And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Maybe you have never considered what I am about to tell you but it is important to know. According to Paul’s own words, this epistle which we refer to as 1 Corinthians, is spiritual milk and not meat. When I consider this in view of the theological gymnastics that some folks employ to discredit the spiritual gifts which Paul expounds on in 1 Corinthians 12-14, it truly is telling of the state of carnality within the modern day church. 

I recently watched a clip of a well known minister that some of you would recognize if I mentioned his name. He claimed that when Paul says, “he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not unto men, but unto God” that Paul is referring to pagan false gods that the Corinthians once worshipped.

This is disturbing because there is absolutely nothing within the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14 that would lead any reader to reach such a conclusion. Even though 1 Corinthians 12-14 (which expounds on the gifts of the Spirit) is written in such an elementary way, this minister chooses to read it through the lens of his reformed theological indoctrination.

If your reformed theology won’t allow you to understand and receive the milk of God’s Word, your reformed theology needs reforming. If I sound a little perturbed, it’s because I am. I am sick of all the efforts by some to “expose” others while they themselves get away with embalming their listeners with unbelief.

This same minister refers to the gifts of the Spirit as apostlic sign gifts, which authenticated the ministry of the apostles. Yet, Paul explains the gifts of the Spirit as gifts that are distributed within the body of Christ to each member as the Spirit wills, and he does so in very simplistic terms, like that of feeding milk to a baby.

There is absolutely no excuse for any minister (who ought to be spiritual) to make such confusion of what is said in such simplistic terms in the New Testament. An unbeliever with good reading and comprehension skills could tell you that Paul is addressing the proper use of the gifts within the body of Christ (the church) and correcting the misuse and abuses of the same, especially tongues.

The Corinthians were carnal believers with envy, strife, and divisions among them and we ought to understand that if carnal believers in Paul’s time could misuse the gifts so can carnal believers in our day. There is a bigger problem within the Western church than false teachers, and that problem is carnality. Such carnality runs rampant among those who believe in the gifts, but it also seems to run rampant among many who want to expose the errors of others.

In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul says that tongues serves as a sign to the unbeliever. What exactly does he mean?

I recently heard someone attempt to explain this. They said that if they were to travel to Japan and began to speak to someone in Japanese about the truths of God, the person to whom they were speaking would know it was supernatural because he does not know Japanese.

Now, this is a terrible take if you ask me. Allow me to explain why.

If the person who gave this example were to travel to Japan and speak to someone there in Japanese, the hearer certainly would not think it was supernatural simply because he spoke the language. They would likely think he knows how to speak Japanese. In Acts 21 when Paul spoke Greek, it got the chief captain’s attention, but he didn’t think there was anything supernatural about it.

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? ~ Acts 21:37

As an American, when I see an English speaking Asian, Indian, Hispanic, or any other nationality, I never think it’s a supernatural occurrence, because it isn’t. They simply know English. If I were in Japan and suddenly had the ability to speak Japanese (a language I can not speak), the only people who would know that it is a supernatural occurrence would be me and anyone traveling with me. However, if I spoke to them in their language words which revealed secrets in their heart, they would know that God had spoken to them.

Tongues are a sign to the unbeliever by the message it conveys. When Paul says that tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, he doesn’t say it in the context of speaking to foreigners in their native language. He says it within the context of an unbeliever coming into a church service.

Now, let’s unpack this a little more. First, consider Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 14:5, I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

In verses 2-4, Paul has said that the one who speaks with tongues edifies himself, and the one who prophesies edifies others (the church). It is in this context that he now says greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues. Paul wanted the Corinthians to desire the gift of prophecy so that they would edify others within the church. This emphasis on prophecy early in chapter 14 comes immediately after Paul’s emphasis on love in chapter 13, which he refers to as the more excellent way.  

The true gift of prophecy is an expression of love because it seeks to edify others, whereas speaking in tongues only edifies oneself, and in a public assembly this is inconsiderate of others. This is why Paul says, greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues.

Paul doesn’t stop there. He then adds, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Paul is equating tongues and the interpretation, with prophesy. When interpreted, tongues serves the same purpose as the gift of prophecy which is the edification of others.

