Daily Bread
1 Peter 4:21 - “Which also corresponds now to our salvation; baptism not the putting away of a filthy flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
The Greek word used here for 'corresponds' is 'antitupon' which may be understood to literally mean 'anti-type.' However, its usage in Classical Greek is defined as 'echoing, representing, prototype.' This Greek word is only found here and in Hebrews 9:24, "For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, corresponding to the true, but into heaven..." The Greek word 'tupos' from which the second part of this compound word is derived is found about 16 times in the New Testament. One example of its usage is in Hebrew 8:5, where it may be translated “image or pattern”. The first occurrence of this word in the New Testament is in John 20:25 where it is translated 'print;' “...unless I see in his hands the print of the nails...” The disobedient during the time of Noah were all destroyed through water baptism, whereas, now the anti-type or the anti-pattern of water baptism saves us. Paul causes us to understand that we were buried with Christ by baptism into His death - a miracle event of salvation wherein we are crucified with Christ. The blood of Jesus and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, “puts away the filth of the flesh” not baptism in water. However, Peter equates this anti-type of baptism to the inquiry of a good conscience towards God. In that water baptism is symbolic of resurrection as brought out by Paul in Romans 6:2-6, we are able to discern that Peter is bringing together several types. However, he is definitely denying remission of sins (filth of the flesh) by water baptism.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Fresh Bread - 5/12
Daily Bread
Ephesians 2:3 - “In this we also all conducted ourselves in the desire of our flesh, fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the imagination and were by nature children of wrath even as others.”
Flesh often is communicated in a positive sense as Jesus was manifested in the flesh and suffered for us in the flesh (John 1; 1 Peter 4:2). Flesh also describes the muscles of the body, meat used for sacrifice or food, human ability, and also the complete man (including the soul and spirit). However, in this case it is used in connection with the nature of sin and the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience. When flesh is used in contrast to the activity of the Holy Spirit it usually has a demonic connotation, such as in Romans 8:2-13 and 5:16-23. Now because of the grace of God that has brought salvation we are no longer in the flesh (Romans 8:9).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Ephesians 2:3 - “In this we also all conducted ourselves in the desire of our flesh, fulfilling the will of the flesh and of the imagination and were by nature children of wrath even as others.”
Flesh often is communicated in a positive sense as Jesus was manifested in the flesh and suffered for us in the flesh (John 1; 1 Peter 4:2). Flesh also describes the muscles of the body, meat used for sacrifice or food, human ability, and also the complete man (including the soul and spirit). However, in this case it is used in connection with the nature of sin and the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience. When flesh is used in contrast to the activity of the Holy Spirit it usually has a demonic connotation, such as in Romans 8:2-13 and 5:16-23. Now because of the grace of God that has brought salvation we are no longer in the flesh (Romans 8:9).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Fresh Bread - 5/11
Daily Bread
Romans 8:3 - “For the Law was powerless in that it was weak through the flesh. God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin condemned sin in the flesh.”
Although the Word, Jesus Christ, became flesh He did not become sinful flesh (John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:22; 4:1-2). The flesh of Jesus Christ was absolutely sinless. He never one time sinned and thus condemned or pronounced sentence against sin being in the flesh. It is important to distinguish between the flesh of human ability and natural limitation and the flesh of sinful flesh. Sinful flesh refers to the depraved and wicked nature, a condition of man because of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12-21). It is the same as the spirit of the world that works in the children of disobedience, which is also all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 2:). The sinful flesh is the Old Man, that was put to death by the death of Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:4-6). It is a realm belonging wholly to the god of this world, the prince and power of the air, the realm of the nature of wrath (Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 5:19). Sinful flesh is the state of mankind dominated by the sinful nature or fleshly lust and the works of the devil (1 Peter 2:11; 1 John 2:16; 3:8).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Romans 8:3 - “For the Law was powerless in that it was weak through the flesh. God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin condemned sin in the flesh.”
Although the Word, Jesus Christ, became flesh He did not become sinful flesh (John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:22; 4:1-2). The flesh of Jesus Christ was absolutely sinless. He never one time sinned and thus condemned or pronounced sentence against sin being in the flesh. It is important to distinguish between the flesh of human ability and natural limitation and the flesh of sinful flesh. Sinful flesh refers to the depraved and wicked nature, a condition of man because of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12-21). It is the same as the spirit of the world that works in the children of disobedience, which is also all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 2:). The sinful flesh is the Old Man, that was put to death by the death of Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:4-6). It is a realm belonging wholly to the god of this world, the prince and power of the air, the realm of the nature of wrath (Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 5:19). Sinful flesh is the state of mankind dominated by the sinful nature or fleshly lust and the works of the devil (1 Peter 2:11; 1 John 2:16; 3:8).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Daily Bread
1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have towards him that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
Jesus modeled a very simple method for receiving whatever we need from the Father, He simply said ask. There are two Greek words are used for ask in verses 14 through 16, ‘aitein’ and ‘erotan’. John does not use the more common word for prayer, ‘proseuchomai’ in any of his writings. John’s direction to us from the Holy Spirit is to simply ask the Father in faith in the name of Jesus, John 14:13, 26; 15:16; 16:23,26. There is really no difference in these two Greek words but one may make an argument that ‘aitein’ could be understood to mean, ‘ask for oneself’. However, both of these words are used in John 16:24 and 26 with no perceptible difference. It is God’s desire that we represent Him on the earth. Therefore, He has made it very easy for us to receive those things that we need in order to represent Him. Just come to the Father in the simple childlike faith that He has supplied and ask Him for whatever you have need of. For it is indeed His will to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have towards him that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
Jesus modeled a very simple method for receiving whatever we need from the Father, He simply said ask. There are two Greek words are used for ask in verses 14 through 16, ‘aitein’ and ‘erotan’. John does not use the more common word for prayer, ‘proseuchomai’ in any of his writings. John’s direction to us from the Holy Spirit is to simply ask the Father in faith in the name of Jesus, John 14:13, 26; 15:16; 16:23,26. There is really no difference in these two Greek words but one may make an argument that ‘aitein’ could be understood to mean, ‘ask for oneself’. However, both of these words are used in John 16:24 and 26 with no perceptible difference. It is God’s desire that we represent Him on the earth. Therefore, He has made it very easy for us to receive those things that we need in order to represent Him. Just come to the Father in the simple childlike faith that He has supplied and ask Him for whatever you have need of. For it is indeed His will to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Daily Bread
1 John 5:15 - And if we know that He hears us then if we ask we know that we possess whatever we requested when we asked it of Him.
