Behold The Glory Of Christ

The night before His death, Our Lord Christ prayed to the Father and prayed for us as His followers. He prayed that we would behold His glory. This is the greatest blessing for us from Christ, to see Him.

John 17:4–5, 24 ESV “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. . . . Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

This summer my two teenage sons and I are reading and discussing together The Glory of Christ by John Owen. This short book encourages us to behold the glory of Christ now by faith, with the assurance that later we will behold His glory by sight. 

John Owen opens his series of teachings and meditations by saying, “The glory of Christ is the glory of the person of Christ.” He encourages us to consider three aspects of this.

Person of Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person of the One Triune God, who became man. He is fully God and fully human. This mystery of His one person in two natures is glorious. Beholding this glory by Bible reading, prayer and meditation brings joy and amazement, satisfying our souls over and over again.

Character of Christ

Jesus Christ is the perfect revelation of God. Through Him we know God and what God is like. His earthly life and ministry recorded in the Gospels show us the true character of the true God. We see His love, mercy, grace, as well as His truth, righteousness and just judgment. Beholding this glory revealed and recorded in Scripture by prayer and meditation fills up our souls.

Work of Christ

Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins, rose from the dead for our justification, and ascended to glory. He accomplished redemption and brings the full blessings of salvation into our lives through the Holy Spirit. Soon He will return with the fullness of the Kingdom. Beholding this glory which is beyond all human strivings and hopes, written from the beginning to the end of Scripture, is yet again seen by faith through prayer and meditation.

Regularly beholding the glory of Christ by faith will transform your life and your ministry. I often give out The Glory of Christ by John Owen as a gift to ministers around the world, and they later testify to this reality. 

Take time daily to truly behold, to see and enjoy, the glory of Christ in the person of Christ. Do this by faith now, and know that soon we will behold Him with our very eyes!

When you read the Word of God, what do you discover and see about who Christ is? Stop reading and praise Him for who He is in the glory of His being. What do you see highlighted about what He is like as a person? Again, stop and behold His glory in adoration and enjoyment. What blessings are described as a result from Christ’s work on the Cross and in His Resurrection? Yet again, pause and use the very Words of Scripture in your worship of the Glorious One.

How To Hear The Word Of God

How do people listen to the Word of God?

Many are polite but indifferent. Many others are not so polite. In fact, some are hard and hostile. Some will even kill you for it, although not often in America. 

Some are inquisitive and make a little progress in understanding, although not as much as you would hope. While there are others who always listen but never seem to learn much at all.

Some are excited by it and thankful you brought it up. But then there are those who are excited because they are excited for the opportunity to mix in their own opinions. Some talk so much it is a wonder they hear anything at all.

Some are so hungry to hear that they take you by surprise. You wonder if they are hearing correctly and their faith is genuine. Their growth is astounding. Others make just as quick a turnaround and close themselves up, or slowly fade away, or come to a standstill.

Some are pure delight and respond with true spiritual understanding. They grow and keep on growing.  God’s love in Christ is abundant in them.

This is a short list.  It seems that each person is a category unto themselves, doesn’t it?

Jesus talked about the rewards of listening well in Luke 8.

Luke 8:16–18 ESV ““No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.””

This section appears in Mark 4, its sayings are scattered throughout Matthew, and are repeated later in Luke. The admonitions to hear the Word well are applied differently in different situations. 

Jesus likely repeated such sayings on many occasions in His preaching tours. Jesus took hearers hearing the Word very seriously. He wants those who hear Him to understand this and listen well.

The Lamp Analogy

Luke 8:16 ESV ““No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”

A lamp is lit to provide light for those in the room. One does not light a lamp and then put it out again, or go and hide it. Rather, it is put in a prominent place so as to provide enough light for everyone to see.

The light is God’s revelation now shining most brightly in His Son Jesus Christ and His teaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom. This light would continue to shine in the Apostles teachings, the New Testament Scripture and the Church’s proclaiming of Christ until He returns.

The Time of Revelation

Luke 8:17 ESV “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

The time of relative obscurity under the Old Covenant is over, the time of clear disclosure is here in Jesus Christ. The time of God’s vindication of Himself and His plan of redemption for millennia has finally come!

Gospel proclamation is now public and the Old Testament is made clear by Jesus, and shortly it will be made even more public and more clear by the Apostles after His Cross and Resurrection.

