Monthly Archive for December, 2001

Philemon 1:1c

Published on December 31, 2001 in Philemon. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Philemon

 

Philemon 1:1 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and TimothyTo Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer…”
 
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer
 
This is the only occurrence of the name Philemon in Scripture.  Philemon was the object of this little letter. He was a convert of Paul (v. 19; Ac 19:10).  He was the master of the fugitive slave Onesimus (Co 4:9; Philemon 10).  Onesimus stole from this wealthy slave owner.  Onesimus later came to trust Christ through Paul and became a great help to Paul in ministry. 
 
Philemon was Paul’s “beloved friend and fellow laborer.”  Philemon was a beloved one, a dear friend. Paul viewed Philemon as someone close to him.  They probably cultivated their friendship in Ephesus where Paul stayed for three years.
1 Co 15: 58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
 Ph 4: 1 “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
“Fellow laborer” means that Philemon participated with Paul in the ministry of Christ at Ephesus. “Fellow laborer” occurs 13 times, 12 times in Philemon and once in 3rd John 8.
Paul claims no right to order Philemon to release Onesimus but appeals to Philemon as a “friend” and “fellow laborer.” Philemon was a Christian businessman whose home was always open.  He labored with Paul in Ephesus and later he opened his home for the cause of Christ in Colosse.
PRINCIPLE:  A good leader values good workers.
APPLICATION:  As Paul appreciated good men and women so should we, especially those who labor in the gospel and the Word.  This is an indication of a good spiritual leader.
Those who labor with us in the truth of the Word are fellow-soldiers.  We endure conflict together; we stand alert against the enemy together; we remind each other of our spiritual weapons; we take responsibility for one another.
Paul was some soul winner.  He led the wealthy Philemon to Christ and he led the salve Onesimus to Christ. All of us can do something for the Savior.  We may not have a public gift but we can serve the Lord. There is room for everyone in the service of the King.  We cannot sit on our hands and say, “There is nothing for me to do in the ministry.” God will use all of us if we are willing.
Ac 15: 38 “But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.”
1 Co 3: 9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”
2 Co 6: 1 “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”
2 Ti 2: 15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
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Philemon 1:1b

Published on December 30, 2001 in Philemon. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Philemon

 

Philemon 1: 1 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer…”
 
and Timothy our brother
Timothy is not a writer of the book of Philemon but a companion of Paul.  Timothy was with Paul on his third missionary journey in Ephesus (Ac 19) so he was acquainted with people in Colosse where Philemon lived.  Paul mentioned Timothy in five other salutations (2 Co, Ph, Co, 1 and 2 Th).  He was with Paul during most of his stay in Ephesus when Paul became acquainted with Philemon. 
By designating Timothy as “brother”, Paul reminds us that we are in the fraternity of the Father.  Paul and Timothy were well nigh inseparable.  There was a significant difference in their age but they were close companions.  Paul calls himself “the aged” in verse nine.  Paul wrote two books of the Bible to Timothy (1 & 2nd Timothy). 
Timothy was Paul’s troubleshooter along with Titus.  Paul could not be everywhere so he sent these two sterling men to address certain problems in the church.  Timothy was the vest-pocket edition of the apostle Paul.  Paul taught him everything he knew. 
PRINCIPLE:  Labor in a common cause binds people together. 
APPLICATION:  There are certain people that we can trust with delicate information.  We know this because we know them.  They will not garble the message or distort the truth.  They will not add to the truth nor will they subtract from the truth. 
Ph 2: 19 “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.”
1 Co 16: 10 “Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.”
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Philemon 1:1

Published on December 29, 2001 in Philemon. 5 Comments
Read Introduction to Philemon

 

"To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer…”
 
