How Deep the Father's Love - John 3:16

Most people are familiar with John 3:16. It’s a very familiar passage of Scripture, part of a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus about the new birth. John 3:16 is a blessed verse. A glorious sentence spoken by our gracious Saviour. John 3:16 shows the Father’s great love, God’s perfect salvation, and the triumph of his eternal plan. There are three things I want you to think about in this verse in showing how Christ perfectly saves according to the will of the Father. God loves, God gave, and God saves.

GOD LOVED - For God so loved the world

When we think about God’s love here, we see the Father Truly Loved and the Father Intended to Save.

The very first thing we see when we read John 3:16 is it’s talking about the love of God the Father. It’s common for people to get confused about the Trinitarian love of God. Some see the Father as stern. He is strict and uncaring, and it’s the Son who loves us, because he died for us. It may be from misunderstanding God’s anger at sin, or confusion about the eternal covenant. Perhaps a misinterpretation of God in the Old Testament. But if you think about it, saying the Father is stern, and Jesus is loving would, in essence, say God the Father really doesn’t love us, but hates us and Christ has changed the Father's mind. And now the Father merely tolerates us only because Jesus died for us.  God the Father is the God of judgments appeased by the New Testament God of love. But, for this to be true, it would mean the will of the Father and the will of the Son are competing and opposed to one another. The Father and his heart would be against the Son, and the Son would need to overcome and defeat the will of the Father.

Nothing can be further from the truth. The Lord Jesus tells us salvation begins in eternity with the Father.

We could rephrase John 3:16 by saying, “For the Father so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” The Father gave his son. This verse tells us it was the Father who so loved the world. Salvation displays the love of God, one of his excellencies and eternal perfections. God IS love. Love is a motivating factor in our salvation. The Father so loved the world, that he gave his son. Not the physical world, or else there wouldn’t be a New Heaven and New Earth. Not all of mankind, or else all of mankind would be saved. The Father freely chose in eternity past, to set his love upon Hell-deserving wretches because he loved, because he is gracious, because he is merciful. His love was not determined by the actions of man, or our love or our choice. The great love of God is not payment for good things we have done.

Not only does the Father love, but it’s the pinnacle of all love.

When Jesus calls us to love our enemies in the sermon on the mount, he says we need to love as the Father loved HIS enemies.

 (44)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  (45)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:

The low-down, tax collecting Publicans, everyone’s favorite whipping boys…THEY loved people who loved them. So what is noble, good, and honorable about that? It's not gracious that the publicans loved those who loved them. Their love is different from the Father's love, who LOVED HIS ENEMIES. We love God because "He first loved us". If the Father only loves and saves because of what we do for him, what difference is there between that love and the publicans?

No, the Father, in Eternity loved sinners and chose them for his own, and in His wisdom, ordained a plan to save us, and adopt us in his family, making us sons of God. No wonder John wrote in 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God

The Father Intended to Save

The next thing we see is that this love isn’t a generic, undefined love, but love with a desired end and purpose in mind. It started in eternity past, demonstrated in time, and has a purpose through the endless ages of eternity future.

Jesus said, “For God so LOVED”. Loved is past tense. It points to his intention and motivation for sending the Son. Logically speaking, Love came before the sending, and the sending had a stated purpose. The Father had a reason for sending the Son.

President Dwight Eisenhower had a new speech writer come in the Oval Office, and he looked over a draft of a speech and asked the writer, "What's the QED?

The speechwriter looked at him funny, and Eisenhower said, "The QED - quod erat demonstrandum - What's the bottom line? What's the point?

QED is an acronym for that Latin phrase, and you use it when you demonstrate something has been proven or shown.

Eisenhower wanted every speech to have a message or a meaning. He didn’t want to just speak nice things, but he wanted to go into a speech with a plan and purpose – a message. Delivering the speech was carrying out his plan.

Most preachers I know anyway, have a plan when they get behind the pulpit. The sermon is carrying out the plan.

God had a plan. He had a purpose in salvation. There was a point to all this. What was it?

It was the Father’s aim, or His will, or His intent to save a people of His own choosing. God didn’t have to love us. God didn’t have to save us. God didn’t even need to create us. You are only sitting there, because God wanted it. This big, wide world you live it...It’s here because it pleased God to make it, not because he had to.

God chose to create us. God chose to love us. God ordained to save us. That was the plan.

John 6:35-40. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day.

What was the Father’s will? What was the Father’s intention?

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Which parallels John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

John 3:16 isn’t the great Arminian Calvinist killer so think it is.

It was the Father’s will that all those he loved and gave to Christ would come to him and be saved. The Father chose a particular people and then gave those particular people to Jesus. The Father's will was not opposed to the Son's will, but in perfect, Trinitarian Unity, the persons of the Trinity are unified in will. The Godhead is unified in perfect fellowship. Perfect love. Perfect Unity.

It was the Father’s purpose for the Son to redeem the people He chose in ETERNITY PAST. The sacrifice Christ made on the cross was made for the Father’s elect. The Son was sent so that we might “have everlasting life” That’s eternity FUTURE.

