Daily Bread
1 John 2:4 - "The one who says, I know Him but does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him."
Jesus spoke a number of different times about the commandment that He received of the Father to lay down His life (John 10:18; 12:49, 50; 14:31; 15:10). Jesus also gave commandments to his disciples. These commandments were directed at their love one for another (John 13:34; 15:12; 14:15,21; 15:10; 1 John 2:7-8; 3:23; 4:21; 2 John 5-6). In fact, when we understand that God's commandments are focused on our loving one another and that this love is divine love then we also realize that such a love is only possible by yielding to the operation of the Holy Spirit. The key to walking in all the ways of God is to be ruled by divine love. The only way to be governed by divine love is to allow the Holy Spirit to rule our life and be our inspiration at every turn of our behavior. The love of God is the fulfillment of the whole Law because it works no wrong against anyone (Romans 13:10;8:4). To walk in love is to walk in the Light, which is the glory of God being revealed in His people (2 Peter 1:3-5). The commandments of Jesus are not a set of rules but rather this is God's commandment to a whole new way of life. The New Testament believer is called to a realm that goes far beyond the 10 commandments of the Old Testament. Through the divine nature that was given to us when we were born of God we are empowered to walk in all the ways of God, which are made know to us by His word (Romans 8:4). One may correctly view 'logos' (word) as interchangeable with 'entole' (commandment) in both the Old and New Testament (John 8:51; 8:55; 14:23, 24; 15:20; 1 John 2:5). The technical name for the Ten Commandments is "The Decalogue" which means "The Ten Words" (Exodus 20:1; 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4). In Deuteronomy for example the passage refers to the whole of the Law code as "all the words of this Law", translated by the Septuagint as "all these commandments". Also, to further drive home this point the opening statement of the following verse serves to further equate commandment with word, "But whoever keeps his words". Thus the commandments that Jesus refers to may be understood as all the Word of God.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Friday, August 04, 2006
Daily Bread
1 John 2:5 - "But whoever keeps His word truly in him is the love of God perfected. This is how we know that we are in Him."
The word 'agape,' 'love,' is defined by its New Testament application as divine love or the love that God loves with, thus, "the love of God." The usage of 'agape' in classic Greek is rare. When it is found it is neither dramatic nor colorful. It was usually translated, "to like, prefer, be content." However, when it appears in the New Testament Greek it defines the kind of Love that the Father has for the Son and the kind of Love that the Christian has since the Paraclete has come to dwell in them, John 13:34; 14:15; 14:21; 14:31; 15:10; 15:12; 15:17; 17:23. This kind of love does not have a human origin but is purely divine flowing into and out of us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Raymond Brown writes "Agape is not a love originating in the human heart and reaching out to possess noble goods needed for perfection; it is spontaneous, unmerited, creative love flowing from God to the Christian, and from the Christian to a fellow Christian." (The Epistles of John, pages 254-255) The Hebrew word for love is 'ahav' and is translated in the Septuagint exclusively by 'agapan.' Jeremiah writes, that love comes through a circumcised heart, Jeremiah 31:33. Proverbs says that God loves us as a Father loves his son, Proverbs 3:12. Perhaps the closest example to the New Testament usage of 'agape' is found in the Hebrew 'chesed' in Exodus 34:6. The Hebrew word 'chesed' means 'covenant love' or loyal unfailing love.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
1 John 2:5 - "But whoever keeps His word truly in him is the love of God perfected. This is how we know that we are in Him."
The word 'agape,' 'love,' is defined by its New Testament application as divine love or the love that God loves with, thus, "the love of God." The usage of 'agape' in classic Greek is rare. When it is found it is neither dramatic nor colorful. It was usually translated, "to like, prefer, be content." However, when it appears in the New Testament Greek it defines the kind of Love that the Father has for the Son and the kind of Love that the Christian has since the Paraclete has come to dwell in them, John 13:34; 14:15; 14:21; 14:31; 15:10; 15:12; 15:17; 17:23. This kind of love does not have a human origin but is purely divine flowing into and out of us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Raymond Brown writes "Agape is not a love originating in the human heart and reaching out to possess noble goods needed for perfection; it is spontaneous, unmerited, creative love flowing from God to the Christian, and from the Christian to a fellow Christian." (The Epistles of John, pages 254-255) The Hebrew word for love is 'ahav' and is translated in the Septuagint exclusively by 'agapan.' Jeremiah writes, that love comes through a circumcised heart, Jeremiah 31:33. Proverbs says that God loves us as a Father loves his son, Proverbs 3:12. Perhaps the closest example to the New Testament usage of 'agape' is found in the Hebrew 'chesed' in Exodus 34:6. The Hebrew word 'chesed' means 'covenant love' or loyal unfailing love.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Daily Bread
Colossians 1:9 - "Because of this also from the day we heard ceased not to pray for you also asking that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."
