"All Came to Pass" -- Joshua 21:41-45

The Sixteenth in a Series of Sermons on Joshua

Although Joshua has grown a bit long in the tooth, there is still much for him to do.  As Israel’s covenant mediator, Joshua must ensure that Israel’s armies capture those remaining portions of that land which God promised to his people and which were still not occupied by Israel.  Also, Joshua must divide the land of promise (Canaan) among the twelve tribes of Israel.  Finally, in order to fulfill God’s command given through Moses, Joshua must establish six so-called “cities of refuge” (providing mercy to anyone who accidentally takes another’s life) as well as forty-eight Levitical cities, where the priestly tribe, the Levites, can dwell in the midst of the people and graze their cattle.  As these things are accomplished, we are witnessing God keep his promise to Israel.  Even though this land was promised to them more than four hundred years earlier (back in the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), at long last God’s people dwell in peace and safety in Canaan.  As these things are accomplished, the central theme of the Book of Joshua becomes crystal clear–God’s promise to Israel has become a glorious reality.  But as things once promised become realities, this also means that the era of Joshua’s leadership is coming to an end.  It will not be long before Israel enters that period of biblical history known as the time of the Judges and the story of redemption will take yet another dramatic turn–this time for the worse.

As we continue our series on Joshua, we have come to the final chapters of this remarkable book.  There  are still a number of loose ends to be wrapped up before Joshua says “farewell” to his people in chapters 23-24.  Now advanced in years, in chapters 13-21 Joshua is given instructions from the LORD that will ensure that the people of Israel will take possession of all the land God promised to them before Joshua dies.  That land will be divided among the twelve tribes, as in these chapters, legal title of the land of Canaan passes from YHWH to the people of Israel as their promised inheritance to the Lord.  Even though we have briefly surveyed these chapters which are, in effect, title deeds to the land, every line in these chapters is proof that God has kept his promise.  The people of Israel are now dwelling in that same land promised to them so long ago.  The Canaanites have been evicted and the people of Israel are recipients of this wonderful gift from YHWH–legal title to the land of promise.

As we saw last time, Joshua ensured the capture of all the remaining land to the north and to the south, just beyond the boundary of those areas currently inhabited by the Canaanites.  While in chapters 13-21, we have the legal record of Joshua dividing the land among the tribes of Israel in fulfillment of God’s promise to his people, in chapter 20, we read of Joshua establishing the six “cities of refuge” which provided legal protection for anyone who accidentally took the life of another–in modern parlance this is known as manslaughter or negligent homicide.  Since nothing in redemptive history is accidental, with the establishment of these six cities, we are pointed ahead to Jesus Christ–the great high priest.  In the case of someone who commits manslaughter, they must flee to one of these cities of refuge and remain there until the death of the high priest.  The symbolism here is obvious and powerful.

Clearly, the death of the high priest in a symbolic sense sets the man-slaughterer free.  This points us ahead to the death of Jesus, who is both the great high priest and at the same time the divinely appointed once for all sacrifice for sin.  That God provides for relief from sins such as manslaughter is a good thing and demonstrates that even though Israel was under the blessing-curse principle based upon the covenant God made them at Mount Sinai, the covenant of grace (first made with Abraham) was never annulled, and still remained in force, ensuring the salvation of believers within Israel.  It was Jesus after all who said that anyone who was angry with his brother or sister was just as guilty of murder as the one who actually took life (Matthew 5:21-22).  Therefore, as the death of the priest in one of the cities of refuge allows the manslaughterer to go free, so too the death of Jesus frees us from the guilt of our sins, including the hatred of our neighbor.  With images like this found throughout the Book of Joshua, we are  reminded that the Canaanites were not Israel’s greatest enemy–sin and it wages are our greatest foe.  And now, the greater Joshua (Jesus) has defeated both sin and death. 

To read the rest of this sermon, click here
 

Does Your Church Teach "Replacement" Theology?

 
According to a recent email from the "Jerusalem Prayer Team," here are the questions to ask so as to determine whether or not your church teaches "replacement theology."  (h.t. Rich Barcellos).

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Why the Church Should Support Israel

Many Christians ask me, “How do I know if my church is a Bible-believing church that doesn't teach replacement theology, progressive dispensationalism or supersessionism?”

