconciled to God and ready to step into eternity.

Blessings, Barry

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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

The Advance Party

St Paul often reminds us that God's plan is to have all His creation reconciled and living in peaceful relationship with Him and each other.
For example:

... God our Saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 
[1 Timothy 2 : 3, 4  KJV]

Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 
[Ephesians 1 : 9 - 10  ESV]

If this is God's intention, then before the end of time, He needs to give everyone the opportunity to discover Jesus and what He has done for them.
Clearly that's not happening right now, so the time for the completion of God's plan must still be in the future.

Enter "The Advance Party".
In previous posts I have often referred to the Body of Christ as the Advance Party.
What do I mean by this description?
The Advance Party is a familiar term in other settings. 
For example, in an exploration mission, an advance party is often selected to go ahead and decide on the direction the whole party should take.
In a combat offensive, an advance party usually goes ahead to determine the strength and positions held by the enemy.
As a young Uni student I had a vacation job with a company that harvested and processed crops of peas and it was my job to go ahead of the harvesters and determine the readiness of crops by testing samples, the first fruits.

First Fruits of harvest functions in a similar way to its namesake in an exploration expedition (or even in an offensive combat undertaking) that goes on ahead to prepare the way for the main party (or troops). 
For Israel in Bible times, "First Fruits" refers to the first portion of the crop to ripen and was dedicated to God. They were a sample of what the ripened crop would be and a pledge or guarantee of the complete crop to be harvested at the appropriate time in the future.
Indeed, the nation of Israel itself was called the First Fruits from among the nations (Jeremiah 2 : 3)

In a similar way, Jesus was referred to as the First Fruits of the rest of mankind who are to be resurrected as He was. (1 Corinthians 15 : 20 - 23)

In the Scriptures the Body of Christ is referred to as the first fruits of the harvest of all mankind.

The Jewish Christians (Messianic Jews) of the first century were called First Fruits (James 1 :18) and were joined by Gentile Christians to become the Advance Party, the Body of Christ, of all mankind.

God is currently preparing this Advance Party for governing roles in tomorrow's world. 

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
[Ephesians 2 : 10  NIV]

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
[Revelation 2 : 26  NIV]

What a privilege to be called and to be trained to rule with Christ and to teach under Him when He comes in His Kingdom.
Others, not so called and trained now, or in previous ages, will be called and led to salvation in that glorious future.

Blessings, Barry

Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure - a new slant on the story.

I haven't often written about the parables of Jesus, concentrating more on the gospel to the Gentiles as espoused by the Apostle Paul.

But recently, in my personal devotions, I have been allowing the Holy Spirit to expand my thinking beyond the obvious and traditional interpretations and applications of the stories Jesus told in Israel.
And I thought I would share one of these more expansive thoughts today using the parable of the hidden treasure reported by Matthew in Chapter 13 verse 44.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. [NIV]

Jesus was teaching his Jewish audience that the kingdom he was offering was so valuable that it was worth selling all a person had to obtain it.

The obvious and traditional interpretation of the main point of the parable is that for the enormous worth of the Kingdom any sacrifice, including all that one has, is not too great a price to pay.
Rarely are the other details, like hiding the treasure so others won't find it or buying the whole field, mentioned in these interpretations.

But how about this for a new slant?
Instead of teaching how a Jew ought to response to the good news about the kingdom of God coming near to him, and being prepared to sacrifice all to gain it, maybe Jesus was teaching something about himself.

In that case, Jesus was the man who sacrificed all that he had, not just to have the hidden treasure, the kingdom, but the entire field that contained it - indeed the whole world, as the field is called in a previous parable explanation. (Matt 13 : 38)

Maybe this one verse parable is a description of what Jesus was about to do.
 
Interestingly, after Jesus had been rejected by the Jewish leaders, he hid the kingdom from his public audiences by restricting his teaching to parables, only explaining them to his disciples in private.

The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
... This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
[Matthew 13 : 10 - 14  NIV]

Jesus deliberately hid the kingdom from this generation of the nation who was chosen to rule in it.

