LOOKING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. 18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A SHOCKING REVELATION


Peter’s great confession is found in Mark 8:29. The Lord questioned the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter courageously answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus confirmed Peter’s answer and there could never again be any question about who Jesus really was.

The confession of the disciples only brings them part way to understanding who Jesus was and what he was doing in the world. Now Jesus asks them to believe something that is so radical that it will shake them to the very core of their being! They are being asked to turn around and go completely against the flow of the expectations of almost every single Jew alive! If they were going to follow Jesus they would need to know the truth about the Messiah. They were going to have to accept as true and believe something that they could make no sense of. That is called faith! We are also called to believe and accept things that we cannot explain! That is why so many people think Christians are crazy! The truth Jesus told them was that he was going to be executed. He made it clear that these things must happen. He must suffer. He must die. And he must rise again. The elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law were going to reject their own Messiah and participate in his execution! This was God’s perfect plan for the Messiah. Jesus was speaking clearly. For the first time his truth was not veiled.

All this proved to be just too much for Peter. It just didn’t register! It made no sense at all! Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah. He was the one who had answered the question correctly. And everyone knew the Messiah was not going to be killed! He was going to bring victory over Rome! He was going to restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory! He was going to lead them out of poverty to wealth!

So Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. “Jesus, we can’t have any more of this kind of talk. People will not want to follow you if they hear these things. You are heading in the wrong direction! You don’t have to suffer and die!” Jesus stepped away and turned on Peter and the rest of the disciples who were apparently with Peter. Jesus rebuked Peter. Peter had become the instrument of temptation. In the wilderness temptations Satan had tempted Jesus to abandon his mission. Now Satan was trying to use Peter to do the same thing.

What Jesus says to Peter makes my blood run cold. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” When I look at all the things some churches are doing in the name of God and when I see all the things that are being called “churches” and when I see what some pastors are doing in the name of God and Christianity I tremble. I can hear the words of Jesus, “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men!”

29 Comments:

Blogger jazzycat said...

Dave,
Good post. What is your view of the parallel passage in Matthew 16:19 where the keys of heaven and loosing and binding in heaven is mentioned?

February 26, 2008 11:59 AM

 
Blogger Shiloh Guy said...

Jazz,

Why do you think I chose to preach through Mark?

(Grin)

Dave

February 26, 2008 2:26 PM

 
Blogger donsands said...

Well done post. Thanks for sharing this.



Peter was a proud man, and he was so impetuous with His Lord. He reminds me of me.

February 26, 2008 2:50 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave,

Like Jazzy, I would be interested in hearing more about the "loosing and binding" of Matthew 16:19.

From the little I know about it, those are the actual terms used in Jewish culture of that time. In other words, they are not only modern translation, but may carry with them infused meaning from that culture and day. I confess I have not looked into it much further than that.

It is always a topic of interest in study groups when Matthew 16:19 is brought up.

February 26, 2008 5:33 PM

 
Blogger Wandering Star said...

"That is why so many people think Christians are crazy!"

No, not true. They don't think you are crazy. They think you are deluded.

February 27, 2008 11:50 AM

 
Blogger Shiloh Guy said...

Wandering Star,

Thank you for your input. "Deluded" is an excellent term and I accept it as an accurate description.

May I put your term into my context? "They were going to have to accept as true and believe something that they could make no sense of. That is called faith! We are also called to believe and accept things we cannot explain! That is why so many people think Christians are deluded!"

Wandering Star thinks Christians are deluded because they believe things they cannot explain. W.S. thinks Christians are deluded because they take some things by faith. Am I accurate so far?

I would ask you this: Do you live your life without faith? Are you able to explain everything you believe to be true?

I have discovered that most people who consider me to be deluded hold many beliefs by faith with far less evidence than I have for what I believe!

I have no intention of trying to prove with scientific evidence that Jesus was the Son of God or that he rose from the dead. I don't know what you believe, Wandering Star, but I wonder if you apply the same criteria to your convictions as you apply to mine.

Sincerely,
Dave

February 27, 2008 4:16 PM

 
Blogger Shiloh Guy said...

RE: Matthew 16:19

I find a parallel in John 20:22, 23, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

If these two passages can be used to interpret one another some things come clear. In Mt. 16:19 Jesus is speaking to all the apostles, not just Peter.

The keys to the kingdom seem to control the door or the entrance into the kingdom of heaven. What could those keys be other than the proclamation of the gospel which opens the door to those who believe and closes it to those who reject?

Susan is right about the terms “binding” and “loosing.” They are rabbinic terms which meant “allowing” and “disallowing.” So, in other words, Jesus is giving the apostles authority over his church. This authority is not to be exercised apart from the context of John 20, the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Notice that Jesus uses the word “what” in relation to binding and loosing, not “who. Led by the Holy Spirit the apostles are to allow or disallow the beliefs and practices of the church.

This is where I'm at with this controversial verse.

February 27, 2008 4:17 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Wandering star,
Dave said...........
I have discovered that most people who consider me to be deluded hold many beliefs by faith with far less evidence than I have for what I believe!

Amen, well said Dave!

February 27, 2008 5:32 PM

 
Blogger Wandering Star said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

February 27, 2008 5:44 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Dave,
You said.....
Notice that Jesus uses the word “what” in relation to binding and loosing, not “who. Led by the Holy Spirit the apostles are to allow or disallow the beliefs and practices of the church.

I agree totally and I was curions to see what you thought since we have been studying that passage in my SS class and I was in a minority of one. This view is a slight departure from my church (PCA) and the Westminster Confession, but I believe we have it right......

