Exodus
Taking things slow and looking at the Bible one verse at a time, one word at a time is incredibly valuable. But just as important is seeing the big picture of each book of the Bible. The goal of this series is to cover the ‘big picture’ meaning of each book of the Bible in 500 words or less.The book of Exodus is named after one of the most memorable events in the Old Testament, the mass departure of Israel from Egyptian slavery through the power of God. Most of us are familiar with the first half of Exodus, but not so much the second. Taken as a whole, Exodus is a powerful tale of two stories.Part 1: God delivers Israel from slaveryWe start with the familiar. Israel had suffered for hundreds of years as slaves in Egypt. Through all their pain and suffering, however, they were not alone. God knew (Ex. 2:25). God called Moses and sent him to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery, and what followed was the greatest display of God’s power the world had yet seen. Through nine awe and fear inspiring plagues God beat upon the hard heart of Pharaoh. Through it all God’s aim was two fold; to free Israel and to show the Egyptians that he is the Lord (Ex. 7:5). The culmination of God’s deliverance came in the tenth and final plague. Every firstborn in the land of Egypt would die. God would spare Israel, but in order for the wrath of God to pass over them, the blood of a lamb had to be spread over their door posts (Ex. 12). Finally Pharaoh was broken and Israel was free. Though it all God showed his power and he pointed forward his plan to save mankind. Humanity could be free form the curse of death, but it would take the blood of a sacrifice for it happen.Part 2: God shows Israel that they are slaves to sin Around chapter 15 the second story of Exodus starts. The Israelites are no longer slaves in Egypt but everything is not right. The people grumble about food and water, and at Mt. Sinai Israel falls short of God’s desire that, “you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). And so God makes a covenant with Israel, and for nearly twenty chapters, beginning with the ten commandments, Israel is given the law. It’s not until we come to the New Testament that God’s purpose in giving the law becomes clear. Paul tells us that “The law came in the increase the trespass” (Rom. 5:20). God gave the law to show Israel just how sinful they were. Why? Because the Israelites were still slaves. They weren’t in Egypt, there were no more taskmasters, no more brutal labor, but like everyone else the Israelites were still slaves to sin. The deliverance in the first half of Exodus didn’t provide the ultimate freedom that Israel and the rest of humanity needed. There was a greater enemy than Egypt, an enemy in the heart of every person, and to be delivered from this slavery would take an even greater miracle.
Be at Peace with One Another
This is one in a series of articles that looks at the another passages in the New Testament. There are 47 ‘one another’ verses in the New Testament that give instructions to the church. It is no small thing that the New Testament puts so much emphasis on the interrelationships of the body of Christ. Christians are made to live in community with each other, and God has so ordered the community that we are mutually dependent on one another. It’s no surprise then that thirteen one another verses deal with the unity of the church.The first one another verse in the New Testament is found in Mark 9:50, where Jesus commands his disciples to be at peace with one another.
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
Let’s start by focusing in on the last part of verse 50: Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Let me make four observations.This is not a suggestionThere are two commands in the last bit of verse 50: have salt and be at peace. These are not suggestions. Jesus, the Kings of the universe, commands his followers to have salt (whatever that means), and to be at peace. If we are followers of Jesus we can’t dismiss commands like these. That means I can never be content with a lack of peace in the body of Christ. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Paul’s exhortation extends to all those we live with. How much more then should we be concerned about the peace between ourselves and fellow believers. We cannot sleep on this. Let me give one example of where I’ve seen this go wrong. When there is a lack of peace between people in a particular church, whether it’s between two individuals, or two larger groups, or an individual and the leadership of a church, the most common and consistent response I’ve seen is for people to leave the church. Instead of pursuing peace with one another people pursue another church. It may feel like peace because everyone is removed from tension and hostility, but it’s certainly not being at peace with one another. There’s no doubt moving—or having people removed if you can—is the easier option, but it’s simply not the option Jesus gave us.The aim is peace“And be at peace with one another.” That’s the goal of this last section in Mark 50. Jesus want’s peace to reign in the church. To be at peace carries the idea of being reconciled. It makes sense that Jesus would want us to live lives that are reconciled to one another since his life, death, and resurrection reconcile us to God. Jesus, through his death, makes peace between sinful people and a holy God (Col. 1:20). The expectation is that, just as we have been reconciled to God and are at peace with him, so we will be reconciled to one another and be at peace with the church. There are thousands of things that can cause rifts and divisions within the church. Our personal preferences (think