Monday, January 30, 2012

Justified by Faith in Christ

February 5, 2012


Background Scripture: Galatians 1, 2
Lesson Passage: Galatians 2:15 – 21

As we begin this series of studies in Galatians, it is important to consider that this letter reflects Paul’s practical look at Christianity. Paul stressed throughout this letter that being a Christian must transcend an individual’s tendency to treat their faith as just a religious ritual. Christians are called to walk in a newness of life that is only possible through the transforming power of the Holy Ghost who is our internal witness of Christ’s redemptive work in us. Our actions and speech should be governed by the new inner man that is being perfected by God through Jesus Christ. In our background passage, Paul insisted that Christianity does not stand along side any other profession of faith or religion. Christianity is the only gospel, or good news, for a dying world from the only true and living God. Paul’s position was not an argument of philosophy to be debated with other learned men who cared to share their own thoughts and theories. Paul declared that his calling was through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, what Paul said or wrote was not his opinion but rather a divine message from Christ. Paul did not take this position to fit into the membership of the infant New Testament church. Paul’s testimony in this letter was that it took years for him to be generally accepted into the company of Christian believers. The witness of those who had traveled with Jesus during his earthly ministry bore witness to God’s grace in Paul’s life. However, Paul took issue with what he perceived to be lukewarm Christianity in some of the apostles of Christ. Some, such as Peter, wanted to talk one way and walk another. Paul publically confronted him because of it. Paul would not be a part of religious posturing when his personal experience had revealed the depth of the realness of his salvation through Christ. Furthermore, he saw the hypocrisy of the apostles’ actions as a hindrance to the spiritual growth of the Gentile believers in Galatia. Gentiles were being saved outside of the rituals found within Judaism and therefore Paul insisted that their salvation should not be marginalized by having them also participate in a ritual that had not led to their salvation in the beginning. On this point, Paul took a doctrinal stand that is fundamental to the Christian faith. The Christian’s faith is both the vehicle through which they receive salvation and the only means by which they are made right with God. No religious rituals could ever make a person right with God in the absence of faith. Paul declared that the Jewish converts to Christianity knew this experientially. Knowing this, then it made no sense to force the Gentiles to go through those rituals after they were saved and made right with God without those rituals. The Gentiles’ justification came through faith in Jesus Christ and by no other means even as it had for the Jewish converts. Justification is an act of God’s grace and there is no action that a person can take before or after that could bring about this justification on the merit of a person’s work. It is only through faith in Christ that we have access to God’s justification.

Robert C. Hudson
January 28, 2012

Monday, January 23, 2012

Israel is Delivered from Egypt

January 29, 2012


Background Scripture: Exodus 1 – 15
Lesson Passage: Exodus 15:1 – 5, 19 – 26

Today we will look at another phase of Israel’s history that revolved around deliverance. In fact, this is the most widely known and greatest physical deliverance of all. There is a certain irony to it all since Israel is now being delivered from the place that was used to deliver them from famine four hundred years earlier. Deliverance has served as a point of interest through much of the history of Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob. Abraham went to Gerar as a place of sanctuary for his wife and himself during a famine and then had to be subsequently delivered from there by God. Isaac, likewise, also went to Gerar during a famine after the death of Abraham. God was with Isaac and blessed him greatly but he too had to leave there and return to Canaan. Jacob had to flee Canaan and go to Padan-aram to his uncle’s house to escape the threat of his brother. Later, Jacob had to be delivered from there so he could return to Canaan. Once again, Jacob and his family had to leave Canaan as a result of a famine and they relocated to Egypt. There the small family of seventy would grow into an exceedingly large number over a period of four hundred years. As their numbers started to multiply, the Egyptians enslaved them as a matter of self-defense. It was out of the conditions of slavery in the land that had once served as their sanctuary that the children of Israel cried out unto their covenant God for deliverance. God commissioned Moses for the task of leading this nation out of Egypt and back to the land of Canaan. Although it could have been done quickly by God, He chose instead to use a rather intricate process that involved ten plagues. These plagues each judged a different deity of the polytheistic Egyptians. This would be far more than deliverance but it would also be a severe judgment upon the Egyptians who had treated Israel badly. Even after the judgment of plagues, the Egyptians still persisted because God had hardened their hearts to pursue after Israel. Their pursuit brought them to the Red Sea where it seemed as though the Egyptians had the upper hand and all of the advantages. Here, God would make sure his ultimate deliverance of the children of Israel from the Egyptians. A pathway was made through the Red Sea by God for Israel but it was a trap for the Egyptians. Israel was able to see with their own eyes the destruction of the mighty military of Egypt at the hands of their God. Most of Chapter 15 of Exodus contains the song of victory for Israel after the Egyptian destruction. They sang praises unto their God for the wondrous works He had performed in destroying their enemy. What was once their sanctuary had become a snare. Likewise, what was once their pursuers became prey for their God. This was the final step when Israel was delivered from Egypt.


