| June 4, 2000 |
Vol. III, No. 5
|
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit, through Peter, had convicted them of murdering the Son of God. All the righteousness of father Abraham could not expiate their guilt. Fleshly lineage failed them. Their law offered no pardon. It demanded the death penalty for murder. From pierced hearts they cried: “Brethren, what shall we do?” Was there any way of forgiveness?
There was! It would be found in “...a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). The Holy Spirit gives life to those dead in sin. Peter could offer the Spirit’s terms for a pardon giving spiritual life because: “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). Spiritual life cannot be separated from the Spirit who gives and sustains it, nor from God its creator. So when we, who were dead in sin, receive spiritual life we receive the Spirit who is given to all who obey, Acts 5:32. This is the promise of Acts 2:38.
How does the Spirit dwell in us? Notice some parallel statements. “The father lives in that boy!” No problem there, nor with Jesus’ statements that the Father dwells in him and he in the Father, and both Father and Son dwell in us, AND WE IN THEM (John 14:10-11, 20, 23; 1 John 3:24). A relationship is described that is so intimate that the attitude of mind and way of life characterizing the one are seen living in the other. How describe this better than by each “dwelling in” the other? So it is written: “...you are in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God really dwells in you” (Rom. 8:9).
Jesus had this intimate relationship because he spoke and did the Father’s will. Likewise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell in us when we do their will. As we become more like them they are seen to be “living in us” and we in them. From the beginning Christ set the perfect example in this.
Imperfect men must learn to walk in the Spirit, overcoming the flesh, Gal. 5:16-18. Our way of life must be changed “by the renewing” of our minds, so that we strive to be no longer conformed to the world, Rom. 12:1-2. This is always difficult, often painful. But to follow Jesus, the cross must be taken up, Matt. 16:24. This self denial enables the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and we in him. The gift of life is conditional upon our dwelling in the Spirit, and the Spirit in us.
With sins pardoned we receive “the earnest” of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5. Forgiveness of sins is God’s guarantee to us of eternal life. “Which is the guarantee (‘earnest,’ KJV) of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it” (Eph. 1:4). The forgiveness of sin is God’s down payment on his offer of eternal life. But to receive the eternal inheritance we must fulfill our part of the agreement by walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh, Gal. 5:16-18.
The Spirit brings power into our lives. Not the spectacular power of miracles so prized by men, which is not now given into their hands, but rather, if we will receive it, the power in the WORD. The Gospel is power! Rom. 1:16. God authorized the Spirit (John 16:13) to give into our hands this living power, Heb. 4:12, that can bring life and change our lives. The “indwelling” Spirit uses this power to change us into the likeness of the Lord of glory, 2 Cor. 3:17. Here is power invisible and beyond our understanding. But to be changed requires a voluntary surrender to the Spirit’s leadership. No “forced labor camps” here. Willingly we “make every effort” to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Pet. 1:5-7). We are told how to do this, and help is promised, 1 Cor. 10:13. In this fertile soil the fruit of the Spirit grows, beautifying our lives with holiness. What is more attractive than love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-24)? But this fruit is produced only with diligent, careful planning, guided by the word, cultivated and nurtured in the Spirit. Such fruit does not grow by itself.
Let us remember: Without the Holy Spirit we are dead even while we live, 1 Tim. 5:6.
--Foy Short via Christianity Magazine, May, 1996
Once when I was going to Columbus, Ohio, I stopped to eat in a restaurant and ordered a slice of watermelon. I took the seeds home with me to plant in my garden.
That night a thought came to my mind. How many watermelon seeds would it take to make a pound? The next day I weighed them and found that it would take about 5,000 dried seeds.
A few weeks later I planted just one of the little seeds. Under the influence of sunshine and shower, that little seed had taken off its coat and gone to work. It had gathered from somewhere two hundred thousand times its own weight and forced enormous weight through a tiny stem and built a watermelon. On the outside it had a covering of green and within that a rind of white and within that a core of red; and then it had scattered through the red many little seeds, each one capable of doing the same work over again.
What architect drew the plan? Where did the little watermelon seed get its strength? Where did it find its flavoring extract, and its coloring matter? How did it build a watermelon?
Until you can explain a watermelon, do not be too sure that you can set limits to the power of the Almighty. The most learned men in the world cannot explain the watermelon, but the most ignorant man can eat a watermelon and enjoy it. God has given us the knowledge necessary to use these things and the truth that He has revealed to us is infinitely more important for our welfare than it would be to understand the mysteries that He has seen fit to conceal from our faltering view.
--William Jennings Bryan
After discussing with the scribes, Pharisees, and His own disciples the subject of ceremonial washings and clean and unclean foods, “Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘True, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matt. 15:21-28).
There are several facts we might take note of as we consider this passage. First, bear in mind that Jesus’ earthly ministry was directed to the nation of Israel. It was to them that John the Baptist had been sent to prepare His way. It was among them that He preached, and sent His disciples to preach that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. It was they who had the Old Testament Scriptures, and thus a knowledge that a Messiah was coming. It was through their lineage He was to come -- so that He might bless all nations.
Though Jesus had come to minister to lost Israelites and lead them back to God, from time to time, He also reached out to others. His ministry had extended to the Samaritans, John 4:1-42. The Samaritans were a mixed race of people, part Israelite, part Gentile.
And this occasion in which Jesus goes to the Gentile cities of Tyre and Sidon is not the first time Jesus had ministered to Gentiles. He had earlier worked a marvelous miracle in the land of the Gergesenes, Matt. 8:28-34. It is logical to conclude that Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon specifically to minister to the inhabitants of those cities.
Why then would He answer the woman as He did when she requested help for her daughter? The answer is probably two-fold. First, note how His disciples assumed that she was a bother to Jesus as she undoubtedly was to them. After all, how long could they tolerate the begging of this disturbing Gentile? “Lord, send her away!” Remember that at that time, Jews had no dealings with Gentiles except when absolutely necessary, Acts 10:28. Perhaps Jesus approached this situation as He did so that the contrast between what His disciples expected to see and what they actually did see, might make an indelible impression on them.
But, perhaps, primarily, Jesus behaved as He did in order that this Gentile woman would have opportunity to manifest her great faith and her willingness to humble herself before the One she correctly recognized as the Jewish Messiah, the Son of David.
--CRJ