So Great a Cloud of Witnesses

Today is Memorial Day, so I thought a word from Hebrews 12:1-3 might hit the mark. Originally known as Decoration Day, it is a day when we decorate the graves, first of veterans who gave their lives for our freedom, then of all our loved ones who have passed on before us.

Ronald Reagan, in his inaugural speech as governor of California on January 5, 1967, said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." (blogs.e-rockford.com)

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" (John 15:13). From the beginning of our existence as a nation men have laid down their lives for our freedom, living and dying by this verse. The ultimate example of course being the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By His death on the cross we receive our ultimate freedom, freedom from the eternal consequences of sin. And all because in Christ we are forgiven—the penalty paid!

Today is a day for remembering those who laid down their lives for us, their friends. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and it was first observed a few weeks later on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The South, however, refused to acknowledge that day until after World War I when the holiday was changed from honoring just those who died during the War between the States to honoring all Americans who died while fighting in any war. (sermons2liveby.com)

The best way to honor the men and women who died for us is to follow the three mandates of Hebrews 12:1-3. Because "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" (v. 1a)... what witnesses? Most likely believers who have passed away and gone on before us to be an encouragement to us. It is not that they are sitting in some heavenly grandstand up in the clouds watching us; they are witnesses to the truth. They are examples of those who did what we must do—lay aside every hindrance to our daily walk with Christ.

We are to "lay aside every weight" or "every encumbrance" (v. 1b, NASB). A "weight" or "encumbrance" is simply a bulk or mass of something. It is not necessarily bad in itself. It can be perfectly innocent and harmless. But it weighs us down, diverts our attention, saps our energy, and dampens our enthusiasm for the things of God. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1-7)

We are also to "lay aside…the sin which so easily ensnares us" (v. 1c). This is a call to action. We are to strip off every weight that slows us down. Jesus said, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:29-30). He is talking about getting rid of everything that hinders us from faithfully walking with God.

The key phrase of this passage is "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (v. 1d). Speaking to those who have professed Christ as Savior but have not gone all the way to fully walking with Him, the writer of Hebrews says, "Get in the race and begin living for Christ." To those who are already running, he says, "Do not give up! Run the race of your life in Christ with endurance."

So what will strengthen us to remain faithful when tempted to quit and give in to the pressures of the world around us? It is the thought of "Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself" (v. 3a). "Consider Him…lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (v. 3b). Don’t be discouraged. Remember Jesus and run with endurance the life of faith that is before you.

Run the race of a life of faith by "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (v. 2a). Remember, it was "for the joy that was set before Him," the joy of saving you, that He "endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (v. 2b). Keep your eyes on Him, and you will do well.

Hebrews 11 lists a number of heroes who lived and died courageously "by faith." Near the end of the chapter, the list makes a change from names of individuals to groups of believers whose experiences ranged from miraculous deliverance to torture and even death, because they refused to compromise their faith in God.

They remind us that the spiritual battle is not over. As we recall every sacrifice made on our behalf and every example of spiritual courage, let's determine to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and join the parade of faithful veterans of the faith.

Never forget that others have died so that we might live. But as you remember those who have gone before and think about the sacrifice they made, think also about our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life—our ransom, fully paid. Amen.

Jesus Is the Life

Listen carefully as you talk with people and you will soon understand how they view life. Listen carefully and you will discover that many people have no real understanding of life at all. Far too many people don't realize that without Christ you cannot understand what life is all about, because true life is found only in Christ.

John tells us that true life existed from the beginning in Christ: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). To that Jesus adds, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Until you understand this basic truth, you have no way of understanding life. Ephesians 2:1 says that apart from Christ you are "dead in trespasses and sins." Being "dead in sins" results in living life "according to the course of this world" (v. 2). That means living under the influence of evil, in disobedience to God. Such a lifestyle amounts to living "in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind" (v. 3a). It is not a life pleasing in God’s sight, nor will it be fulfilling in any way. It only brings the wrath of God upon you in the end. Paul said that we all "were by nature children of wrath" (v. 3b).