When reading 1 Corinthians 14 it is important to keep in mind that prophecy and tongues with the interpretation are one in the same, serving the same purpose. Let that sink in, because that is exactly what Paul is saying when he says, greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Prophecy edifies others (the church), and so does tongues with the interpretation. Now, with this in mind consider Paul’s words later in this chapter.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:22-26 

Now these verses can be somewhat confusing if we do not keep in mind that Paul has established that tongues with interpretation are equal with prophecy. Paul says that tongues are a sign to them that believe not, then shortly thereafter he says, If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

If tongues are a sign to the unbeliever, why does Paul say that the unbeliever would say you are mad if they walk into a service where everyone is speaking in tongues?

It is because Paul is referring to tongues with no interpretation, in contrast to prophesy, and if we will keep in mind that tongues with interpretation is equal to prophesy, this section of scripture will make sense. Now let’s look at this section of scripture again with the mindset that Paul is referring to both prophecy and tongues with interpretation when he uses the word prophecy because they accomplish the same thing.

Wherefore tongues (tongues with the interpretation) are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues (without interpreting), and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy (prophesy or tongues with the interpretation), and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:22-26

Now, notice what Paul says next.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ~ v 27-28

Paul’s reason for instructing the Corinthians that there must be the interpretation if any speaks with tongues in a church assembly was for the benefit of those who were unlearned or unbelievers.

Now, using the example from the beginning of this article, if I were to fly to Japan and suddenly be empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak to someone in Japanese, the thing that would prove to them that God is speaking through me would not be my ability to speak Japanese. It would be the message spoken to them as it revealed the secrets of their heart.

This is how they would know God had spoken through me to them.

In closing, Paul says, But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Notice the contrast. If no interpreter is present, keep silent in the church, but you may speak (in private) to yourself and God! This clearly underscores the truth that the gift of tongues can be used in prayer in our private devotion to God.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith… ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

Living for Christ is a marathon, not a sprint, and as believers we go through many changes and stages in our Christian experience. We must continue to grow and mature in Christ, or we will begin to wither away. Fiery zeal and passion is a trait that burns in the heart of the spiritually young, but as we grow older we ought to become seasoned in wisdom, grace, and love.

When I was 25 years old with the call to preach burning in me, I thought being spiritual was preaching, and having dreams and visions. Now I understand that it’s serving my wife and being a Christ-like example to my son, and walking in honesty, integrity, and truth. The funny thing is, the same Spirit of Christ that implanted a passion in my heart for sharing the Word of God is the same Spirit that prompts me to serve my wife.

When I was a senior in High School, I began attending a Bible Study that was held just up the road from where I lived. The man who led the Bible study became somewhat of a mentor to me over the next couple of years or so (I will refer to him as my friend the rest of the way in this post). Being hungry for the things of God, I spent a lot of time with him, and for those memories I am grateful. However, as time passed I witnessed a man who failed short of the grace he was called to walk in.

He and his wife eventually separated and his children became distanced from him. His wife later developed cancer and passed away. The announcement that he and his wife were separating coincided with his bringing an end to the Bible study. There were lots of good friendships developed among those of us who attended.

I can remember standing in the kitchen at his home and talking with his wife not long before the separation. She vented to me about his lack of doing simple things around the house which pertained to basic upkeep. I am sure she told me more, but this always stuck with me. He was a spiritual man, so I thought, but his spiritually had not translated to him rolling up his sleeves and making repairs to their home or at least calling someone who could do those repairs.

The prior owners of this home were friends of my family and it was a well kept home according to my childhood memory. Years later, it would go down hill as my friend failed to take care of it, and today it’s empty, rotting, with overgrown vegetation. It literally needs to be plowed down and cleared from the lot. The very same house that I had had so many discussions with him about the Lord is now dilapidated because he didn’t give it the attention and maintenance the home needed.

How sad.

This house truly speaks volumes to me about the Christian experience, and life in general. The sad reality is that it is a reflection of the spiritual value my friend placed on his marriage and it speaks volumes regarding his lack of growth in the grace of God he was called into. I can remember so many testimonies regarding dreams, visions, and other supernatural experiences he had claimed he had with the Lord, but when it came to real life, he couldn’t pick up a wrench and fix a leaking pipe of call someone to repair the bathroom floor that was caving in. This was his wife’s complaint if I remember correctly.

In the New Testament the apostle Paul wrote the following to Timothy:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The word of God makes the man of God thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Nothing speaks to the true character of Christ in a man more than how he values his wife, his children, and those that God has entrusted to him as family. In the book of Ephesians, Paul tells the men to love their wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself for her.