Robert C. Hudson
December 30, 2011

Monday, January 9, 2012

Joseph Transmits Abraham’s Promise

January 22, 2012


Background Scripture: Genesis 50
Lesson Passage: Genesis 50:15 – 26

In last week’s lesson, we looked at the preservation of the remnant of Israel. In today’s lesson we will examine the transmission of the promise God made to Abraham. Again we are examining events related to the life of Joseph. Joseph appeared to have exercised great patience and obedience to God in enduring many unjust hardships during his life before God’s plan for him became clear. He would need this same attitude to pass on to the next generation the hope that had filled his life now that he was at the point of death. Joseph had lived ninety three years pass the point where his troubles began at the hands of his own brothers. He had seen several generations of his own offspring. This was during the time that he was leader over all Egypt. His end was much greater than his beginning. Yet Joseph understood that in spite of the luxury and family surrounding him, he would one day die. Not only was this world not his eternal home but Egypt could not be the earthly home of Israel indefinitely. This would go against the promise of God to give Abraham’s seed the land of Canaan. This promise had been passed down from Abraham to Isaac and from Isaac to Jacob (Israel). Jacob was now dead and his sons had to continue to rehearse the promise in the hearing of their children and grandchildren. For the promise to be fulfilled, the children of Israel could not remain in Egypt. The famine had long passed (sixty five years) but Israel no doubt enjoyed many benefits living in Egypt with Joseph having such a prominent position there. Joseph understood that no circumstances would hinder God’s plans whether they were bad times or good ones. Yes, Israel was living quite well in Egypt for now but one day it would all have to end so that God’s will would be done. Joseph obligated Israel to a simple request. When God moved them from Egypt back to Canaan, Joseph wanted his bones to be taken out of Egypt at that time and interned in the land of Canaan. What a strange request. Not that it was unbelievable that God would do such a thing or unusual that Joseph would want his remains to be in the land of promise. What makes this request strange is that his father, Jacob, had died in Egypt and was embalmed there but prior to his death he had insisted that his remains be taken back to Canaan and interned in the cave along with his wife, father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother. After Israel’s embalming and seventy days of mourning, Joseph made request of Pharaoh and was permitted to carry his father’s remains back to Canaan. Why not request the same for his remains? Perhaps Joseph’s remains would be a constant witness in the midst of Israel throughout their pilgrimage in Egypt of God’s faithfulness. Maybe even in death Joseph wanted to serve as encouragement for his people. His request to carry his remains with them at the time that God delivered them from Egypt could also serve as a reminder that their deliverance is ordained of God. Joseph’s dying request served to transmit Abraham’s promise from generation to generation.

Robert C. Hudson
December 28, 2011

God Preserves a Remnant

January 15, 2012


Background Scripture: Genesis 42:1 – 46:7
Lesson Passage: Genesis 45:3 – 15

God is always executing His plan. God continuously works through people; those who are good as well as those who are evil. God is in control in spite of how things sometimes seem. What God has promised, He will deliver. It is easy for Christians to affirm the above statements because they echo the tenets of our faith. The difficulty is when we can’t see or imagine what God is doing when the future doesn’t look so rosy. God’s people will sometimes go through times that seem as though we’re not going to make it. God is faithful to His promises. When God promises to execute His plans through His people, He will always ensure that there is a remnant to follow through.

