Tuesday, February 11, 2014
2014 John Bunyan Conference
Information concerning the speakers and topics for the 2014 John Bunyan Conference, along with links for downloadable schedules and registration forms, and contact information are now available on the Sound of Grace/New Covenant Media web site conference page at http://www.sogncm.org/pages/events/2014-john-bunyan-conference/ [accessed 11 FEB 2014].
Monday, February 10, 2014
Pastor's Sermon Notes: Double Vision - Cornelius in Caesarea and Peter in Joppa (Acts 10:1-23)
Double Vision: Cornelius in Caesarea and Peter in
Joppa
Acts 10:1-23
1
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the
band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared
God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God
alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the
day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he
said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before
God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose
surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house
is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of
his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him
continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them,
he sent them to Joppa. 9 On
the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter
went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he
became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell
into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel
descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and
let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts
of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But
Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or
unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What
God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was
received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself
what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent
from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged
there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto
him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee
down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and
said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God,
and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an
holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with
them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Introduction:
At the end of chapter nine we left the Apostle Peter in
the house of Simon the Tanner in Joppa where he had performed a miracle of
resuscitation of the dead after traveling from Jerusalem and performing a
previous miracle of healing in Lydda.
This set the stage for a further movement geographically and
miraculously to open the door to the Gentiles, and to usher in the third and
final major movement in The Acts of the
Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles (Acts 1:8).
Outline:
I. The Vision of Cornelius in Caesarea (10:1-8)
II. The Vision of Peter in Joppa (10:9-16)
III. The Connection
Between Peter and Cornelius Established (10:17-23)
Transition:
There is miraculous electricity in the air on the coast
of Israel. A positive visionary terminal
presents itself first in Caesarea. Then a negative visionary terminal is
established to the south in Joppa.
Finally a connection is successfully established between them in order
for the fireworks to begin!
I. The Vision
of Cornelius in Caesarea (10:1-8)
1
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the
band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared
God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God
alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the
day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he
said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname
is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by
the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And
when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his
household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him
continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them,
he sent them to Joppa.
1. The Identification
of Cornelius (10:1-2)
2. The Vision
to Cornelius (10:3-6)
3. The Delegation
from Cornelius (10:7-8)
This is the “positive terminal”, the positive vision, in
this connection that is to be made.
1. The Identification
of Cornelius (10:1-2)
1
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the
band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared
God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God
alway.
1) His military profession
2) His exemplary devotion
See also verse 22!
Cornelius is in every respect the perfect choice, made by God, to be a
bridgehead for the Gospel of the New Covenant by the Apostles to the Gentiles.
Cornelius is a believer, a believing Gentile, or
“God-fearer”, and an “Old Testament saint”.
Cornelius must not be thought of as unregenerate, or
unconverted.
Cornelius must not be thought of as carnal, or
unspiritual.
Cornelius must be considered in the same light as the
Ethiopian eunuch, the 3,000 who responded to the preaching on the Day of
Pentecost, Anna, Simeon, etc. All of
them looked for the Messiah, since they believed their Bibles, the Law and the
Prophets, or what we refer to as the Old Testament. Each of them just needed to hear the Gospel of
the New Covenant, the Good News proclaiming the Advent, Death, Burial,
Resurrection and Ascension of the Messianic King in order to be baptized into
the Body of Christ.
2. The Vision
to Cornelius (10:3-6)
3 He saw in a vision evidently
about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying
unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and
said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are
come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and
call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one
Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou
oughtest to do.
Here is an amazing thing that should grip our hearts!
This has never been revealed to us by an angelic vision,
but is it true of us nevertheless?
3. The Delegation
from Cornelius (10:7-8)
7 And when the angel which spake
unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a
devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he
had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
II. The Vision
of Peter in Joppa (10:9-16)
9 On
the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter
went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he
became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell
into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel
descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and
let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted
beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the
air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common
or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time,
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was
received up again into heaven.
1. The Context
of Peter’s Vision (10:9-10)
2. The Content
of Peter’s Vision (10:11-12)
3. The Conversation
of Peter’s Vision (10:13-15)
4. The Conclusion
of Peter’s Vision (10:16)
This is the
“negative terminal”, the negative vision in the connection that God is
establishing.
There are
actually two negatives in the account of this vision. Wait for it!
1. The Context
of Peter’s Vision (10:9-10)
9 On
the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter
went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he
became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell
into a trance,
2. The Content
of Peter’s Vision (10:11-12)
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel
descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and
let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted
beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the
air.