As me and my wife are in the early stages of our senior years this is something that really matters to me and because I made the vow to love my wife as Christ loved the church when we married, the conviction of the Lord abides continually in my heart to finish my race and to finish it strong. My walk with Christ and my love for my wife are inseparable, and if any man does not understand this, he does not yet understand the manner of man God has called you to be. 

Over the time I knew my friend, I noticed the flawed tendencies which aligned with what his wife had told me, and to my knowledge he never corrected them. They ultimately affected the most important relationships in his life, namely his family. When he died before he turned 60, he left behind his second wife that he had met on a mission trip to the Philippines, along with their son, a young boy. To my knowledge, his first son was still distanced from him, and to my knowledge his daughter was in the dark world of drugs and possibly prostitution. It was a bad road either way.

It isn’t supposed to end this way.

I do not write this to condemn him or anyone who has had a similar experience. My point is, the longer we serve Christ, the more like Christ we ought to become. And this Christ likeness to which we are called should show up first and foremost at home. No one knows us like those who live with us.

It’s one thing to have zeal for a season and to have a hunger for the things of God, but when the Lord calls you, it’s for the long game. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. The relationships we are intrusted with by God should not deteriorate if we are being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

If you have read to this point, I urge you not to finish like my friend. Instead, finish strong, and leave a testimony that you were faithful to God with the lives he entrusted into your care. Love your spouse, love your children, and care for the people that God puts in your life.

Everyone starts out wanting to win the world and reach the multitudes, but the reality is as we grow old, God is pleased when we serve Christ by loving those he entrusted to us.

Every year as we get closer to Easter, this teaching gets a lot of views. I have made a few updates.

WHY DID PAUL TELL THE CORINTHIANS TO KEEP THE PASSOVER?

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick (living) and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ~ Acts 10:36-43

This is the gospel message that Peter preached to Cornelius and his house. You may notice that it sounds quite different than many of the messages that are called the gospel in our time.

Did Peter just not know how to preach the gospel because it was so new, or have we strayed from the message that we ought to be preaching? Now, consider that Peter says that after Jesus was raised from the dead, he commanded those he ordained as witnesses of his resurrection to testify that he (Jesus) was ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.

When was the last time you heard that preached?

Now, what’s missing in Peter’s sermon? Missing is the appeal to Cornelius that he needs to repent of his sin or he’s going to hell. Peter does not tell Cornelius that his sins have offended a Holy God but Jesus stepped in and took his place suffering the wrath of God upon himself so that Cornelius could go free. You won’t find the gospel preached in this manner anywhere in the book of Acts, and we have a lot of gospel sermons in the book of Acts.

Peter doesn’t emphasize Cornelius’s need for repentance because he is a sinner. Sometimes that may be necessary, but it wasn’t here because Cornelius was a devout man who feared God, and Peter acknowledges Cornelius works of righteousness, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ v. 34-35

Now, I know that pointing this out may step on the theological toes of some, but we have to stop building theology with isolated proof-texts and calling such the gospel. Cornelius was not a totally depraved individual before hearing the gospel. He was a devout man who feared God, and as a result he prayed often, and gave much alms to the poor, but he did not yet know that Jesus is the Messiah. Cornelius was actually fasting when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and commanded him to send for Peter to tell him the words of salvation (v.30). 

In every gospel message in the book of Acts, the central focus of the message is that Jesus is the Messiah. It was not how much of a sinner the people were, or how to get to Heaven after death, or Jesus became their substitute taking the wrath of God which they deserved, etc. The message was that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, and this is why the gospel that was preached in Acts includes his ministry, his sufferings, his resurrection, exaltation and his glory as the righteous one by whom God will judge the world.

I challenge you to examine Peter’s message to Cornelius because God sent Peter to tell him those words and those words are the framework of the gospel we ought to be preaching.

The problem with our modern gospel is that we have often lifted the message of the cross out of the context of the gospel which proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah and placed it into another context surrounded with our proof texts. The cross belongs in the context of the gospel as was preached in Acts, not in the context of TULIP or any other theology devised by man.

Over and over again, the appeal of scripture in the New Testament is that we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ, the one ordained of God, and the only mediator between God and man. The appeal of the New Testament is to point us to the man, Jesus Christ, and when the cross is kept within the framework of the revelation of the person of Jesus Christ, it is correctly understood.