Ephesians 1:9-14 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

God revealed this mystery of redemption to us. God ordained and predestinated us according to his purpose. Just as John 3 teaches us about the New Birth, Ephesians 1 teaches us that at the New Birth, the Spirit quickens us to life, and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the promise of eternal life in the eternal covenant of redemption. The Spirit is our earnest until the redemption of the purchased possession, or until we have our glorified bodies.

Look in chapter 2, verse 4, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

The purpose, the aim, the Father’s will was to save to the uttermost, all the way to the end. To raise us up together. That we would sit in heavenly places. That we would forever be in Christ. His will that was in the ages to come, he would display his LOVE and grace and his kindness toward us in Jesus Christ.

A covenant of the Godhead in eternity past, ordaining salvation for us today "through the blood of the everlasting covenant", for all of eternity future.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ didn’t “win” the Father’s love. Jesus didn’t, in other words, change the Father’s mind about us through his death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible tells us that the atonement is the essential way God the Father achieves his loving purpose in salvation.  The atonement flows from the love of God, which comes before the incarnation of Christ. This love comes before even the creation of the world. Eternally, and by His own good pleasure, God chose to love his people.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

John 3:16 displays God’s great love, his perfect salvation, and the triumph of his eternal plan.

Now, with that in mind, let’s think about our second point.

GOD GAVE - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,

In this most famous of all verses, we find that after the Father loved and because he loved, he gave. When I was thinking about this, I had 3 questions.

What did he give?

How did He give?

Why did He give?

What did he give?

The Father gave His only begotten and dearly beloved son.

We have salvation because we are “Accepted in the beloved" and that beloved one is the Son.

The Godhead enjoyed perfect unity and perfection in eternity. And God giving of His only begotten Son also shows the love God has for us. He gave HIS SON.

We flinch a bit reading about Abraham when God commanded him to offer his son as a sacrifice. Waking up one morning and taking Isaac on a little trip up the mountain to worship God. It breaks my heart when I read Isaac say, "Daddy, where's the lamb to sacrifice?" That part breaks my heart. I remember after Elijah, our first, was born, reading this passage like never before.

We know that Isaac is the sacrifice. Abraham was told by God to give his son. His beloved son.

Can you imagine it?

What relief it is, when we read that passage and the angel stays Abraham, and we find out all along that God was not going to require Isaac, and he would be substituted for the ram stuck in the thicket.

Isaac lives! Isaac goes free! Abraham doesn't sacrifice his son. The ram is the substitute.

Then we get to the New Testament, and it dawns on us, that substitute was not a ram. That the substitute was a Son. A dearly beloved Son. An only begotten Son. A son whom the Father was, "Well pleased"

And this time, no angel stayed the Father's hand. This time, there was no other substitute to turn to.

It was Passover week in Jerusalem, and millions of lambs were slain, but that wasn't enough. The Son. The Only BEGOTTEN SON was given

How did He give?

The Father gave the Son, his Only Begotten, as a sacrifice for sin. Not simply as an example. Not only as a moral teacher, but as a sacrifice.

The giving included more than sending into His own creation, born of a woman. The giving is more than sending THE Prophet to preach and to teach and to heal. He gave his Son, to die for sinners.

Why did He give?

The Father gave because it was necessary.

It was necessary because of who God is

It was necessary price of redemption

Isaac asked Abraham, “Where is the sacrifice?” But Jesus didn’t need to ask the Father. Jesus knew all along. Jesus lived his whole living looking toward the cross. The Father willingly and lovingly sent the Son, and the Son willingly and lovingly came and died.

David risked his life for his father's sheep. He fought a lion to protect those sheep. He fought a bear to protect those sheep. He loved his father. He loved his job as shepherd. He loved those sheep.

How much, the Shepherd of our souls, who loves the Father, and loves his sheep, that he voluntarily laid down his life as a substitute.  

John 3:16 is true as it is necessary.

It’s this the great question? Why? Why didn't the Father simply forget our sins and move on? Why didn’t the Father proclaim his people innocent by “order of the King”?

The Father loved the Son. Surely, couldn't there had been another way?

Murray asked, “If we say that he could not [save by any other way], do we not impugn his power? If we say that he could but would not, do we not impugn his wisdom? Such questions are not scholastic subtleties or vain curiosities. To evade them is to miss something that is central in the interpretation of the redeeming work of Christ and to miss the vision of some of its essential glory. Why did God become man? Why, having become man, did he die? Why, having died, did he die the accursed death of the cross? This is the question of the necessity of the atonement.”

It's necessary because of Who God is. What God does is related to who God is.

Like I said, God didn’t have to save us, but when He chose to save us in His love and His mercy, he had to save us in a way that also coincides with his holiness and his justice.

God is simple. That just means he is not made up of different parts. He is not 50% love and 50% holiness…

We talk about the attributes, plural, but that doesn't mean they are parts of God. It's not that God is love and his love is greater than his holiness. Or Love is primary, and justice is secondary. Or that his attributes are at odds with one another.

God is perfect, simple. He isn't a composite of things, but He is One. So, God, by being God, by being I AM THAT I AM, cannot, separate Himself from, or disown, or disavow his character. God is Love, He is also Just and those two things, in our mind, are just different views of God's perfection.