Another interpretation of this verse is that the rejecters of God and the sins of their hearts will be exposed for who the are and what they are by Jesus’ teaching. It will be obvious that the Gospel of Jesus is true, and that it is the truth that tying together all of the history of revelation and redemption!

John 3:19–21 ESV “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””

The Lamp has been placed prominently in world history! We can ask ourselves and others, “how will you hear it?”

The Reward for Hearing Well

Luke 8:18 ESV “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.””

Those who respond by hearing the Gospel well will be rewarded. Those who have gained some spiritual insight will continue to receive even more from Jesus.

The parallel passage in Mark 4:24-25 reads, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Those who have not gained spiritual insight, but only think have, will have their false spirituality taken away. Jesus will take it away from them and stop teaching them. Jesus leaves no place to casually ponder His words as prideful intellectuals. As it is stated in Proverbs 14:6, “A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.”

To become a close disciple of Jesus a person must hear the Word of God with a good heart, hold on to it, and persevere in doing it. Those who are close disciples of Jesus Christ receive the Word and keep on receiving it. He gives them further and further understanding by the Holy Spirit.

Consider this wonderful promise that Jesus is holding out to the world, to those who listen well—that they will continue to receive more and more true spiritual understanding without limit!

The Fig Leaf And The Towel

Everyone looks pretty much the same in the locker room.

You can’t tell who drives what kind of car, what each person does for a living or anyone’s position in society. You also don’t now who is happy, who is going through a hard time, who the intelligent ones are or who are the idiots. 

Everyone looks pretty much the same in the locker room, until they open they mouths and put on their clothes.

Community with a Towel

I remember my fitness and recreation times at the YMCA as a young pastor in Chicago. Those were good workouts. I met fascinating people. We had conversations you couldn’t make up. All types of people used the YMCA, very interesting people from the rich down to the poor. 

These regulars didn’t know much about one another. I played racquetball with many of them, lifted weights with a few others and ran the track occasionally with yet a different group. Observing their interactions with one another was enjoyable, but what made it rally interesting was facilitating their deeper interactions. 

When we sat in the sauna together, everyone looked pretty much the same as the next guy. Sweating together for thirty minutes builds an unusual community. If you have a purpose in fostering relationships this can become a place of reality, life on life. Ask people to tell their stories about the day, the crazy things they did as a boy, or what they are looking forward to. Just have fun, relax and laugh even share helpful advice. Sometimes deep pain and fears come out, so be prepared to comfort and encourage. Grab a towel and join us!

A Proverb for the Locker Room

Proverbs 22:2 ESV “The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.”

This Scripture verses reminds us of a major theme in Proverbs, and all of the Bible, of the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh the Creator, and the associated truth of our absolute accountability, whoever we are. The rich and poor alike have equal status and accountability before God. Here lies basic human equality.

You can see so for yourself; everyone looks pretty much the same as a baby, or playing sports, or getting a physical, lying in a hospital bed, and eventually lying in a casket. There are many equalization moments throughout our lives. The YMCA locker room was one of mine.

This verse might also be simply stating that God makes both rich and poor, which is true enough, but the verses that follow will focus on discussing the sinfulness of humanity.

The rich and poor “meeting” likely refers to the common bond of humanity and shared dignity, maybe also, that they will meet on the Final Day of God, or that they meet in this life in society, or locker rooms. 

The problem is that they tend to despise one another, take advantage of one another, and even distance themselves from one another. The wise follower of Yahweh cares for community and harmony among all.

The Gospel for the Naked

The guys each went their own ways after the sauna sessions two or three days a week. We all learned about one another. We appreciated one another in new ways as rich and poor alike. We all learned why we all need the Gospel, because I brought it up as relevant to our lives.

People listen when they are sitting there vulnerable.  Tell them the truth, about our common bond of humanity but also how we all are naked before God. It is in Hebrews 4:13 ESV “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” 

You might begin at the beginning with Genesis and the parallel between the fig leaf and the towel.

Genesis 3:7,10-11 ESV “Then the eyes of both [Adam and Eve] were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. . . . And he [Adam] said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He [God] said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?””

