Month: June 2022

OUR SINS FORGIVEN

To forgive is defined by the dictionary as to ‘grant pardon for or remission of an offense, to give up all claims on or remit a debt or obligation, to cancel all liability.’  This definition covers many areas of life beyond the financial. For the disciple of Jesus, what comes to mind first is the fact that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross ALL our sins have been forgiven!

Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

“Paul, then, is asserting in shorthand form that in Christ, the true Israel, the true King, the one whom God loves, God’s people are rescued from the dark power that has enslaved them and are brought into all the blessings of membership in the new covenant. Chief among these blessings is the fact that sin has been dealt with. God’s people are to thank him that they are indeed his people, qualified for inheritance (v. 12), delivered from sin’s grim tyranny (v. 13), and redeemed through his Son (v. 14). This statement (and its further application in vv. 21–23) must have considerably clarified for the young Christians in Colosse exactly what it was that had happened to them in their conversion, and why it had been necessary.”The price was paid, the debt canceled from all sin past, present, and future! This is good news! 

Freedom from sin consciousness is part of forgiveness ( Heb.10:1-4).

“The deduction made from the repetition of the offerings is their inadequacy. If perfection had been achieved the offerings would have stopped, which they did not under the old system. What the offerings did was to offer cleansing for sins committed since the last offering, but they could do nothing about sin, the root cause. All worshippers under the old system knew they had not been finally cleansed (kekatharismenous). Again the emphasis here falls on once, in contrast, to continually in verse 1. It is the finality of Christ’s atoning work for the perfection of his people which is in mind by way of contrast. Consciousness (syneidēsin) of sin is brought about by the constant reminder of man’s need in the repeated sacrifices, the exact opposite of the effect of Christ’s offering, which leads to the blotting out of sin (cf. 9:26).

This function of the Levitical offerings as a reminder of sin year after year vividly demonstrated their inadequacy to effect a permanent removal of sin and its consequences. Every offering that was made testified to the inadequacy of the previous offering and reminded the worshipper that another similar offering must follow. The sense of responsibility for sin was thus kept alive. The same word is found in the institution of the last supper in describing it as a memorial to the death of Christ, a reminder of the complete release from sin through that death. The superiority of this Christian reminder over the Levitical sacrifices is vivid. The latter sacrifices, which were ordained by God, were thus intended to prepare the way for that perfect offering which could effectively deal with the consequences of sin on a permanent basis.” Oh, that we would live continually in the freedom provided by His forgiveness!

FORGIVEN, WE MUST FORGIVE

Col.3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” To forgive others for their offenses toward us is to follow in the steps of Jesus (1 Pet.2:21). It allows us to treat others the way He has treated or loved us. As we do this, we are participating positively in the law of reciprocity (sowing & reaping). Which is a law, like gravity, that affects positively or negatively every person on the earth. (Read Gal.6:7-10). Another new covenant law is found in Romans 8:2 which says, “ because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” The forgiveness from God through Christ is total by virtue of His grace shown to us at the Cross. “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Eph.1:7 NKJV. God is not petty, meaning, He did not forgive us on the Cross and then later withdraw that forgiveness because of present disobedience.

If a disciple of Jesus does not forgive those who offend him, he is sowing to the flesh which eventually will bring forth a harvest of “torturers” (NKJV Matt.18:21-35). The context is natural business dealings and does not indicate that God is brutal to His disciples. The torturers are humans who retaliate against us because of what they believe we deserve, and while God is not the doer of it, He permits it to get our focus back on Him because we have not obeyed His Word and Spirit,

Jesus from the Cross showed us how to respond to those who offend us, when He said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.”

However, often we are prone to handling them like this:

1. Nurse it.
2. Re-hearse it.
3. Curse it.

When we should be forgiving it! Because Jesus has forgiven us totally of all our sins, offenses, malice, gossip, hatred, false accusations, etc. and He considers us righteous by imputing and imparting His righteousness to us!

1 Thess. 4:13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus (coming with thousands of the saints-Jude 14) those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming (parousia)(1) of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call (last trumpet- 1 Cor.15:52) of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (harpazo) (2) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.(3) 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thess.5:1 ” Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, (apparently he had taught them about this when he was there) 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief (4)in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (5) 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober (self-controlled). 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober (self-controlled), putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath (6)but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Th 4:13–5:11.