John is speaking primarily about the relationship that he observed first hand between Jesus and the Father. When Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead John reports that he lifted His eyes towards heaven and said, “I thank you Father that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me” (John 11:41-42). This kind of confidence and faith is ours today if we are willing to enter into this kind of relationship. The joy and wonder of this kind of relationship with the Father will result in our receiving whatever we ask! We will not wonder if Father will answer rather we will know that we possess what we asked for. If your heart hungers for this kind of relationship with the Father then surely He will supply it.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
1 John 5:15 - And if we know that He hears us then if we ask we know that we possess whatever we requested when we asked it of Him.
John is speaking primarily about the relationship that he observed first hand between Jesus and the Father. When Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead John reports that he lifted His eyes towards heaven and said, “I thank you Father that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me” (John 11:41-42). This kind of confidence and faith is ours today if we are willing to enter into this kind of relationship. The joy and wonder of this kind of relationship with the Father will result in our receiving whatever we ask! We will not wonder if Father will answer rather we will know that we possess what we asked for. If your heart hungers for this kind of relationship with the Father then surely He will supply it.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Monday, May 08, 2006
Daily Bread
John 15:7 - If you dwell in me and my words dwell in you then you may ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.
Jesus reveals how easy it is to receive the answer to your request; He simply tells us to ask. Jesus tells us 7 times in John chapters 14 through 16 to ‘ask.’ The kind of prayer that we are to pray is an asking prayer; one that expects God to do the impossible. Elijah prayed asking God to stop the rain and it did not rain for 3.5 years; then when he asked God to cause it to rain it was so (James 5:17-18). James said, “you have not because you ask not.” Jesus said, “everyone who asks shall receive” and “all things whatsoever you ask in prayer believing you shall receive (Luke 11:9-10; Matthew 11:22). How simple can it be? Jesus reduces the impossible to nothing more than a basic request.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
John 15:7 - If you dwell in me and my words dwell in you then you may ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.
Jesus reveals how easy it is to receive the answer to your request; He simply tells us to ask. Jesus tells us 7 times in John chapters 14 through 16 to ‘ask.’ The kind of prayer that we are to pray is an asking prayer; one that expects God to do the impossible. Elijah prayed asking God to stop the rain and it did not rain for 3.5 years; then when he asked God to cause it to rain it was so (James 5:17-18). James said, “you have not because you ask not.” Jesus said, “everyone who asks shall receive” and “all things whatsoever you ask in prayer believing you shall receive (Luke 11:9-10; Matthew 11:22). How simple can it be? Jesus reduces the impossible to nothing more than a basic request.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Daily Bread
John 11:41-42 - Therefore, they took away the stone where the dead one was laid. And Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, Father I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me but for the sake of the multitude standing here I have said this so that they might believe that you have sent me.
The way Jesus prayed was much different than many of us pray today. When Jesus prayed, He raised His head towards heaven instead of bowing His head (Luke 28:13). Before He commanded the dead to live again He first talked to the Father. The first thing that Jesus did was to give thanks or bless the Father just as He did before the miracle of feeding the multitude (John 6:11). His prayer is one of absolute confidence that centers on the relationship that He had with His Father. He was certain that His Father heard His prayer which is one of the keys to prayer being answered as John brings to light later in his First Epistle, “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:15).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
John 11:41-42 - Therefore, they took away the stone where the dead one was laid. And Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, Father I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me but for the sake of the multitude standing here I have said this so that they might believe that you have sent me.
The way Jesus prayed was much different than many of us pray today. When Jesus prayed, He raised His head towards heaven instead of bowing His head (Luke 28:13). Before He commanded the dead to live again He first talked to the Father. The first thing that Jesus did was to give thanks or bless the Father just as He did before the miracle of feeding the multitude (John 6:11). His prayer is one of absolute confidence that centers on the relationship that He had with His Father. He was certain that His Father heard His prayer which is one of the keys to prayer being answered as John brings to light later in his First Epistle, “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:15).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
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