God is so great, so immense, that we cannot conceive of Him, unless we think of Him in such a way as different attributes and how they relate to us in time.

Thomas Boston said, "the glory of one attribute is more seen in one work than in another: in some things there is more of His goodness, in other things more of His wisdom is seen, and in others more of His power. But in the work of redemption all His perfections and excellencies shine forth in their greatest glory.

This is why the cross was necessary.

God couldn’t express his love in forgiving sinners and ignore his justice and his holiness, because God is perfect.

So, while God did not have to save, because HE purposed TO save, it was necessary to save through a blood sacrifice.

It was necessary price of redemption

Galatians 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

IF there could have been another way, there WOULD have been another way.

The Cross is a display of God love.

It is a display of God's wisdom

It is a display of God's Justice in punishing sin

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing may sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

If something is becoming, it’s proper. It’s right. So, in other words, it was suitable and proper, it was complete right and appropriate for the Father to bring his sons to glory through the sufferings of our Captain. If there was some other way, it would not have been suitable and proper.

When Abraham took Isaac up the hill, God demanded a blood sacrifice. It was suitable for God to accept a substitute. It was right and proper to accept it for Isaac.But that blood wasn't suitable and sufficient to be a complete satisfaction of God's justice. It was suitable and proper for salvation to come through the suffering Captain. Nothing else was suitable.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that the might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertain to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

The word translated “behoved him” means to be duty bound, or “must needs”. It’s the idea of being under obligation, under a necessity with no other choice. So, it was necessary for Christ to be made flesh, like his brethren. It was required under the eternal plan of redemption, for the Word to be made flesh that he could make reconciliation for the sins of his people. Christ was duty bound, to fulfill his promise and the covenant, to die for sinners.

 If it was one way of many, or if it was even a preferred option, it would not behoove him, nor would it be suitable for the father to Send him.

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. The Shedding of an animal's blood for man's sin was not a suitable substitute. It wasn't enough. It never brought satisfaction. The crime of your sin was so great, only a blood sacrifice could satisfy justice. The heinousness of your sin was so vile, only the sacrifice of man could satisfy justice. Your Sin is so horrible, that only the sacrifice of a perfect man, a sinless man, would be suitable and sufficient.

And so all those old testament sacrifices were merely patterns of the Heavenly, eternal plan of redemption. God sent His Son, because that's the only way those HE loved would be saved.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

John 3:16 displays God’s great love, his perfect salvation, and the triumph of his eternal plan.

GOD SAVES – “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

It was the Father’s will that the Son die for his people, that they should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Father’s aim was for his elect, whom he loved, to be with him in glory. He sent his Son on that mission, to save and redeem the lost. The son accomplished that mission by substituting himself in the place of sinners, redeeming them from God’s sword of justice, paying their sin debt, and making atonement, himself being the propitiation for sinners.

The will of God was that sinners would not perish but have everlasting life.

God in his infinite wisdom, ordained that men would receive salvation and the forgiveness of sins through faith.

God saves by grace. Full and free. Completely and successfully. Perfectly.

The truth is beautiful. God loves, perfectly. God loves, completely. The love of God is on full display by saving unworthy, undeserving sinners. It doesn’t beautify love to say that God loves everyone equally, all in the same way, and some of his loved ones go to hell, and some don’t. Does it uphold and beautify and make great a love that loves me the same way as Pharaoh? Or, that I am loved the same way and as much as God loves Goliath. Does it inspire worship and praise that God loves me the same as he loved the rich man in Hell?

Other than several inches, what’s the difference between me and Goliath? Other than political power, what’s the difference between me and Pharaoh? Other than money, what’s the difference between me and the rich man?

You could argue (and would be correct) that these men are far my superior. Goliath was a great champion. A war hero. A battle-hardened famous warrior. I played football in High School. Pharaoh was the most powerful king on Earth. He had the power of life and death in his words. He ruled a nation and is famous, even today. Pyramids and structures still stand built in honor of the throne he held. I am a business analyst for the state of WV. Do you really need me to point out the difference between a rich man and a preacher? Superior strength. Superior intellect. Superior wealth, power, and influence. There really is nothing that I have that’s any better than these three men.  Knowing my heart, like I do, I can’t say that I’m morally superior.

Why am I saved? Why are they in Hell and I’m on my way to Heaven? Because the Father so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son as a sin-sacrifice, an atonement, a propitiation for sins of those he loved. The Son expiated the sins of those people, forgiving and paying the sin debt. And, according to the wisdom of God, we receive the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and escape the punishment of hell, by faith in the finished work of Christ.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

John 3:16 displays God’s great love, his perfect salvation, and the triumph of his eternal plan.

I implore you, to believe in the Only Begotten Son and receive everlasting life.

Famous for a Reason

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I suppose John 3:16 is one of the most familiar verses in the Bible. It’s blessed verse. A glorious sentence spoken by our gracious Saviour. God in his infinite wisdom, ordained that men would receive salvation and the forgiveness of sins through faith, the gift of God. God saves by grace. Full and free, complete and perfect salvation.

