Matthew (Part 15)
Bible Study Time 12-30-07
Ephesians 4:11,12 (KJ2000)
11 (God) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
We’re not perfect yet, but we know that someday we will be because Paul says:
1 Corinthians 13:10,12,13 (KJ2000)
10 . . . when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
We’re not perfect yet, but someday we will be, and then our New Beginning will be complete.
It’s been a pleasure studying with you this morning, and I’ll look forward to studying with you again next week at this same time.
Church links:
Bible Study Time 12-30-07
Matthew says that when Joseph found out that Mary was with child, he planned at first to put her away privately so as to avoid a public scandal. But then, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said:
Matthew 1:20,21 (KJ2000)
20 . . . fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Well, as you know, it’s that time of the year again when people start thinking about turning over a new leaf and adopting New Year’s resolutions. However, the word of God explains that human beings do not by nature have the will power to simply turn over a new leaf. The fact is that it takes the power of God to change the direction of a person’s life. Our inability to have total self control is a result of our sin nature, but fortunately, Jesus Christ came into the world to save his people from their sins.
Through simple faith in the blood of Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and freely given the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and then provides the motivation and the power to turn away from sin. What a beautiful thing it is to know that we can have a New Beginning through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle John had the privilege of seeing the ultimate conclusion of the New Beginning which was promised to Abraham and his descendants. While he was on the Isle of Patmos, John saw a vision of the future and said:
Revelation 21:1-5,7 (KJ2000)
1 . . . I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new . . .
7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things . . .
Jesus said, “Behold, I make all things new.” This is the ultimate New Beginning with all things being made new.
The city that John saw coming down out of heaven is the city that Abraham was looking for. Hebrews 11 says:
Hebrews 11:8-10 (KJ2000)
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should later receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:13 (KJ2000)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, . . . were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Hebrews 11:16 (KJ2000)
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.
This city was also the hope of the Apostle Paul at the time that he wrote the book of Galatians. In Galatians 4, he said:
Galatians 4:25,26 (KJ2000)
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Today, we no longer look for the New Jerusalem, that heavenly city which will come down from heaven to be the capital city of the world. This hope was promised to Abraham, and it will only take place when God fully implements all of the terms of His New Covenant with the nation of Israel.
By the end of the period of time covered by the book of Acts, the nation of Israel had been offered the full implementation of the New Covenant, but Israel refused to enter into that covenant because of their unbelief. Therefore, it was time for a new beginning in God’s program for man. At the end of the Acts period, God set aside Israel’s New Covenant program and began revealing the program for us today. This is the program for the Church which is the Body of Christ.
The Church which is the Body of Christ is the Church which God has been building in heaven for the past 2000 years. It is the church to which all believers belong regardless of their religious background. This heavenly church is a church which nobody can join. Imagine that, a church that nobody can join. Only the Holy Spirit can add a person to this church.
When a person believes, he is baptized into Jesus Christ and identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Today, this baptism makes him a member of the Church which is the Body of Christ, and it can only be performed by the Holy Spirit of God. In Colossians 2, Paul says:
Colossians 2:10-12 (KJ2000)
10 And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, in which also you are risen with him through the faith of the working of God, who has raised him from the dead.
We are circumcised, we are baptized, all by the working of God, and this is the start of the believer’s personal New Beginning. But praise the Lord, this is just the starting point. Paul says that this work of the Holy Spirit within the life of the believer is just the down payment or the guarantee of that which is to come. At some point in the future, the whole Church which is the Body of Christ will be redeemed as the purchased possession of Christ.
Well, when is this redemption of the Church going to take place? Ephesians is one of the books which talks exclusively about the Church which is the Body of Christ, and so when Paul speaks of the redemption of the purchased possess, he is talking about the rapture of the church.
Philippians and Colossians also speak exclusively about and to the Church which is the Body of Christ, and so we see Paul talking about the rapture of the Church in both of these books. In Colossians 3, we read:
Colossians 3:4 (KJ2000)
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
In Philippians 3, Paul says:
Philippians 3:20-21 (KJ2000)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven; from which also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our humble body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body . . .
Now this is the ultimate New Beginning for us today. Our New Beginning starts when we are baptized into Christ, but our New Beginning will not achieve its ultimate goal until we are caught up to be with the Lord, and we are given our new, glorified body.
What will happen after that, we don’t know, but we do know that God has big plans for us. In Ephesians 2, Paul says that God:
Ephesians 2:6,7 (KJ2000)
6 . . . has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
There is no mention here of the New Jerusalem. There is no mention here of our leaving the glory of heaven to come back to the earth when the New Jerusalem comes down to the earth. It could be that we will serve the Lord in the New Heaven while those with the hope of Israel will enjoy the New Jerusalem on the earth. That is, of course, just speculation, but it is food for thought.
