Joshua – Musings (1)

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).

Moses is dead, and after 40 years of wanderings Israel is poised to enter its inheritance under the leadership of Joshua. (See Numbers Chapter 33 for a survey of the wanderings.)

The book preceding Joshua is Deuteronomy, in which Moses recapitulates God’s Covenant along with potential blessings and potential judgements. In Deuteronomy 34:5 - 6 we read, “So Moses the servant of Yahweh died…and He [Yahweh] buried him…”

The Biblical flow is Deuteronomy, with its emphasis on God’s Word; and then Joshua, which continues an emphasis on God’s Word.

A point in all of this is that God’s people cannot enter into their inheritance without knowing the Word of God and obeying the Word of God. Nor can God’s people possess additional inheritance as well as maintain what they have already acquired without living and abiding in the Word of God.

In the Kingdom of God there is no such thing as an inheritance obtained apart from the working of the Word of God and the knowing and obeying of God’s Word. Those that would teach otherwise teach cheap grace and are not teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, this all occurs in Jesus Christ and by Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ – the interplay of Christ and His Word and the Christian is a sacramental mystery; and indeed it is a great mystery in that through God’s promises (which are found in His covenantal Word) we become “partakers of the Divine Nature” (2 Peter 1:4). To receive the Word of God is to receive Christ, to obey the Word of God is to obey Christ.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, is Joshua 1:8 a reality in my life?

In your life?

Ponderings on 1 Corinthians Chapters 1 – 4: (10)

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:30 – 31).

Christ Jesus is our righteousness; how do we understand this? What difference does it make? In one sense to answer these questions is to attempt to contain an ocean in a teapot, but perhaps that is just what we ought to attempt because the righteousness of God ought to overwhelm us – if God’s righteousness, and the righteous of Jesus Christ, isn’t overwhelming us it may just be that we are still walking along the seashore and have yet to dive into the ocean. How many of us listen to the ocean, watch the ocean, even allow the surf to wash over our feet as we walk along the seashore, but have not yet truly entered the ocean and been immersed in its mystery, beauty, awesomeness, and vastness?

Could it be that our reluctance to use Biblical language, such as the designation of followers of Jesus Christ as saints, is due in part to our reluctance to allow the majesty and mystery of the righteousness of Christ Jesus, and the justification that He brings, to wash over us and to envelop our hearts and minds and souls? In another letter to these same Christians Paul writes, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor.  5:20 – 21).

Perhaps the Corinthians were not only seeking wisdom in their sectarian mindset, perhaps they were also seeking self-justification, self-righteousness, self-sanctification, and their own self-generated redemption? All of these are related to each other for they all seek to carve out an identity of “self” apart from total dependence on Jesus Christ. What God works to bring to “nothing” we have a propensity to maintain for in maintaining what the Cross destroys we leave room for our self-centeredness and self-glory. Is our righteousness to be found in our distinction from others? That is, is it to be found in Paul, or Apollos, or Peter, or even in us thinking that we are better than others because we especially belong to Christ? Is our righteousness to be found in our heritage? In our doctrinal “distinctives”? In our music? Our teaching and preaching?

Well, only the Holy Spirit and God’s Word can reveal these things to us in the light of Jesus Christ; all the more reason to seek Jesus Christ and Him alone, for as we seek Him and see Him those things which are not of Him will be manifested and, hopefully, be seen for what they are – vanity. If our vanities will not be allowed in heaven, why do we tolerate them on earth?

Knowing Christ Jesus as our righteousness frees us from the slavery of self-justification and allows us to rest in Christ. Knowing Christ as our righteousness allows us to abide in the Vine. (John 15:1 – 11; Hebrews 4:9; Romans 3:1 – 5:11).

Our society is caught-up in appearances, seeking the approval of others, striving to be noticed – untold billions of marketing dollars are annually spent seeking to appeal to our need to be justified. Yet Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28 – 30).

Are we learning that Jesus is our righteousness? Are our souls at rest? Is my soul at rest?

What about your soul?

Ponderings on 1 Corinthians Chapters 1 – 4: (9)

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:30 – 31).

