Full of Grace and Truth - John 1-2

John 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The above verse may be referred to as a cornerstone verse of the New Testament, if not the entire Bible.   The “Word became flesh” is a clear reference to the incarnation of Christ.   The fact that God the Son became the Son of Man is the most profound truths of the Bible.  It is, without a doubt, one of the most significant truths of the Bible.  Only by becoming like man could Jesus suffer and die and deliver us from the One who would destroy man, the Devil:

Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Jesus was, like God, “full of grace and truth.”  God the Son was not, in His incarnation one-half God and one-half man. This is a belief many try to teach.  In the early church that often became a debate.  But, this first plainly states that Jesus was “full” of grace and truth. That means He, like the Father, has no evil or deception.   Remember, deception is the Devil’s currency.  Here is what John will later record from Jesus’ own words:

John 8:44 (ESV)
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

When we deal in truth we are walking with God.  When we deal in untruth we are not walking with God.  That is the simply truth of the above verse.  Notice what Paul states to us about our thinking:

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

When we start our thinking with “truth” we end up with “peace” in our hearts.   Jesus was full of “grace and truth.”  Those two attributes are inseparable.   When we speak truth we have grace.  When we have grace we will speak truth.   

The Presence of God - Ezekiel 43-48

Ezekiel 48:35 (ESV)
The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”

The above verse is the conclusion of 48 chapters for Ezekiel.   These last chapters are some of the hardest reading in the Old Testament for a New Testament believer. This entire section is about the measurement of the Temple and the restating of some of the Temple offerings.   To someone who only knows the Cross of Christ and the resurrection of Christ, these verses can see rather vacant of practical, Christian meaning.    However, the above verse, the summary of Ezekiel’s prophesy, explains the purpose of these words about the cubits of the Temple, the gates of the Temple and the land surrounding the Temple.  Note how one commentator stated this point:

(Understanding the Bible Commentary Series - Old Testament Set (18 vols.)) To the question “Where is God?” the closing verse of this book gives an answer: And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE (v. 35). These words will remind Christian readers of Jesus’ words at the end of Matthew’s gospel: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). In each case, the point is clear: wherever the people of God are, they are never alone or abandoned, for God is with them. As the Lord came to Ezekiel in exile by the River Kebar, so God comes to us still.

This really sums up the meaning of the entire book.   God wanted the returning exiles to know that He was with them.  As they returned to the Land of Promise, from their captivity, God would be in the midst.  This returning remnant needed to know that God was with them and HIs presence would provide, guide and protect them.   The Glory of the Lord was to be in this Temple, like the old Temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians.   But, upon their return, God would be with them.  This is the message of the Bible.  God is with us.  Note:

John 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Temple of Ezekiel’s day would be the reminder of God’s presence.   But, when Christ would come, He would be the presence of God in our midst.   God sent His Son to give us His presence.  The point of Ezekiel’s prophecy and that of the Bible is that God has given us His presence.  We can rejoice in His glory through the ministry of Christ and the Spirit in our lives.   God wants man to have His presence in their midst.   

From the Heart - Proverbs 14-15

 Proverbs 15:7 (ESV)
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.

Proverbs 15:11 (ESV)
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!

Proverbs 15:13-14 (ESV)
A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 15:21 (ESV)
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense (same word as “heart’”),
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

Proverbs 15:28 (ESV)
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

All the above proverbs from chapter 15 have the word “heart” in them.   Solomon is talking to us about the inner being of a person.   Solomon is NOT concerned about the outward person, except to the extent that the heart is the source for the outward.   Solomon knows that the real work that has to be done in mankind is their heart has to be changed.   We might recall what he wrote that was placed early in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.

Out of the heart flow the “springs of life.”   This is what the above proverb are trying to tell us.  God is concerned about changing the disposition and the direction of the heart.  We must allow God to make the changes in the heart.    Sociologists want to change our behavior.   Psychologist want to change our mind.   Psychiatrist want to change our chemical balance.   Economist want to change our status in life.   God wants to change the heart.   Solomon is writing to us and telling us that our heart (what we believe and value) determines our behavior, our mind, our balance, and out economic status.   

