Classic Christianity – God’s Greatest Gift Part 1 (11-19-18)
Welcome to Classic Christianity Radio with Bob George. Today Bob shares from Luke 2 and Matthew 2 on God’s greatest gift to man, Jesus Christ. God reveals truth to people through His word and Jesus is the living word that came from heaven. For those in Christ Jesus, you have everything you need for life and Godliness. Indeed, the living word lives in you through the Holy Spirit who is your counselor, one who gives you advice. He advises you on proper thinking, continually renewing your mind to think how God thinks. This discipline of the Lord, the renewing of the mind, is a blessing and helps us grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. So the Holy Spirit renews the mind of a believer with truth so you are set free from error that keeps you bound.
Luke 2:22-32
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
b) Exodus 13:2,12
2 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
12 you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.
c) Leviticus 12:8
8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”
Bob shares from Luke 2, eight days after the birth of Jesus, the time for Jesus to be circumcised according to Jewish law, followed by a 40 day period of purification rites required by Jewish law. This time of purification is a time of consecrating first born to the Lord, involving a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons. During this time, Simeon, an old man, was waiting for the promised Messiah. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Messiah who was to come into the world.
Bob pointed out that sometimes we hear the word of God but do not understand what it means. Was Simeon quoting from scriptures but not really understanding what the Lord was speaking through him concerning the Gentiles? Recall also that Mary pondered all these things in her heart. She asked questions like “What does it mean? or “How could it be? It is good to ponder and ask the Lord to reveal truth to you through the Spirit. Recall also that even the disciples of Jesus did not understand until the Holy Spirit brought to remembrance all that Jesus taught and then they understood.
Bob emphasized three ways the Lord revealed himself to men; through angelic announcement, as at Jesus birth by a host of angels, through dreams, as in Joseph being wakened by a dream to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, and through the Holy Spirit. In this case, the Holy Spirit spoke to Simeon and promised that he would not die before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Now, what is very significant to notice is what the Holy Spirit revealed to him or spoke through him concerning the Gentiles. The Jews despised the Gentiles for they were not even seeking the Lord, lived in blatant idolatry, idol worship and prostitution. They were the dirty Gentiles.
How impossible was it for a Jew to think Gentile could come to believe just as the Jew? Why? For the Jew was blinded of their need by their boasting of their obedience to law but the Gentile did not even have the law in the first place, cut off from God’s dealings with the Jews. Jesus came to the Jew first, but by His foreknowledge, the Lord predestined a plan of salvation for both the Jew and the Gentile by faith alone in the work Jesus Christ came to do, and in our day, has now been completed. The Gentiles were predetermined to be conformed to the image of God the same way as the Jew, justification by faith alone. Indeed, this is the meaning of predestination and election and foreknowledge, that together with the Gentiles, this plan unfolding through Jesus Christ so that all people will be justified by faith if they but believe. Jesus Christ took away the law, set aside for a New Covenant in his blood, with better promises. No one will be declared righteous before God by observing the law. No, it is through the law one is conscious of sin, and recognizes he is already condemned as a sinner. Only then, when a person recognizes his total depravity, will he seek a savior to be saved by his offer of grace alone through faith alone.
So, then what was the problem of the Jew, who had the law, that they were mostly unwilling to believe in what Jesus Christ came to do? Since they sought a righteousness of their own, through the law, they were unwilling to come to Christ. Is that not he same with religionists today, whatever package you label yourself, whatever denomination you claim to be identified with. Whether Jew or Gentiles, if you strive to find favor with God by your obedience, then you are a self righteous religionist.
Bob explained this concept by sharing a conversation he had with a lost person. This person claimed that she could never murder. So, then Bob’s response was, “Well then you only need 90% of Jesus since murder is 1 of the 10 commandments of God.” If one were to continue on, then if one says they would never commit adultery, then you only need 80% of Jesus. Now, if one were to go deeper in what Jesus shared concerning what murder is, that if you but hate someone then you have already committed murder in our heart. In the same way, if you look lustfully at a woman, then you already committed adultery in your heart. Therefore, it will not take long to figure out that you need 100% of Jesus. The fact of the matter, if someone just breaks one point of the law, he is guilty of breaking all of the law.