The love of God is on full display in John 3 showing us God saves unworthy, undeserving sinners. It doesn’t beautify love to say that God loves everyone equally, all in the same way, and some of his loved ones go to hell, and some don’t. Does it uphold and beautify and make great a love that loves me the same way as Pharaoh? Or, that I am loved the same way and as much as God loves Goliath. Does it inspire worship and praise that God loves me the same as he loved the rich man in Hell?

Other than several inches, what’s the difference between me and Goliath? Other than political power, what’s the difference between me and Pharaoh? Other than money, what’s the difference between me and the rich man? You could argue (and would be correct) that these men are far my superior. Goliath was a great champion. A war hero. A battle-hardened famous warrior. I played football in High School. Pharaoh was the most powerful king on Earth. He had the power of life and death in his words. He ruled a nation and is famous, even today. Pyramids and structures still stand built in honor of the throne he held. I work for the state of WV. Do you really need me to point out the difference between a rich man and a preacher? Superior strength. Superior intellect. Superior wealth, power, and influence. There really is nothing that I have that’s any better than these three men.  Knowing my heart, like I do, I can’t say that I’m morally superior.

Why am I saved? Why are they in Hell and I’m on my way to Heaven? Not because I’m any better, smarter, stronger, or worthier. I’m saved because the Father so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son as a sin-sacrifice, an atonement, a propitiation for sins of those he loved. The Son expiated the sins of those people, forgiving and paying the sin debt. And, according to the wisdom of God, we receive the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and escape the punishment of hell, by faith in the finished work of Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16 displays God’s great love, his perfect salvation, and the triumph of his eternal plan. I implore you, to believe in the Only Begotten Son and receive everlasting life.

Sorrow with Hope

 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.

Nothing is quite so awful as the sorrow of one without hope. The weight of trials are hard enough and living without hope of relief can be more than most can bare. The saints living in the city of Thessalonica were despondent over their departed loved ones, fearing their fate. Paul didn’t want the church clueless about those who died in Christ and their problem their sorrow but sorrowing the wrong way, as hopeless men. The saints arrived at their precarious condition because of Biblical ignorance. It is ok to mourn, just in the right way as Christians. When these Christians thought of their loved ones in Christ, who had died, they acted like lost heathens because they did not know, or they did not remember the truth about death and how to apply those truths. They were not mourning like Christians.

Had they forgotten the gospel? Did they not remember what Christ had done for them? After beating the Lord and mocking him, Roman soldiers took a hammer and nails and drove them through the hands and feet of Jesus, fastening him to a cross. They lifted him up off the earth on that cursed tree, and there he suffered, bled, and died. He was removed from the cross, buried in a tomb. His cold, lifeless body laid there for 3 days and three nights before He rose from the dead. Jesus rose, stood up, and walked out of the tomb. Because Jesus lives, we who are in union we Chris will live. We serve a living Saviour, who defeated death, or overcame the grave, and in his victory promises all those who put their faith and trust in him, likewise shall have eternal life.

Christians have hope, and we must live in that hope, trusting in the promises of God. These are not platitudes, because those pithy sayings don’t help us when we grieve. Our hope is based on the risen Lord Jesus and his promises to us. I can stand and look at the grave of loved ones who trusted their soul to Christ with sorrow, but also with hope. Their bodies laid to rest, but only for a little while. Paul used the euphemism “sleep” for death for that very reason. The soul goes on to be with the Lord, but the body is laid to rest until the Lord himself descends from Heaven with a shout, and those dead bodies will rise from their graves and be transformed and glorified. Sown in corruption, they will rise in incorruption. One day, I will see them again. I have hope even at the grave. They will rise – I will rise – because He is risen.

Spiritual Heritage - Tuesday with (2nd) Timothy #5

2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

When Paul thinks of his friend, he thinks of the genuine faith Timothy has in the Lord Jesus. Timothy truly loves the Saviour. And when  he thought of Timothy’s faith, he was reminded of the women who nurtured it. Lois and and Eunice where godly, Jewish women who believed in Christ (Acts 16:1). We know that Timothy’s father was a Greek, and it his absence here seems to imply that he was not a believer.

Verse five is setting up Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, to be bold in the service of Christ.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Paul remembered Timothy’s faith and his mother’s faith, and his grandmother’s faith and was was convinced that Timothy was a saved man. He wanted Timothy to also remember his grandmother Lois, and her commitment to the faith once delivered. He wanted Timothy to remember the great faith of his mother Eunice, who came to faith in Christ, and believed, even though her husband apparently did not. He wanted Timothy to remember the faith of these women in raising him up, and teaching him the Bible and to see God’s providential care. Paul wanted Timothy to remember that he too believed and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and to be encouraged as Paul was convinced that Timothy was following after the Lord, just like his mother and grandmother, with a real, genuine faith. I imagine if you asked Timothy, he would have considered Lois and Eunice great and godly women. Paul was saying that he believed that Timothy had that same faith in the same Lord. Remembering his spiritual heritage was an encouragement to Timothy.

