'Free World' is Oxymoronic

     In a secular context ‘free,’ according to Webster and Wikipedia, means ‘…enjoying civil and political liberty; enjoying political independence or freedom…’

     In this column the primary Greek word politeia is used for ‘freedom’ which is synonymous with ‘liberty’ and ‘deliverance’ in the Bible; hence our English word politics.

     The Bible; however, defines freedom as being delivered from the philosophy of the world and the source of such thinking.  When a person is delivered from something, they are delivered to something which replaces their previous condition or ideology.

     A major Biblical premise is for one to be delivered from enslavement to sin, to freedom from such bondage.

     The Jews had a very difficult time accepting this new teaching revealed by Jesus and confirmed by the apostles.  They couldn’t accept that real ‘freedom’ was a matter of faith and a gift.  Their human logic dictated that personal effort was required to please God.

     Perhaps the greatest purpose of Paul’s message to the Christians in Rome was the insufficiency of the ‘law’ and the sufficiency of faith.

     “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”  Romans 8:1-2

     And then Paul revealed that not only was man born in bondage to sin, but creation itself was in bondage as the result of sin, awaiting redemption or the release from that bondage.

     “…because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption (decay) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”  Romans 8:21

     In his letter to the Galatians Paul spoke in great detail about the two sons of Abraham; i.e. Ishmael and Isaac.  Ishmael was born according to the flesh while Isaac was born as a result of the promise God made to Abraham that he would father a son by his 90 year old wife Sarah.

     Abraham believed in God to do the humanly impossible and his faith ‘was accounted to him for righteousness.’

     Paul expounded more on the truth that faith delivers believers from the bondage of sin. 

     “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life…”  Romans 6:22-23

     Paul also stressed that the required payment for sin was a free gift of God. 

     “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

     ‘Delivered’ in the context above is also synonymous with ‘give’ in Greek.  Note the emphasis on ‘free’ and ‘give.’  What a gift!

     Paul presented another succinct example to stress the free gift of salvation by faith.

     “…being justified freely (without cost) by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…”  Romans 3:24-25

     God offered His Son as a propitiation (act of mercy) for us.  Therefore, we have been justified (acquitted) freely by God’s grace.  Even our faith is a gift of God.

     In the final two chapters in the Bible, God confirms that eternal life is given freely to all who ‘thirst’ for it.

     “…I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”  Revelation 21:6b, 22:17b

     Now let’s put this all in perspective in view of the present political climate.

     True freedom is much more than political freedom as defined by Webster.  Biblical freedom is the deliverance from the bondage and consequence of sin.  Such deliverance is a free gift.

     The ‘world’ is Biblically defined as the majority of mankind who reject the reality of Christ.  Such will not participate in the ultimate freedom.

     Therefore, is there confusion when our politicians boast that America is the most exceptional nation in the ‘free world?’

     Everyone has the freedom to choose their perception of freedom.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

    

          

The Future of the 'World'

     The ‘world’ in the present context is defined as the order of human civilization without Christ. As such the ‘world’ is associated with transience and materialism along with other non-kingdom attributes.  The Bible is not silent on the subject.

     The apostle John addressed this divisive issue more than any other New Testament writer.  He clearly delineated between those of the kingdom and those of the world.

     “We know that we (Christians) are of God and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”  1 John 5:19

     John later attributes other titles to the wicked one including the great dragon, the Devil, and Satan.  The Devil’s authority is strictly limited by God’s sovereignty.

     During His earthly ministry, Jesus associated the Pharisees with the Devil.  He did so by telling them their source of ‘wisdom’ was from beneath vs. from above.

     “And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above.  You are of this world; I am not of this world…you will die in your sins…’”  John 8:23-24a

     Paul also expanded on the truth that worldly wisdom was opposite that of Christ and warned His followers not to be deceived by such false ‘wisdom.’

     “Beware lest anyone cheat you (take you captive) through vain philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”  Colossians 2:8

     After Paul described the difference between worldly principles and Christly teachings, he warned his Christian brothers not to be conformed to, or assimilate into, such deceptive practices.  He was adamant in stressing the dangers of pursuing temporal advantage.

     “And do not be conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”  Romans 12:2

     The transformation by the renewing of one’s mind is possible only by the filling of the Holy Spirit.  That is the wisdom from above.

     Christians are admonished to test every spirit in order to determine their source.  The Devil is the great deceiver.  The supreme test is that everyone who confesses that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh is of God. Any other perception of Christ is the Antichrist.

     John continues with a word of encouragement, i.e. the Spirit indwelling the believer is greater than the Devil to whom God has granted restrictive ‘world’ rule in this present age.

     “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them (those who teach worldly wisdom) because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  We are of God…” 1 John 4:4-6a

     Shortly after Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, certain gentiles wanted to learn more about Him.  At that time Jesus announced His imminent and necessary death.  He also warned them of the fallacy of pursuing the rewards of this present life.

     “He who loves his life will lose it; and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  John 12:25

     At the same time that Jesus spoke the above words He also pronounced the future of the ‘world’ and its leader.

     “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”  John 12:31

     The death and resurrection of Christ confirmed His victory and the defeat of Satan and the world over which he ruled.

     After Christ’s ascension to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent as God’s presence during the present age between Daniel’s 69^th and 70^th week.

 

     At the beginning of the gap between Christ’s ascension and return, Israel was blinded and the church was born when the Spirit was given.

     Following the 70^th week, or 7 year tribulation, Christ will return to claim all that He paid for on the cross.

