Better Together!

9.30am Sunday 6 January 2008

Readings: Matthew 2:1-12; Ephesians 2:1-12

Today is the first Sunday of the New Year. There are two things I want to challenge you to do as we begin 2008. The first challenge is to make a commitment to read through either the whole of the New Testament or the whole of the Bible this year. There are two things that will last forever - God's Word and people. Therefore it makes sense to invest a major proportion of our time this year on both. The Bible says, "Your word a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."[1] In the sermon on the first Sunday of Advent I was sharing about our tramp to the 'Bridge to Nowhere' how it is no joke to be on the wrong track in life. Therefore making a commitment to read the Scriptures will prevent us from stumbling as we go through this year. This will be particularly so when we find it difficult to know the right way to go or the right decision to make, for it will provide guidance as to the path we should take. However, this will only happen when we are prepared to take time to study it and take its message to heart by putting into practice what it says. The Bible also says, "...the Holy Scriptures ... are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."[2] What a wonderful resource we have in this book. It is "God-breathed," that is it was written as people were inspired by the Holy Spirit.[3] The Scriptures "are able to make you wise for salvation." The Bible not only shows us and keeps on the right track in life, it also reveals God's purpose for us to be saved through trusting his Son, Jesus. We considered this a number of times as we looked through the prophecies of Isaiah relating to the coming of Christ, particularly that he is our Immanuel, God with us. In the reference in Matthew that referred to Isaiah's prophecy, Joseph was told to call the son Mary would have "Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins."[4] This was the good news the angel brought to the shepherds and to you and I. Christ is the world's Saviour. The Scriptures help us to understand this. But not only does the Bible make us "wise for salvation" through trusting in what Jesus did on the cross for us, it also teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains us to know what God requires so that we will be "thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is an invaluable resource. It is 'the Maker's handbook' on life. We cannot do without. In fact we are foolish if we neglect it.

At the beginning of 2008 I want to challenge you to make a commitment to read either all the New Testament or the whole Bible during the course of the year. We will be studying one of the New Testament books in depth when we do 40 Days of Community, but I challenge you to read at least the whole New Testament. Now it is not difficult to do if you take it in manageable steps. Every mountain is scaled one step at a time. There are 7973 verses in the New Testament, so to read through the New Testament in a year you need to read 22 verses a day. Or, if you are unable to commit to doing it every single day of the year, there are 264 chapters in the New Testament. You can accomplish the same goal by reading 22 chapters a month. You don't necessarily have to read a chapter a day. You could start by reading the whole 22 chapters in one session or over a week, and then go over those chapters again during the remainder of the month. The important thing, however, is to take some time to reflect on what you have read and how it applies to you today. It is helpful therefore to have an exercise book or diary in which you can jot down the things that stand out to you about a particular chapter. The Bible Study Fellowship's method is enclosed in the envelope you received as you entered this morning and will assist you in gaining the most of your reading of Scripture. What about it? Remember, The Bible says "The word of the Lord endures forever."[5] Focus on what has eternal significance this year. That's the first challenge.

The second is an invitation for you to pray into being your heart's desire. A few years back I shared about receiving a letter in December addressed to myself in my own handwriting with a Greymouth postmark on the letter. When I received the letter I was puzzled. However, when I opened it I discovered this small piece of paper. Then it all came back to me. The girls and I had attended a service in Greymouth on the first Sunday of that year. At the service we were invited to write on a piece of paper the things we had wanted to see happen that year. When I read what was on the paper I discovered that two of the three things I had written had come to pass which was very encouraging. The third is still to happen, although I would re-word it now. So this morning I invite you to write on the piece of paper provided in the envelope the things you want to 'pray into being' this year. What is your heart's desire for 2008? It can be more than one thing. If you would like to do this, at some point either during the service or after, write down the things you want to pray into being, then put the top copy in the envelope, seal it, write your name and address on the envelope, and put it into the box provided at the back of the church. Although I won't know what you have written I will pray regularly that God will give you the desire of your hearts, and at the beginning of December they will be posted to you so that you can see what God has done in answer to our prayers. I am sure you will be surprised as I was when I received the letter, because often as we go through a year we do not see what is happening and it is only as we look back that we see that God has been at work and how good he is.