Paul wanted Timothy to think back and be encouraged. The Word of God says to “honour thy father and thy mother”, not throw them under the bus. Not only should you honor your physical parents, but also those spiritual fathers and mother’s who were instrumental in you coming to faith. Don’t turn your forefathers into villains to make your “journey” more intriguing. Why did Paul bring up Eunice and Lois? To fire him up. To get him out of the spiritual doldrums. To shake him out of his fearful immobility and get him motivated and moving again. Remember your faith, remember your heritage, and stir up the gift of God.

The purpose was for Timothy to “stir up the gift of God”. That might not sound very spiritual, but you can take that up with Paul. God’s gifts to us are meant to be used and we cannot be Samson like in our treatment of the gifts of God and expect to “slay the Philistines as we have done before”. These gifts of God require the diligent care and use of the minister.

Hast thou no scar? by Amy Carmichael

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet, I was wounded by the archers, spent.
Leaned me against the tree to die, and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?

No wound? No scar?
Yet as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole. Can he have followed far
Who has no wound nor scar?

Essential Oils and Quenching Oils of Friendship

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:

so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9

My wife has spent some time learning about essential oils, their uses, and benefits. It seems there are no end to what different oils purport to do. Reading through the wisdom books, you’ll notice that Solomon was a fan of essential oils, if for nothing else than the smell. There is something refreshing about a nice aroma. I suppose that’s why Yankee Candle does so well (Newell Rubbermaid – no relation; I’m not heir to any vast kitchenware fortune – bought Yankee Candle for $15 billion in 2015). It made Solomon happy to come home and have a sweet smell waft through the doorway, and if such small common graces fill your heart with joy, then more power to you and praise the Lord.

Solomon mused on his buoyant bouquet and it reminded him of friendship. Friendship is sweet, and it does the soul good to talk another like-minded soul, but especially a wise friend who is invested enough to give advice from the soul. The particular fragrance of friendship Solomon is talking about here comes from the friend’s counsel, wise words from a friend who really cares. It delights the heart to have a companion offering guidance when we are troubled. During some calamity, to know we have a friend to help us get back on track or stay to stay the course is comforting. When we are not thinking clearly, or cannot think clearly, how rewarding to have a friend, detached from the situation, to give us fresh perspective. When tragedy comes, it cheers the heart to have a friend to remind us of truths we both believe. What a help to stand in the funeral home and have a friend who cared enough to come or to hear the voice of one offering a word of encouragement. It rejoiced the heart to know, even in terribly sad times, one could rely on a friend’s words to give comfort and aid. How good to know there is another person who loves and cares enough to share their heart and give all they can to help you, knowing they love and want the best for you. It’s good to have a friend who tells you what you need to hear, not just want you want to hear. A friend with a backbone.

Are you a friend who rejoices the heart? It’s good to receive, but it’s better to give. Strive to be the kind of friend one can rely on. Labor to be the kind of friend whose counsel is sweet and sought after. If you want to be that sort of friend, you need to work to be wise, and “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so the them.” Be a good friend.  Consider the fragrance in your relationships and what kind of counsel are you getting, and what kind of counsel to you give?

The Forge of Friendship

Ambrose Bierce, in his Devil’s Dictionary said being friendless is, “Having no favors to bestow. Destitute of fortune. Addicted to utterance of truth and common sense.” Part of being a true friend means you have to sometimes do or say things your friend is not going to like. Bierce, though in jest, hit close to home because to have many “friends”, you will need to lay off the truth and common sense. But is that really friendship? When someone does nothing but butter you up, they are not helping you out or being your friend -- they are setting a trap for you. Proverbs 29:5, “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” The only person who believes you are the greatest the world has ever known is your Mom -- anyone else saying so is flattering you wants something. Maybe you lay it on pretty thick because you want people to like you. Unfortunately, this is counterproductive if you are looking for close friendships. The flatterer may enjoy the company of others, but they won’t enjoy close friendship that comes over time through honest counsel. Proverbs 28:3, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.”

A good friend has your best interest at heart, not their own. You are not perfect, and no one knows that better than our friends. But, they also want the best for you, so we can see how correction, or a warning may be in order from time to time. Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” It’s better to be corrected by a friend than kissed by an enemy. If the flatterer wants something from you, he’s buttering you up. If he is looking for advancement, they’ll use you and leave you behind. The wounds of a friend are faithful to the truth and faithful to the friendship. The enemy pretends to be a friend and feigns love for personal gain.

A friend is going to make you better. Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” True, taking your Case and your Buck and scraping them together is not the best way to sharpen a knife. But you don’t live in the Iron Age and your Case is made of high carbon steel, not iron, but the principle is easy to understand. Men can make each other better by thoughtful, purposeful resistance. When you sharpen a blade, you must remove material. The result is less of what you don’t want and more of what you do. Friends make each other better in the forge. Be careful - too much sharpening, and all you’ll have is a handle. Or, if you hammer the tip of your blade into the face of the whetstone, you’ll break the blade and make it worse. There is a right way to sharpen and a time to stop. 