The knowledge of God's will is something that an individual is filled with just as a person is filled with the Spirit. The knowledge of God does not come to man through his own works and efforts. It is not attained through natural means of intellect and reason but rather by the gift of God. The knowledge of God's will gives wisdom and revelation and spiritual understanding (Ephesians 1:17). Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have this spiritual knowledge so that their spiritual eyes would be opened to know: 1- The confidence of the calling.2- The riches of the glory.3- The greatness of His power according to the working of His mighty power.Spiritual understanding is that which eyes have never seen nor ears have ever heard nor hearts have ever understood but is revealed by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). Spiritual understanding is the way that God thinks about things, it is the "mind of Christ" and the "mind of the Spirit" (Romans 8:27; Philippians 2:5).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Colossians 1:9 - "Because of this also from the day we heard ceased not to pray for you also asking that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."
The knowledge of God's will is something that an individual is filled with just as a person is filled with the Spirit. The knowledge of God does not come to man through his own works and efforts. It is not attained through natural means of intellect and reason but rather by the gift of God. The knowledge of God's will gives wisdom and revelation and spiritual understanding (Ephesians 1:17). Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have this spiritual knowledge so that their spiritual eyes would be opened to know: 1- The confidence of the calling.2- The riches of the glory.3- The greatness of His power according to the working of His mighty power.Spiritual understanding is that which eyes have never seen nor ears have ever heard nor hearts have ever understood but is revealed by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). Spiritual understanding is the way that God thinks about things, it is the "mind of Christ" and the "mind of the Spirit" (Romans 8:27; Philippians 2:5).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Monday, July 31, 2006
Daily Bread
Colossians 1:13 - "Who has delivered us from the authority of darkness and translated us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son."
The whole notion and concept of redemption is revealed to us in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. As certain as Israel was delivered from the rule and authority of Pharaoh, we have been delivered form the rule and authority of Satan. Concerning the absolute defeat of Satan and his power over us Jesus said, "Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out" (John 12:31). Paul spoke with such finality in 2 Timothy 1:10 when he said that Jesus had "abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." The death of Jesus on the cross was the means by which Satan's power was destroyed, "through death He destroyed him that had the power of death that is the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Colossians 1:13 - "Who has delivered us from the authority of darkness and translated us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son."
The whole notion and concept of redemption is revealed to us in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. As certain as Israel was delivered from the rule and authority of Pharaoh, we have been delivered form the rule and authority of Satan. Concerning the absolute defeat of Satan and his power over us Jesus said, "Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out" (John 12:31). Paul spoke with such finality in 2 Timothy 1:10 when he said that Jesus had "abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." The death of Jesus on the cross was the means by which Satan's power was destroyed, "through death He destroyed him that had the power of death that is the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
Daily Bread
1 John 2 17 - "They went out from us but they were not of us. If they had been of us they would have remained with us. Nevertheless it is revealed that none of them are of us."
Betrayal and broken communion were evidence enough of the spiritual state of these people. One of the primary themes of the first Epistle of John is the love of the brethren and the communion that results. Those who refused to remain in fellowship with the apostles and their company were not in the Light (1 John 1:7), and were revealed to be of the devil. The fellowship that we have with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is equated to the fellowship that we have with those who are begotten of God. If an individual does not have fellowship with God then he cannot have fellowship with those who are begotten of God and conversely if there is no fellowship with the brethren there is no fellowship with God. The epistle of 1 John provides the proofs of fellowship to distinguish between those who are of God and those who are deceivers. Beloved let us love one another.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
1 John 2 17 - "They went out from us but they were not of us. If they had been of us they would have remained with us. Nevertheless it is revealed that none of them are of us."
Betrayal and broken communion were evidence enough of the spiritual state of these people. One of the primary themes of the first Epistle of John is the love of the brethren and the communion that results. Those who refused to remain in fellowship with the apostles and their company were not in the Light (1 John 1:7), and were revealed to be of the devil. The fellowship that we have with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is equated to the fellowship that we have with those who are begotten of God. If an individual does not have fellowship with God then he cannot have fellowship with those who are begotten of God and conversely if there is no fellowship with the brethren there is no fellowship with God. The epistle of 1 John provides the proofs of fellowship to distinguish between those who are of God and those who are deceivers. Beloved let us love one another.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org
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