Or, you might begin with The End with the words of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:17–18 ESV “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”

Wherever you start the conversation, make sure to talk about the person and substitionary atonement of Jesus Christ the Son of God on behalf of shameful sinners. Encourage them to look “to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

The YMCA experience was so long ago that I don’t remember how well I took advantage of the situation to talk about Christ. But, I do know that I would do a lot better today with more knowledge and life experience, and being more comfortable in my own skin. 

The Lord used these meetings over the course of a couple years to create in me a compassion for everyone, to teach me how to interact with and help all sorts of people, and to train me to be always thinking seriously about how to effectively share the Gospel that is intended for all of us. 

The Main Thing Is Not The Only Thing

It is popular to promote the main thing, to unify and rally people around recovering the main thing, and then to speak passionately about the main thing. Good so far, in fact great, because the main thing is awesome!

However there are dangers in taking too strong a stand on the main thing.  It is easy and ever appealing to stay simple and general.  And it feels good, maybe even morally superior at times. Lots of people are tired of arguing, lots more, alas, are ignorant and many just want to get along and settle for peace in the big truths.

But, we are not faithful to God and His Gospel when we make the main thing the only thing, because He Himself didn’t.

The Main Thing is the Best Thing

The main thing we are talking about is Jesus Christ, who He is as God and Man, what He accomplished on the Cross and in His Resurrection, and how we benefit from this.

Most pastors, scholars and all Christians who study the Bible would certainly agree. We don’t want to sharply divide over smaller matters though they may be important and we hold our own studied commitments to them.

Yet, we also are aware that not everyone who says they are talking about main thing is actually talking about the main thing. Many popular speakers simply attach Jesus to their motivational speeches, acronym-friendly guidance, discipleship programs and products for sale.

Assuming we want more than that from our Christian leaders (many don’t obviously), but assuming we do, such a situation is another reason we should be desiring deeper instruction and asking deeper questions about Jesus Christ and His relationship to the whole of Scriptural revelation. How does it all fit together, the whole story, from beginning to end?

Many Things are Big Parts of the Main Thing

There is much more to learn.  We weren’t only given the main thing, but many other things as well. This is highly significant and it should be obvious that it is of critical importance to God Himself and in His communication to us for our faith.

Matthew 5:17–19 ESV ““[Jesus said,] Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Surely all things point to the main thing, but will you point to the main thing from every thing in the Scriptures? Yes, it is about Jesus. But how is it about Him?

Do the hard work and serious thinking required.  Don’t waste the Bible stories by launching into moralizing instruction, or carelessly picking texts for political pontification, or crafting obscure analogies that aren’t really there, or embellishing the stories for a good show, or rearranging the structure to teach systematic theology, only to add a Jesus Gospel moment somewhere along the way. We want to hear about the main thing from the many things.

Will you preach and teach it profoundly? Do you skip passages? Do you avoid books?  If you do (and many do), why?  God considers them necessary for His people to fully learn about Him and completely mature in their faith.

We Should Make the Whole Thing the Main Thing

God didn’t make the main thing the only thing; therefore, the main thing is no longer the main thing if it is the only thing. The Apostle Paul made it his practice to talk insightfully about many things in Scripture.

Acts 20:27 ESV “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” 

2 Timothy 3:14–17 ESV “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

The whole thing (all Scripture) is really the main thing (revelation of Jesus Christ). Let us teach about God as He has given to us His self-revelation and His history of redemption in the Bible.

Our concern should go beyond skillful rhetoric that rallies and on to the realities that transform our minds and our souls and impact our core being, beliefs and behaviors. This will take more than talking about the main thing as if it is the only thing people need to know and be concerned about knowing.

Let us definitely keep talking about the main thing, but may we also talk perceptively about all the other things that are truly big parts of our comprehension of the main thing.

Good Guys Always Win

In American folklore the good guys always win.  Although this makes for great books and movies, we know that it doesn’t always work out this way in real life.

Maybe Not Today

However, often times it does!  As the book of Proverbs teaches, God very frequently demonstrates His moral order in our lives and our lifetime.  And yet, we also learn from the Bible that the story is not over.  There are many scenes still to be played out in history.

God has fixed a day for His final justice to be perfectly established and His full blessings to be distributed with honor and glory.  Ultimately, the bad guys will get what they deserve, and the good guys will win.