Peter declares to Cornelius the message that God sent to the children of Israel by Jesus Christ, and God’s anointing of Jesus, and how God was with him, and how Jesus was killed by the people, and raised again by God, and how he communed with his disciples after his resurrection, and instructed them to testify that he is the one appointed by God as the judged of all. Regarding all this, Peter then says, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ~ v. 43

The gospel is the revelation of Jesus the Messiah, from the baptism of John until the judging of the living and the dead. Between his introduction by John the Baptist and the judging of the world he revealed God to us, he gave his life for us, he conquered death and rose victorious and was exalted at the right hand of God.

May we all hunger more for the authentic gospel of Christ Jesus our Lord!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. ~ John 14:6-11

Jesus makes it a point of emphasis that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. Did this cease to be true while Jesus was on the cross? If God turned his back on Jesus, and Jesus became separated from the Father as some teach, we would have no other conclusion. However, Jesus never taught such things. If we consider the words of Jesus, there was never a moment of separation from the Father. In John 13, Jesus refers to his death and resurrection as the Father glorifying him and he being glorified in the Father.

Therefore, when he (Judas) was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. ~ John 13:31-32

Now consider these words in view of what Jesus said in John 12. Speaking of his death and resurrection, Jesus says, Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Jesus’s prayer regarding the hour in which he would be betrayed, condemned, and crucified was that the Father glorify his name, to which the Father replied,  I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. ~ See John 12:27-28

In John 8 Jesus said to the Jews, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ~ v. 28

In John 10 Jesus says again to the Jews, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ~ v.17-18

The cross was not the separation of Christ from God, but the greatest work of Christ expressing his oneness and union with the Father. Jesus repeatedly said, if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Did this change when Jesus gave his life for us? No! There was no pause of the truth of Jesus’s oneness with the Father when he died on the cross. Jesus’s death (his laying down his life for us) was the greatest revelation of God’s love, mercy, and grace that humanity has ever seen.

One cannot declare that Jesus was separated from God in his death without also saying that Jesus (at that moment) was no longer in the Father, and the Father in him. In John’s gospel the hypostatic union of God and Christ is a point of emphasis from the beginning to the end. John begins his gospel by telling us

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ~ John 1:1-2; 14-18

This theme of the oneness of the Father and the Son is repeated over and over again in John’s gospel and never is there a break in this union. When Jesus was crucified, he was temporarily forsaken by his disciples who feared for their lives, but never was he forsaken by his Father. Shortly before Jesus was arrested, he said the following to his disciples:

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. ~ John 16:32

At no point did Jesus ever teach his disciples that he would be left alone and abandoned by God. As mentioned above, Jesus said to the Jews, when ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Our Lord followed that statement by saying, And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

When our understanding of the cross is formed by the whole counsel of scripture rather than random proof -texts, the volume of what Jesus was teaching and doing comes into focus. Things such as his washing his disciples feet suddenly make more sense. He did this just hours before he was to stand trial, and he tells his disciples the following:

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. John 13:13-20 

When these words are considered in view of the moment in which they were spoken, we cannot but understand that Jesus was teaching his disciples what the cross was about. He was their Lord and Master, but he would lay down his life for them. The Master was the greatest servant of all! The love that Jesus would demonstrate in laying down his life would not only underscore who he was, but would be the lead example of how we, his followers, are to serve in his Kingdom.

This lesson must have really impacted Peter in particular. When Jesus began to wash Peter’s feet, Peter objected at first.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. ~ John 13:6-10

Notice that Jesus tells Peter, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. And when Jesus says to Peter If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me, Peter’s response was not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Peter wanted no part of missing out on Jesus, and it shows in his response, but Peter did not yet understand what his Lord was teaching him. I am certain that the lesson that Jesus taught his disciples that night is what shows up in Peter’s first epistle when he writes, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ~ 1 Peter 2:21

Jesus taught that we are to take up our cross and follow him, and as we do we follow in Christ footsteps. This is the lesson that Jesus was teaching his disciples. The cross does not lead into a place of abandonment, it leads to glory. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

I want to invite you to consider this text with me. When I was a young man and learning all I could about the power of the blood of Jesus, this was a portion of scripture that was very dear to me. It is tucked away at the end of the epistle to the Hebrews so it doesn’t get the recognition that some other texts may get, but there is a powerful message in these words. 