1 Appearing, or Second coming of the Lord.

2 Snatched, often translated rapture.

3 From this time on always in His presence.

4 Only comes as a thief to those who do not know the Lord.

5 To the believers, He is not coming as a thief.

6 The believers are not or ever be appointed to receive the wrath of God because it has already been poured out on Jesus through the Cross. (Romans 8:1-2, John 3:17-18) But believers can be living during the time God’s wrath is poured out on the earth yet not be subject to it. Ex. Israelites in Egypt.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. WILL WE BE SURPRISED OR WORKING AND WATCHING FOR HIS RETURN?

Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

As we begin to examine this Psalm of David, we need to first define what a shepherd is. The dictionary defines a shepherd as a man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep; one charged with the religious care and guidance of others: Pastor; to escort or conduct.

As we can see from this definition, it could be a person who is doing a ‘secular’ job or one in ecclesiastical ministry. Anyone who owns, or is a manager of a business, who has concern for his workers, is in a real sense a shepherd. He may not stand in the leadership ministry of a pastor but he is actually pastoring those individuals.

From the short list of shepherds mentioned earlier, we notice that they were not priests or pastors in any official sense but ordinary people who took care of sheep and people entrusted to their care.

Now let’s take a closer look at this Psalm. 

Verse One – The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

“The Lord is my shepherd…” Obviously, David was well acquainted with shepherding. He was a shepherd who knew the importance of having a shepherd. He knew that he needed a ‘good’ shepherd who loved, provided for, and protected the sheep. The character and integrity of the shepherd determine the quality of care given to the sheep!

At some point, he made an intentional decision that Jehovah (Yahweh) would be his shepherd. Making that decision, no doubt, changed the trajectory of his life. Perhaps it should be said here that having a human shepherd (under shepherd) does not nullify the need to have the Lord as one’s shepherd!

To have the Lord as our shepherd requires that we have Him as our Savior (John 3:3,5, Romans 10:9-10). To enjoy the fullness of His forgiveness, etc. will require that He is Lord over all facets of our life. It will require that we are in fact His disciple.

“…I shall not want.” It is unfortunate that the way we use the word ‘want’ obstructs what is said here. It might be better understood if we said, ‘I shall not be in need or lack.’ There is a big difference between our needs and wants! And in our materialistic society today, we need to make that difference very clear.

Another statement by David makes this clearer. Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Yet another psalm, from the sons of Korah, says in Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

If one has the Lord as his shepherd, then everything he needs will be provided for by his shepherd. People are a lot like sheep. Left to our own devices we make wrong decisions and can get into a lot of trouble. We often have the mistaken idea that we know how to live our lives, without intervention from others or God. To have this mentality is a sure indication that trouble is on the horizon! In fact, the prophet Jeremiah said this in Jeremiah 23;10, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

If Jesus is our shepherd, then this verse indicates that everything we need will be provided in and through Him. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 says, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

THE MESSAGE paraphrases this verse like this: ‘God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.’

Verse Two:  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He makes me lie down in green pastures… According to Philip Keller it is almost impossible to get sheep to lie down unless four requirements are met. 

• Free from fear.
• Free from friction with others.
• Free from torment from flies & ticks.
• Free from hunger.

It was and is difficult to find lush pastures in the Middle East. There are lots of stones, and brush, but very little green grass unless it is irrigated. It was the shepherd’s job to find those places where green grass could be found. It is our Shepherd’s job to do the same for us, and He has done so by His work on the Cross because of His great love for us. 

As mentioned above, just as sheep have a difficult time laying down in green pastures, so do God’s sheep today unless the fears are mitigated. Our Shepherd knows that, so He has provided freedom for us. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” We are instructed 109 times in the Bible ‘do not fear.’

Forgiveness toward those who offend us allows great freedom. Physical, mental, and emotional healing provides freedom in those realms, while His great provisions for us give us freedom from hunger! Our Shepherd knows what we need and He has abundantly provided for it!