Note that in speaking of what Christ Jesus has become to us from God that “wisdom” comes first. We might naturally think that redemption would come first, and then righteousness bringing with it justification, then followed by sanctification and wisdom; but no, in this context Paul places wisdom first. Does it matter?

Consider the context. In Chapter 1 Paul has been writing about God’s wisdom, contrasting it with the wisdom of the world. This contrast is developed further in Chapter 2. The pride and ego causing division is, at least in part, traced to the wisdom of the world – to looking elsewhere, apart from Christ, for distinguishing knowledge and wisdom; it is as if the milieu of competitive Greek philosophy has been imported into the Corinthian church.

There were many philosophical schools in the ancient word, and Corinth, sitting south of Athens – the heartbeat of philosophy, would have deeply imbibed this spirit of the age. How natural to fall into the trap of thinking that within the Church there ought to be a “school” of Paul, and one of Apollos, and one of Peter; and one, especially holding itself aloft from others, of Christ. Of course we, in our own age, would never venture down this road!

But wisdom is to be found in a Person, Jesus Christ. Here we touch a great mystery, for in Christ wisdom is transmitted to us not so much didactically as relationally in a manner and fashion that we simply cannot comprehend. Yes, the Word teaches via words, but the Word also teaches beyond words as we live in the Trinity and the Trinity lives in us. The Word takes form through and in words, as through thoughts and actions and motives; but the Word is more than the words and the thoughts and the actions and the motives – for the WORD IS. I AM THAT I AM shall always transcend and encompass and envelop us beyond our understanding. We do not form God, God forms us into the likeness of His Son Jesus Christ.

Perhaps there is a sense in which the didactic provides the container for the Word – and yet the Word is the Creator of the didactic container. When we live beyond the container we transgress the Word – God’s Word and God’s words are ever in unity and harmony and woe to the person who seeks foolishly to separate them for it leads to, “Has God really said you will not do this or that?”

As Proverbs Chapter 8 illustrates, Wisdom is a Person, and as we reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:30 we can say, “That Person is Christ.”

When we are with a person the “presence” of that person can be communicated to us. When we are with a person that person may speak, and yet the person’s “presence” may never touch us in a meaningful way. What a joy it is to be with a godly person whose “presence” and words are a seamless unity – if this is true of men and women, how much more true is it when we are with Jesus Christ?

Surely the Biblical words, “in Christ,” convey our identity, our center of gravity, our biosphere, the transcendent reality in which the saints of God in Christ live and breathe and have their existence. Surely it is “in Christ” that we find “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Ponderings on 1 Corinthians Chapters 1 – 4: (8)

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:30 – 31).

I imagine I’ve quoted the above verses almost as frequently as any other passage throughout my life. Galatians 2:20 may have the first position, and no doubt Matthew 20:26 – 28 is also a contender for first place; with John 15:1 – 5 in the mix. As I write this I am reminded how the Word of God is an anchor in my soul, my bearing walls consist of God’s Word, my foundation consists of Genesis through Revelation with Jesus Christ being the Cornerstone. Christ is ever appearing to me in and through His Word; Christ is ever speaking. I suppose one could say that God’s Word is my primary language, and in His Word I find my thoughts ordered and arranged and my perspective framed. Everyday God calls me to submit to His Word, to love His Word, to respond in obedience to His Word – and by His grace I hope that everyday my life, my soul, is further transformed into the image of Jesus Christ by God’s Word.

Leading up to these verses Paul has made a number of points, among which are:

·         God has called and sanctified the Corinthians, they are saints (v. 2).

·         God will complete His work in them (v. 8).

·         The above points are confirmed in v. 9.

·         Their division is not good, Christ is not divided.

·         The difference between the Cross and the wisdom of the world.

The diamond of 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 has many complementary facets to it, all with Jesus Christ at the center, all reflecting and refracting Him. Of course, we need to remind ourselves that the verse and chapter divisions were not in the original documents, and in doing so we see that Chapter 1 flows into Chapter 2, Chapter 2 into Chapter 3, and Chapter 3 into Chapter 4. Our short-term 21^st century attention spans are a major hurdle to “seeing” God’s Word.