Notice the words of the text again, Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant… ~ v.20

The question we need to explore is does this text tell us that Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, or does it tells us that God raised Jesus, who is the great Shepherd of the sheep, from the dead by the blood of the everlasting covenant.

Commentaries do differ, but it seems to me that there is a lot that can be learned from this text. It is my understanding that the actual rendering when the blood is mentioned is “in” or “in virtue” of the blood of the everlasting covenant, rather than through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

First, let’s consider some other Bible translations, then we’ll consider some commentaries, and close with some inspiring words from Andrew Murray’s commentary on Hebrews.

Here are some other translations:

Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus… ~ ASV

Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant… ~ AMP

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant… ~ ESV

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant ~ HCSB

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord… ~ NASB

And the God of the peace, who did bring up out of the dead the great shepherd of the sheep — in the blood of an age-during covenant — our Lord Jesus …. ~ YLT

Most translations tend to translate this text in a manner that has the resurrection of Jesus being accomplished by virtue of the blood of the everlasting covenant. If that is true, there is a powerful untapped truth that we should give some time attention to in our thinking regarding the redemptive work of Christ. However, if the mention of the blood of the everlasting covenant in this text has more to do with the emphasis that Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep, that also has great blessings for us to embrace.

Now, let’s consider some commentaries. Notice that the first two, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers and Barnes Notes on the Bible reach two completely different conclusions.

Ellicott’s Commentary for English readers: “As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” In other words, “because of the blood which ratified thy covenant (Exodus 24:8) I have released thy prisoners.” As in the former case, the resemblance between the words in the LXX. and those here used is sufficient to convince us that the passage was in the writer’s thought. In (i.e., in virtue of) the blood of an eternal covenant (Hebrews 9:15-18) God has raised up the Lord Jesus. The covenant was ratified by His blood; the first of the blessings of the covenant, and that in which all blessing lay included, was this, that God raised Him up from the dead to be “the great Shepherd of the sheep.”

Barnes Notes on the Bible: Through the blood of the everlasting covenant – The blood shed to ratify the everlasting covenant that God makes with his people; notes, Hebrews 9:14-23. This phrase, in the original, is not connected, as it is in our translation, with his being raised from the dead, nor should it be so rendered, for what can be the sense of “raising Christ from the dead by the blood of the covenant?” In the Greek it is, “the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the shepherd of the sheep, great by the blood of the everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus,” etc. The meaning is, that he was made or constituted the great Shepherd of the sheep – the great Lord and ruler of his people, by that blood. That which makes him so eminently distinguished; that by which he was made superior to all others who ever ruled over the people of God, was the fact that he offered the blood by which the eternal covenant was ratified. It is called everlasting or eternal, because:

(1) it was formed in the councils of eternity, or has been an eternal plan in the divine mind; and,

(2) because it is to continue forever. Through such a covenant God can bestow permanent and solid “peace” on his people, for it lays the foundation of the assurance of eternal happiness.

As you can see there is a difference of opinion here, and both conclusions are inspiring. I tend to think both are correct and that if we join but truths we get a more Biblical answer, Jesus who was raised from the dead is the great Shepherd of the sheep, but he was the Shepherd of the Sheep before he died according to his own words in John 10. Jesus did not become the shepherd of the Sheep after he died. He died because he is the shepherd of the Sheep.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ~ John 10:11.

We’ll look at some more commentaries shortly, but first I want to draw your attention to another text that is tucked away at the end of Romans 4. I think this text sheds some light on the truth contained in Hebrews 13:20.

But for us also, to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. ~ Romans 4:24-25

Concerning Romans 4:24-25 W.E. Vines states, “… all that was necessary on God’s part for our justification had been effected in the death of Christ. On this account He was raised from the dead. The propitiation being perfect and complete, His resurrection was the confirmatory counterpart (Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

I think it is safe to conclude that scripture reveals that when God raised Jesus from the dead, he demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection, the power of the everlasting covenant by which we are raised from the dead in Christ, and because of the blood of the covenant by which we are redeemed, the Father will raise up our mortal bodies from corruption at the appointed time.

Now, let’s consider a couple more commentaries on Hebrews 13:20.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: through the blood—Greek, “in,” in virtue of the blood (Heb 2:9); it was because of His bloody death for us, that the Father raised and crowned Him with glory. The “blood” was the seal of the everlasting covenant entered into between the Father and Son; in virtue of the Son’s blood, first Christ was raised, then Christ’s people shall be so (Zec 9:11, seemingly referred to here; Ac 20:28).

everlasting—The everlastingness of the covenant necessitated the resurrection. This clause, “the blood of the everlasting covenant,” is a summary retrospect of the Epistle (compare Heb 9:12).