He leads me beside the still waters… Sheep are easily spooked. There are many natural predators, such as coyotes, wolves, bears, and wild dogs. The shepherd would try to get his sheep near a quiet, flowing stream. His presence would be known by the sheep and they could graze, drink, and rest in peace. The shepherd was always on the lookout for any danger in the area. He often would spend all night on guard when predators were near. He had lots of money, effort, time, and energy invested in his sheep. They were important to him, he loved them as if they were pets.

Verse Three: He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

He restores my soul… Keller mentions that often sheep would get weighted down with dirt, and sand in their wool, to the degree that if he were to fall into a crevice he would not be able to get up. There is an old English term for this, it is known as a ‘cast’ sheep. His feet would be moving, while he was laying on his back, but he could not roll over and get up. If he is left there for a long period of time he will die. 

This phrase shows us the need for a shepherd to come along and lift that sheep upright out of the ditch. He is restored to his previous position. Many of us have fallen into crevices in life and could not get up by ourselves, but our Great Shepherd, or one of His under-shepherds, comes to our rescue and restores us! This proves to us that all sheep need a shepherd.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. As David mentioned in Psalm 5:8, “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your path straight before my face.” Many obstacles stand in the way of all of us as we attempt to follow the Lord. The enemy of our soul puts them there to lead us astray as he attempts to kill, steal and destroy us. But our Chief Shepherd knows the way around, through, or over them. He leads us in the way of righteousness, which is always in our best interest and His as well.

Verse Four: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… All of us are constantly in the valley of the shadow of death. The enemy camps near us at all times, as he looks for opportunities to invade our homes, families, mind, body, and spirit. BUT our shepherd is always on the lookout for us. He knows our enemy! He has dealt with him for millennia. He knows all his tactics, and plans. Our Shepherd always has exactly what is needed to protect, and provide for us, EVEN in the valley of the shadow of death. We have no legitimate reason to fear.

I will fear no evil; for you are with me… You may recall that David said earlier in Psalm 3:6, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Or, perhaps, Psalm 27:1-3, which says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me; my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.” David could say and believe all this because he had the Lord as his Shepherd! So can we, if He is our Shepherd.

Your rod and staff, they comfort me. The rod was used to fight off the enemy, the staff was used to lift up a sheep if he fell into a crevice. David, no doubt, had used these implements frequently. Our Shepherd, Jesus, has an arsenal of possible weapons to use against our enemy. Remember: He defeated Satan through the Cross and the Resurrection. He has the keys of death and of hell! 

As David thought on the rod and staff, he was greatly comforted. So will we be as we become closer to the Lord and realize all that He has provided for us?

Verse Five: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies… This speaks of the Shepherd’s provision for the sheep even in difficult times. God’s provision isn’t just for the good times when everything is going well. He provides for us even in times of disobedience. Example: The Israelites wandering in the Wilderness for forty years because of their disobedience to God. Yet, He fed them, guided them, and did not let their clothes wear out.

You anoint my head with oil… This was common practice if a sheep got parasites in its ears or wool. Perhaps the sheep got a cut on the legs or belly, the shepherd would clean the wound and pour in oil – usually olive oil – to cleanse and bring about faster healing. To be anointed with oil indicated the sheep was special to the Shepherd. Psalm 92:10 says, “But my horn (strength) you have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.” Being anointed with fresh oil also indicates sonship and ownership.

My cup runs over. God’s blessings are so abundant that we cannot contain them! This speaks of a continual flow of blessings and provision. This sounds a lot like what the prophet Malachi prophesied about those who tithe and give offerings. Malachi 3:10c says, “…I will open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Verse Six: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Surely… without a doubt. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The Shepherd’s goodness and mercy will continuously be in my life as long as I live. If the Lord is our Shepherd, we can enjoy the same thing. This indicates that the shepherd would protect, give provisions, and guide the sheep for as long as they lived.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This is saying that we are part of the shepherd’s family. We will take up permanent residence there. He will have oversight over us. He is our owner, Lord, and Master. We belong totally to Him.

Oh, what a blessing and joy it is to know that the Lord is our Shepherd. He has everything under control. He knows everything about us and loves us unconditionally. He is always with us, provides for us, and protects us. We have no reason to fear because He is constantly involved in every aspect of our life!