The Perfect City of God—New Jerusalem

How does one describe the indescribable? How does one picture what seems impossible to imagine? The Spirit shows us how—by the use of picture language and symbols. So one of the great and wondrous messengers,  those mysterious beings who have watched the whole history of mankind on the earth, comes to John to show him the Bride, the wife of the Lamb - Rev. 21:10-27 ESV

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-- on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 

A reminder about the use of numbers in John's Revelation:

The biblical method of using numbers is not common to the haphazard conjecture of some modern interpreters, who claim that a sort of allegory lies behind the true meaning of the numbers of Revelation. Apocalyptic numerology should not be confused with eccentric interpretation. Apocalyptic literature is highly developed in its symbolism. When one is familiar with this genre of literature, a more historical, less arbitrary interpretation prevails. 

For years this blog has studied the background of the Bible's use of numbers. I refer my readers back to some of these studies as we encounter again this chapter's detailed use of the numbers 3, 4, 10 and 12. For instance, see the following:

• Biblical Numerology Background 
• Essentially The Revelation Is a Book of Symbols
• Symbolical Language Is Common

Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value - read from right to left

We join John now to look into the wondrous future God has prepared for His people. Three is the number used for God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Four is the number for man as he makes his way and lives his life upon this earth with all four of its directions.

This future is to come from heaven, from God, with all its wonder and glory and radiance, shining like the rarest of jewels, like jasper, a mineral belonging to the quartz family of gemstones.

One of many types of  Jasper

The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an ancient gemstone, and is mentioned in the bible and other classical sources. Though fairly common and affordable today, Jasper in antiquity was regarded as a very valuable stone.

The twelve gates of Jerusalem, the city of David, refers to the people of God, the twelve tribes, the twelve apostles, in other words all God's people gathered together by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. These people come from all directions, north, south, east and west. They are many and varied, gathered by the love of God, revealed in Christ.

And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 

What an amazing gathering this is and how very immense and absolutely perfect on all sides. It is, in fact, a perfect cube, equal in all aspects. A stadia was an ancient unit of length equal to a bit over 600 feet. So 12,000 stadia would equal about 7,200,000 feet or about 1,400 miles in length, width and height. This description sounds strange, almost ridiculous until you remember again that it is symbolical, pointing to the endless love of God that gathers in His chosen people of all races, places and times.

Jewels of Rev. 21

And what a wondrously beautiful city this is, adorned with every kind of jewel, radiant and sparkling.

The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. - Rev 21:10-27 ESV

The Second Scene Of The End Times Now Ends

Having emphasized again that Revelation is a book of symbols and that those symbols must be interpreted by referring to the Old Testament and to the words of Jesus, we are ready too move now to complete our comments on chapter 11 and conclude our study of the second of the seven scenes revealing what we are to expect as we await the return of our King, the Risen Christ.

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. - Rev 11:1-8 ESV

John has eaten the little scroll. He has inwardly digested it and now what follows are the perplexing words above, a bewildering interweaving of symbols from Old Testament history and prophecy. Here are references to the Temple, the altar, the court around the temple, the drought in the days of Elijah, the wild olive trees and the lamp stand seen by Zechariah, the plagues sent upon Pharaoh and Egypt in the days of the Exodus, the tyrant predicted by Daniel and to Sodom, Egypt and Jerusalem. Throughout this amazing summary of the history of God's people, we recall their faithful witness to their faith in God, despite indignity and persecution. But this is not the end of the story. They are delivered through martyrdom and death to an amazing flight to heaven.

For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. - Rev 11:9-14 ESV

What does all this mean—symbolically or spiritually (pneumatikōs, Rev. 11:8)? John obviously is not measuring some literal temple. The temple was destroyed by the Romans over 20 years earlier. That temple has been replaced by the living temple (2 Cor. 6:16; Eph 2:20-21; 1 Pet 2:5). John is to measure this living temple, God's people, so that he may be God's instrument to build up, revive and restore God's people. 

He is not to measure the court outside the temple, but rather the inner court. Those on the outside persecute and trample upon the church, but they are not permitted to destroy her. The 42 months of persecution (3 ½ years) is derived from the prophet Daniel. This was the period the Greek King, Antiochus IV, was allowed to defile the temple from 167 to 164 B.C. with the "abomination that desolates" until the decreed end was poured out on the desolator (Dan 9:27; 12:7). Antiochus ordered that Jewish worship must cease and be replaced by worship of the Greek deity Zeus. This led to the Maccabean revolt and Antiochus' sudden death from an unknown disease. John uses this period of time (½ of 7 years) as the symbolical indication that the time of persecution by the enemies of God will be limited, as it has always been. 