3. The Conversation
of Peter’s Vision (10:13-15)
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter;
kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never
eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake
unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou
common.
See Romans
14:14! This is the entire point of the
vision. It does not have primary reference to food items, although the removal
of the Mosaic Law’s dietary restrictions is a reality.
4. The Conclusion
of Peter’s Vision (10:16)
This
was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
III. The
Connection Between Peter and Cornelius Established (10:17-23)
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this
vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from
Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged
there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto
him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee
down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and
said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and
of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy
angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with
them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
1. The Arrival
of the Delegation (10:17-18)
2. The Announcement
of the Delegation (10:19-20)
3. The Anecdote
of the Delegation (10:21-22)
4. The Accompaniment
of the Delegation (10:23)
1. The Arrival
of the Delegation (10:17-18)
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this
vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from
Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged
there.
2. The Announcement
of the Delegation (10:19-20)
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the
Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go
with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
3. The Anecdote
of the Delegation (10:21-22)
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were
sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is
the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the
centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all
the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee
into his house, and to hear words of thee.
4. The Accompaniment
of the Delegation (10:23)
Then
called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with
them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Conclusion:
I. The Vision of
Cornelius in Caesarea (10:1-8)
1. The Identification of Cornelius
(10:1-2)
2. The Vision to Cornelius (10:3-6)
3. The Delegation from Cornelius (10:7-8)
II. The Vision of
Peter in Joppa (10:9-16)
1. The Context of Peter’s Vision
(10:9-10)
2. The Content of Peter’s Vision
(10:11-12)
3. The Conversation of Peter’s Vision
(10:13-15)
4. The Conclusion of Peter’s Vision
(10:16)
III. The Connection Between Peter and
Cornelius Established (10:17-23)
1. The Arrival of the Delegation
(10:17-18)
2. The Announcement of the Delegation
(10:19-20)
3. The Anecdote of the Delegation
(10:21-22)
4. The Accompaniment of the Delegation
(10:23)
[Sermon preached 2
FEB 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old
Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W.
Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The
Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd
ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary,
Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries,
gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching,
series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville,
KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Pastor's Sermon Notes: Metaphors of Ministry - A Charge to the Pastor (1 Cor. 3:5-17)
Pastor Bill Schneider’s Installation Service
Faith
Baptist Fellowship Church
Lake Ariel,
Pennsylvania
January 26,
2014
Metaphors for Ministry: A Charge to the Pastor
1
Corinthians 3:5-17
Note: The audio file linked here is for the entire Installation Service from the Faith Baptist Fellowship Church site at http://faithbaptistfellowshipch.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=51 [accessed 15 FEB 2014]. Pastor Nate Osborne's "Charge to the Congregation" is also included.
Introduction
Possibilities for a charge to a pastor:
From the Old Testament:
1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 6 - King Solomon’s Dedication
Prayer for the Temple
From the Gospels:
John 21:15-19 - Christ’s command to Peter to feed His
sheep
From Acts:
Acts 20 - Paul’s parting sermon to the Ephesian elders
From the Epistles:
Paul’s Pastoral Epistles - many portions!
Pastoral Pictures: “Metaphors for Ministry”
Shepherd
Farmer
Soldier
Builder
Athlete
Fisherman
Parent
The Divine Pattern in Christ: The “Pastor of pastors”
The Son of God is the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23: John 10).
The Son of God is the original Gardener (Genesis 2:8).
The Son of God is the triumphant Warrior (Psalm 24;
Revelation 19).
The Son of God is the great Architect (Hebrews 3:1-6;
11:10).
The Son of God exercises Himself showing Himself strong
on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 89).
The Son of God doesn’t just catch fish, but men, sometimes
with great fish (Jonah 1:17), and other times coins with his fish (Matthew
17:27).
The Son of God is the Everlasting Father in more than
just the physical sense as the Creator of all, but of a spiritual family
birthed and nurtured by His Spirit (Isaiah 9:6).
The Pastor Patterned After Christ: A “Man of Many Hats”
The Christian undershepherd is a sheep in the flock of
the Good Shepherd.
The Christian builder is part of the building the Great
Architect is constructing.
The Christian sower has been planted, and watered and
caused to grow by the Divine Gardener.
The Christian fisherman is also a fish who has been
caught in the Master Fisherman’s net.
The spiritual parent has also been born spiritually, and
matured from a spiritual child as one of the adopted children in the family of the
Everlasting Father.
The Christian soldier is a victor who has been liberated
warring on in battles of a war already won by the Captain of the hosts of
heaven (Joshua 5:14-15).
