Part 5. Jesus: The Word Made Flesh - continued

      Again take a look at Matthew Henry’s very insightful commentary on these passages.  [I realize that this is a bit heady.  At least it is for me--- sometimes I reread passages to allow it to really sink in.]  Let us also enjoy the writing style of old while receiving the timeless message:

“John 1:1-5 -   Austin says (de Civitate Dei, lib. 10, cap. 29) that his friend Simplicius told him he had heard a Platonic philosopher say that these first verses of St. John's gospel were worthy to be written in letters of gold.  The learned Francis Junius, in the account he gives of his own life, tells how he was in his youth infected with loose notions in religion, and by the grace of God was wonderfully recovered by reading accidentally these verses in a Bible which his father had designedly laid in his way.  He says that he observed such a divinity in the argument, such an authority and majesty in the style, that his flesh trembled, and he was struck with such amazement that for a whole day he scarcely knew where he was or what he did; and thence he dates the beginning of his being religious. Let us enquire what there is in those strong lines.  The evangelist here lays down the great truth he is to prove, that Jesus Christ is God, one with the Father.  Observe,

 

I. Of whom he speaks - The Word - ho logos.   This is an idiom peculiar to John's writings.  See 1Jo_1:1; 1Jo_5:7; Rev_19:13.  Yet some think that Christ is meant by the Word in Act_20:32; Heb_4:12; Luk_1:2.  The Chaldee paraphrase very frequently calls the Messiah Memra - the Word of Jehovah, and speaks of many things in the Old Testament, said to be done by the Lord, as done by that Word of the Lord.  ...  The evangelist, in the close of his discourse (Joh_1:18), plainly tells us why he calls Christ the Word - because he is the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, and has declared him.  Word is two-fold: logos endiathetos - word conceived; and logos prophorikos - word uttered.  The logos ho esō and ho exō, ratio and oratio - intelligence and utterance.  1. There is the word conceived, that is, thought, which is the first and only immediate product and conception of the soul (all the operations of which are performed by thought), and it is one with the soul.  And thus the second person in the Trinity is fitly called the Word; for he is the first-begotten of the Father, that eternal essential Wisdom which the Lord possessed, as the soul does its thought, in the beginning of his way, Pro_8:22.  There is nothing we are more sure of than that we think, yet nothing we are more in the dark about than how we think; who can declare the generation of thought in the soul?  Surely then the generations and births of the eternal mind may well be allowed to be great mysteries of godliness, the bottom of which we cannot fathom, while yet we adore the depth.  2. There is the word uttered, and this is speech, the chief and most natural indication of the mind.  And thus Christ is the Word, for by him God has in these last days spoken to us (Heb_1:2), and has directed us to hear him, Mat_17:5.  He has made known God's mind to us, as a man's word or speech makes known his thoughts, as far as he pleases, and no further.  Christ is called that wonderful speaker (see notes on Dan_8:13), the speaker of things hidden and strange.  He is the Word speaking from God to us, and to God for us.  John Baptist was the voice, but Christ the Word: being the Word, he is the Truth, the Amen, the faithful Witness of the mind of God." 
From E-sword - Matthew Henry Commentary 

Part 5. Jesus: The Word Made Flesh

      The most important truth that we need to know about the Word of God is that Jesus is God’s Word, in the flesh, who literally came to earth and walked among man. He was sent from God to show us the way to live and more important, the way to God. Without Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross there is no remission of sin and therefore no means of restored relationship with God.  This restored relationship includes His gift of eternal life in place of sin’s consequence of eternal damnation, in Hell.   Both the Old Testament and the New Testament reveal Christ Jesus of Nazareth.

      I am not saying that this means we should place our physical Bible before us and bow down to it in worship. God forbid! Instead, we should know that Jesus validates the written Word. This concept can probably only be truly comprehended by the believer who allows the indwelling Holy Spirit to bring revelation understanding of the relationship between the Bible and Jesus Christ. Let’s get that. A Christian must allow the Holy Spirit to impart revelation understanding of the literal relationship between the Holy Bible and Jesus Christ, Himself. When the believer really grasps this TRUTH, he or she should then be capable of experiencing seeing, with spirit eyes, the many truths of their Creator leap from His pages.

