THIEF on the CROSS and the DISCIPLE of Christ
We often hear discussions concerning the grace extended to the thief on the cross. This discussion usually compares the thief’s forgiveness and the grace extended to him with modern day sinners (or saints). This comparison is as valid as comparing proverbial apples to oranges.
WHY IS THE COMPARISON NOT VALID?
First: The thief lived and died during the covenant known as the Old Testament. Definition of Old and New Testaments is in Hebrews 9:16-17. The death of the Testator had to have taken place. Jesus’ new Kingdom was not yet established. He had not arisen to take the thrown of His Kingdom yet. He did 40 days after his bodily resurrection. He ascended to the right hand of God and took on Lordship of the Kingdom (Acts 2).
Nothing about Christ’s New Covenant applied to the thief. Comparing our salvation with that of the thief would be like comparing our death to:
(1) Lazarus in Luke 16 who went to Abraham’s bosom. New Covenant Christians go to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23)
(2) Lazarus in John 11 who died and was resurrection on the 4th day. Events like this were only valid while Christ walked the earth in the flesh.
(3) Christ could forgive sins while in the flesh. ( Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20; 7:48) This is not the way New Testament Christian’s sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16, 1 John 1:7)
Second: Because we live under the New Covenant, if we accept Christ as Lord, then we become his slaves (doulos). The word “Lord” in Greek is “Kurios” meaning “owner” or “master”. The word “doulos” is often translated in the New Testament as “servant”, but the best translation is “slave”.
"You can't call Jesus Lord without declaring yourself His slave" ("Not a Fan" p. 151) More about that later….
Third: Unlike the thief, if we become a follower of Christ, we agree to die daily:
(1) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” Galatians 2:20
(2) “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” Galatians 5:24
(3) “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” Colossians 3:3
(4) “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” Luke 9:23
(5) “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”. Romans 6:4, 8.
(6) “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world….” Colossians 2:20
As followers of Christ, unlike the thief, we give up our rights, our will, our possessions, our desires in order to follow Him unconditionally without reservations. We give up the right to say, “That’s enough”, or “I’m tired”. We are His slaves (bond servant = one who puts themselves into slavery voluntarily to better their circumstances).
HISTORICAL NOTE ABOUT WHO THAT THIEF WAS
The Greek word “thief” is “lestes”. In a historical context, these folks were often Zealots, who worked diligently for the cause of Israel. To free Israel from the Roman yoke often led them to steal from rich Jews who made their fortunes from collaborating with the Romans. Rich Jews who were Roman sympathizers were hated by Zealots. To support their cause, they would often steal from these Jews and give the money to support their political agenda. Thus, those who stole for the cause to gain their own government and their own king were hung on a Roman cross as “lestes” to suppress their rebellion. The cross was meant to demean them and to prove in a public forum that their cause would be crushed by Rome. A regular thief would not have been treated this way.
(http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=3027)
THE IRONY:
(1) This Zeolot had to die to find the very King he was looking for. Jesus was the King that Israel should have recognized. We have to die to find that very same King.
(2) The Romans mocked the idea that these lestes were looking for a new King and Kingdom. They mockingly made the sign, "Jesus the King of the Jews." Through their ignorance, they proclaimed the truth.
No one quite understood at the moment of crucifixion what irony was playing out in that event
The “Robin Hood” effect, steal from the rich to give to the poor, is older than our English stories. Zealots were poor because they did not approve of profit through collaboration with Rome. Zealots were looking to re-establish the Kingdom of Israel. Zealots were often very good-meaning people with a “worthy” cause in “their own eyes”.
THE THIEF WHO WAS SAVED: This “thief” or “lestes” that accepted the “worthy” cause of stealing from rich Jewish traitors probably had a very good, yet misguided heart. He was sensitive to a “worthy cause" like the innocence of Jesus. He knew that Jesus had nothing to do with his Zealot compadres and was therefore innocent. He also recognized through his good heart, the majesty of Jesus.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THIEF?
THE THIEF WHO WAS LOST: Josephus records some unattractive facts about some of these lestes. He describes how rich Jews would swallow their gold and these thieves would slit their throats for the treasure. Many Zealots were just plan greedy and evil. Perhaps this was the nature of the other thief.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT MUST BE USED TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
(2) Disciple and Church
Let's spend a few minutes reflecting on some background information before we see what the Disciple and Church have in common.