The Christian athlete runs in a race his Forerunner has
run before him and won (Hebrews 6:20; 12:1-3).
Transition:
There are times in the Scriptures when we find these
metaphors “mixed”. God, in His Word,
supernaturally inspired the human authors at times to move naturally from one
metaphor into another to develop the intended truths.
1 Corinthians 3:5-17 is one such passage in Scripture,
that we might refer to as presenting “Mixed Metaphors for Ministry”. There are two metaphors or patterns for
ministry intentionally developed here with connections between them that
provide answers to the following questions:
1. Who are you as
a pastor? Who are you?
2. What are you
doing as a pastor? What are you doing?
3. Why are you
doing it that way as a pastor? Why are
you doing it that way?
1. The First
Metaphor: The Farmer and the Three
Phases of Farming (3:5-8)
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye
believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that
watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man
shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.[1]
The Planter
|
The Waterer
|
Significance
|
What God Does
|
Who then is Paul
|
and who is
Apollos
|
but ministers
|
by whom ye
believed
even as the Lord
gave to every man?
|
I have planted
|
Apollos watered
|
but God gave the
increase
|
|
So then neither
is he that planteth
|
neither he that
watereth
|
any thing
|
but God that
giveth the increase
|
Now he that
planteth
|
and he that
watereth
|
are one
|
and every man
shall receive his own reward according to his own labour
|
This passage was
written due to a very negative situation that existed with sinful factions in
the early Church. It was as if certain
groups were campaigning with slogans like, “I’m with Jack!” and “I’m with
Bill!”, and “I’m with whoever!” Let us
turn it around for our profit even where that may not be the issue here and
now. Not that such factionalism and
party spirit is not an issue in our day, but let’s just stand the passage on
its head as it were, for what it tells us positively about those who are in a
similar position as Peter and Paul and Apollos were in those early days.
Here we have,
simply put, Paul the planter, Willy (Apollos’ nickname) the waterer, and God
the grower.
3:5 - Planting
and watering = ministry. Those who plant
and water serve God.
3:5-6 - Belief =
increase. God gives faith.
3:7 - Planter and
Waterer = nothing. God is everything.
3:8 - Planter and
Waterer = one (same). God gives rewards
equitably.
“What harvest
would have sprung up from the labour of the two workers without the life which
God alone could give?”[2]
Who are you as a
pastor?
2. The Shift
of Metaphors: The Second Metaphor
Introduced (3:9)
Now the Metaphor Shifts!
If you pay close attention you may notice that there are
direct correlations or parallels between these two metaphors that may help us
to understand how the great Apostle uses them to make his point and to develop
his argument to the Corinthians on the issues at hand.
“His language
bears a strong resemblance to Jer 1:10 which has both farm and construction
language as metaphors for Jeremiah’s prophetic preaching:
See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and to tear down,
to destroy and overthrow,
to build and to plant.”[3]
3. The
Second Metaphor: The First Two Phases of
Building (3:10-11)
10 According to the grace of God
which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder,[4] I
have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take
heed how he buildeth thereupon.
This Building Has
Only One Foundation!
Here we see the pastor as Bob the Builder!
On the one hand:
Christ is the Builder - And I say also unto thee, That
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. (Mt. 16:18)
cp. Heb. 3:1-6 - 1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the
heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was
faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than
Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the
house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things
is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a
testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son
over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Abraham “…looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb. 11:10)
cp. 1 Pet. 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
On the other hand:
we are labourers
together with God (3:9) in his husbandry,
and even so we are builders together with God in His building.
“The building is building the building!” Is this what we
are confronted with here?
Build for the Master and with the Great Architect.
“Here appears
Paul’s first imperative of the letter (apart from the Jeremiah quote in 1:31). But each one should be careful how he
builds.”[6]
Christ is the Builder, and He is also the Foundation.
The Foundation is
a Person.
This is true of
every local church, and of the Church universal.
The building must
be consistent with the Foundation.
Build on the Rock - Mt. 7:24-26 -
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his
house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built
his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was
the fall of it.
All else is sand that will bring the building down.
The wise man in the parable has a great deal in common
with Paul the wise masterbuilder!
That which is founded on Christ will never come down come
what may!
What are you doing as a pastor?
4. The
Second Metaphor: The Third Phase of
Building (3:12-15)
I mentioned previously in passing something about the
parallels between the phases of the metaphors.
There are correlations between the various stages and roles found in
each.