      John 1:14 proclaims, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us … .” What an odd statement, if looking at it only in the natural realm! Then John, the Revelator, unfolds the events of the ending of time, as we know it, when he declares: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew expect Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God and He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19: 11-16.

      So here John says, “… and His name is called The Word of God.” And note that from “His mouth goes a sharp sword”. Recall that the armor of God, provided for each believer, includes the sword. This offensive weapon is none other than God’s Word, which will be discussed later.

      Now in all of this we must remember that Jesus and God, the Father, are one. So the revelation of who Jesus is gives mankind a revelation of God, as well as the way to be reconciled to God. This reconciliation had been needed ever since Adam and Eve broke fellowship with God with their original sin, back in the garden. The Apostle John helps us pull these things together in the opening passages of his gospel. “In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1: 1-5. John is beautifully declaring the eternal cosmic significance of Christ Jesus and who He is and always has been, as He steps into the world to bring life and light to mankind.

Part 4. The Regenerating Power of God’s Word -- Conclusion to Part 4. >> Watch for Part 5, titled "Jesus: The Word Made Flesh" - coming next.

Part 4.  The Regenerating Power of God’s Word  --  This post is the conclusion of Part 4. 

[If you have not read Parts 1, 2, and 3, I recommend that you do so in order to benefit from the full context of these writings.] 

       I now resume and bring to a conclusion the quote from Matthew Henry. Even though I am including a large portion of his commentary on 1 Peter 1: 13 - 23, there is much that I recommend you to read when you have the time.  Mr Henry concludes:  "The word of God lives and abides for ever. This word is a living word, or a lively word, Heb_4:12. It is a means of spiritual life, to begin it and preserve in it, animating and exciting us in our duty, till it brings us to eternal life: and it is abiding; it remains eternally true, and abides in the hearts of the regenerate for ever.”    [Resource: "E-Sword" - Matthew Henry Commentary]

When you go back to my start of Henry's quote in the provious post, it is agreeably quite a long one, but oh, how eloquently he describes the regenerating power of God’s Word made available by the shed blood of our precious Christ! I recommend that you read through it again, even more meticulously, pulling out Truths, concepts and statements that resonate in your own spirit. Such a statement for me would be, “Persons, when converted, differ exceedingly from what they were formerly. They are people of another fashion and manner from what they were before; their inward frame, behaviour, speech, and conversation, are much altered from what they were in times past. (4.) The lusts and extravagances of sinners are both the fruits and the signs of their ignorance.” Another is, “The word of God is the great instrument of a sinner's purification: Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth. The gospel is called truth, in opposition to types and shadows, to error and falsehood. This truth is effectual to purify the soul, if it be obeyed, Joh_17:17. Many hear the truth, but are never purified by it, because they will not submit to it nor obey it. (3.) The Spirit of God is the great agent in the purification of man's soul. The Spirit convinces the soul of its impurities, furnishes those virtues and graces that both adorn and purify, such as faith (Act_15:9), hope (1Jo_3:3), the fear of God (Psa_34:9), and the love of Jesus Christ.”    ["E-Sword" -  Matthew Henry Commentary]

Here is a good place to point out that in the referring passage, I Peter 1: 13-21, the Apostle Peter is addressing fellow believers in Jesus as Messiah. So if you are a believer and follower of Jesus, you can know that his instructions are for you and for me. If you are not a follower of Jesus, Yeshua, allow me to encourage you to become one --- right here, right now.  It’s not a hard thing.  First you must acknowledge that you are a sinner --- you have broken one or more of the 10 Commandments in your life.  You must believe that Jesus really is the only Son of God, that He died on the cross to take the punishment for your (and my) sins.  That He was buried and rose to life again, on the 3rd day, and now is in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father.  So --- you must repent of your sins and receive the forgiveness of God that was made possible by His Son, Jesus. In this you received or accept Jesus into your own heart, as your personal Savior.  If you have just done this, you are now born again.  ---  Welcome to The Kingdom of God!  This is, by far, the most important decision a person can make.  Now go and learn more about Jesus in the Bible and tell someone about your decision.  Get a Bible and read the Gospel (or Book) of John and then read Matthew, Mark , Luke and so on. Please know that because of your decision, the angels are rejoicing and that your eternal destiny is now Heaven. God is pleased and the Holy Spirit of Christ now abides in you.  You will learn more about all of this as you read and study God’s Word.  Also it is important to get plugged in to a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church or assembly of believers.