February 27, 2008 5:55 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

We being Dave & Jazzy.

February 27, 2008 5:56 PM

 
Blogger Wandering Star said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

February 27, 2008 6:01 PM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

Wandering Star,
Your last comment was out of line. We will be the judge and this is not up for debate.......

February 27, 2008 6:04 PM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

It was Jazzycat that deleted the past two comments from wandering star........... and this is also Jazzy signed in as Mark.

Wandering Star,
Behave or leave and don't come back........

February 27, 2008 6:10 PM

 
Blogger Wandering Star said...

I shall of course respect your request. However, I can't help thinking that I was deleted because I posed a challenge (a threat, even?) to which you had no answer and so you made me "go away" by deleting me...

This Wandering Star is going to wander off now, to try to find my solution elsewhere.

February 27, 2008 7:10 PM

 
Blogger Lou Martuneac said...

"Peter’s great confession is found in Mark 8:29. The Lord questioned the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter courageously answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus confirmed Peter’s answer and there could never again be any question about who Jesus really was."

According to the Crossless gospel crowd, including Antonio da Rosa, (aka Sock Puppet: fg me):

The Lord's title, Son of God does not men or infer His deity.

Furthermore, in a soul-winning setting, da Rosa believes any “misconception” the lost man has about who Jesus is and what He did to provide salvation should be “put on the back burner” and left there.

You men know I reject the Lordship interpretation of the Gospel, but at least LS does not assault the deity of Christ like Hodges, Wilkin and da Rosa do.


LM

February 27, 2008 8:04 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Wandering star,
You were deleted for uncivil, snarky and mocking language. You are no threat or challenge to me or anyone else on this blog.

We will engage anyone who is sincerely seeking to understand Christian doctrine and will debate anyone who denies Christianity as long as they are respectful. You failed on both counts.

February 27, 2008 8:48 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Lou,
Do you mean to say you reject sanctification? I don't believe there is anyone on this blog that holds to lordship justification.

February 27, 2008 8:54 PM

 
Blogger donsands said...

Jazzy,

You're a good watchman on the 'blog-wall'. Good job bro.

February 27, 2008 10:03 PM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

Wayne, I like your "mark pierson" immitation! It made me smile seeing "me" post even when I was at work. Good job policing this blog in my absence.

Let's see -

First there was "fly on the wall".

Then there was "estelle".

Now "wandering star".

Are they all related? Are they all from the UK? Do they all like bird watching???

February 28, 2008 8:13 AM

 
Blogger Shiloh Guy said...

I don't get online often enough to catch most of the comments that are being deleted. It was my desire to answer Wandring Star in a kind way and thus to help engage in an edifying conversation. Perhaps that was too optimistic.

Mark, when you wonder whether there is a relation between Estelle and Wandring Star... I can't really prove anything but if you look at the name Estelle and trace it to its Latin roots you will find that it means... Star!

I was hoping to become a "starfisher of men!"

(Grin)

Dave

February 28, 2008 8:55 AM

 
Blogger lorenzothellama said...

You are wrong about Estelle Mark. I know who she is.
Lorenzo.

February 28, 2008 9:32 AM

 
Blogger lorenzothellama said...

p.s. I meant to say that it is the word 'stella' that is Latin for star. My Catholic upbringing and grammar school education come in handy at times.
I know for a fact that Estelle was called after the little girl who was the heroine of Charles Dickens 'Great Expectations'.

February 28, 2008 9:35 AM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Loren,
Did you read any of the devotionals of comfort that I referred you to on my site?

February 28, 2008 10:18 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've noticed the same as of late - a barrage of folks wanting to snark rather than respectfully discuss or debate issues. They seem to be coming in droves.

Dave,

I really appreciate your insight on the binding and loosing term - notably with respect to the "what" rather than the "who." I'm inclined to agree. It makes sense.

Jazzy,

I agree with Donsands here. Good watchmenship. And your impersonation of Mark is impeccable.

February 28, 2008 10:21 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jazzy,

How is this view on binding and loosing a slight departure from the Westminster Confession (and your own church - PCA - as well) ?

How do they differ, if you don't mind my asking?

February 28, 2008 10:25 AM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Susan,
Article 30:2 of the Westimister states in part:
To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by virtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel; and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require


In short it is saying that the binding and loosing refers to church discipline. I just do not believe fallible men make decisions about believers that God is required to validate. Granted the government of the visible church is run by men, but as Dave said this passage refers to the what of doctrine and not "who".

The apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit wrote the New Testament and organized the early Church. They bound the changes of the new covenant and loosed many O.T. practices such as circumcision and animal sacrifices.

I believe that is what the passage refers to instead of Church discipline.

February 28, 2008 10:44 AM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

The deleted comments...

Wandring Star has left a new comment on your post "A SHOCKING REVELATION":

May I put your term into my context?

I don't think I have much choice! LOL!

re you able to explain everything you believe to be true?

In a word, YES!

Jazzy-pussy is not worth replying to.

And -

Wandring Star has left a new comment on your post "A SHOCKING REVELATION":

>I was in a minority of one.

You mean the word of God has to be debated and voted on? What is a poor Wandering Star to make of that nonsense?

February 28, 2008 10:50 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahhh, I see. Very interesting, Jazzy. Thank you!

I wonder if the Westminster Confession draws the connection between John 20:22-23 (which Dave cited earlier - "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.") and the Westminster Confession's doctrine that these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by virtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins;

Giving men the power to remit sins? Sounds Roman Catholic to me.

February 28, 2008 11:40 AM

 

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