My Worldview Has Been Broken!

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In the very first chapter of the Book of Job, our hero loses everything he has. He loses all his wealth through murderous attacks upon him by his enemies, and then he loses his family through an apparent act of God (Job 1:13-19). Job’s reaction was to accept it all as from the Lord. After he was destroyed, Job said: “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20-21)! While folks who heard Job’s reaction might think he was a holy and religious man, we need to consider the fact that the text really doesn’t say Job spoke to God, but only about him. He never addressed the Lord over what was done, only that the Lord had done all those things, but he (Job) would accept it all, just as he had accepted all the good things, the Lord had given him over the years (cp. Job 2:10).

 

What Was Wrong With Job?

46576809 – what’s wrong question handwritten on vintage school slate board isolated on white

The Book of Job opens by describing Job’s character. He is a very good, moral person (Job 1:1). In other words, Job faithfully followed God, and for all intents and purposes, there was absolutely no reason for God to punish him. However, is that what God was doing? Keep in mind that the story of Job takes place in ancient times, probably during the time of Abraham. If Abraham had to be taught what God was like, certainly other folks at that time were ignorant too. Therefore, if they were to learn deep truths about the Lord, God had to break into their lives in some way and bring them to the point, where they would understand him better, and, in doing so, correct their then current, but false, worldview.

 

Can Man Figure Out God?

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Eliphaz points Job to a long understood and believed tradition among the children of God, namely, that the Lord corrects those he loves, as any good father would his own children (Job 5:17; cp. Psalm 94:12; Proverbs 3:11). Moreover, in the New Covenant text Paul points out that the children of God should expect his chastening, and when that occurs, we shouldn’t discard it, as though it were something evil happening in our lives. Rather, we should embrace it, knowing we are blessed in doing so, because we are not judged with the world (Hebrews 12:5-11; cp. James 1:12; 1Corinthians 11:32). Furthermore, although enduring hardship is never easy, Eliphaz tells Job to be happy, because his hardship or discipline is proof that he should regard himself as God’s own son (cp. Hebrews 12:8).

 

You Will Die in Your Sins!

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After the Jewish authorities had shown that they simply didn’t want to listen, and no proof would be sufficient for them to accept him as their Messiah, Jesus told them he would go his way, and they would die in their sins (John 8:21). In other words, although he came to save mankind (John 3:16), and that salvation is obtainable at any time upon one’s repentance, the salvation of the nation was available only as long as Jesus was with them, offering himself as their Messiah. After they crucified him, vis-à-vis after he went his way, they would seek him, or put another way, they would seek the promised Messiah to save them, when their nation was threatened, vis-à-vis the Jews’ war with Rome, cir. 66 AD to 70 AD, but they would die in their sins. In other words, the nation and its Temple would be destroyed.

 

For God So Loved the World!

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In the context of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus ending with verse-12, arguably the most quoted text in the Bible is not what we call Jesus’ words, but is, rather, the testimony of the author of this Gospel narrative. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Few statements are so meaningful, and fewer still contain such depth of meaning. How much does God love the world in which all of us are numbered? Such love is defined and expressed only by how much he loves his Son, whom he gave for our preservation, and not only to preserve us for a season, but to give us eternal life.

 

Lifting Up Jesus, the Despised Messiah!

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Sometime after leaving Egypt, ancient Israel became discouraged over their circumstances and began complaining about the Lord’s table (cp. Psalm 23:5), the Lord sent fiery serpents into the camp and many died (Numbers 21:4-6). After enduring the Lord’s judgment, Israel repented and asked Moses to intercede for them and have God take away the serpents. However, instead of taking them away, the Lord provided a means, whereby they would live when bitten (Numbers 21:7-9). In John 3:14 the Gospel narrator mentions Moses’ lifting up of the bronze serpent upon a stake and compared this to what would happen to Jesus.

 

What Value Is There in Coming to Christ?

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Immediately after the rich young ruler turned and sadly walked away, Jesus turned to his disciples and told him how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 10:23). Jesus’ disciples, however, were utterly amazed at his claim. They wondered how it was possible for anyone to be saved (Mark 10:24, 26; Matthew 19:25; Luke 18:26), if those who were blessed by the Lord (cp. Genesis 24:35; 26:12; 30:30) weren’t saved. Yet, Jesus simply reiterated what he had just told them, saying it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 10:25).

 

Christ Has Chosen the Poor In Spirit

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Many interpret the poor (James 2:5) as those who lack worldly goods. Others will say the poor are those who are not highly esteemed in the world, but even they seem to emphasize the idea that the Lord called many in the class of humanity known to be poor as opposed to the wealthy class of people. I believe James’ point is missed in that he at least often used the terms poor and rich in metaphor in his epistle. Certainly, the literal poor are lacking in this world’s goods, while the wealthy have them in abundance. However, James is using this mental picture to point to the idea that there were those during the first century AD who were not highly esteemed (the poor in spirit) among the churches of God (Matthew 5:3), and these were willing to lead by serving (Mark 10:43-44).