While we are taking a look at commentaries on this subject, the comments of Bible Scholar, Jack Hayford are certainly worth reading. Let's soak this in:  “The Regenerating Power of God’s Word, THE WORD OF GOD.  Just as we owe our natural existence to the Creator’s spoken word and life-giving breath, so we owe our New Birth to the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s activation of its power. God’s intent for our created being is only completely fulfilled when our spirits are alive toward Him. As sin has produced spiritual death in people (Eph. 2:13), so salvation in Jesus Christ has provided spiritual life.”

“This text (I Peter 1:23) tells us that the ‘seed’ that has produced new life in us is the Word of God, which has begotten us again by the Holy Spirit’s power (Titus 3:5) and made us members of God’s new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). [Titus 3:5-- ‘not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit’] [II Corinthians 5:17—‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’] The power of God’s Word – the Holy Scriptures – is in no way more manifest than in this: Its power to bring spiritual live to all who are open to Its truth. James 1:18 elaborates the fact that God’s ‘Word of truth’ is the means by which He brought us new life, emphasizing that He has done this as a direction of His own will. [James 1:18— ‘Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.’] God’s will to save us (2 Peter 3:9) has been effectively expressed in His Word, which accomplishes that work (John 1:13). [II Peter:3:9— ‘The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.’] [John1:12-13— ‘But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’] (2 Cor. 3:5-8/Ps. 119:89-91) [II Corinthians 3: 5-8— ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?’ /Psalm 119: 89-91— ‘Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants.’] J.W.H.”  Spirit Filled Life Bible, "Kingdom Dynamics", page 1908.

>>   Coming next, watch for Part 5, titled  "Jesus: The Word Made Flesh".   <<

My Daddy

Well here I am again posting about the passing of yet another dear loved one. The purpose of this blog is not to become "Obits" like on page __ of your local newspaper! But since dying is an important part of living and since God's Word addresses the subject often and with clarity, I am taking time out yet again to include a poem I wrote a few days ago in honor of my precious, wonderful father, who died last Tuesday.  Many of my friends and family members will see this picture and remember Daddy like this, when he was their barber in the 60's and 70's. 

I plan to get back to blogging about  "God's Word --- Our Destiny"  very soon.  But for now, I want to honor my father with this poem, My Daddy.

Photo of Daddy and me taken in 1968.

My Daddy



Daddy, my Daddy, how can I say goodbye?

Daddy, oh Daddy, you’ve set your wings to fly.


How does a man with so much life lay there an empty shell?

Young pitcher, father, fisher, barber--- And the stories you could tell.


But, NO, that shell has been made new in God’s eternal home.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard where now you freely roam.


For you eternal life of God has now been made complete.

His face, that face of Jesus Christ, now you behold so sweet.


Arthritis, ulcers, cataracts --- dementia, basal cell ---

These nasties of this fallen world have now been thrown in Hell.


Tomorrow--- very soon I’m sure--- I’ll hold your hand again.

We’ll sing and dance and throw baseball, but in that heavenly realm.


So Daddy, its farewell for now. God’s glory you soak in.

We have much to look forward to. Now for you full life begin.



I love you and miss you, Daddy.

Connie ~~ August 9, 2012



Below is a picture of the three people in my life, all very dear to me, who have gone to their heavenly home recently. Enough already!

They are:  Left to Right - JoAnn, who died on March 17,2012;   Daddy, who died August 7, 2012;   Mama, who died May 26, 2012.  This photo was taken in 2005.

It has been quite some time since I blogged. Sometimes life happens and sometimes death happens.  My last post was a tribute to my dear friend, JoAnn, who went to Heaven in mid March.  She was like a second Mother to me.  Well this one will be a tribute to my dear Mother who went to her Heavenly Home on May 26th.



My parents --- Lovin life with some great grandchildren on their 66th anniversary about a year ago.    
Yes, these are some of my grandchildren.



And now-----  My Mama probably looks something like this.