Safe and Secure

The final note of the epistle of Jude (verses 24-25) points believers to Jesus. Jude warned us to watch, charged us to vigilance, cautioned us not to fall, or stumble, the letter concludes with praise to Christ, the One who is able to keep us from falling. Jude’s doxology is an example of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. We are responsible to watch, to be diligent, to contend for the faith, but our security is found, not in our hands, but in God’s. We should live as if it all depends on our works, but trust knowing it all depends on God’s grace. It’s the Lord who forgives our sins (I John 1:8-9). He keeps us by graciously giving us faith in Him. God gives us a hatred of sin, and leads us not into temptation, but in paths of righteousness. Because the Christian abides in Christ, we have security in Christ, knowing that he will keep us from falling away forever.  In Philippians 1:6, Paul was confident God would carry out what He started and not leave the work unfinished. Jesus does not begin a work of salvation and then abandoned it halfway.  Some are plagued by the fear of losing this precious gift of salvation. Seeing our sin, meditating on the Holiness of God, fearful of God’s judgment makes one sense their great failures. Truly, our sin is great, and our failures are great, but our Saviour is greater, and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God is able to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

Christ will present us faultless  before the Father in love. I have sinned. I still sin. I’m not perfect and certainly not faultless. But I’m not saved by my works. I’m not saved by my righteousness. My sins are forgiven. My debt is paid. I received a pardon, all by the finished work of Jesus Christ. I’ve been washed clean of my sin, justified by God, and the pure and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to my account and with “exceeding joy” Christ will present me as a trophy of His grace. That great day, the homecoming of His people and the gathering of the family of God.

Our hope rests on the power of Christ. He is the Rock upon which we stand, the anchor of our soul, strong and immovable and impenetrable stronghold. W serve the “only wise God our Saviour” who ordained  the great plan of redemption and made the way for my salvation, with no loophole, no unthought of contingency, who ordained my salvation before the world began –  to this God, be glory and honor, and worship. To him, all “majesty ascribe”.  To him, all dominion, power, might, and authority belongs, both now and ever. Eternal praise to Jesus the captain of our Salvation, now and forever. The Eternal Son provides eternal life and the saints of God will glorify and praise Him for evermore.

Build up and save

                                                                                                                            

Preachers may sound like a broken record when they tell you to read your Bible over and over, but they care for your soul because you need to remember the words of the apostles of Christ (Jude 17-23). Keep their truths in mind and remember God’s promises and warnings. Remember, there will be mockers in the last times who walk, not after the way of Christ but after the way of flesh. They separate themselves from truth, authority, the church, from Christian fellowship, and  yoke themselves to the world. They may have a testimony, but they don’t have the Holy Spirit.

Instead of being disheartened, build yourselves up on the most holy faith and use the call for preparedness as an opportunity to strengthen yourself. You accomplish this by the Word of God (Acts 20:32)  and by God’s grace (I Corinthians 3:10). You build yourself up in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7), in His church (Ephesians 4:16) and by praying  in the Spirit. By doing this, you keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 21), or, in other words, we keep our minds and hearts in the love of God. We guard our affections against anything that pulls us from the thoughts of the love of Christ Jesus.  While nothing can eternally separate us from the love of God in Christ, we can wander and be led from magnifying God’s love in our life. Read the Bible, pray, meditate on the Scripture, fellowship with other Christians, join the church and attend the worship services, look to Christ and His promises, and look for Christ and his return.

Plus, you need to stay ready for the good of your friends. Someone needs to be strong to protect them (Jude 22-23)!  With some, we need to move with pity, mercy, grace. Being tender hearted because  they may be caught up unawares. Romans 16:18, “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”. Some will be deceived and fall off the path of orthodoxy. Others are too close to the edge, or too hardheaded to pick up the tender and gentle warnings.  In Jude 22-23, there are two types of people with basically the same problem, but we wisdom to determine how to deal with different people in different situations. Ignoring the issue and hoping it goes away is not an option if we love our friends. Sometimes a gentle reproof is enough to do the trick and sometimes you have to yank them out of the fire (Jude 23). If a one year old baby is waddling toward an open fire, mere feet from going headfirst into the flame, you don’t suggest in a soft spoken gentlemanly manner, for the babe to reconsider their life choices. You grab them and pull them away from danger. You have to treat sin like a leprous garment. It’s diseased and dangerous. Hate it for what it is and instead of falling in the flames, toss the garment of sin in the bonfire.

Three Bad Examples

                                                                   

Jude 10-16

When you go verse by verse through a book of the Bible, you are confronted with topics you otherwise might not really want to deal with. Jude himself, in verse 3 said he would have rather wrote about salvation by grace, but this subject is needed. Spiritual villains sneak in churches disguising themselves as men of God, so you have to be ready! The enter in the way of Cain, the murderer of righteous Abel (I John 3:12), but they are murderers of souls with damnable doctrine. They prey on God’s people like Balaam (Numbers 21-25). Men of Moab and Midian approached  Balaam with a proposition  -  curse Israel.  Balak, king of Moab, promised him prestige and honor if he would and Balaam would have done it, but the Lord wouldn't let him. But, Balaam said, stick around, maybe God will change His mind. Balaam was holding out hope for the money. Even though he couldn’t curse Israel, Balaam did what He could to hurt them (Numbers 25:1-3;9; 31:16; Rev 2:14). He tempted and lead Israel to participate in the idolatrous behavior of the world, worshipping false idols, and mingling truth with error. False teachers will harm the sheep for money and gain. But it's not just money, but also power. Core (same as Korah in Numbers 16:1)  gathered famous princes, men of renown rose up against Moses and Aaron. He took God’s promises and used them for his twisted sinful rebellion. “God has made us all equal, and  blessed us equally, who are you to be over us?” Actually, it was God who called Moses as the leader of Israel, and Core rebelled against God’s order.  1 Sam 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” We live in a time of rebellion, when people no longer heed to authority. They are "spiritual but not religious" meaning they will not listen to any authority other than their own heart. False teachers promote this feeling of autonomy and lead souls in rebellion. God opened up the Earth and Core fell in, and the Earth closed back up. I'm sure he didn't expect that, but people rarely expect or anticipate the judgment of God.