Ask yourself some questions:

1. Does my church pray for the Jewish people, the peace of Jerusalem, and Israel?
2. Does my church give offerings of compassion to comfort them?
3. Does my church preach on Israel and its Biblical significance?
4. Does my church take tours of Israel?
5. Is there an Israeli flag in my church?
6. Does my church teach on the significance of Church’s Jewish roots?
7. Does my church have a Night to Honor Israel or Jerusalem Prayer Summit annually?
8. Does my church ever preach against replacement theology, progressive dispensationaism, or supersessionism?

If the answer to these questions is “No,” then you may be a member of a church that refuses to believe the Bible, and rejects God’s Eternal promises to the House of Israel. If your church seems powerless, and appears not to be blessed by God, perhaps this is the reason.

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These eight questions are taken from Mike Evan's book Why Christians Should Support Israel.

Hmmm . . . How does Christ Reformed stack up in light of these eight questions?

1).  In one sense, we pray for the Jewish people every Lord's Day in our pastoral prayer.   "We pray first for your benediction on your holy Gospel, that it may be faithfully proclaimed and the world filled with the knowledge of your truth. To that end, please send workers into your field to plant, water, and harvest a people for your name. But frustrate the work of those who would sow weeds of heresy and discord. Pull down all of the strongholds of Satan in this world and establish your kingdom throughout the earth. Please give fatherly attention to your servants who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel and strengthen them in mind and body by your Spirit through the means of grace. "

We also pray this collect every Good Friday:  "MERCIFUL God, who has made all people, and hates nothing that you have made, nor do you desires the death of a sinner, but rather that they should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know you not as you are revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and have mercy upon your ancient people Israel.  Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of your Word; and so bring them home, blessed Lord, to your fold, that they may be made one flock with us under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. "

2).  Not sure what that means . . .  I hope we'd be compassionate to all people . . .  I take Paul's words to heart in Romans 10:1; 11:17, 28.

3).  Yes, we teach and preach about Israel's significance.  We talk about Jesus Christ--who is the true Israel--every Sunday.

4).  No tours of Israel.  I've been to Israel and would love to go again, but no, we don't take tours to Israel.

5).  Sorry, there are no flags in our sanctuary--no Israeli flag, no American flag, no Christian flag.

6).  Yes, we teach about the church's Jewish roots and we show how all the Old Testament types and shadows are fulfilled in Christ.

7).  Nope--no nights devoted to praying for the Jerusalem Prayer Summit.  But, see number one above.  We do pray together for the conversion of Israel at least once a year (every Good Friday).

8).  Do we teach against replacement theology?  I'll have to think about this one (smile) . . .

So, are we teaching "replacement theology"? 

Absolutely not!  We don't teach "replacement theology" because we don't believe the church "replaces" Israel (but that's another story for another time).

OK . . . so how does your church stack up?  Do you go to one of those "powerless" churches that isn't blessed by God because it doesn't agree with Mike Evans and the Jerusalem Prayer Team? 

Confusing the Two Kingdoms and Other Stuff from Around the Web

Richard Odell has problems far greater than his inability to distinguish between the two kingdoms!  Click here: FOXNews.com - Cops Taser Naked Man Claiming to Be President, Jesus - Local News | News Articles | National News |

So, the same church (the Church of England)--which has for decades given us bishops and scholars who have attacked the historicity and authority of Scripture, who have undermined the uniqueness of Christianity and who have championed religious pluralism--is now whining about the fact that Islam seems to be getting preferential treatment from the Labour Party.  Isn't that a bit ironic?  Click here: Church attacks Labour for betraying Christians - Times Online

Meanwhile Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson is "marrying" (technically, it is a civil union) his long-time "partner."    Bishop Robinson . . . when Paul talks about "teaching to suit our own passions" in 2 Timothy 4, Paul was condemning teachers who do this, not exhorting us to find ways to indulge our flesh!  Click here: The Associated Press: NH gay bishop, partner joined in civil union

Finally, if you are worried that you are leaving too large a carbon footprint, and that you might be contributing too much personal pollution (that's methane gas for those of you who are not Germans), here's a calculator to determine how long you should live, before you should end it all.  Seriously!  I'm not kidding.   Click here: Planet Slayer - Greenhouse Calculator

Who Said That?

"Every pastor in America knew who I was because I put all of my sermons on an Internet site and it gets 400,000 hits a day from pastors. And so, instead of me teaching it on the radio or TV, we put it on the Internet and we allow other pastors to take this material and use it."

You know how this works!  Leave your guess in the comments section below.  No google searches or cheating. 

