A Theology of Parables

"And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 'The kingdom of heaven is like......'" (Matthew 22:1)

In Matthew 13:10, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"  One of the reasons Jesus, "spoke...by parables," is that He did not "offer" The Kingdom of Heaven to the flippant, those caught up in the heat of emotion, to get out of some kind of trouble, the casual religion seeker.  The Kingdom of God/Heaven is for, "those who hunger and thirst after righteousness," those who, "hunger and thirst after," the Living Triune God Himself, those who hunger to be obedient Followers of Jesus Christ, in short, "those who hunger."  Vine says that the Greek word for, "hunger," means, "to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire." 

If you ever study the revival meetings of Charles Finney, you will notice that he did not allow entrance into the Kingdom, responses to the message of salvation, the "born again experience" to be a casual decision.  Many times Finney would tell people who responded to the Gospel message, "If you are sincere, come back this evening."  Wesley instituted "the mourners' bench," a place and attitude of, "For godly sorrow produces repentance, leading to salvation, not to be regretted of; but the sorrow of the world produces death."  It was not a time of, "Well, I really messed up my life," but a time of, "against You and You only have I sinned."

Henry Clay Morrison, the president of Asbury College in the early twentieth century, once said, "There are many thousands and tens of thousands of souls in Paradise today who found Jesus Christ as a personal Savior at the mourner's bench.  It will be well understood that there is not virtue in a bench, by whatever name it may be called, but it was good for the sinner, before the congregation and community, to rise up in open surrender and come forward and kneel at that humble little altar, as a confession of sin before his fellow beings, throwing him or herself upon the mercy of God." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I earnestly desire to be a fisher of men as You were and are.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Selective Worship

"I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises." (Psalm 101:1

 

No we don't.  Try to think of the last time you sang both, "of mercy and justice."  Most songs today are in the vein of "I will sing of Your love forever"------ forget that "justice" stuff.  Yet this simple but powerful worship song gives deep insight into the reality of our relationship with our Father in Jesus Christ. 

 

Vine gives some insight (which deserves further study) on the whole concept, "of mercy and justice."  The Hebrew word for, "mercy," here "refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights between the parties of a relationship.  But [it] is not only a matter of obligation; it is also of generosity....The weaker party (that's you and I) seeks the protection and blessing of the patron and protector, but he may not lay absolute claim to it.  The stronger (The Living Triune God) remains committed to his promise, but retains his freedom, especially with regard to the manner in which he will implement those promises."  Of the word translated, "justice," Vine writes that the word "deals with the act of sitting as judge, hearing a case, and rendering a proper verdict," as in Ecc. 12:14, 'For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.'" 

 

Consider the current debates going on all around us in the global scene.  In every area of society, political, social, economic, Satan's people are attempting to condemn all Followers of Jesus Christ with the accusation that we are not merciful, that we are a bigoted, narrow-minded lot which have no mercy, when all the time their concept of mercy is just turning a blind eye and overlooking any concept of justice whatsoever.  Interpret all political, social, and religious arguments, and all those "talk" shows in light of our text today.  You just may be surprised how selective humanity is concerning all areas of human existence, and the gods they have created in order to escape what Paul described as, "judgement to come."  Jesus said that, "justice and mercy and faith," are, "the weightier (foundational, heavier) matters of the law."  Amazing what we learn when we actually the Bible?!?

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have never done it, but today, "I will sing of mercy and justice." Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

America: "He Made Us; We Didn't Make Him" (The Message)

"....It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves....and His truth endures to all generations." (Psalm 100:3b, 5c)

The Message paraphrase says, "He made us; we didn't make Him."  Operate from this premise, and we will never be out of Christ's will.  Most modern translations translate, "truth," in the second part of our text as, "faithfulness."  I see little difference.  Revelation 19 says, "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war."  Or, as Jesus said, "I am...the truth."

