Preparing to teach a Bible class in the book of Mark, I found this paragraph in the Hendricksen/Kistemaker commentary on Mark:
In their heart of hearts Christ’s enemies must have realized that Jesus was infinitely better than they were. His humility (Luke 22:27) contrasted sharply with their pomposity (Matt. 23:5–7); his sincerity (John 8:46), with their hypocrisy (Mark 7:6); his sympathy (Mark 6:34), with their cruelty (Matt. 23:14). To a considerable extent their “religion” was activity in the interest of self (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16); his ministry was a sacrifice in the interest of others (Mark 10:45) and to the glory of the Father (John 17:1, 4). Did some of these enemies sense that he knew their real character, that he “had their number?” {Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 10: Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark. New Testament Commentary (271). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.}
This caught my attention as we navigated Mark 7, where the scribes and Pharisees condemned Jesus because His disciples did not follow their rituals (different from God’s rules). In this connection I said to the class – Comparisons that are horizontal have no real spiritual value . . . only comparisons that are vertical have value.
The fact that others are not doing what we do is not grounds for condemnation, and if such condemnation is issued – it reveals arrogance. It is a horizontal comparison.
What is needed is vertical comparisons, meaning – we compare ourselves and others with the highest standard, which is God’s Word (and the embodiment of His Word in the life of Christ). What I need to know is, how do I compare to God’s standard. What my friends and neighbors need to know is, how they compare to God’s standard. Only vertical comparisons have value.
Back to the above quote – in comparison to Christ, His enemies actual condition was dramatically manifest. He was good, they were not. He spoke the truth, they did not. He was sinless, they were sinful. He obeyed God and respected His Word, the enemies of Christ did not.
Let us be His friends, as determined by the vertical comparison.
Reading the Bible, we should understand that law from God was not given as a weapon or instrument for men to use against each other. When the Pharisees used God’s law to write their own, to hold people to their standards, then that was a mis-use of God’s law. God never asked men to re-write His law to suit the ill-conceived purposes of their agenda.
When one uses the law of God to impulsively accuse others, while guilty himself – that’s a mis-use of God’s law (see Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 2:1-11). Law from God, rightly conceived, is given to hold us in check; to govern us and guide us and keep us morally upright. “Certain persons” in Ephesus had turned away from this authentic conception of divine law. All law from God is good, but must be used as intended by the Creator.
“When the law is buried under a load of “traditions” which nullify its very purpose (Matthew 15:3, 6; Mark 7:9; then Matthew 5:43) or when it is used as a “take-off” point for spell-binders about ancestors, it loses its power. Just as in the public games only that man received the wreath of victory who played according to the rules (cf. 2 Timothy 2:5), so also only that person can expect to receive a blessing from the law who uses it as it should be use.”
Truth Connection: “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,” (1 Timothy 1:8).
John chapter eight is packed with action. The action documented had a violent conclusion. The last verse in the chapter says, “Then they took up stones to throw at Him…” What happened? What was said that prompted wicked men to such violence?
The Jews who opposed Jesus suffered with a carnal predisposition to justify themselves by claims of their blood connection with Abraham. When, for example, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to John’s baptism, John called for them to repent, warning them not to rely on their bloodline (Matt. 3:9). Paul gave instruction directed to this fleshly propensity when he wrote: “…he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God,” (Rom. 2:28,29; see also Phil. 3:1-11).
This was a massive stumbling block for many Jews, justifying themselves, excusing themselves and denying the need to be saved, based on claims of kinship with Abraham.
The issue was (as expressed by Jesus), their attitude and behavior was obviously unlike the character of their claimed father, Abraham.
Jesus said to them: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.” (Jno. 8:37). They were descendants of Abraham by blood, but not by behavior! Jesus spoke divine truth to these fleshly descendants of Abraham, and gave evidence of His deity and integrity. Yet, they believed Him not and their answer was: “Abraham is our father,” (Jno. 8:39).
Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham,” (Jno. 8:39). They were Abraham’s children by blood, but not behavior. This tells us a very simple thing: Blood is never an excuse for misbehavior. Unbelief and sin cannot be defended by claims of blood, genealogy or family origin. If a paraphrase be permitted, Jesus is saying: I know who you are; I want to talk about what you are doing, your behavior. You are seeking to kill me, because My Word has no place in you!
“But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this!” These Jews were plotting the downfall and death of mankind’s greatest Benefactor. The Messiah who came to save them was now in the sights of their malicious intent. They had the blood of Abraham, but not his heart.
