Sermon Series:
Five Words You Must Understand
1 Corinthians 14:19
Yet in the church I had rather speak
five words with
my understanding,
that by my voice I might teach others also,
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Part Twenty-three: John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you.”
Introduction:
On the old Daniels
and Webster program on ROCK107 we often heard from one Walter Nepasky. He would begin his commentary in his very
recognizable “Coal Cracker” dialect with either, “I'm Walter Nepasky
and today I wanna talk about tree tings.”, or “Hi.
My name is Walter Nepasky. How ya doin’? Today
I want to talk to you about tree tings.”
What if we had a modern Christian radio station —The Rock of Ages 316 — with a program
that began, “Hi, I’m Paul of Tarsus, and today I want to talk about five
words.”
The Apostle Paul wrote: Yet in the church I had rather
speak five words with my understanding,
that by my voice I might teach others also,
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.[1]
Paul follows up his introduction on The Rock of Ages 316 with his personal example — an extreme
preference framed as a mathematical proportion: 5 versus 10,000. This is Paul’s
“druthers”! This is when 5 is better
than 10,000!
If Paul were here, and you could pin him down to a
literal selection of five words, what do you think he would choose? “Gimme Five Paul!”
Before we get to a selection from the list of five word
Scripture passages that might be in Paul’s “in box” we should also consider how
Charles Haddon Spurgeon went even beyond Paul, perhaps due to “spiritual
inflation” in the intervening centuries!
“But the seed, though very small, was a living
thing. There is a great difference between a mustard seed and a piece of
wax of the same size. Life slumbers in that seed. What life is we cannot tell.
Even if you take a microscope you cannot spy it out. It is a mystery, but it is
essential to a seed. The Gospel has a something in it not readily discoverable
by the philosophical inquirer, if, indeed, he can perceive it at all. Take a
maxim of Socrates or of Plato, and inquire whether a nation or a tribe has ever
been transformed by it from barbarism to culture. A maxim of a philosopher may
have measurably influenced a person in some right direction, but who has ever
heard of a someone's whole character being transformed by any observation of
Confucius or Socrates? I confess I never have. Human teachings are barren. But
within the Gospel, with all its triteness and simplicity, there is a divine
life and that life makes all the difference. The human can never rival the
divine, for it lacks the life-fire. It is better to preach five words of God's Word than five million words
of human wisdom. Human words may seem to be the wiser and the more
attractive, but there is no heavenly life in them. Within God's Word, however
simple it may be, there dwells an omnipotence like that of God from whose lips
it came.”[2]
Note: The five word
statements from Scripture selected may not actually be five word statements
in either the Hebrew or Greek originals,
nor are they necessarily complete sentences or verses in English language translations
from the Hebrew and Greek, including the King James Version which is the source translation for the
statements. Nevertheless, they were
selected for the fundamental truths and span of doctrine that they
present. The current list of 36 examples
is not intended to be comprehensive, and may easily be expanded or
consolidated.
The 36 selections are categorized under the following
four headings:
The Person of Christ — The Redeemer
The Work of Christ (as Prophet, Priest and King) —
Redemption Accomplished
The Salvation of Christ — Redemption Applied
The Return of Christ — Redemption Revealed
The advantage of short simple sentences like these is
that they are easy to remember. There is little or no danger of our failing to
see the forest for the trees! May these words ring in our ears, resonate in our
minds, and abide in our memories.
Now for one of the possible
selections from Paul’s “in box”:
The five word statement to be considered on this occasion, “Peace I
leave with you,” falls under the third of these four headings, The
Salvation of Christ — Redemption Applied.
Outline:
I. The Nature of the Peace
II. The Means of the Gift — I leave
III. The Effect of the Receipt — with you
Transition:
Some refer to only seven Discourses in John’s Gospel:
1. The New Birth (3:1–36)
2. The Water of Life (4:1–42)
3. The Divine Son (5:17–47)
4. The Bread of Life (6:35–58)
5. The Life-Giving Spirit (7:16–52)
6. The Light of the World (8:12–59)
7. The Good Shepherd (10:1–18)
What about the Upper Room Discourse in 13-17?
