Monday, November 28, 2016

God Promises a Savior

December 4, 2016 Background Scripture: Luke 1:26 – 38 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:26 – 38 It has been said that a person is no better than their word. A similar statement suggests that a person’s word should be their bond. So when a person gives a promise, there is an expectation that they are going to perform and/or deliver what has been promised. Life experiences teach us that even well-meaning people oftentimes fall short of fulfilling promises or keeping their word. So the other cliché applies that implies that everything should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s okay to feel that way based on personal experiences with people. However, we experience something totally different with God. God always keeps His promise. In fact, one theologian has suggested that God’s prophecy is a mold that history gets poured into. What God says is absolute. If God declares it, then it is so. Today’s lesson involves a promise of God. For centuries, God had sent prophesies concerning a Messiah coming to Israel to deliver them from their enemies. Now that the fullness of time had arrived, the announcement would not be made by a prophet of God. Rather, God’s messenger, Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, would deliver this very personal message to the one bless to be used by God to bring the Savior into the world. Gabriel delivered the message from the throne of God directly to Mary. He addressed her as being highly favored among women by God. Nothing was left to chance. Gabriel instructed Mary as to the miraculous conception of the Messiah. The Holy Ghost would control the process so that the child would be sinless. He would not inherit sin from an earthly father or his mother. Because of this, he will be called the Son of the Highest (or the Son of God). Further, the baby shall be named Jesus which is by interpretation, The Lord Saves, because he will save his people from their sin. As further proof of the certainty of the Savior’s arrival, Gabriel offered Elizabeth’s pregnancy as a reminder that God can do what others think is impossible. Although others had concluded that Elizabeth would not have children because she was called barren, she was at that time six months pregnant. With so much evidence supporting Gabriel’s announcement, Mary surrendered to the will of God for her in this situation. What an awe-inspiring position for Mary to be in. When others make promises to us, we consider those promises in light of our opinion about their character. God sent a promise to Mary that was almost too much to fathom. Of all of the women God could have used for such a blessing, He chose a poor virgin from Nazareth. For whatever reason, she had found favor with God. Because God chose her, she was blessed among women not just then but throughout time since. Even today, she is referred to as the Blessed Mary by millions around the world. God’s promise of a Messiah was going to come to pass and Mary was blessed to be used by God in the process. When God makes a promise, it will come to pass because God always keeps His promise. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2016

Monday, November 21, 2016

First and Last

November 27, 2016 Background Scripture: Revelation 22:8 – 21 Lesson Passage: Revelation 22:11 – 21 Today’s lesson continues John’s account of the end-time vision. John was so overcome by the vision Jesus revealed to him of the end of times and the beginning of eternity future that he fell down and attempted to worship the angel that talked with him. This angel refused to accept John’s worship and informed him that they were fellow servants and only God is to be worshipped. Then John was admonished to make known all that the vision had revealed to him because man needed to be warned before time ends. When the end of time arrives, no one will have the opportunity to amend his or her ways. The wayward and wicked will be caught in their folly and unable to find a place of repentance. Only those who have put their faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ will be spared. The warning must be heeded now because Jesus will return quickly to judge the living and the dead. The first words John recorded that Jesus spoke to him on the island of Patmos was “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” It seems fitting that some of the final words recorded in the book of Revelation was Jesus echoing to John what he proclaimed to him at the beginning of this final prophecy to the church. In essence, Jesus is the creator of all things and he has the final say concerning all matters of life and death. Everything else that takes place must be considered within this frame of reference. The implications of this are many. Everything that happens within the context of time is either in accordance with God’s divine will or merely allowed because of God’s permissive will. Regardless of what takes place in time, Jesus will have the last say. And Jesus has given us the good news that he has prepared the way for us to be a part of God’s divine will and receive eternal life. Likewise, we have also been warned by Jesus that all who are not partakers of God’s divine purpose in grace will be destroyed in the Lake of Fire and separated from the presence of God forever. One’s eternal destination is the most critical decision that every person is confronted with. To submit to God and His divine purpose through Jesus Christ is to accept salvation for eternity. To reject God’s plan of salvation is to accept eternal punishment and separation from God’s presence. Jesus is the author of life and the creator of all things. In all things, he is first or preeminent. Even in the matter of resurrection from the dead to eternal life, Jesus is the first born from the dead to enter into life eternal. Even those whom he raised from the dead were of necessity subjected to physical death again that he may be the first born (eternally) from the dead. Today’s text also gives the seventh and final beatitude of the book of Revelation. It pronounces a blessing upon those who do the will of God by believing on His son. Through their obedient response to God’s offer of grace, they have gained access to the tree of life and will enter into the New Jerusalem through the gates. Jesus reminds us that the churches have not been left to grope in darkness but he has sent his angel to tell of all that he will do at the end of time. Robert C. Hudson November 2, 2016