The privilege of good heritage can be repudiated and lost by our ill-advised moral choices. It doesn’t matter how good the people were we came from, if we fail to respond to God’s Word and pursue godly character! Who we are is known by what we do, not the genealogy we claim! The good work of God’s Word, the influence of Abraham and the person and work of Christ was all obstructed and resisted by the carnal, party spirit and sinful willfulness of these men who sought to kill Christ. Their choices predominated over their heritage.
Next, Jesus said to them: You are doing the deeds of your father, but your father (as evidenced by behavior) is not Abraham; he is the devil!
They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-God.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” (John 8:39-47)
What an act of courage, for Jesus to speak to his enemies with such boldness. He told them they were corrupt, because though their blood was Abraham’s, their character was the devil’s!
Our conduct says more about who we are related to than our blood! The genuine test is – what do we think and do. Paternity is shown by practice. And “He who is of God hears God’s words!”
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 10.10; October, 2003
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” – 1 Jno. 2:1-2, English Standard Version.
John is writing to Christians, designated here with the affectionate address, “my little children.” Here he states one of his purposes in writing: “so that you may not sin.”
Stop and think about this statement. Christ imparted the Holy Spirit to certain men (Jno. 16:13). These men were guided to write truth. One purpose was (and is), that this truth (in the New Testament) might be embraced and applied to lead people away from sin.
As we read the Bible and absorb the message of Christ in the New Testament, our sincere application of that message preserves us from sin. So John wrote with this in mind: “…that you may not sin.”
Almost immediately, we respond: But I’m not perfect. What if I do sin?
Keep reading: “…if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” This divine advocate who is with the Father in heaven is not like a criminal defense attorney who is paid to get the best possible deal for his guilty client. (What defense attorney will die for the client?)
Jesus gave His life “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” This is no ordinary lawyer.
When I sin, I can take my sins, repent of them and know that I am forgiven. Remember from chapter one? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Yes, we have an Advocate.
My aim should be to not sin. But if I do, I have an Advocate.
“In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed,” (Gen. 12:3; 22:18).
With these words spoken to Abraham, God set in place a promise that would stay alive long after it was first spoken. God would oversee the work of fulfilling this promise through the nation formed from Abraham, the law He gave through Moses, the changing fortunes of the nation, the work of the prophets and the brief ministry of John the Baptist. After the fullness of the time came, Paul wrote to the Galatian churches and said: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hands on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith,” (Gal. 3:13,14).
As a result of God’s work, bringing the promise to practical reality in Christ, those in Christ find themselves partakers together in one body. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise,” (Gal. 3:26-29).
“This passage is designed to show that one’s standing before God is not determined by nationality, social position, or sex. One stands acceptable before God on the grounds of the blood of the Jesus Christ and on the conditions that he has faith in Christ, has repented of his sins, and has been baptized into Christ,” (Mike Willis, Truth Commentaries, Galatians, p#170).
Fellowship, therefore, should never be extended or withheld, based on status among men (bond or free), gender (male or female) or racial (Jew or Gentile). There is no suggestion in this that the distinctions or differences have no meaning; that they completely disappear. The point at hand is, they have no meaning in separating us from each other in Christ. We are “partakers together in one body,” enjoying equality in Him and empowered to accept and respect one another unconstrained by the common walls of separation.
At no other place, in no other way, in no other relationship, can people with previous diversity find valid unity (fellowship with God, then fellowship with others who partake in the same). The “mystery of Christ” unveils this blessing that God first spoke to Abraham, “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,” (Eph. 3:6). The promise God made to Abraham became the offering of the gospel to all men, that in Christ they might meet God and meet each other as joint-heirs.
From this we must learn, no condition of salvation should be imposed that God hasn’t given. And no test of fellowship should be enforced, expect the faithful application of God’s standard, His Word. Fellowship must never be denied or withdrawn based on race, status or gender.
Fellowship with people of previous and present diversity is a blessing, to be acknowledged and appreciated. Fellowship with people of previous and present diversity should become a part of our rich functioning together in Christ, doing His will and joining together preaching Him to all. This is not about Jews acting like Gentiles or Gentiles acting like Jews (see Gal. 2:11-19). This is about all who are in Christ acting like Christ, and thus being partakers together in one body.