That is the key. None of us are any different. No one is by nature perfect and righteous. That is why Christ, who is perfect, had to die on the cross for us. The penalty we deserved, He paid. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). He gave His life that we might experience life in Him. Life as it was meant to be.

In Ephesians 2:4-5 Paul adds, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." He further explains, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (vs. 8-9). Christ died on the cross and rose again from the dead so that you could be forgiven of your sins. The end result is having life, both abundant and eternal, in Him.

God made us. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (v. 10). We were created for a purpose: to live life in the way God meant for it to be. We are to be what God wants us to be. We are to live life after the example of Jesus Himself as found in Scripture. We are to be doing the "works" that He has prepared for us to do. We are not saved by our works. Salvation comes only by God’s grace through our faith in Christ. The works follow faith. The works are life as it was designed by God.

Paul goes on to say that "without Christ" you are "aliens" from God’s people and "strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God" (v. 12). However, "in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (v. 13). If you believe in God and you have placed your trust, your faith, in Jesus and His cross, you are no longer a stranger to God living in a distant land. You are His and you will begin to experience life as He meant it to be. Follow Jesus and you will have life abundant, as well as life eternal. Amen.

Jesus Sets You Free

Past time again for a new post. Barb and I are headed north tomorrow for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She has checkups every two or three months to make sure she is still cancer free so she can remain on the liver transplant list. So far so good. Keep praying!

Now, let's turn to the Word. "Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all" (Luke 4:14-15). As Jesus began His ministry, He went around the region of Galilee in northern Israel, teaching in the synagogues (the Jewish place of worship). Before long, everyone was talking about Him and His excellent teaching. "So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read" (v. 16).

The passage He read was Isaiah 61:1-2, where Isaiah speaks of the Year of Jubilee, and the release of captives, and the return of the Jewish exiles from captivity in Babylon. All through the passage, Isaiah holds forth the hope of the coming Messiah, who will save them from their sins. Upon reading this Scripture, Jesus declares that this passage refers directly to Him: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (v. 21). There can be no mistake. Jesus claims Himself to be that Messiah, that Savior who has to come into the world. He proclaims Himself to be the very Son of God!

The people of Nazareth were ready to throw Him off a cliff as they rejected His claim outright: "So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff" (vs. 28-29). Of course they failed to do so: "Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way" (v. 30). Jesus just walked away. They could not touch Him.

Like these people, we too must consider for ourselves who this Jesus really is. Unlike these people, we must recognize that He is indeed the Savior of the world, our Savior, and we must receive Him as such. We must not reject Jesus in any way. Rather, we must follow Him every day by faith.

In verse 18, Jesus read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor." Jesus’ life and ministry is uniquely marked by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is seen throughout His ministry by the many miracles of healing. He came teaching and preaching the truth of the gospel, that salvation is available to the poor and to all who are in need. Whatever your need, the answer is Jesus. Only believe, and you will experience that great gift of salvation in Jesus’ name.

He continued in verse 18, "He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind." Proof of His Messiahship is found in the works He performed. He came to heal, as Isaiah had prophesied. His was a ministry of deliverance. He came to heal spiritually and physically. He gave sight to the blind, healed the lame, cleansed the lepers, gave hearing to the deaf, and raised the dead, in addition to preaching the gospel to the poor (Luke 7:22). All of this gives proof that Jesus is the Savior.

The final words that Jesus read make clear His objective: "To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD" (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus came to set us free. He came proving Himself by doing the works of the Messiah according to Isaiah 61. He came specifically to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He came to set us free from our imprisonment to sin. We are the captives He came to release. We are the ones who are oppressed by sin. The "acceptable year of the LORD," the year of Jubilee, is now. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).  