Update on Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 06:42PM by Kim Riddlebarger

From the transcript, "Myths of the Megachurch."  (http://pewforum.org/events/index.php?
EventID=80).

The unbelievably humble person quoted is Rick Warren. 

A Great Day @ Christ Reformed

Today was a great day in the life of our church  as we ordained Mr. Andrew Compton (M.Div., Westminster Seminary California) to the office of minister of word  and sacrament.   Rev. Compton is a Ph.D. student @ UCLA (Old Testament).  His personal blog is insightful and hilarious (Click here: Andrew Compton’s Weblog), and his co-operative effort with Shame Lems is worth checking out (Click here: The Reformed Reader).

Here's the link to the ordination sermon. 

http://links.christreformed.org/realaudio/KR20080608-PreachTheWord.mp3

An Important Announcement!

I am not Tony Rezko . . .

I've never met Tony Rezko . . .

I know nothing about Tony Rezko . . .

The resemblance is creepy . . . 

What to Do If You've Been Left Behind and Other Interesting Links from Around the Web

So, you've been "left behind" . . .  Now what do you do?  You'll certainly want to bookmark this website, just in case.  BTW--thanks to all who sent me this link, and who have undoubtedly already signed up the "left behind" services found here).  Click here: You've Been Left Behind

A number of people have pointed this out, but I really do encourage you to read Paul Helm's brilliant comparison of N. T. Wright and Richard Baxter (of the "Reformed Pastor" fame).  Click here: Helm's Deep: Analysis 15 - Baxter's Soup and Wright's Soap

Better check your church's liability insurance.  Next time you have a healing service, and your "catchers" drop someone, you just might get sued--for 2.5 million.   I guess we'll have to change some of our proceedures @ Christ Reformed.  Click here: Man Falls After Receiving Spirit, Sues - June 5, 2008

Seems like the Yankees have drafted a Lutheran!  The Yank's first round pick in yesterday's baseball draft was a kid (Gerrit Cole) from sports powerhouse Orange Lutheran High School here in OC.  He's got a great arm and a huge upside.  Click here: The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Canons of Dort, First Head of Doctrine, Rejection of Errors, Paragraph Eight

Synod condemns the error of those . . .

VIII  Who teach that it was not on the basis of his just will alone that God decided to leave anyone in the fall of Adam and in the common state of sin and condemnation or to pass anyone by in the imparting of grace necessary for faith and conversion.

For these words stand fast: He has mercy on whom he wishes, and he hardens whom he wishes (Rom. 9:18). And also: To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given (Matt. 13:11). Likewise: I give glory to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them to little children; yes, Father, because that was your pleasure (Matt. 11:25_26).

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The error identified and refuted in paragraph eight is one which attempts to locate reprobation in people’s  misuse of their freedom, not in the sovereign will of God.  According to this error, people somehow manage to reprobate themselves, by using their free will in such a way as to disqualify themselves from that which they could have otherwise obtained–salvation from sin.  In other words, these people could have co-operated with God’s grace, and then believed the gospel.  Instead, they “chose poorly,” as someone once put it.

This erroneous notion results from the Arminian contention that despite the fall of the human race into sin, men and women are still able to co-operate with the grace of God, and when they do so, they are thereby inclined to believe, repent, and live in holiness before God.  When the logic of the Arminian view is applied to those whom do not chose co-operate with God’s grace (the reprobate), the reason given as to why these people are not numbered among the elect is because they did not chose to believe, repent, and live a holy life before God.  To put it crudely, they reprobated themselves by not co-operating with grace.
 
As stated previously in the Canons, there are three reasons why people are numbered among the reprobate.  First, God does not chose all to receive eternal life, and the reprobate are left “in the common misery into which, by their own fault, they have plunged themselves.”  Second, God does not “grant them saving faith and the grace of conversion,” meaning that he leaves them in the same condition in which they are in Adam (fallen).  Third, God will “eternally punish them (having been left in their own ways and under his just judgment), not only for their unbelief but also for all their other sins, in order to display his justice.”  

This means that the reason why God does not choose them is to magnify his justice, and not because the sinner does something to reprobate themselves.  Those who are numbered among the reprobate were already dead and sin and under the just condemnation of God.  They are deserving of whatever judgment God determines will be meted out upon them.  They are reprobated by God, because he decrees not to deliver them from their fallen condition.  They are punished because of their participation in Adam’s sin, and for their actual sins. Those whom God determines not to choose,  receive divine justice–which they deserve–not mercy, which ultimately stems from God’s gracious nature and mysterious purposes.