     That raises a question: in this present age during Christ’s absence are the nations of the world, specifically America, taking Jesus’ teachings seriously?

     Specifically our politicians are promising everyone the opportunity to pursue and achieve the American Dream.

     Are those promises more closely associated with the world or the kingdom? 

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

    

    

    

Welcome to the Real World

     The secular definition of world as defined by Webster is similar to that offered by Wikipedia meaning the earth and human society/civilization dwelling thereon. 

     There are several Greek words used to define ‘world’ in the New Testament including aion meaning age or time period, ge meaning earth (land) as distinguished from heaven or seas, and kosmos which primarily means order and/or arrangement. 

     More specifically kosmos is typically used to describe the present world order as opposed to the kingdom of Christ.  Such a definition includes the idea of transience, worthlessness, and evil.

     But when the word ‘world’ is used in the Bible, one has to examine the specific context to get the intended meaning.  In this column only the Greek kosmos will be used.  And even kosmos has numerous applications and specific intended messages.

     One of the most popular passages in the Bible speaks of the world.

     “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

     The specific use of world in this verse means mankind in general.  Remember that man was created in the image of God; therefore, God would naturally love His highest creation.

     However, later in John’s gospel, Christ differentiates God’s chosen people from those who would reject the free gift of redemption.

     “I pray for them (disciples), I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.”  John 17:9

     ‘World’ in this context means those enthralled with transience and evil as opposed to those who reject such ideology and seek the kingdom of God.  This differentiation defines the two categories of all mankind.

     This division produced hatred between the two groups.  Jesus spoke often of the fact that the ‘world’ would hate citizens of the kingdom of God.  Those of the kingdom have been redeemed from the desires of the world while remaining in the world to reveal the kingdom of God.

     “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world…I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”  John 17:14-15

     That brings us to the next point.  What is the relationship between the ‘evil one’ and the world?

     Jesus refers to the ‘evil one’ who is the devil himself, as the ‘ruler of this world.’

     The devil’s authority has been granted, or given to him, by God.  Remember when the devil tempted Jesus.

     “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world…and the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me…Therefore, if you will worship before me, all will be Yours.’”  Luke 4:5-7

     The devil acknowledged that his authority had been ‘delivered’ to him.  Delivered is synonymous with ‘give’ and ‘granted’ in the Greek.

     Such granted authority will prevail through the imminent great tribulation.

     John saw a great ‘beast rising up out of the sea.’  The beast is the anti-Christ who will rule over the final world kingdom.

     “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.  And authority was given him over every tribe (people)…All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  Revelation 13:7-8

     The anti-Christ will be granted/given temporary authority to fulfill God’s plan which was devised ‘from the foundation of the world.’  Note again the division of all mankind, i.e. those written in the Book of Life, and all others.

     It was all revealed in the early chapters of Genesis when God cursed Satan for his deception.

     “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed…”  Genesis 3:15

     Such enmity has increased through the generations and will in fact accelerate as the 70^th week approaches.

     The Bible is not silent about the future of the ‘world.’

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

Have we seen the last of Moses?

     In the New Testament, when Paul described God’s required standard of righteousness, he began by listing the final five of the original Ten Commandments.  But then he stated, ‘and if there is any other commandment,’ which means there could follow other specific issues that would be embedded in the original Ten.

     Specific examples included envy, jealousy, selfish ambitions, and the like as revealed in his letter to the church in Galatia referenced above and confirmed in his letter to the church at Ephesus.

     “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them.”  Ephesus 5:6-7

     The major point to be made is that God’s standard of righteousness required for man, who was created in God’s own image, was revealed 1450 years before the birth of Christ.  Such standards are still valid today and serve as the benchmark by which man will be held accountable, or judged.

     For man to espouse progressivism is more than naïve.

     “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”  Romans 15:4

     And another very significant scripture that we quote often:

     “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 

1 Corinthians 10:11

     This passage specifically applies to the 40 years following the Exodus, and just prior to Israel entering the Promise Land, when God revealed His standard of righteousness for man.

     The apostle John summarized the law; its immutability and fulfillment, in the first chapter of his gospel.

     For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ…The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”  John 1:17

     In Paul’s last days, he explained to obstinate Jews that the church (which they referred to as a ‘sect’) was foretold by Moses and the Prophets.

     “… many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and Prophets…”  Acts 28:23

     Paul had previously explained to King Agrippa that the Jews had tried to kill him for his teaching of repentance to both Jews and Gentiles.  He had at that time also explained that his teaching and preaching was confirmation of that which Moses and the Prophets had revealed.

     “…to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come… 26:22-23

     But the Jews and Gentiles have not seen the last of Moses representing the law, and Elijah representing the Prophets.

     Recall Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain to pray.  And while Jesus prayed, two other men appeared with Him.

     “And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decrease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”  Luke 9:30-31

     The Old Testament tells that Elijah was taken to heaven without experiencing death, and also the location of the grave of Moses was not known.

     And then, in the final Book of the Bible John tells of two witnesses during the latter 3 ½ years of the great tribulation.

     “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days…These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.”  Revelation 11:3-4

     Many believe these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah proclaiming the new temple that will be built fulfilling Zechariah’s example of Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Joshua) finishing the temple in Jerusalem upon their return from Babylon.

     When asked the identity of the two ‘lampstands’ in Zechhariah’s prophecy, the answer was:

      “…These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”  Zechariah 4:14

     It appears that we haven’t seen the last of Moses, or Elijah.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com