BACKGROUND: In a nutshell, this is how we have the English Bible. The original text of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Koine (common man's) Greek. At one time in history the Bible was not very accessible to the common man. It was hidden away in monastery libraries and only handled by a few designated souls ordained by hierarchical groups of men who thought interpreting Scripture was too far above the realm of ordinary men.
A few well educated men, Martin Luther being one, decided that the "status quo" of keeping Scripture out of the hands of ordinary people should be rectified. Guttenberg took on the challenge of printing the first Bible so that a wider variety of folks had access to its pages. King James commissioned scholars to translate the Bible into English. Cruden built a reference book that allowed everyone to find Scripture more efficiently and began helping individuals become more familiar with the Word of God. All this has led up today's multitude of translations, references, and resources, available once again for the common man.
It is easy to see how inaccuracies developed when at one time there was a scarcity of Biblical text and resources. However, today, there should be little excuse. At the push of a button or the click of a mouse, God's original text (Greek and Hebrew) are readily available to everyone who seeks.
Taking our cue from this information, we are going to look at the word, "church" to see where it originated and if it is actually being used in the context in which God intended.
RESOURCE: Bible Study Tools (http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/the-church.html )
“The New Testament word for "church" is ekklesia [ejkklhsiva], which means "the called out ones." in classical Greek….”
As used in the New Testament: “The ekklesia [ejkklhsiva] is God's congregation ( 1 Cor 1:2 ; 2 Cor 1:1 ; etc.).”
Although it would not be inaccurate to say, “I am going to church” meaning I am going to assemble with God’s congregation, it may be inaccurate to say, “My church” or “Our church”. If we use the meaning of the term, “the called out of God”, it would be best to say, “I am assembling with the called out”.
Being accurate has the advantage of reminding us of exactly who we are:
--We are called out of the world and into His marvelous Light.
--We are owned by God and we are His servants.
--We have a “calling”.
--Our calling is separate from the world’s
---We have been given this calling through the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
If we continue to use the English word, “church” it tends to give us a very low resolution picture of God’s Word as if viewing it on an old black and white TV. If we want to see God’s word in High Definition color, we might begin to use the original language which most often imparts a deeper, richer meaning.
Examples:
--We are going to assemble with the called out of God.
--We are the called out, called out of the world to live as Light to the world.
--We are called to have a new name, new ministry, new identity, new walk, new spirit, new purpose, new love, new hope, new family, new Master.
--We are to assemble with fellow saints (The word "saint" is derived from a Greek verb (hagiazo [aJgiavzw]) whose basic meaning is "to set apart," "sanctify, " or "make holy." ) to remember the sacrifice, love, and grace of our Lord.
The Disciple’s life is “called out” and “set apart”. It is distinctive. It is peculiar. It is a sacred life, where Deity dwells. Church is not a place, it is not a building, it is a calling.
Are you merely going "to church" or are you answering the call of God to be holy, set apart, peculiar, and involved in ministry?
BACKGROUND: In a nutshell, this is how we have the English Bible. The original text of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Koine (common man's) Greek. At one time in history the Bible was not very accessible to the common man. It was hidden away in monastery libraries and only handled by a few designated souls ordained by hierarchical groups of men who thought interpreting Scripture was too far above the realm of ordinary men.
A few well educated men, Martin Luther being one, decided that the "status quo" of keeping Scripture out of the hands of ordinary people should be rectified. Guttenberg took on the challenge of printing the first Bible so that a wider variety of folks had access to its pages. King James commissioned scholars to translate the Bible into English. Cruden built a reference book that allowed everyone to find Scripture more efficiently and began helping individuals become more familiar with the Word of God. All this has led up today's multitude of translations, references, and resources, available once again for the common man.
It is easy to see how inaccuracies developed when at one time there was a scarcity of Biblical text and resources. However, today, there should be little excuse. At the push of a button or the click of a mouse, God's original text (Greek and Hebrew) are readily available to everyone who seeks.
Taking our cue from this information, we are going to look at the word, "church" to see where it originated and if it is actually being used in the context in which God intended.
RESOURCE: Bible Study Tools (http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/the-church.html )
“The New Testament word for "church" is ekklesia [ejkklhsiva], which means "the called out ones." in classical Greek….”