Jamieson -Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary of Hebrews 13:20 fits well with W.E. Vines commentary of Romans 4:24-25. In fact, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown says the following regarding Romans 4:25:

Who was delivered for—”on account of.”

our offences—that is, in order to expiate them by His blood.

and raised again for—”on account of,” that is, in order to.

our justification—As His resurrection was the divine assurance that He had “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself,” and the crowning of His whole work, our justification is fitly connected with that glorious act.

Think about that, the resurrection of Jesus was the divine assurance that Jesus has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and his resurrection is the crowning of the whole work of our justification!

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: that brought again from the dead ] Among many allusions to the Ascension and Glorification of Christ this is the only direct allusion in the Epistle to His Resurrection (but comp. Hebrews 6:2, Hebrews 11:35). The verb ἀνήγαγεν may be “raised again” rather than “brought up,” though there may be a reminiscence of “the shepherd” (Moses) who “brought up” his people from the sea in Isaiah 63:11.through the blood of the everlasting covenant] Rather, “by virtue of (lit. “in”) the blood of an eternal covenant.” The expression finds its full explanation in Hebrews 9:15-18. Others connect it with “the Great Shepherd.” He became the Great Shepherd by means of His blood. So in Acts 20:28 we have “to shepherd the Church of God, which He purchased for Himself by means of His own blood.” A similar phrase occurs in Zechariah 9:11, “By (or “because of”) the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit.”

Finally, consider the thoughts of Andrew Murray:

In the blood of the everlasting covenant. We know how the blood has been coupled in the Epistle with the redemption of transgressions, the opening of the entrance into heaven, and the cleansing of the heart from all conscience of sin. Were it not for that blood -shedding Christ had never risen from the dead. In that blood, even the blood of the everlasting covenant, which could only be made after there had been a redemption for transgressions, God raised Jesus from the dead. It was the blood that sealed the covenant, by which the covenant blessings of perfect pardon, of the law written in the heart, and direct fellowship with God were secured to us. It was the blood that had conquered sin and death and hell, that could give entrance into heaven, and cleanse the sinner’s heart for the reception and experience of the heavenly life. And as those who are sprinkled with his blood, the secret of resurrection power, we are invited to trust the God of the resurrection to work in us. The God of peace, who hath raised Jesus from the dead in the blood of the covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will. The God who perfected his Son through suffering to do His will, until He raised Him in triumph over death to His own right hand – O soul! This same God is waiting to do this same work in thee in the same power. What He did in Christ for thee is all for the sake of what He is now day by day to do in thee. All that thou hast learnt of the wonders of His redeeming work, and His receiving thee into the Holiest, is that thou mightest now confidently trust and expect Him to take possession of thee and perfect His work within thee. Oh, let us draw nigh and enter in, in the restful, adoring assurance that God will perfect us in every good thing. ~ Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All

Recently, I shared an NT Wright video in a post, and as I ponder the things he says, a couple of things really resonate with me this morning as I write this. First, God condemned sin in the flesh of Jesus (Romans 8:1-3), and that was substitutionary and penal. What a beautiful truth. I have made it very clear in my teachings that I reject the substitutional view that states that God poured out his wrath or anger on Jesus when he died on the cross, and NT Wright makes it very clear of his rejection of that view as well.

Where I have not done a good job in teaching or communicating, and I will definitely make the correction, is the penal aspect of the cross. I absolutely believe that Jesus’s death serves as payment for our sins. Jesus clearly teaches that he would give himself as a ransom, and Paul tells us that we are bought with a price.

We also read that Christ was made to be a curse for us. I have addressed this in my teachings as well, but maybe not with the clarity that I should have. It’s easy to overcompensate when you are adamantly opposed to a particular view. I think in some ways I have done that in my rejection of the penal view that states that God condemned Jesus in his wrath.

I can’t begin to tell you how much that view is repulsive to me, because it goes contrary to everything I see in the scriptures. Because of my disdain of the view of an angry God at the cross, I have refrained from referring to the death of Christ as a substitute. Instead, I have renewed my mind to speak of it as a sacrifice and an offering. Which is by far the scriptural description.

