The important thing is to quiet yourself down, stop the busyness and bring your mind into just loving Him and receiving from Him. Carol Arnott
Quote for the Day
Month: August 2021
Disciples
Ephesians 5:5
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:5. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 5:5
“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person – such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
The warning against sin here is particularly strong. Paul certainly wants us to understand that these sins which may not seem to be so grave as, for example, murder or robbery, they are still subject to God’s wrath .
“For of this you can be sure” means there is no doubt, no equivocation, none of those “ grey areas” which we like to insert into God’s black and white judgements.
No immoral person can inherit God’s Kingdom. Any form of marital infidelity or sexual misconduct is anathema to God. All of the sexual deviations that can be imagined undermine the sacredness of marriage and the stability of families.
The world condones, even celebrates, such sins of the flesh, but God condemns them. They elevate the flesh about the spirit, sensuality over spirituality.
The message of Ephesians is that we are holy people, set apart for God. To be holy means that we must turn away from sexual sin.
Likewise, impure people will not enter the kingdom of God. Impurity suggest a mixture. We want a little bit of the world and a little bit of religion. Impure people like to think they can have Christianity as an added extra to their lives without giving up the pleasures of the world.
God is constantly seeking to refine us or purify us. He is looking for a people who are totally dedicated to Him. He will use any means possible to burn the dross out of our hearts.
Life can be hard, but for christians there is always a purpose in suffering. Often it is the fire of refining.
God cannot stand impurity, half-heartedness, or lukewarmness. This is a state of heart that deceives us into believing that sin is not so big of a deal for the christian. After all God will forgive. But God will only forgive when we can come to repentance, and if we justify our sin we will see no need to repent of it.
A greedy person will also have no part in God’s Kingdom. To be greedy is to be an Idol worshipper. A greedy person trusts in the power of their money or other possessions to keep them safe.
Jesus referred to the god of mammon. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with being wealthy, but when our heart is captivated by money or when our trust or our identity is in our wealth, then we have turned material possessions into a false god.
A greedy person finds it hard to let go of their money, to give to the poor, or to support the mission of the church. Such greed can be fatal as Ananias and Sapphira discovered (see Acts 5). Dependency on money stopped a rich ruler from following the way of Jesus.
The people that are described in this verse have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ.
We might think that Paul is saying that these people who have presumably professed faith in Christ will get to heaven, but only by the skin of their teeth. They will have no inheritance so they will be like homeless people on the streets of Heaven.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about the things Christians build being tested by fire. He says that some people will enter the Kingdom with nothing of value. However, these are not greedy, impure, or immoral people. They are born again christians who have failed to build anything that is of value in eternity. They were not so much greedy or immoral as misguided or lazy or selfish.
This verse simply restates what is a common theme in scripture. A heart that is truly united to Christ will result in a changed lifestyle and a change of focus.
Do we have to be perfectly sinless to enter God’s Kingdom? No, but we do need to be pursuing God, heeding the Spirit of God, and obedient to the word of God.
Key points in this verse
- Immorality impurity, and greed are condemned by God
- Greed is a form of idolatry
- People who follow these things have no part in God’s Kingdom. They will not enter Heaven
Reflection on Matthew 26:31-44
Scripture
“After I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
Observation
Jesus tells them that evening they will all desert Him, the Shepherd will be struck, and the flock scattered. At the end of this, God will raise Him from the dead. Peter says that even if everyone else abandons him, he will stay. Jesus says that Peter will deny even knowing Him.
Jesus takes the disciples to Gethsemane, where He asks them to keep watch with Him while He prays. He goes on a little farther and prays to the Father.
He returns to the disciples three times, finding them asleep each time. Finally, He tells them to get up as the betrayer has arrived.
Application
Even at this time of His impending death, Jesus is trying to point his disciples to His resurrection.
This is the Good News for each of us. Every follower of Jesus shares in His resurrection. Death is not the end of the story, but a new beginning, a portal into the new eternal life.
We still have to go through death to get to life, but we will get there.
Jesus endured the cross for the sole purpose of bringing us into right relationship with the Father. He paid the price, and we receive the gift of restoration.
Life on earth is messy, tainted at every level with sin and its consequences. Death is all around us, but it does not have the final word.
We have seen how the story ends. It is life not death, love not war, health not sickness. The victory is His. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Lord God, the victory belongs to you. Thank you for the promise of eternity. I put my trust in you today, knowing that at the last day you will raise me to eternal life. Amen.
Do Not Fear!
Tower Bridge at work
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Quote for the Day
Once you begin to know and love this beautiful person and depend on Him for your strength, your prayer life, and for reading the Bible, you will become a changed person. People will see Jesus in you. Carol Arnott
I will trust
Reflection on Matthew 27:17-30
Scripture
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take this and eat, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many”
Observation
Jesus and His disciples celebrate the Passover. While they are eating the Passover meal, Jesus tells them one of them will betray Him. Each one asks if it is them, but Jesus indicates it will be Judas.
As they are eating, Jesus takes the bread and says, “This is my Body.” Then He takes the cup of wine and says, “This is my Blood.”
At the end of the meal, they sing a hymn and go to the Mount of Olives.
Application
Jesus takes the centuries old Passover celebration and applies it to Himself. He is the Passover Lamb, the one who takes away the sins of the world. He is the one who sets His people free from the bondage of sin and into the freedom of God- centred life.
Every week, our church celebrates Communion. We pause for a few minutes and put Jesus’ death on the cross right at the forefront of our thinking. Whatever we do in the rest of he service, and whatever happens in the rest of the week, it all revolves around the death of Jesus on the cross.
Prayer
Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me and paying the price for my sins. As you gave your life for me, I give my life to you. Amen.
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