All that is by way of introduction. Today is the 6 January, exactly twelve days after Christmas, and is the day in the Christian calendar celebrated as 'Epiphany.' The word 'epiphany' means 'appearance' or 'manifestation' and for the greater part of Christian history, certainly since the fourth century AD, this day has been set aside to celebrate the 'shining forth' or revelation of God to humankind in the person of Jesus. Some Christians use it to commemorate the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus, thus the reading from Matthew 2 this morning, and celebrate the feast called 'Twelfth Day' or 'Three Kings Day.' The song The Twelve Days of Christmas has its source in this festival. The song dates back to the sixteenth century when Roman Catholicism was outlawed in England under Queen Elizabeth 1. Catholics used the song as a means of helping their children learn the principles of their faith. It is very cleverly done. The 'true love' in the song refers to God and each number to a point of Catholic teaching, and apart from the sacraments, Christian teaching.

 

The partridge in a pear tree refers to Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves, the old and new testaments.

Three French hens; faith hope and charity - the theological virtues.

Four calling birds; the four gospels or evangelists.

Five golden rings; the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament).

Six geese a-laying; the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming; the seven sacraments.

Eight maids-a-milking; the eight Beatitudes.

Nine drummers drumming; the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Ten pipers piping; the Ten Commandments.

Eleven ladies dancing; the eleven faithful apostles.

Twelve lords-a-leaping; the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.

Of course there is a 'Kiwi' version of this song now in which the original images are replaced with ones appropriate for New Zealand. The partridge becomes a pukeko, the turtle doves kumara, the French hens flax kits, the calling birds huhu grubs, the golden rings big fat pigs, the geese pois, the swans eels, the maids plants of puha, the drummers sacks of pipis, the pipers juicy fishheads, the ladies dancing haka lessons, and the twelve lords a leaping piupius swirling. The reason for including this is that it illustrates how it is possible to be creative in the way we seek to communicate Christian truth, and often in times of adversity it is surprising what we can come up with. As Jonathan Schattke said, "Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true..." Can you finish the quote? "...but its father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife."

One further aside is that it was this situation of non-toleration of Roman Catholic teaching in England that lay behind the foiling of the gunpowder plot on 5 November 1605 in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. Appropriately, maybe ironically, we celebrate the occasion by letting off fireworks.

The other use of this day is to commemorate the baptism of Jesus as an adult, in which case the day is also called 'theophany,' which means the appearance of God to man, which is appropriate as at his baptism there was the voice from heaven and the Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove. This is one of the readings for next Sunday. (Blank screen)

Let us now turn our attention to the passage we read in Ephesians. In this letter Paul emphasises again and again the amazing grace of God. He uses different words to describe God's grace. For example in chapter one he uses the word "glorious" to speak about the grace he has "freely given us" in his Son, Jesus Christ.[6] In chapter two he says that this grace is "the gift of God" by which we have been saved. That means that there is nothing that we can do to earn or deserve it.[7] Then in the verses we read from Chapter three he mentions three times that it was by God's grace that he was commissioned and entrusted with the task of making this "mystery" known to the Gentiles. He writes, "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."[8] Remembering that it is now only five weeks until the 'kick off' for 40 Days of Community (40DOC) on the 10 February, and that the theme of 40DOC is "Better Together," it is appropriate for us to consider what Paul has written here Ephesians 3. First he says we are...

1.      "heirs together with Israel" The word "heirs" immediately brings to mind an inheritance. What Paul is saying here is that Christians have an inheritance together with God's chosen people, Israel. I remember the occasion when I sat with my six siblings to hear my mother's will being read. It was on the evening of the day of the funeral service. As it was being read we learned what we would inherit from her estate. It was the first time I had ever been involved in something like that and remember it being a solemn occasion. We were listening to what my mother wanted done with all she owned, and sensed her being there with us. Basically we were to receive equal shares of all she owned. Thinking of this in relation to what we read in Ephesians, the amazing thing about what Paul says here is that Gentile believers are to receive equal shares in all that God has promised Israel. The old hostility and exclusiveness that once existed between Jew and Gentile has now gone. We are no longer "foreigners and strangers" "without hope and without God in the world." All who put their trust in Christ as Saviour are now "fellow citizens" with God's people. We belong to God's "household."[9] This is the wonderful blessing that we saw in Isaiah's prophecies concerning the Messiah leading up to Christmas. What God was to do through the coming of his Son, Jesus, would be inclusive of all nations, all peoples on earth. This was God's intention right from the start. God wants everyone, you and I included, to be blessed through what he has done in Christ. No one is to be excluded.