The salutation comprises the first three verses. 
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus,
Thirteen books in the New Testament begin with the name “Paul”.  None of his books begin with “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” except this one.  Philemon is the only epistle where Paul portrays himself as a “prisoner.”  He currently sits in prison in the city of Rome.  Paul refers to his imprisonment six times (1,9,10,13,22,23).  Philemon is the fourth prison epistle. 
Paul adds to “prisoner” the phrase “of Christ Jesus”.  The intrepid Paul is primarily a prisoner of Christ and not the Roman government or Caesar.  Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon from this imprisonment.  The Romans incarcerated him but Jesus Christ had captured his soul.  Jesus Christ, under His sovereign plan, put Paul in prison (Ep. 3:1; 4:1; 6:19,20; Ph. 1:13; Co. 4:3).
Ep 4: 1 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…”
Paul sees no need to call attention to his apostleship due to the very personal nature of this epistle.  Neither does Paul use the term “servant” or “slave” lest Philemon misunderstand his purpose in writing (the freeing of the slave Onesimus); he assumes the place of a petitioner.
Paul always says the very minimum about himself.  He does not try to impress people with himself.  We invariably try to impress others with our spirituality, our maturity, our training or our effort.  Jesus Christ is the One with whom we should be impressed. 
PRINCIPLE:  All situations in our lives come by divine design. 
APPLICATION:  There is no circumstance that comes into our lives that is not of the Lord’s doing.  We either have human viewpoint or divine viewpoint on life.  Divine viewpoint allows us to look at our circumstances from God’s viewpoint.  Any illness, handicap, affliction or tragedy cannot come upon us without God’s will.  All of it is for our ultimate good and His glory. 
Anyone who is “of Jesus Christ” waves their rights and relinquishes their freedom to Jesus Christ as Lord.  He dictates where we go and when we get there.  Disciples require discipline. 
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GOD’S GREATEST GIFT VI

Published on December 28, 2001 in Articles. 0 Comments

 

 Dr. Grant C. Richison
 
Matthew quotes a number of passages from the Old Testament to show that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy. All the passages he refers to were written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.
Matthew 1: 18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
(This is a quotation from Isaiah 7:14 which we have already studied.)
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Matthew 2:1-23
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
(This is a quotation from Micah 5:2 which we have already studied.)
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
“Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
(This is a quotation from Hosea 11:1. Jesus’ only trip out of Palestine was in Egypt with his parents when he fled from Herod.)
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”
(In Jeremiah 31:15 Jeremiah prophesied the pain of the parents who lost their children by Herod’s cruelty. “Rachel” is an idiom for Jewish women. She was the “mother” of the nation. Rachel was buried near Bethlehem. Dying there, she called her son Oni, son of my sorrow. Jacob changed his name to Ben Amin, son of my right hand.)
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets,
“He shall be called a Nazarene.”
(This is a quotation from Isaiah 11:1. A Nazarene was a word of contempt.)
PRINCIPLE: The truth of God’s promises are solid. We can count on God.
APPLICATION: Do you trust God with your life? Does God have a place in the management of your life? Do you believe in the truth of that promise?
There are three ideas that we need to understand to become a Christian.
  1. We have violated God with our sin (Romans 3:10,23).
  2. Jesus Christ paid for our sin, therefore, we do not have to pay for our sin (Romans 5:8).
  3. If we place our faith (trust) in Jesus’ death for our sins, God will forgive us our sins (John 3:16; Romans 4:5; 5:1). Then we begin eternal life while we are still alive (John 3:16).
Will you make that decision today? Any day is a great time to become a Christian, but it is so exciting to give your life to God during the Christmas season! Just pray to God using the three points above. Tell God you have violated him with your sin. Then express your faith that Christ did all the suffering necessary for your sin. Finally, express your belief or trust in what Jesus did for you on the cross to God. If you do that, you are a Christian.
For more information, please see the Four Spiritual Laws.
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Daniel 9:24-27[Christmas Message]

Published on December 27, 2001 in Christmas and Daniel. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Daniel
Dr Grant C Richison
 
Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.
Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.
 
