Tonight is the final in the series on Jesus and the Spirit in John's Gospel. John 14-17 (the "farewell discourse") has a very important contribution to make to the theology of John. We focus on John 14:15-31, where Jesus speaks of 'another counsellor'. That is a clue to the role of the Spirit - his ministry is shaped by Jesus'. With the prospect of Jesus leaving he assures the disciples that they will not be alone, rather in the Spirit he and the Father will be present in the disciples. I like the parallel of 14:2 "in the Father's house there are many 'dwellings' (Gk. mone) and 14:23 "we will make a home" (same word) "with them": A great reminder that our life is lived in intimate fellowship with God through the Spirit. I didn't say much about the doctrine of the Trinity in the sermon - but this section shows how important the doctrine is.
My focus was on the quality of life we live now. We already share in "eternal life" - which is life with God.This is a similar point to last weeks one of living in the temple, but I think we don't grasp the idea very well
One idea from this section which is fascinating is that Jesus says it is good that he is going to the Father (14:28f, c.f. 16:7). I think we often view the ministry of the Spirit as an "interim" arrangement till Jesus' return, but in fact the Spirit's coming brings us into the New Age which will be consummated on Jesus return.
This was a good topic to think about on a night when we had the Lord's Supper, because the Lord's Supper is not remembering an absent Lord but fellowshipping with the Lord who is present by his Spirit. Follow the link to read Calvin's take on the presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper: www.the-highway.com/supper1_Calvin.html.
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Jesus gives the Spirit
Tonight we looked at John's presentation of Jesus as the one who "baptises with the Spirit". I'm suggesting that the background is the OT and specially Ezekiel in which we have the promise of the Spirit who will wash (i.e. baptise) and change hearts. As a result of the Spirit coming Ezekiel 40-48 gives a grand vision of a new temple, in which God dwells in his glory and the people serve faithfully. From the temple flow wonderful streams of living water (Ezek 47). This all comes together in John. Jesus is the new temple (1:14, 2:21) and he brings the Spirit who brings people to new life (3:3-8). He offers the water of life (4:14). So when he answers that the age has come in which "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth", Jesus is summing up all these themes and saying that he is the new temple in whom Spirit people will worship.
I hope that gave an exciting picture of the Spirit's ministry, and that people left with a deep sense of the privlege of the Christian life, and that Jesus offers us a dimension of life which no one and nothing else reaches. I also looked at the implications for the holiness of all life for all Christians: there are no 2nd class christians, no trivialities in life (not that everything has to be intense - but relaxation is still in the temple!) and sin looks even uglier! I was struck by the image of living all of life in the temple - I hope it worked for other people.
The link is to an article by Ed Clowney on a biblical theology of temple. I think it helps fill out some of the themes.
I hope that gave an exciting picture of the Spirit's ministry, and that people left with a deep sense of the privlege of the Christian life, and that Jesus offers us a dimension of life which no one and nothing else reaches. I also looked at the implications for the holiness of all life for all Christians: there are no 2nd class christians, no trivialities in life (not that everything has to be intense - but relaxation is still in the temple!) and sin looks even uglier! I was struck by the image of living all of life in the temple - I hope it worked for other people.
The link is to an article by Ed Clowney on a biblical theology of temple. I think it helps fill out some of the themes.
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Jesus has the Spirit
Tonight we start a three part series on the Spirit in John's Gospel. I hope that it is a way of focussing us on the importance of the Spirit, but from a slightly different angle. I also hope that we see how wonderfully and abundantly God has provided for us.
The key texts for tonight are John 1:24-34, in which John the witness (the Baptiser) says that he knew Jesus as the Spirit Baptiser because the Spirit remained on Jesus; 3:34-35, in which John tells us that Jesus had all things including the Spirit without limit; and 7:38, in which Jesus applies Isa 58:11 to himself, he is the one from whom living water will flow (v39 explains that this referred to the Spirit.
The interesting theological question is why the one who has life in himself needs to be given the Spirit by the Father. I think it has something to do with enabling Jesus' 'flesh' (his humanity) to participate in the life which is his and in the life giving mission. I take a clue for this from John Owen's "Spirit Christology" (see www.puritansermons.com/banner/fergus01.htm if you want to follow that up).