The First Metaphor: Agriculture
3:5-8
|
The Second Metaphor: Building Construction
3:9-15
|
Phase 1: Planting
(or Sowing)
|
Phase 1: Laying
the Foundation
|
Phase 2: Watering
(or Nurturing)
|
Phase 2: Building
on the Foundation
|
Phase 3: Increasing
(or Growing)
|
Phase 3: Judging
(or Purifying)
|
You may reflect on similar parallels to both in John 15
with another closely related metaphor, that of the Vine and the branches, the
fruit produced by the vital branches and the burning of the branches with no
life of the Vine in them!
The Final Inspection of this building is by Fire.
This is a precious
building! It must be built with precious
materials!
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's
work of what sort it is.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The “work” is people!
Do you think that God cares about gold and silver, or precious stones as
opposed to wood, hay and stubble? Do you
really recognize a metaphor when you see one?
Is that what this is about?
No! What will be burned is
people! What will be preserved is
people. People are God’s precious and
valued “building materials”! People are
what God rejects and burns when they reject His Son and go into eternity as
unrepentant sinners unwashed in the blood of the Lamb. This is about people! It is all about what God the great Builder is
doing through people, with people and to people!
This building is not just constructed according to San
Francisco building codes to be earthquake proof so that it can endure shaking.
Nor is it merely designed to withstood tsunamis like
those that struck Japan or Indonesia so that it may go through the deep waters.
This must be a “fireproof” building!
No perishable construction materials are authorized in
this building!
No. This must be a
“fireproof” building!
No perishable construction materials are authorized in
this building!
Build to endure the fires of God’s judgment, and to pass
through as precious stones.
Build according to His building code, and to pass His
final inspection.
A converted membership is not enough. A truly regenerate membership is called for.
You must be born
again or you will burn!
Do not add them
to the “church” unless and until they come to Christ!
Do not pad the
membership with “almost” Christians!
Insist on a
visible connection to the foundation in every part of the building!
Never lose sight
of where you have come from and what you are connected to!
The Church is not
a mortuary!
The Church is not
a “firetrap”!
Jude 20-23 - 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves
on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the
love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with
fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh.
The thought
introduced in verses 12-15 leads directly to what Paul introduces next due to
the connection to 1 Kings 5-6; 1 Chronicles 22 and 29; 2 Chronicles 3-4, and
Malachi 3-4 in the Old Testament.[7]
The next two
verses should help us to understand why this fiery purification and final
inspection is required. This next
development by the Apostle Paul takes us beyond metaphors.
Why are you doing it that way as a pastor?
5. The
Reason for the Third Phase of Building: This is no Metaphor!
(3:16-17)
This is not just
any building!
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the
temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.[8]
This is the the Temple of the Lord!
This is the dwelling place of the Spirit of God!
This is a holy place!
Build the Temple!
And build it God’s way because it is His Temple!
Consider for a moment a pair of questions asked by God
through the Prophet Isaiah:
Is. 66:1 - Thus
saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where
is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
This question from God to Isaiah and through him to
Israel echoes down through the ages. It
sounds forth from glory in our ears this day.
These questions from the King of Glory on his throne in the heavenlies
demands an answer. God’s questions here are
not rhetorical, as if a negative answer would suffice to either or both. There is an answer, and the answer to both
questions is the same.
cp. Zech. 6:12-13 - 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh
the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he
shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13
Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and
shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne:
and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
The King of kings and Lord of Lords, the Priest of
priests and Prophet of prophets, came centuries after this and announced in
answer to His own question to Isaiah, and His own prophecy through Zechariah:,
“I will build my Church!” And so He
is. The Son of Man whose name is “The
Branch” is building His Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit of God.
cp. 1 Cor. 6:19 - What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
cp. 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.
cp. Eph. 2:20-22 - 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.
This is no metaphor!
This is the antitype. The other
in which the veil was rent, and which was destroyed is the shadow, the type.
This is the reality. This is what God’s
work since the Garden is all about!
This is the great vision, the wondrous reality, that
calls us onward, that lifts our eyes heavenward, and that thrills us with our
union with Christ the hope of glory, our Foundation!
Where there is no vision the people perish, and without
this vision the pastor will wither in the work. With eyes, and minds and hearts
filled with this glorious vision our God will be honored and glorified, and we
will be both blessed and a blessing!
How is the Church the Temple?
What is the Temple?
The absolute spirituality of this dwelling place of God
is unmistakable!
How is the Temple defiled?
Why does God take this so seriously?
The perfect holiness of the place of God’s rest is not an
option!
In every context
where elements of this reality are found these same notes are sounded.
God the builder
is holy. His Building will be holy. It cannot be otherwise.
