Who is God?

Those who know me best would, I think, support my claim to be an aficionado of the English language. I get most annoyed when people use an adjective when it is an adverb that is required. I like to see the humble apostrophe used in the correct manner (or omitted when it is not required!). I don't like to see a preposition as the final word in a sentence!

So I can understand why some people may think it strange that when, some 3,500 years ago, Moses asked his God - the God of the Israelite people - who He was, he received a strange response. God said: "Say to the Children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you ... This is My name forever." (Ex. 3:14-15).  

A two-word sentence! Yet it is full of meaning! In the English language, a sentence needs only two parts of speech to be complete - a subject and a verb. So when God says that His name, not one of His attributes, is "I AM", this conveys to us the concept that He is complete in Himself. He is subject and verb. He is everything that we could possibly need.

However, there is more. This name indicates His eternal nature. He is not "I was". That would suggest that He had a past. He is not "I will be". That would suggest that He has a future. His name "I AM" shows that He is dwells in the timelessness of eternity. You see, that is the nature of eternity. It is not "endless time", but timelessness! If you find that to be confusing, don't worry - you are not alone! However, it is one of the words with which I deal in my book "Great Words of the Faith" (see above for a link). I provide an analogy that, I believe, most people will understand - indeed, will have experienced!

Then, in the fulness of created time, Jesus put flesh on God's bare-boned answer to Moses' question. Jesus, Who is God the Son, left the eternal glory in order to give His life for our salvation. However, He also came to show us what it means to bear the Father's name. 

In John's account of the Gospel, the apostle records seven specific instances in which Jesus declared His deity by the the use of the words "I AM". He said, "I AM the bread of life" (6:35 ff). He said "I AM the light of the world" (8:12. 9:5). He said: "I AM the door" (10:7,9). He claimed "I AM the Good Shepherd" (10:11.14). Outside the tomb of His friend, Lazarus, He stated "I AM the resurrection and the life." (11:25). He told His disciples: "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (Jn.14:6). He said "I AM the true vine." (15:1,5).

John records two further instances of "I AM" statements made by the Lord Jesus. However, these are not metaphors. They are direct applications of "the Name" ("HaShem" - the manner by which Jews refer to "I AM") made by the Lord Jesus to Himself - and are therefore His own claims to being an integral part of the Godhead. (If the doctrine of the Trinity confuses you, I deal with that word, also, in "Great Words of the Faith.") The first of these is found in 8:58, where Jesus says to certain Jews who had been disputing with Him: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM". He was not making what would have been a ridiculous claim that He was older than Abraham would have been at that time, but declaring His eternal existence - His being God.

The second occasion on which He speaks like this is recorded in John 18:4-5. Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the soldiers, priests, and mob, led by the traitor, Judas, have come to arrest Him. As they approach, He asks for whom they are seeking. They tell Him that they seek Jesus of Nazareth, and the Lord says "I AM He"! Now that word "He" is added in English language translations, by the translators. However, in the original Greek of the Second (New) Testament, the record states that His response was "Ego eimi" - "I AM". He was applying God's covenant, personal, name to Himself. Little wonder that they "drew back, and fell to the ground". (v.6).

If, for whatever reason, you are questioning Who God is, take some time to get to know Jesus, the eternal One, made flesh, in the pages of His word. He is, as Paul wrote to the Colossian believers: "... the image of of the invisible God," (1:15). I commend Him to you - and you to Him!

My Barrister!

During my time as a Chaplain with the former Strathclyde Police Force, I had a separate blog named "Chaplain's Corner", that tied in with a monthly spot in the bulletins published by the three areas in which I was deployed. I had totally forgotten about this blog, but found this post from June 2012. I immediately decided that it was worth sharing again. Indeed, I suspect that I gleaned the article from some other source, and adapted it! It is, of course, "fictional" in the sense that no specific individual is portrayed as the writer, and the word-picture painted has no precise Biblical foundation. However, the basic message is very true. I commend it to you.

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end. The next thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what appeared to be a courthouse.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking character who snarled as he stared at me. He was definitely the most evil being I had ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my Barrister, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, that I felt I must know Him.

The door flew open and the Judge appeared, in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome Presence and, as He moved across the room, I couldn't take my eyes off of Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said,

"I am the Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell."