The part of the New Testament that best helps us to understand the significance of this is found in Romans chapters 9-11. Here Paul talks at length of how the gospel has now come to non-Jews through the Jewish people rejecting their Messiah, but that God's ultimate purpose is for all, both Jew and Gentile, to be saved. For as Paul says, "God's gift and his call are irrevocable."[10] That is, it can never be changed. Israel will always be part of what God wants to do in this world. But since the coming of Christ God has included all who will believe in his Son. It is through the work of God's Spirit that this happens, for it is those who are led by the Spirit that are his children. Again looking at what Paul wrote in Romans, "...the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."[11] God in his kindness has made all who put their trust in his Son "heirs together with Israel." This is your inheritance when you receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of your life.

2.      "...members together of one body..." "Members together" as well as speaking of 'belonging,' speaks of both the unity and diversity that exists within God's family. We have already noted that the old separation between Jew and Gentile has gone. Paul says in Galatians, "So in Christ you are all children of God through faith... There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."[12] Racial, social and gender divisions have no place in God's family. God has no favourites, as we will see in one of the passages to be read next Sunday. God's ultimate desire is for all nations to gather before his throne and with "one voice" to praise and worship him.[13] This has very radical implications particularly within some cultures, even as it did in Paul's day. The words "members together" also remind us of the diversity within the unity in God's family. Just as our human bodies are made up of many members, the same is true of the church. As all the parts of the body are necessary to it's proper functioning, so it is important to understand that we have different roles to play so that God's purpose for his Church can be fulfilled. These are things that we will consider more fully during 40DOC. The point to note here is that through trusting Christ, we experience together a unity within our diversity that is unique to the Christian faith. We are "one in Christ Jesus."

3.      "...sharers together in the promise in Jesus Christ." There are some wonderful verses that shed light on what this means. For example, at the beginning of 2 Corinthians we are told, "Christ says 'Yes' to all of God's promises."[14] What God was about from the very beginning, even when the first man and woman were banished from the Garden of Eden finds its fulfilment in Jesus Christ. What are some of the things that we are promised in Christ.

a)      There is the promise of LIFE. Paul begins his second letter to Timothy saying, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus."[15] Jesus said, "I have come that (you) may have life, and may have it in all its fullness."[16] "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."[17] "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."[18] And the apostle John wrote, "...this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does have the Son of God does not have life."[19] In Christ we receive the promise of life, life in all its fullness.

b)      In Christ we receive the promise of the HOLY SPIRIT. While sharing his final meal with his disciples Jesus spoke about "another Helper" whom the Father would send to be with them forever.[20] Then when Peter preached at Pentecost, he exhorted the crowd that had gathered to "turn away from their sins... be baptised..." and they would be "forgiven" and "receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit." "God's promise" was for them, and their children and to all he would call to himself.[21] Paul in Galatians speaks of the Holy Spirit being what God had promised as the blessing that would come to the world through Abraham. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."[22] In Christ we receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.

c)      In Christ we receive the promise of REST. This has both a present and eternal application. The present application we find in Matthew 28 where Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden in light."[23] This is the inner peace and calm, even amidst life's storms, that God supplies for those who commit their way to his Son. But there is also the eternal 'rest' for the people of God spoken of in the book of Hebrews, where the writer encourages God's people to remain faithful. He says, "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."[24]

 

In the light of all this, what are we to do? How are we to live? We are to live lives that reverence and honour God. That means that we live our lives according to his word and its instructions on living. Paul says in Corinthians, "Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."[25] There are many things that contaminate our lives in today's world. It is not only important to feed our bodies healthy food, we must also nourish our minds and spirit with wholesome things. It is wise to ask yourself, "Are the things I am involved in, is what I watch and read wholesome and helping me live a pure life before God. Will they contribute to living a life set apart for God and his purposes?" It is good to be accountable to someone else about these things.

 

Peter in his second letter states the purpose for this. "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you might participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." So the first purpose in that we will "participate in the divine nature," that we will become more and more like Jesus. Then Peter goes on to say, "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."[26] Do you want to be an effective and productive follower of Jesus this year? To be growing in these qualities of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love, will bring that result.

 

It is wonderful privilege to be part of God's family, to know that through the gospel we are "heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."