Who are the two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days (3 ½ years), clothed in sackcloth? John gives us two hints. The first is his reference to two olive trees. The prophet Zechariah had a vision of Joshua the high priest, and Zerubbabel the civil ruler during the days when the temple was rebuilt, after 70 years of Babylonian captivity.  

And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" 

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth." 

Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" And a second time I answered and said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?" He said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth." - Zec 4:1-14 ESV

John refers to the spiritual power given to the two "to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying," and their "power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire." This brings to mind the days of Elijah (2 Kings 1:10) and Moses (Exod 7:17-19). Thus within the church the LORD anoints with His Spirit both rulers and priests to witness to Him, just as He always has.

After the two witnesses finish their testimony they are attacked and killed by the beast from the bottomless pit (Rev. 11:7). We'll hear more about this demonic monster later in chapters 13 and 17. The martyrdom of the Two is likened to that of Christ in Jerusalem. Jerusalem now becomes a symbol. John writes that the great city is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. Sodom is a symbol for total moral decay (Gen 19:4-11) and Egypt stands for oppression and slavery, reaching all the way back to the days of Moses. The bodies of the Two are denied a proper burial, a great disgrace. They lie in the streets for 3 ½ days, abandoned and decaying. At this all who dwell on earth rejoice. A holiday is declared and presents are exchanged, because the Two can no longer trouble their consciences by calling them to repent nor prevent them by force from advancing their cause. But then suddenly the victory celebration comes to an end with a great earthquake. A tenth of the city collapses and 7 x 1,000 die. The Two Witnesses rise from the dead and are caught up to heaven in a cloud. Those left behind are terrified and give glory to the God of heaven.

So we are told again that the church and her anointed leaders will suffer persecution and death in these last days, but she cannot be destroyed. Instead the exact number of God's enemies chosen for destruction die. As this second woe passes the seventh angel blows his trumpet and loud voices echo in heaven, saying,

 "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." 

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, 

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." - Rev 11:15-18 ESV

This sounds as if the end of the age has come—and indeed it has! The book could well end here. It is a proper ending, but there are 11 more chapters to follow. John has five more scenes of the End Times to present to us, deepening our understanding of the last days. He also confirms what he said in the opening chapter (Rev. 1:4-7). Christ has made us a royal priesthood (1Pe 2:9 ESV), kings and priests to His God and Father. He is coming soon with the clouds. He is the LORD God who is and was and is to come. Even so, come LORD Jesus! Amen.

The Key of David

These days one can take a tour of the seven churches of Revelation. The tour lasts seven nights and eight days and includes Istanbul's St. Sophia Church and several Mosques, as well as a "romantic ferry ride along the Bosphorus." In this blog, however, we are taking a spiritual tour of the churches to learn what the Holy Spirit has to say to the churches of our day. Today's tour is of the church in Philadelphia.

The Ancient City of Philadelphia

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' - Rev 3:7-13 ESV

The one writing "has the key of David." This is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah about Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. He replaced Shebna, the comptroller or governor of King Hezekiah's palace. Sheba foolishly favored an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. As the one receiving the "key of David" Eliakim had the power to open and shut, a symbol of his absolute authority as the king's representative (Isa. 22:15-22). Later, when the Assyrian army was sent against Jerusalem in 701 Eliakim was one of the princes who parlayed with the Assyrian officers (2 Ki 18:18-19:37; Isa 36:3-22). He was sent by King Hezekiah to relay the Assyrian threats and to entreat Isaiah's prayers to the LORD on behalf of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah. Ultimately Sennacherib's army of 185,000 was destroyed by the LORD Jesus, the Angel of the LORD, and Sennacherib was murdered by his own sons (2 Ki 19:35-37).

The LORD Jesus, the Angel of the LORD, descended from David through the Virgin Mary (Luk 1:31-35; 2:7-11; Matt 1:19-25), and also the Son of God, is the almighty One with the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1:18). To Him belong the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, the keys that unlock or lock the gates leading to heaven and eternal life (Matt 16:19; 18:18; John 20:23). He and He alone has the authority to forgive sins and to welcome His disciples to the eternal palace of the King.

The Philadelphian Christians kept Jesus' word and did not deny His name. They were persecuted by Judaizers, those who would rob them of their faith in Christ and His sacrifice. Once again the false Jews are labeled "the synagogue of Satan" (Rev 2:9) and once again they are called liars who say they are Jews, but are not.