music, decor, and the like), our opinions on tertiary theological matters (I once had a man leave our church because I didn’t agree with his particular interpretation of Revelation), and very often our personalities. The aim, in the face of every division, is to be reconciled.The focus is the churchI’ve hinted at this above, but let me make it blunt—this is a command given to the church. The audience who heard this command, the people who made up the ’one another’ group, were professing followers of Jesus. I say this because there are times when the church simply cannot be at peace with the world. When it is possible, we should do everything we can on our end to be at peace with those outside the body of Christ, but there are times where there simply cannot be peace between the church and the world. There are some divisions that can only be remedied by the blood of Jesus, and apart from the transforming work of God’s grace, we will simply not have peace in every area with those who are not followers of Jesus. It’s important to point this out, and to keep it in mind as we look at the other one another passages, because we often see people taking the one another verses and applying them broadly to all humanity. That is not what the Bible has in mind in these one another passages. They are given to the church, and they can only be fulfilled by the church.The key is to have salt in ourselvesIf you want peace in the body, then you have to be salty. That’s right, if you want to experience reconciliation between you and another Christian both of you have to get salty. It’s ironic that today this phrase means the exact opposite of what Jesus intended. When you hear someone take about getting salty today they mean getting angry or mouthy with someone. Shocker: that’s not the key to peace in the church. So what did Jesus mean when he said have salt in yourself? In the lead up to verse 50 Jesus called his followers to radical sacrifice: cut off you hand, cut off your foot, tear out your eye if they cause you to sin. Like virtually every teaching in Christian history I don’t think Jesus was being literal here (otherwise every Christian would be without feet, hands, or eyes—not to mention any other part of ourselves we sin with!). But Jesus was seriously calling us to radical sacrifice; nothing you have is so precious that it’s worth keeping if it will keep you out of the kingdom. Nothing you have is so good that it’s worth keeping if it leads you into sin, so willingly sacrifice the things that keep you from following Jesus. In verse 49 we see fire and salt connected. Interestingly, both fire and salt were important in the Old Testament sacrificial system. Burnt offerings were to be completely consumed by fire, creating a pleasing aroma to God (Lev. 1). Additionally, sacrifices had to be seasoned with salt (Lev. 2:13). We see these two some elements come up in Jesus' teaching, right after he’s called us to radical sacrifice. Putting all that together, I think when Jesus tells us to be salty he’s telling us to sacrifice things that cause sin in our lives. Having salt in ourselves is another way of saying, “live a holy life.”That’s important for us to see. Any division in the body of Christ can ultimately be connected back to our sin. Pride that demands we have things our way. Puffed up knowledge that asserts we know what’s best. Selfishness that puts our brothers and sisters needs behind our own. You get the idea. And don’t be so quick to take the high road. Chances are, if you're not at peace with another Christian you're thinking about their sin right now. There’s a little part of you that’s pumping it’s fist, saying I knew it was their fault. But it always takes two to tango. It’s your own sin that caused you to respond however you have rather than make whatever sacrifices are necessary to be at peace. The reality is, when there’s no peace both parties are almost always to blame.We need peace in the body of Christ. I’m certain of that because our King commands us to pursue it. Get salty, make sacrifices to put your sin to death, and be at peace. If you’re not at peace with someone today, pray and ask God to show you what sin in your heart is keeping you from reconciling. At the same time, lovingly pray for your brother or sister in Christ that God would show them the same thing. Then do something! Don’t sit in a staring contest waiting for the other person to blink. Get salty, get up and go make peace. The greatest thing about being salty is that it both corrects and prevents division. That means no matter where we are, lots of division or none, we must pursue the salt of sacrifice toward a holy life to keep division at bay. Church be holy, and be at peace.
Every Member on Mission
Every church needs a mission (the what) and a strategy (the how). The mission of Union View centers on knowing and delighting. Everything we do at Union View is aimed at helping people know and delight in Jesus. There's nothing new here. Every church that organizes itself around the Bible shares the same mission--though we may say it differently. That’s what we are trying to accomplish, but how do we do it? Once people are connected to our church we utilize Sunday worship, Bible classes and disciple groups to help people grow in knowing and delighting in Jesus. Our strategy for helping people know and delight in Jesus who don’t have a connection to our church, or any church, is called Every Member on MissionBefore I explain the strategy I want to ground it in biblical truth. In Acts 17 Paul is sharing the gospel in Athens. He gives a wonderful argument for Jesus, from creation to resurrection. But I want to focus our attention on one part of his argument, found in two verses 26 and 27.