Monday, November 14, 2016

Living Waters

November 20, 2016 Background Scripture: Revelation 22:1 – 7 Lesson Passage: Revelation 22:1 – 7 In last week’s lesson, John described the majestic vision of the New Jerusalem descending from God out of Heaven. In the text of today’s lesson, John describes some of the features he observed inside of the glorious New Jerusalem. As anticipated, central to everything is the throne of God and the Lamb. From the throne, God’s glory emanates to illuminate everything continuously so that there is no day or night—just eternity in the presence of God. The servants of God will see His face and look upon the Lamb who wrought redemption and salvation for the servants of God. Indeed, we shall behold his face! As was the case with the first paradise located in Eden, there will be a life-sustaining river in the midst of the last paradise. A crystal clear river of water proceeds out of the throne to give and sustain life. Jesus spoke figuratively of the Holy Spirit as the life-giving water which springs up eternally within believers. Fruit bearing trees grow on both sides of the river and bear fruit every month. The leaves of the trees have healing capacity so sickness and disease cannot come in and torment there. These trees are the trees of life. We learn in Genesis that the fruit of these trees give eternal life. After Adam’s sin, God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life which would have allowed them to live forever in their spiritually fallen and unredeemed state. Note that the tree of life was available as food for them in the Garden of Eden prior to Adam’s sin. Sin caused man to be spiritually separated from God and, subsequently, physically separated from the tree of life. At the time of John’s Patmos vision, the Lamb of God had offered himself as a sin offering on Calvary and redeemed man from sin. This renewed spiritual state qualified man to again be eligible to eat of the tree of life. After the destruction of Satan, his followers, and sin, the fruit of the tree of life was again available for man’s consumption. As it was at the time of creation, man could eat from the tree of life and live forever. However, unlike the Genesis situation from which man was expelled because of his sinful state, man would now live forever in his spiritually redeemed condition. The Genesis account also records God cursing the ground for man’s sake. This caused man’s labor to become more difficult and in spite of it, the ground would not just yield a bounty of goodness but also thorns and thistles. This curse will be removed in the New Jerusalem. The river of water of life will cause the ground to yield its bounty without man being burdened by the work. Thanks to the life-giving and sustaining elements in the New Jerusalem, throughout eternity redeemed man would be physical proof of the depths of God’s grace. The tree was watered by the river of life. Everything in the New Jerusalem was giving and sustaining life. After showing John such a wonderful vision, the Lamb then gave the promise of fulfilling the vision by declaring I am coming quickly. Robert C. Hudson September 28, 2016

Monday, November 7, 2016

New Jerusalem

November 13, 2016 Background Scripture: Revelation 21:9 – 27 Lesson Passage: Revelation 21:9 – 14, 22 – 27 Jerusalem is located in the hill country of Judea. It is where David established the capital of the nation of Israel and had the tabernacle, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, relocated and erected. Hence, Jerusalem is sometimes referred to as the city of David. It was and has been the center of Judaism for thousands of years. Even when the Jews were carried off into captivity, they looked back longingly towards Jerusalem for all she represented of their faith, their country, and their people. The welfare of their nation was often determined by the welfare of Jerusalem. The Jews conceded defeat in 586 B.C. when the city of Jerusalem fell into the hands of the Babylonians. This was over one hundred and thirty-five years after the northern ten tribes had been taken captive by the Assyrian army. In spite of the Assyrian conquest of the northern tribes, the Jews were not defeated as a people until Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Likewise, the Jewish nation was not considered restored until Jerusalem was repatriated with Jews and the city made secure with walls and the temple restored for worship. The life of the Jewish people revolved around the welfare of Jerusalem. The Judean city of Jerusalem foreshadows the spiritual Jerusalem. The spiritual Jerusalem is not referred to as the city of David but as the city of God. It is the physical representation of all of the children of God, Jews and Gentiles, assembled in one place. The spiritual Jerusalem is also considered the bride of Christ. In today’s lesson, John describes the vision of seeing the spiritual city, called New Jerusalem, descending down from God out of Heaven. She was suspended in the atmosphere between Heaven and earth. John gave a physical description that was beyond imagination as far as the city being adorned with all of the precious stones known to man. In addition to the precious stones, the city was also clothed in the glory of God. New Jerusalem was gorgeously arrayed in jewels as a bride for her groom. The physical measurements given for the city were approximately 1,500 miles on each of the four sides. The measurements should probably not be taken literally but as an indication of the massiveness of the city. Most importantly—and literally—only the redeemed will live there. In the order of events of the book of Revelation, the descent of New Jerusalem out of Heaven was after the final destruction of sin, Satan, and the followers of Satan. Once again, God’s creation was perfect and all the damage resulting from Satan and the fall of man into sin was destroyed. God’s creation would again be fit for the full expression of His glory. As God had promised, all of the earth will be filled with His glory. The New Jerusalem will be the center of attention while displaying the result of God’s grace and merciful judgment. This is part of the mystery the angels desired to look into. This is the promised restoration the prophets foretold and looked forward to. In the lesson’s text, John tells us about the vision of the outside of the city and her graceful descent through the sky. In our lesson next week, we will take a sneak peek on the inside of the New Jerusalem—the city of God. Robert C. Hudson September 28, 2016