Restoration of youth is but a small blessing that we can look forward to in Heaven.       

Will you be going there? Jesus said, "I am the waythe truth and the life.

No one gets to the Father but by Me."

I hope you enjoy the poem I wrote for my Mama a few days after her death:

MAMA, MAMA

Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, where did you go?

You went to a city where the streets are pure gold.

Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, who did you see?

You saw the Lord Jesus, there waiting for thee.


Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, what will you do?

You will sing of the glories of the One who saved you.


Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, for how long will you be?

You’ll be dancing and singing for all eternity!


Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, may I come too?

Yes, through Jesus Christ, the One who loves you.



Written for Mama on June 6, 2012

I love you, Mama. Connie

MY FRIEND JOANN

    

   

    
Today would be the 78th birthday of my dear friend, JoAnn, who passed away one month ago. She has graduated into Eternity, and is now enjoying the glorious presence of our Savior, Jesus.  I met JoAnn and her husband when we became neighbors---- I was 12 years old.  That was 50 years ago!  I always called her my second MAMA.  So today I want to share the poem I wrote for her 3 days before her death. She enjoyed hearing me read it to her twice before she stepped into Eternity.  I miss you Jo.

[By the way, the photo above, I call  "JoAnn's Sky".  I took the picture on my way home from the hospital 14 days before her death, knowing that she was enjoying the same sunset from her hospital room window.  We had just been talking about her nice view of the setting sun.  What I did not know was that this would be the last sunset that she would see during her life on earth, as we know it. The ski was so beautiful that day.  Now I imagine, with joy and wonder, about the views she is having these days.  Eternity is a long, long time and we have so much to look forward to!]

I hope you enjoy the poem....


My Friend, JoAnn




Do you know my friend, JoAnn? Yes, she’s the one who’ll lend a hand.


If you’ve got dishes in your sink--- She’ll wash ‘em quicker than you think.




Communion time at church today? She’ll have it ready right away.


Church dinner coming up next week? Her part, she’ll do---- No honor seek.




My silver in that cabinet there, all sparkles now from her tender care.


“I like to do it.” she would say. Now take that grandchild out to play.




She’ll bring you fudge at Christmas time. And Phillip*, she tries to keep in line.


“Now Phillip, don’t you touch my stuff!” To keep him straight, she must get tough.




And Molly, how she loves her so. Her precious kitty, I’m sure you know.




So many loved ones she’s held dear. And faced each trial not showing fear.




So Jo, is it really time to say ---farewell and wipe our tears away?




God sent you to us---- His priceless gem. And now you want to go to Him.


Jesus greets you with open arms. To hold you back would just do harm.





I have to tell you right now, Jo.  I love you more ‘an you ever know.




[You’re almost there. We have so much to look forward to! Love, Connie ~~ March 15, 2012]

*Phillip was her boss, for whom she did bookkeeping. :)

Part 4. The Regenerating Power of God’s Word-- [If you have not read Parts 1, 2, & 3 of this blog, I recommend that you do so prior to reading Part 4.]

Part 4. The Regenerating Power of God’s Word

Peter extolled the regenerating power of God’s Word in I Peter 1: 22-25: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” (“corruptible,” meaning perishable and “incorruptible,” meaning nonperishable) “because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

Peter is declaring that the regeneration of the human spirit, that comes with being born again, and occurs when the believer obeys the Truth. Again, how does one know the “Truth,” but by The Word. We must remember that the Word of God is the ultimate “Truth” --- the ultimate reality! This obedience purifies the soul and is manifested in “sincere love of the brethren” and the ability to “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” By no other means can the human heart love in this manner! Without the transformation through the Word of God, the heart of man is so corrupted by human motives, self centered desires and deceits, imposed on it from within as well as from without. Our capacity to love is so bombarded and colored day to day by corrupt media and other people that, without daily washing with the Word, even any serious, well meaning Christian will fall prey to unrighteous thought patterns and thus worldly attitudes toward people both inside and outside of the body of Christ. Many Christians attest to the fact that after being born again, they have the capacity to love others with depth and purity that they never had before. How else can one offer selfless love or even love his or her enemies? It is compassion that can come only from the indwelling Spirit of Christ Jesus, infusing the believer’s own spirit, which is then washed and nurtured by the Word of God. And it is the believer’s responsibility to nurture him or herself with the Word. One who is not born again cannot even comprehend this kind of love, which is one reason we cannot expect non-Christians to understand Christians.