 

Preserving One’s Integrity in Christ

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Many scholars try to tell us that James was warning his readers about temptation to sin and that enduring such temptation brings us eternal life (James 1:12). However, if James is speaking about keeping the Law in verse-12, how is the sacrifice of Christ needed? In other words, if keeping the Law is what saves a man, then Christ is not needed (Galatians 2:21). Therefore, if James is speaking the truth (cp. John 10:35), he cannot be referring to the Law, when he writes of enduring temptation / trial and receiving the crown of life, which he claims comes to the believer by promise. While, theoretically, it is true that anyone may inherit eternal life, if he keeps the Law (cp. Luke 18:18; Matthew 19:17-20), all men are sinners (Romans 3:9-12), and, therefore, lawbreakers (James 2:10). So, practically speaking, no one is able to inherit life, because the Law condemns him (cp. Romans 7:9-10). On the other hand, if eternal life is a gift (Romans 6:23), how would it come by enduring persecution? So, what is James saying?

 

We, Being Many, Are One Bread!

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When Paul was with the Thessalonians he explained to them that, if a man refused to work, neither should he eat (2Thessalonians 3:10). This verse has been used to say that Paul must have been talking about folks who had literally quit their jobs, and were mooching off other brethren. However, as I concluded in my two previous studies on this subject,[1] Paul could not have been speaking of financial matters. If Paul was speaking of financial matters, he does so in a non-explicit manner, because, unless finances are read into the text, Paul speaks only of “bread” and “walking disorderly” and “working not at all” – all of which could be referring to spiritual matters, and elsewhere do refer to things spiritual. Why should we believe what Paul says in 2Thessalonians 3:6-15 refers to financial matters, such as monetarily supporting folks who refuse to work, so that they become a financial burden on others etc.? Not a single word is mentioned that would clearly and explicitly point to one’s financial practices.

 

The Preservation of the Jewish Nation

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Paul tells the believers at Thessalonica that he and those who labor with him in the Gospel are bound (G3784; opheilo) to give thanks to the Lord for them always, i.e. they were obligated to give thanks every day (2Thessalonians 2:13). Paul claims it wasn’t his ‘choice’ to do so, but he was under obligation to do so. The Greek word, opheilo (G3784), is used by the Lord in Matthew 18:28 to indicate a man’s debt to his master (cp. Luke 16:5, 7). In fact, it is used 36 times by the New Covenant writers, and it is always used of an obligation, such as financial debt, one’s duty to his master or one’s obligation to the Law etc. So, it is in this sense that Paul is obligated to offer thanks daily for Jesus’ disciples at Thessalonica. Why would this be so?

 

Wait for the Righteous Judgment of God

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Paul tells us that it is through much tribulation that we enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). That’s a fact; there is no other way to enter. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God (heaven) comes to those who are persecuted for righteousness (Matthew 5:10). While men seek to enter the Kingdom of God (Luke 16:16), religious leaders prevent them through threats (cp. John 9:20-23; Acts 4:21) and other means (cp. Acts 5:40). Yet, those who persist succeed (Acts 5:41; 14:22). In 2Thessalonians 1:5 Paul told his readers that the very fact that they were suffering persecution over their faithfulness to God was a visible sign that the Lord had received them into his Kingdom. Nevertheless, not only is this true for the righteous, but their unjust persecution demands justice from a righteous God.

 

Fixing Our Eyes Upon Jesus

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Paul gave his readers three tasks to perform, and they are: lay aside everything that hinders one’s walk in Christ, lay aside the sin-principle (the old man) before which we have no power to overcome, and run the race before us with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). But, one may ask: How is this done? Well, Paul gives us the answer in the very next verse (Hebrews 12:2). We are able to make the necessary sacrifices, overcome the enemy over whom we have no power and run the race faithfully only by fixing our eyes upon Jesus.

 

The City with Foundations

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According to Hebrews 11:8 God called Abraham to leave the place where he lived and go to another place, which he would inherit later. Specifically, Abraham was called by the Lord to leave his father’s house to go to a country that the Lord would show him (Genesis 12:1-4). In other words, it doesn’t appear that Abraham knew what land that would be. Abraham obeyed God (Hebrews 11:8) and left the land where he dwelt, and his father’s house, just as the Lord had commanded. The Lord also promised a reward for Abraham’s obedience. Abraham would become a great nation, would be a blessing to all nations, and the Lord would protect him (Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 12:1-4). However, it wasn’t until Abraham actually arrived in the land of Canaan that God specifically promised to give that particular land to his descendants (Genesis 12:7).

 

The Finished Work of Salvation

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In chapter ten of his Epistle to the Hebrews, Paul reminds his readers that the work of salvation has been completed, but they need to be patient before they receive the rewards. There is an element of immanency in this epistle that needs to be taken seriously, because “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). There was a very real danger of Paul’s readers losing their reward, because, as we shall discover in this study, Jesus foretold that many, some conclude the majority, of them (Matthew 24:10) would be in danger of falling away, giving it all up in the face of persecution. In this epistle Paul tried to stem the tide, if, perhaps, he could save some from doing what they knew in their heart of hearts was wrong (cp. 1Corinthians 9:20-22).