The authors of the Canons respond to this Arminian error by simply citing the biblical text which speak to this: “He has mercy on whom he wishes, and he hardens whom he wishes (Rom. 9:18). And also: To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given (Matt. 13:11). Likewise: I give glory to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them to little children; yes, Father, because that was your pleasure (Matt. 11:25-26).”

A Return to Types and Shadows in the Millennial Age? -- A Problem for Dispensationalists

Is the Millennium Characterized by a Return to Old Testament Types and Shadows?  The Problem with the Dispensational Interpretation of the Millennium

Dispensationists must not only face the problem of evil and apostasy during the millennial age associated with all forms of premillennialism, but as a distinct theological system in its own right with a distinct hermeneutic, dispensationalists also face a number of additional problems created by dispensational modifications of traditional premillennialism (Click here: Riddleblog - The Latest Post - A Huge Problem for Premillennarians -- The Presence of Evil in the Millennial Age).

The problem with the dispensational interpretation of the millennium has to do with how we are to understand the general flow of redemptive history.  Throughout the Old Testament, Israel’s prophets foretell of the coming messianic age in terms of that prophet’s own particular time and place in the unfolding drama of redemptive history.  What is especially germane to our present question is the fact that Israel’s prophets speak of the glorious messianic age yet to come in terms of the types and shadows associated with Old Testament messianic anticipation.  

But Old Testament types and shadows are subsequently reinterpreted in the New Testament in the greater light of the dawn of the messianic age associated with Christ’s coming.  This is why one of the major aspects of the eschatology of the New Testament era is that what was promised in the Old Testament has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  The redemptive-historical pattern clearly moves from type and shadow to fulfillment and reality.  Because this is the case, the New Testament writers anticipate the final consummation at our Lord’s return and not a return to an earthly rule of Jesus Christ understood in terms of Old Testament types and shadows which were destined to pass away.

For example, when Israel’s prophets speak of the restoration of Israel, the New Testament contends that this promise of restoration is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the true Israel (Click here: Riddleblog - The Latest Post - Amillennialism 101 -- Jesus Christ: The True Israel).  When Israel’s prophets speak of the land of Canaan, the city of Jerusalem and the mountain of the Lord, the authors of the New Testament, in turn, point out that these themes are fulfilled in Christ and his church.  In many instances, they do so as a polemic against Jews who did not accept Jesus as Israel’s Messiah, sent by God to redeem his people from their sins.  The literal interpretation of these Old Testament messianic passages is supplied by the New Testament.  Therefore, Old Testament prophetic expectation must not be the basis for understanding the eschatology of the New.  

In order to understand the biblical teaching about the millennium, we must determine how the various authors of the New Testament apply messianic typology to Jesus Christ, and how, in turn, Jesus Christ fulfills the Old Testament messianic expectation, thereby guaranteeing his Second Advent and the final consummation.

What is especially problematic about the dispensational understanding of the millennial age is that the millennium as conceived by dispensationalists amounts to a return to the types and shadows associated with the Old Testament prophets and the typological understanding of the messianic age which has now been realized in Jesus Christ.  Once Christ has come and fulfilled these particular prophetic expectations, how can the dispensationalist justify his belief that the future millennial age is characterized by a redemptive economy of type and shadow, when the reality to which these things pointed, has already come?  This pre-messianic Old Testament millennial expectation, complete with restored temple worship and the reinstitution of animal sacrifices, can only be justified by a redemptive historical U-turn (Click here: Riddleblog - The Latest Post - Jesus, the True Temple).  

According to dispensationalists, type and shadow are fulfilled in Jesus Christ who, in the millennial age, supposedly re-institutes these same types and shadows which are inferior and have passed away.  This is highly problematic and does great violence to the overall thrust of biblical history.  This peculiar feature of dispensationalism explains the rise of progressive dispensationalism, which seeks to avoid this highly-problematic aspect of traditional dispensationalism.

This supposed return to type and shadow during the millennial age is seen in the dispensational interpretation of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants.  When dispensationalists contend that the land promise of the Abrahamic covenant is not fulfilled until Israel is reborn as a nation and returned to her ancient homeland in Palestine in 1948, they run head-long into Paul’s assertion that the Abrahamic covenant has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, since even Gentiles who embrace the messianic promise through faith are Abraham’s children and members of this covenant (Galatians 3:15-29; Romans 4:1-25).  It is Paul who “spiritualizes” the promise of a land in Palestine which originally extended from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates, (Genesis 15:18) to now include the whole world (Romans 4:13).