Basically, all men have the propensity and ability to do anything. There is nothing in me, and nothing in you, that makes you worthy to go to the presence of God. When one realizes their condition in sin, spiritual death, then and only is such a person ready to receive everything in Jesus Christ. Did you know that in Christ Jesus, you have everything you need for life and godliness?
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Did you know that those who are in Christ Jesus are separated from the thinking of the world? In scripture is recorded what Jesus said concerning the separation between those in the world, the lost or the goats, and those in Christ Jesus, the saved or the sheep.
Matthew 10:34
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
So, if one has not learned God’s thinking, then either they are lost or need more discipline of the Lord, a renewing of the mind. Discipline is not beating someone over the head until they start thinking right. No, it is the living word, Christ Himself in you, counseling you concerning the things of God.
After Jesus rose from the dead, spent some time on earth, then he made these statements concerning going back to His Father in heaven.
John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
John 16:7
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
God’s discipline is through the Holy Spirit, the comforter, counselor or advocate, who renews your mind with truth to set you free from error that keeps you bound. He never sleeps and is waging war against Satan who also does not sleep. The Holy Spirit is more powerful, divine power, given to you and He is always there for you, never to leave you or forsake you.
Concerning this separation of a believer from the world’s thinking, one can observe the same persecution Jesus faced, a rejection by men of the world. Truth by necessity must divide. There is a tendency in men to want to be accepted, yet when one shares about Jesus do not be surprised that they will reject you. If men rejected Jesus, they will reject you also. Law and grace do not mix and are in opposition to each other. So if you are a young man in college and are rejected for sharing the good news concerning Jesus Christ, then realize this. You are already accepted in Christ Jesus. He is the only one who can meet that need. Notice too that men will accept hearing “the man upstairs” or “the good Lord” but as soon as you share concerning Jesus Christ, expect to not always be well received.
Recall what Simeon, full of the Holy Spirit, prophesied concerning Jesus Christ. He will cause the rising and falling of many in Israel, a separation of the lost from the saved, and a sign that will be spoken against (expect rejection when one stands for truth) and so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed (for the saved, be glad the Lord counsels you in His grace; for the lost, recognize your need of a savior and come to him by faith).
By that nature of being a new creation in Christ, with the mind of Christ, what you speak will be seen as controversial and separate. So if any man says to you “Let’s get together for the cause of unity”, do not believe him. For doctrine must divide; truth by necessity must divide, otherwise how can anyone be saved from wrath to come? There will be those who hate you because of your relationship with Jesus Christ. How many have been martyred already for speaking truth concerning Jesus Christ?
In Matthew 2, when Jesus was approximately one year old, having left to go to Nazareth, one reads of the viciousness and wickedness of King Herod, truly a maniac, fitting the description of an anti-Christ.
Matthew 2:2-9
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
The Magi knew the scriptures available in their day, and from the prophet Micah one reads where the Magi came to have understanding of the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem and also about a star that will lead them.
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Micah 5:4
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
Numbers 24:17
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel
King Herod, a man clearly of the world, and being a king saw Jesus has a threat to his position and sought to do something about this Jesus who was prophesied to be a king of the Jews. Herod was concerned about job security and feared losing his place and position. And this is how it is between those who are law teachers and grace teachers! They may not be a maniac like King Herod but they sure can stir up trouble, devoid of the Spirit and understanding. Many people that are lost cannot bear to hear they are a sinner, something seen as a threat and a judgment on them, being unable or unwilling to see their condition of spiritual death. Good men, striving so hard to be obedient to God, but as soon as grace is taught, they can be mean spirited rather quickly. Law and grace can never mix. Under grace one humbles oneself just as Saul did when he had a unique encounter with the risen savior. This is what Paul, formerly known as that Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of Pharisees, said after he came to accept the message of grace.
Philippians 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
In other translations, the word “dung” is used instead of “garbage”. At one time, Paul was proud of his heritage, having being trained under the highest learning, Gamaliel, so proud of his heritage as a Jew. So too are many that graduate from seminary, who instead of being humble and teachable, will look down on those who dare challenge him on the scriptures. God’s offer of grace still stands for all who but humble themselves under God, recognize their sinful state of spiritual death, total depravity, and turn to the only one who can give new life, Jesus Christ. Jesus died to take away sin, buried so sin is remembered no more, and rose again to always live so as to always intercede for those who simply put their trust in Him alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
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