Romans 2:6–8 ESV “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”

Ready for Tomorrow

We must also understand that “seeking for glory and honor and immortality” in the above passage from the book of Romans is not built upon a trust in one’s own “well-doing” and power behind it.  Much of Romans is dedicated to debunking this false sense of security and self-righteousness, especially when people trust in their religion to save them.

The seeking for glory, honor and immortality is later revealed in the book of Romans to begin with seeking it by faith in Christ, His Cross and Resurrection.  Then, our continuing seeking for them is by this same faith in Christ, persevering by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation and the life transformation that accompanies it come from God Himself through the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

John 3:20–21 ESV “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””

The Tremendous Win

Eventually, the degrees of recompense are justly measured out for good and bad deeds.  But also, those who are rewarded have nothing of which to boast except the power of Christ working righteousness through them.

Revelation 2:26–27 ESV “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”

In the end, and for all eternity, the good guys do win and win big.

Proverbs 4:18 ESV “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

Kiss The Son

The hope of every new year:  His Messiah will reign upon the earth, soon.

Psalm 2:7–12 ESV “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

In this Psalm, the future Messianic King speaks concerning the promised universal reign decreed for Him.  In this Psalm, the King would be like a son to God who would be like a Father to him.  In fulfillment of this Psalm, Jesus Christ came to earth as the True Son of God the Father, the True King of the Covenant People of God.

The Decree Unfolding

The word “today” in the Psalm refers to the day of the coronation of the King onward.  The “today” for Our Lord Jesus the Messiah King would be all throughout His ministry.  This verse of the Psalm is quoted at His Baptism (Matthew 3:17; Luke 3:22), at His Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17), about His Resurrection (Acts 13:33); and most importantly upon His Coronation in Heaven in His Exaltation (Hebrews 1:5; 5:5).

He currently reigns from heaven over all things for His Church, subduing His enemies.  He is building the Church by the Gospel being proclaimed in mission around the world and true worshippers of the true God being made.

He will return to inherit all the nations, to the ends of the earth as His possession.  He will rule over all the earth’s inhabitants.  Our Lord Christ will be “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2).

Genesis 49:10 ESV “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

He will establish righteousness in the earth and destroy and subjugate all the rebellious peoples, as a most fitting and glorious conclusion to this present age.  This will be the time for the vindication of God, of His Christ and of His people in this world.  It will be a time when society will be blessed with full justice and true peace.

In addition, Christ Jesus will share this amazing Psalm 2 glory with His Church!

Revelation 2:26–29 ESV “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Afterward, this great conclusion to world history will open up into the New Heavens and New Earth forevermore!

(If you are interested in reading more Scripture passages on this topic, see for example, Psalm 72, 110; Isaiah 2, 9, 11, 65; Micah 4, 5; Daniel 2, 7; Ezekiel 34, 37; Zechariah 14; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 19-22.)

The Summons still Stands

The Psalmist speaks to all the world, in light of all this truth, and offers the only hope.  Yet, it is a most blessed hope!   Submit now, “Kiss the Son,” and receive grace and eventual reward with the Anointed One.  Submit later, be forced to honor the Son, and receive wrath and eternal destruction from the Anointed One.

The wise decision for which the Psalmist is calling is this:  Worship and serve Yahweh, the Only True God, the Holy Triune One, now in reverent awe.  Kiss the Son of God in homage as the Anointed One and rightful heir of world and all things.  Here is the Gospel of God in Jesus Christ announced beforehand by Psalm 2!

Each of us in our sin is in rebellion against heaven.  This is described in the first part of Psalm 2.

Psalm 2:1–3 ESV “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.””

The Lord God has appointed Jesus Christ, not only as the coming Conqueror, but first as the Savior of world.  If you haven’t done so already, submit yourself now to the Cross of Christ for the forgiveness of your sin and the gaining of the true hope of eternal life.  Be wise and be blessed:  Kiss the Son.  Worship Him.  Acknowledge His authority.  Accept His reign.

We do not know when the Final Day will come.  So, take refuge now; for then, there will be no refuge.  Join the People of God.  The full and eternal blessings for His People will come when the Lord God will establish His Messiah as King over all the earth.  And this will be the best new year ever!

Graveyard Conversations

Find the graveyard.  Hang out with your team.  Start talking with people.