In our lesson today, Joseph refers to God’s miraculous deliverance of Israel from famine and sure death as God’s way of preserving a remnant. Over the course of thirteen years, Joseph had endured many hardships at the hands of many including his brothers, his boss (Potiphar), and even the butler who left prison and forgot about him for two years. In spite of all these setbacks, Joseph was elevated in position and made second in command throughout Egypt. He had served in this position for nine years at the time that God brought everything back full circle. Joseph’s brothers who had mistreated him were now on a mission to save Israel and all of his offspring except Joseph and his two sons from a sure death brought on by a devastating famine in Canaan and throughout the region. Their search for food brought them face to face with their brother Joseph who they had sought to destroy twenty two years prior. They did not recognize that it was Joseph who was standing before them as ruler over all Egypt. If their families were to survive, it would be at the discretion of Joseph. God had used Joseph to ensure that there was plenty of food in Egypt when others all around and as far away as Canaan were on the brink of starvation. Whereas Joseph’s brothers feared for their lives, Joseph praised God for a well-executed plan. In spite of the many hardships and setbacks, Joseph rejoiced because he saw that God had used all of it to preserve Israel’s family. This was the family of promise. This family of seventy souls was destined to become a great nation of innumerable citizens. No famine or any other disaster could prevent God from accomplishing His will. This is a great truth that often escapes us in times of crisis. As devastating as this famine was, it was going to get worse. This was only the second year of what would be a seven year famine. God had revealed these details to Joseph nine years earlier. What God had not revealed to Joseph earlier but it was clear to him now is that God had set His plan in motion twenty two years before this point in time. Joseph had to be in Egypt in a position of authority to be used by God to feed the nation of Israel in its infancy. In order to get there, Joseph had to go from the pit to slavery to prison and finally to the palace so that God could use him to preserve the remnant.

Robert C. Hudson
December 28, 2011

Monday, January 2, 2012

Joseph finds Favor

January 8, 2012


Background Scripture: Genesis 41
Lesson Passage: Genesis 41:37 – 46, 50 – 52

Favor speaks of acts of kindness provided graciously to another. It depicts a yielding or deference by one towards another that is inferior. Favor is not something that can be demanded because the one receiving it is in no position to make such a demand. Neither can favor be earned because then it would not be favor but rather wages. So when one receives graciously from another who is superior then the former has received favor of the latter. As we study the scriptures that teach us about the life of Joseph, it becomes quite apparent that God’s favor or grace rested upon Joseph. Note that this is apparent because of the many ordeals that Joseph endured in his life. A subplot to the whole storyline is that God showed favor to Joseph by causing his superiors to see Joseph through the eyes of grace. God was not causing things to magically appear in Joseph’s life. Instead, He was working in the hearts of men and causing them to show unusual kindness towards Joseph in some rather dire situations. Joseph benefited from the work that God was doing through others around him. Joseph’s contribution was that he maintained good character and as a result God took care of his reputation. This is the statement that my former pastor was fond of saying, If you take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation. Joseph represents living proof of that. No matter what situation Joseph found himself in, he seemed to have maintained a good disposition in spite of it. When he was sold into bondage, he responded by being an exceptional worker. When he was falsely accused and imprisoned, he responded by being a counselor for the other prisoners when they appeared to be emotionally down or sad. Only once is it recorded that Joseph asked a favor for himself in return for his own act of kindness. Two years went by and there was no response to Joseph’s request. When Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh after two years of unjust imprisonment, he did not act rashly. Joseph shaved himself, changed clothes, and went before Pharaoh. Whenever opportunity presents itself, we should respond with the kind of character that is worthy of it. Joseph did not pretend to be something or someone he was not. He stated clearly that God is the one who gives the interpretation of dreams. The interpretation of dreams did not come from within him but rather from God through him. Joseph was a vessel worthy of God’s use. He allowed himself to be used by God but he gave the credit or glory to God for the results. God worked on the heart of Pharaoh such that he put everything under Joseph’s command except his own throne. Not only did Pharaoh do this verbally, but he gave him his own ring to exercise authority, he gave him the garments that were indicative of his new leadership position, and he put a gold chain around his neck to show that Joseph was now at the top of the ladder in Egyptian society. Joseph, the man of impeccable character, had suffered many things unjustly but God had allowed him to have favor in the eyes of those who could rectify his situation.

Robert C. Hudson
December 28, 2011