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Acts 17:26-27
This is an incredible passage that works out some of the details of what it means to say that God rules over all things and governs the events in our lives: especially when it comes to people. Paul says 3 things about God: God is in control of who lives, of when & where they live, and and then we’re told the purpose behind all of it. Let’s work through those .God is in control of who lives
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth v. 26a
God is governing the existence of every nation on earth. When you hear the word nation don’t think of boarders on a map, think people groups. The Greek word for nation refers to a group of people united by kinship, culture, and traditions. You can have several people groups inside of one modern Nation, even inside one state. God brought every distinct little people group into existence from Adam.We can make a logical inference from this: God cannot govern the existence of people groups without governing the existence of the the individuals in those group. That’s important to see, because what Paul goes on to say about the nations is true of the individuals who live in them.God also determined when and where we live
having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place v. 26b
The word determined is two words in Greek: determine & command.Paul says this as forcefully as he can to stress that God is actively ruling over our lives. Paul points out 2 things. First, God determines our allotted periods. That means God determined and commanded the time in which you live. Have you ever heard someone say, “I was born in the wrong generation.” That’s impossible! It’s impossible because God is the one overseeing when you live. That you live in this century, in this decade, on this very day is not coincidence, it’s not chance, it’s not random.You live in this moment because God determined and commanded that you should live in this moment.Second, Paul tells us that God determines the boundaries for our dwelling place.You live in your state because God put you here. You live in your city, town, or rural county because God put you there. You live in your house on your street because God put you there!None of that happened outside the sovereign rule of God!The aim of all God’s determining & commanding is that we should seek God, feel our way toward him, and find him
that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. v. 27
How incredible is that. What drives the sovereign and providential rule of God is his desire that we might find him. Just think on that for a moment, and be incredibly thankful that the person with the ultimate power and control in the universe uses it in a loving way! You live when and where you live for two reasons.First, so that you might find God. If you’re a Christian, look back on your life. Think about when and were you lived when you met Jesus. Think about the other people that God had around you: someone there to share the gospel with you, give you a Bible, give you a book, invite you to church. All of that was the work of a loving God.Second, once you've found God, you live when and where you live so that others might find God through you. That’s just the way God works. He uses his children, like lights in the darkness, to point others to the King. I love the imagery Paul uses here. It’s as if people are feeling around in a dark room, looking for something, and the hope is that they would run in to you, and that you would point them to the Jesus.This truth is the foundation of our strategy for helping unbelievers know and delight in Jesus. We trust that God has put us where we are and when we are so that those wandering in the darkness can see the light of Jesus as we share the gospel. Never forget that! Any time you think you are incapable of being a part of God’s mission, any time your heart is full of fear at the though of sharing the gospel, remember the sovereign God of the universe has put you in that position—and he doesn’t make mistakes. Every member of the body of Christ in on mission.6 things to do with and for those around youTo make our strategy as simple as we can, we’re encouraging you to do six things with and for those around you: your neighbors, family, coworkers, etc.
- Meet everyone & learn their names
- Pray for the people you meet
- Share a meal with them
- Find a need, Fill a need
- Enjoy some celebration/fun time
- In all of this seek out Gospel conversations
In the coming weeks we’re going to post articles about each of these six to give you ideas and encouragement. The important thing for every Christian to believe that God has put you where you are, when you are, so that others might come to know and delight in Jesus through you. You’re on mission with God today! Have a heart and mind to be aware of that, and trust the God who has ordered all these things.
The Post-Christmas Letdown
Christmas is over, at least for 2016, and depending on how your weekend went you are either thankful or sad the day has passed. For most of us, no matter our perceptions of this year’s Christmas, there was, and perhaps still is, an excitement and expectation surrounding Christmas. It’s a big day, and we either still have or can remember at least one Christmas where we were excited to see the sunrise. At its best Christmas brings family, food, fun and gifts. There are loads of excitement—then it is all over. You wake up the next morning and all the expectation and excitement you felt is gone, and this week is like every other week.I wonder if Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the prophets, and everyone else in Israel who rejoiced at the birth of Jesus felt the same way. With the exception of Luke’s eleven verses in Luke 2:41-51, the Bible is silent on the life of Jesus for nearly 30 years (Luke 3:18). I imagine there must have been some letdown. Both Mary and Joseph were visited by angels who announced the birth of Jesus. That’s some serious hype. For centuries prophets spoke and longed to see the night in the manger. But what happened the next day? My guess is the same things that happen after the birth of every new family’s first child. Monday there was feeding, diaper changing, and crying. Mary and Joseph were sleep deprived for a while. The shepherds? Back to work, tending sheep. Oh, there was excitement, but not the kind you would want. I mean, who wants to flee your home for another country to save the life of your son (Mat. 2:13-21). Eventually, life settled down in Nazareth.It was some thirty years before people began to see and hear what Jesus was about. For Mary, thirty years of mothering, thirty years of treasuring up everything she experienced in her heart before she saw Jesus’ ministry. And Joseph? He’s not mentioned after the birth narrative, and many scholars believe he likely died before Jesus’ public ministry began. Years of being a father and perhaps Joseph never saw. It was the waiting period, and everyone who has loved God throughout the ages has been through one. Adam and Eve waited for the seed. Abraham waited for a son. The Israelites waited in Egypt, and then for the prophet like Moses to come (Deut. 18:15). If you were alive during the three years of Jesus’ ministry, you waited for him to do something to deliver his people. And if you are a Christian living any time during the last two thousand years you have waited for Christ’s return and consumption of his kingdom. From the beginning of God’s rescue plan, the children of God have been waiting people.It’s easy to feel the letdown today. Jesus has come, and we want everything done right now. I know I do. I want the fight against sin to be over, I want a resurrection body, and most of all I want to be with God on the new earth he will make. But today, we wait. It’s not all bad news. The waiting is not useless, and what we do during our waiting really matters. Do you think the love and care of a mother was wasted as Mary waited thirty years? Of course not. I love that about the story of Jesus. There were thirty years of Mary being a mom, and every day mattered. And the truth is, whatever you do to the glory of God today, another day in a long line of waiting, matters as well. That's a great truth that flows from the reality of serving a sovereign God--the mundane matters. I don't know how, but I know that it does, and I want to spend my waiting day knowing that even the smallest things done out of love for God and people matter.