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and times in the past when I had cheated others. He told of other horrible sins that were once in my life and, the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, not even my own Barrister, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at the Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at my Barrister Who sat there silently, not offering any form of defense at all. I knew I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't they at least cancel part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell.  He is guilty of all that I have said, and there is no-one who can prove otherwise."

When it was His turn, my Barrister first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of the Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendour and majesty. I realised why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Saviour.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court.

The Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned. I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Saviour, so he is Mine."

My Lord continued, "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from Me. The Satan still does not understand. This man is not to be given justice, but rather grace and mercy."

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all."

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips..

"This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed."

As my Lord led me away, I could hear the Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one." I asked Jesus, as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?"

He lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ....... Paid In Full."

As stated at the top, it's only a story - but it does have a message. If we want Him to represent us there; we must be willing to represent Him here!   If you've never done so before, confess your sins to Him now; ask for His forgiveness; thank Him for taking your place on the cross; accept Him as Saviour and Lord.  Then live for Him - "life in all its fulness" (Jn.10:10). By the way, it doesn't matter if you are male or female!

Fifth Sunday: "Great Words of the Faith"

 Another month with five Sundays, so another book promotion!

"Great Words of the Faith" was my first venture into the world of self-publishing. Like its successors, it started its life as a spoken word - in this case, as a series of about eight words, preached before the congregation of St.Andrew's Parish Church (now St.Andrew's United Free Church), in Bellshill, Lanarkshire.

Many years later, I used some of those messages as the basis for a series of broadcasts on Revival Radio, a Christian radio station that is, sadly, no longer. That was when an established author, already known to me, suggested that the series would make a good book! A few years later, I used the series, suitably upgraded, in Calderhead:Erskine Parish Church in Shotts, Lanarkshire, and its linked congregation in nearby Allanton.The young Session Clerk also suggested that the series would make a useful book.

With two people, who had no knowledge of even one another's existence, having said the same thing, I started on the manuscript - with the original eight, or so, words increased to twenty-four. The central word is "Love" and it was given two chapters, making a total of twenty-five chapters.

As with all of my books and, indeed, this blog (!), I receive no financial benefit from sales (or 'clicks'). Indeed, I don't even see the royalties from book sales, as they are sent, directly, to Release International, in support of the persecuted church. So, purchasing one, or more, of my books is not only helpful to your understanding of the Christian Faith, but it is helping those who suffer - many in ways that are beyond the comprehension of those of us who live in the still relative safety of "the west" - for that same faith.

All of my books are designed to be read without the need of a dictionary beside you, and are written in an almost conversational tone!

Why not start the new year with some wholesome, helpful, reading! You know it makes sense!

A good new year to one and all.

Two Bethlehems.

A couple of weeks ago I, and all who were present at the Pathway Fellowship in Wishaw, received a little booklet on the story of Ruth, found in the First Testament in the Bible. The booklet is entitled "Finding Hope under Bethlehem Skies" and is a brief devotional commentary on the story of Ruth, and how it relates to this Christmas season (which, some will know, ought really to be celebrated in September - but that's another story!).

The connection with Christmas is not just the town of Bethlehem, but the amazing fact that Ruth, a member of the Moabite people, sworn enemies of the Children of Israel, had a descendant Who was named "Jesus" because, as an angel revealed to Joseph of Nazareth, "... He will save His people from their sins." (Matt.1:21). Yes, a Moabite - themselves the result of the incestuous sexual act of a drunken Lot and one of his own daughters (Gen.19) - is an ancestor, after the flesh, of the One Who is the Saviour of all who come to Him in faith. Actually, Matthew tells us more. Boaz, who took Ruth to be his wife, was the son of Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho. Indeed, his ancestry goes right back to Judah's sexual act with his daughter-in-law, disguised as a common prostitute! (Gen.38).  But both of these women placed their trust in YHWH, the God of Israel - and that is what matters! It is also a reminder - even to our Jewish friends - that YHWH (HaShem) is God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews, and that He can take the most unlikely material, and use it to bring about His will and purposes! 

The birth of Jesus, the Christ was, as far as we know, perfectly normal! What was miraculous was His conception! It was unlike any other in the whole history of humankind. It was, indeed, an "other world" conception. The angel, Gabriel, told Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;" (Lk.1:35). The Child conceived in her womb was from outwith our world. And this had to be so because the Boy born to Mary was Immanuel - "God with us" (Is.7:14; Matt.1:23).