As used in the New Testament: “The ekklesia [ejkklhsiva] is God's congregation ( 1 Cor 1:2 ; 2 Cor 1:1 ; etc.).”
Although it would not be inaccurate to say, “I am going to church” meaning I am going to assemble with God’s congregation, it may be inaccurate to say, “My church” or “Our church”. If we use the meaning of the term, “the called out of God”, it would be best to say, “I am assembling with the called out”.
Being accurate has the advantage of reminding us of exactly who we are:
--We are called out of the world and into His marvelous Light.
--We are owned by God and we are His servants.
--We have a “calling”.
--Our calling is separate from the world’s
---We have been given this calling through the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
If we continue to use the English word, “church” it tends to give us a very low resolution picture of God’s Word as if viewing it on an old black and white TV. If we want to see God’s word in High Definition color, we might begin to use the original language which most often imparts a deeper, richer meaning.
Examples:
--We are going to assemble with the called out of God.
--We are the called out, called out of the world to live as Light to the world.
--We are called to have a new name, new ministry, new identity, new walk, new spirit, new purpose, new love, new hope, new family, new Master.
--We are to assemble with fellow saints (The word "saint" is derived from a Greek verb (hagiazo [aJgiavzw]) whose basic meaning is "to set apart," "sanctify, " or "make holy." ) to remember the sacrifice, love, and grace of our Lord.
The Disciple’s life is “called out” and “set apart”. It is distinctive. It is peculiar. It is a sacred life, where Deity dwells. Church is not a place, it is not a building, it is a calling.
Are you merely going "to church" or are you answering the call of God to be holy, set apart, peculiar, and involved in ministry?
Friday, August 19, 2011
(1) Disciple: The All or Nothing Relationship with Jesus Christ
Click on Lessons: (2) Disciple and the Church, (3) Disciple & the Thief on the Cross, (4) Disciple & Matthew 7: Great Expectations!
(1) Disciple: follower, student, mentee, learner, apprentice
Most folks attending a Christian-based worship assembly on Sunday morning would call themselves a follower of Christ. What we call ourselves and how we formulate a relationship with Jesus may be two very different things.
Our journey in the next 13 weeks will involve learning how to better commune with our Lord on a day to day basis. We will explore Jesus teachings and the path He illuminated for His disciples to follow. We will re-examine our commitment honestly and with wisdom. We will learn to grow into the follower that Jesus will acknowledge as a good and faithful servant.
We will strip away our illusions about who we are in relationship to others and to Christ. We will take a hard look at what discipleship demands and its overflowing blessings. We will grow closer in our walk, and become more dependent upon the Holy Spirit to speak, share, and manifest the life of a true disciple.
Our goal in this series of lessons is to become more honest about our struggles and dependence upon our God through His Son. We will learn to build relationship with Him instead of practicing mindless rituals or following inane rules. We will find joy instead of weariness and humilty instead of idolizing prideful accomplishments.
My prayer for us is that we will find our place in the Universe with relationship to the God of the Universe and to not only feel His presence in all aspects of our lives, but to acknowledge it even among those in darkness.
Peace and Grace,
Joy
(1) Disciple: follower, student, mentee, learner, apprentice
Most folks attending a Christian-based worship assembly on Sunday morning would call themselves a follower of Christ. What we call ourselves and how we formulate a relationship with Jesus may be two very different things.
Our journey in the next 13 weeks will involve learning how to better commune with our Lord on a day to day basis. We will explore Jesus teachings and the path He illuminated for His disciples to follow. We will re-examine our commitment honestly and with wisdom. We will learn to grow into the follower that Jesus will acknowledge as a good and faithful servant.
We will strip away our illusions about who we are in relationship to others and to Christ. We will take a hard look at what discipleship demands and its overflowing blessings. We will grow closer in our walk, and become more dependent upon the Holy Spirit to speak, share, and manifest the life of a true disciple.
Our goal in this series of lessons is to become more honest about our struggles and dependence upon our God through His Son. We will learn to build relationship with Him instead of practicing mindless rituals or following inane rules. We will find joy instead of weariness and humilty instead of idolizing prideful accomplishments.
My prayer for us is that we will find our place in the Universe with relationship to the God of the Universe and to not only feel His presence in all aspects of our lives, but to acknowledge it even among those in darkness.
Peace and Grace,
Joy
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