And what did Jesus do after hiding the kingdom?
He went and bought the whole field - the whole world - which he promised to do.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
[John 12 : 32  NIV]

John also confirmed the Lord's world-wide mission:

 ... we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 1 -2  NIV]

And so, eventually, Jesus would not only have the kingdom treasure, but the whole field through His purchase.

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
[Revelation 11 : 15  NIV]

Have you heard such a slant on this parable before - Jesus telling a parable about himself and his purpose in coming to our world?

Blessings, Barry

Are We In the Last Days?

This topic is not directly relevant to the exploration of God's extravagant grace that is the major focus of my book, blog and website.
However, I am asked this question often so I will answer it and place the question and my answer on the website under the "Questions" link.

So my answer? - Maybe, no, and I don't think so.

If the question is referring to the last days of the church age, then my answer is "maybe"; if it's referring to the last days of the world, then my answer is "no".
And if the question is referring to the last days mentioned frequently in the Bible, then my answer is "I don't think so".

The Last Days of the Church Age
I'm not sure we can find many clues from the Scriptures regarding the last days of the church age.
During the age in which we are currently living, God has put national Israel to one side whilst he gathers the Body of Christ (the Church) from all nations (including Israel).
God has these members already chosen and gives them faith when they hear the gospel so they become believers and the first fruits of the full harvest which is to be completed at the end of the ages.

So the church age will end when the final member of the Body of Christ has been added, and God turns his attention again to national Israel.
And only God knows when that will be because only he knows whom he has predestined to be in the Body of Christ.
So are we in the last days of the church age? ... Maybe ... but who knows but God alone?

The Last Days of the World
From my comments above it is clear than there is still an age or time to come when God deals with, and saves, national Israel. (Romans 11 : 25 - 27)
So are we in the last days of the world? ... No ... there is still much more to come.

The Last Days Mentioned in the Bible
There are many references to the last days in the Scriptures: but they don't appear to be referring to our church age or to the end of the world.
Let's take a look at some of them and see if we can determine to whom they might refer.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter is explaining why the disciples are behaving in such a strange way:

These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.'
[Acts 2 : 15 - 17 NIV, this event occurred in the 30's AD]

Peter was aware that this gathering was taking place "in the last days".
He was implying that "we are in the last days right now".

Paul was equally aware of the days they were in.
In summing up some warnings from Israel's history, he said:

Now these things happened to those people as an example, but are written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
[1 Corinthians 10 : 11 LEB, written in the 50's AD]

The writer to the Hebrews also described Jesus' visit as being at the end of the ages:

For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf,
and not in order that he can offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary year by year with blood not his own,
since it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
[Hebrews 9 : 24 - 26 LEB, written in the 60's AD]

John was even more precise when he wrote:

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.
This is how we know it is the last hour.
[1 John 2 : 18 NIV, written in the 60's AD]

The time in which the New Testament writers (and the early Church) lived was variously described as the end of the ages, the last days and even the last hour.
So, the question becomes: the end of what ages, the last days of what, the last hour of what?
I believe they were in the last days of the Old Covenant era - the ages that culminated in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem.

So are we in the last days referred to in the Bible?  I don't think so - they have long gone.

Blessings, Barry



 

A Step On The Way

Because this Blog is centred around God's extravagant grace, most of the posts touch on some aspect of the eventual, universal, reconciliation of mankind to God; which fulfills God's role as the Saviour of the world. (1 Tim 4 : 10)
Today's post highlights the salvation of Israel, a step on the way to the salvation of the world.

There are many references to this event in the Old Testament, like Psalm 130 : 8 and Psalm 103 : 2 - 3, together with King David's confidence of his expectation to be "dwelling in the house of the Lord for ever" in Psalm 23.

In the New Testament, the most descriptive mention of this event is in Romans 11, just after Paul illustrates God's faith community using his wonderful Olive Tree allegory.
He tells us that although Israel has stumbled, she will not be rejected, nor has she fallen beyond recovery.
In fact, God has used her stumbling to bring salvation to the Gentile, the non-Jewish, nations in order to make Israel envious or jealous.

Paul then says ...

"Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way, all Israel will be saved."

So Israel will be saved after the full number of Gentiles has come in.