I've just finished reading a book that seeks to relate Biblical theology to Quantum Physics! I understood about 10%!!! But one thing about which I agreed fully with the author is that eternity is not, as some suggest, "endless time", but a state of "timelessness", and the "distance" between time and eternity is but a small fraction of a nanosecond! The Baby born in Bethlehem was of heavenly origin. Almighty God, the Creator, had entered this physical world in the form, and with the nature, of a human Infant. He came into this world from eternity, and His incarnation made possible our redemption - but that, too is another story!

Now, if we consider this more deeply, and if we are His disciples, then we must realise that our own new birth - our regeneration - comes from outwith this world! Jesus said the we are "born from above" (Jn.3:3, 7-8; alternative translation). Our salvation is not from any earthly source, but from Almighty God Himself, through Jesus, Who is God the Son, by means of of God the Holy Spirit. In a sense, then, my heart becomes a "Bethlehem stable", a place where Jesus comes into the world! I open the door to Him, by faith, and He is born in me bu the Holy Spirit. And that is the case for all who have accepted Him as Saviour, and Lord, and King.

We make Him known to others by His power working within us. He affects every aspect of our lives. We are, in a sense (I almost typed "quantum sense"!) a "Bethlehem" - His place of entrance in the world in which we live today. Someone has noted that the Christ was born here below, that we might be born from above! Of course, if the stable door is closed after He enters, then we will never be able to share Him with others!

The booklet I mentioned at the beginning suggests a song to which the reader might listen each day. So here is a song for you. Listen carefully to the last verse: "O Holy Child of Bethlehem, ... ... be born in us today"! May that be the sincere prayer of each one of us as we move through this Advent season - and anticipate the Second Advent, when He comes again, not as a helpless infant, but as the mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords. I trust that you are prepared for that tumultuous event!

A work in progress!

Best-selling novelist, the Anglo-Canadian author Arthur Hailey (1920-2004), is recorded as having said of his fictional characters: "I don't think I really invented anybody. I have drawn on real life." When readers open a book by this author, they encounter ordinary people who have been placed, by the author, in extraordinary situations.

Do you realise that Father God often does the same thing?! In Dr Luke's second volume - known to us as the Book of the Acts of the Apostles (although, more accurately, the Acts of God the Holy Spirit, through apostolic men!) - and in chapter 4, we find two ordinary people, the fishermen Peter and John, having been placed in an unexpected situation, being witnesses to the reality of the risen Lord Jesus. These men who, with the rest of the band of disciples had fled when their Master was arrested, were now boldly facing threats and punishment, for nothing other than telling people about Him.

The context is that, on the previous day, they "... were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." (Acts 3:1-10)

The two responded to this amazement by proclaiming the Gospel message - 3: 12-26 - and, we read in Acts 4, that "... the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." (4:1-2). The Sadducees, of course, did not believe that there was any such thing as a resurrection (that is why they were "sad, you see"! Theological humour!).

Having been kept in custody overnight, Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin - the supreme Jewish Council - who wanted to know how they had performed the miracle on the lame man. This gave Peter another opportunity to preach the Gospel! (vs.8-12). His preaching was so powerful that even these authorities, who opposed the followers of "the Way", were astonished as "... they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men,". But "... they recognized that they had been with Jesus."! (v.13).

Most, if not all, of us are ordinary people in a real life of work, relationships, and everyday circumstances. But Father God is looking for ordinary people to do extraordinary work for Him! Our opportunities to demonstrate the reality of the Lord Jesus may sometimes come disguised as difficulties - as they did for Peter and John, and other disciples as recorded by Dr Luke.

However, if you read Peter's response to the Sanhedrin, you will have noticed the secret in v.8 - "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said ...". Even as ordinary people, we can have an extraordinary impact for the Saviour if we will trust the Author of our circumstances, and rely on the indwelling power of God the Holy Spirit. We are, as a friend from many years ago often pointed out "works in progress"! However, if it is true that we are "with Jesus" then that work will continue under His masterful guidance. Paul, writing to the believers in Philippi, assured them that "...  I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (1:6). They, too, were "works in progress", but that work would be completed. 

May that be the ongoing experience of all who read this post, as we see all around us, indications that the final prophecies are being fulfilled, and the Rapture of the saints of God is rapidly approaching!