Daniel lived in troubled times; his people were in exile in Babylon. After almost 70 years of bondage in a foreign land, Daniel read the prophecy of Jeremiah. He was startled to find that Jeremiah had prophesied Israel’s captivity (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10-14). Moreover, he discovered Israel would return to Palestine at the end of the 70 years! This discovery caused Daniel to confess his sins. Revival came into his life (Daniel 9:3-19).
At the end of chapter 9 Daniel tells about his “seventy sevens” vision–a prediction of the time of the first coming of Christ. God has a comprehensive plan for Israel. “Seventy weeks of years are decreed concerning your people and your holy city” (9:24). These sevens are years. Seventy weeks are 490 years. Daniel received encouragement and certainty from this vision. After the privations of the captivity, God was bringing Israel home, and Daniel received hope.
“from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem”
Only one decree (command) is possible here. The decree to rebuild Jerusalem came in the month of Nisan in King Artaxerxes’ twentieth year (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Jewish custom was that if no day is given concerning a royal decree in the month of Nisan, then the first day of the month applies. As the Talmud puts it, “The first day of the month Nisan is the New Year for the computation of the reign of kings and for festivals.” The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England calculated this to be March 14, 445 B.C. Note that Daniel was given this prophecy about 100 years before that decree would come.
“Until Messiah the Prince”
This is a very clear definition that the prophecy concerns the coming of Christ.
“There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks”
Daniel prophesies the number of years that would pass before the Messiah would come. Seven plus 62 adds up to 69 weeks of years, or a total of 483 years. In biblical times, years were measured as exactly 360 days in length. Exactly 483 biblical years later, on Palm Sunday, Jesus would triumphantly ride into Jerusalem.
“The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times”
At the time Daniel wrote these words Jerusalem lay in ruins. He describes a rebuilt city and troublesome times. Times would indeed be troublesome under Roman occupation. In A.D. 70 the walls of Jerusalem would again be destroyed and to this day have not yet been restored. This narrows the time of the coming Messiah to a very distinct period in history, between the finished rebuilding under the leadership of Nehemiah and the destruction of the city by the Romans in A.D. 70.
“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself”
Christ’s crucifixion about A.D. 30 allows for the fulfillment of the prophecy in the prescribed time. Just one week after He rode into Jerusalem, with a great crowd lining the street waving palm branches and declaring Him the Messiah (Luke 19:36-38), Jesus Christ was cut off on a Roman cross. He died not for Himself, but that God’s plan would be fulfilled. Christ gave Himself up to save mankind–so that anyone who would turn to Him could be saved. Of all the outstanding religious teachers Judaism had, Christ is the only One who could possibly fulfill Daniel’s prophecy. (One seven-year period remains–the seven-year tribulation period yet to come.)
“And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
Daniel continues by describing the destruction of Jerusalem. The “people of the prince who is to come” refers to the fact that the Antichrist of the future will arise out of a rebuilt Roman empire. In A.D. 70, Roman emperor Titus marched into Jerusalem destroying the city and the temple.
Thus in a time when Daniel and his people were harassed and troubled by their captives in a strange land, the prophet could find strength in God’s promise of the coming Messiah.
Daniel 9 is just one of over 400 fulfilled prophecies of the first coming of Christ. The statistical possibilities in that staggers the imagination! There is no explanation of that except God’s sovereign control of history.
PRINCIPLE: God sovereignly controls the events, not only of Christ’s life, but of ours.
APPLICATION: We can rest in God’s management both of the universe and of our lives (1 Peter 5:7).
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Micah 5:2

Published on December 26, 2001 in Christmas. 0 Comments
Dr. Grant C. Richison
 
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.
This is a prophecy of the place where the Messiah was to be born. Eight centuries before Christ was born, the prophet Micah prophecies the place of his birth.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah
Note the specificity of the place of Christ’s birth–Bethlehem. Bethlehem is five miles southwest of Jerusalem. It was the birthplace of David (Ruth 1:1,2; 4:11). Though it was an insignificant hamlet, the Messiah will be born there. The scribes and chief priests informed Herod that Bethlehem was the birthplace of the child when he was searching for the Messiah (Matthew 2:3-8).
The One to be Ruler in Israel
The Magi from the east came looking for the one who was to be “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:1,2).
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.
The Messiah came from eternity. He is eternal. This is a strong statement about his eternal existence before his birth.
This verse is quoted in Matthew 2:6 as a fulfillment of prophecy.
PRINCIPLE: We can place confidence in God because he accurately predicts the future.
APPLICATION: Do you have confidence in the eternal word of God as accurate and true?
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Isaiah 9: 6,7