Note: Some would limit this discourse to 14-17, or 14-16.
This discourse is unique among the Four Gospels in the
New Testament. The only parallels are found in the Synoptic Gospels to the
content in John 13 surrounding the “Last Supper.”
The statement at the end of chapter 16 may be considered
the conclusion of the Upper Room Discourse “proper,” since Christ then enters
into His great prayer as the Priest of priests, and the High Priest of the high
priests. With these concluding words in 16:33 he gives the disciples the reason
for the discourse, and reason for “good cheer” in the face of tribulation from
the world. The reason for the discourse is that they might have peace. The
basis for “good cheer” in spite of tribulation lies in His pronouncement, “I
have overcome the world.” This statement, by the way, was the subject for a
previous sermon in this series.[3]
From
the preceding contexts:
1 Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And
whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Christ is leaving. It is important for our sakes that He
do so. He will come again. What He is doing in the interim is for us, and will
be for our eternal blessing. However, the fact remains that as this chapter
begins, as the “discourse” proper begins, a note is struck concerning His
departure and their separation from Him.
16 And I will pray the Father, and
he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will
not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
This separation, however, will not be total. Nor will it
be void of provision for us. Another member of the Trinity will take up
residence within us, and this residence will be permanent.
The immediate
context:
25
These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet
present with you. 26 But
the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye
have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I
go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come
to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with
you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love
the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us
go hence.
I. The Nature of the Peace
The word “peace” only occurs five times in John’s Gospel:
here and in 16:33 in the Upper Room Discourse, and three times in John 20 (vv.
19, 21, and 26).
The three-fold repetition of “Peace be unto you” is found in the accounts of two post resurrection
episodes in John 20. One of these has a significant parallel in Luke 24:33-49.
Jn. 20:19, 21, 26 — 19 Then
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus
and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.…21 Then
said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath
sent me, even so send I you….26 And after eight days again his disciples were
within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and
stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Lk. 24:36 — And as they thus spake, Jesus
himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you.
Cp. also Mt. 8:26 (23-27; pp. Mk. 4:35-4; Lk.
8:22-25; Mt. 14:22-33; Mk. 6:45-52; Jn. 6:16-21)
1. His Presence
2. His Power
3. His Promise
Some suggestions for inclusion in a Biblical theology of
“Peace”:
The greatest
blessing in the Mosaic Covenant
Num. 6:24-26 — 23 Speak
unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children
of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The
LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The
LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And
they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Ps. 29:11 — The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his
people with peace.
The Promise of
peace
Hag. 2:9 — The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the
former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the
LORD of hosts.
The Prince of
Peace
Is. 9:6-7 — 6 For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the
increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne
of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will perform this.
The Gospel of
Peace
Is. 52:7 — How beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that
publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Is. 54:13 — And
all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be
the peace of thy children.
Is. 57:19 — I
create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and
to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
The Covenant of
Peace
Ezek. 37:26 — Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an
everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and
will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
The announcement
of peace at this birth
Lk. 1:79 — To
give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the way of peace.
Lk. 2:14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.
He is the Prince of Peace.
The Word of Christ
as the source of peace
Jn. 16:33 — These things I have
spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The preaching of
peace in the New Covenant
Ac. 10:36 — The
word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by
Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
The Pauline
doctrine of peace
Rom. 5:1 — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom. 14:17 — For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness,
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Eph. 2:14-17 — 14 For he
is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us; 15 Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even
the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto
God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And
came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Reconcilation - the fruit, the end result, the eternal
effect[4]
The “Shalom” of the Lord Jesus Christ
Some good study Bible notes on the significance of this
verse (John 14:27):
New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), pg. 1692.
ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 2053.
The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), pg.
1614.
“Peace, peace where there is no peace!”
II. The Character of the Gift — I leave
This is His bequest.
This is His “Last Will and Testament.”
This is our inheritance.
III. The Effect of the Receipt — with you
There can be no peace with the world, the flesh and the
Devil!
There can be no peace with the lust of the eyes, the lust
of the flesh, and the pride of life!