Find a Place of Significance

Every village in this part of Asia has its places of community significance.  It might be a tree of blessing, a hill, a spot near a river or a memorial.  My personal favorite is the graveyard, because it holds so many possibilities.

It won’t take long for a crowd to start gathering to observe the three or four strangers.  A couple foreigners are fascinating, but so are a couple of Asian outsiders; and more intriguing yet is that they are visiting the village together.  Simply smile and start asking friendly questions about life in the village, its history, even try to get a tour later.  

Ask deeper questions too, about religious practices, and perspectives on life and death, since you are near a graveyard bustling with activity concerned with ancestors.  Enjoy learning about how blessings and curses work, and how people find happiness and deal with sadness.  Have the whole team participate.

These are universal topics of interest that allow us to share hopes and compassion with one another.  Listen even more closely, and prayerfully, for how the Gospel might uniquely get through, or sink into, the hearts and minds of these people who have never heard.

Hold a Deeper Conversation

By now, there are probably 50 people hanging out, watching, listening and participating.  Tell a story of two about your own family, or how your team got to know one another and why you are interested in exploring new cultures.

Read part of Genesis 1-3, a very brief part, and then tell the whole story in your own words.  As a team, talk about God the Creator and His creation.  Talk about goodness and beauty.  Talk about evil and sin.  Make sure to talk about angels and demons, because they already know about them.  Make sure to talk about humanity as unique among living creatures, possessing a soul, being created in God’s image, but now fallen, because they know nothing about this.  Be patient and prayerful as the conversation flows along.

Read part of Revelation 19-21, a very brief part, and then tell the whole story in your own words.  As a team, talk about eternity.  Talk about personhood, body and soul.  Talk about the resurrection to come.   Talk about sin, heaven and hell, the end of the world and the New Heavens and New Earth.  Go back and talk a lot more about heaven, in detail.  Be patient and prayerful as the conversation keeps moving along.

After 30 minutes or so the crowd will be a little smaller.  The critics will mostly be gone.  The main questioners for the group will stay, and many interested listeners.  Enjoy this large group discussion that will go even deeper still.

Leave Them with Hope and Anticipation

Now it is time to read part of a Gospel, just one story that illustrates salvation.  Make sure it is a story, and make sure it is clear in its meaning.   Make sure it will be simple through translation.  Then retell the story in your own words and clarify the meaning for everyone.  

Talk about Jesus Christ as Son of God become Man.  Talk about His coming into the world.  Talk about His works and words.  Give examples.  Tell a story or two about how He has changed your life.  Have a couple different team members share.

Of course, you must tell the main story about the Cross and Resurrection.  Take your time with this.  Make sure your teammates are all participating and praying.  Talk about how Jesus, and only Jesus, removes our guilt and shame before God.  Talk about holiness and purity.  

Definitely spend time talking about how He breaks the power of sin, and overcomes the power of the evil one and demonic forces and curses.  Talk about His power to bring blessings, and in all their varied forms.  Talk about peace and fear.  Tell the story about His current rule from Heaven, and His coming return and future glory.  

Tell your story.  Explain how to become a Christian.  But, please don’t have them raise their hands to receive Jesus, or any other such American silliness.  Let them think.  Let the Spirit do His work.  Simply, challenge them to talk honestly among themselves about your conversation this day.  

Be Practical and Humble

Leave them with further Gospel information in print and in video.  Exchange contact information with those most interested, especially the leaders.  Let them know that your Asian friends will return.  It is your Asian partners that best know how to do ministry and church planting among near culture unreached Asians, in the first place.  You are simply a partner and a catalyst.  So, pray for their follow up, resource them, pray for them, and rejoice with them in the harvest!

A New Royal Priesthood

Four new names are given to Christians, terms that are now even more fitting for the New Covenant people God has created.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 

The terms “chosen race,” “royal priesthood,” “holy nation” and “a people” are packed with meaning, being rooted in Old Testament history in God’s powerful dealings with Israel, most notably in their times of the Exodus and the Exile.

Exodus 19:5-6 ESV “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. . . .””

Isaiah 43:20-21 ESV “. . . my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” 

(See related blog entries:  A New Chosen Race, A New Holy Nation, A New People Of God.)

A New Royal Priesthood

Historically, the roles of king and priest were to be kept separate for the people of Israel.  However, prior to this in the time of Abraham, there was Melchizedek who served both as a king and a priest, and he holds priority over the long-standing Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 5, 7).  