Christ’s cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem during the
days of His humiliation is set as a vivid example for how zeal for the Lord’s
house behaves!
Why are you doing it that way as a pastor?
Conclusion:
Remember who you are as a minister!
Remember what you are about in the ministry!
Remember why you must minister in God’s way!
This is a sovereign work (3:5-8)!
This is a shared work (3:5-15)!
This is a spiritual work (3:16-17)!
You have the gift of God, the faith and the growth that
He alone can give, and you can look forward to His reward (3:5-8)!
You have the grace of God, the same grace that Paul
depended on to build with Christ (3:10-11)!
You have the Spirit of God (3:16-17) dwelling in the
Church, and His enabling for this holy work!
Psalm 92:12-15 - 12
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in
Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in
the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they
shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my
rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Jude 24-25 - 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy,25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Sources:
G. K. Beale, The
Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of
God, New Studies in Biblical Theology
17, series ed. D. A. Carson (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
2004).
J. Duncan M. Derrett,
“Paul as Master-builder”, Evangelical Quarterly 69:2 (1997), pp. 129-137;
PDF file on Biblical Studies at http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/1997-2_129.pdf [accessed 25 JAN 2014].
Gordon D. Fee, The
First Epistle to the Corinthians, in The
New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).
Frédéric Louis Godet,
Commentary on St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, 2 vols.,
trans. A. Cusin (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1886),
John Proctor,
“Fire In God’s House: Influence Of Malachi 3 In The NT”, Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society 36:1 (MAR 1993), pp. 9-14.
Gary Steven
Shogren, First Corinthians: An Exegetical-Pastoral Commentary
(self-published); PDF file on Open Our
Eyes, Lord! at http://openoureyeslord.com/2012/05/21/free-commentary-on-1-corinthians-2/ [accessed 21 JAN 2014].
Anthony C. Thiselton, The
First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, in The New International Greek Testament
Commentary, eds. I. Howard Marshall and Donald A. Hagner (Grand Rapids:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000).
[1] On the Old Testament
imagery of Israel as the vineyard cp. Ex. 15:17; Num. 24:5-6; Is. 5:1-7;
60:1-3; Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 36:9; and Amos 9:15.
[2] Frédéric
Louis Godet, Commentary on St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians,
2 vols., trans. A. Cusin (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1886), I:175; cited by Anthony
C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the
Greek Text, in The New International
Greek Testament Commentary, eds. I. Howard Marshall and Donald A. Hagner
(Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000), pg. 303.
[3] Gary Steven Shogren, First Corinthians: An
Exegetical-Pastoral Commentary (self-published); PDF file on Open Our Eyes, Lord! at http://openoureyeslord.com/2012/05/21/free-commentary-on-1-corinthians-2/ [accessed 21 JAN 2014].
[4] On this see especially J.
Duncan M. Derrett, “Paul as Master-builder”, Evangelical Quarterly 69:2
(1997), pp. 129-137; PDF file on Biblical
Studies at http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/1997-2_129.pdf
[accessed 25 JAN 2014].
[5] On the chiastic structure
in these two verses (A-B-B-A) see Thiselton, op. cit., pg. 307; and Gordon D.
Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, in The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), pg. 137.
[6] Shogren, ibid.
[7] On this see especially G. K. Beale, The Temple and
the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God, New Studies in Biblical Theology 17,
series ed. D. A. Carson (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004), pp.
245-252. On the connection to Malachi 3
see John Proctor, “Fire In Gods House - Influence Of Malachi 3 In The NT”, Journal
of the Evangelical Theological Society 36:1( MAR 1993), pp. 9-14.
[8] The following chiastic structure is observed in these
two verses: A-B-C-C1-B1-A1.
(A) you/Temple – (B) Spirit
– (C) destroy – (C1) destroy – (B1) holy – (A1)
you/(Temple, unexpressed).
(A) Know ye not that ye are the temple
of God, which (temple) ye are. (A1)
(B) and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? for the temple of God is holy,
(B1)
(C) If any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy; (C1)
Monday, February 3, 2014
2014 John Bunyan Conference
2014 John Bunyan Conference
May 5-7, 2014
Mark your calendar NOW!
Location:
Reformed Baptist Church
830 Buffalo Rd.
Lewisburg, PA 17837
http://www.rbclewisburg.org/Peter Gentry
Larry McCall
Stephen Wellum
Steve West
A. Blake White
Conference schedule and registration information:
will be posted soon on the Sound of Grace at
http://www.sogncm.org/pages/events/2014-john-bunyan-conference/
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