How Great are Your Works, O LORD! - Psalms 90-92

Psalms 92:5-9 (ESV)
How great are your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep!
The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
but you, O LORD, are on high forever.
For behold, your enemies, O LORD,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.

God is deep.   It is not a secret that mankind wants to understand God and wants to put Him in a box of understanding.   Mankind loves to study topics and discover the ins and outs of those topics.  Man then likes to boast about what he knows about that topic or subject.   This is what we do.  But, when it comes to God, how can the finite understand the infinite?  God has given us His Word to make known the infinite, however.   In the above song we read that the “stupidity” of man, his willful ignorance toward God makes it impossible to even understand this own death.   That is what the above stanzas are referring to in this psalm.   The point the composer is making is that God is so deep and His work is so profound, the natural man, without the the Spirit of God, has no understanding of even the most obvious thing in his life, his death.    God is deep.   Paul stated it this way to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Only by the Spirit of God do we understand the things of God.  We need to allow the Spirit to teach us how great are your works, O LORD!! 

Good Leadership Inquire of God - 2 Kings 21-25

2 Kings 22:11-13 (ESV)
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”  

This King inquired of the Lord!!  That should be the epitaph of every leader.  Notice that earlier in Judah’s kings, another king had a similar approach to leadership:

1 Kings 22:5-7 (ESV)

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?”

David inquired of God:

1 Samuel 23:2

So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”

Even bad leader Saul (before he became a bad leader) inquired of God:

1 Samuel 28:6 (ESV)

And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.

Notice Solomon’s thoughts on getting wisdom from God:

Proverbs 19:20 (ESV)

Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 (ESV)
Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

We are to seek out and look of wisdom from the Lord.   Josiah, when he discovered the Book of the Law found the priest and inquired of God about it.  This is the pattern of behavior all leadership should follow.  

Worship is NOT about US!! Leviticus 22-24

 Leviticus 22:29-33 (ESV)
And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD.
“So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD. And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD.”

The spirit of the Old Testament sacrifices and offerings was to remember that God repeated told the nation of Israel, “I am the LORD.”   That phrase is repeated over and over and over in Leviticus.   In the above passage we read the statement four times.  Moses is instructing Israel on how to offer an acceptable offering to God.  The key was to remember that the purpose of all offerings, whether they were an animal or a grain or something else, was not for one’s own good. It was to worship and recognize and confess that God was the LORD.   We often approach worship services in our church to think about what we can get out of it.  We tend to pick churches for worship services that appeal to us.  That is not, in and of itself, a bad thing.  But, it is important to realize that God was not creating a worship experience that the worshippers would enjoy.  He designed a worship approach that was fully intended to be a picture of how, through Christ, we can and should approach worship.   This is not for us.  It is to be in awe of who God is.  We make worship so much about us, which, of course, loses the purpose of worshipping God.  We tend to worship us in our worship.   But, God is sanctifying us because He is the LORD.  That is the point of worship.  

How to Serve - 1 Thessalonians 1-3

1 Thessalonians 2:3-8 (ESV)

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

We all live by formulas.   Even though we might have missed in algebra class formulas like “x+y=z” have great impact on us.  In philosophy they are called “syllogisms.”  They sound like this:

A = B
B = C
Therefore A = C.

Syllogistic formulas abound in life.  They also abound in Scripture.   The most obvious is this syllogism:

God = Love
Love = Sacrifice 
God = Sacrifice (There God demonstrated His love by sacrificing His Son.)

In the above passage we have the long syllogistic reasoning of Paul in regard to his ministry about the churches he is addressing in 1 Thessalonians.   Here is what it says in syllogistic form:

Those called by God = Those who speak the Gospel
The Gospel = The purity of God
Therefore those who all called by God are to speak the pure Gospel and ought to do in a pure way.  

That is the formula Paul outlines for all those who represent God and speak for Him.   We don’t do so to please men. We don’t do so with flatterer.   We don’t speak to when the glory and praise of men.   We do so by offering ourselves, as God did, through HIs son.   God has a formula for a successful Godly life.  It is giving ourselves in service for the King by telling others of HIs great love for us in the Gospel story.   Go out each day to practice this formula; this syllogism for life.