Jesus came to set us free from sin. He has accomplished that very thing. Now what we must do is respond to Him in faith, receiving His free gift of forgiveness. Then we must be faithful to Him in all areas of life, following Him every day in prayer and obedience. Do this and your life will never be the same. Instead, it will be a life filled with peace and joy in the Lord. Amen.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

August 5, 2016 will see the start of the 2016 Summer Olympics in ‎Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known officially as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Over the course of seventeen days, athletes from around the world, wearing their countries colors, will compete in 306 events in 28 sports. Having trained and exercised for many years, these athletes all come and compete, sometimes just for a few seconds, in hopes of winning a medal, preferably gold. There will be celebration in victory and agony in defeat. People from all over will fill the stands to watch their countrymen complete. Many more will watch on television from the comfort of their homes.

Hebrews 12:1 speaks of just such a crowd: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” This sounds a lot like the Olympic Games. Athletes train hard and build up their endurance, and when the race begins, they “lay aside every encumbrance” and “run with endurance the race that is set before” them. So the games that were held in that day are compared to the spiritual race of life which we must run.

The “cloud of witnesses” may be our fellow Christians. It may even include believers in heaven who have already finished the race. And just a thought, perhaps unbelievers are watching us run our race as well, to see if what we say about Jesus holds up in our own life. Do we live our life the way we claim? Is there any proof in our lives that Jesus is alive and well, and that He is guiding and protecting us? Just a thought, but that is what this passage is all about.

How do we run the race of life that is set before us? We “lay aside every encumbrance,” or we leave behind anything that holds us back from living our lives for Jesus. We “lay aside…the sin which so easily entangles us.” Confess your sin, repent, turn away from your sin, and turn to Jesus. That is what it means to repent. Then, follow Jesus and live for Him, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2a).

Your faith comes from Jesus and it is made perfect by Jesus. He is the One “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (v. 2b). The joy before Him was your salvation. The way to provide it was the cross. Jesus died on the cross for your forgiveness. He rose from the dead to give you life, both abundant life now and eternal life in heaven. Everything comes from and rests in Jesus. That is why it is so important to keep “fixing (your) eyes on Jesus” every moment of every day.

Jesus must be at the center of your faith. Anything else is not faith at all. So look to Jesus by faith for your salvation, then keep your eyes fixed on Jesus at all times. That is the only way to truly follow Him. Amen.

The Heart of the Gospel

I do not want this Easter season to escape without a new post. This is such a great time of year and God is doing so much. Barb is doing so well. Her liver is working better than it has in a long time. God is at least extending her time to receive a liver transplant or is perhaps in the process of healing her. Either way I praise the Lord!

This time of year we are always reminded of what Christ did for us on the cross and of the power of His resurrection. And that is alright. To be reminded again and again of the same truths of Scripture is a good thing. Paul told the Philippians, “To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard to you” (Phil. 3:1). Peter likewise wrote, “I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you” (2 Pet. 1:12).

The truth has to do with the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection on the third day. Paul wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). That is the heart of the gospel. That is the truth of God; a truth far too often forgotten or even trivialized by too many people.

Think about it for a moment. Apart from the truth of the gospel, apart from the truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no hope. The future, indeed all of eternity, is nothing but darkness and hopelessness apart from Christ. That is why faith in Christ is so crucial. Nothing else matters; nothing else counts. Paul told the Romans plainly, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).

Over and over again we are reminded in Scripture that Christ died for our sins. His death on the cross was planned by God before the foundation of the world and His resurrection from the dead has given us victory even over death, resulting in eternal life. Peter made this clear on the day of Pentecost when he preached that “this [Jesus], delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:23-24).

Being “nailed to a cross” He paid the penalty for our sin. Rising from the dead He provided us with eternal life through faith in Him. All we have to do is believe the truth of His death and resurrection, and confess Him as our Lord. That is the heart of the gospel. Amen.