This same tendency to ignore the way in which the New Testament writers apply Old Testament messianic expectations to Christ can be seen in the dispensational insistence that Christ has not yet fulfilled the Davidic covenant of 2 Samuel 7 since, supposedly, this will not occur until the millennial age, when Jesus rules the earth from David’s throne in Jerusalem.  But the writers of the New Testament could not be any clearer when they teach that this prophecy was fulfilled at the time of our Lord’s resurrection and ascension, when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him on high by seating him at his right hand in heaven.  This event, Peter says, fulfills God’s messianic promise to David that one of his own descendants would sit on his throne (Acts 2: 30-35).  In fact, it is because Jesus fulfilled this promise that Peter urges his fellow Jews in the temple that first Pentecost Sunday to “repent and be baptized.”

Finally, the dispensationalist interpretation of redemptive history hinges upon a distinctive reading of the great messianic prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27, which supposedly places the seventieth week of Daniel in the future.  As I have argued elsewhere, Daniel’s prophecy is gloriously fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who in his active and passive obedience has finished transgression, put an end to sin, atoned for wickedness, brought in everlasting righteousness, sealed up vision and prophecy and anointed the most Holy place (v. 24).  Since Messiah was cut-off in the middle of the seventieth week and has made a covenant with his people (vv. 26-27), the seventy weeks prophecy has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ at the time of his first advent.  Therefore, there is no future seven-year tribulation period as taught by dispensationalists, nor does the Bible anticipate a peace treaty to be made between the Antichrist and the nation of Israel.  These are both essential features of the dispensationalist’s expectation for the future (Click here: Riddleblog - The Latest Post - Eschatology Q & A -- What About the Remaining 3 1/2 Years in Daniel's Prophecy of t).

Because of these factors, amillennarians believe that the dispensational understanding of  redemptive history in general and of the millennial age in particular is seriously flawed.  The millennial age is not depicted in the Bible as a return to the types and shadows of the Old Testament, complete with temple worship and animal sacrifice, while Jesus rules the earth from David’s throne in Jerusalem.  Instead, the biblical data demonstrates that the millennium is this present age, where Jesus Christ rules the earth from heaven, and where his saints who do not worship the beast or his image, triumph in death, when they come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years.  The millennial reign of Christ is a present reality.

This is an edited excerpt  from my book, A Case for Amillennialism.  For more information,  Click here: Riddleblog - A Case for Amillennialism - Understanding the End
 

The Scoop on the Poem "Footprints" and Other Stuff from Around the Web

In the fundamentalist churches of my youth, so-called "blue laws" were the norm.  Since we were dispensationalists, we were taught that the law (the ten commandments)  was for a different dispensation.  Now, we were under the law of Christ.  Of course, that meant no smoking, no consuming adult beverages, etc.  While "blue laws" are often tied to American fundamentalism, seems the theological left have a few "blue laws" of their own.    For starters, how about ignoring climate change?   Click here: FOXNews.com - U.K. Bishop Compares Those Who Ignore Climate Change to Austrian 'Horror Dad' - International News

In the "what are Muslims mad about now?" department, two American preachers are in trouble in the UK for committing a "hate crime" by daring to enter the "no-go" area in Birmingham.  Seems Muslims have set up their own "safe" areas and won't allow outsiders (i.e, Christians) in.  Why are Muslims so afraid of the gospel?  Click here: Police advise Christian preachers to leave Muslim area of Birmingham - Telegraph

This is ironic.  Back in the day when I owned a Christian bookstore, we sold a million of these (Yes, I have repented).  I'll bet every grandma and aunt in America has the poem "footprints in the sand" on something from a decoupaged wall-plaque to a coffee mug.  Seems like the poem wasn't so "anonymous" after all.   The son of the supposed author is suing for all royalties, because mom told him that she wrote it.  The reason why there is only one set of footprints?  The other person walking along the beach has been hauled off to court!  Click here: Search to Divine Authorship Leads
'Footprints' to Court - washingtonpost.com

Seems we continually reach now lows in nanny-state stupidity.  Now college graduates can't throw their mortar-boards in the air because "they might hurt somebody."   Click here: A University has asked students not to throw their graduate hats in the air in case of injury | The Sun |HomePage|