Look at the parallels between Jude 1:4 and 8. The ungodly turn grace into lasciviousness like Balaam. Defile the flesh in sin like Cain and despise dominion and speak evil of dignities like the gainsaying of Core. They are defiled feasts, clouds without water, looking the part, but nothing of substance. They are twice dead fruit trees, without life and without fruit. They rage in rebellion and produce the sea foam of their own shame. They are shooting stars, flashes of light that fade to blackness. Jude gives another Old Testament example to remember, Enoch (Jude 14-16) and his prophesy of old. The Lord is coming. He’s coming with His saints. He coming in judgment. He’s coming to judge the ungodly man of his ungodly deeds and his ungodly words.   

Paul's Prayer List - Tuesday with Timothy #4

2 Timothy 1:3-4 ...that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 

Paul loves Timothy and always prays for him. How much do we pray for our loved ones? How much do we pray for our friends? What joy to know someone is praying for you. Knowing someone who has your interest at heart and goes to the throne of grace on your behalf is a great encouragement.
Let’s turn this around. If you tell someone you’ll pray for them, do you? What a terrible lie, to tell someone they are in your prayers, and you have yet to pray for them. What deception to say, “I’ll pray” and forget about it and move on. The hypocrites love to be heard of me, and to let people know they will pray, and probably have a prayer list 5 pages long. Paul prayed night and day for Timothy, and you could take that to the bank.

Paul wanted to see Timothy again and likely remembered when they last saw each other and left, and what a tearful parting it was. The degree of sadness when they parted would be matched by the degree of joy at seeing each other again. What a friendship! If you have such a friend, treasure them and protect that friendship, because they are certainly a rare thing in this world. Paul had fair-weather friends who left him when things got tough, but Timothy was a true friend. Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Paul is about to get after Timothy a little bit, and to light a fire under him, but because they are friends, Timothy is not going to pout and get angry, because he also knows Proverbs 27:6, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Timothy's tears were genuine because his love for his friend was genuine.

Remember the Bad Times

Sometimes, we  forget the basics. I heard a story about  a police squad who received hundreds of hours of weapons training. The instructor asked the officers to pick up the empty casings and put them in their pocket when they finished their clips instead of waiting to the end of the day, to keep things tidy. The officers became crack shots and extremely proficient. One day the officers were called to scene of a crazed gunman and several officers were shot dead. After the shootout,  investigators found the officers pockets full of empty casings. In the fight, they resorted to instinct, and because they didn’t practice the basics, the defaulted to what they had practiced. During the fight, they were actually bending over and picking up empty casings and putting them in their pockets. It’s not practice that makes perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect. We need reminded of the simple things, things we know, because we can forget to apply the principles when we need them. In Jude 5-8, we are called to remember others failures so we won’t make the same mistake.

Remember Israel’s lack of faith and rebellion against God. Remember the angels in Genesis 6 who left their assigned state and went where they were forbidden. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and their rebellion against the natural order. The enemies Jude warned about have these same characteristics. Jude said these “dreamers” are coming for you who claimed God spoke to them in dreams, saying they had a “word from God”, but teaching their own wicked ways. They defiled the flesh and despised dominion, or hated authority.  These wicked men had an attitude of rebellion against authority and law.  It’s ungodly to be against lawful authority, (e.g., the church, her officers, police, parents, and employers). Like Israel in the wilderness, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah, these false teachers despised the natural order and the law of God. By teaching God’s grace as a license to sin, they lead men against God’s ways, which turns to a rebellion against the pastor, and any position of authority or church government. They spoke evil of those in charge to undermine the authority of God’s Word.

Remember Michael, the chief angel, contended with Satan about Moses body. Why? I’m not sure and the Bible doesn’t say. Just because we don’t know for certain why, doesn’t mean we can’t learn the principle Jude is talking about. Michael was not afraid of Satan, though he dared not bring a railing accusation, but said, “the Lord judge thee” because It wasn’t Michael’s  place.

These false teachers, “speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.” They speak evil of God’s truth, which they don’t know, and promote what they are familiar with, their depraved nature. Freedom from law doesn’t bring man up, but makes him act like an animal. Sin, in every way, destroys human dignity.