It is by God’s “doing” that we are in Christ Jesus (v. 30). (Compare verse 30 with Romans 8:28 – 30). It is not by our wisdom, it is not because we follow a certain teacher, it is not because we are cleaver or are exceptional orators, it is not because we have conjured up a certain experience – it is simply God’s doing – we were dead (Ephesians 2:1 – 10) and God made us alive in Jesus Christ. Like Lazarus (John 11:39) we all had the stench of death in us and surrounding us and yet Jesus Christ called us out of the grave. Is it possible we have forgotten just how bad we smelled? Perhaps if we recalled just how nasty we were we would be less inclined to glory in ourselves and boast in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ.

I was first introduced to verses 30 and 31 in 1966 by my friend George Will and, through George, the writings of Dutch Reformed pastor Andrew Murray. I had no doubt read 1 Corinthians prior to meeting George and encountering Murray’s writings, for I devoured the Bible in those first months of my life in Christ; but Christ being all in all so defined Murray’s ministry and George’s life that God used them to place this center of gravity in me that has grown and deepened to this day…and I trust will continue to that Day (1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:12). Oh yes, there have been times in which I departed from the holiness of Jesus Christ in dark, sinful, and dangerous ways, but the Word of God and centrality of Jesus Christ would not let me go – Christ’s grace and mercy was greater than my rebellion and sin. Would I not be the fool of all fools to glory and boast in anything or anyone other than my Lord Jesus Christ?

The last time I spoke with George, in either 2017 or 2016, he was still quoting 1 Corinthians Chapter 1, speaking of himself as “nothing” and of Christ as “everything”. George rejoiced in being made “nothing” so that Christ might be everything.

What about me? What about you?

I’ll continue this reflection on verses 30 and 31…

Ponderings on 1 Corinthians Chapters 1 – 4: (7)

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27 – 29)

“…so that He may nullify the things that are…”

It strikes me that we often attempt to conform our churches and ministries and educational methods to the very things that God is nullifying. We don’t want the “weak things” or the “base things of the world” and we certainly don’t want “the despised”. We want to conform ourselves and our activities to things that the world applauds – we want to blunt the offense of the Cross of Christ and the Christ of the Cross. We want to “boast” both before men and before God – and yet God is intent on receiving all of the glory (see verse 31) and bringing to nothing all that we, as “mere men”, boast in – so that Jesus Christ may be all in all.

Kierkegaard wrote, “Woe to him who first thought of preaching Christianity without the possibility of offense…Woe to the person who betrayed and broke the mystery of faith, distorted it into public wisdom, because he took away the possibility of offense! Woe to the person who could comprehend the possibility of atonement without detecting anything of the possibility of offense…”

The Gospel destroys our pride and our self-righteousness and lays bare our utter sinfulness and our hideous sin nature so that we have nothing in ourselves to boast or glory in – Christ alone, God alone, is worthy of praise and honor and glory and worship.

Paul writes that “Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh” do so in order that “they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.” (Galatians 6:12).

Then why do we attempt to overturn the very things that God has nullified? Why do we seek the approbation of men? Of the worldly academy? Of the world’s passing fads and fancies and trends? Rather than being a distinct people living in God’s wisdom, we attempt to teach and speak a wisdom “of this age” (1 Cor. 2:6). When we do this we have forgotten who Christ is, what the Cross is, who we are – and we show ourselves to be a very foolish people. Far better to bear the reproach of Christ than to enjoy the approbation of this wicked age for a season (Hebrews 11:26).

Can we say with Paul, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14).

Confusion

"The popular mind has grown so confused that it is no longer able to receive any statement of fact except as an expression of personal feeling." ~ Dorothy L. Sayers

I recently heard a “pastor” say in a message, “Whatever you get out of reading the Bible is fine and don’t you ever let anyone tell you anything different.” No, I didn’t imagine this, I was in the audience. Alas, whether explicitly stated by this pastor or not, this is the way we read the Bible. So much for “rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” as Paul wrote.

How can we preach and teach the first chapter of John, concerning the Word (Logos), if the concept of a unified coherent harmonious Way and Image of God, not to mention order of universe and life, is utterly foreign to our thinking and way of life?

Dorothy L. Sayers wrote the above decades ago, what would she write today?

Does this make any sense to you? Or is it all about how you “feel”?