Look at this same passage in God’s Word for the Nations: “Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other. You have been born again, not from a seed that can be destroyed, but through God's everlasting word that can't be destroyed. That's why Scripture says, ‘All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower drops off, but the word of the Lord lasts forever.’ This word is the Good News that was told to you.”

This passage speaks volumes about the regenerating power of God’s Word. How else could a mere human love so purely and completely? Let’s examine the meaning of “regenerate.” Strong’s #G1080, γεννάω, gennaō ghen-nah'-o: “From a variation of G1085; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.” Also, #G3501, νέος, νεώτερος, neos neōteros, neh'-os, neh-o'-ter-os: A primary word, including the comparative (second form); ‘new’, that is, (of persons) youthful, or (of things) fresh; figuratively regenerate: - new, young.” From E-Sword Strong’s Dictionary. So, the knowing and obeying the instructions of God brings a transformation--- a regeneration. Look, also, at Webster’s New World Dictionary: “spiritually reborn. 2. renewed; restored; reformed. 1. to cause to be completely reformed or improved. 3. to bring into existence again; re-establish. 4. in electricity and radio, to amplify by feeding energy back from the output into the input circuit. 5. in biology, to grow (a part) anew, as a replacement for one hurt or lost. 1. to form again; be made anew. 2. to regenerate.” Did you catch that first definition, “to procreate (properly of the father…)”? The source of the begetting of the regenerated spirit is our Heavenly Father. I believe that my personal favorite of all these is from Webster--- “be made new.”

This is Huge! Are we capable of comprehending what I Peter 1:22-23 means to us? Only with God’s help! Let’s put these instructions on purity in love into a better context and read the preceding verses: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believed in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:13-21.  In these passages, Peter sets up the foundation that enables the brethren to love one another purely.

Matthew Henry’s comments on this passage, beginning at verse 13, are lengthy but extremely valuable. Let’s look --- in his own words and vintage spelling: “1Pe 1:13-23 - Here the apostle begins his exhortations to those whose glorious state he had before described, thereby instructing us that Christianity is a doctrine according to godliness, designed to make us not only wiser, but better.

I. He exhorts them to sobriety and holiness.

1. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, etc., 1Pe_1:13. As if he had said, ‘Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveler, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gather in, and gird up, their long and loose garments, that they may be more ready, prompt, and expeditious in their business, so do you by your minds, your inner man, and affections seated there: gird them, gather them in, let them not hang loose and neglected about you; restrain their extravagances, and let the loins or strength and vigour of your minds be exerted in your duty; disengage yourselves from all that would hinder you, and go on resolutely in your obedience. Be sober, be vigilant against all your spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate and modest in eating, drinking, apparel, recreation, business, and in the whole of your behaviour. Be sober-mined also in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves.’ And hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Some refer this to the last judgment, as if the apostle directed their hope to the final revelation of Jesus Christ; but it seems more natural to take it, as it might be rendered, ‘Hope perfectly, or thoroughly, for the grace that is brought to you in or by the revelation of Jesus Christ; that is, by the gospel, which brings life and immortality to light. Hope perfectly, trust without doubting to that grace which is now offered to you by the gospel.’ Learn, (1.) The main work of a Christian lies in the right management of his heart and mind; the apostle's first direction is to gird up the loins of the mind. (2.) The best Christians have need to be exhorted to sobriety. These excellent Christians are put in mind of it; it is required of a bishop (1Ti_3:2), of aged men (Tit_2:2), the young women are to be taught it, and the young men are directed to be sober-minded, Tit_2:4, Tit_2:6. (3.) A Christian's work is not over as soon as he has got into a state of grace; he must still hope and strive for more grace. When he has entered the strait gate, he must still walk in the narrow way, and gird up the loins of his mind for that purpose. (4.) A strong and perfect trust in God's grace is very consistent with our best endeavors in our duty; we must hope perfectly, and yet gird up our loins, and address ourselves vigorously to the work we have to do, encouraging ourselves from the grace of Jesus Christ.