The New Beginning for those with the Jewish hope begins with their baptism into Jesus Christ and into His death, burial and resurrection, and it ends with their rapture at the end of the tribulation period and their entrance into the kingdom of the New Earth. The New Beginning for us as member of the Church which is the Body of Christ begins with our baptism into Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection, but it ends with our rapture before the tribulation period and our entrance into the heavens.
Regardless of a person’s future hope, the power behind the New Beginning is provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 21, Jesus spoke of the Jewish hope and said in verse 5:
Revelation 21:5 (KJ2000)
5 . . . Behold, I make all things new . . .
And then in verse 7, He said:
Revelation 21:7 (KJ2000)
7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things . . .
Well, who are those who have the power to overcome? In Revelation 12, John said:
Revelation 12:10,11 (KJ2000)
10 . . . I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb . . .
Those who overcome the forces of the antichrist and the devil during the tribulation period will inherit all things, and their power to overcome the devil will be provided by the blood of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ.
In Revelation, Chapter 5, we see Jesus taking the book with the seven seals of judgment, and when He takes it, the four beasts and the twenty-four elders sing a new song which says:
Revelation 5:9 (KJ2000)
9 . . . You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood . . .
The New Song, the New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem, all are part of the New Beginning that God has planned for those with the hope of Abraham, and again, it is made possible by the power of the shed blood of Christ.
For those of us who are members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, our New Beginning is made possible by the blood of Christ as well. In Ephesians 2, Paul says that we who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. In Colossians 1, Paul says that we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. And then he says that Christ has made peace through the blood of His cross.
Clearly, all redemption is based on the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Whether we talk about the hope of the Jews or whether we talk about the hope of the Church which is the Body of Christ, it’s all made possible by the blood of Christ.
Perhaps, as we approach a new year, we should fill our hearts and minds, not so much with the failures of the past or with our resolutions for the future, but with thoughts of the New Beginning which God has already provided for us through the shed blood of Christ. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, he taught that what we entertain in our minds is very important. He said:
Philippians 4:8 (KJ2000)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
What could be more pure, or more just, or more lovely than the inheritance of perfection which God has promised to all those who believe in Jesus.
We know that we are not perfect now, but we’re moving in that direction. In fact, Paul says that:
Matthew 1:20,21 (KJ2000)
20 . . . fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Well, as you know, it’s that time of the year again when people start thinking about turning over a new leaf and adopting New Year’s resolutions. However, the word of God explains that human beings do not by nature have the will power to simply turn over a new leaf. The fact is that it takes the power of God to change the direction of a person’s life. Our inability to have total self control is a result of our sin nature, but fortunately, Jesus Christ came into the world to save his people from their sins.
Through simple faith in the blood of Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and freely given the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and then provides the motivation and the power to turn away from sin. What a beautiful thing it is to know that we can have a New Beginning through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle John had the privilege of seeing the ultimate conclusion of the New Beginning which was promised to Abraham and his descendants. While he was on the Isle of Patmos, John saw a vision of the future and said:
Revelation 21:1-5,7 (KJ2000)
1 . . . I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new . . .
7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things . . .
Jesus said, “Behold, I make all things new.” This is the ultimate New Beginning with all things being made new.
The city that John saw coming down out of heaven is the city that Abraham was looking for. Hebrews 11 says:
Hebrews 11:8-10 (KJ2000)
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should later receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:13 (KJ2000)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, . . . were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Hebrews 11:16 (KJ2000)
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.
This city was also the hope of the Apostle Paul at the time that he wrote the book of Galatians. In Galatians 4, he said:
Galatians 4:25,26 (KJ2000)
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Today, we no longer look for the New Jerusalem, that heavenly city which will come down from heaven to be the capital city of the world. This hope was promised to Abraham, and it will only take place when God fully implements all of the terms of His New Covenant with the nation of Israel.
By the end of the period of time covered by the book of Acts, the nation of Israel had been offered the full implementation of the New Covenant, but Israel refused to enter into that covenant because of their unbelief. Therefore, it was time for a new beginning in God’s program for man. At the end of the Acts period, God set aside Israel’s New Covenant program and began revealing the program for us today. This is the program for the Church which is the Body of Christ.
The Church which is the Body of Christ is the Church which God has been building in heaven for the past 2000 years. It is the church to which all believers belong regardless of their religious background. This heavenly church is a church which nobody can join. Imagine that, a church that nobody can join. Only the Holy Spirit can add a person to this church.