No Greater Love

In John 15 Jesus speaks to His disciples about what it means to be His disciple. He uses the imagery of the vine and the branches. What He says is that if you are truly His disciple, you will “abide” in Him (v. 4). You will live your life by faith in Christ. You will live by God’s Word. In fact what He says is that His “words” will “abide in you” (v. 7). When that happens you will not only live by faith, but you will experience communication with God in a way you never thought was possible. And, to top it off, your prayers will be answered!

In this context Jesus turns to the topic of love. First He says that, as you live by faith, you are also to “abide in My love” (v. 9). When you abide in His love you keep His commandments; you live by His Word (v. 10). In the context of living in the love of God, Jesus gives us another commandment. In verse 12 He says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” And He goes on in verse 13 to define love: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

At this point Jesus calls us His friends. He says, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (v. 14). And again, in verse 15 He says, “I have called you friends.” Jesus is our example of how we are to “love one another.” We love each other just as Jesus loved us. How did He love us? With the greatest love possible. He died for us that we might receive forgiveness for our sins and be restored to fellowship with God forever. Jesus laid down His life for His friends.

Paul describes it this way: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to become a man and to suffer and die that we might have life in His name. John said that Jesus came so that we might “have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). When we experience that abundant life in Christ, His love flows out through us to our friends. Just as Jesus was willing to give everything for us, so we should be willing to give everything for our friends, even to the point of dying for them. Greater love has no one than this!

Herein is love. Our love for one another grows out of our love for God and Christ. In fact, it is His love that flows through us. That love of God, demonstrated on the cross, is what compels us to love one another just as Jesus loved us. That love of God, demonstrated on the cross, is what compels us to lay down our lives for our friends in whatever way necessary to encourage them to live for Christ. And so, through Christ in us, we fulfill His command to “love one another.” Amen.

No Cross, No Crown

Hi everyone. It has been too long again. We are at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota right now and will be here at least three weeks. Barb is receiving thirty radiation treatments plus chemotherapy. No cancer, just "suspicious cells" in the bile ducts that must be contained in the liver and prevented from becoming cancerous. Keep praying! They are optimistic that she could get a liver in as little as three to six months. But enough news. Let's move into the Word.

People who have had some great struggles in life are often better for having endured the difficulties. Losses, rejections, disabilities and disappointments can teach us patience, strengthen us spiritually, and make us better, more kindly people.

There is a phrase athletes often use: “No pain, No gain.” Theologians change that and use the phrase “No cross, No crown.” You see it was Christ’s victory over the Cross through the resurrection that proved Him to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” To that Hebrews 4:14-16 adds, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Jesus came to earth and lived as a man enduring every temptation and every trial we could ever possibly face. Yet He did not fall to any temptation and He overcame every trial, even the trial and suffering of death on the cross where He endured all of our sin. He was victorious over the cross through His resurrection and His ascension into heaven, where He sits as our High Priest. He cares for you. You can trust Him. That is the whole point of 1 Peter 5:6-7.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). You are to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand. Trust Him in all things. No matter what trials may beset you, trust God. Look to Jesus your High Priest and trust Him to see you through it. Do this and God will “exalt you in due time” (v. 6). He will give you the “crown of life” (James 1:12) because of your love for Him.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). When you trust God fully, as Peter instructed you in verse 6, you will cast all your burdens upon Him. Jesus cares for you. Hebrews 4:14-16 told us just that. Wherever you are, Jesus has been there. He understands, and He wants you to cast those cares upon Him. Give them to Him in prayer, and He will see you through it and give you the crown of life. Hebrews 4:16 concludes, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Do just that. Come to the “throne of grace” in prayer, and you will “obtain mercy,” and you will “find grace to help in time of need.”

That is how you cast your burdens upon Christ; through prayer and trust. Look to Jesus and He will help you through whatever it is you are going through at the time. Look to Jesus and He will give you the “crown of life” (James 1:12). Amen.