Published on December 25, 2001 in Christmas. 11 Comments
Dr Grant C Richison
 
 
Isaiah 9: 6,7
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
 
This is a prophecy of the coming rule of Jesus on earth. These verses gather into one announcement the predictions of the birth, the deity, his earthly government, his just kingdom, and eternity of Christ.
For unto us a Child is born
The purpose of Christ’s coming was for “us.”
Unto us a Son is given
Jesus did not happen upon earth. From eternity God planned to “give” him. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus existed eternally as the Son. The word “Son” is used to show the relationship between the Father and Son.
And the government will be upon His shoulder
Jesus will reign as King Jesus King of the world. The government of the entire world is on his shoulders.
And His name will be called Wonderful
When he came he was a wonder. He transcends human understanding. He is unique among human beings. He stands supreme above everyone else. His name is wonderful because he is wonderful.
And His name will be called… Counselor
Jesus reveals the mind of God. He counsels us from God’s perspective. He gives God’s council.
And His name will be called… Mighty God
He is God almighty. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Deity in bodily form (Colossians 2:9).
And His name will be called… Everlasting Father
This is better translated “The Father of eternity.” All the ages meet in him (Hebrews 1:2). The Son is not to be confused with the Father, although the Father and He are one (John 10:30).
And His name will be called… Prince of Peace.
Peace will characterize his reign upon earth.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
God made a covenant with David many years before the writing of Isaiah that His Son would reign forever. This has not yet been fulfilled. Jesus has not yet been seated upon that throne. There is a day coming when He will reign (Revelation 3:21).
PRINCIPLE: God predicted the coming of Christ. He is sovereign over the affairs of man.
APPLICATION: We can rest confident that God manages the world well.
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Isaiah 7:10-14

Published on December 24, 2001 in Christmas. 3 Comments

 

Dr Grant C Richison
 
Isaiah 7: 10-14
Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. The Lord will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father’s house–days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah.”
 
During the reign of the evil King Ahaz, war brok out between Judah and Israel. Pekah, the king of Israel, entered into an alliance with the King of Syria (Rezin). The latter two went to Jerusalem to besiege it.
When Judah’s King Ahaz learned of the coalition against him, his heart sank along with his people. He was an evil king and could not reasonably expect God’s intervention for him. But God had not given up on Judah. God sent the prophet Isaiah to Ahaz to give him a promise of the perpetuity of Judah.
The message from Isaiah was one of comfort. Even though the kings of Israel and Syria formed a confederacy against him, God will intervene. Isaiah told Ahaz to ask for a sign to authenticate the promise from God. He refused. So Isaiah gave a sign from God, “and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
shall call His name “Immanuel”
The word “Immanuel” means God with us. The virgin’s son was God manifest in the flesh. This sign was not fulfilled during the days of Ahaz. This is a promise that God will be true to the line of David. Judah will have a future. That future will be established through “Immanuel.” This was a sign for the perpetuity of the nation.
The New Testament clearly saw this passage fulfilled in Christ. At the end of the genealogy of Jesus Matthew makes this statement, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).
Both the Old and New Testaments promise the coming of Jesus Christ. God keeps his word. God indeed came in flesh and was born of a virgin. He was supernaturally conceived without a human father, “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her (have sex with her) till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:24-25)
PRINCIPLE: God is true to his word.
APPLICATION: We can count on God’s faithfulness to us.
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Genesis 3:15

Published on December 23, 2001 in Christmas. 119 Comments

 

Dr Grant C Richison
 
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.
This is the first prophecy of the coming of Christ. Not only is this a prophecy of his birth, but it is a prophecy of his work.
 
