Like all of the Old Testament books, Numbers was given it's title when it was translated in the Septuagint, the Greek Translation of the Old Testament. The original Hebrew title is 'In the Wilderness'. Here we see a reference to the Holy Spirit and the gift of prophecy. In verse 29, Moses says he wishes that all of God's people possessed the Holy Spirit, something that would come to be fulfilled in the New Covenant, but was not yet a present reality under the Mosaic Covenant.
Unfortunately, James 2 is sometimes applied in a way that would contradict Paul, who says that Justification is by faith and not by works of the Law, or by works done in righteousness. It should be recognized that when the Reformers coined Sola Fide, Justification by Faith Alone, what they meant was that on the condition of faith alone, one receives saving grace, or that good works could only be called good if they are done in faithfulness to God. But as there is one Divine Author who spoke all of Scripture, it would be reckless to believe that He contradicted Himself as He inspired both Apostles. Both Apostles teach that faith is a gift from God, and if one has faith, he will perform good works as a result. He will bear fruit, in other words.
It is Good Friday today, the day that the Lord Jesus Christ shed His precious blood to atone for the sins of the Church, once for all time. And so it feels appropriate to ponder His sacrifice and one of the shadows that typified it in the very first book of the Bible. The Garden of Eden was a temple, it was the place where Heaven and Earth intersected. When Man rebelled and fell into sin, breaking the Covenant and failing to carry out the commission that God gave him, he was expelled from the Garden and placed under the curses of the Covenant. And when they realized their guilt, they made an attempt to cover up their shame with fig leaves. However, they could not cover up their shame, so God made them a garment out of animal skins. Here we see God acting as a Priest on their behalf and making Atonement for them. Even when they had well deserved His anger, He showed them mercy. It is a beautiful picture and it points forward to the New Jerusalem, where all of God's people are clothed in white garments, that have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Many of the errors regarding the Trinity come from viewing it through philosophical lenses that come from the culture, you see this occur much in Church history. But while some of those definitions can be helpful to our understanding, it should be noted that the Bible presents the Trinity through a covenantal lens first and foremost. The Trinity is inherently covenantal, interpersonal. The Father loves the Son and Spirit, the Son loves the Father and Spirit, The Spirit loves the Father and Son. And before Creation was, this Covenant of Redemption was decreed; that God would create the cosmos and redeem a people for Himself, a people of His own choosing. The Church is the outworking and result of the covenantal nature of God. The Father begets (not creates) the Son, the Son asks, the Father gives the Creation to the Son, the Son redeems it, and at the end of time, the Son gives the Creation to the Father. All three persons of the Trinity take on different roles, or offices, in this plan of redemption.
Romans 4 is helpful to compare with James 2 as both Apostles are exegeting the same passage, Genesis 15:6. It is often asserted that the justification that James 2 is speaking of is concerned with men, but not justification before God. Romans 4:2-3 says this very thing, and James 2:18-19 also reveals this intent:
This is a useful text that shows that your preachers should be compensated for their work, that we should tithe. But my main interest here is what Paul considers to be Scripture, as his citations give us insight into what he considered to be Canonical.
Much can be said about eschatology and I think it wise to be humble in this area, as I am not convinced that anyone has nailed it down. Nevertheless, I am still inclined towards premillennialism and will give my reasons, based on these texts, why I remain unconvinced of postmillennialism. Postmillennialism being these ideas; 1. That Christ returns after this 1,000 period (hence the name, postmillennialism). 2.That this 1,000 year period is not a literal 1,000 years, but a figurative number representing this current age, the Church Age. And that Christ is reigning through the Church right now. 3. That the Church will ebb and flow in power, size, and influence until it evangelizes the world, prompting the return of Christ. Postmillennialism is sometimes referred to as an "optimistic" eschatology whereas premillennialism is referred to as "pessimistic." A charge I find to be unfair.
The god of this age (eon), the devil, has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that they might not see the truth of the Gospel. Does that sound like Satan is currently bound and no longer able to deceive the nations?
But after the 1,000 years are over, Satan is still released for a time. So even in a postmillennial schema, the Great Tribulation seems to be unavoidable.
Grammatically, this can be understood in one of two ways: if anyone loves the world the Father does not love him, or if anyone loves the world he does not love the Father. Either way, if you love the world then you're out. But I favor the latter reading. If you're loving the world, then you don't have enough room to love the Father. The reason you love the world is because you're seeking the things of the world in verse 16. These things are not from the Father. Thus, you do not love the Father because you are seeking the things that He does not give, but what the world gives.
Anything that you love outside of God, or more than God, or apart from God is an idol. The things of the world are idols. Do not love the idols but love God instead.
The false believers here cling to their works, they do not appeal to faith in Jesus Christ. They say that they practice miracles and prophecy but God says that they practice lawlessness. Lastly, Jesus says to them "I never knew you." Not, "I knew you until you left." "I never knew you."
Who does Jesus know in this passage? His sheep. Who does He lay down His life for in this passage? The sheep. If Jesus knows His sheep, then how can anyone of His sheep ever hear the words "I never knew you"? Biblically, they can't.
I had a good discussion with a Catholic friend of mine over this text, on whether or not it teaches Baptismal Regeneration.
In other words, Baptism presents a symbol of death and rebirth. Verse 18, Christ died in the flesh but was made alive in the Spirit. Noah "died" as he was sealed in the Ark, only to live after the flood. In Baptism, our old selves are put to death and our new selves our raised to spiritual life. That is the thing that the sign of water Baptism points to, death and resurrection in Jesus Christ.
Satan is the original liberal. He takes liberalities with the Word of God. Did God really say that homosexuality is sinful? Did God really say that Scripture is sufficient? Did God really say that Jesus is the only way to be saved? Yes, yes He did.
Man has a tendency to add to the Word of God. God did not prohibit touching the fruit, only the eating of it. There is no reason to add to the Word unless you do not believe the Word is sufficient to ground you to stand fast in the day of trial, which is the same error that Adam and Eve made. The Word must not be detracted from or added to, it is perfect as is.
Adam and Eve may not have died a physical death the same day they ate the fruit, but the Word of God cannot be broken, they did die a spiritual death that day. And so while it looks like the devil was the one telling the truth and God was the one lying, the opposite is true, we should not trust our eyes but trust the Word of God. God always tells the truth, the devil always lies. Ultimately, Man fell for the same lie that the devil fell for, that he can be like God, but there is no one like God.
One of my all time favorite passages from the Bible.
What jumped out at me was his doctrine of Double Imputation, and I quickly realized why non-Reformed Christians do not grasp the doctrine of Imputed Righteousness: they do not have the covenantal framework to make sense of it. Infused Righteousness goes only one way, but Imputed Righteousness is only one half of the covenantal transaction. Christ takes the sinner's sin and penalty onto Himself, and He gives His righteousness to the sinner. He dies for the enemy and justifies the ungodly. Such is the awesome power of the grace of God, that He would covenant with sinners like you and me.