Later on we read about the future, unique, powerful combining of the roles of king and priest in Psalm 110 in anticipation of the Messiah.  In verse 4 it is declared, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”  Additionally we are given the examples of kings David and Solomon, both of whom on occasion served minor priestly functions; together they give us a glorious preview of the coming Christ, our Lord Jesus.

On top of that, the “royal priesthood” was a role the whole Old Covenant people of God were to play--sometimes they did well, sometimes not so well.  But now, in the New Covenant, the people of God play the role much better, being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Here is yet another way we are made like Christ--sharing in His royalty and priestliness.  See Jeremiah 33, especially verses 14-18, and then verse 22, “As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.”  

Our royal priesthood, however, is a derived one, coming from our relationship to the King of the universe.  And we live to serve Him and His interests and His eternal Kingdom.

Revelation 5:9-10 ESV “And they [angels] sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you [Jesus Christ] to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””

Moreover, the significance of the “royal priesthood” role has grown much larger in the fuller purposes of God now revealed.  Our mediatorial role for the nations and peoples of the world is to bring them the Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom (Romans 15:16)!

Our Three Dimensional Priesthood

1. We offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5).  These include cooperating with all the influences of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and giving Him all the glory for the transformations He has worked and is still working in our lives.
2. We serve one another in the church, praying for and ministering to one another.  We need one another.  The well-known phrase “priesthood of all believers” is not about the removal of authority structures in church, which would be a great misunderstanding, but about our serving one another and using our spiritual gifts.
3. We exist for the benefit of the world.  We alone have access to the One True and Living God because of the Lord Christ.  We declare His Gospel and live it out.  And we seek to bless the world in a multitude of wonderful ways because of receiving such a blessing.

Saint Augustine wrote, “In ancient times only one high priest was anointed, but now all Christians are anointed.”  Think about the extraordinary honor, along with the expectations of the duty, of belonging to this “new royal priesthood!”

A New Spirit-Empowered Mission

The New Covenant contains a multitude of new realities for a new order for the new People of God.  There are three promises of particular importance for us in Hebrews 8:8-13.

“For he finds fault with them when he says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.’ In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

1.  God Puts His Laws into Our Minds and Hearts

The New Covenant promises making us a new mind and heart and so making us obedient through the Spirit.  The contrast with Old Covenant is that now in the New Covenant obedience would be more thorough.  This is a radical empowerment for a whole new level for the purity of the People of God. (Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 3:5-7; Romans 8:1-6)

2.  God Allows Us as His People to Know Him Intimately

The New Covenant promises a deep personal relationship with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The contrast with Old Covenant is that now in New Covenant all the People of God relate personally to God and know Him well.  Everyone in the covenant community, in the People of God, has a privileged relationship with God, not just Moses or the priests or prophets, but everyone of us, enjoys God’s Presence. (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:6)

3.  God Removes Our Sin Permanently and Completely

The New Covenant promises that the Messiah would fully rescue from sin and give assurance by the Holy Spirit.  The contrast with Old Covenant is that now in New Covenant the historical realization of this has finally come!  This hope had been proclaimed throughout the Old Testament, and so perhaps, this is most important of the three listed for the author of Hebrews.  To serve God with an unburdened soul and free conscience, and with the Spirit to keep one in holiness, is one of the greatest joys of living as a Christian!  (Hebrews 10, esp. v.14)

The Covenant Change is Complete and Brings a Better Future

Although these promises have been fulfilled in the New Covenant, they were not non-existent under the Old Covenant, but only realized to a lesser degree.  God communicated His Law.  God was present with His People.  God forgave sin in Promise.

The assumption by the author of Hebrews is that the prophecy of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31 and elsewhere is for all peoples of the world, not just the physical descendants of Abraham.  This is just as the prophet Isaiah speaks of the Messiah:

Isaiah 42:6 ESV “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,”

Isaiah 49:6 ESV “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

The author of Hebrews sums up his presentation by explaining why this Covenant is called “New.”  Simply put, it is because the old one has been rendered obsolete.  God had fully accomplished His purposes through the Old Covenant made with Moses on Sinai, and would no longer be using it directly in His redemptive program, but only as a background to highlight greater glories in His Eternal Son.  