Our spiritual warfare can neither rob us of our
inheritance, nor undo it!
Conclusion:
Col. 3:15 — And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to
the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Phil. 4:7 — And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.
Peace. Perfect Peace. His Peace. And now our peace.
Forever.
May these words ring in our ears, resonate in our minds,
and abide in our memories.
2 Th. 3:16 — Now
the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be
with you all.
[Sermon preached 19 JUL 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack”
Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]
O my soul, with
wonder tell
William Gadsby[5]
Meter: 7s.[6]
“My peace I give unto you.”
John 14:27; Ephesians 2:14
|
1 O my soul, with wonder tell,
Jesus has done all things well;
And, through his atoning blood,
I’ve a settled peace with God.
2 He bequeathed his peace to me,
As a gift divinely free;
And it is his righteous will,
That my soul in peace shall dwell.
3 [Love to such vile worms as I,
Brought the Saviour from the sky;
Every foe for them to quell,
Jesus conquered death and hell.]
4 [Gifts like this, so full and free,
Stand as firm as Deity;
God has sworn, nor can he lie,
It shall last eternally.]
5 Justice, mercy, truth, and love,
Every attribute of God,
Join to make this peace secure,
And it must and shall endure.
6 What a solid basis this!
Such a peace can never miss,
But produce a grateful mind,
To a God so vastly kind.
7 [Mourning souls who feel the smart
Of a guilty, treacherous heart,
And with mighty care and pain,
Struggle hard relief to gain;
8 Labour hard you may, and long,
But you’ll find your foes too strong;
Solid peace can ne’er be had,
Only through a Saviour’s blood.]
9 Jesus, mighty Prince of Peace,
Now proclaim a full release;
Set poor captive sinners free;
Give them solid peace in thee.
|
Appendix 1: Reconciliation
This, in my humble opinion, is one of the most
significant, and yet most neglected doctrines involving our salvation.
It also, has benefited from far fewer published works
than either justification or sanctification.
Why do you think that is?
Yet it is the most significant of the soteriological
doctrines since it is the capstone and the summation of them all.
“…this one term is sufficiently broad as an ‘umbrella’
idea to accommodate the leading aspects of Paul’s main thinking…”[7]
Even those who disagree with this assessment, e.g.,
Thomas Schreiner, must be seen as inconsistent when in their very arguments
against the centrality of this doctrine lies the proof of it.
“reconcile” - Eph. 2:16 (2:11-22); and Col. 1:20 (1:20-21).
“reconciled” - Rom. 5:10 (5:1-11); 2 Cor. 5:18, 20
(5:17-21); and Col. 1:21 (1:20-21)
cp. Mt. 5:24; and 1 Cor. 7:11.
“reconciliation” - 2 Cor. 5:18, 19 (17-21); and Heb.
2:17.
cp. Lev. 8:15; 2 Chr. 29:24; Ezek. 45:15, 17; and Dan.
9:24.
Contexts where reconciliation is taught either assume or
explicate the conditions that persist in the absence of reconciliation: 1) a
state of alienation or separation involving distancing, 2) the absence of peace
understood as a state of war between enemies, 3) hatred rather than love, 4)
broken relationships or barriers and breaches between persons due to offenses.
Contexts where the following are found assume whether
explicated or not, the reality of reconciliation: 1) the removal of alienation and a drawing
near, 2) the state of peace between former enemies, 3) love where hatred once
existed, and, 4) the healing of relationships,
the removal of barriers, the mending of breaches, or the removal of
offenses.
1. Vertical
Reconciliation: Rom. 5:1-11 (5:10) - “I will be their God…”
Rom. 5:1-11 - 1 Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only
so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And
patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And
hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For
when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:
yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much
more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies,
we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his
life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
we have now received the atonement.
