It's Not In Me to Change

The Word is first...

Jeremiah 13:23 (NIV)

²³ Can the Ethiopian^a change his skin

or the leopard its spots?

Neither can you do good

who are accustomed to doing evil.

^a Hebrew Cushite (probably a person from the upper Nile region)

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I've heard the question dozens of times "can a leopard change it's spots?" Its always been a nod to the inevitability of certain behaviors and a capitulation to complacency. Its a way of saying that "you're just the way you are and you're never going to change." Yet I know from personal experience that this saying is both true and not true.

It is true to the extent that of ourselves, we are unable to effect lasting change at our core. Oh we can certainly modify our behavior such that an outward change is apparent but sooner or later, the curtain will come down and our true selves will be revealed.

The saying is not true to the extent that it precludes the power of God to effect real and lasting change in the very center of our being. This change effects not only our inner self but our outer self at all. This change is 'regeneration.'

The leopard cannot change its' spots (its nature) but by the power of God it can be reborn without spots; it can be reborn with a new nature. More specifically, we can be reborn into the family of God and our sin nature left behind.

God's word explains this in...

Titus 3:5-6 (NIV)

⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Through rebirth and renewal, by the death and resurrection of Christ, we can be reborn with a new nature, without spots. It's not in me to change, it's God in me that makes the change.

Peace,
Carl

Here... This if for you, take it!

The Word is first...

Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c198

Since before the fall, God has predestined a plan of salvation to reconcile us to him. The elegance of His plan is beyond comprehension or compare and it is complete to the uttermost. While each of us can grasp some portion of it, none may plumb the depths of it.

God's plan of salvation was designed exclusively and expressly for us. It is not applicable for the animals and it is not available to the angels. It is well beyond the grasp of Satan and it cannot be undone by any amount of demonic intervention. It is designed and intended for us, all of us.

Today's verse discloses two components of God's plan for us as well as a key consideration.

Beginning with the consideration, let's examine the very first word of the verse; "Take." This is an imperative, a command, something to be done without hesitation and so it should be for it is for our own good. But even more important that the tense with which the author presents this is the concept that it is something that cannot be bought, negotiated or traded. It is as though God is saying "Here! This is for you, take it! It's a gift for you and I've been waiting for you to get to this point so I could offer it to you. I made it myself, I know you'll like it."

What then is the nature of this gift that is so forcefully offered to us? The verse continues "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Therein are the two things which we most need.

The helmet of salvation not only protects our head, our mind, from attack but it also anoints the entire body. Salvation is the balm for everything that ails us, it heals us completely. It is this knowledge of salvation that draws us into a more intimate relationship with God which is entirely enabled by salvation itself.

The sword of the Spirit, the very word of God, is offered to us not only as an offensive weapon against whatever would come against us, but as a comfort, a guide and a proof of ownership. We know that we are God's children because he has given us his seal (his spirit) and his sword (his word).

Offering us salvation, redeeming us from sin, is not an after-thought of God but rather the very essence of his divine plan for us. Offering us his spirit is not some ad-hoc, "oh yeah" kind of moment but rather a carefully crafted solution to the problems that vex us on this Earth.

Take up the helmet of salvation today. Place it upon your head to protect your mind and to declare your allegiance to The King of Kings whom you serve. Fix the sword of the Spirit to your belt (of truth) knowing that you have the best weapon to bear against your enemies.

Shalom,
Carl

To Be Presented Righteous

The Word is first...

¹¹ When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,^a he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^b so that we may serve the living God!

^a Some early manuscripts are to come

^b Or from useless rituals

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Heb 9:11-14

In this passage I see more on the topic of Christ's role as my High Priest which God has been keeping in front of me throughout this week. I find it wholly wonderful how God presents his son to me, through the word and by the Spirit, that I may know him better. The more I know Him, the more I love Him and the more perfectly I may follow Him.

With regards to this passage, I sense the purpose with which Christ entered the world and in the opening fragment of this verse (v11) "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here..." there are three thoughts that immediately captivate me. First is the certainty that Christ did come as expressed "when Christ came." As a believer, I operate with that certainty at the very core of my being. Here it is presented as a presumptive fact and I find that confidence comforting. Second is that he 'came as high priest.' He did not come as a mere man to experience life as a man but to fulfill a particular role. He did not grow into this role or 'happen' into this role as many of us do with respect to our various parts played in life. Rather, this was a central purpose and a core motivation. Third, is the description of mankind being 'the good things that are already here.' This harkens back to Genesis where God saw all that he had created and declared that 'it was very good.' In this we can derive that Jesus came as the high priest of all creation, he is in front of everything even as the high priest is in front of the 'congregation' before God.

The second half of this verse "he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation" speaks if how Christ functions at a supernatural level far beyond what a human priest is capable of. According to my understanding, the high priests of old, having cleansed themself (ceremonially) and having offered atonement for the sins of the people would then enter into the Holy of Holies; that portion of the man-made tabernacle in which God dwelt. They would come into the very presence of God albeit imperfectly and yet separated by the construction of the tabernacle. Not so with Christ. Christ did not come before God by way of the man-made tabernacle but by the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle.' My understanding on this matter is imperfect and as yet unclear. At once I see both the concept of the man-made tabernacle being inextricably linked to the Old Covenant and the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made' representing the New Covenant as well as the concept of the man-made tabernacle (physical) and the 'more perfect' tabernacle as being spiritual or super-natural. With either understanding I realize that the distinction is that what came before Christ was insufficient and that Christ is sufficient.

Moving on to v12 we see clear reference to the cost of admission (sacrifice) to God's presence and the explicit understanding that Christ did not enter by the normal (imperfect and temporary) means of animal sacrifice. "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves." His entrance into the Holy Place was by means of the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice (perfect and eternal); his own blood. "but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." The permanence of the sufficiency of the sacrifice secures eternal presence with God and He need never leave it again. With this picture in mind it is easy to overlook the fact that he 'obtained eternal redemption' and it is upon this point that our hope and joy is hung. We rightfully celebrate our redemption and I believe we should equally rejoice in Christ's entrance as our High Priest into the presence of God (the ascension). For in a picture of things yet to come, Christ is bodily in the presence of God as we too shall be.

V13 "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death," is a mouthful. Whereas animal sacrifice was sufficient to temporarily cleanse the outside for the purposes of ceremony, the inside is far more important (and difficult to cleanse). The fact that Christ's blood is sufficient for the uttermost cleansing of the innermost being speaks of the power or efficacy of the blood. "How much more" will the blood cleanse indeed!

I close with the last fragment which speaks of the purpose for which all this occurred. "so that we may serve the living God!" We have been reconciled to God through Christ our Lord not for our own benefit, though we receive benefit, but that we may serve God! I believe that anyone who truly understands the depravity of their own sinfulness and comprehends the depth of Christ's love as evidenced by his sacrifice on our behalf, will not long sit in the pew. Instead, they will rise up with hearts of joy and enter into service to God by meeting the needs of his people.

How wonderful is our God! How wonderful is His Son! How wonderful is The Spirit that has been given us by God to lead, teach and convict us! Let us stream into the streets and paths, let us beat the bushes and look behind every hedgerow and bring others to the feast of reconciliation to God.

Shalom,
Carl