I hope that I showed you that the life of God flows from Jesus, and helped you focus faith on him.
The key texts for tonight are John 1:24-34, in which John the witness (the Baptiser) says that he knew Jesus as the Spirit Baptiser because the Spirit remained on Jesus; 3:34-35, in which John tells us that Jesus had all things including the Spirit without limit; and 7:38, in which Jesus applies Isa 58:11 to himself, he is the one from whom living water will flow (v39 explains that this referred to the Spirit.
The interesting theological question is why the one who has life in himself needs to be given the Spirit by the Father. I think it has something to do with enabling Jesus' 'flesh' (his humanity) to participate in the life which is his and in the life giving mission. I take a clue for this from John Owen's "Spirit Christology" (see www.puritansermons.com/banner/fergus01.htm if you want to follow that up).
I hope that I showed you that the life of God flows from Jesus, and helped you focus faith on him.
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Relationships Matthew 7:1-13
Tonight we looked at what Jesus said about two key relationships: with himself and neighbours. Both are based in being kingdom people, who know we depend on God as our merciful Father. Because we have been treated with mercy, our relationships with others have to shaped by that. Jesus warns that "with the measure you use, it will be measured to you". If we can't find mercy for others, we can't expect it from God. So kingdom people are in no place to take over God's place and announce the condemnation off others, specially since we often have exactly the same faults. Jesus does, however, say there is a time to make assessments; that is when people so hate the gospel that they blaspheme it and attack its messengers. Then we don't "throw pearls before swine".
The key relationship is that we trust God to give us the good gifts of the kingdom - which is the best thing we can be given!
Finally Jesus tells us that the guide in relationships to our neighbours is to treat them as we would want to be treated: the golden rule. It is the "rule of love", not a formula to get people to be nice to us.
It strikes me that a lot of this seems very "everyday" and not all that heroic. In fact greatness in kingdom is lived out in the little things of trusting loving and serving. My prayer is that we'll reach that greatness.
The key relationship is that we trust God to give us the good gifts of the kingdom - which is the best thing we can be given!
Finally Jesus tells us that the guide in relationships to our neighbours is to treat them as we would want to be treated: the golden rule. It is the "rule of love", not a formula to get people to be nice to us.
It strikes me that a lot of this seems very "everyday" and not all that heroic. In fact greatness in kingdom is lived out in the little things of trusting loving and serving. My prayer is that we'll reach that greatness.
Friday, 4 May 2007
WCF- ordo salutis, law, worship
We had a fun lecture last Wednesday. Well I had fun!
We looked at the ordo salutis in the WCF. A very important and practical topic. I argued that the Gaffin approach which finds the basis of the whole ordo in union with Christ is a good way forward. I also argued that justification on the basis of imputation is essential for reformed, biblical theology. I noted that some people wonder if it is "Christ's righteouness" which is imputed, and I suggested that when you see that justification is on the basis of the work of Christ and given in union with Christ then that is what the WCF means by "imputation of Christ's righteousness". I don't think there are any NT passages which support a doctrine of the imputation of Christ's prescriptive (i.e. active) obedience, and I suggested that the "other" element in justification, along with the cross, is resurrection (c.f. Rom 4:25). I left you to read the notes on the other chapters. The discussion of assurance is specially important, since it shows how the teaching on the decrees and effectual call worked out pastorally.
Tim got us talking about the place of the law in the Christian life and the WCF's three-fold division.
Steve led us in discussing the WCF's view of worship. We talked about the regulative principle and the Sabbath.
Any comments?
We looked at the ordo salutis in the WCF. A very important and practical topic. I argued that the Gaffin approach which finds the basis of the whole ordo in union with Christ is a good way forward. I also argued that justification on the basis of imputation is essential for reformed, biblical theology. I noted that some people wonder if it is "Christ's righteouness" which is imputed, and I suggested that when you see that justification is on the basis of the work of Christ and given in union with Christ then that is what the WCF means by "imputation of Christ's righteousness". I don't think there are any NT passages which support a doctrine of the imputation of Christ's prescriptive (i.e. active) obedience, and I suggested that the "other" element in justification, along with the cross, is resurrection (c.f. Rom 4:25). I left you to read the notes on the other chapters. The discussion of assurance is specially important, since it shows how the teaching on the decrees and effectual call worked out pastorally.
