The Bringer of Good News

Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off.
Nahum 1:15

It is interesting how for many the topic of salvation gets separated from sin. Maybe sin might not need to be so direct, perhaps it can be worked around, but the idea of justice cannot be lost. Nahum is prophesying of the messenger who brings peace: Jesus. Yet the entire context both before and after is that of judgment. The entire point is that the coming messiah brings hope for the oppressed people of God, yet fear and imminent doom for those who stand by the might of any but the Lord. The powerful oppressor will fall and the world will be glad. This judgment will come and did come. Nineveh has fallen. Yet Nahum 1:15 points towards the future. And in the future Christ will return and this chapter of salvation history will close. With the close of this chapter comes salvation and judgment. One cannot be left without the other. This is why we must go out and preach the word. Let others know what is coming. There will always be those who reject God, but the good news must be proclaimed for all those who might respond to the message. Lest they fall into the judgment worse than what was proscribed for Nineveh.

A Hard Wait

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; 
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Proverbs 20:22

Some people look to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) as showing us a new message on how to live. It is claimed to be a strong break from the old testament. The reality is that the message is nothing new really. It is bringing out the law for better understanding. The extension on adultery shows us that we are sinful deep within ourselves. What we have here in Proverbs is turn the other cheek. Personal vengeance is wrong. It always has been. Many key examples of sin involve a person bringing about their own personal vengeance. Few people can separate their feelings enough for punishment to be just. Usually things escalate more and more, each side demanding a higher price for teir perceived wrong, so that eventually death is the only solution. Our hope is in God, He will provide justice. Whether it comes from his divine hand or by his representatives here on earth, namely our governments, justice comes from God. We do not measure it out ourselves. That is a pride or self reliance to demand to measure out vengeance.

Asking the Right Questions

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7

I am convinced that we as a whole ask the wrong questions of ourselves. We like to ask how our ministers are doing, but we ask the wrong questions. Our concern is with numbers and growth. If the church infrastructure is expanding or not. Really these questions often have a good basis, but also have great potential for abuse. Not the least of which is a pride in what has been done instead of glorifying God. But I think that there is something deeper here in Hebrews, something more serious. We are to consider the outcome of their ways. Where the common questions fail is that they only consider the outcome of tomorrow and not next year. Growing a big church is great unless it is at the expense of unity. A big church has advantages, but if the ages are not well integrated then it will either grow old or alienate its core. Outreach that is effective today can produce those abandoning the faith in 10 or 20 years or even heretics in the same time. The way ministry is done and the depth of faith are critical issues. We need to look at that more, rather than crass external numbers. The problem is that these questions are never easy and we are lazy.

Why We Go On

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2

What Joy was set before Jesus?  The Author is not explicit here, but we have hints.  A cloud of witnesses and laying aside sin, these tell us that the cross was both his burden and shame.  The cross and its concurrent, varied suffering led to something more, something wonderful.  A cloud of witnesses, all brought before God based on the work of Jesus on the cross.  The joy is the fellowship of the redeemed with God.  The final and full restoration that only comes through the cross.  This is what made the cross tolerable for Jesus.  This is also what should drive our lives as well.  We set aside our sin, not because we need to become holy to be right before God, but because the work of Jesus h set us right with God.  Like all the saints before us looking to the one who perfected their faith.

Used at the Right Time

By faith he(Moses) left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Hebrews 11:27

It is aways good to pay attention to what is going on.  Here our author is writing about Moses not fleeing from Pharaoh out of fear.  But he did (Exodus 2:11-15), of course this is not what was in mind.  Obviously, it was the later leaving which is the focus but it is important to note the other one.  God did not use the brash and head strong Moses to save Israel.  First of all he was too impulsive.  Murdering Egyptians is not the way to do the work.  Second he became afraid of the Pharaoh: so he ran.  This is not the feature of one who needs to challenge a pharaoh.  So off Moses goes for 40 years into the wilderness.  There he is prepared for his work before Pharaoh.  There he discovers God.  There he is molded into the leader he needs to be.  Did he become perfect? No, but he became useful.  God is working on each one of us, to make us like Christ.  So that we can become exactly what he needs us to be.  The cross is our salvation and opens the door to our being molded into something more according to God's will.

The Real Difficulty of Incarnational Living

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Hebrews 11:7

This is the catch of faith, by living righteously we bring condemnation to those who do not live according to God's will.  Solely because we live righteous lives others are condemned.  It is a simple fact that cannot be ignored.  There is a lot talk in ministry circles about avoiding condemnation.  Some of the talk is good and some is bad.  When people talk about avoiding direct condemnation this has some merit.  There are some things we need to be direct about, but there are many other things that need not be addressed.  Each case is different and requires unique reflection.  However, there are those who would try to avoid letting people feel condemnation at all costs.  This is wrong.  Simply by being obedient to God brings condemnation to the disobedient.  We cannot avoid it.  Trying to avoid it will make us unfaithful to God, which is worthy of condemnation.  The condemnation from a Christian should start from their life and then their lips only if necessary.

The Pivot Point

When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of once for all.
Hebrews 10:8-10

There is a distinct break in salvation history.  The need and concern for animal sacrifices disappears when Jesus appears.  Such sacrifices are no longer needed.  Indeed the author of Hebrews notes that the sacrifices were not effective at all.  Their main force was not in atoning for sin, but rather helping us to realize the depth of our depravity.  This leads to understanding our deep need for salvation.

The atonement for our sins comes from the work of Jesus on the cross. The power of that work is truly staggering as it covers sins past, present and future.  One single sacrifice that pays the penalty.  One sacrifice that sets the stage for the end times.  Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.  Jesus rising from the grave and thereby demonstrating his power over sin.  Our faith in that act leads to our salvation.  Afterwards, Jesus ascended into heaven to be our high priest and the coming King.  All this hinges on the cross.  It is why we must never forget it.