Category: book of life
Jesus as the Firstborn
This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 15: Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23.
The writer of Hebrews points his readers to “the assembly of the firstborn” (12:23). The word “firstborn” (Greek: prototokos) is used in a variety of ways in Scripture. Usually, “firstborn” means the first male child born into a family, but the word can be used in other ways. It may denote rank, position, or prominence. King David, for example, who is the last in his family’s birth order, is called “firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth” (Ps. 89:27).
The same is true for the nation of Israel. The Israelites are not the first people group to populate a region of the earth. Even so, the Lord commands Moses to tell Pharaoh that “Israel is my firstborn son” (Exod. 4:22). That is, God established the Israelites as a special people for whom the Promised Land is prepared.
When it comes to Jesus, the Greek word prototokos never is used to describe his origin, as if he’s a created being; after all, he’s the uncreated creator of all (John 1:1-3). Nor is “firstborn” used to depict Jesus in purely human terms, for he has no earthly father. In every case, the New Testament writers depict Jesus as first in rank, position, or prominence. We see this every time in Scripture he’s declared to be the firstborn.
Continue reading Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23
This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 15: Assembly of the Firstborn: Hebrews 12:23.
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:22-24).
On February 16, 1832, Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, claimed the Lord gave him a series of visions revealing that the “many mansions” to which Jesus refers in John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house are many mansions” (KJV) – are divided into three general categories: the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms.
More than a decade later, Smith revealed additional detail: “In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees.” In other words, in the celestial, or highest, kingdom, faithful Mormons may aspire to one of three levels of glory.
From these visions, the LDS Church draws its doctrine of the “Church of the Firstborn.” The highest level of the celestial kingdom is reserved for those who “gain exaltation,” or godhood, by keeping all the commandments of the Lord. As Joseph Fielding Smith, sixth president of the church and nephew of its founder, wrote, “There will be many who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who shall never become members of the Church of the Firstborn.”
Continue readingRejoice in the Lord Always
This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 14: Coworkers in the Book of Life: Philippians 4:3.
In the previous post, we began to explore Paul’s reference to the book of life in Philippians 4:3. Here, we complete our study of this passage.
The book of life
In Philippians 4:3, Paul declares that Euodia, Syntyche, Clement, and the rest of Paul’s coworkers have their names written in the book of life. This is cause for great rejoicing – a jubilation that transcends the challenges facing believers in Philippi. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” Paul urges them. “I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4).
Assurance of our salvation produces an inward peace that projects an outward confidence. Reminding the Philippians of their security in Christ, Paul encourages them to live out their faith. “Let your graciousness be known to everyone,” he writes. “The Lord is near” (4:5).
Continue readingCoworkers in the Book of Life: Philippians 4:3
This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 14: Coworkers in the Book of Life: Philippians 4:3.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:2-4).
Habit 2 in Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is “Begin with the End in Mind.” Imagination is the root of this habit – the ability to envision in the mind what they eye doesn’t see. It’s based on the principle that all things are created twice: first, a mental creation, and then, a physical one. Just as a building follows a blueprint, reality follows imagination.
As Covey notes, “People are working harder than ever, but because they lack clarity and vision, they aren’t getting very far. They, in essence, are pushing a rope with all of their might.”
Paul understood this principle long before Covey articulated his seven habits. The apostle’s concern for all the churches – he calls it “the daily pressure” – sometimes places him in the middle of squabbles in local communities of faith (see 2 Cor. 11:28). When possible, Paul seeks to repair these fissures before they split congregations apart. A case in point: the church at Philippi.
Continue reading Snakes and Scorpions
This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 13: Your Names Are Written in Heaven.
In the previous post, we began to look at the record in Luke 10 of Jesus sending out 72 disciples, followed by their triumphant return, and Jesus’ curious command for them not to rejoice that demonic forces have submitted to them. Now, we complete our look at this passage.
Snakes and scorpions
Next, Jesus tells his disciples, “Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you” (Luke 10:19). The “snakes” and “scorpions” should be understood as figurative depictions of evil spirits. With the exception of Paul shaking a viper from his hand in Malta and suffering no ill effects (Acts 28:1-6), there’s no New Testament record of Christian preachers literally treading on reptiles or arachnids – and Paul’s encounter with a snake was far from intentional.
Rather, Jesus is making it clear he has granted the disciples authority over Satan (“the enemy”) and his minions. While they’re engaged in obedient ministry, the Lord ensures that nothing harms them. This is a specific task of proclaiming the kingdom of God and providing a foretaste of eternal life under the king. By healing the sick and casting out demons, the disciples are showing Christ’s power over Satan, sin, and sin’s consequences.
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