I will continue to emphasize Jesus’s death as a sacrifice and an offering.  However, I will do a better job of communicating the substitutional aspect of his sacrifice. I recently read something from Andrew Murray that really helped me, and when I couple it with NT Wright’s description of representative substitution, it really gives me a framework to communicate the penal aspect of the cross that I see in scripture. Words mean something, and for me, the word substitution has for a very long time been somewhat of a degrading description of the sacrifice of our Lord, and that is why I rejected it.

The reason I found it degrading is that in some places the substitutional aspect of the cross has reduced Jesus to a mere replacement. This is specifically why I refrained from the language of substitution and would say Jesus died on my behalf rather than in my place. Jesus is not my equal and neither am I his. I could never give to God what he gave to God for me – a sinless, unselfish, perfect life.

Andrew Murray points out, as my substitution, he did what I could not do. And that is the same truth that NT Wright is communicating. Substitution with this in mind is a good description. However, Jesus was not a substitute like a pinch hitter in baseball or a substitute teacher filling in while the teacher is out for the day. Jesus wasn’t role playing sinner on my behalf, or taking the anger that God had for me so that I could go free. Jesus was the perfect, beautiful lamb of glory and he died for me.

Jesus laid down his life, and that was something that Father called him to do because the Father, in his love, wanted to save me from my sins. Jesus obeyed the will of the Father and gave himself for me and for you, and Jesus’s sacrifice (his substitution) was the outward expression of the love that God has in his heart for you and for me. In Jesus, the love of God took our place and died so that were could live – that is substitution and that is penal!

We could never do what Jesus did. We could never give the Father such perfect obedience, and such unselfish surrender as to lay down our lives for others who were guilty while we were innocent, but this is what Jesus did, and that is penal, and that is substitutionary in a holy and glorious way. Jesus’s death for us was the outworking of divine love, mercy, and grace. 

There is more I would like to say, but I have a work day ahead and I hope to share the other truth that has resonated in my heart later, which I mentioned at the beginning, but I wanted to share my thoughts here regarding substitution and would like to develop this more in future posts.

If you are hungry, and really desire to be challenged, I invite you to watch thE following as N.T. Wright expounds on the cross. N.T. has been such a blessing to me and my understanding of scripture over the past 12-15 years. Wright takes the podium at about the 5:10 mark of the video. After you watch, I invite you to comeback and leave a comment. Thank you, I hope this blesses you as much as it has blessed me.

Every religious “Christian” ideology that I have ever come across leads people away from the simple truth in Christ. Calvinism, Christian nationalism, Zionism, Hebrew Roots, Apostolic/prophetic, prosperity movement, and the list goes on.

These ideologies all fail when examined in view of the whole counsel of scripture. Everyone of them are set forth as if they are the Kingdom of God, and they are not. The Kingdom of God is in Christ and in Christ alone. Each of these ideologies have aspects of truth, but not a single one of them is the truth. The truth is in Jesus alone, and when all is said and done, these ideologies are what drive more and more people away from God.

Recently, I have seen on a certain social media platform more than one person advocate the execution of other Christians that they deem to be heretics or false teachers. These extreme views come from some who embrace Calvinism, and with the way our world is heading, I wouldn’t put it past some people to attempt to carry out such evil.

The gospel of the Kingdom conforms us into the image of Christ. It does not make us zealots for a worldview that thrusts us into political or militant action. The Kingdom of Christ does not teach us to hate, mock, or have condescending attitudes towards our fellowmen. As Kingdom people we are called to be the kind of people that God intended us to be when he created Adam and placed him in the garden of Eden. We are to be kind and caring people. We are to be people of grace, mercy, and understanding. People who have the sweet fragrance of Christ.

The only way a person can be the fragrance of Christ to those around them is to spend time with Christ, and when we spend time with Christ, he doesn’t conform to our image, we conform to his. Let’s get our hearts and our minds right, and stop being a reproach on God’s true Kingdom with our carnal attitudes, and religious ideas that we call “Christian” that do not honor God. There is only ONE kingdom of God, and Christ is the Kind of it, and it rules in heart cleansed by the blood of Christ and renewed by the Spirit of Christ. God’s Kingdom does not reign through the will of our flesh and carnal ideologies.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. ~ Romans 13:14

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:20-24

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. ~ Colossians 3:1-17