What we are witnessing on a national and global scale today is the attempt to "make Him," and in that attempt a not so subtle endeavor to amalgamate truth and righteousness with particular cultures, genders, ethnic groups and personal philosophies.  This is counterfeit truth.  In it is a battle for control, for who rules, whose "truth" endures.  Germany of 1920-1945 is an example.  The German prided himself in his "reformation" roots.  They saw themselves as the cradle of Christian and Western Culture; hence, they rationalized evil.  Bonhoeffer wrote in a letter from prison, "The great masquerade of evil has played havoc with all our ethical concepts.  For evil to appear disguised as light, charity, historical necessity, or social justice is quite bewildering to anyone brought up on our traditional ethical concepts, while for the Christian who bases his life on the Bible it merely confirms the fundamental wickedness of evil."  America, 2010?

Loyalty to anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ reflects the primal Babel syndrome, the will of man's preferential loyalty to what is his, not that which is Jesus Christ's.  And while, "the throne of iniquity," reigns in our governments, courts, entertainment, mosques and many "church" organizations, the Followers of Jesus Christ have the daily opportunity and responsibility to reflect Jesus Christ, Who is, "the head of the... Church,..that in all things He may have the preeminence."  In the coming US elections Americans will have such an opportunity and responsibility, that which will reveal loyalty and obedience to some culture, ethnic, gender, or any other Babel syndrome, or, loyalty and obedience to Jesus Christ, "The Word of God," Who, "is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray Paul's prayer for Timothy, "And may the Lord give you understanding in all things."  Amen.
* (Access a voters' guide at: www.apf327.blogspot.com)

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

"Your Consolations" vs. "The Throne of Iniquity"

"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.  Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with you?"  (Psalm 94:19 (NASB), 20)

God simply will not allow, "the throne of iniquity (to) have fellowship with [Him]."  Presidents and government leaders can be photographed all they wish coming from church meetings, carrying their Bibles, teaching Sunday School classes and claiming "born again" status.  But if their "throne" is based on iniquity, passing laws which are in contradiction to the Word of God, Jesus Christ, they will come under the judgment of the Living Triune God-- along with all those who approve them by voting for them.  Our text reveals, as someone once said, "God will not suffer enthroned iniquity to prevail."  One Hebrew word for, "iniquity," is described as "an offense, intentional or not, against God's law."  The coming American elections, national, state, county, local municipalities, will give all American Christians an opportunity to either approve "enthroned iniquity," or to reject it.  We will be judged by whom we approve.

I remember once reading our text while I was alone and about to cross the communist border between East Germany and Poland, where the darkness of "enthroned iniquity" prevailed.  Little has changed.  "Enthroned iniquity," lawlessness, and evil surround every Follower of Jesus Christ throughout the world today.  But the confession of the psalmist prevails in those in whom Jesus Christ lives. "In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul" (Amplified).

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for, "Your consolations."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2

Losing Preceeds Finding

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25)

Man has been attempting, "to save his life," since the Garden.  We see it today in the religious, political, social, economic, and ethnic arenas of life.  Most succumb to such charges as racism or narrow mindedness by sacrificing what they know to be Biblical correctness to politically correctness.  The motivation in it all is quite simple, "desires to save his life."  If you pray for elections, pray our text.  Pray for leaders in every area of your nation and culture who, "loses his life for My sake." (See today's article on the EU) 

Biblically, the first "spiritual law" in salvation, the New Birth, entrance into the Kingdom of God is repentance.  Bonhoeffer spoke of "cheap grace."  Among other things, it is the offer of grace which does not, "lose," old cultural beliefs and life styles, or the dominant plague among Christians today, political correctness.  It is simply a "grace" which says you can believe and do what you have always believed and done.  Just say a "sinners prayer," and everything will be alright.  Jesus said, on the other hand, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven...."  If we do not begin with repentance, we will not end with salvation.  Whatever transpires will birth a "religious experience" of citizenship in our own kingdom, but will not birth a life changing conversion, a Follower of Jesus Christ whose, "citizenship is in Heaven."   

The grace of which you and I partake is indeed a "costly grace."  It is grace which comes to me and you by way of the Blood Stained via dolorosa, "painful path" to Golgotha, and "The Old Rugged Cross."  There and there alone do I see who I am, and, whom I may and can become.  Only in Father's Grace manifested in the Blood of Jesus Christ and his bruised body can I come into the Kingdom.  Only by losing my life for the, "sake," of Jesus Christ, i.e., repentance, will I, "find it," in the New Birth, the Salvation which is Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see life as You see it, to, "find out what pleases [You]."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"

Hebrews 12:2