Hold fast, says the Spirit. Don't let anyone seize your crown (2 Tim 2:5; 4:8; 1 Co 9:25). The word for crown is stephanos, the wreath-crown received in athletic contests, a word familiar to Philadelphians since it was famous for such games. Jesus' brother James offers similar encouragement as he writes,

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - Jas 1:12 ESV

The Philadelphians held fast. They did not let go of their faith in Christ. Their reward awaited them. They were to become eternal pillars in the temple of God (Jer 1:18; Gal 2:9).  Even in this age God has raised up a temple of living stones, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). Again and again the apostles reminded believers that the old temple in Jerusalem has been replaced by a new, living, spiritual house.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." - Isa 28:16; 1Pe 2:4-6 ESV

What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - Lev 26:12; 2Co 6:15-16 ESV 

So all believers in Christ rejoice that they share the same promises. They have the name of God. the name of Jesus, the name into which they are baptized. This was the commission Jesus gave to His apostles as He left them.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, - Mat 28:19 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. - Rom 6:3-5 ESV

What a wonder! What a joy! Buried with Christ. Risen with Christ. Eternal stones, even pillars in the Temple of God. Children of God, bearing His name. The Bride of Christ, wed to Him forever and eternally sharing His name. These are the promises given to the believers in Philadelphia, the promises shared by all who have died with Christ and risen again with Him to eternal life.

Temple Building In Progress

In my lifetime I've had the privilege of participating in several building projects. My wife and I have supervised the building of two houses that became our homes. As a pastor I guided the building of five building projects, including sanctuaries, classrooms, offices and fellowship halls. They all presented their own unique challenges and opportunities.

In Hebrews 3, as we've been hearing in two previous blogs, we learn that Christ is also a builder, the builder of God's house. But this house is more than a literal building. It refers to the people rather than merely to the structure itself.  Christ is forever in the building business. His steadfast love is an eternal building in which we, His children, dwell.

I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness." You have said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.'" Selah - Psa 89:1-4 ESV

 Originally this psalm referred to the chosen Children of Israel, but later the LORD promised to incorporate also the Gentile nations in this immense building. That's where we Gentiles come in.

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'As the LORD lives,' even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. - Jer 12:16 ESV

This promise is being fulfilled in Christ. His new building includes not only Israel, but all who put their faith in Him, regardless of their race or nationality. This is what the writer to the Hebrews refers to when he says that . . .

Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses--as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. - Hebrews 3:3-6 ESV

Jesus is the rock-solid foundation of this wondrous building, the builder of this great structure. In  Him and through Him Israelites and Gentiles are growing together as living stones of the Temple of God. This is a great work in progress. The Apostle Peter puts it like this:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame" (Isaiah 28:16). So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone"(Ps. 118:22), and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense"(Isa. 8:14). They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. - 1Pet 2:4-9 ESV 

Wherever we read about God's building project, we are filled with joy and hope. He is at work, always building, adding new stones, new rooms, new projects. He who is the Builder is also the foundation, the solid rock upon which His church, His people stand firm. This is our message. This is our Good News, our Gospel.

"I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations." Ps. 89:1 ESV

The Christmas Priesthood Of Believers

We continue our meditation upon the Scriptures that speak about the birth and early life of our Lord Jesus.

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." - Luke 2:22-24 ESV

According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God (Exod 13:2-18), and the parents had to "buy him back" on the 40th day after his birth by offering a sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:24) in the temple (thus the "presentation" of the child).

Luke refers to the story of the Exodus when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. During the tenth plague the LORD passed over the Israelites when he killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians. From that time onward all the firstborn were to be set aside for the LORD. 

The verb to pass over is also a commentary on the pagan practice of child sacrifice. Pagans of the ancient Near East would take a child and pass him over or through the fire as a child sacrifice. The LORD forbad such barbarism. 

There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer - Deut 18:10 ESV (cf. 2 Kings 16:3)

Rather than child sacrifice the LORD wanted the firstborn to be set apart and devoted to His service as the priests of God. The Israelites were not to pass over their first offspring in the fire to death, but they were to pass them over to God to life. As the LORD passed over the Israelites during the plague, so now they were to pass their first offspring over to Him as priests who would teach, judge and offer sacrifices on behalf of all of Israel. In fact, the LORD wanted all of Israel to be a kingdom of priests. He declared: 

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." - Exod 19:4-6 ESV

However, Israel forfeited her priesthood when the people were unfaithful to the covenant and fell into idolatry by worshipping the golden calf (Exod 32:1-6).  Because of this great sin, they broke covenant with the LORD and lost the privilege of being His firstborn priesthood. They failed to reflect the LORD's holy character. So instead He chose the Levites who rose up on that day to stand on the LORD's side.

. . . then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.'" And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. And Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day." - Exod 32:26-29 ESV

From that day forward the tribe of Levi served as the priests. The law about the firstborn remained, however, as a reminder of the LORD's intention that the whole nation was to be set aside for the LORD's service. As noted above, parents could "buy the firstborn back" on the 40th day after his birth with a pair of turtledoves or young pigeons.

The New Testament picks this up, pointing out that Jesus Christ is the pre-eminent firstborn. 