2 Cor. 5:17-21 - 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things
are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled
us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath
committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21
For he hath made him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Is it doctrinally
correct to sing “My God is reconciled…”?[8]
What about:
“Sinners, rejoice: your peace is made;
Your Savior on the cross hath bled:
Your God, in Jesus reconciled,
On all His works again hath smiled;
Hath grace through Him and blessing
giv’n,
To all in earth and all in Heav’n.”[9]
Or:
“Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!””[10]
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!””[10]
When this issue is raised, of whether God needed to be
reconciled or not, due to the emphasis in the New Testament where this doctrine
is taught, or when it is explicitly denied,[11]
I simply ask, “Was there wrath that needed to be propitiated?”[12],
and, “Were we not ‘by nature the children of wrath, even as others’?”[13]
I would also point out that reconciliation always
involves two parties, and is explicitly spoken of in Scripture as the making of
one, or unity, two previously estranged parties. See, for example, Eph.
2:15. Making reconciliation is,
therefore, never a one-sided affair, even in this case, when the actual
accomplishment of the reconciliation is achieved by only one of the parties
involved.
This might be viewed another way to make this point quite
clear.
I see a man in a garden:
Lk. 22:44 - And
being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great
drops of blood falling down to the ground.
I hear a man on a cross:
Mt. 27:46 - And
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Please do not judge me for singing Wesley’s hymn
heartily, fervently, and with tears! I will be in good company when I do so![14]
The essence of the
great covenantal promise in Scripture, i.e., the “end game” is:
2 Cor. 6:16 - And
what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the
living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their
God, and they shall be my people.
[Ezek. 37:27 - My
tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.]
Heb. 8:10 - For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those
days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in
their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Rev. 21:3 - And I heard a great voice out of heaven
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their
God.
“I will be their God…” - Is. 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall
give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall
call his name Immanuel.
2. Horizontal
Reconciliation: Eph. 2:11-22 (2:16) - “…and they shall be my people”
Eph. 2:11-22 - 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision
in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at
that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off
are made nigh
by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace,
who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in
himself of twain one new man, so
making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile
both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off,
and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access
by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household
of God; 20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all
the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye
also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Jn. 17:20-23 - 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also
may be one
in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given
them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the
world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved
me.
What does
reconciliation look like on the horizontal plane?
1.
In our homes?
2.
In our marriages?
3.
In our churches?
4.
On our jobs?
5.
In our neighborhoods?
6.
With other races?
7.
With citizens of other nations?
“…and they shall
be my people”
3. Cosmic or
Universal Reconciliation: Col. 1:20-22
20 And, having made peace through the
blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated
and enemies
in your mind by wicked works, yet now
hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col. 1:15-20 = early Christian hymn?
Climax = vs. 20
Present application/first fruits = vss. 21-22
“Peace, if it is to exist at all, must be all embracing.”[15]
1) The Identity of the Prince of Peace - Is. 9:6
Is. 9:2-7 - 2 The
people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy
before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when
they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast
broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his
oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For
every battle of the warrior is with
confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and
fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child
is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of
the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne
of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will perform this.
2) The Announcement of Peace at the First Advent
of the Prince of Peace - Lk. 2:14
Lk. 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.
Contrast:
Mt. 10:34 - Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not
to send peace, but a sword.
Lk. 12:51 - Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I
tell you, Nay; but rather division:
3) The Promise of Peace from the Prince of Peace
- Jn. 14:27
Jn. 14:27 - Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Cosmic or
Universal Reconciliation (Col. 1:20; 2 Cor. 5:19) is directly connected in
Scripture to (embraces) the following:
(1) Adoption - Rom. 8:22-23
22 For we
know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until
now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
(2) Redemption - Rom. 8:23
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption, to wit, the redemption
of our body.
(3) Glorification - Rom. 8:17-21
17 And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that
we suffer with him, that we may be
also glorified
together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the
creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity,
not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the
creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.
(4) Regeneration - Tit. 3:5; 2
Cor. 5:17; Mt. 19:28
Tit. 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost;
2 Cor. 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Mt. 19:28 - And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye
which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the
throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
(5) Resurrection - 1 Cor.
15:24-28; Rom. 5:9-10
Rom. 5:9-10 - 9 Much
more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his
life.
1 Cor. 15:24-28 - 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and
power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all
enemies
under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his
feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things
under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued
unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all
things under him, that God may be all in all.