The fading away of the first covenant might refer to the destruction of the temple in AD 70, or the natural dissolution that would occur with the New Covenant order, or perhaps both. 

And still, the promises are yet to be realized by us in their ultimate expression at the Return of Christ.  Then, we will live in absolute conformity to the will of God!  Then, we will know God as we are known, basking in His glorious presence!  Then, we will receive the completion of our salvation in body and soul, in resurrection glory!

The Priestly Empowerment Ministry of Jesus Christ 

The point of Hebrews 8 is that God has made a New Covenant, mediated through Jesus Christ, the Crucified and Risen One, who is reigning as King and ministering as Priest for His People.  The Lord Jesus Christ is our New Covenant High Priest.

In this new priestly ministry, He is performing a superior liturgy, He is bringing the effects of the New Covenant into full expression and reality in our lives as His Church.  He is dispensing all the grace He purchased for us on the Cross as we need it to do His will.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven ministering in the true sanctuary. (Ro 8:34b)  The Lord Jesus Christ brought us a superior covenant--one that is full of forgiveness and full of the Spirit--and He administrates all its blessings for us from heaven.

The New Covenant Empowers Us for the New Mission

The message of our mission is unprecedented in the history of redemption.  And it stands out as the truth among all the false, ugly, destructive and worthless religions of the world invented by men, and even upheld by demons.

• The New Covenant has made us a new mind and heart and so makes us obedient through the Spirit.  How might we live empowered by the Spirit for a great obedience and joy?

• The New Covenant has established a deep personal relationship with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  How might we keep growing in our relationship with God by the Spirit?

• The New Covenant Messiah has fully rescued us from sin and given us assurance by the Holy Spirit.  How might we serve more boldly in the Spirit knowing that we are forgiven?

Where Might Acts 1:8 Take You?

Much is made about being a good and effective gospel witness in the believer’s own “Jerusalem” first, before attempting to reach one’s “Judea and Samaria,” and then again before attempting to reach “the ends of the earth.”  We need to reconsider this popular interpretation and application of Acts 1:8.

Usually, Jerusalem is defined as one’s nearest geographical region and close natural relationships. The next ring includes those who share similarities, but with marked cultural or social differences, perhaps even a little farther away geographically. Additional effort is needed to build these relationships. The third ring is the true cross-cultural experience, or the “foreign mission” field. As churches, we often aim to develop ministries to each of the sectors in a similarly progressive manner, eventually completing our development with a balanced portfolio, or a comprehensive approach. 

The Traditional Application of Acts 1:8

Is the implementation of this concentric ring paradigm what Luke had in mind for his readers when he compiled the Book of Acts? Probably not. Luke presents a much more compelling vision for missions than the typical evangelical interpretation grasps. The standard use of the text is not only inaccurate, but prevents us from fully living and loving the Great Commission.  We need to change our mission paradigm and move further away from an individualistic application of this verse to a more corporate one.

Mission strategies for churches are built upon this concentric ring idea, but in reality, it is a construction we have imposed upon the Biblical text. Our intentions are good, and this model seems to work well for us. It is compellingly motivational, moving many to the mission field. It also makes the passage easy to preach and immediately applicable. These purposes are understandably appealing. 

However, the model obscures the truest application regarding the mission of the Church. There are even greater accomplishments to be attained. We search the Bible to extract the buried treasure of practical models, but we often end up pragmatically using the Bible rather than learning and following its wisdom. 

Four Regrettable Outcomes

First, the standard viewpoint tends to create and sustain a bias to stay put, when Jesus said, “go.” We end up focusing intensely upon local outreach efforts because we believe God has called us to minister where he has placed us. We become thoroughly absorbed (almost exclusively) in the needs around us. Then, often the “remotest part of the earth” gets the leftovers of our energies and resources, rather than the best. We re-define the Church’s mission in purely local terms for ourselves and our esteem. 

A second regrettable outcome of the old paradigm is that we feel so overwhelmed by the first two mission categories that we pay little attention to the third. The gospel ministry is hard work. We work wholeheartedly and prayerfully to figure out how we might reach others with the truth and love of Christ. In our struggle with local outreach efforts, we may no longer feel competent enough to engage people cross-culturally and actually accomplish ministry. We never get to the ends of the earth because our faithful witness at home seems to be ever faltering. Simply put, we feel we can’t make a difference over there.