When a person believes, he is baptized into Jesus Christ and identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Today, this baptism makes him a member of the Church which is the Body of Christ, and it can only be performed by the Holy Spirit of God. In Colossians 2, Paul says:
Colossians 2:10-12 (KJ2000)
10 And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, in which also you are risen with him through the faith of the working of God, who has raised him from the dead.
We are circumcised, we are baptized, all by the working of God, and this is the start of the believer’s personal New Beginning. But praise the Lord, this is just the starting point. Paul says that this work of the Holy Spirit within the life of the believer is just the down payment or the guarantee of that which is to come. At some point in the future, the whole Church which is the Body of Christ will be redeemed as the purchased possession of Christ.
Well, when is this redemption of the Church going to take place? Ephesians is one of the books which talks exclusively about the Church which is the Body of Christ, and so when Paul speaks of the redemption of the purchased possess, he is talking about the rapture of the church.
Philippians and Colossians also speak exclusively about and to the Church which is the Body of Christ, and so we see Paul talking about the rapture of the Church in both of these books. In Colossians 3, we read:
Colossians 3:4 (KJ2000)
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
In Philippians 3, Paul says:
Philippians 3:20-21 (KJ2000)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven; from which also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our humble body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body . . .
Now this is the ultimate New Beginning for us today. Our New Beginning starts when we are baptized into Christ, but our New Beginning will not achieve its ultimate goal until we are caught up to be with the Lord, and we are given our new, glorified body.
What will happen after that, we don’t know, but we do know that God has big plans for us. In Ephesians 2, Paul says that God:
Ephesians 2:6,7 (KJ2000)
6 . . . has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
There is no mention here of the New Jerusalem. There is no mention here of our leaving the glory of heaven to come back to the earth when the New Jerusalem comes down to the earth. It could be that we will serve the Lord in the New Heaven while those with the hope of Israel will enjoy the New Jerusalem on the earth. That is, of course, just speculation, but it is food for thought.
The New Beginning for those with the Jewish hope begins with their baptism into Jesus Christ and into His death, burial and resurrection, and it ends with their rapture at the end of the tribulation period and their entrance into the kingdom of the New Earth. The New Beginning for us as member of the Church which is the Body of Christ begins with our baptism into Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection, but it ends with our rapture before the tribulation period and our entrance into the heavens.
Regardless of a person’s future hope, the power behind the New Beginning is provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 21, Jesus spoke of the Jewish hope and said in verse 5:
Revelation 21:5 (KJ2000)
5 . . . Behold, I make all things new . . .
And then in verse 7, He said:
Revelation 21:7 (KJ2000)
7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things . . .
Well, who are those who have the power to overcome? In Revelation 12, John said:
Revelation 12:10,11 (KJ2000)
10 . . . I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb . . .
Those who overcome the forces of the antichrist and the devil during the tribulation period will inherit all things, and their power to overcome the devil will be provided by the blood of the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ.
In Revelation, Chapter 5, we see Jesus taking the book with the seven seals of judgment, and when He takes it, the four beasts and the twenty-four elders sing a new song which says:
Revelation 5:9 (KJ2000)
9 . . . You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood . . .
The New Song, the New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem, all are part of the New Beginning that God has planned for those with the hope of Abraham, and again, it is made possible by the power of the shed blood of Christ.
For those of us who are members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, our New Beginning is made possible by the blood of Christ as well. In Ephesians 2, Paul says that we who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. In Colossians 1, Paul says that we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. And then he says that Christ has made peace through the blood of His cross.
Clearly, all redemption is based on the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Whether we talk about the hope of the Jews or whether we talk about the hope of the Church which is the Body of Christ, it’s all made possible by the blood of Christ.
Perhaps, as we approach a new year, we should fill our hearts and minds, not so much with the failures of the past or with our resolutions for the future, but with thoughts of the New Beginning which God has already provided for us through the shed blood of Christ. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, he taught that what we entertain in our minds is very important. He said:
Philippians 4:8 (KJ2000)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
What could be more pure, or more just, or more lovely than the inheritance of perfection which God has promised to all those who believe in Jesus.
We know that we are not perfect now, but we’re moving in that direction. In fact, Paul says that:
Ephesians 4:11,12 (KJ2000)
11 (God) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
We’re not perfect yet, but we know that someday we will be because Paul says:
1 Corinthians 13:10,12,13 (KJ2000)
10 . . . when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
We’re not perfect yet, but someday we will be, and then our New Beginning will be complete.
It’s been a pleasure studying with you this morning, and I’ll look forward to studying with you again next week at this same time.
Church links:
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