“This distinction meant much in pre-Christian ages. The Jews were God’s peculiar people, blessed with great privileges and prepared for great destinies. The Greeks, representing the Gentile world, stood apart from the Jews — ‘aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise’ (Ephesians 2:12). But Jew and Greek stand on exactly the same footing in the kingdom of God, possessed of equal privilege, equally sons of God, and equally heirs of God. Christ broke down the middle wall of partition that severed them for ages, and made them one commonwealth.” (Pulpit Commentary, Homiletics, Gal. 3). Someone called this, “the death of the tribal spirit.” When Jews and Gentiles obeyed the gospel, they figuratively walked over “the middle wall of separation” and stepped into Christ, there to become partakers in one body.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit,” (1 Cor. 12:12,13).
May we put aside any attitudes, habits, traditions, teachings or reactions that fail to take to heart the unity of obedient believers in Christ. Enjoying the same privileges, having the same obligations and sharing the same destiny, as long as we serve the same Master.
In order to be a Christian, with persuasive power and reverence, you must personally come to terms with your pilgrim status. This earth is not our permanent home. (In fact, this earth is not anyone’s permanent home, see 2 Pet. 3:10-13). Nobody will live on the earth forever because the earth will not last forever. Peter puts it simply:
“…both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up!”
I bring this up because if we don’t get this, we cannot effectively learn or apply the teachings of Christ in the New Testament. We must not just play with the idea intellectually, we must personally embrace it. We are pilgrims.
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation,” (1 Pet. 2:11,12).
You cannot consistently abstain from fleshly lusts until you recognize your pilgrim status. You cannot participate in the defeat of those things that war against the soul, if you are holding to this earth as your home. You cannot wholeheartedly engage in honorable conduct “among the Gentiles,” until your attachment to this world is put in true perspective. You cannot lead people to glorify God in the day of visitation, while living in denial of your pilgrim status.
As Christians, we are more related to heaven than earth. If we don’t get that, we cannot get the rest of it right. May our confession be: “I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me,” (Psa. 119:19).
“Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.”
Everything in the first chapter of Hebrews leads to this conclusion, in chapter two, verse one. God spoke in times past, but now God speaks by His Son, who is superior to prophets and angels. What were the readers of this epistle to do with that truth? And, what are Christians today to do with this central truth of the gospel, the superiority of Jesus Christ?
We ought to pay more attention to the gospel of Christ! Give the more earnest heed (one translation says). If we don’t pay attention to Jesus and His message, we can drift away from Him and His message.
And, to add another serious aspect to this – if those who violated the old covenant faced consequences, “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” It was declared, confirmed by signs and miracles – as a fully attested message from God to man.
It is important to agree with the proposition of Hebrews chapter one, the superiority of Jesus Christ. But mere intellectual agreement isn’t sufficient without pay such close attention to Christ and His message – we respond obediently, so that we do not neglect such a great salvation.
Give heed. Pay attention. God seeks our response to Jesus Christ, who has inherited a name far more excellent than angels.
“They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of homosexuals. They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school. They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats. They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country’s salvation.
They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch. They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify translations to prove they are honoring the Bible’s words.”
These are the opening words of a hit-piece against the Bible and those who believe it. These words are taken from a recent issue of Newsweek that puts on stage an article by Kurt Eichenwald. [Source Below]
When unbelievers attack Christians and the Bible, this is a typical tactic – to paint this crude caricature and present it with the implication – this is the way all Christians behave. It immediately shows the critic is unfamiliar with real Christians.
I don’t wave my Bible at passersby. Brethren I know don’t scream condemnations at homosexuals. I’ve never known one Christian to fall down in worship toward a granite monument. Most of this is unrecognizable to members of the Lord’s church. (Some of this may be connected to the Westboro Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas. But they do not represent most believers in the Bible.)
And I want you to observe carefully – the author of the Newsweek article is not really attacking the Bible here; he and Newsweek is attacking the people who believe the Bible. They seek to prejudice readers against the people who believe the Bible. If they can prejudice his readers against the people associated with the Book, I suppose they think it will be easier to dismiss the Book itself.
One thing we can do, let our light shine through words and deeds that do not confirm the caricature.
Though the cover is worn,
And the pages are torn,
And though places bear traces of tears,
Yet more precious than gold
Is this Book worn and old,
That can shatter and scatter my fears.
This old Book is my guide,
‘Tis a friend by my side,
It will lighten and brighten my way;
And each promise I find
Soothes and gladdens the mind,
As I read it and heed it each day.
To this Book I will cling,
Of its worth I will sing,
Though great losses and crosses be mine;
For I cannot despair,
Though surrounded by care,
While possessing this blessing Divine.
—Anonymous