Come in to what?
The context of Romans 11 is the Body of Christ, the disciples or followers of Jesus, part of God's faith community that is illustrated by an olive tree.
So when the Body of Christ is complete, then all Israel will be saved.

(Paul is not talking here about the salvation of the world at the end of time, at the consummation of the ages. 
He is talking about the Body of Christ, the Church, the believers who are chosen as a first group, before the kingdom ages begin, for life and administration responsibilities in those coming ages.)

And we are living in the era or age when the Body of Christ is being filled; so at the end of this age, when this filling is completed, all Israel will be saved.
Looking at the world situation, and the Middle East in particular, it is difficult to imagine how this event might happen.
I certainly don't know *how* it will happen: all I know is that it will - because God's Word has declared it. And even that is a strain for many people.

Let me illustrate.
Suppose a mother says to her child, "You will be in bed by 7.30 pm.".
The child starts thinking, "How does she know that? There's no way that's going to happen. I still haven't finished my homework, I haven't fed the dog yet, or cleaned my teeth."
So how does mother know?
She knows because she has previously made that decision and will make sure that it happens.

So how does God know that all Israel will be saved?
He knows because he has previously made that decision and will make sure that it happens.

We have a role to play in completing the Body of Christ. That's one of the reasons we have been called, chosen early, before the rest of the world who will come to God later.

One aspect of that role is sharing the good news that God loves us and does not count our sins against us - because Jesus has already died for the sins of the world.
When we share God's good news, others who have been chosen to complete the Body of Christ will hear it, be given the faith to believe it, be drawn to Christ and added to his Body - in the same way we were.

Each time that happens the Body of Christ will get that bit nearer to completion and Israel's salvation will be that bit nearer too.

When all Israel are saved, the next part of God's plan for his creation, the kingdom ages, will commence with the Olive Tree having administration responsibilities that we are currently in training for.

Blessings, Barry

The Called and The Chosen

I have been musing on these terms recently and have discovered two interesting verses.

Jesus said, "For many are called, but few are chosen."
[ Matthew 22 : 14  NKJV ]

On the other hand ... 

Paul said, " ... those he predestined, he also called; ...
[ Romans 8 : 30  NIV ]

Notice the reverse order: "called then chosen" in the first .. versus .. "predestined (chosen) then called" in the second. Why the difference?

Jesus was addressing Israel's leaders and forecasting that from all those who belonged to this specially called-out nation only a few would be chosen.
Chosen for what?
Israel had been called to live under God's provision and direction, demonstrate that life and its value to the rest of the world, and was destined to reign with God in the future kingdom. 
However, only a few of them were chosen by God to receive the faith necessary to believe in Jesus, their Messiah, and the message of forgiveness and reconciliation that he brought.
Sadly, only a relatively few of Israel will live during the coming age, and reign with Christ in his kingdom.
"Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it," Jesus told them. { Matthew 7 : 14  NIV ]

Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles.
His message was to an audience that had not been seriously considered to have any part in God's reign.
However, God's plan right from the start was to choose others, from the Gentile nations, to add to the faithful few from Israel to create the Body of Christ that would reign with Christ during that coming age.

The mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
[ Ephesians 3 : 6  NIV ]

As a result, those who would rule with Christ in the kingdom age had already been chosen by God before they were even born, and will be called during their lifetime on this planet.
These are the early believers, which we mention from time to time.
These previously chosen (predestined) will be called, and will be trained by the indwelling Holy Spirit for their co-ruler role in the future age.

But Paul's message of "chosen then called" has an even wider, more general application.
From before the foundation of the world, we were all chosen for salvation, for fellowship with God.

Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children—this was his pleasure and purpose.
[ Ephesians 1 : 4, 5  GNB ]

In all his wisdom and insight God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.
[ Ephesians 1 : 9, 10  GNB ]

The whole creation has been chosen, so we will all be called eventually - some as early believers by faith and some as later believers by sight.

God's amazing plan, decided at the beginning, hinted at by the prophets, mentioned by Jesus, and fully described by Paul, should be celebrated from the rooftops by churches across the world.
What a different view and appreciation of God that would produce !
 
Blessings, Barry