“And I will put enmity”
The context of this verse is the fall of Adam and Eve. God is speaking to the serpent who is a personification of Satan. God desires no coalition between himself and Satan. The two are mutually exclusive.
“Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed.”
God draws a distinction between “your seed” (Satan’s seed) and “her Seed” (Jesus). “Her Seed” refers to the humanity (incarnation) of Christ. Notice that this passage does not say that the “Seed” was of Adam. This is an inference of the virgin birth. The New Testament calls Jesus the “Seed” (Galatians 3:16).
“He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
God is predicting the defeat of Satan by the coming of Christ, the Messiah. God is drawing the battle lines between himself and Satan.
“He shall bruise your head” is a mortal wound. The power of Satan is crushed by the cross of Christ.
Yet even at the moment of the first fall, God promises a solution to their sin. At the fall Satan bruised the heel of Jesus. Sin was the cause of Christ going to the cross. At the cross Christ will crush Satan’s head. One is a non-lethal and the other a lethal act. At the cross Jesus dealt Satan a fatal blow. There he paid for the penalty of sin fully.
Christ not only paid for the sins of the world on the cross but he defeated Satan there (Colossians 2:14,15). Satan was executed at the cross.
“And you shall bruise His heel” refers to the death of Christ. Whether this refers literally to the heels of Jesus pressed against the cross, is not important. Jesus was bruised at the cross (Isaiah 53:10).
PRINCIPLE: The birth of Christ set up the possibility of Christ fully paying for sin by the death of his body on the cross.
APPLICATION: Christ fully paid for our sins on the cross. We are free from suffering for them by ourselves.
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Jonah 4:11

Published on December 22, 2001 in Jonah. 2 Comments
Read Introduction to Jonah

 

Jonah 4:11 “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”
 
And should I not pity Nineveh,
God asked Jonah to take spiritual inventory by a pointed, piercing question.  God demonstrated to Jonah what He feels is important.  God is a God of compassion (“pity”).
 that great city,
God’s point to Jonah was this: “Jonah, you care more about your plant (temporal thing) than about the greatest city in the world.  You care more about temporal things than eternal things.” 
in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left
The city of Nineveh had 120,000 small children who could not tell the difference between their right hand and their left hand.  By extrapolating 120,000 very small children, we must conclude that there were between 600,000 and a million people in the city.  That is a lot of people about which to be callous.
God’s point about children is something like this: “Jonah, if you don’t care about adults, maybe you care about children?  Do you even have any compassion for them?” 
—and much livestock?
The book of Jonah closes abruptly.  This is intentional because God wants His people to think about eternal things.  It is a more forceful conclusion than if He spelled out the implications of the conclusion.  It was important for Jonah to learn the relative value of the temporal and eternal, the material and the spiritual. 
The book of Jonah concludes on a very powerful note.  Here is the implication: “Jonah, if you don’t care much about the adults of Nineveh, maybe you care about the children.  If you don’t care about the children, maybe you care about the cows of Nineveh?”  This is pure irony. 
Jonah did not answer that question because it is an open question for anyone who reads the book of Jonah.  All of us should take inventory of our lives.  What do we care about? 
PRINCIPLE:  All of us need to take inventory of our compassion for the lost. 
APPLICATION:  Take inventory of your life.  Is your chief concern for your house, success, security, health and pleasure? 
The reason most people are indifferent to missions is that they are indifferent to the lost anywhere.  We are God’s representatives on earth today.  God loves the most awful of people.  He intends that every generation be evangelized.  Many of us are calloused and indifferent to this mission.  We have the heart of Jonah.  We do not care about the eternal state of people around us.  The reason we do not care is that we are too occupied with the “plants” of this life, with material pursuits.  There is a tendency to make our churches into country clubs of Christians who enjoy one another but who could care less about those who do not know Christ. 
Every time we become indifferent to the lost, God prepares a worm.  If we are in bondage to materialism, God sends something to disrupt our covetous idol.  It is time to take stock.  Do I care about the lost around me?  Do I have my priorities straight? 
1 Tim. 2: 3 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Pet 3: 9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
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