Sneaky Teachers

God calls Christians to judge people. What about America's favorite verse is Matthew 7:1, "Judge not"? I don't disagree with my Lord, we should not be self-righteouss in our judgment and set ourselves up as God and judge people harshly or wrongly. But He also calls us to judge. If you still disagree with me, aren't you being judgmental? Jude 4 gives us a good example when he gave us the reason why we must fight for the faith, and judge people. "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ungodly men, ordained of old to condemnation, were sneaking in to the churches. These type of men are not robbing the church building, or crawling through the window – they walk right in the front door with a big smile and bigger personality, and shake everyone's hand. The creep in by putting on a disguise of Christian orthodoxy. Christians are called to watch themselves and stay on guard. Sadly, there are wolves in sheep clothing who love to twist Scripture, ruin churches, and lead men into perdition. No false teacher walks through the door and announces his heretical views and insidious schemes. They come in pretending to be like everyone else in the church. Then with "good words and fair speeches" they deceive the hearts of the naive and undiscerning (Romans 16:17-18). They sneak in and start teaching. Whether from the pulpit or from the parking lot after church, they try to spread their terrible doctrine.

Jude notes two ways. One, they teach people to live unholy lives and lead men to anothe Christ. They preach a grace that forgives you of all your sins and then gives you free reign to go and sin all the more. It's a wicked doctrine to tell men they are free to sin and free to live however they please. Some have labeled this doctrine Therapeutic Moralistic Deism. God exists and he wants you to be happy, but is not concerned about how you live, what you believe, or really what you do. Your personal happiness is all that matters and your personal conviction is the guiding light of your morality. All you need to do is confess Jesus then go back and live however you want to live. They turn God's saving grace into a means of living a sinful an wicked life. The only way to preach such a doctrine is to have another Jesus, because the Jesus of the Bible certainly did not lead people to sin, but to go and sin no more. These false teachers, with false doctrine, preach a false Christ that leads people to very real Lake of Fire. God calls Christians to judge. We must compare what people say in God's name with God's word and discern if they are tell us the truth.

Spurgeon to His Son

MY DEAR SON,—You are a good son to write to your father so often and so lovingly. I am indeed happy in having two of the best of sons.

I shall be right glad if you can help the Colportage in any way, for just now it is in great straits. Therefore, go to Birmingham, if you can.

In general follow this rule—Do not engage yourself far ahead; for some fitting place for you to settle in may suddenly appear and it would be a great pity to lose it for the sake of some travelling engagements. Work hard now at theology, and never leave off doing so. The more you put in the more will come out. Get nearer and nearer to the Lord in prayer, and in your general walk, and so you will gain a depth which cannot come in any other way.

Your time will soon be up, and I should like you to begin in some sphere, not too large, nor too small, from which you may step into a life-long position. I think you will maintain a good congregation, and by God's blessing will be useful. We must not push or strive to get you a position, but wait on the Lord and He will do better for you than I can. When Bishops look out for livings for their nephews or sons we condemn their nepotism, and we must not fall into it ourselves. You will be patient and believing, and the right door will open. Cheer them all at home.

Your loving father, C. H. SPURGEON.

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I was cleaning out my draft folder, and I've had this in the draft for almost 8 years, and I didn't record where I found it. I missed it. In the process, I see that I've been blogging here for over a decade now. Would seem like such an occasion would be worthy of reflection. Maybe I'll try that before the end of the year. I have many thoughts...

The Balanced Life - Ecclesiastes 2:3

There is a time and a season for everything under the sun, a time to blog and a time to cast away blogging, one could say. It's been six months since I wrote on Ecclesiastes, and plodding along as I am wont to do, here is the next installment. Click the link that says Ecclesiastes to the right, or click here, or...well, you can figure it out I'm sure. 

Ecclesiastes 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Solomon “sought” in his heart, so we are seeing  change. He is going to seek to or turn his heart to give himself to wine. Well, let’s not get crazy with all mirth -  or the wisdom. The problem, you see, was not that he carried on, but he carried on too much. Moderation, my dear chap. Nuance. Solomon is not going to live a life of a drunkard - he will mix wisdom and wine in moderation. He is looking for the chief joy and happiness for man and the meaning and purpose of life. Combining the best of both worlds, he might find the satisfaction of soul in the middle road. Too much learning and wisdom vexed his soul. But so did giving himself to mirth and laughter.

Some commentators believe this to be the beginning of Solomon’s fall, walking the middle way of moderation, neither hot nor cold, so to speak. I think this is rather the natural state of affairs for most people who try to reform themselves. They come out of a wild streak and realize such a zealous life of extremes will kill them, and they settle down to a more moderate and respectable life. It’s also the plight of someone who grew up in a conservative household, who thinks their parents were oppressive. Throw off the “fundamentalism” of the past and enjoy their liberty to the fullest.

What should men do all the days of their life? It's a good question to ask and I wish more people asked it. Asking what we are going to do this weekend  is hardly the foresight Solomon was considering. What is it that I should spend my time doing? I only have a limited amount of time on this Earth, what should I do with my time? If giving yourself over to mirth ends badly, maybe moderation in all things is the way to go.  Moderation may be good health advice but poor spiritual advice. This is not drinking advise. Solomon is trying to see if living a balanced life provides your best life.