Tim got us talking about the place of the law in the Christian life and the WCF's three-fold division.
Steve led us in discussing the WCF's view of worship. We talked about the regulative principle and the Sabbath.
Any comments?
Getting Rich Matthew 6:18-34
The sermon on Sunday night (May 6) is on Jesus' teaching on possessions. The big point I want to make is that we have to view all that we own and have in the light of the kingdom. The coming of the kingdom means that the present order will be changed and so the best investment we can make is in the kingdom, for there our treasure is secure (Matt 6:20). The framework in which I want to put this is a new creation eschatology, which is, I think, true to the Bible. There is a danger that we read Matt 6 as dualists and think that Jesus is saying that the created order, including our possessions, are unimportant or even evil. But Jesus says that our Father knows we need food and clothing and he cares so much for his creation that he feeds the birds and clothes the flowers. So the perspective is not that we should avoid the physical and own as little as possible, but that we should recognise that what we own now is part of an order which will be reordered and our great hope is the kingdom. So our love has to be directed to that, or rather to God, not to our possessions.
When we seek first his kingdom and his rigtheousness we are freed to do three things: we can enjoy what we do have for his sake, but not idolise them for their own sake; we can share what we have with others because we want to serve God by serving our neighbours and we can stop worrying about what we don't have, because we know that our heavenly Father owns it all and cares for us.
Jesus challenges us about where we store our riches (vv19-21); how we look at what we have (v22-23); who we serve (v24); and why we worry (vv25-34).
We live in a society which is obsessed with possessions. I struggle to live out Jesus' words, so it is good for me to preach on them. We need to keep challenging each other in the area. "Asceticism" is the intellectually easy (but wrong) answer, it is far harder to work out how to live faithfully and long for the kingdom while we own things and enjoy them.
Does the difference between aceticism, idolatry and owning without being owned make sense?
What are the biggest struggles and temptations in this area?
What have you found helpful in your own discipleship in the area of possessions?
When we seek first his kingdom and his rigtheousness we are freed to do three things: we can enjoy what we do have for his sake, but not idolise them for their own sake; we can share what we have with others because we want to serve God by serving our neighbours and we can stop worrying about what we don't have, because we know that our heavenly Father owns it all and cares for us.
Jesus challenges us about where we store our riches (vv19-21); how we look at what we have (v22-23); who we serve (v24); and why we worry (vv25-34).
We live in a society which is obsessed with possessions. I struggle to live out Jesus' words, so it is good for me to preach on them. We need to keep challenging each other in the area. "Asceticism" is the intellectually easy (but wrong) answer, it is far harder to work out how to live faithfully and long for the kingdom while we own things and enjoy them.
Does the difference between aceticism, idolatry and owning without being owned make sense?
What are the biggest struggles and temptations in this area?
What have you found helpful in your own discipleship in the area of possessions?
Getting Started
This blog is about having conversations about what I teach. When I teach (at church or college or somewhere else) I am interested to hear how people assess what I've said and I hope we can talk more about it. Life is so busy that often we can't discuss things at the time. This blog is an invitation to come back to me about what I've taught.
My plan is that I'll make at least a short comment about each sermon or lecture. Anyone who was there is free to add a comment, tell me what you didn't get or disagreed with, maybe develop some of the ideas further or ask a question. I'll reply, but I hope other people will join the discussion.
I am not going to put up full notes for anything, because I want interaction from people who are part of my church and college community.
From time to time I'll probably put up some other interesting bits and pieces. Feel free to comment on them as well.
My plan is that I'll make at least a short comment about each sermon or lecture. Anyone who was there is free to add a comment, tell me what you didn't get or disagreed with, maybe develop some of the ideas further or ask a question. I'll reply, but I hope other people will join the discussion.
I am not going to put up full notes for anything, because I want interaction from people who are part of my church and college community.
From time to time I'll probably put up some other interesting bits and pieces. Feel free to comment on them as well.
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