A third outcome of the typical interpretation of Acts 1:8 is that we can quickly and easily lose perspective and vision. We no longer see what we are supposed to be seeing. This is because we are actually missing the very point of the text, and even the book itself:  to give first-priority to frontier mission--to plant churches among the unreached peoples of the world. 

The final regrettable outcome of the common understanding of Acts 1:8, is that we miss the corporate calling. As North American evangelicals, we tend to speak too much about the individual and the personal, and not enough about the Church as a whole, and even the local church as a community. 

Shifting to a Truly Biblical Model

First, rather than perpetuating a bias to stay put, what if our churches worked to create and sustain a bias to “go?” Most will end up staying to live for Christ at home, and will further the mission by sending out and supporting their brothers and sisters who go. But assuming that we should go, rather than assuming that we should stay would change almost everything in the life of our churches. We would find that this is really a huge shift and that it would lead to many being called and sent out from our churches. 

Isn’t this what we are already hoping and praying for, anyway? We would find ourselves thinking, talking, organizing, and strategizing quite differently. People would talk about positioning themselves to be able to go, thinking along the lines of how it might be possible and not why it never could be. We would find new energy and renewed perspective for local ministry. The sacrifices demanded would also greatly increase, but God’s supply of our needs from his inexhaustible resources of grace would remain.  

Second, rather than being overwhelmed by the first two circles of mission, what if the last part of Acts 1:8b actually energized our mission endeavors? That is what has happened in our congregation. (For the story see the complete article “To the Ends of the Earth,” Evangelical Missions Quarterly 42:4 (October 2006), 434-439.) Focusing on the unreached peoples of the world has provided the courageous faith and motivation needed for local and nearby missions. 

Third, rather than losing perspective and vision, what if our churches rediscovered Luke's original emphasis? The emphasis of the verse is not on the “Jerusalem,” but upon the “remotest part of the earth.”  

The Book of Acts was written by Luke as the second part of his Gospel account to show the advance of the gospel of Christ’s Kingdom by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles and the Church. Jerusalem is impacted first, by the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the subsequent preaching and witness in the city by the Apostle Peter and the church. Then, the “Samaritan mission” in Acts 8 was the gospel’s first great advance after Pentecost. The Gentile mission begins here. Luke then shows us further movement through the conversions of the Ethiopian proselyte, and Cornelius the God-fearing Gentile. The full-on ministry to Gentiles begins in chapter 11 with the ministry of the Antioch church, and the Pauline mission flowing out of this and continuing the progression. We, as the Church, are to follow the arrow and continue the mission until the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Acts 1:8b is not about everyone’s three different realms of witness (Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria, and remote), but about these actual historical transitions, which are now over. The Apostles and the early Church completed the first two and started on the third. What remains is the really exciting part--the relentless drive to the mission’s end! Acts 1:8b is meant to rivet our attention on the “remotest part of the earth” section. Our mission ever since the beginnings of New Testament Christianity, is to go to the ends of the earth and hasten the coming of that day of worship by those Jesus purchased with his blood, “from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9) 

Fourth, rather than following our inclination to apply the biblical text to ourselves individually, what if we considered its meaning for the global Church first? Replace the question “What does this mean for me?” with the question "What does this mean for us?" Turn the focus from the individual to the Church globally and locally. What if we saw our churches as local teams, not as a collection of individuals trying to accomplish the Great Commission? Understand Acts 1:8b as being not so much about a personal mission, as it is about the group’s mission. 

Individually, we cannot complete the Great Commission, nor do many of us do very well in that which we do accomplish by ourselves. This group approach actually inspires and accomplishes much more in the personal realm in our churches as we all work together to increase our own spiritual health and maturity and usefulness in the mission of planting churches that reproduce. We expand our vision and look at the bigger picture outside of ourselves. We can focus on a specific area in the world and are start to ask longer range questions about how we can even better utilize all of our people and ministry resources.

We live in perhaps the most thrilling time in the history of redemption, when the gospel is actually reaching the very ends of the earth, and God is calling out for himself a people to worship him forever. Convinced that we live to serve the Lord God and his Gospel, may we be willing to take great risks for his glory among all peoples, and let us yearn to see their full enjoyment of him. Let us follow the arrow and go to the very ends of the earth!