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. - Col 1:13-18 ESV

We who are reborn into Christ, we who are the members of His body, are now the restored priesthood. We are set aside (the meaning of the word holy) for the LORD. We are priests who serve in a living temple whose cornerstone is Christ. So the Apostle Peter writes:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. - 1Pet 2:4-10 ESV

This then is how we celebrate Christmas and every day of the year. Set aside, made holy in Christ, our entire lives are devoted to Him. We are the priesthood of believers. 

The Spirit Blows Where He Will

For these past two weeks I've posted studies on spiritual gifts, based upon Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. Today I'd like to pull these studies together with a brief summary. This is, of course, only a small part of what could be said about this important part of life in the Christian community.

In speaking about spiritual gifts it is easy to overlook what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit and the work of the Spirit. It is easier to focus upon the recipients of the Spirit's gifts by fashioning various inventories and questionnaires so that the congregation can help members identify their gifts, put these members to work in order to grow in numbers and influence. Nowhere in any of the four texts examined are there any instructions given by the Apostles to carry on such a practice. Why not?

The answer to that question is found in the very nature of these inventories. Members are encouraged to look internally at their own experiences and feelings. Here are some questions from one such spiritual gifts discovery tool I found online:

1. I am successful at getting a group to do its work joyfully. 
2. I enjoy making something that is artistically appealing.
3. I can readily sense when someone is promoting God’s purposes or their own personal agenda.
4. I look for occasions to share what Jesus means to me with unchurched friends and neighbors.
5. I welcome opportunities to minister to people who need comfort, consolation, encouragement, and counseling.
6. I see life as an adventure and am not afraid to take risks if it moves God's work forward.
7. I have a real hunger for seeing others spending time together in the Word and in prayer.
8. Without hesitation, I give generously and freely to worthwhile projects and ministries.
9. I count it a privilege to relieve someone in a responsible position of some small task, so that they may attend to more important things.
10. I truly feel that the needs and well-being of others are more important than my own.

Note the emphasis upon 'I' this and 'I' that. I am successful, I enjoy, I sense, I look, I welcome, I see, I have a real hunger, I give, I count it a privilege, I truly feel, etc. Such an emphasis leads us away from the Word of God and from the Spirit speaking directly to our hearts from that Word. Instead we are encouraged to focus upon my experiences, my feelings, my viewpoints, my giving, my senses, etc.

Further, in the discussions of spiritual gifts, we are told that these are different from creaturely or natural gifts. So we are led to believe that the Holy Spirit only wants us to focus upon our spiritual gifts, for these are not the same as our natural gifts. So some would point out that a reborn and truly spiritual Christian will always speak in tongues. In this way, there are two types of Christians, e.g. believers and Spirit filled or born again believers. In that connection it is important to note that in those Scripture verses that speak about disciples being filled with the Spirit nothing is said to indicate that this filling is a permanent and continued gift. In other words, we do not own or control the Spirit. He blows when and where He will (Acts 2:4, 4:8,31; John 3:8). 

Above all the Scripture teaches that everything is by God's grace. The Spirit working in God's Word teaches that everything comes down from the Father as God's wondrous and unmerited gift. Our whole lives, our bodies, our personalities, our intellectual abilities, our artistic talents, our athletic skills, our powers of perception—everything we have and are has been redeemed by Christ and given to us. As Paul says,

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? - 1 Cor 4:7 ESV

 All this we offer back to God in praise and worship as a living sacrifice. 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. - Rom. 12:1 NLT

What the Spirit also teaches is that not only are we redeemed by Christ, we are members of his body. We are part of that community, that wondrous and varied body of believers in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. Speaking to the entire community in Corinth, Paul writes 

Do you not know that you (plural) are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? - 1 Cor 3:16 ESV

 So it is that we are the temple of God and the body of Christ and individually members one of the other. Each is important and each is God's gift to the other. So God intends that each of us is a gift to the other members of the body. Our unique personalities, experiences, gifts, abilities, talents and vocations are gifts of God through which God blesses others. Thus if I am a father, I have the calling to care for my children and to bless them through the uniqueness of who I am. If I am called to be a pastor-teacher, I have the opportunity and responsibility to bless the flock over which I am assigned with the teaching and application of God's Word. If I am a musician, I shall bless others with my music. So Paul writes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. - 1 Cor 12:4-7 ESV

It may be that spiritual gifts inventories could be used to help Christians discover their gifts. The cautions listed above are most important however. At most such inventories must be seen as tools toward the end of helping one another to give as they have received. Pride, discouragement and fear always lurk in our hearts because of sin. The Apostles speak to this as they emphasize in all these matters that we live by grace. It is in the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins for the sake of Christ that we find our life, our joy and our strength, never in the gifts we have or do not have.