4) The Reality of Reconciliation as Pacification
Col. 1:20 - And, having made peace through the blood of his
cross, by him to reconcile all things
unto himself; by him, I say, whether they
be things in earth, or things in heaven.
What about “things under
the earth”?
Phil. 2:10 - That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth;
Rev. 5:3, 13 - 3 And
no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the
book, neither to look thereon….13 And every creature which is in
heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and
all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and
power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for
ever and ever.
1 Cor. 15:24-28 - 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down
all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must
reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But
when he saith, all things are put under him,
it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him,
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under
him, that God may be all in all.
The audio-visual history of the final phase of
reconciliation as pacification may be viewed and heard in Rev. 19-20.
“Peace, if it is to exist at all, must be all embracing.”[16]
“Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5)
Reconciliation
~ The Great Exchange ~
My God is Reconciled, His Pardoning Voice I Hear!
“Peace on
earth, good will to men!”
“God with
us”
“My peace I
give unto you”
“all things
are become new”
“Be ye
reconciled to God!”
|
God
|
Christ
|
Man
|
|
Loves
|
Incarnation
|
Enemy/Hates God
|
|
Wrath
|
Sacrifice
|
Sin
|
|
Propitiated
|
Atonement
|
Condemned
|
|
Reconciled
|
|
|
|
Justifies
|
Double Imputation
|
Ungodly
|
|
|
|
Justified/Righteous
|
|
|
Redemption
|
Adopted:
Status
|
|
|
|
Sanctified
|
|
|
|
Regenerated
|
|
|
|
Faith & Repentance
|
|
|
Peace
|
Peace with God
|
|
|
Resurrection
|
Glorified/Resurrected
|
|
|
Reconciliation
|
Adopted: Inheritance
|
“Behold, I
make all things new”
“I will be
their God, and they shall be My People.”
Conclusion
“To
say that Paul is unintelligible, or that he presents Christianity in a way
which does it every kind of injustice and is finally unacceptable to us, is to
fly in the face of history and experience. There have always been people who
found Paul intelligible and accepted the gospel as he preached it. There are
such people still, if not in theological class rooms, then in mission halls, at
street corners, in lonely rooms. It is not historical scholarship that is
wanted for the understanding of him, and neither is it the insight of genius:
it is despair. Paul did not preach for scholars, nor even for philosophers; he
preached for sinners. He had no gospel except for men whose mouths were
stopped, and who were standing condemned at the bar of God. They understood
him, and they find him eminently intelligible still. When a man has the
simplicity to say, with Dr. Chalmers, “What could I do if God did not justify
the ungodly?” he has the key to the Pauline gospel of reconciliation in his hand.”
- James
Denney, The Christian Doctrine of
Reconciliation: The Cunningham Lectures for 1917 (London: Hodder and
Stoughton, 1917), pp.179-180.
“Reconciliation is, then, the great positive enactment of
the divine love. It is the fulfillment
of the divine love in its out-pouring upon man and its completion in achieving
the gathering up or assumption of man into the embrace of divine love.”
- Thomas F.
Torrance, Atonement: The Person and Work
of Christ, ed. Robert T. Walker (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
2009), pg. 147.
Many are currently debating over the related emphases in
the Gospel of indicative and imperative, or the proclamation of Christ’s
historical accomplishments for us versus the commands to us by way of response
to this Good News.
There is no command in the Gospel to be justified. There is not command in the Gospel to be
sanctified. There is a command to
believe in Christ, and also a command to repent of sin. Coordinated with these commands to believe
and repent, however, and presented as a summary of what we are about in the
Gospel ministry, is the all-encompassing, over-arching command to be reconciled
to God.
The most important words that will ever come out of your
mouth to another human being this side of glory are, “Be reconciled to God!”
If you ever wonder what reconciliation looks like go back
and read Revelation 21-22. Point your
finger to Christ, and then to his finished work of conquest and recreation in
the New Heavens and New Earth. That is
reconciliation! Nothing else and nothing
less will satisfy either the command of God or the revelation of God concerning
this doctrine in His Word! Until that
great day the command goes forth, “Be ye reconciled to God!”
“Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.”[17]
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.”[17]
Justification,
Sanctification and Reconciliation, Session 3: Reconciliation[18]
by John T. Jeffery
Copyright 2014 by
John T. Jeffery.
All rights
reserved.
The use of
excerpts or reproduction of this material is prohibited
without written
permission from the author.
Contact
information for the author:
Email to waysidegospelchapel@yahoo.com
End Notes:
[1] 1 Corinthians 14:19.
[2] Charles H. Spurgeon,
“The Mustard Seed: A Sermon for the Sabbath-School Teacher” (Lk.
13:18-19), Sermon No. 2110, delivered 20
OCT 1889, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, U.K.; in Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 35
(1889), pp. 565ff.; in Charles H. Spurgeon, The Parables of Our Lord (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2003), pg. 707; and
on The Spurgeon Archive at http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/2110.htm [accessed 23 DEC 2014].
[3] Part 13, 13 MAY 2012.
[4] See Appendix: Reconciliation.
[5] In William Gadsby, A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship (London: Gospel Standard
Publications, 1987; also, n.p.: Gospel Standard Trust Publications, 2000), pp.
450-451, hymn #594.
[6] Tunes with this meter
include: Aletta, Crucis Milites, Easter
Hymn, Mercy, Monkland, Savannah, Seymour, and Vienna. Seymour is the most well know since hymns such as “Depth of Mercy!
Can There Be,” “Come, My Soul, Your Plea Prepare,” and “Softly Now the Light of
Day” have been set to it.
[7] Ralph P. Martin, Reconciliation: A Study of Paul’s Theology,
in New Foundations Theological Library,
gen. ed. Peter Toon (Atlanta: John Knox
Press, 1981; also Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989; and Eugene, OR: Wipf &
Stock, 1997), s.v. “Preface”.
[8] Charles Wesley, “Arise, My Soul, Arise”, in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742); on Cyber Hymnal at http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/r/arisemys.htm [accessed 26 FEB 2014]. On this issue see esp.: James Denney, The Christian Doctrine of Reconciliation: The Cunningham Lectures for
1917 (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1917), pp. 236-239; and Thomas F.
Torrance, Atonement: The Person and Work
of Christ, ed. Robert T. Walker (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
2009), pp. 146, 149.
[9] “Sinners, rejoice: your peace is made”, by John and
Charles Wesley, in Hymns for Ascension (1762);
on Cyber Hymnal at http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/r/srypisma.htm [accessed 26
FEB 2014].
[10] Charles Wesley, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739); on Cyber Hymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/h/a/hhangels.htm
[accessed 26 FEB 2014].
[11] E.g., “God
is never said to be reconciled to man, but man to God since it is man’s
sinfulness which creates the enmity…” Clarence
B. Bass, “Reconciliation”, in The
Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, gen ed. Merrill C. Tenney, rev. ed.
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963, 1964, 1967), pg. 708.
[12] Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 2:2;
4:10.
[13] Eph. 2:3. See also Rom. 5:9 and 1 Th. 1:10.
[14] See, for example, Charles H. Spurgeon, “Joy In A
Reconciled God” (Rom. 5:11), Sermon #1045, preached 7 APR 1872 at the
Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, U.K.; Metropolitan
Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 18
http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols16-18/chs1045.pdf [accessed 26 FEB 2014].
[15] Hartmut Beck and Colin Brown, “Peace”, in The New International Dictionary of New
Testament Theology, gen. ed. Colin Brown, English ed. (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1978; trans. from Germ. original, Theologisches Begriffslexikon Zum Neuen
Testament, 1971 by Theologischer Verlag Rolf Brockhaus, Wuppertal), 2:781.
[16] Ibid.
[17] Charles Wesley, “Arise,
My Soul, Arise”, op. cit.
[18] Presented 26 FEB 2014 at
Faith Baptist Fellowship Church (1397 Easton
Turnpike, Lake Ariel, PA 18436) as part of Justification, Sanctification and Reconciliation: A Conference
Introducing Three of the Great Doctrines Concerning the Salvation of Sinners.
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